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The San Antonio Spurs have an outside shot at reaching a play-in tournament for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
However, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is prioritizing growth over immediate success.
Despite the 22 teams at the NBA restart having just eight games before the start of the playoffs, Popovich said he is more concerned with “development” than considering potential first-round matchups (via Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News):
“For us in our specific situation, development is more important than anything,” Popovich said. “I’m not too concerned with trying to figure out how to match up with the Lakers or Clippers or Celtics or Raptors or Rockets or Nuggets or anybody else.”
The Spurs are just a half-game back of the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 9 seed. Chasing down Portland–as well as the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings–would likely result in the Spurs making the play-in tournament.
But Popovich seemed to make it clear he will not chase games. Rather, the Spurs will use this eight-game stretch to cultivate learning and a sense of progress.
Of course, there is history on the line for San Antonio.
The Spurs have made the playoffs in 22 consecutive seasons, dating back to the 1997-98 campaign. The last time Popovich missed the playoffs was during his first season as head coach back in 1996-97.
“Pop” took over for Bob Hill in the 1996-97 campaign and was promoted to full-time head coach for the following season. The Spurs drafted Tim Duncan with the No. 1 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, and the rest is history.
However, Popovich has always been one to keep things in perspective. The Spurs will have their work cut out for them given the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge, but Popovich is more concerned with seeing growth from some of his young players.
