NBA Roundtable: The Spurs' playoff streak is in serious jeopardy

BetAmerica has teamed up with Covers and Oddschecker to break down the latest news and trends from around the Association. This week NBA columnists Andrew Caley, Sam Farley and Ryan Murphy discuss Draymond Green's struggles, the Spurs' playoff streak and the league's surprising trade drought.

Draymond Green has looked awful at times this season. Is he a future Hall of Famer or just a guy who benefited from playing with generational talent?

Andrew: You would have hoped Draymond could carry more of the load for this shorthanded Warriors team. But you can’t deny Green’s importance to the Dubs dynasty. His development and emergence was key to unlocking the Warriors’ death lineup that eventually led to their first NBA title in 2014-15. He could clog the lane on defense, rebound and push the ball down the floor and distribute so quickly, it was impressive to watch. He has some good numbers in his favor: five-time All-Defense, two-time All-NBA, three-time All-Star and a Defensive Player of the Year. But not many players have made the Hall of Fame averaging fewer than 10 points per game, and his efficiency on offense has plummeted in recent years. It will be an interesting conversation down the line, but I think he needs some more strong seasons to cement his case.

Sam: Can the answer be both? Is he as good as some of his illustrious co-stars past and present? No. However, he is still a guy with three rings, a three-time All-Star and a former DPOTY, among other achievements. Draymond Green has had a superb career and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Every good team needs a glue guy, and Draymond is one of the very best. He may not be as talented as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson or Kevin Durant, but without him they wouldn’t have achieved what they did.

Ryan: Green has amassed some impressive hardware over the years, but his skill set has been badly exposed this season, now that Curry, Thompson and Durant are no longer around to fill the lane and convert his pinpoint passes into automatic buckets. There’s no shame in being a complimentary player–every great team needs them—but Green has shown he is unable to put a team on his back and generate superstar-caliber numbers. Glue guys seldom make it into the Hall, and I suspect Green will be left out in the cold, just like Ben Wallace, another championship-winning defensive menace who missed the cut in April. Now, if there was a hall of fame for kicking guys in the nuts, that would be a different story...

Is this the year that the San Antonio Spurs’ playoff run finally comes to an end?

Andrew: This might be the year this historic streak comes to an end, even with the great Gregg Popovich coaching. The big problem for the Spurs is they have been their worst with their best two players—LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan—on the court. Aldridge’s +/- per 100 possessions is a shocking -7.2 and DeRozan is at -7.6. The Spurs have also lost their shooting touch. They led the Association in three-point percentage last season. This year they rank 21st. But the worst part is their defense. San Antonio ranks 27th in defensive efficiency, which is very uncharacteristic for a Pop team. It doesn’t help that they play in the West and would have to leapfrog four teams ahead of them.

Sam: San Antonio is struggling, but let’s get this straight, they’re not miles off the rest of the pack. There’s still so much to play for, and in a competitive conference, there is every chance that any of the outsiders can force themselves into the reckoning. If any team is likely to do that, then it’s one with Pop at the helm. It’s a long season and coaching will be key, especially down the stretch. Don’t rule them out.

Ryan: Sorry Sam, but I'm ruling them out. Gregg Popovich's refusal to adapt to current trends has come back to bite San Antonio in the ass. The Spurs are presently dead last in the NBA in three-point attempts and have the worst spacing in the league with Aldridge and DeRozan both clogging up the middle. It's a recipe for disaster that ensures San Antonio will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin.

We’re in the midst of one of the longest NBA trade droughts in league history. Why do you think that is?

Andrew: This has a lot to do with the current climate of the NBA. A lot of players who may or may not have been unhappy with their playing situations have forced their way onto new teams. There was also a ton of big-name player movement, as well as contract extensions handed out this offseason. So teams may be in a bit of a holding pattern for now. It doesn’t help that the 2020 NBA free-agent class isn’t the greatest, outside of Anthony Davis. But you can still expect things to pick up heading into the trade deadline.

Sam: Tough question, but I’d say it has everything to do with how busy the summer was. It felt like there were big names moving every day. With so many stars moving via trades or free agency, it feels like a very different league compared to last year. I’m no GM, but it must take time to evaluate how a freshly built team is performing together if you want to fix any issues. Let the teams continue to build their new identities, work in new stars and we’ll inevitably get some trades appearing soon.

Ryan: It has everything to do with the fact that NBA general managers spent money like sailors on shore leave this summer. Nearly $3 billion was spent on the first day of free agency in July, and it only escalated from there, as scrubs were paid like stars and stars were paid like sheiks. The good news, for those bored with the current landscape, is that we're likely to see ample movement at the trade deadline. There are up to six teams with a legitimate shot at the title, and I expect them to pull out all the stops as they attempt to put their rosters over the top.

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