December 18, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw (33) during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 112-106. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

With a first round sweep under their belt, this means much needed rest for the San Antonio Spurs, especially those that have been injured, Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter.  Head Coach Gregg Popovich spoke with Spurs Nations’ Dan McCarney on the status of both Diaw and Splitter.

“(Diaw) did the whole practice,” Popovich said after Tuesday’s practice. “He seems to have come through it pretty good. I would think he’ll be available. (Splitter) is going to take a little bit longer, I think.”

During the regular season, Diaw missed the final four games and also the first round of the playoffs, as he is recovering from having surgery to remove a cyst on his spine.

On the season he is averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists in 22.8 minutes per game.

Teammate Tony Parker also reflected on how valuable Diaw is when he is on the floor.

“He’s like another point guard on the floor,” Tony Parker said. “He gets shots for everybody. Very unselfish. Great defense, too.”

Splitter went down in the third quarter of game three against the Los Angeles Lakers.  It would later be determined by the Spurs medical team that it is a sprained left ankle.  They [medical team] provided an unofficial estimate of 7-10 days for him being sidelined.

Everything is falling into place for San Antonio with the break that they are now starting as they await the winner of the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets.  This could provide much needed rest and recuperation for those banged up bodies.

McCarney also stated that an NBA official stated that the second round of the playoffs would not start until possibly Saturday, that being the earliest.

Apr 17, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (left), and Tony Parker (center), and Manu Ginobili (right) watch from the bench during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT

The ‘Drive For Five’ starts Sunday, as the San Antonio Spurs host the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of the Western Conference playoffs at the AT&T Center.  I can sit here and break down the Los Angeles Lakers and what we need to do to contain the Kobe-Less team but to be honest, I am not worried at all about the Lakers.

What I am worried about is the teams health.

As it has done every year for the San Antonio Spurs, the grueling 82 game season that the NBA puts forth with the teams has taken a toll on the Spurs main players.  Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw have all missed games this season with injuries.  As you can see, the four listed are key players for the success of the team.

With missing just one, the offense is depleted.  The flow of the game is not the same.  The last few games what sticks out to me the most is when Ginobili went down.  A key player coming off of the bench, you can tell where he is missed on the floor.  He is a playmaker.  What he does on the floor makes everyone around him better.  Unlike others on the bench, he can create his own shots.  He attacks the rim, takes contact, and does it with emotion.

I am not taking anything away from Tony Parker.  Parker is this teams leader.  I am surprised that Parker is not injured more.  What I mean by that is that he goes into the lane with reckless abandon and takes the contact every single time.  I do not think that there is a time that he can drive the line and not take any contact.  Strength.

This team can be scary.  One way that can happen is if they stay healthy.