San Antonio Spurs: Lineups to Expect in 2015-16 NBA Season

The San Antonio Spurs have championship talent for the 2015-16 NBA season, and that expectation will remain at the highest level until the team is either eliminated from the playoffs or hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Every team needs a little bit of luck to win the championship. Hopefully for the Spurs, the bounces will roll their way.

But the road to the Finals is a long and winding path that will absolutely include some detours. No matter where the trip ultimately ends, however, this is where it’ll begin.

Oct 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (L) shares a laugh on the court with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge (R) during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Lineup

PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Tim Duncan

Aldridge will be the featured scorer, but the Spurs will feature a balanced attack. Leonard is becoming the No. 2 option, and Green is the premier perimeter choice.

Duncan—who is the key to San Antonio’s interior defense—and Parker will have the smallest scoring roles of their career, so the veterans must adapt to being complementary options.

Second Unit

PG: Patty Mills
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: Kyle Anderson or Rasual Butler
PF: Boris Diaw
C: David West

Although Ginobili is listed as the shooting guard, he’s essentially the point guard. Ginobili is the ball-handler for the second unit, and really, he’s the only option. Mills is an outstanding long-range shooter but isn’t a true point guard.

Anderson could slide into that role, though the second-year player must beat out veteran Rasual Butler for minutes. If Diaw can’t knock down triples, the Spurs reserves desperately need a perimeter shooter, and Butler would be the preferred option over Anderson. West rounds out the unit, which is going to score a ton of point but give up plenty on defense, too.

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End of the Bench

PG: Ray McCallum
SG: Jonathon Simmons
PF: Matt Bonner
C: Boban Marjanovic

Of the four remaining bench players, McCallum should occupy the most regular spot in the rotation. With that being said, that won’t be a lot more than 10 minutes per game unless there’s an injury to a member of the backcourt. If Parker sustains an injury that sidelines him for an extended period of time, don’t be surprised if McCallum receives the temporary starting nod.

Simmons is on a guaranteed contract for 2015-16, so the Spurs will likely hang on to the shooting guard in an effort to develop him for the future. Marjanovic could step into a limited role because opponents simply must pay attention to a 7’3″ player protecting the rim. Bonner will provide a veteran presence and a bit of three-point shooting.

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