[sasaint]

Originally Posted by TheATLien

This is just hypothetical, but I could definitely see Duncan retiring early. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

You are obviously not from the San Antonio area. Duncan just resigned a contract before last season, taking a pay cut to be able to re-sign Parker and Ginobili and be able to re-tool around the big 3. It doesn't expire until after 2012. Duncan is WAY committed to playing. IF he retired, the Spurs might be in big trouble. BUT Ian Mahinmi was 1st team NBDL, plus they have the rights to Splitter, reputedly one of the best players in Europe. They will be young and raw, requiring time to develop. But Mahinmi will be on the team next year WITH Duncan. Depending on how many of their old guys retire, Splitter may also be on the team.

[budselig]

depends on health. ginobili is one of the best players in the league - top ten, and arguably top five - and with him and parker combined, healthy the entire season, and one or two supra-replacement level players taking duncan's place, and greg popovich, the team shouldn't have trouble getting within the forties and competing for fifty wins.

of course, being the go-to guy would likely wear down an already fairly gimpy ginobili even more rapidly, and the spurs would be in huge trouble with only parker as their go-to scorer, struggle to reach .500 and quite possibly miss the playoffs entirely.

[Spaceman Spiff]

42 games max, not enough to make the playoffs. You need 48+ for that, and then Portland is coming strong, Clippers might be healthy, Kings aren't any slouches, and Golden State is still right there. They would have no shot at the playoffs. Also defenses will now be locked onto Manu. I think he'll put up the same numbers as this year but wildly inefficient.