Tony Parker Hurt, Spurs Catch Another Break

It may be better to be lucky than good.
But, when you are lucky and good, then you are great.

The San Antonio Spurs have been great this season.
Having played well all year, they have also had luck on their side throughout.

Sunday versus the Memphis Grizzlies, the Spurs had another stroke of luck.
Point guard Tony Parker injured his calf muscle and will be out 2-4 weeks.
The breaks just don't stop for these Spurs.

If you are thinking I don't like Tony Parker, you're wrong.

There is an upside to his injury that far outweighs the downside.
Provided Tony Parker's calf injury does not linger beyond the next few weeks, this time off for Parker is just what the Spurs needed.

Having lost their starting point guard, upcoming games against the Miami Heat, L.A. Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks will now be meaningful to the Spurs, too.
Were the Spurs to be at full strength for any of these games, the games would be far more important to their opponents than they would be for San Antonio.

1. The Heat have to prove to themselves that they can beat an NBA elite team.
2. The Spurs already lead the season series against the Lakers 2-0
3. The Spurs have a huge lead in the division against the Mavs.

These three Spurs' opponents would have needed a win far more desperately than the Spurs prior to Parker's injury.
With Parker out, Coach Pop and his squad now have a reason to take a more serious interest in the match-ups.

And, even if they lose games against the Heat, Lakers, and Mavs while Parker sits, they win.
No one expects them to beat these three teams without their starting point guard.
For the Spurs, the games will be more about getting their young guards some quality minutes against quality teams.

But, what if they win any of the games above?
How much confidence will that give the Spurs bench?
And how demoralizing will that be to the losing team?
Those are the mental edges that can make a difference come playoff time.

Spurs guards George Hill, Gary Neal, and Chris Quin will run some point while Parker is out.
While this is Hill's third year with the Spurs, Neal and Quin are in their first year in Pop's system.
The experience they gain over the next few weeks and a rested Parker will help the Spurs in the playoffs.
All thanks to Parker's injury.

One of the best benches in the NBA will certainly get better over the next 2-4 weeks.
Will the breaks never end for this year's Spurs?

The Spurs watch as the Billycock b-ball team blows them out.

BC For Life Foo!