1997 Spurs Trot Out One of the Most Depleted Lineups in Team History (Pop's First Year)

January 10, 1997 - No David Robinson. No Sean Elliott. No Charles Smith. No Chuck Person. No Dominique Wilkins. This snowy mid-January matchup between the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs was a bleak affair. Overwhelmed by a rash of injuries, first year head coach Gregg Popovich was forced to enlist a starting lineup in which its leading scorer averaged less than 13 points per game (31-year-old Vernon Maxwell). The Pistons led by as many as 24 points before a garbage time string of 3-pointers from Maxwell and Corey Alexander made the final score, 84-78, significantly more respectable. The 25-8 Pistons were led by Grant Hill, who tallied 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the win.

Popovich utilized an 8-man rotation for most of the evening, bringing Cadillac Anderson, Cory Alexander, and Vinny Del Negro off the bench for a semblance of firepower.

The Spurs went on to finish the season with a 20-62 record, 40 games behind the first-seeded Utah Jazz. Such futility ultimately resulted in landing the first pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. San Antonio's eventually selection, Tim Duncan, would serve as the central piece of a Spurs franchise that'd go on to win five championships over the course of his career.

Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199701100DET.html

Видео 1997 Spurs Trot Out One of the Most Depleted Lineups in Team History (Pop's First Year) канала Ryan Van Dusen