The San Antonio Spurs are like the past: they do things differently there. The more things change in San Antonio, the more they stay the same. That’s what LaMarcus Aldridge was counting on when he signed up. The Spurs part that remains the same is the chance to compete perennially for a title. The change part is Aldridge himself, a big man with uncanny range who commands double teams as well as anyone in the league.
What do you do in the double team — or how do you stop it from happening? Spread the floor with dangerous shooters on the perimeter and make the doubling defense pay a high price when Aldridge kicks the ball out. (Ask Tim Duncan if this works.) The Spurs just retained veteran floor-spreader Matt Bonner to fill that role when Danny Green’s not on the floor. Bonner is still in the league primarily for that reason only — his ability to shoot from deep. Coach Gregg Popovich once reportedly told Bonner that if he touched the ball three times in a row without shooting, he’d take him out of the game. Aldridge will find Bonner a friendly face to kick out to.
