One man goes down, the next one steps up. That’s the mentality the Spurs will have to personify as they head into Game 3 without guard Tony Parker, who they lost for the year to a knee injury late on Wednesday.
For LaMarcus Aldridge, it should mean a return to being a true second option once again. The Spurs forward needs to assert himself on the block and find a way to score easier baskets. It also wouldn’t hurt if he could regain his touch from mid-range, which has gone missing in the postseason:
For Patty Mills, it should also mean more of a featured role, either stepping in as a starter or just taking on more minutes in Parker’s stead.