SAN ANTONIO — Nearly a month into his first season in 20 years without Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich still fields the same question whenever a team his San Antonio Spurs face for the first time shows up on the schedule.
“What’s it like walking into your locker room and not seeing Timmy?”
It happened again before Monday’s 96-91 win over the injury ravaged Dallas Mavericks, who played without all-time franchise great Dirk Nowitzki, as well as key players Deron Williams, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea and Andrew Bogut.
Popovich’s response always navigates the same theme: He and the eight players who remain from last season miss Duncan but life and the NBA move on.