Winning one game (or losing one game) with or without Tony supports neither side of the argument. It's not about one game.
The system isn't made for Tim, Tony or Manu. The system is designed to get the most out of support players. The system allows players like Green, Neal, Kawhi, Diaw and Splitter to focus on very specific roles within the offense. It's like workers on an assembly line. Players with the requisite talent, as well as unselfish stars, can be plugged into the system and the machine keeps rolling with the players being more or less interchangeable. But the thing that separates Tony from the rest of the team is that he can consistently distribute, score and create his own offense independent of the system. When the system breaks down, Tony is able to take over. Without the system is Tony capable of carrying the team all the way to a le? On his own, I don't think so. But even a prime Kobe Bryant, on his own, was just lucky to get the Lakers to the playoffs. In 04-05, without Shaq and the Triangle, the Lakers didn't make the playoffs. In 05-06, with Phil's great system, Kobe couldn't get the Lakers out of the first round. Is Bryant, one of the top 2 players of the past 10 years, not a "star" either?
No, Tony isn't on the same level as Bryant. And no, Tony doesn't have the same garbage players around him that Bryant had. But you're fooling yourself if you don't think that this Spurs team - without Tim and Manu - would be a perennial playoff team with Tony leading the way. Don't confuse Tony's unselfishness, and willingness to play within the system, for the fact that he could go for 30 points a night if he wanted to. As talented and as much of a star as Chris Paul is, I think Tony has done more with his ability than Paul has, especially within the confines of Pop's system. Looking at his consistent production and career achievements, I think that makes him just as much of a star.