This Spurs lost to the better team. Props to the Mavericks for advancing. Good luck.
As far as the Spurs are concerned, they still have more gas in the tank. Tim Duncan will have the longest offseason of his career to get his knees right. Tony Parker proved he's taken his game to another level and will be able to carry a bigger portion of the load for the foreseeable future. Manu Ginobili will get healthy, he'll be rested and and he'll once again be once of the best players in the league next year.
Bruce Bowen has another year in him. George Hill should really blossom next season. The Spurs should be able to fill out the roster with younger and better pieces.
Even though any objective Spurs fan knew the Spurs were extreme longshots to do anything this postseason, losing still hurt. Especially to the Mavs. But in the long run, this early loss well help the team. More rest and the roster's deficiencies are now painfully obvious. Winning a few more games in the postseason would have been great but escaping without a major injury to Duncan or Parker is way more important. Duncan could have hurt himself playing on one leg, Parker could have hurt himself trying to carry the whole load.
After a decade on the grind, this rest will do the team good. Come back next year with the Big Three intact, get refueled with better role players and make a run at #5.
Thank you to the Spurs for the effort. Thank you to Spurs fans for supporting your team.
The Spurs will be back.
Believe.