Although the Spurs have retained head coach Greg Popovich, over the last two seasons they have lost future Hall of Fame power forward Tim Duncan, shooting guard Manu Ginobili, small forward Kawhi Leonard, and point guard Tony Parker.

Paul Pierce, who battled against several of those great San Antonio teams, expressed that the core of the modern-day Spurs rested in those four players, and with all of them gone, the Spurs have lost their identity.

The Spurs have qualified for the postseason in each of the last 21 seasons, the longest streak in all the major American sports leagues, but the Spurs are 9-9 this season and that streak may be in jeopardy.

“The core is completely gone now,” Pierce said. “No Parker, no Ginobili, no Kawhi, and there was just something about the aura of those guys when they walked. Teams feared the Spurs.”