The Spurs’ schedule includes 17 back-to-back games, a fact that concerns Tim Duncan about his team’s depth.

“We’re going to find out if guys can play, if guys are ready to go; ready to contribute, because we’re going to have to use a lot of guys,” Duncan said. “Whether you want to, or not, you’re going to have to put guys out there and let them sink or swim.”

Coach Gregg Popovich has traditionally opted to rest Duncan on the back end of most back-to-back games in recent seasons.

“We’ll have to figure out who’s going to be out there and who can give us some help, game in and game out, because it’s going to be a lot of games in a lot of days and that depth is really going to make a difference,” Duncan said.