San Antonio Spurs Season Preview

San Antonio Spurs

2014 Record: 55-27

2015 O/U 58

Who are their stars?

The Tim Duncan era lives on era lives on, but to me there are now two emerging talents and a potential beginning of a new big three in San Antonio, and the excitement around this team has not been higher since the drafting of Duncan. Kawhi Leonard is going to be the best player on the team going forward, and he is the most the valuable player on the team. It is due to his defense, and ability to guard five positions, but the way his outside shot is coming on, it seems as though he is just missing confidence, and a full season of health away from being mentioned in the top tier of talents in the NBA. The play next to Leonard, and now brought in to take the torch from Duncan is LaMarcus Aldridge, fresh off of four straight all star appearances. Not to knock Aldridges' skill on defense, but compared to Leonard he is the scorer of the two. Duncan will more than likely slide over and play beside Aldridge, and Leonard at times, but as we will get to, the depth on this team is what makes the stars even better. Tony Parker, yet another former finals MVP, along with Duncan, and Leonard, comes into year 15, and he is by far the biggest question mark on the team. His hamstrings have no chance of putting in a full season and the playoffs,and that is injury that can go at any time. How they monitor Parker, and how he is ready for the playoffs will be big, because while this team is deep, his 0 to 100 speed and finishing ability can put a teams out of reach.

Who are the Glue Guys?

Call me crazy, but I think Danny Green has the upside of an all star. At the least I think he could be looked at similarly to Klay Thompson. Head coach Greg Popovich has been molding him and his defense is far above exceptional. He is a 3-and-D guy, and arguably the most valuable of his mold in the NBA. He just really doesn't have too much game other than the catch and shoot, and the pump and side step. His ball handling needs to be better as well as his decisions, but either way to be a threat on both sides of the ball is something. The next most valuable player on this team will be Patty Mills. Mills is going to get those starts in for Parker, and when he gets hot, he is one of the most exciting players in the game. When he gets cold he is an eratic, shoot first point guard. Either way,the major minutes should pay off in the playoffs, and the Spurs ultimately care more about their health than their seed. The addition in the off season, David West is the one that puts the team over the top. Rotational players will be used, but West can play center in small lineups to ease Duncan, and obviously resume power forward roles, and can play a similar role to Aldridge. A lot of people thought David West looked a step slow last year, but when thinking, he may have been the best player in stretches last year, and now he probably will not even play back to back nights, you have to think the Spurs will keep him ready for the playoffs. West will not have to play becuase, Boris Diaw can essentially play the same role as West, and more. He is a guy who can run the ball up the court, and can play center. With little experiecned depth behidn Kawhi Leonrd, he can take minutes behidn essenitally any player from the three to the five.His style of play is hard to describe, but a basketball player he is, and an asset as well. Lastly, after seven players in a rotation, you have the 38 year old, two time all star Manu Ginobili. Ginobili should still run with the second team, and is kind of the point guard as he usually runs the offense. At his age, he really may be behind all of these players in value to the team, but for the occasinal clutch ten point spur, who is better than Manu?

Who are the rotational players?

The Spurs are just so deep it is hard to pick problems in anything. Ray McCallum is no game changer, but he has experience running the point, and can be the back up behind Mills when Parker is out. With Matt Boner, you have a guy that gives a big man, Duncan, Aldirdge, whoever a blow and puts in ten minutes a night, and maybe hits a three or two. In Rasual Butler, who have a depth veteran, and a corner three threat from the wing. In going twelve deep with those three insurance pieces, it is hard to say that the last three will see minutes, but we know Greg Poppovich, and all fifteen players play. Between Boban Marjanovic, Kyle Anderson, and Jonathan Simmons you have three guys with little NBA experience, but it seems as though there is upside. In watching Anderson in college, I hope he gets minutes because he does have potential as a Leonard back up in a Diaw type role. Marjanovic will see minutes at center due to the age of the four players above him, but he is a complete unknown in the NBA, and in America. Simmons, another unknown can get minutes at the wing, and even gives them the chance to give Butler nights off. They realy are that deep.

Over/Under Where do they rank? How far do the go?

As far as the over under, I think Mills, McCallum, Anderson, and Marjanovic are going to see minutes. It can result in wins, it can also result in losses. I would assume they are more worried about the playoffs and would look at the under. As for how far they go, the sky is the limit. This team, if healthy is the deepest, and most experiecend on paper. To top the Warriors, Parker will have to prove he is ready to go four series'. Until I see it, the Warriors are the healthier overall team, but given the odds, the Spurs offer more value in a coin flip.

Under 58 wins, 2nd in the Western conference, 2nd in the NBA