Even loaded, it will be difficult to end up with HCA throughout, tbh

[ElNono]

I was just looking through the divisions, and while the SW division looks like a league of it's own, the Pacific division, especially with the Clippers losing a bit of steam, is just way too weak.

Dubs should just run circles around those teams, and frankly, 65+ wins doesn't seem out of the question for them.

Add to that the weak East and the Cavs trying to get better, and that's another challenge...

So, realistically speaking, one of the priorities for this team is to build the "road warriors" mentality, because I think we're going to need it.

[dabom]

I just want 2nd place in the west. 62 wins and maybe have homecourt vs the east.

[cutewizard]

Enter David West, the grizzled warrior

the super sheriff

The Wyatt Earp of the Spurs, hahahahahahaha

[cutewizard]

we can do 61 wins ill bet ya

is that good enough for HCA??

[BanditHiro]

Warriors are probably going to be suffering all those injuries everybody else got last year yet they miraculously avoided. They made a deal with the Devil for a ring now its time for them to get burned.

[popdagreat]

if our players are clicking on all cylinders all minutes will be monitored and saved for the playoffs.
and remember dubs i dont think had one major injury(bogut?), thats why they were able to win all those games.

edit: bandit beat me to it.

[21209]

If Tony Parker is injury prone and ineffective as he was last season, they might not have HCA in the first round again.

while not a big CoJo fan, losing a PG that knows the system could be costly if he's not replaced.

[popdagreat]

having a healthy patty mills would have given us a few extra wins. remember we would have been #2 if we beat the pelicans.

[spursistan]

Going to need a top 2 seed for sure this time around..Spurs got bitten in the ass last year by not taking some teams/games seriously in the regular season..I think the Warriors will be less urgent about it and might not get fortunate with injuries like they did in 2015 though they should be a 60-62 win team easily with that gutted division..

[UNT Eagles 2016]

We can survive without HCA vs the Warriors, but we need the 2nd best seed in the NBA to win the title. We cannot afford to not have HCA in the Finals vs the East and Lebron, you know how that turned out in 2013. Also, if we do get the 2nd seed, it will be interesting to see who gets the 3rd and 4th seed, since the Thunder will be guaranteed no worse than 4th with the Blazers out of the picture and the rest of that division just horrible.

We must focus and win the easy games; we did a great job of this in 2014 (despite a lousy record against the top teams), but coughed up way too many gimmes last year and that killed us at the bitter end.

[Fireball]

Warriors will not have their foot on the gas pedal like last season ... but I agree that we are too thin on some positions to survive this one stretch that will surely come where 3-4 players are injured at the same time and Pop rests other guys. This shit and the brutal December schedule costs us last year (when we still were deep). No hustling CoJo who can take over the starting PG spot for a month, no Belli to hit threes or cutting to the basket, no Big for Manu to play P&R with (and I mean roll ... not pop) ... it will be tough to get HCA. Hopefully the schedule will not be a complete pile of shit like last season.

[ElNono]

I mean, just look at the SW division... Spurs, Mavs, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans.... all playoff teams last season, all were already stacked or reloaded with more talent. These are the teams we're going to be playing the most.

Then on the Pacific: Warriors, Clippers, Suns, Kings, Lakers... Suns are worse, Kings and Lakers are the same dogshit.

Northwest: OKC, Blazers, Jazz, Nuggets, Wolves

Our SOS is going to be crazy difficult compared to the Dubs, and even the Clippers or OKC, and you gotta add the required rest on top... just gonna be tough.

[mrjap2x]

It will be nice if the 4 teams they'll play just 3 times will be from the Division of OKC.

How does NBA determine that anyway?

[Fireball]

Yes it will be ...

... but it I am still looking forward to it more than ever. With Timmy's career nearing its end I told my girlfriend that the times of getting up at 3am in the morning to watch the Spurs live are soon over ...guess I was wrong. This team will continue to win 50+ games ...

[spursistan]

Yep..i could see 8 Ls between those matchups (Mavs, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans). We simply need to take care of our East chunk of schedule (no more stinkers vs Knicks/Det) and hopefully make up in those almost yearly B2B "scheduled" losses against a now weakened Blazers team, which i can't remember we ever won the season series against them..

All in all, health will play factor in SW race. Mavs have it in Parsons' knee and Wes' achilles; Grizzlies Conley's ankles and Zbo knee; Rockets in Howard back , Pelicans in AD all body and ours in Kawhi's hands..

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Last season's team never really clicked properly. Unlike most previous seasons, it got off to a poor start and had a particularly terrible December and into January. I remember a run of 7 games out of 10 (or thereabouts) that we either: gave the win to the other team through uncharacteristic, horrific fourth-quarter execution and plentiful mistakes; or were beaten by really bad luck. It was a sequence including the two consecutive overtime losses. If we win even one of those 7 games, we are the #2 seed.

The Spurs cannot afford that this year - we need to start strongly like previous years, pulverise teams for the first 20 games when they are in disarray, and then continue to win every game against mediocre or poor opposition through the middle of the season. And avoiding a large swoon in the January dog days is also important. It doesn't matter whether we start beating good teams until mid-February.

If the rhythm of the season goes like that - as it has quite a few times in the past - I think 60 wins, second in the West, and HCA against the East, is not an unreasonable expectation. Let's say 8 losses in the division, that leaves 14 for the rest of the season. So, we need to beat the teams we should and not give games away like last season.

The major variable with this team though is age - is this the year the wheels fall off for Timmy (I doubt it), Manu (maybe... but I hope not), Tony (hopefully taking the summer off will rejuvenate him - he played for three or four off-season straight before this one), Westy (35 and plays a rugged style - how is his body holding up?), etc. Managing the minutes this year to have everyone peaking in June is a Gordian Knot, but if anyone can do it, Pop can.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

It will be nice if the 4 teams they'll play just 3 times will be from the Division of OKC.

How does NBA determine that anyway?

No. It's 2 teams from each division that isn't your division but is in your conference. The other 10 teams (the other 4 in-division, plus 3 from each other division within the conference) you have to play 4 times. The cycle rotates every six years, so you play every non-division conference team 4 times four out of every six years, and only 3 times the remaining two years.

For instance, we played OKC only three times last year, so we're getting them 4 times next year.

[hater]

If we don't get a top 3 seed it would be the biggest chokejob in the history of human social interactions.

Yes worse than game 6

[therealtruth]

The 2 most important things. Good health and getting the defense great.

[spurspokesman]

We can survive without HCA vs the Warriors, but we need the 2nd best seed in the NBA to win the title. We cannot afford to not have HCA in the Finals vs the East and Lebron, you know how that turned out in 2013. Also, if we do get the 2nd seed, it will be interesting to see who gets the 3rd and 4th seed, since the Thunder will be guaranteed no worse than 4th with the Blazers out of the picture and the rest of that division just horrible.

We must focus and win the easy games; we did a great job of this in 2014 (despite a lousy record against the top teams), but coughed up way too many gimmes last year and that killed us at the bitter end.

[jag]

If we don't get a top 3 seed it would be the biggest chokejob in the history of human social interactions.

Yes worse than game 6

That's retarded

[spurspokesman]

The warriors were taken to the brink by a depleted cavs team. If were clicking on all cylinders and healthy we will hand there a** to them, not mentioning the wing stop. Aldridge and west will have a field day on them also. I just see having a better record than the cavs as a priority as I think we still beat GS with or without HCA. Point is the spurs can shut down there motor(Curry, Thompson) like no other team.

[Robz4000]

Just get HCA over the Thunder. Dubs and Cavs can be beat without it imo.

[SPURt]

Health, that's the biggest enemy here. I'm gonna beat that drum like it owes me money. It's hard to imagine the Warriors avoiding injury an entire season and through the Finals two seasons in a row. West, Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan aren't gonna play all 82.

[100%duncan]

As long as we get the 2nd seed and maybe hca in the finals. Lebron always coasts in the regular season

[cjw]

Because you don't play yourself, you actually play less games against your division (4x4 = 16) as you do against other divisions in your conference (3x4 + 2x3 = 18). So this shouldn't be an issue.

[cd98]

Our division will be a bloodbath. But the good news is that we are close to being as deep as we were the last two years but with a more talented roster. Depth will help us compete for the best record. We just need a big to muscle people, a backup PG that can play defense (or one that can shoot), and a veteran wing. All doable.

[hater]

That's retarded

Disagree.

Biggest chokehob in history.

Most NBA teams are at NBDL level only a handful are worth a shit. It's the state of the leagye

If we don't get top 3 seed season is a failure

[soxxx]

I just don't want to be forced into a position where we hate to win two road series against the dubs and thunder.

If they both stay healthy, both teams will win 60+ games. The Spurs will have to win 60+ also but I don't see why we can't. We won 56 last season despite playing like crap half the season.

[SpursFan86]

Warriors are being criminally underrated at this point. They just won 67 games and had an all-time great point differential, and they're bringing all their rotation guys back. Curry, Thompson, Draymond, and Barnes are all young and could easily improve. They'll have another year of chemistry/familiarity with each other, plus Kerr is no longer a rookie coach and has gotten his feet wet. They caught a bit of a break with us getting Aldridge - a lot of people consider us the favorites now and that means there isn't going to be so much pressure on GS to repeat.

Also, the Cavs went 33-3 last season after the Mozgov trade. They're bringing everyone back and will likely make a few additions to beef up their bench. The team won't have to go through the growing pains they did last season, and like Kerr, Blatt should be more comfortable now that he's been in the league a year.

Hate to rain on the parade, but I don't care who we picked up: GS and Cleveland are most likely going to be just as good as us, maybe even better. OKC could be as well, but KD's health is a major question mark at this point.

Getting the 1st seed would be huge. Ideally, we'd like GS/OKC to play each other in the 2nd round so that we only have to go through one of them to make the Finals. Having to beat both of them AND Cleveland is asking a hell of a lot.

[look_at_g_shred]

I agree with this. Win the games you are supposed to. Take care of business at home. The Spurs can't do any worse on the road than they did last year, so just win out.

[Vito Corleone]

The biggest choke job in NBA history belongs to the 2004 Lakers with Karl Malone Gary payton and the rest of the lakers. How do you not win with that group. Oh yea, you have Kobe and his ultra massive ego.

[GSH]

I was just looking through the divisions, and while the SW division looks like a league of it's own, the Pacific division, especially with the Clippers losing a bit of steam, is just way too weak.

Dubs should just run circles around those teams, and frankly, 65+ wins doesn't seem out of the question for them.

Add to that the weak East and the Cavs trying to get better, and that's another challenge...

So, realistically speaking, one of the priorities for this team is to build the "road warriors" mentality, because I think we're going to need it.


Agree with most of that 100%. Southwest is going to be a torture chamber. Cavs playing in the East gives them a huge advantage in piling up regular season wins.

The only thing I don't think is automatic is GS posting 65+ wins. They could, obviously. But they're still playing in the West, and it's a lot harder than most people think to have back-to-back seasons like the last one. We could debate why letdowns happen, but they do happen. One thing I can just about guarantee - they won't win 65+ with Steph Curry shooting like he did in the Finals. Maybe it was the injury, but he wasn't the same in the Finals. I know Iggy stepped up, but Curry's ability to hit no-look buzzer-beaters from the parking lot had a lot to do with that gaudy regular season record. Plus, every Spur fan here should remember that when you're the Champion, every team is gunning for you every night.

That being said, the Spurs are still going to be making some adjustments this season, and winning 60+ is a feat that is mostly reserved for squads that are pretty much intact from the last season. Getting LMA into the lineup will be easy. Finding the right balance to get the most out of him will be more difficult. There are going to be those nights when things just don't click. And you can't stand too many of those and still win 60+. Aldridge and West have never been though a Rodeo Road Trip. If everything comes together on the road this year, the way it usually does, I think you will be able to look back at this thread and say, "I told you so."

I would be happy with the Spurs getting something in the neighborhood of 57-58 wins, and I wouldn't be surprised at 61 out of Golden State, and 64 from Cleveland. Road Warrior Champions has a nice ring to it.


One thing I think should be said: I was a big Danny Green fan from the first pre-season game he played here. And I was a big Danny Green fan when the comments on ST were almost universally against him. But if that sonofabitch doesn't step up in the playoffs this time, he needs to be put on the Red Rocket Express and run out of town. I know he still hits some pretty big shots. But if he wasn't already 0-for-everything, those big shots wouldn't be necessary. His shooting "slumps" conspicuously center around the post-season (like someone else we all know and hate on). If he had been anything LIKE consistent, the Spurs would have been riding consecutive titles, and would have coasted through the first two rounds last season. He's still my boy... but this is his last chance to stay that way.

[pgardn]

If I use the Tony Parker we finished the season with, we won't need to worry about the season or playoffs, we are toast. If I use the Tony Parker that helped us almost get the #2 seed during that huge regular season run, we are in the finals.

Getting Aldridge and West is huge, putting the pieces together will make this regular season very worthwhile. We get to see how the master pokes and prods a distinctly different set of talent. I fully expect meltdowns as we attempt to adjust. Aldridge thrived on the ISO. What happens now? If he scores 24 ppg with the same amount of ball in hand time we are in trouble IMO.

[tmtcsc]

I guess I am one of the few around here that don't think much of the Warriors. You can throw in the Rockets and Thunder too.

The Warriors had a terrific regular season and an easy path to the finals. Once there, they were challenged by an injury riddled Cavs team. I give them credit for doing what they had to do but lets not get this twisted, they weren't anything special or dominant. And the Thunder? Are we still talking about them? You think a manic Westbrook, gimpy Durant and role players like Ibaka and Kanter are going to make some noise? They will be fortunate to land a top 4 seed.

Not worried.

[spursince#99]

Is this a serious thread??

[spursince#99]

I guess I am one of the few around here that don't think much of the Warriors. You can throw in the Rockets and Thunder too.

The Warriors had a terrific regular season and an easy path to the finals. Once there, they were challenged by an injury riddled Cavs team. I give them credit for doing what they had to do but lets not get this twisted, they weren't anything special or dominant. And the Thunder? Are we still talking about them? You think a manic Westbrook, gimpy Durant and role players like Ibaka and Kanter are going to make some noise? They will be fortunate to land a top 4 seed.

Not worried.


Maybe they're just being cautiously pessimistic but I agree with your post.

[SpursFan86]

The Warriors had a terrific regular season and an easy path to the finals. Once there, they were challenged by an injury riddled Cavs team. I give them credit for doing what they had to do but lets not get this twisted, they weren't anything special or dominant.

Except they absolutely were special/dominant lol. In the history of the NBA, only 5 teams have won more games than the Warriors did last season. Only 7 teams have finished with a better margin of victory than the Warriors. The Warriors average margin of victory last year was +10.10 - for comparison, the '14 Spurs were +7.72.

I mean what makes more sense: looking at the entire scope of the season + playoffs (a 90+ game sample size), or focusing on one series (a 6 game sample size)?

Almost every team (even the all-time great ones) has a playoff series where they don't look invincible. The Spurs got pushed to the brink by a mediocre Mavs team in 2014. The '08 Celtics won 66 games and had one of the best defenses we've ever seen, but it took them 7 games to get past the Hawks who couldn't even win 40 games.

[pgardn]

To GSH:

This is why we need a competent point for Green. He must have handlers around him to create. His offense needs to be a threat so we can keep him on the floor for his defense.

[pgardn]

Is this a serious thread??

Whats not serious is ESPN projecting 66 wins. Not the number, just that they would even try to predict something like this. But I should know better.

[SpursFan86]

Whats not serious is ESPN projecting 66 wins. Not the number, just that they would even try to predict something like this. But I should know better.

It's strictly based off a statistical model (which uses RPM)...it's not like they have guys over there seriously trying to predict things right now. Pelton just has a model and is running numbers through it.

[pgardn]

It's strictly based off a statistical model (which uses RPM)...it's not like they have guys over there seriously trying to predict things right now. Pelton just has a model and is running numbers through it.

I understand this. I could write that program. I would just be embarrassed to put it in headlines. Like I said, I should know better. It generates discussion. It could be that the West is so strong that a 60 win season is really a great effort for the #1 seed.

[Cry Havoc]

I mean, just look at the SW division... Spurs, Mavs, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans.... all playoff teams last season, all were already stacked or reloaded with more talent. These are the teams we're going to be playing the most.

That is honestly the most loaded division in sports history.

The Pelicans are going to be the worst team of that bunch by a WIDE margin, and they could easily win 45-50 games this year. Hell, they'd probably be a 3-4 seed out East.

What a monster conference and division. Every single team in the SW will make the playoffs if things continue as they are. Portland should fall out and OKC will take their place.

[Aztecfan03]

That is honestly the most loaded division in sports history.

The Pelicans are going to be the worst team of that bunch by a WIDE margin, and they could easily win 45-50 games this year. Hell, they'd probably be a 3-4 seed out East.

What a monster conference and division. Every single team in the SW will make the playoffs if things continue as they are. Portland should fall out and OKC will take their place.

with declines in portland and LAC, pelicans may even get 7 seed in the west. probably not likely, though. I think one of clippers or portland finds a way.

[Mugen]

Barring injury, the Spurs are gonna roll tbh. IDGAF about the division.....Nut up ElNono.....

[in2deep]

Spurs losing to anyone but the Cavs, Warriors, OKC at home would be a bad loss.

Spurs losing to anyone but the Cavs, Warriors, Grizz, Mavs, Rockets on the road would be a bad loss

that's about 8 losses. Pencil in 10 more losses for resting, injury and trying out stuff. That's 18 losses. A record of 64 wins should be doable with the amount of crappy teams in the NBA these days.

So no. We SHOULD get #1 (or #2) seed (in the West). anything less and we had a bad season. Doesn't mean that we still could get going in the playoffs.

But I agree, avoid season ending injuries and I'll be happy with 1-4 seed.

[Cry Havoc]

with declines in portland and LAC, pelicans may even get 7 seed in the west. probably not likely, though. I think one of clippers or portland finds a way.

I don't see Portland winning 40 games this year. Even if they have the talent, their starting lineup is going to lose a lot of games before it finds its identity. Going to be rough in a talent packed conference.

[FromWayDowntown]

The divisional difference is not insignificant, but where it becomes potentially problematic is in who gets 4 games vs. which teams.

Last year, the Spurs' schedule gave them only 3 games against OKC and GST (along with LAL and UTH).

This year, the Spurs will get 4 a piece with both OKC and GST (my guess would be that they have 3 games with Phoenix and the Clippers from the Pacific and 3 games with Denver and Portland from the Northwest). GST and OKC will each get a 2-game pass against the Southwest. If they each get that pass and, say, GST gets 4 games with Denver, Portland, and Minnesota while OKC gets 4 games with Sacramento, Phoenix, and the Clippers, each of them would have at least a small scheduling advantage over the Spurs.

The problem with being in the Southwest is that if you have even one bad 10-day stretch, you could be buried pretty quickly.

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZPrzSyJuyM

[GSH]

The Pelicans are going to be the worst team of that bunch by a WIDE margin, and they could easily win 45-50 games this year. Hell, they'd probably be a 3-4 seed out East.



By the end of last season, the Pelicans were looking pretty solid. I honestly don't keep up with the league like I used to, so I don't know who's gotten better or worse. But the NO team we saw at the end of the season would easily be a 4 seed in the East. The Cavs weren't that good of a team until the trade deadline last year. If the Pelicans could manage to make a couple of trades, add a couple of the right pieces? They could surprise a lot of people. Davis is a franchise level player.

I agree with you. This division is looking more stacked than the old Cowboy, Redskin, Giant divisions in the NFL. The winner of the Southwest will either be a battle-tested juggernaut, or beaten half to death. That's another reason I don't think the Spurs win 65 games, like people are saying. Pop is going to rest guys, to make sure they have something in the tank at the end. The bench is going to lose some of those games.

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nqwqQBkofg

[cutewizard]

Some are arguing that David West is old, like the big three.....

But they didnt realize that David West , starting power forward and leader of the Pacers, is going to play in our second unit!!!!!!!

West is going to be the back up of LMA!!!!!!!

thats scary.....

[ElNono]

Barring injury, the Spurs are gonna roll tbh. IDGAF about the division.....Nut up ElNono.....

I'm pulling a Robz to make some conversation, we have 4 months to go...

Are you going back to the glitzy mexican avatar, tbh?

[Mugen]

I'm pulling a Robz to make some conversation, we have 4 months to go...

Are you going back to the glitzy mexican avatar, tbh?

Nah, gotta give the Godfather RC his due tbh...

[ElNono]

Nah, gotta give the Godfather RC his due tbh...

you're dead to me now :lol

[Mugen]

:lol

[Horse]

Warriors are being criminally underrated at this point. They just won 67 games and had an all-time great point differential, and they're bringing all their rotation guys back. Curry, Thompson, Draymond, and Barnes are all young and could easily improve. They'll have another year of chemistry/familiarity with each other, plus Kerr is no longer a rookie coach and has gotten his feet wet. They caught a bit of a break with us getting Aldridge - a lot of people consider us the favorites now and that means there isn't going to be so much pressure on GS to repeat.

Also, the Cavs went 33-3 last season after the Mozgov trade. They're bringing everyone back and will likely make a few additions to beef up their bench. The team won't have to go through the growing pains they did last season, and like Kerr, Blatt should be more comfortable now that he's been in the league a year.

Hate to rain on the parade, but I don't care who we picked up: GS and Cleveland are most likely going to be just as good as us, maybe even better. OKC could be as well, but KD's health is a major question mark at this point.

Getting the 1st seed would be huge. Ideally, we'd like GS/OKC to play each other in the 2nd round so that we only have to go through one of them to make the Finals. Having to beat both of them AND Cleveland is asking a hell of a lot.

David lee sparked them in the finals. He will be gone, the only player on their team who is not soft pussy.

[spurraider21]

DDivisions don't matter. You play other conference teams as many times as you play your divisions teams

[raybies]

I actually believe this team has a shot at 70. With the division winners not getting priority seeding and the talked about lengthening of the season, I don't see why it's not possible. Does anyone else remember hearing that they want to do away with 4 games in 5 nights or limit them? I expect this to happen next season, and if it does then the Spurs have as good a shot as anybody to take HCA throughout. I think it will come down to injuries. It's not like there is no continuity. We have the Big 3, Kawhi, Danny, Boris, and Patty. A lot of what we do will be the same and that chemistry will be there. Also, there could be an some kind of an adjustment period, but i don't think it's gonna cost us much if any. They are just switching in Aldridge to Duncan's spot and Duncan will play Splitter's role. There will be new wrinkles of course, and LA should see a lot of possessions but i expect there to be a lot of motion still.

[ElNono]

DDivisions don't matter. You play other conference teams as many times as you play your divisions teams

I thought you played the division more... my bad

[Cry Havoc]

By the end of last season, the Pelicans were looking pretty solid. I honestly don't keep up with the league like I used to, so I don't know who's gotten better or worse. But the NO team we saw at the end of the season would easily be a 4 seed in the East. The Cavs weren't that good of a team until the trade deadline last year. If the Pelicans could manage to make a couple of trades, add a couple of the right pieces? They could surprise a lot of people. Davis is a franchise level player.

I agree with you. This division is looking more stacked than the old Cowboy, Redskin, Giant divisions in the NFL. The winner of the Southwest will either be a battle-tested juggernaut, or beaten half to death. That's another reason I don't think the Spurs win 65 games, like people are saying. Pop is going to rest guys, to make sure they have something in the tank at the end. The bench is going to lose some of those games.

Obviously it could change with trades/injuries, but I see the West shaking down like this:

The elite:
Golden State - 62 wins
San Antonio - 60 wins
Tornado Alley - 58 wins

Contenders:
Houston - 56 wins
Memphis - 55 wins

A trade or two away:
Dallas - 53 wins
Pelicans - 53 wins
Clippers - 49 wins

Could surprise people:
Utah - 44 wins +/- 3 wins

[DPG21920]

Every single team in the SWD made the playoffs last year :lol. They all got better. It's on - despite how stacked SA is. This is one of the best conferences in NBA history and that is not hyperbole.

Even teams like UTA while flawed are capable of being a tough game night-to-night.

[Brazil]

This team will need a time to gel tbh warriors are an oiled machine they will get the west quite easily imo

[GSH]

Obviously it could change with trades/injuries, but I see the West shaking down like this:

The elite:
Golden State - 62 wins
San Antonio - 60 wins
Tornado Alley - 58 wins

Contenders:
Houston - 56 wins
Memphis - 55 wins

A trade or two away:
Dallas - 53 wins
Pelicans - 53 wins
Clippers - 49 wins

Could surprise people:
Utah - 44 wins +/- 3 wins


I think if there were a contest to Guess The West, I would find myself wishing I had guessed that list. I'm sure it will change as the season progresses, but right now that looks pretty good.

[SilverSpur]

How about we do what we do every year and play Spurs Basketball win 50+ games and with our additions win 60+.
We started off slow last year with KL injury. we could have won 60. Now with LMA and West, plus the new playoff seeding COME ON MAN!

[UNT Eagles 2016]

This team will need a time to gel tbh warriors are an oiled machine they will get the west quite easily imo

Do you think the Spurs will have a better shot in 2016-17 then?

[Brazil]

Do you think the Spurs will have a better shot in 2016-17 then?

Just to be sure there is no misunderstanding I'm saying they take west during regular season. For a championship it's too soon to tell tbh

i don't think Spurs have a better shot in 16-17 no

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Spurs best chance for another title is this year, since I think this is Manu's last year and who knows if Parker just completely falls off the face of the basketball earth after this year...

[rmt]

Will be hard to get off to a running start with so many major pieces to be integrated. I think depth will be a problem especially on the perimeter. Spurs seem front court heavy with Parker and Manu unable to play long minutes/all games. Need a backup center to spell TD and a wing who can hit the 3. The problem with #2 in the West is playing either GSW/OKC in the WCSF (if Spurs get there).

[Spurtacular]

Dubs just lost Lee.

Also, slow down one of Thompson or Curry and have a good shot to win the game. Teams are gonna game plan better against the Dubs. And if Curry or Thompson are injured for any length of time, they suddenly become a maybe slightly better than .500 team.

[Spurtacular]

This team will need a time to gel tbh warriors are an oiled machine they will get the west quite easily imo

They're a team that relies heavily on the three from two players only; and they did not have an impressive post season run really. They beat schlubs. They didn't have to beat the Spurs or Clippers or a full strength Cavs team.

[Spurtacular]

Obviously it could change with trades/injuries, but I see the West shaking down like this:

The elite:
Golden State - 62 wins
San Antonio - 60 wins
Tornado Alley - 58 wins

Contenders:
Houston - 56 wins
Memphis - 55 wins

A trade or two away:
Dallas - 53 wins
Pelicans - 53 wins
Clippers - 49 wins

Could surprise people:
Utah - 44 wins +/- 3 wins

I agree with that mostly. I can see the Spurs putting it together quickly and having an 08 Celtics type of run with higher win totals and a championship postseason. If OKC doesn't have glaring holes, I see them up there. I'd take the under on the Dubs hitting 60 wins let alone 62.

[popdagreat]

just stay healthy, were going to be laser focused this year.

[aal04]

Number 1 priority by a country mile = health
HCA = luxury we can afford to lose.

[SpursBig3s]

I4L

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Number 1 priority by a country mile = health
HCA = luxury we can afford to lose.

Agreed, health is of the utmost important but hopefully they can pull off both health and the #1 seed since it would let OKC and GSW beat each other up...

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Number 1 priority by a country mile = health
HCA = luxury we can afford to lose.

Ummmmm... no. We're 3-0 in championships all-time in the TD era with HCA throughout. Else, we're 2-13. It was certainly the difference last year.

[Beaverfuzz]

I just want 2nd place in the west. 62 wins and maybe have homecourt vs the east.

top 3 is just fine, Spurs can beat the #2 on the road, even if it does turn out to be the Warriors.

[aal04]

Ummmmm... no. We're 3-0 in championships all-time in the TD era with HCA throughout. Else, we're 2-13. It was certainly the difference last year.

Last year, with healthy TP/Splitter, we steam roll past clippers and take a beverly-less rockets out, past the GSW who we have won 58/10 in Duncan era, then repeat the 2007 result against lebrony.

We didnt need to make that changes to this years team to be honest, we just have to stay healthy

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Last year, with healthy TP/Splitter, we steam roll past clippers and take a beverly-less rockets out, past the GSW who we have won 58/10 in Duncan era, then repeat the 2007 result against lebrony.

We didnt need to make that changes to this years team to be honest, we just have to stay healthy
If by "healthy TP" you mean "fit TP" then yeah that's never going to happen again. And Splitter is too soft and unathletic to contend with DJ.

[spursistan]

Clippers are back in contention for a high seed after recovering Dj back..Imperative for us to prioritize regular season more than we used to do..There is no way you coming out West having to win on 2 road series vs Warriors/OKC/Clippers