SPURS NOT IN TOP 3 IN WEST.... predicts longer time before making it in Finals again

[therealtruth]

You can't seriously rate OKC #1 with no Harden and no Martin.

[ace3g]

Stars align every year for a team to get to the Finals

[TXstbobcat]

People have been counting the spurs out for the last few years and have been wrong. If they stay healthy, the the spurs will have a good shot at getting back to the finals.

[Tim_duncan21]

I has been this way for several years now...

[LarryDavid]

The San Antonio Spurs were seconds from an NBA le in June, but it could be a long time before they even make it back to the NBA Finals the way the West is shaping up.

Spurs aren't in top 3, 3 months before the season starts.....NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[elmanutres]

espn spending money on a useless prediction engine

[Russo21]

We not only have never repeated as champions. We've neve even made it to back to back finals. Even with Robinson, prime Duncan, prime Bruce, prime Manu, prime Tony. So just making it back to the finals next year will be a very tough task as we've never even done that before. That being said, we have as good a shot as anyone else to win the west and get back to the finals.

[Sean Cagney]

Stars align every year for a team to get to the Finals

This is true, you catch that one break to get there. We had Manus shot in game one against GS in that improbable comeback, Indiana blew game one against the Heat otherwise they could have won that series IMO. Things happen for you to get there, fact of life.

[weeks]

if we even make it back to the finals it'll be very surprising to me. this team never has it back to back, for whatever reason.

then again, we've never made the finals and lost - so perhaps THIS season, arriving soon, will be the season to break a mul ude of SAS jigaboos

[Mel_13]

@ All caps for ESPN predictions:

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview2012/s...rence-champion

[wildbill2u]

Unless we completely break down during the regular season because of injuries to key players, we will extend our record of 50+ wins per season and have a good chance of being in the top four in the division.

The top four teams in either conference probably have an edge in getting to the finals. Getting to the finals usually depends on some luck during the playoffs along with superior team play. You can't hide bad players in the playoffs because of the length of each series.

[Hoops Czar]

Spurs will be top 2 not a doubt in my mind, the Thunder lost Kevin Martin and got no one in return I think it will be Clippers and Spurs

And you think Kevin Martin was the reason the Thunder were the one seed out west? He wasn't nearly as instrumental as you might think. The Spurs on the other hand, didn't improve at all and got a year older in the process. I have no problem with OKC being ranked ahead of them.

[hater]

Bellineli!

Spurs have him, the rest of the nba doesn't

that's all that matters

[kemak]

Surprise surprise...

[phxspurfan]

None of these rankings are taking into account Kawhi's increased role next season (plays actually designed for him).

That is, if Pop is even capable of properly utilizing a SF.