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Refs tbh
OKC and Cleveland(to a lesser extent) are the only real threats to the Spurs, other than health(which is #1)..
All the other top teams(Clippers, Bulls, Warriors, Grizzlies) matchup pretty poorly with the Spurs..the Mavs aren't really a threat, last year's series was full of flukyness, they have way too many flaws to be a threat(horrible PGs, poor perimeter defense, Dirk's questionable health in April and forward)..
Refs tbh
Say our Big 3 don't decline much and Kawhi puts in his Finals performance for whole season, the Spurs themselves are their biggest threat: complacency, overconfidence.
If you don't go by that, then I'll pick GSW. I think Kerr will make a great coach and utilize their talent to fullest extent. The '13 Warriors gave us a run for our money and I think they'll make a return this year.
OKC closely behind.
The biggest threat to the Spurs in the West is the Memphis Grizzlies. Next to San Antonio, they are the most balanced and disciplined team. OKC's nice run the past few years is coming to an end. They cannot win a Championship as assembled but will probably always finish good enough to be a top 4 seed. I would not be surprised if they do something major during the season with Westbrook in terms of a trade.
The Mavs? Psssht.
Memphis lack long range shooting.
Spurs biggest threat is late season injury. If they are healthy, no can defend.
Warriors. They can score from all 5 positions (nowhere to hide Tony), have 2-3 very good perimeter defenders and a good rim protector, presumably better coaching and a solid bench featuring a lot of hybrid position players (Livingston, Green, Barnes). Their starting 5 matches up well with ours (hide Curry on Green, Lee on Tiago). They'll have the best player in the series in Curry. I also wouldn't be surprised if they had HCA.
If they can stay healthy they will be a force this year tbh. Health and youth are really the only question marks.
NO
BENCH
Livingston
Barbosa
Iggy
Green
Ezeli
If Barbosa has anything left in the tank and Green continues to improve that's arguably a top 10 bench in the league
Their bench is no better than OKC's.
Vince Carter should help.
Thunder. They are still a nightmare for us even without KD.
If OKC hired Stan Van Gundy or any other above average coach, they would be win it all. I would say GSW. Clippers will need the ref's help to beat the Spurs.
Whichever teams are the healthiest will be the biggest threat.
I might take GSW over OKC in a 7 game series. The Warriors are going to be deadly considering how good they were with one of the worst coaches in the league.
People blanket dismissing OKC are crazy.If Serge Ibaka hadn't gotten injured, we might not even have won that series.
Abaka? He ain't bout dis life.
Probably still the Thunder. No one on the Spurs can effectively limit Westbrook. Westbrook just blows by Green like it's nothing. Luckily, Westbrook can limit himself.
Warriors might actually be good this year and I can see them reaching the finals.
That ship has sailed. First of all, Ibaka is a solid player but CoJo and Leonard showed the rest of the team how you handle his presence. You throw dunks down in his face and quit playing like pussies around him.People blanket dismissing OKC are crazy.
Secondly, they have no bench - which was their biggest problem when facing the Spurs in the WCF. They were dead tired and counted on too much scoring from Westbrick and Durant.
And third, their coach is Scott Brooks.
End of story.
And yet, despite all those flaws, they were one OT session away from winning Game 6 and heading into an anything-can-happen Game 7. Now, if Ibaka had been healthy the whole series, it might not even have come to that.That ship has sailed. First of all, Ibaka is a solid player but CoJo and Leonard showed the rest of the team how you handle his presence. You throw dunks down in his face and quit playing like pussies around him.
Secondly, they have no bench - which was their biggest problem when facing the Spurs in the WCF. They were dead tired and counted on too much scoring from Westbrick and Durant.
And third, their coach is Scott Brooks.
End of story.
Remember, most pundits were picking OKC to beat us before news of the Ibaka injury came out.
Last edited by Malik Hairston; 03-21-2016 at 02:20 AM.
1) OKC...hopefully they keep Brooks around
2) LAC
3) DAL
thats it!
What my boy DMC said
Yes we would. We had home court, and were 2-2 WITH Serge on the floor.People blanket dismissing OKC are crazy.
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