The Biggest Threat

[100%duncan]

So this is a thread which discusses the thought of who is the biggest threat for the spurs. Feel free to post the teams and explanations why they are the biggest threat for our championship run

[BanditHiro]

Celtics...great on defense, have size and depth, and are not as dysfunctional as the Lakers

[Hoops Czar]

Got to watch the T-wolves. They should be 2-0.

[ThePop]

Yeah Celtics, deep team

[celldweller]

Injury!

[ElNono]

Our own defense, or lack thereof, on a consistent basis. I don't think this team has put together 3 straight quarters of good D this season so far. I understand we're not going to be at a level like in the past, and that it's hard for guys like TD, Manu and TP to wake up and play D for 48 mins during the regular season.
I know Pop said he's aware and I know players have stated that's still a goal they want to achieve, but if come May we're still handing out 50+% shooting and 30+ point quarters, it's gonna get tougher to win.

[DMC]

It's hard to say at this point in the season. The Mavs are there, so are the Lakers. I would say those two teams first. No one in the East is an issue if we get past those.

I don't understand why people include Eastern teams as roadblocks. If the Spurs have to face those guys in the post season, they are in the Finals already. It doesn't matter who we face in the Finals, because the ability to get there means we are the best the West has to offer.

Any team in the Finals is a roadblock to the other team.

[Avitus1]

Gotta get back to playing more D.

[100%duncan]

I agree we should be playing better D than what were doing recently

[LkrFan]

You guys need to think about winning your division first and foremost. As far as a "threat" - you already know.

[dirkdirkastan]

Dallas... What a stupid question

[itzsoweezee]

Dallas and LA. Neither Miami nor Boston seem like much of a threat to me.

[xmas1997]

Without a better defense on a consistent basis, IMHO we won't win another championship.
I hope I'm wrong, or that there is still time and we have the team to do it with.
I will enjoy the Ws and support them to the end in any case, but if we don't develop a consistent lock down defense, then the writing is on the wall because defense wins championships.

[100%duncan]

You guys need to think about winning your division first and foremost. As far as a "threat" - you already know.

lol you're lucky that you have the weakest division on our conference

[Cessation]

Lakers, the defending champs. I don't think mavs are as good as some think, they are famous playoff chockers, no second scorer, and we dominated them last post season. The addition of chandler made them better, but not enough to knock of the spurs. We got better more so, with our own additions, improvement of hill and rj, and no international ball for tony and manu.

[024]

injuries and fatigue, like always.

[naico]

Interior defense and inside-outside game on offense.

I actually think Duncan should get a lot more touches in that regard. Against teams like Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston we gotta put a lot more pressure on the big men (Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Howard, Bass, Garnett, Perkins, O'Neal..) so we can neutralize some of their advantages.

[urunobili]

West: Dallas, Lakers
East: Miami, Boston

[dbestpro]

DeJuan Blair.

When he brings his A game we are the best team in the NBA. When he decides to just hang out then we are just one of the best.

[sananspursfan21]

i saw celtics and twolves above. agree with both. twolves are the spurs's "below 500 kryptonite" that theyve barely beaten while the celtics should give spurs problems. thats not to say i dont think sa will beat them, i think the first boston spurs meeting san an will win

[Obstructed_View]

Injuries

[Dex]

I think the Spurs biggest threats are as listed:

Lakers
Mavericks
Celtics (they may even be better than LA or Dallas, but it only matters if we make it past the other two and to the Finals)
Miami (ditto)
Utah (starting to play well, dominant PG and big)
Denver (as currently constructed, lots of talent)

[THE SIXTH MAN]

"The Biggest Threat"

eh...thats what she said?

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Themselves.

[Old School 44]

In the West

1. Lakers - Kobe, and size and experience matters
2. Dallas - Dirk, and because they just always play the Spurs tight

In the East

1. Boston - nice depth and experience, great D
2. Orlando - I like their recent trades. DHoward's a beast

Think about this for a moment, there are 30 nba teams. Only so many franchises have been to the finals and there only a handful who have won it all. Another reason why the Lakers and the Celtics are at the top of my lists.