2016-17 NBA Season Preview: San Antonio Spurs
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
San Antonio Spurs
2015-16
| Record | Southwest | West | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67-15 | 1st | 2nd | Lost in Round 2 (4-2 OKC) |
Offseason roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Pau Gasol (2/$30M) | Tim Duncan (retirement) |
| David Lee (2/$3.2M) | Boban Marjanovic (DET) |
| Dewayne Dedmon (2/$6M) | Kevin Martin |
| Davis Bertans (terms unknown) | Andre Miller |
| Patricio Garino (terms unknown) | David West (GSW) |
| Nicolas Laprovittola (terms unknown) | Matt Bonner |
| Dejounte Murray (draft) | Boris Diaw (UTA) |
Projected starting five
- PG Tony Parker
- SG Danny Green
- SF Kawhi Leonard
- PF LaMarcus Aldridge
- C Pau Gasol
Player to watch: Pau Gasol
There are two ways to assess the addition of Pau Gasol to the Spurs.
On one hand, Gasol is coming off a second straight All-Star appearance and remains one of the NBA's best frontcourt players. His combination of inside-out scoring, along with his sublime passing ability out of the high post, should rejuvenate an offense that struggled against top-tier competition last season.
With Gasol lining up alongside Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio has the best scoring frontcourt trio in the league.
But on the other hand, the Spurs badly needed a stopper after Tim Duncan left, and while Gasol's defense is largely underrated, he's far from the athletic shot-blocker that the team desperately needed. He also struggles to guard out in space, and he's not an effective rebounder.
Given that Aldridge shares those same weaknesses, the Spurs will likely encounter matchup issues while taking a step back from last year's league-leading defense.
Based on talent alone, Gasol figures to be an improvement over the 40-year-old Duncan. But Gregg Popovich will have to juggle his lineups carefully to get the most out of the timeless Spaniard.
Season expectations
San Antonio winning more than 50 games and taking a top seed in the Western Conference is the safest bet in sports. They've won more than 60 percent of their games for 19 straight seasons. Expect them to hit 20 next year.
But the Spurs do have some shortcomings when it comes to championship contention, and it's the same issues that have plagued them since their last title run.
First, San Antonio badly needs Tony Parker to perform at his best. The Frenchman has battled injuries and a precipitous decline in production over the last two seasons as he's transitioned into being a role player. And while Parker remains effective on offense, his defensive concerns consistently render him a liability against the top point guards in the Western Conference.
Second, the Spurs remain as vulnerable as ever to the morbid grip of old age. An inability to match the opposing team's level of physicality led to their playoff losses against the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Adding in an ageing Gasol only hurts in this regard.
But regardless of their weaknesses, this Spurs team is as talented as ever, and if Kawhi Leonard takes the next step in his development, they could very well be hoisting the championship trophy once again next summer.