National Basketball Association

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews - San Antonio Spurs: Fundamental Shifts

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 21, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12, left) and Kawhi Leonard (2, right) talk on the bench during the second half against the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews – San Antonio Spurs: Fundamental Shifts

To prepare our readers for the regular season SCS provides our NBA 2016-17 Team Previews. Who will return to the playoffs? Which team will fall from grace and who will be the Cinderella team?

Get a complete break down of each team. Included in the profiles are:

NBA 2016-17 Team Previews now looks at the master class of franchises – the San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs:

2015-16 Record: 67 – 15

Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Playoffs:

Lost NBA Western Conference Semifinals (2-4) versus Oklahoma City Thunder

Points Per Game: 103.5 (10th )

Opponent Points Per Game: 92.9 (1st)

Pace: 93.8 (24th )

Offensive Rank: 110.3 (4th )

Defensive Rank: 99.0 (1st)

Three Point Rank: 37.5% (2nd)

Rebounds: 43.9 (15th)

Assists: 24.5 (3rd)

Steals: 8.3 (11th)

Blocks: 5.9 (6th)

Turnovers: 13.1 (4th)

Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) passes the ball as Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) defends during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2017 Free Agents

Restricted:

Unrestricted:

Future Draft Picks

See Real GM for full details:

Incoming:

Outgoing:

Average Age of Team: 28.6 years

Next: Off Season Moves

Dec 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) dribbles against the Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) in the first half of a NBA basketball game on Christmas at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Draft Picks

Round 1: Dejounte Murray (29)

Round 2: N/A

2016 Free Agents prior to July 1, 2016:

Unrestricted:

Restricted: Boban Marjanovic

Moves made following July 1, 2016:

Incoming:

Exiting:

Re-upping:

Next: Schedule, League Pass, Win Projection Rankings

Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. San Antonio Spurs defeated the Orlando Magic 95-89. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Vegas over-under for wins: 56.5

Schedule strength:

As ranked by ESPN: 18th with 1.46 extra wins

As always, the bugaboo on the Spurs’ schedule is February’s annual Rodeo Trip. But this season’s edition could be worse than it is. San Antonio has eight straight road games but there is only one back-to-back set and the All-Star break falls during that stretch.

Games versus Rockets:

Zach Lowe NBA League Pass Rank: 20th

Kawhi Leonard is the first perimeter defender since Scottie Pippen and Gary Payton so impossible to navigate, opponents just give up the ball and say, “Here, I can’t deal with this dude.” He gobbles up steals without gambling his way out of position or fouling — a delicate balance almost literally no one else can strike. I’d watch a full-game camera showing only Leonard playing defense over the tanking nonsense that masquerades as basketball in April.

Next: Team Overview

Jan 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gives direction to his team against the Houston Rockets during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

2016 Committed Salary

2016: $111,149,368 – 5th ranked

2017: $93,052,320 –7th ranked

Team Salary Ranking as per Hoops Hype, and team salary overview also via Hoops Hype

Starting 5:

Point Guard: Tony Parker 10.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds

Shooting Guard: Danny Green – 7.2 points, 1.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds

Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard – 21.1 points, 2.6 assists, 6.8 rebounds

Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge – 18 points, 1.5 assists, 8.5 rebounds

Center: Pau Gasol – 16.5 points, 4.1 assists, 11 rebounds

Reserves:

Guards: Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, Dejounte Murray

Wings: Kyle Anderson, Jonathan Simmons, Nicolas Laprovittola, Davis Bertans, Bryn Forbes

Bigs:Dewayne Dedmon, David Lee,

Injury News:

All injury news as per rotoworld

Jun 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks to forward Tim Duncan (21) guard Tony Parker (9) and forward Kawhi Leonard (2) against the Miami Heat in game two of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Heat won 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Prediction:

Tim Duncan left the game having won 5 titles in 6 opportunities (with many feeling the Spurs were robbed of another in Miami). But perhaps the most astonishing record the Big Fundamental set was never missing the playoffs – 19 consecutive appearances. Considering the next closest team (the Hawks) sit at 9 it puts this streak in perspective. Equally impressive is the fact Duncan’s teams missed the 50 win margin once in this career, and it took a strike shortened season for that to occur. Oh, and there’s also that little of 5 titles in 6 tries.

While many marvel at LeBron James 6 straight finals appearances, it’s important to consider these feats. It speaks to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs franchise, but clearly it speaks to the type of quiet leader Tim Duncan was as well. As the Spurs begin their first season in almost 2 decades without Timmy on the court it must feel like riding a bike without training wheels for the first time.

The new era of basketball features position-less basketball, ball movement and three point shooting. Many of these elements can be traced back at least partially to Gregg Popovich and some iteration of the Spurs. And while Duncan will not be on the bench the Spurs commitment to excellence and consistency remains intact.

The Warriors will be far and away the favorites in the West and some will opine it’s time for teams like the Clippers to surpass the Spurs. Young teams will also challenge the masters of consistency. But if your are a long serving NBA fan, you know better than to bet against the team who prefers to be over looked by the media. Why? Because you know Pops likely spent the summer savoring his favorite red wine while plotting strategies on how to stop the Warriors. San Antonio won’t have the same star power, but don’t bet against Pop. If anyone can uncover the chink in the Warriors armor it will be Gregg Popovich.

Spurs will win 50 plus games, have home court and if Golden State takes a while to mesh expect Popovich to utilize the opportunity to claim the top seed.

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