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NBA Southwest Division Outlook: Will The San Antonio Spurs Reign Continue?

By Drew Clark

Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Southwest Division
Apr 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich greets center Tim Duncan (21) as Duncan leaves the game during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at the AT&T Center. The Spurs defeat the Raptors 102-95. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

San Antonio Spurs

2015-16 Record: 67-15, 2 seed in Western Conference

If it wasn’t for the Golden State Warriors, the NBA media would have been all over the San Antonio Spurs. At times it looked as if the Spurs could break the single-season wins record, but Gregg Popovich knew that the postseason was his number one priority.

The most interesting aspect of the Spurs this season will be the frontcourt. Losing a future Hall of Famer, a critical role player, wily veteran, and 7-foot-3 monster in one offseason can be tough to replace. Tim Duncan, Boris Diaw, David West, and Boban Marjanovic each brought a different skill set to this team.

Replacing them will be another future Hall of Famer in Pau Gasol, Dwayne Dedmon, and David Lee. The pairing of Gasol with LaMarcus Aldridge presents a nice high-low post combination, as both big men can stretch out and hit a jumper if defenses slack off.

The back-court rotation will essentially be the same. All eyes will be on Kawhi Leonard, as many will watch to see if he can next the next step in his career. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will play their first season without Tim Duncan along their side. They are expected to play big roles once again will Patty Mills, Danny Green,  Jonathan Simmons, and rookie Dejounte Murray on the back-end of the rotation.

The moment you think the Spurs will start to decline, they reload. The addition of Aldridge and Gasol in the past two offseasons have kept San Antonio in the conversation with the Warriors as far as competing for a Western Conference title goes.

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