Notable Exclusions: San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have been firmly entrenched in the “contender” category for the majority of Gregg Popovich’s tenure as head coach. However, ever since Kawhi Leonard’s trade request and departure from San Antonio, this team has not been a legitimate threat.
The fact that Popovich has been able to lead the Spurs to the postseason without Leonard each of the last two seasons in a difficult Western Conference is a testament to his coaching genius. However, this team should not be mistaken for a title contender.
The Spurs have largely fought against the tide of the NBA’s changing styles. While the rest of the league has embraced perimeter-oriented offense, the Spurs have continued to attack from the mid-range. While others chase superstars, the Spurs go after veteran role players like DeMarre Carroll and Rudy Gay.
While this formula has consistently led the Spurs to the postseason, they may need to adapt to the modern NBA if they hope to experience meaningful playoff success in the near future.