Last year the Golden State Warriors were easily the best team all season long. They were dominant in the regular season and powered through some good teams in the post season. They have the reigning league MVP Stephen Curry leading the way. Curry averaged 23 points and seven assists last season and showed off his range and ball handling skills embarrassing defenders across the league.
Golden State also brings a couple deadly wings to the table in sharp shooter Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes. These three not only bring more scoring to the table but they are also good defenders. Add in Draymond Green the teams deadly stretch four and you have a roster that can really put the ball in the basket. But what makes the Warriors great is the scrappy attitude and intensity they bring to the game. Locking down high scoring teams, diving on loose balls, playing unselfishly is what got them a NBA Championship. But are they still the best team in the league? Are they even still the best team in the West?
Unfortunately, the answer is "no" for Golden State fans. In the playoffs, the Warriors were able to knock off some tough opponents, but there was one team that would scare anyone they face in the post season. The San Antonio Spurs are the most consistent NBA franchises of the last decade. Future Hall of Famers; Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili have kept this team at the top of the league and will be remembered as one of the best core group of guys in NBA history.
But with all of them on the wrong side of 30 (almost 40 in Duncan’s case) they can only give so much to put the Spurs back on top of the NBA. In comes the Spurs new franchise player Kawhi Leonard who led the team in scoring last year, and is recognized as one of the leagues best perimeter defenders. He has shown that he has what it takes to lead this team back to the promise land. The mission this offseason was to put the necessary talent around him to compete with teams like Golden State.
This offseason the Spurs went from a dangerous low seed in the West to possibly the best team in the league. They added the top Free Agent LaMarcus Aldridge one of the best big men in the league. He will strengthen an already talented starting line up.
The Spurs also got deeper with the additions of David West and Ray McCallum. Not to mention the emergence of Kyle Anderson who was named MVP of the Summer League.
Player for player; I think the Spurs come across as a more talented team than the Warriors. The starting five is pretty even in my opinion, but the bench is deeper in San Antonio. The style of basketball that makes the Warriors so good, the unselfishness, the scrappy play, the good team defense. Well the Spurs mastered it five years ago, and you know what the say “Age before beauty” and the Spurs have both working for them this year.