After suffering a first-round upset to Memphis last year, the San Antonio Spurs entered the season as an afterthought in the Western Conference.
But there was a reason the Spurs won more games (61) than any other team in the West in 2010-11. Despite the decline in the career of 35-year-old Tim Duncan, the Spurs are still one of the top teams in the league.
San Antonio entered Tuesday night’s game at Portland on an 11-game winning streak — with the last seven victories on the road — and in second place in the conference.
The Spurs don’t have one the league’s next superstars — like the Thunder with Kevin Durant or the Clippers with Blake Griffin. Their future Hall of Famer is not still playing at a high level — like the Lakers with Kobe Bryant. And they are not the defending champions — like the Mavericks.
But the Spurs do have a group of experienced stars that know how to win and are led by the best coach in the NBA in Gregg Popovich.
Over the years, San Antonio has changed its style. Instead of slowing the pace and limiting possessions to put more emphasis on defense, the Spurs have pushed the tempo and are among the league leaders in scoring for a second consecutive season. Changes were made to cater to the strengths of point guard Tony Parker, who has emerged as the Spurs’ best player.
But while they may play differently, the Spurs continue to be the uninteresting Western Conference title contender.
– Jeffrey Tomik
