San Antonio Spurs: 5 Keys To Contending

The San Antonio Spurs had the most impressive offseason in the NBA, adding the summer’s biggest departing free agent in LaMarcus Aldridge and nabbing veteran David West for $10 million less than what he would have earned otherwise.

But before anyone goes crowning the Spurs as the 2015-16 NBA champs, there are a few brakes in need of pumping. Adding a player of Aldridge’s caliber to the mix obviously makes the ever-deadly Spurs that much more dangerous, but if championships were won on paper, the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers would’ve been one of the greatest teams of all time.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: San Antonio Spurs: 2015-16 Season Outlook

The lay of the West is deep and unforgiving, and until someone unseats the young and immensely talented Golden State Warriors, they’re still the defending champs. But the Spurs pose the greatest threat to the Dubs’ hopes of repeating, provided they come together and click the way they have for nearly two decades.

That’s not a given this year, as Aldridge’s ball-stopper tendencies won’t fly under Gregg Popovich with a team whose success is built on ball movement. But assuming the overwhelming talent and brainpower is able to work itself out here, San Antonio is as likely as anyone to win the West this year.

Here’s a look at five things that have to happen for the San Antonio Spurs to contend for their sixth championship in 2015-16.

Next: No. 5