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NBA: Western Conference Contenders And Pretenders

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) attempts to drive the ball past Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the game at Toyota Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Rockets 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) attempts to drive the ball past Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) during the game at Toyota Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Rockets 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) dribbles the ball up court with forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and forward Tim Duncan (21) in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 6: San Antonio Spurs – Contender

The Houston Rockets once won a championship as a sixth seed, becoming the lowest seed to ever win an NBA championship. I think the San Antonio Spurs would love to match their Texan rivals in accomplishing a similar feat this year, while also doing something Tim Duncan and company have never done before: winning back-to-back titles.

The path won’t be easy. San Antonio has won 13 of its last 16 games and is coming off a tremendous three-game streak in which they blasted the Thunder, stomped the Mavericks and decimated the Grizzlies. But they’ve been catching almost every good team they’ve beaten at their most vulnerable time.

The Spurs look a lot more formidable than they did a few months ago, and you can never doubt Gregg Popovich and the Spurs when the playoffs roll around. If San Antonio gets the Grizz in the first round, I see them advancing in a gritty series. A matchup with the Rockets and James Harden, who has historically played extremely well against this team, could be trouble.

No matter who they get in the first round (San Antonio is only two games back in the loss column for the 2-seed), we can agree the Spurs are close to being back. Kawhi Leonard being fully healthy for the last few months has made all the difference, and it certainly doesn’t help that Tony Parker pulled his head out of his you-know-where.

Next: No. 5