Hoops Habit
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5 Teams With The Most To Prove In 2016-17

By Carter Johnson

Mar 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a three point basket against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Celtics 130-109. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a three point basket against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Celtics 130-109. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 12, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during a time out in the second quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

San Antonio Spurs

Things will be drastically different for the San Antonio Spurs this coming season.

For starters, the end of an era in San Antonio — and league — history came about with the retirement of the greatest player to ever don the black and silver, Tim Duncan.

Duncan was the anchor of a dynasty that contended for championships — and won five of them — over the better part of two decades and established a winning culture in a franchise that was devoid of one prior to his arrival.

Now that their consummate leader is gone, the Spurs will have to rely more heavily on the duo of two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2015-16 MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard and perennial All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge to lead the way for a team with championship-caliber expectations in the future.

While the re-signing of Manu Ginobili and the addition of two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol certainly help the Spurs continue to be the Warriors’ top opponent out West, the gap between the two grew significantly the moment the team that went 73-9 last year added a four-time scoring champ to their roster.

The Spurs once again boast one of the deepest rosters in the NBA led by one of the top five coaches in the history of the Association, but it will be interesting to see if they can overcome their lack of recent playoff success, compete with the juggernaut that is the Warriors and continue the winning tradition that the Big Fundamental started.

Next: Still The Champs