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NBA: 10 Opening Week Overreactions That Might Be Legitimate

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

5. San Antonio Spurs Win It All

The San Antonio Spurs are one of only six teams in the NBA to rank in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive rating, joining the Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors in that limited sample size.

Out of all of those teams, wouldn’t you expect the Spurs to be the most likely to sustain those top-10 marks for the entire year?

In the first season of the post-Tim Duncan era, Kawhi Leonard has seized the reins of the franchise in a vice grip with those baseball glove-sized hands of his. LaMarcus Aldridge is producing. The Juice Unit off the bench is back in full force, and Danny Green isn’t even back yet.

The Spurs missed out on the first 5-0 start of Gregg Popovich’s career by losing to the Utah Jazz Tuesday night, but this is an experienced, deep, well-balanced team that plays both ends of the floor. Tony Parker and Pau Gasol being minuses is concerning, but the Spurs have what it takes to challenge the Warriors and Cavaliers for the NBA crown.

We haven’t seen Kawhi Leonard dominate a playoff series yet, which seems odd to write about last year’s MVP runner-up and a former Finals MVP. But with the Claw poised for his best season yet and the Dubs still learning how to play together, the Spurs are once again in a great position to defy expectations and bring home the franchise’s first title without Duncan.

This is not a prediction that the Spurs will win it all. But as of right now, they look like the NBA’s best team, and they’ve proven time and time again this high level of play — even in a small sample size — is sustainable. That 29-point road victory over the mighty Warriors on opening night sent a message to the rest of the league: Don’t forget about the everlasting Spurs. We’re listening.