San Antonio Spurs: 2017-18 NBA season preview

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 09: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets passes the ball against Kawhi Leonard #2 and Pau Gasol #16 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at AT&T Center on May 9, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

As the San Antonio Spurs enter their 51st season, here’s a preview of what should be expected for the 2017-18 season.

In the 20 full seasons Gregg Popovich has been head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, he has never had a losing season. In fact, his worst record in those 20 years is 50-32, which is still a .610 season.

In 2017-18, the Western Conference has beefed up but the Spurs should be right near the top of the standings again.

Kawhi Leonard is again the leader of the team who got swept in the conference finals last year by the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors. We will never know if the Spurs would have won that series if Leonard had not been injured by a stray foot.

So, as every team continues to measure itself against the Warriors, the Spurs will go into the season with the same quiet confidence they do every year. One thing is for sure, they will be elite on defense and this will turn stops into transition points.

Unfortunately, the comments by LaMarcus Aldridge prior to the start of the season about how unhappy he is in the Spurs system may upset the apple cart. According to ESPN‘s Michael C. Wright, a heart-to-heart with Pop seems to have cleared the air, but we will have to wait and see. Here is a look at their 2017-18 season preview.

2016-17 Vitals

61-21, 1st in Southwest Division, 2nd in Western Conference
105.3 PPG(14th)/98.1 PPG (2nd)
111.1 Offensive Rating (9th)/103.5 Defensive Rating (1st)

Team Leaders

Scoring: Kawhi Leonard. 25.5 PPG
Rebounding: Pau Gasol. 7.8 RPG
Assists: Tony Parker. 4.5 APG
Steals: Kawhi Leonard. 1.8 SPG
Blocks: LaMarcus Aldridge. 1.2 BPG

Honors

All-NBA First Team: Kawhi Leonard
NBA All-Defensive First Team: Kawhi Leonard
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: Danny Green
All-Star: Kawhi Leonard

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