San Antonio Spurs: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Jonathon Simmons #17 of the San Antonio Spurs high five each other during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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2. Lack of bench X-factors

Last season the San Antonio Spurs had two different X-factors on the bench. The first one is obvious in Jonathon Simmons. As a player, Simmons had to work hard to get to where he got, paying for a D-League tryout and then battling to make an actual NBA roster.

What Simmons was able to do with his highlight reel dunks to get a team going was inspirational. However, it was his chase-down blocks when the opposition did not see him coming that changed games.

The sight of Simmons streaming down the court, never giving up on the play and changing an easy transition two into a huge defensive play was great as a fan. For the players, I’m sure it would made them play that much harder.

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David Lee was the second X-factor off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs. There were many games where the Spurs starters gave up a big lead. The bench would then come on and lift San Antonio back into the contest.

Lee was always huge in these situations. He would get the timely offensive rebound and put-back regularly. This would allow the Spurs shooters to have greater confidence if they missed, knowing that someone was doing the hard work down low for second chance points.

My concern is now Rudy Gay is going to be asked to be that man. Coming back from a career-threatening injury like an Achilles, will he have the same X-factor.

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