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San Antonio Spurs: 2019-20 NBA season preview

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs gets introduced before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 25, 2015 at the AT&T Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photos by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs gets introduced before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 25, 2015 at the AT&T Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photos by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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San Antonio Spurs
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Predictions:

This year’s version of the Spurs feels battle-tested and prepared to make up for somewhat of a “lost year” a season ago. After nearly dispatching the West’s No. 2 team without their defensive star, San Antonio has to be enthused about the idea of what they could be, even if only slightly better.

For that reason, not only do the Spurs extend their postseason streak to a 24th occurrence, but they also put together their first 50-win season since 2016-17.

To put a number on it, the Spurs should finish the 2019-20 season with a 51-31 record, which should be respectable enough to ensure them, say, the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

As for individual accolades and the more “out there” ideas, we covered a bit of that during the bold predictions article. For creativity’s sake, we can expand on that a bit more.

  • LaMarcus Aldridge – 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds per game on 50.4 percent shooting; has 15 30-point games (only two of them will get YouTube highlights); returns to the All-NBA Third Team and the All-Star Game.
  • DeMar DeRozan – 20.3 points, 6.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds per game on 47.7 percent shooting; narrowly misses out on All-NBA selection, but does return to the All-Star Game.
  • Dejounte Murray – Makes All-Defensive Second Team
  • Derrick White – Makes All-Defensive Second Team

At first, it seemed a bit overzealous to suggest Murray and White could both make the All-Defensive Team, until you realize how frequently it’s happened, or come close to happening over the last seasons. The DeAndre Jordan – Chris Paul tandem was able to do so in 2016, as did Draymond Green and Klay Thompson last season.

Next. Each NBA team's Mount Rushmore. dark

In terms of others, expect numerous other Spurs to pop up on ballots, be it the Spurs’ rookies, or Walker, if his improvements turn out to be as drastic as we hope. All told, there is a lot to be excited about for the 2019-20 season for the Spurs. Oct. 23rd’s season opener simply can’t come soon enough.