2007 NBA Season Preview - San Antonio Spurs

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

San Antonio Spurs
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 58-24 (.707), 2^nd in Southwest Division
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): NBA Champions (defeated Cleveland 4-0 in NBA Finals)
Coach (Record): Greg Popovich, 12th

 season (576-276)
Key Additions: SF Marcus Williams (draft; 2^nd round, 33^rd overall)
Key Losses: n/a

If there is one thing that the NBA can take solace in it's the fact that the Spurs have not been able to win back-to-back titles in their history. Although you have to admit that if that's what teams in the NBA are hanging their hats on that this Spurs team is very intimidating and tough to defeat. While the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks got most of the attention during the regular season, the Spurs quietly put together another excellent season and turned the proverbial switch on once they got into the playoffs. They quickly dispatched of the Denver Nuggets, fought through a tough series with the Suns, and then easily pushed aside the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to their 4^th title in 9 years. The team is all back; they don't lose players at the rate that other teams do because people want to play there and win championships. Tim Duncan is at the top of the list when it comes to leaders that can win championships in the NBA today. When you have names like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen supporting you, it makes the job a lot easier.

What will be the Spurs' Achilles heel this season? Will they have a weakness at all? The Spurs will more than likely coast through the regular season; they don't need the awards or the 60 win seasons. They know that their number is 16, as in the number of games they need to win the playoffs to win the Championship. Can anyone come in and dethrone the Spurs, or will the Spurs do what they have not been able to do and finally repeat as champions?

Projected Starting Lineup ('06-'07 Stats)
PG: Tony Parker (77 games, 18.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.5 apg)
SG: Michael Finley (82 games, 9.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg)
SF: Bruce Bowen (82 games, 6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)
PF: Tim Duncan (80 games, 20.0 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.4 apg)
C: Francisco Elson (70 games, 5.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg)