Like always, the San Antonio Spurs continue to make really good moves while not getting enough attention. While the departure of Tim Duncan created a lot of headlines, the additions of Pau Gasol and David Lee have not gotten enough attention. Pau Gasol averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game last season with the Bulls, which is a significant upgrade over Tim Duncan's 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. As for David Lee, his 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game were nothing to write home about, but they essentially replace Tim Duncan's production. If Lee is able to play better than he did last season, he too could be a significant addition to the squad.
The Spurs won 67 games last season and essentially are bringing back the same squad they had last season plus Pau Gasol. If that isn't reason to take the Spurs seriously, I don't know what is. They still have Tony Parker running the point with Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge continuing to gel as the franchise players for the present and future.
While the Golden State Warriors have understandably grabbed all the headlines by landing Kevin Durant, they are no slam-dunk to win the NBA championship next season. One of the main reasons is the San Antonio Spurs and all the good moves that they are making on their end. While I do agree that the Golden State Warriors are the favorites to come out of the Western Conference in 2017, the San Antonio Spurs will be right there putting the pressure on them. I guarantee it.
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