Oct 22, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a call against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
02.) San Antonio Spurs (2nd West)
Take what you saw in the NBA Finals and throw it out. Like seriously, just throw it out. That was a huge outlier in NBA History. If you were expecting the Spurs to shoot over 60% as a team this season, then you would be crazy. As simple as I can make it, the Spurs got hot, Miami left them wide open and they hit shot, after shot. The Spurs are a good team and they are going to be there competing at the end of the season, but they are certainly a beatable team. Gregg Popovich even said it himself when talking about the NBA Finals last season. He said he felt like Miami got relaxed thinking that they were up 2-0 and then they just stop taking the Spurs seriously. They are far from unbeatable folk, just had a perfect last three games.
Question: Is Kawhi Leonard the next superstar in the NBA?
Not yet. Kawhi Leonard is an exceptionally good defender, he’s got huge hands but I got to see more from him. Right now, he is the fourth best player on his own team and although he won the Finals MVP, I’m not getting held up on a three game stretch. Popovich is a great coach, Leonard is going to grow into a good player, I just don’t see an NBA Superstar looming in the background of his career.