2016-2017 NBA Previews – Spurs Odds
Looking for 2016 San Antonio Spurs Predictions? We’ve got your back. The San Antonio Spurs had one helluva 2015-16 NBA season. When it came down to it, they were silent assassins having a historically great campaign in the shadows of the 73-win Golden State Warriors. Although they couldn’t put it together when it mattered most, there are plenty of signs that this group is not only going to be as dominant as always but ready to begin transitioning into a new era of Spurs basketball for the future.
San Antonio Spurs Season Preview
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
2015-16 Record: 67-15
Spurs Odds to NBA Title: +900
Spurs Odds to Win Conference: +450
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San Antonio Spurs Strengths:
When looking at the Spurs’ strengths, you have to start with head coach Gregg Popovich. You can talk about the talent general manager R.C. Buford has collected over the years, but we’ve seen what Popovich can do with said talent.
Popovich not only instills an unheard of work ethic into his players, but he gets them to do it without egos.
Cohesion is crucial in today’s NBA (see: talented Houston Rockets that couldn’t do anything with James Harden and Dwight Howard both leading the way) and Pop gets his players to play beautifully boring basketball en route to massive success.
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When looking at the players on the roster, this group has two top-25 pieces in Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Leonard is a Defensive Player of the Year who now has a three-point shot and averaged 21.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season — is that even fair?
Aldridge is one of the best mid-range shooters in the league at 6’11” and now has a year under his belt in the Spurs system.
Speaking of the system, this team passes, cuts backdoor and is as fluid as any team in the NBA.
In terms of younger talent, Jonathon Simmons and Kyle Anderson have a chance to make themselves known to casual fans this season. Both have talent, but being in the Popovich system is what’s going to truly help maximize their potential.
On top of all else, this team managed to find another big-time free agent this summer. Pau Gasol is certainly past his prime and is hardly fleet of foot, but he can still alter shots at the rim and can help spread the floor on offense.
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This team has a lot going for it and should be one of the only true challengers to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
San Antonio Spurs Weaknesses:
Tim Duncan has retired, leaving behind a legendary career. Despite his advanced age and clear regression at times during the postseason, his defense around the rim was still valued and his presence in the locker room provided the heart and soul that this team needed.
Duncan may have been as soft spoken as it comes in a star-driven, ego-rich league, but it will be very noticeable that he’s no longer in the San Antonio locker room this season.
Although Duncan’s longtime running mates, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, are still on board, there’s no telling what they’re really able to offer outside of leadership at this juncture.
Ginobili can still shoot the ball and will still make the right backdoor cuts at the right time, but you have to wonder when he’s going to be more of a liability than a plus.
The same question goes for Parker. He’s no longer able to beat defenses to the rim the same way he used to, and while the basketball IQ is still there, it’s safe to wonder if this is the year we see a significant step in the wrong direction.
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Although veteran leadership and experience are clear strengths for this team, it’s also fair to wonder if age is going to become a factor in the injury department.
Popovich is known for his preventative maintenance of his aging stars, so the hope in River City is that this helps alleviate the nagging injuries (and prevent major injuries) by the time the postseason rolls around.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Prediction: 60-22
The Spurs aren’t going to win 67 games like they did last year, just like the Warriors aren’t going to win 73 for the second season in a row.
But with Vegas setting the Over/Under for this squad at 57.5, it seems like an easy choice to pick the over — even knowing Pop will sacrifice a game here or there for the chance at a better postseason showing in 2017.
2016 NBA Gambling
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