San Antonio Spurs Preview - - Spurs Attempt a 2008 Repeat

The San Antonio Spurs: The 2007 NBA World Champions! This time around the Spurs were rather quiet in the regular season. Most of the championship talk surrounded teams such as the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. When Dallas was upset by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the Spurs quickly became the main favorite for the NBA championship.

The Spurs cruised past the Denver Nuggets winning in 5 games. A series after, they then beat the Suns in an intense 6 game series; moved on to an easy 5 game series victory past the Utah Jazz. The Spurs played the Cavaliers and defeated them in dominant fashion. The Spurs received their 4^th championship in less than a decade.

They are now coming back as focused as ever, and are determined to receive their 5^th championship in less than a decade.

Off-Season Moves

The Spurs did not really make any huge splashes in free agency, which is normal for the Spurs. They did however draft Tiago Splitter who is seen as a steal late in the draft. He is a versatile 6-11 frame the presents an outside shooting threat.

Team Strengths

We probably know the cliché quote, "Defense Wins Championships." This quote can not be any more evident with the Spurs, as they had one of the top defenses in the league. This defense is anchored by the intelligent defender Bruce Bowen who also presents a 3 point shooting threat as well.

Speed Kills. Tony Parker and Ginobili were a two man wrecking crew when the 2006-2007 playoffs hit the scene. Tony Parker's speed to the basket, ability to finish lay-ups, and the ability to hit the long range jumper from the top of the key were crucial to the Spurs success.

Ginobili's speed and unpredictable movement also made him nearly impossible to guard. These two were able to easily tire and frustrate defenses, which helped the Spurs win another championship in effortless fashion

Tim Duncan jumped into the scene about a decade ago. He was a highly coveted prospect, and the Spurs knew they had gold when they drafted him to the team. Being mentored by the legendary Spur, David Robinson, Tim Duncan was able to learn the fundamentals of the game and dominate his opponents. Even though age may eventually catch him and cause him to lose a step or two, Tim Duncan will always be a force in this league because of his mastery of the fundamentals of basketball.

The "powerful three" are expected to put up great numbers for the 2007-2008 NBA season.

Team Weaknesses

Let's be honest, the Spurs have a young star in Tony Parker, but besides him, the Spurs are absolutely getting old. This is becoming a major issue, and as the time goes on, the Spurs are running out of time to replace these great players.

Their main players: Tim Duncan, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry, Manu Ginobili, and Robert Horry are of the age or 30 or over. Playing young energetic teams such as the Mavericks and the Suns may be quite a chore when it comes to crunch time. What the Spurs do lack in youth, they gain in experience.

Speaking of the Mavericks, two years ago, Dirk Nowitzki absolutely dominated the Spurs in the playoffs. San Antonio did not have an answer for the versatile power-forward. One great question will be: "If it comes down to it, do the Spurs have someone that can keep up with Dirk?". Last year San Antonio was lucky, however if the Spurs face the Mavericks in the playoffs next year, will they be able to stop Dirk and knock off the Mavericks for a 2^nd consecutive championship?

2007-2007 Season Prediction

The Spurs are predicted to repeat for their second consecutive championship. With Tony Parker constantly improving, Greg Popovich's proven fundamentals, and the Spurs returning with even more championship experience; there is no other reason to think otherwise. If they do make the championship, they might have a better opponent in the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are predicted to win it in the East with NBA stars such as Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. It is going to be a great and unpredictable NBA season next year so make sure you're prepped with your foam finger ready!