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Must Reads
Adrian Wojnarowski has to be the busiest guy in basketball this time of year. Everyone keeping an eye on the trade deadline is checking in from time to time with the Yahoo! NBA guru known for breaking big stories. But Woj and all those in his business can't truly predict how this trade season will shake out.
My prediction? Not much will change.
Ha, now watch Melo go to Cleveland.
Realistically, though, it's doubtful if future editions of Power Rankings look much different at the top in the post-trade deadline weeks. The number of quality players available, the cost of acquiring a quality piece, and the idea of "renting" a player on an expiring deal (expiring deals aren't as attractive anymore with the salary cap increasing) will prevent most teams from making much noise.
Below are the rankings for the Spurs entering Week 16 (from the only 3 guys who actually put rankings out this week):
John Schuhmann, (NBA.com) Spurs rank: 2, Last week's rank: 2)
Kawhi Leonard actually emoted after hitting his game-winner in Orlando on Wednesday. The Spurs continue to roll despite injuries and have the best NetRtg we've ever seen, but it all may be for naught if they can't beat the Warriors four times in seven games in May. Their next meeting with the champs is more than a month away and Thursday's game against the Clippers is the toughest game of the Rodeo Trip.
Matt Moore, (CBS Sports) Spurs rank: 3, Last week's rank: 3)
Rolling again with six straight, but I remain concerned with how LaMarcus Aldridge impacts this defense. Since Duncan went out with a knee injury, opponents are shooting 7 percent better in the restricted area with Aldridge on the floor vs. when he's off court. Something to keep an eye on.
Jeremy Woo, (Sports Illustrated) Spurs rank: 2, Last week's rank: 2)
Can they stay intact? An undefeated record at home would be cool, but the expectation is a deep playoff run. Health questions can feel universally applicable, but this is a team that especially needs all of its functional cogs to have a chance at the Finals (read: getting past both Golden State and OKC, in all likelihood). Fortunately, Duncan and Ginobili have a couple months to get right.
Can they stay intact? An undefeated record at home would be cool, but the expectation is a deep playoff run. Health questions can feel universally applicable, but this is a team that especially needs all of its functional cogs to have a chance at the Finals (read: getting past both Golden State and OKC, in all likelihood). Fortunately, Duncan and Ginobili have a couple months to get right.
Now we shuffle the deck...
Shuffle The Deck / Small Fires / Astra Stube, Hamburg 16.07.15 from Small Fires on Vimeo.
P.S. Here's an extra video for those who read all the way to the end: Kawhi Leonard being interviewed on NBA TV.