Through all the megadeals and movement in the NBA over the past couple years, with Kawhi Leonard's change of address to Toronto being the latest, the Warriors continue to sit a level or two higher than their Western Conference brethren.
The defending NBA champions are ever more comfortable in their exalted status now that the once-mighty Spurs have become, for the first time in more than two decades, Just Another Team. This shapes up to be that rare season in which, even with wizardly coach Gregg Popovich, they struggle to make the playoffs. Behind All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan (acquired for Leonard), the Spurs have a limited ceiling but still will be in the race.