As the old saying goes, defense wins championships. It doesn't seem to hold such weight in this new-age NBA, but if the San Antonio Spurs have any say, it’ll still ring true.
The team is building an identity of being hard to play against, led by its defense. Tough, tenacious defending was the calling card of the old Spurs that lifted five Larry O’Brien’s over 15 seasons, and with players able to defend 94 feet today, Spurs Nation hopes history repeats itself.
Like the teams of old, this roster compares favorably defensively. Those teams had Bruce Bowen to defend the wing.