Much has been made of the precipitous drop the Spurs defense made from great to very good this year. And understandably so. The 2015-16 squad was one of the stoutest defenses the league has ever seen, allowing 99 points per 100 possessions. That number is up over five points this season, as Gregg Popovich navigates year one without his wide-eyed sentinel manning the paint.
Tim Duncan’s retirement augured the end for San Antonio’s reputation as a defensive giant, one that now features the less defensively gifted Pau Gasol. Those who remained bullish on San Antonio’s chances pointed to the team’s two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi Leonard, and the franchise’s pedigree.