2018-19 NBA Season Preview: San Antonio Spurs

Team Strengths

Popovich can take DeMar's game to the next level

The San Antonio Spurs are known for their discipline.

Head Coach Gregg Popovich is an all-time-great and he can really take DeMar's game to the next level. Playing under Pop means DeRozan will have to work on his defensive ability. Considering the fact that DeMar did not like the way he was traded by the Toronto Raptors, he will only be more hungry to prove himself and send out a statement to the Raptors organization.

Shot blocking will be one of their major strengths this season. Poeltl is an elite shot-blocker, Pau Gasol averaged a block per game and LaMarcus Aldridge averaged a career-high 1.2 blocks per game last season. There is not a lot of athleticism in the team this season and will likely record lesser number of steals. They won't get a lot of blocks unless Pop decides to play two-big lineup, but the offense will struggle to create enough space if that happens.

Three-point shooting has always been on the positive side for the Spurs over the years. On the contrary, the Spurs were 26th in 3-point percentage at 35.2 % per game last season. After losing Danny Green in the trade to Toronto, Buford brought in Dante Cunningham who shot 38.2 percentage from the 3-point range last season and Quincy Pondexter to fix the team's 3-point shooting.

He also signed Marco Belinelli who thrived as a three-pointer shooter in Philadelphia. The key 3-point shooter Davis Bertans is also back as he re-signed with the team and re-signing him was definitely the right thing to do.