Who is the best team in the NBA?

[old rem]

Right now......GSW has 2 losses and it's past 1/3 of the season. Both losses were road games minus starters... the first one, a back to back after a double OT. I assume GSW loses a few more with some 'circumstances" but... even so....they are on pace to go the season with under 10 losses. Spurs are next.... but a 10-6 road record ain't as good as 15-2. GSW eventually has road games in San Antonio...and IMO.....probably are slight underdogs. However....GSW won't be an underdog at home. Of course... you can't guesstimate much at this stage. The season is a long grind.

The Cavs have LeBron and a pretty good cast. The Thunder have superstars, Durant and Westbrook.. So far, neither seems as bulletproof as GSW and SAS. That to me is a major edge ...SO FAR. GSW and SAS.....do try to pace themselves. That should help, but since "sh** happens"....you can't be certain.

[PaulieWal]

To answer the OP seriously my answer is the Spurs. Spurs are the best team for me right now with their best net differential in the league right now. Two things that I am looking at is that they have two elite perimeter defenders to throw at Curry in Leonard and Green. Then they have Aldridge + Duncan to try and take advantage of small ball. The Spurs can destroy you playing big OR small with Diaw + Duncan/Aldridge. Their ball movement looks even more SPursy this year and they have a legit top 5 player in Kawhi.

[bondom34]

Having said what I did earlier, I kinda hope its the Spurs, and they may hit stride to pass GSW, I just think with a healthy Curry they're a little better right now. Would personally rather SAS take it.

[RSCD3_]

To answer the OP seriously my answer is the Spurs. Spurs are the best team for me right now with their best net differential in the league right now. Two things that I am looking at is that they have two elite perimeter defenders to throw at Curry in Leonard and Green. Then they have Aldridge + Duncan to try and take advantage of small ball. The Spurs can destroy you playing big OR small with Diaw + Duncan/Aldridge. Their ball movement looks even more SPursy this year and they have a legit top 5 player in Kawhi.

I don't doubt the spurs can't beat GSM but I don't see Duncan as the guy to punish them

He's averaging a career low ppg at 8.9 and even by the per 100 he's clearly at a lower level 17.3 compared to even last year 24.6 fwiw, despite averaging about 5 less shots per game and his lowest usage by 5% ( 17.1 ) his TS% dropped by 1.2% and his TOV% increased by 6.6%

Though his defense is still great I don't know if he can really punish GOOD Small - Ball defenders more than San Antonio's regular offense would fare against them, they still might hurt GS but I don't think Duncan has it in him to hold the interior and go to town against GS, I know he might be fresher for the playoffs but looking at his stats, he seems to have fallen off on that end

[NinjaSheppard]

Warriors

Spurs depth helps their point margin but that depth matters significantly less when the playoffs come around

[PaulieWal]

To answer the OP seriously my answer is the Spurs. Spurs are the best team for me right now with their best net differential in the league right now. Two things that I am looking at is that they have two elite perimeter defenders to throw at Curry in Leonard and Green. Then they have Aldridge + Duncan to try and take advantage of small ball. The Spurs can destroy you playing big OR small with Diaw + Duncan/Aldridge. Their ball movement looks even more SPursy this year and they have a legit top 5 player in Kawhi.

I don't doubt the spurs can't beat GSM but I don't see Duncan as the guy to punish them

He's averaging a career low ppg at 8.9 and even by the per 100 he's clearly at a lower level 17.3 compared to even last year 24.6 fwiw, despite averaging about 5 less shots per game and his lowest usage by 5% ( 17.1 ) his TS% dropped by 1.2% and his TOV% increased by 6.6%

Though his defense is still great I don't know if he can really punish GOOD Small - Ball defenders more than San Antonio's regular offense would fare against them, they still might hurt GS but I don't think Duncan has it in him to hold the interior and go to town against GS, I know he might be fresher for the playoffs but looking at his stats, he seems to have fallen off on that end

Good point. I will still give Duncan the benefit of the doubt until the playoffs. We are barely 6 months removed from him beasting in that Clippers series both offensively and defensively. Even if Duncan is done offensively they still have Aldridge to punish Green and I am sure Pop is going to try and abuse that mismatch with a spread floor around Aldridge. It will definitely be a fascinating match-up.

[PaulieWal]

Warriors

Spurs depth helps their point margin but that depth matters significantly less when the playoffs come around

People always say that but depth is needed even during the playoffs and with the Spurs their depth is an asset because of the way their 2nd unit plays. More depth will always keep your starters fresh(er) compared to the opponent and that can be huge by the time you get to a game 6 or game 7. We saw that with the Clippers last year and even the Cavs in the Finals when they all look gassed by game 5.

[Dr Spaceman]

Warriors

Spurs depth helps their point margin but that depth matters significantly less when the playoffs come around

People always say that but depth is needed even during the playoffs and with the Spurs their depth is an asset because of the way their 2nd unit plays. More depth will always keep your starters fresh(er) compared to the opponent and that can be huge by the time you get to a game 6 or game 7. We saw that with the Clippers last year and even the Cavs in the Finals when they all look gassed by game 5.

I strongly disagree with the first post and I'd object to calling what the Spurs do "depth" anyway. The threesome of Ginobili/Diaw/Mills is +20 per 100 possessions right now, and those two with LMA and Kawhi is literally one of the 5 best 5 man units in the NBA at the moment. These guys are not simply killing time for the starters, they are coming in and erasing opposing leads or building their own. You can argue Ginobili has been one of the Spurs best players so far and Diaw has massively swung playoff series before (OKC 2014).

Diaw is always matchup hell and gives them the flexibility to go small with Aldridge at center. And when Manu replaces Green with the other 4 starters they are +22 last time I checked. The Spurs right now are literally more dangerous when their "depth" is on the floor.

Really the Spurs just have 8 ****ing fantastic NBA players and they deploy them in a million different combinations. Not traditional starters and depth at all.

[kabstah]

Warriors

Spurs depth helps their point margin but that depth matters significantly less when the playoffs come around

People always say that but depth is needed even during the playoffs and with the Spurs their depth is an asset because of the way their 2nd unit plays. More depth will always keep your starters fresh(er) compared to the opponent and that can be huge by the time you get to a game 6 or game 7. We saw that with the Clippers last year and even the Cavs in the Finals when they all look gassed by game 5.

I strongly disagree with the first post and I'd object to calling what the Spurs do "depth" anyway. The threesome of Ginobili/Diaw/Mills is +20 per 100 possessions right now, and those two with LMA and Kawhi is literally one of the 5 best 5 man units in the NBA at the moment. These guys are not simply killing time for the starters, they are coming in and erasing opposing leads or building their own. You can argue Ginobili has been one of the Spurs best players so far and Diaw has massively swung playoff series before (OKC 2014).

Diaw is always matchup hell and gives them the flexibility to go small with Aldridge at center. And when Manu replaces Green with the other 4 starters they are +22 last time I checked. The Spurs right now are literally more dangerous when their "depth" is on the floor.

Really the Spurs just have 8 ****ing fantastic NBA players and they deploy them in a million different combinations. Not traditional starters and depth at all.

The fact that Manu is so integral to the Spurs' best lineups is cause for concern. If push comes to shove, Curry / Draymond / Iguodala can all play 40+ minutes for a game or even a series. If Manu can only manage his typical 20-25 that's a big disadvantage for the Spurs.

[bballexpert]

To answer the OP seriously my answer is the Spurs. Spurs are the best team for me right now with their best net differential in the league right now. Two things that I am looking at is that they have two elite perimeter defenders to throw at Curry in Leonard and Green. Then they have Aldridge + Duncan to try and take advantage of small ball. The Spurs can destroy you playing big OR small with Diaw + Duncan/Aldridge. Their ball movement looks even more SPursy this year and they have a legit top 5 player in Kawhi.

I don't doubt the spurs can't beat GSM but I don't see Duncan as the guy to punish them

He's averaging a career low ppg at 8.9 and even by the per 100 he's clearly at a lower level 17.3 compared to even last year 24.6 fwiw, despite averaging about 5 less shots per game and his lowest usage by 5% ( 17.1 ) his TS% dropped by 1.2% and his TOV% increased by 6.6%

Though his defense is still great I don't know if he can really punish GOOD Small - Ball defenders more than San Antonio's regular offense would fare against them, they still might hurt GS but I don't think Duncan has it in him to hold the interior and go to town against GS, I know he might be fresher for the playoffs but looking at his stats, he seems to have fallen off on that end

Well to be fair to Duncan he was the best spurs in the playoffs last year and his numbers go up in the ps. Hes offense is off because he does not really shot much i think it throws off his rhythm on that side of the ball. It might also be he playing some of best d in the league right now lead in drpm and dbpm or the guy just **** old now i hope not.