5 reasons Kevin Durant signs with San Antonio Spurs
By John Buhler
5. Guaranteed to win 50 games annually
While the San Antonio Spurs have never won back-to-back NBA Championships in their impressive 20-year dominance of the Western Conference, there are two things that the Spurs do a better job of than anybody: win at least 50 games and make the Western Conference Playoffs annually.
In 2015-16, San Antonio was usually within three games of an all-time great regular season team in the 73-win Golden State Warriors. San Antonio quietly won 67 games and earned the No. 2 seed in the 2016 Western Conference Playoffs.
Though Durant’s Thunder bested the Spurs in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals, over the years Durant has had to have come away impressed with the Spurs ability to remain in the championship hunt even in what were surely going to be down years.
Outside of only the Cleveland Cavaliers because they have LeBron James, only the Spurs can win an NBA Championship without having home court advantage at any point in the NBA Playoffs. Even in a down year with a 50-32 record and a No. 5 seed in the West, San Antonio is a dangerous team that can get hot and go on a championship run.
Playing in San Antonio will really take of any unwonted pressure Durant might feel in the the regular season, as with the Spurs only the NBA Playoffs matter. Durant would be able to rest in some games, still play on a team that wins at a high level, and contend for a championship in 2017.
Next: 4. To form an elite big three.