Last years' first round upset loss to the Memphis Grizzlies should have slammed shut the window of opportunity for the San Antonio Spurs' championship hopes. Instead, one year later, the Spurs are in excellent shape to win another ring for Tim Duncan and company.
There was so much working against San Antonio this year. Tim Duncan was supposed to be past his prime. Tony Parker was apparently on the trading block. The condensed, sped up schedule was supposed to hurt aging squads like the Spurs.
And yet the Spurs are the best in the West, tied for best in the league and have managed to rest their big three and still win down the stretch. Pretty impressive for a bunch of old guys.
Still, they get the least attention of any of the contenders. The Spurs have to be the least talked about top seed since... well, since these same Spurs were the No. 1 seed last season.
Only this Spurs squad isn't the same squad that lost in the first round to Memphis. Well, it's mostly the same players, for sure. But they're deeper, younger, tougher and are enjoying a prime year from Tony Parker and a semi-return-to-prime year from Tim Duncan.
The Spurs can shock the NBA and win it all this year. Let's take a look at four key reasons.Â
The Rise of the Youth
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In the 2011 NBA Draft, the Spurs swapped out backup guard George Hill to the Pacers in exchange for the 15th overall selection, which they used on San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard.
At the time in was a questionable move. Now, however, Leonard is a key part for San Antonio and one of the best rookies in the league. He's a tenacious defender and gives the Spurs much needed help on the wing, and averages 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals a contest.Â
Third year player Danny Green found his stride this season as well, starting in 37 contests for Gregg Popovich and averaging 9.2 points a contest while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from downtown.
DeJuan Blair, also a third year player, remains a big help in the paint and on the boards. And the late season addition of guard Patrick Mills has helped the Spurs bulk up their guard depth. Mills is averaging 8.7 points on 46.7 percent shooting for San Antonio. He started in place of Tony  Parker in the Spurs' 110-106 win in Phoenix, scoring 27 points and dishing out five assists.
The key to the Spurs is still their excellent veterans, but they're getting some strong help from their youngsters.Â
The Addition of Depth
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Depth is apparently hard to come by these days. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thankfully for San Antonio, that isn't as big a concern. As the season progressed, they found depth where it wasn't expected and still managed to add some key pieces late.
We already discussed the emergence of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard, as well as the late season addition of Patrick Mills. They claimed Stephan Jackson off of waivers from Milwaukee, also rescued... er, signed Boris Diaw from Charlotte.
San Antonio hasn't had to deal with many injuries, and their depth chart looks pretty deep. With Parker, Green, Leonard, Duncan and Blair starting, that leaves a bench of Mills, Gary Neal, Manu Ginobili, Jackson, Diaw, Matt Bonner and Tiago Splitter. That is arguably the deepest and most talented bench in the West, and depth is always a huge key to a Championship run.Â
Record Against Playoff Teams
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To win in the playoffs, you have to beat the best teams, and San Antonio has been doing that all season long.
Against the seven other Western Conference Playoff squads, the Spurs hold a 16-6 record. They won two out of their three games against Oklahoma City, both Los Angeles teams and against Denver. They swept all four matchups against Memphis and won three out of their four games against Utah, their first-round matchup. The only series they lost to a Western Playoff team is against Dallas, losing two of their three contests.
Somehow, having a 72 percent winning mark against fellow playoff squads isn't enough to make you a championship favorite.Â
Of course, the Spurs are 0-2 against Miami and Chicago, the perennial favorites coming out of the East. But that's a problem they can deal with after they win the West. Â
They've Still Got Star Power
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Remember when Tony Parker was on the trading block? Good thing nothing came out of that.
Parker is having a great year, averaging 18.3 points, 7.7 assists and shooting 48 percent from the floor. He's even getting mentions as a fringe MVP candidate.
Remember how old Tim Duncan looked at the end of the series loss to Memphis last year? Sure doesn't look that old now.
In a sped up season with many more back-to-backs, Duncan has put up 15.4 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks a contest. He's also been getting a ton of rest down the stretch, and it hasn't slowed the Spurs down at all.
Also, there is that Manu Ginobili guy. He's been coming off the bench (again), but he still remains the Spurs best and most versatile scorer.
We knew at the beginning of the season that the Spurs had the talent to be a top team, but there were plenty of other questions that have since been answered. They have the depth. They have the youth. They beat the West's best teams. And their supposedly aging roster is still producing an an incredibly efficient rate.Â
Don't write off the Spurs, NBA fans. They have a very solid shot at adding another banner in San Antonio.Â
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