LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan (Photo : Chris Covatta | Getty Images Sport)
The San Antonio Spurs were promptly installed as title favorites when LaMarcus Aldridge chose them over all his suitors.
Of course, logic dictates than when your team takes acquires the top free agent of the summer, your team will be the most improved, but just how huge of a factor will Aldridge, and for that matter, David West be?
Apparently, not as much as initially thought. LA is the Portland Trail Blazers' franchise player and went toe-to-toe with Kevin Love as the best power forward in the league, but just like Love, he may struggle to take a lesser role in a stronger team.
In a conversation with USA Today, Aldridge was having issues with aggressiveness.
"They've been trying to get me to (be aggressive), and now I'm just getting back to it because I didn't want to come in being aggressive and then be too aggressive," Aldridge said. "I think it's better to be passive (at the beginning), and then kind of get into it more, so they've got me back to (thinking), 'You've got to still be yourself, but take the good pass and make the great pass,' and that's what I've been doing."
It should also be noted that the Spurs still paid a price to get LaMarcus. This was noted in SI's Scouts preview. Part of their depth has gone with Tiago Splitter, Cory Joseph and Marco Bellinelli leaving the team.
"They didn't replace Marco Belinelli, so there's a lot of pressure on Green and Kawhi Leonard to carry them from three-point range." There is also the issue of how the other point guards in the West have caught up with Tony Parker.
The surprise addition of title-chasing David West is also not impactful, according to SI.
"You see some miles on David West. The thing he brought to Indiana that was most important was toughness and leadership. That's not as big a need in San Antonio. I thought getting another stretch four would have been a priority."
The Scouts preview was supposed to analyze the weaknesses of every team and as revealed, the Spurs also have their share. While they have arguably the best starting lineup in the league, the long season may unravel their flaws.
