Bill Simmons pours cold water on Spurs’ dreams of crushing OKC in rematch

The San Antonio Spurs will face rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on opening night, but the Ringers' Bill Simmons just poured cold water on their claim to being the better team.

Simmons has frequently praised the Spurs' young core. Despite that, on a recent Bill Simmons podcast, he questioned whether the Spurs are truly better than the Thunder.

He even went as far as to say, "I think the Thunder are the favorite." That's a surprising claim considering San Antonio beat OKC eight times last season, including in the Western Conference Finals.

Bill Simmons pours cold water on Spurs' chance against OKC in rematch

San Antonio will soon get a chance to prove Simmons wrong when they play the Thunder on opening night, and it could set the tone for how this season goes for both teams. If the Silver and Black wins, it would firmly establish the Spurs as the dominant team in the Western Conference.

Yet the Spurs shouldn't need to prove themselves, though how they bounce back from losing in the NBA Finals will determine a lot. Many expect San Antonio to be dominant right out of the gate in their quest to win a championship this season.

If they stink the joint up against the Thunder on opening night, then that could be a red flag. Given how they've played in the preseason, San Antonio hasn't done anything to suggest that will happen. Even so, it's clear not everyone is impressed by their playoff run.

The Spurs must prove Bill Simmons wrong by crushing OKC

Getting back to the NBA Finals could prove far more difficult than making it the first time, but this team is certainly talented enough. They will have to do just that to quiet skeptics such as Simmons.

That starts with how they perform during the season opener. If they set the tone by dominating the Thunder, then they'd establish themselves as the team to beat in the Western Conference.

On the other hand, if they struggle, then they might not be seen as clear frontrunners to win the West. In the grand scheme of things, that isn't a massive deal unless they fail to make the Western Conference Finals.

But, if San Antonio wants to be a dominant team, they actually have to dominate other contenders. Making an example of the Thunder on opening night is the best way to do so. It's also the best way for the Spurs to change Simmons' mind.

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