Key Spurs preseason matchups give them a chance to test new-looking bench

The summer is coming to an end, and that means one thing for hoop fanatics: training camp and preseason basketball are right around the corner. It's especially an important period for the Spurs, who are eager to set a strong tone. They have five exhibition games on the calendar, but their matchups against the Jazz and Hawks give them a perfect chance to evaluate their new-look bench.

San Antonio's just as productive an offseason as any other team in the league. They added several talented players to their roster, including Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr., Ja'Kobi Gillespie, and Maliq Brown.

This does put a lot on Mitch Johnson's shoulders to figure out lineups and rotations, but one thing is for certain: this team doesn't have anything to worry about when it comes to depth. They have one of the most complete rosters in the Association, and their preseason slate will put it to the test.

Why the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks games are particularly important

San Antonio will play the Hawks, Jazz, Suns (twice), and Kings during the preseason. Each comes with its own set of challenges, but Atlanta and Utah are their most compelling matchups. Just like San Antonio, they have a ton of depth to work with.

The Jazz will present some good early tests for the Spurs' young interior players. They feature Jaren Jackson Jr., Jaxson Hayes, Jusuf Nurkic, and Mo Bamba, who can each contribute on the boards and protect the basket. This is a perfect opportunity for Mitch Johnson to break in Tarris Reed Jr. and Maliq Brown.

While the Hawks don't have as deep an interior rotation, they still have a good, experienced bench that could challenge San Antonio. Quin Snyder's squad also looks strong defensively, so the Spurs should use this to test their own bench rotations and lineups to see what works for them on offense.

Even though the Suns and Kings won't test San Antonio in the same way, they'll present an opportunity for their young players to build confidence by getting some good minutes under their belts.

The Spurs can't take any opportunity for granted right now

We all know San Antonio is one of the favorites to win the 2027 NBA Finals, but how they treat training camp and the preseason is extremely important. It's on them to set a strong tone for this new campaign.

Part of that is getting a feel for how they'll manage their bench. It's one thing to have depth and a wealth of options at each position, but figuring out how to organize all those pieces is extremely important. Over the next month, they must put a heavy emphasis on sorting that out.

Obviously, they won't have every single answer by their October 20th season opener against the OKC Thunder. But if Mitch Johnson can at least get an idea of how things look, it'll go a long way.

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