Spurs opening schedule either a massive opportunity or set up for disappointment

The San Antonio Spurs are heading into the new season with a clean slate and when everyone is undefeated, spirits are high, but the beginning of the schedule leaves the mood vulnerable to flip easily. Their opening stretch is packed with tough Western Conference opponents, and it could be a defining period for this young team.

The Spurs get to face rivals-galore in the opening stretch

Kicking things off against the Mavericks, the Spurs face one of their biggest rivals right out of the gate. Dallas, fresh off a Finals appearance, has only gotten stronger by adding Klay Thompson. That’s followed by back-to-back games against the Houston Rockets, another fierce rival. Although the Rockets didn’t make the play-in last season, they were still better than the Spurs, and this could be a crucial early test to see if San Antonio has made strides to potentially leapfrog them.

After Houston, the Spurs take on the Thunder, the number-one seed in the West last season, who have bolstered their roster with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Then, it’s the Jazz and Timberwolves, two teams with different trajectories but equally tough challenges. While the Jazz might not be expected to be a powerhouse, the Timberwolves are coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Every game against them is going to be a battle.

The schedule doesn’t ease up as the Spurs then face the Clippers, another game against the Rockets, followed by matchups with the Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Kings. The Trail Blazers might not be as strong, but the Spurs can’t afford to take anyone lightly, especially coming from the bottom themselves. The Kings are also no walk in the park, as they have immense firepower potential after adding DeMar DeRozan in the offseason.

For a team with aspirations of starting to win, this opening stretch is critical. Victor Wembanyama, who needs to perform as a top-10 to top-15 player consistently, will be crucial to the Spurs’ success. If they can get off to a strong start, it could be a sign that the team has figured things out and is ready to make a playoff push. But if they stumble early, the road ahead in the ultra-competitive Western Conference could become a steep uphill battle.

The Spurs can’t afford to fall behind and play catch-up in the West. Keeping pace with these teams will be difficult enough, but a strong start might just set the tone for an exciting season ahead.