Spurs' opening week could expose whether their Finals weakness is still a problem

The NBA higher-ups wasted no time giving the Spurs a tough set of first-week matchups. They're scheduled to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on opening night and then play the Houston Rockets. These are two elite defensive teams, so it'll be a perfect opportunity for the Spurs to test their offense.

Last season, the Thunder ranked first in the NBA in defensive rating, and the Rockets ranked sixth. Both teams did their jobs to get even better on that end as OKC added another big body to their frontcourt in Aday Mara, while Houston brought in Marcus Smart.

The pressure is on San Antonio to make another big offensive leap after its limitations were exposed in the NBA Finals. Going against some of the toughest defenses in the Western Conference is a perfect way to gauge how far they've come.

The Rockets can give the Spurs' guards a good early season test

The Rockets are entering next season with a deep rotation of perimeter defenders. Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. can devastate opponents with their length, athleticism, and ability to force difficult shots and turnovers.

This is the perfect challenge for the Spurs' guards. Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper were great last season, but they all still have some holes to patch up offensively. The Rockets' fleet of elite perimeter defenders will put them to the test in the best way possible.

San Antonio's backcourt is a massive key to their success moving forward. So much of this team hinges on how much they can grow from last season. This early matchup against the Rockets will be the perfect litmus test for them.

The Spurs can put their deeper interior rotation to the test

The OKC Thunder got even bigger this summer, drafting the 7'3" Aday Mara to accompany Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the frontcourt. Mara did have his struggles in the Summer League, but he could still be a huge difference-maker for Oklahoma City during the regular season.

This is the challenge the Spurs need, as their biggest focus this summer was to craft a roster that could handle larger teams. They added Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance out of the draft, giving them a deeper interior rotation around Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet.

Now, Quaintance won't be available on opening night, but the Spurs will still have a handful of bigs available to counter OKC's frontcourt. This would allow Mitch Johnson to run some taller lineups, which would help San Antonio dominate on the offensive boards and establish a lethal paint-scoring attack.

The Spurs are looking to make a strong early impression, and running into these Western Conference rivals during opening week gives them the best chance to do so. Going 2-0 during that stretch will send a signal to competitors that last season's success wasn't a fluke; this team is the real deal.

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