The San Antonio Spurs are no longer the default option to finish with the second-best record in the Western Conference. That honor now belongs to the Houston Rockets or the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After a puzzling offseason, during which they gave a whopper of a contract to Pau Gasol, the Spurs enter the 2017-18 regular season facing more questions than usual. Extending LaMarcus Aldridge only adds to that ambiguity. And Kawhi Leonard's quad injury threatens to give way to outright pessimism.

Still, these Spurs get the benefit of the doubt. They have to. They've done too much, against convention and logic and counter predictions, for too long to be considered anything other than 55-win locks.

How do they get there this time around? Does it involve a Dejounte Murray coming-of-not-his-age campaign? Will Patty Mills shoulder more of the point guard duties? Will Leonard make a Kevin Durant-like leap as a passer and average five-plus assists per game?

And what's happening up front? Is Aldridge ready to carry the offense for stretches on his own? Is he open to playing a lot more center? Will Rudy Gay be healthy enough to unlock small-ball combinations as a 4? Will Kyle Anderson and/or Davis Bertans get to show out?

Last, but not least, if the Spurs do, in fact, clear 55 wins once again, will this be the best coaching job of Gregg Popovich's illustrious career?

NBA Math's Adam Spinnella (@Spinnella14) joins Hardwood Knocks to break down all this, and so much more—including whether the sun is at all setting on San Antonio's run of dominance.

As always, be sure to subscribe to and rate Hardwood Knocks on iTunes. You can also find us on Stitcher and BlogTalkRadio. And as 50 Cent's biopic suggests: Follow Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey), Dan Favale (@danfavale), the show (@HardwoodKnocks) and NBA Math (@NBA_Math) on Twitter or die trying.

106 - Kawhi Leonard Has a Franchise to Save: 2017-18 San Antonio Spurs Preview

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