2027-2028 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS (PREVIEW) The San Antonio Spurs have four of the top fifty players in their starting lineup. Point guard Marlin Taylor (4-Stars), shooting guard Devin Booker (4-Stars), power forward Paul Johnson (3.5-Stars), playing at the small forward position and center Gottlieb Kessler (5-Stars) who is without a doubt the best young center in the NBA. Center Jarrett Allen (3.0-Stars) rounds out the starting line up, playing at the power forward position. This team is immensely talented offensively, but lack skill on the defensive end of the court. San Antonio is rated 29th in defense and they are the worst free throw shooting team in the league. On paper, this is a very bad match up for the Spurs, which is only made worse by the injury to Devin Booker. Booker is out until 5/31 with a sprained ankle and he is scheduled to return for game four. That means shooting guard Hunter Floyd (2.5-Stars) will be thrust into the starting lineup. I don't want to suggest that the series is over before it gets started, but out of all the teams that the Bulls could have met in the finals, this is probably the best match up. The best offense (Bulls) going up against one of the worst defenses in the league (Spurs) seems like a recipe for a potential sweep. If the series isn't over in five, I'll be very surprised.
TEAM INSIGHTSSAN ANTONIO SPURS (OVERALL: 48-34 | HOME: 30-11 | AWAY: 18-23)OFF Rating: 108.0 (#7)
DEF Rating: 109.2 (#29)
NET Rating: -1.1 (#17)
PPG: 109.3 (#4)
PAPG: 108.0 (#24)
FG%: .470 (#4)
3P%: .315 (#19)
FT%: .669 (#30)
APG: 23.3 (#10)
RBP: 46.6 (#7)
NBA Top 50 Players: C Gottlieb Kessler, PG Marlin Taylor, SG Devin Booker, PF Paul Johnson
($238,537,922 Payroll - 4th Highest / $-85,537,922 CAP Space)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHICAGO BULLS (OVERALL: 76-6 | HOME: 41-0 | AWAY: 35-6)OFF Rating: 112.6 (#1)
DEF Rating: 100.7 (#1)
NET Rating: 11.9 (#1)
PPG: 117.7 (#1)
PAPG: 103.6 (#11)
FG%: .489 (#1)
3P%: .342 (#5)
FT%: .724 (#27)
APG: 25.0 (#2)
RBP: 48.5 (#1)
NBA Top 50 Players: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF Jayson Tatum, C Justin McCuthison, PG D'Angelo Russell
($173,351,825 Payroll - 21st Highest / $-20,351,825 CAP Space)
---------------------