This story is part of ESPN The Magazine's Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!
San Antonio Spurs
Overall: 2
Title track: 5
Ownership: 1
Coaching: 1
Players: 1
Fan relations: 2
Affordability: 7
Stadium experience: 11
Bang for the buck: 6
Change from last year: -1
The San Antonio Spurs inched down a spot to No. 2 in the Ultimate Standings after capturing a franchise-record 67 victories, which included an impressive 40-1 record at home. Not much kept them from a third-straight standings win -- after all, they're the best in sports in ownership, coaching and players -- but perhaps a disappointing Western Conference defeat to the Thunder had something to do with it.
What's good
The Spurs top out in nearly every metric used to measure the Ultimate Standings, and that's in large part due to leadership at the top, from owner Peter Holt to beloved and brilliant coach Gregg Popovich. Holt decided last season to retire as chairman and CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, a group he has led since 1996. But the organization replaced Holt with his wife, Julianna Hawn Holt, who will take her husband's seat on the NBA's Board of Governors and maintain the club's winning formula. For evidence of how well the organization is run, look no further than the way San Antonio is transitioning into the post-Tim Duncan era by making shrewd moves, such as the acquisition in 2015 of LaMarcus Aldridge, while developing its own talent with an emerging star like Kawhi Leonard.
What's bad
The Spurs' "lowest" ranking is also the only category in which it sits outside the top 10 -- and it's in stadium experience, where they rank ... 11th. Which also happens to be the best mark in the NBA. Let's just say "bad" is a relative term. But the Spurs have a fine line to stay atop these standings: Consider it the downside to sustained success, but teams around the NBA have started to poach San Antonio's front office and coaching talent. This offseason, the Spurs lost three assistant general managers in Sean Marks to the Nets and Scott Layden and Brian Pauga to the Timberwolves, and an assistant coach to the Magic in Chad Forcier, who is widely credited by Popovich as one of the masterminds behind Leonard's development. In all, the Spurs lost at least 10 people from the front office and coaching staffs, and while fans shouldn't temper expectations, you have to wonder how much all the change will affect the product on the court.
What's new
"New" is relative for the Spurs -- no category ranking moved more than five spots in either direction. And that makes sense: Consistency vaulted San Antonio atop the NBA standings for two decades and certainly plays a major role in its ranking here. But the organization lost its mainstay when Duncan retired after 19 seasons. The Spurs signed Pau Gasol in free agency to soften the blow, while also adding Dewayne Dedmon and David Lee to provide some depth. But for the first time since 1996, the Spurs will start a season without Duncan in the fold. In addition, the Spurs announced in September a total of 13 changes, through additions and promotions, to the basketball operations staff -- most notably the addition of Monty Williams as vice president of basketball operations and Brian Wright, who will serve as an assistant general manager.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers | Full rankings