How Will San Antonio Spurs Win the 2013 NBA Title?

The San Antonio Spurs' core has fluctuated minimally over the past decade, and along with the consistent roster, the franchise has enjoyed consistent success.

Formulating a roster around the triumvirate of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, they have built one of the strongest dynasties in sports to date. Meanwhile, Gregg Popovich's tutelage has helped maximize the team's success, developing young unknown prospects into legitimate role players. Though the Big Three have remained together, the team has witnessed the departure of a handful of primary contributors as well as the emergence of their eventual successors (Bruce Bowen and Kawhi Leonard). 

Overall, however, the 2013 Spurs team is eerily similar to the one that has graced NBA courts for years, so it comes to no surprise that the team's current situation reflects one that previous Spurs players have experienced quite often. Like the rosters of 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, the contemporary squad has found its way into the NBA Finals, where it will look to once again mimic the example set by the franchise's other championship teams by emerging victorious.

Doing so won't be easy, as they'll have to dethrone the mighty Miami Heat in the process. However, the Spurs' remarkable Western Conference Finals performance ensured that the team possesses the tools necessary to defeat any opponent. If executed properly, such tools will guarantee that the Heat suffer the same fate as the other squads that once sat in the Spurs' way.

Winning the Turnover Battle

Both San Antonio and Miami are intelligent squads who know how to exploit opponents. Capitalizing off of turnovers has played a pivotal role in the postseason runs of both teams.

Running a successful fast break is always important, but when both teams feature top defenses capable of impeding opponents in the half court, scoring in transition becomes even more essential. Though fast breaks are often the result of strong defense, unforced turnovers often ignite the fire that helps to spawn shifts in momentum.

The Spurs have demonstrated an inability to maintain possession recently, turning over the ball more often that opposing teams. This was manifested in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, when the team's eight first-quarter turnovers allowed Memphis to gain a 16-point lead following 12 minutes of action. 

Following the sluggish start, San Antonio cleaned up its act, finishing the game with just nine more turnovers. Their increased awareness in terms of protecting the ball helped the Spurs fight back into it, eventually passing the Grizzlies to win the third game of the series.

The above situation has been a frequent sight in San Antonio, led all too often by Manu Ginobili. Miami will look to exploit the Spurs in this area, and the team must devote extra focus to ensuring that they limit their turnovers. 

Both teams are excellent in transition, and fast-break points are crucial to a team's success. The team that turns the ball over less, and by extension, can control the game's pace, may very well emerge as the 2013 champion.

Three-point Defense

Defending the perimeter was one of the Spurs' biggest weaknesses in the Western Conference Semifinals, as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson carried the Golden State Warriors through masterful execution from beyond the arc.

The two often found uncontested three-point shots, which helped to accumulate a substantial amount of points, eventually leading to two Golden State victories.

Memphis, on the other hand, was inept from deep. Aside from Quincy Pondexter, Jerryd Bayless and Mike Conley, the Grizzlies roster featured no consistent long-range threats. Naturally, Pondexter enjoyed his best four-game stretch of the year, scoring in double figures in three instances. He also surpassed the 20-point plateau for the first time this season.

His success can be tied directly to San Antonio's struggles when defending the three-point line. However, outside of Pondexter, Memphis' three-point scoring was weak and didn't challenge the Spurs. Not so coincidentally, San Antonio defeated the Grizzles much easier than they did the Warriors.

Miami possesses several deep threats. Ray Allen is undoubtedly this generation's most talented scorer from beyond the arc. Mike Miller has demonstrated an aptitude for shooting the long ball, as has Mario Chalmers. Defenses cannot knowingly leave LeBron James and Dwyane Wade open from three-point range. Heck, even Chris Bosh has transformed into somewhat of a deep threat.

Bottom line: the Heat are no scrubs when it comes to three-point shooting. 

Should San Antonio be crowned victors, they'll have to improve their perimeter defense substantially.

Of course, superstar showings from Tony Parker as well as stellar defense from Kawhi Leonard are a necessity, but that's a given. If the Spurs are going to truly defeat the Heat, it will be the little things that put them over the top.

And by refining their execution in the aforementioned areas, they'll dramatically increase their chances at winning their fifth franchise title.