Can anyone challenge the Warriors for the NBA title?

Golden State faces no shortage of powerful challengers for league crown

The defending NBA champion Warriors are seemingly set up for another title shot.

They’re coming off a league-best 67-15 record and a historic 16-1 playoff run. Over the summer, they brought back 10 of their top 11 players from last season and strengthened their bench.

So — barring injuries — what could prevent the Warriors from winning back-to-back titles and a third championship in four seasons?

Here are four teams that could possibly threaten the Warriors’ quest.

1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON » 61-21, second seed in the Western Conference.

2017 NBA PLAYOFFS » Eliminated in the Western Conference finals by the Warriors 4-0. OFFSEASON REINFORCEMENT » Rudy Gay.

WHY THEY’RE A THREAT » Well, they’re the Spurs. This is a team you can never underestimate. Kawhi Leonard is the best two-way player in basketball. LaMarcus Aldridge appears to be more comfortable in the Spurs’ attack in Year 2 since coming over from Portland. Athletic secondyear point guard Dejuonty Murray could make a big leap playing important minutes while Tony Parker is out because of a thigh injury. And Gregg Popovich is

the orchestrator.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG » If Murray isn’t ready to take Parker’s minutes, that could force supersub Patty Mills into the starting lineup and weaken one of the best benches in the league. Pau Gasol (37) and Manu Ginobili (40) are back, but another year older.

2. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON » 51-31, second seed in the Eastern Conference.

2017 NBA PLAYOFFS » Lost in the NBA Finals to the Warriors 4-1. OFFSEASON REINFORCEMENTS » Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder. WHY THEY’RE A THREAT » LeBron James is a threetime NBA champion and is the best player of his generation. He is joined by Wade, with whom he won two titles in Miami. Kevin Love returned to All-Star form last season. Rose can hold down the point guard position until Thomas recovers from his hip injury. WHAT COULD GO WRONG » Thomas isn’t expected back until January. Will that be enough time for him to assimilate to the Cavaliers’ system before the playoffs? If Cleveland is rolling along without him, will he come off the bench? How will Love fare as he becomes the starting center while Crowder takes over at power forward?

3. HOUSTON ROCKETS

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON

» 55-27, third seed in the Western Conference.

2017 NBA PLAYOFFS » Eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by San Antonio 4-2. OFFSEASON REINFORCEMENT » Chris Paul.

WHY THEY’RE A THREAT

» James Harden is coming off an MVP-caliber season. Paul is one of the league’s finest point guards. If they can play together, watch out. The Rockets should also boast an improved defense led by Paul, Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute (a free agent from the Los Angeles Clippers). WHAT COULD GO WRONG

» Two dominant ballhandlers (Paul and Harden) and one basketball could add up to one disjointed offense. Injury-plagued Eric Gordon is coming off his healthiest season since he was a rookie. Can he do it again?

4. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

2016-17 REGULAR SEASON » 47-35, sixth seed in the Western Conference. 2017 NBA PLAYOFFS » Eliminated in the Western Conference first round by Houston 4-1. OFFSEASON REINFORCEMENTS » Paul George, Carmelo Anthony. WHY THEY’RE A THREAT » Do-it-all Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double last season. Now he has two All-Stars to help him. George is coming off his best all-around season and will give Oklahoma City an added defensive presence on the perimeter. Anthony will welcome a season that will be all about basketball, not Phil Jackson’s sniping. WHAT COULD GO WRONG » This will be an interesting chemistry experiment. How will Westbrook mesh with a star in his prime (George) and a star in decline (Anthony)? The Thunder also lost some depth when it traded Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to Indiana for George and Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott to New York for Anthony.