Utah Jazz: The J-Notes’ Western Conference composite power rankings, September edition

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 14: The Houston Rockets introduces Chris Paul as he speaks to the media during a press conference on July 14, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 14: The Houston Rockets introduces Chris Paul as he speaks to the media during a press conference on July 14, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Kawhi Leonard San Antonio Spurs
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stands on the court during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

3) San Antonio Spurs

Avg: 2.9, Hi: 2, Low: 4, Aston: 3

Gregg Poppovich and Co. continue to be the NBA’s organizational gold standard. And while Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are nearing the end of the road and the LaMarcus Aldridge experiment may be souring somewhat, they remain one of the few teams with any hope of challenging Golden State’s supremacy.

Kawhi Leonard still manages to fly under some people’s radar despite being the best two-way player and a Top 5er league-wide. He, along with a strong supporting cast that now includes Rudy Gay, will win 55-plus games again in 2017-18 and execute like few other teams can on both sides of the court.

It won’t always be the most thrilling brand of ball to watch, but the Spurs are about winning — not entertaining Joe Casual and the rest of fringe hoops fandom.