San Antonio is 25-14 without Leonard this year (and with Pop). I just don't see the Cavs, minus Lebron, even with Pop being 25-14 with the roster they have (and remember Parker has missed a bunch of time, Gay has missed a bunch of games, etc.). I love Thomas and Love as pieces, but they are surrounded by a bunch of one dimensional role players and that dimension is by and large offensive oriented. Thomas and Love are poor defenders, they would need to be surrounded by defenders to have any sort of shot at being better than mediocre at best. The Spurs on the other hand have a MVP candidate in Aldridge, Parker (who has only played in half their games), Gasol (who is still very good), and then some more well balanced role players in Anderson, Green, Mills, Gay, and Manu. That team is better than the Cavs with Thomas, Love, Smith, Korver, Thompson, Wade, Crowder, and Green. There is nothing inconsistent in any of my statements.
Generally based on what you have said in discussing teams over the years is that the teams with the best players and star players win. The Cavs would have two guys you have said should be all-stars if healthy yesterday. You have them over a team with 1 all-star aldridge feels pretty inconsistent with your takes over the years on star players being what matters
I also think your take saying Aldridge is an MVP candidate is a bit over the top. He is averaging 22 points and 8 rebounds with pretty average defense. Great comeback season? Sure
Comparable to what Lebron, Harden, Davis, Giannis, Curry etc are doing?... (he is not even an all-star starter).
Also Tony and Manu are definitely declining just like Korver and Wade are. Parker was demoted to the Bench for the first time since he was a kid recently. Manu has some nice skills but is 40 now and can only play 19 minutes. Gay hasn't played since December and it is unclear when he will be back.