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Spurs' Ginobili not concerned with Warriors' epic start to season

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

If not for the Golden State Warriors' historic 15-0 undefeated streak, perhaps more fans would be taking notice of the San Antonio Spurs and their impressive 10-3 record at a time when very few teams are separating themselves from the rest of the pack.

San Antonio has won seven of their last eight games, with their most recent victory coming against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, 92-82. Possessing the league's sixth-ranked offense and No. 1 defense, the team's aging - yet still highly efficient - core of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, along with rising star Kawhi Leonard and free-agent acquisition LaMarcus Aldridge, may be the biggest threat to dethroning the defending NBA champions.

Ginobili and the rest of the Spurs don't pay too much attention to how well the Warriors are faring to begin the 2015-16 regular season, as their focus remains on building off their own success.

"If they want to be 82-0, that's all right," Ginobili said, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald. "Hopefully, we can get to the conference finals and see what happens. Right now, we're more concerned about ourselves."

San Antonio were quickly ousted from last year's postseason in the opening round against the Los Angeles Clippers, falling short in their bid to defend their 2014 championship win. That seems to be the mantra of the franchise, though, as the Spurs have never advanced past the conference semifinals the year after hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Golden State was eliminated by the Spurs the last time the two powerhouses met in the playoffs, losing in six games during a second-round matchup in 2013. In fact, San Antonio has had the Warriors' number for quite some time, winning six of their last seven games against Stephen Curry and company.

Even so, the Spurs' 38-year-old Argentinian superstar doesn't underestimate what the Warriors bring to the table, knowing full well how impossible they are to stop when their shots start falling.

“With their talent, when they get hot they can score in bunches in a few seconds,” Ginobili said. “They're the NBA champs for a reason.”

San Antonio and Golden State won't square off this season until Jan. 25 at Oracle Arena.

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