Race To The # 1 Seed, Spurs Or Thunder?

[cd021]

cd021,

Thanks for taking the time to break down the respective schedules. Please provide a little more detail on exactly what the following numbers represent:

records against the western conference. I forgot that OKC and San Antonio only play 3 times. I put those records in case the Spurs evened the season series. But OKC has already won, so i deleted that part of the post.

The 25-3 mark is against -.500 teams. I'll go back and edit to clarify

[Jwash_1986]

translated:

they're still a force to be reckoned with

He understood what the it meant

[cd021]

Did some quick calculations and got what should be pretty close to the remaining strengths-of-schedule (the aggregate opponent winning percentage) for all of the West contenders (from most difficult to least difficult):

DAL -- .547
MEM -- .526
HOU -- .523
PNX -- .517
SAS -- .505
OKC -- .502
GST -- .501
PRT --. 496
LAC -- .486

If you adjust those for the location of the games (i.e., winning @ Clippers is much more difficult than beating Clippers on the road, since LAC is 24-5 at home and 16-15 on the road), the numbers stay basically the same, but OKC's SOS goes up from .502 to .523 and DAL's goes down from .547 to .524. Otherwise, the numbers are essentially the same for all of the teams.

Based off that GSW should certainly make the playoffs. Their my pick as a 1st round upset. I like Memphis over Dallas, if anything, just to challenge OKC a bit more in the 1st round.

[cjw]

It really isn't a race. The Spurs would need to beat the Thunder outright to be the #1 seed because they lost the season series. They aren't geting the #1 seed without Parker. Lastly, sloppy offense + mediocre defense = no chance. The Thunder would literally have to fall apart completely. The Spurs need to concentrate, holding on to the #2 seed because it's far from a lock.

I agree, let's worry about home court in the WCF once we get there. The 2 seed is almost as important, as you don't want to go on the road after round 1.

[Beaverfuzz]

Don't care. Spurs will wear them out in a 7 game series anyway.

[Mikeanaro]

I really don´t know even as a Spurs fan maybe the Thunder will finish first, at this point I just want my team to be healthy for the playoffs and nothing else matters

[td4mvp2k]

It really isn't a race. The Spurs would need to beat the Thunder outright to be the #1 seed because they lost the season series. They aren't geting the #1 seed without Parker. Lastly, sloppy offense + mediocre defense = no chance. The Thunder would literally have to fall apart completely. The Spurs need to concentrate, holding on to the #2 seed because it's far from a lock.

[z0sa]

I'm hoping and praying the Spurs come together for a big push for that #1 seed. They're going to need it.

[jyra]

Another injury for OKC:

[Juggity]

Another injury for OKC:

great news tbh.

[Budkin]

Hoping the Spurs can take advantage.

[Hoops Czar]

Wasn't Seph on the trading block? Anyways, enter Caron Buter.

[freemeat]

Your takes are the most ridiculous inhumane statements I've ever heard uttered. It's like being a pessimist towards this forum and this team is what you live for. I never post comments but rather enjoy the read. However, I couldn't resist telling you that you should stop posting cause your opinions may seriously single handedly ruin this forum in all seriousness. They're downright God awful.

Do you know what "inhumane" means? I'm fairly certain it doesn't apply to comment to which you were replying.

[cd021]

great news tbh.

Hard to say. Potentially more playing time for Collison, Adams and Lamb. Gives Buttler a chance to get acclimated. Best case there defense struggles a bit with lineups that they haven't used as much.

[Russ]

If the Clips and Rockets are in the 4/5 slot, the Spurs might be better off as the 2 seed.

(I know it's too early to be thinking that way though. )

[Spurs 4 The Win]

If the Clips and Rockets are in the 4/5 slot, the Spurs might be better off as the 2 seed.

(I know it's too early to be thinking that way though. )

I want to avoid Portland and Portland only, we can beat Houston and the Clips easily (Rockets are a fraud)

[Richie]

I want to avoid Portland and Portland only, we can beat Houston and the Clips easily (Rockets are a fraud)

Portland are too inexperienced, wouldn't be surprised to see them lose in the first round. Im much more afraid of the Rockets than the Blazers or Clips.

If the Spurs can't get the #1, I hope it finishes like the current standings.

Spurs v Phoenix, then Portland/Warriors
Thunder v Dallas, then Rockets/Clips

I know who I'd rather be facing.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

Portland are too inexperienced, wouldn't be surprised to see them lose in the first round. Im much more afraid of the Rockets than the Blazers or Clips.

If the Spurs can't get the #1, I hope it finishes like the current standings.

Spurs v Phoenix, then Portland/Warriors
Thunder v Dallas, then Rockets/Clips

I know who I'd rather be facing.

Aldridge is a major threat, we havent proven we can stop him and if we drop one at home it is gonna be hard to beat them in Portland

[Chinook]

Nah, the Clippers are the second-easiest matchup for the Spurs right after Dallas. If the Spurs can get those teams in the first two rounds, it'd be awesome.

[ace3g]

WESTERN		W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
1	Oklahoma City	45	15	.750	-	25-6	20-9	9-5	27-9	105.1	98.6	+6.5	Won 2	6-4
2	San Antonio	43	16	.729	1 ½	21-8	22-8	9-3	25-10	104.0	98.0	+6.0	Won 3	7-3
3	Portland	41	18	.695	3 ½	23-7	18-11	12-3	23-14	107.8	102.9	+4.9	Won 5	6-4
4	LA Clippers	41	20	.672	4 ½	25-5	16-15	5-4	24-11	107.2	100.8	+6.5	Won 4	7-3
5	Houston	40	19	.678	4 ½	23-7	17-12	9-4	23-16	106.4	101.9	+4.6	Won 1	8-2
6	Golden State	36	24	.600	9	18-10	18-14	8-4	21-16	103.3	98.8	+4.5	Lost 1	6-4
7	Phoenix	35	24	.593	9 ½	21-11	14-13	7-3	22-16	105.3	102.3	+3.0	Won 2	6-4
8	Dallas	36	25	.590	9 ½	19-10	17-15	9-5	18-16	104.4	102.2	+2.2	Lost 2	6-4

[Robz4000]

Nah, the Clippers are the second-easiest matchup for the Spurs right after Dallas. If the Spurs can get those teams in the first two rounds, it'd be awesome.

This, with Memphis being a close third. Wouldn't bother me if they got matched up with the Dubs either, tho that would be a waste as I think they'd be a tough challenge for Houston, Portland, or OKC.

[ace3g]

http://espn.go.com/nba/bracket/_/year/2014

[Sean Cagney]

Nah, the Clippers are the second-easiest matchup for the Spurs right after Dallas. If the Spurs can get those teams in the first two rounds, it'd be awesome.

Dallas is a rival team though so you know they will give it their all if they play the Spurs, plus Dirk when he shoots makes me nervous all the time.

[Chinook]

http://espn.go.com/nba/bracket/_/year/2014

I'm confident in the Spurs beating anyone in the West besides OKC, but that'd be an unfortunate draw for the Spurs' side of the bracket. The Suns could be like GS was last year and actually make a series. And the Blazers and Warriors are the same way. SA would win that side, buy they'd probably be exhausted by the time they reached the WCF like they were in 2008.

[sehui]

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Even if we squashed the beef, I ain't touchin ya hand
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