Hollinger: Spurs Might Have Hard Time Making Playoffs

[duncan228]

PER Diem: Dec. 31, 2008 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Perdiem-081231)
By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/temp/lead124.jpg
D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

Even with a healthy big three in San Antonio, the Spurs might have a hard time making the playoffs.


Checking out the Playoff Odds (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds)on Wednesday, there's a bit of a surprise out West.

According to Wednesday's simulations, the eight most likely playoff teams from that conference are the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavs and Suns.

You'll notice I didn't mention the Spurs. After Tuesday's 100-98 loss at home to Milwaukee, the Spurs project to finish ninth in the West with a 47-35 record. They're a lowly 14th in the Power Rankings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking) -- more than a point behind No. 13 Dallas.

All this seems a bit odd just looking at the standings. San Antonio is 20-11, after all, with the third-best record in the West and just a half-game behind New Orleans in the Southwest Division race.

Intangible factors seem to be on the Spurs' side, too. They've compiled their record despite losing Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for big chunks of time, and they have a history of rallying in the second half of the season after ho-hum starts.

However, the Playoff Odds and Power Rankings underscore this: San Antonio hasn't played nearly as well as its record. The Spurs already have played 18 home games, tied with Boston for most in the league. Also, their opponents' .469 winning percentage is the worst of any team in the West.

Moreover, the Spurs have been remarkably mediocre since Parker and Ginobili returned to the lineup. Their past 10 games include close shaves at home against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Memphis, a home loss to the Bucks and a convincing defeat in Orlando.

As a result, the Playoff Odds project the Spurs to go just 27-24 in their final 51 games. This would be hugely disappointing from San Antonio's perspective, but its schedule is about to rise several notches in difficulty.

From Jan. 11 to March 4, the Spurs will play only eight of their 25 games at home. Of those eight, six are against high-caliber opponents: Orlando, Portland, Cleveland, the Lakers, Dallas and New Orleans. The other two games, against Indiana and New Jersey, aren't exactly gimmes, either.

And of the 17 road games, at least eight -- at L.A., Utah, Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Detroit, Portland and Dallas -- have to be considered likely or somewhat likely defeats. Of the 25 games, only two are against the bottom six teams in the West, and both are on the road.

Thus, the Spurs' position isn't nearly as strong as it appears in the standings. The Spurs aren't playing real well, and they'll get absolutely bushwhacked by the schedule if they don't start playing better real soon.

[Spork KIller]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

[I. Hustle]

Yeah go Suns with all of their chamionships. It's hard to not feel like a failure whenever the Spurs play Phoenix with all of their banners hanging from the... oh wwwwaaaaaiiiiiittttttt

[WildcardManu]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

No, failure is being eliminated by the Spurs 3 times the past 4 years. How does it feel to lose too much? Then again, you are a closet Spurs fan since you dedicate your time trolling around here.

[Spork KIller]

Also, their opponents' .469 winning percentage is the worst of any team in the West.


Feasting on pathetic teams is the reason you are where you are right now...

That will change soon!

[td4mvp21]

:lol The media is so much like this board. After we beat the Suns, we are going to the Finals with the Celtics! After we lose to the Bucks, we have a good chance of not making the playoffs!

[urunobili]

I like Hollinger predictions... it only fires me up more...

[BacktoBasics]

This one of the dumbest articles ever written. What a huge leap of horseshit to make assumptions in that fashion.

[ManuTP9]

it's the same crap , everytime we lose we hear oh the spurs arent making it far this year, trade tony, then win we get on a streak , its spurs have a great chance of winning the title.

The spurs are fine and are going to make the playoffs, whocares if we lost to the bucks, it didnt affect our record that much.

[baseline bum]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

Are the Rockets ever going to make it out of the first round?

[duncan228]

A little Hollinger bashing is always a good thing. Besides, I wanted an excuse to run the pic. :lol

[Spork KIller]

he is one of finest writers in the media, his words are pure and speak voulumes, disgrunted dumbasses spurm fans won't agree with him becuase he speaks the truth

Just Die Already !!!!

[Spork KIller]

it's the same crap , everytime we lose we hear oh the spurs arent making it far this year, trade tony, then win we get on a streak , its spurs have a great chance of winning the title.

The spurs are fine and are going to make the playoffs, whocares if we lost to the bucks, it didnt affect our record that much.


Kill yourself, not a chance whatsoever!

[ManuTP9]

Kill yourself, not a chance whatsoever!

LMAO, wtf? who are you?

[MarCowMar]

There are nine teams in the West deserving of playoff spots, so it makes sense that one of them has to fall off. This situation is going to be similar to last year when the lower seeds weren't really any worse than the higher seeds.

LA Lakers 25 5
Portland 20 12
Denver 20 12
New Orleans 19 9
Houston 20 12
Phoenix 18 12
Utah 19 14
Dallas 19 12
San Antonio 20 11

The Spurs usually get better as the season goes on, and this closeness can work in our favor too since we could just as easily end up taking the first or second spot.

[ashbeeigh]

It was the bucks! We can never, never, never, beat the Bucks! Where were we in the rankings after we beat the Suns? It's so subjective. Believe Spurs fans! Believe!

[Spork KIller]

LMAO, wtf? who are you?

I'm your daddy

[T Park]

Seriously?

Did Pop tell Hollinger to fuck off one time?

Hollinger has a hard on for hating on the spurs.

[Allanon]

I think by the All Star Game, the Spurs will either shut up the doubters or prove 'em right.

The Spurs are in the midst of a relatively "easy" stretch. That Bucks loss was pretty disappointing but they gotta finish this out.

@Grizzlies
vs 76'ers
@Heat
vs Clippers

After those 4, the schedule really doesn't let up until the end of the season.

[ManuTP9]

I'm your daddy

lol ok i guess XD

[Spork KIller]

There are nine teams in the West deserving of playoff spots, so it makes sense that one of them has to fall off. This situation is going to be similar to last year when the lower seeds weren't really any worse than the higher seeds.

LA Lakers 25 5
Portland 20 12
Denver 20 12
New Orleans 19 9
Houston 20 12
Phoenix 18 12
Utah 19 14
Dallas 19 12
San Antonio 20 11

The Spurs usually get better as the season goes on, and this closeness can work in our favor too since we could just as easily end up taking the first or second spot.

Not in your wildest dream bitch!!

Read the article and you will see the only reason your lowly team has that record is because they've been feasting on crappry teams with a few exceptions but mostly pathetic teams like yours

[Spork KIller]

I think by the All Star Game, the Spurs will either shut up the doubters or prove 'em right.

The Spurs are in the midst of a relatively "easy" stretch. That Bucks loss was pretty disappointing but they gotta finish this out.

@Grizzlies
vs 76'ers
@Heat
vs Clippers

After those 4, the schedule really doesn't let up until the end of the season.

You are an idiot and a spurs ass kisser...bitch

[de Soto]

Bullshit. They'll make the playoffs OK. But getting beyond that....HMMMM...don't know what to think currently...:wakeup

[Spork KIller]

The will lose at memphis and Miami thank you ass kisser

[Allanon]

You are an idiot and a spurs ass kisser...bitch

How is that ass kissing the Spurs ass, bitch? You obviously haven't read my threads hahah. One troll trolling another, life is great :D

[Findog]

Oh noes! Someones sho am wrote a mean artacul about tha Spurrs.

[mrspurs]

Only time will tell. Thou, I dont agree we wont make the POs. I surely dont like our odds(of going all the way) once we get there if all the teams that make it are healthy. We didnt have enough in the paint last season. Depended to much on that 3 point shot. And teams for the first time Ive ever seen defended Timmy and Tony quite well. Well enough to cause to many blowouts and not enough close games. We dont make enough stops. We dont play defense as a team well enough(yet). We've allowed teams to push us around in the paint. And Im talking sorry teams. This isnt like years before where under the radar is a good thing. There is no radar, teams want to beat us. Because they finally see a chance they can. They dont care if its a PO game or not. The team better hope Manu comes around or that whole Olympics thing is gonna be what gives this team an earlier exit. I just dont see us going far with a jump shooting Manu. And this article has nothing todo with us losing to the Bucks imo. He is looking at our schedule ahead. He knows the rodeo is coming.

[Findog]

also, you guys are fat:

http://archive.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/1480


If you happen to be living in San Antonio, Texas, you should put down that Twinkie and go jogging.

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported this week that San Antonio is the most obese city in the nation, with 31.1 percent of adults there qualifying as obese (if “qualifying” is the right word to use in matters like there). Worse, sixty-five out of every hundred adults in that Texas city would qualify as overweight, according to the CDC study. (The only good news for San Antonio in this study is the fact that it ranks second in the “overweight” list, exceeded in its collective girth by Charleston, West Virginia, where 67.8 percent of adults were overweight.)

Gary, Indiana, is second, with 28.8 percent of adults there obese.

These cities are way ahead even of the alarming national statistics, which show that 21 percent of US adults are obese, and more than 37 percent are overweight.

The city with the lowest rate of overweight people was Portland, Maine, at 49.3 percent, where it may be cold but the people clearly are eating right and getting enough exercise.

In 1990, just 11.6 percent of Americans were obese and 33.1 percent were overweight.

The CDC attributes the high rates of obese and overweight people to an excess of junk food, too much television, and not enough exercise.

Let's go celebrate another Spurs win by polishing off 18 burritos at Taco C.

[Findog]

You don't see the X-Man sitting on his ass and eating a HungryMan tv dinner...he's out there jacking guys up on the court and dishing out astute sex advice off of it.

[duncan228]

also, you guys are fat...

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

[I Love Me Some Me]

Lilke it or not, there is some truth to what Hollinger says. The Spurs have had a relatively soft schedule up to this point.

[Findog]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/champion/05ring.jpg

One for each ring!

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/5412514.jpg

http://itola.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/fat-guy.jpg

http://ecoscraps.com/files/2008/05/obese-woman.jpg

http://redpants.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/able.jpg

[ManuTP9]

Lmao !

[Quiet Strength]

:lmao

[dickface]

No matter how terrible the Jazz play, Hollinger will find a way to rework his formula to make it look like they're good.

[Findog]

No matter how terrible the Jazz play, Hollinger will find a way to rework his formula to make it look like they're good.

Haven't you heard? Salt Lake City is a tough place to play.

[Trainwreck2100]

Oh noes! Someones sho am wrote a mean artacul about tha Spurrs.

He said the spurs would miss the playoffs, that's just fucking stupid







P.S. 4 rings

And i'm overweight :depressed

[Findog]

He said the spurs would miss the playoffs, that's just fucking stupid


How is it "fucking stupid?" And he said the Spurs might miss the playoffs. There's like 3 games that separate the 2-9 seeds. It's musical chairs, just like last year. If Timmy sprains an ankle and misses 2-3 weeks, then there you go. Some worthy team is going to be sitting at home watching a 36-46 team make the playoffs in the East.

[Findog]

If Utah doesn't get healthy, that's my vote for the 9 seed.

[dickface]

If Timmy sprains an ankle and misses 2-3 weeks, then there you go.

Yeah but Hollinger isn't playing a what-if game with injuries, he's making these projections assuming the team retains the same roster.

And yeah, it's fucking stupid to think the Spurs will miss the playoffs completely, but the shit ass Jazz won't, and that the fucking Blazers will be the 2 seed.

He's got a hard-on for Utah and Portland and he's had it for a couple years now, he'll do whatever it takes to change the numbers to make them look good.

[leemajors]

might have a hard time.

[Trainwreck2100]

How is it "fucking stupid?" And he said the Spurs might miss the playoffs. There's like 3 games that separate the 2-9 seeds. It's musical chairs, just like last year. If Timmy sprains an ankle and misses 2-3 weeks, then there you go. Some worthy team is going to be sitting at home watching a 36-46 team make the playoffs in the East.

If the article said "If Timmy sprains an ankle they will miss" I would have no problem with it. Hollinger is saying a team with Tim Duncan will miss the POs while a team with their starting PF out for the foreseeable future will make it. That's fucking stupid.

[dickface]

Why doesn't he do an article on why the Jazz are licking balls? Or why his power rankings had the Mavs as a top 5 team with a losing record, and now that they've surged, he's got them dropped out of the top 10.

His numbers are a gimmick and a joke.

[Findog]

If the article said "If Timmy sprains an ankle they will miss" I would have no problem with it. Hollinger is saying a team with Tim Duncan will miss the POs while a team with their starting PF out for the foreseeable future will make it. That's fucking stupid.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that the Spurs will miss the playoffs with a full complement of players. I wouldn't put money on it, but there's a chance. He never made a prediction in that article, he hedged, so I don't see why your thong is all bunched up in a wad. He could've written the same article about any team besides the Lakers.

[Hollinger]

he is one of finest writers in the media, his words are pure and speak voulumes, disgrunted dumbasses spurm fans won't agree with him becuase he speaks the truth

Thanks for the kind words. That means a lot to me coming from such a polished writer as yourself.

By the way, how does my ass taste?

[braeden0613]

Hollinger needs to back away from his magical computer...although the Spurs play better against the media so keep it coming I guess.

[dickface]

Thanks for the kind words. That means a lot to me coming from such a polished writer as yourself.

By the way, how does my ass taste?

You gotta change your favorite team, we all know you're a Jazz knobslobber.

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs quote of the decade should be

"Its not how you start, its how you finish"

This team will NOT miss the playoffs. No way possible. This team has way too good of a team and way too good of a coach to miss the playoffs. In fact im predicting they pick up a top 4 spot. But, as far as winning a championship goes is a different story.

This current team is not championship built quite yet. The West is a lot tougher than last year IMO. Bynum does make a difference for the Lakers and will cause some havoc for other West teams. Spurs need a trade or a signing of a compitent Big man. It cant be said enough. I know Pop recognizes this and i am confident he is working something out to solve this problem.

Also Manu does worry me a little. Hopefully he can get back to playing Manu basketball soon. With him playing like this in the playoffs we dont get pass the Lakers. :(

[angelbelow]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

this is the down side of domination, you breed incredibly annoying dumb asses.

[duncan228]

One for each ring!

:lmao Happy New Year Findog. :toast

[Mal]

I am still laughing. If Jazz recover from injuries, I think Suns won`t make it. They are old and suck

[Supergirl]

Feasting on pathetic teams is the reason you are where you are right now...

That will change soon!

Like the Suns, I suppose you mean. LOL.

[Supergirl]

Hollinger's statistical analysis doesn't take into account any nuance, such as teams pacing themselves. The Spurs aren't playing as well as they could, but they never are at this point in the season. Neither, incidentally, are the Celtics. But the Lakers and the Cavs are playing about as well as they could, but may or may not be able to keep it up. We'll see.

I suspect Boozer's injury will be too much for Utah to overcome this year, and that the Suns will decline as the season takes its toll on the Shaq and Nash. The teams that will be in the semifinals in 2009 for the west are the Lakers, the Blazers, the Spurs, and the Hornets. Who comes out of those match ups will be largely determined by injuries, overall health, and HCA.

[LavaLamp]

also, you guys are fat:

http://archive.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/1480

Let's go celebrate another Spurs win by polishing off 18 burritos at Taco C.


Take this article with a grain of salt because Lance Armstrong is probably their standard of overweight. :P

[Galileo]

The odds of the Spurs not making the playoffs are slim and none,.... and slim is out of town!

Spurs will win at least 55 games, not 47.

[The Truth #6]

It's difficult to have any discussion about the article with retard trolls. Hollinger raises some concerns about schedule that are legit. With how tight the West is, we would be dumb to think it's going to be a cakewalk. Obviously, we'll see how it plays out. I see as being better than Dallas and Phoenix and probably finishing around 6th and then making a push.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

The Spurs do have an unbelievably tough schedule in the 2nd half this year. They'll play better than they are now, though.

[de Soto]

The will lose at memphis and Miami thank you ass kisser

Sorry but it is the Suns who have taken it up the ass from the Spurs several years in a row. Like...elimination, boy!

[NRHector]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!we really don't give a royal shit what this asshole says about the spurs, he is always writing negative things about the spurs so what makes you think we care what this idiot says about the spurs

[Borosai]

This is always good, at least twice a year...

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9979/sthollingerboardgl9.jpg

[NRHector]

Feasting on pathetic teams is the reason you are where you are right now...

That will change soon!I guess you are dogging your own team since we kicked their ass last time yeah you are right feasting on pathetic teams like the suns

[Rohirrim]

However, the Playoff Odds and Power Rankings underscore this: San Antonio hasn't played nearly as well as its record. The Spurs already have played 18 home games, tied with Boston for most in the league. Also, their opponents' .469 winning percentage is the worst of any team in the West.

[NRHector]

One for each ring!

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/5412514.jpg

http://itola.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/fat-guy.jpg

http://ecoscraps.com/files/2008/05/obese-woman.jpg

http://redpants.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/able.jpg

is that shaq eating the hamburger?:flag:

[NRHector]

SPAM baby SPAM :ihit

[smeagol]

Louis has to be one of the sorriest people alive.

[Findog]

Yeah but Hollinger isn't playing a what-if game with injuries, he's making these projections assuming the team retains the same roster.



Then it's an exercise in futility, because injuries to key players will probably determine who gets that ninth spot. There's no shame in finishing 9th in the West. There's a huge drop-off between 9th and 10th.

It's the same reason predicting the Finals matchup and playoff seedings at the beginning of the year is a waste of time, before the trading deadline and all the veteran buyouts. Nobody paid the Lakers any mind until they traded for Gasol.

[Rohirrim]

Lebron for Vaughn.

Ferry hook us the fuck up.

[benefactor]

He predicted we would lose in the first two rounds of the playoffs last year too...that seemed to work out well for him.

Being as objective as possible, it is hard to see this team missing the playoffs...especially with Dallas being so unpredictable and Utah dealing with injuries and their douchebag PF. It will be tough down the stretch but I still see us getting around 53-55 wins and getting in somewhere in the middle of the standings.

[SpursDynasty]

Here's how the top 9 Western Conference teams rank record-wise against each other:

1. Lakers 10-0
2. Jazz 5-3
3. Hornets 6-4
4. Rockets 6-6
5. Spurs 5-6
6. Mavericks 4-7
7. Nuggets 5-8
8. Blazers 5-8
9. Suns 5-9

Sure, the Spurs have had close wins against junk teams, haven't played to their potential, etc...yet they are 5-6 against the top 9 Western Conference teams. They aren't playing any drastically different, record-wise against the top 9, than the rest of the West outside of L.A. and Utah.

The team that misses the playoffs will be either the Suns, Blazers, Mavericks, or Rockets.

[benefactor]

The other big flaw in his argument is that we almost always play down to the level of our competition. It's something that has been going on for years now. The other side of that coin is that we do the same thing to good teams. Saying that our schedule has been soft and we have played teams close equals losses down the stretch against good teams is shortsighted and downright dishonest.

[Johnny RIngo]

I don't agree with Hollinger. I think SA will likely make the playoffs. I just don't think they'll be making much noise in the post-season. This SA team lacks firepower and has a very inconsistent bench. Unless they make a move soon I don't see this team contending for a title.

I hope every player on the Spurs reads this article. They need something to fire them up right now. They've been playing like garbage lately.

[Johnny RIngo]

The other big flaw in his argument is that we almost always play down to the level of our competition. It's something that has been going on for years now. The other side of that coin is that we do the same thing to good teams. Saying that our schedule has been soft and we have played teams close equals losses down the stretch against good teams is shortsighted and downright dishonest.

Spurs are 14-2 against sub-.500 teams and 6-9 against .500 teams. Spurs had a chance to prove the doubters wrong in the away game at NO and they blew it by choking down the stretch. Getting embarassed by Orlando, the day after, didn't help SA's rep much either.

The Phoenix win was nice but the team was thoroughly outplayed that night(Suns shot a better percentage and outrebounded the Spurs) and needed a buzzer beater to pull out a win. The team shouln't have even needed the 2OT to beat a team like the Grizzlies.

Hill and Bonner have been piss poor lately(Hill avg 1.5 ppg the last four games while Bonner's looked lost ever since the NO debacle). Spurs are going to need these two to step up because Parker and Duncan are having a hard time carrying the team(especially difficult with a hobbled Ginobili).

[ulosturedge]

Too bad this is all pure speculation and a big waste of time. Lets have this talk after the All-Star break and maybe we can make a better guess as to how this is all gonna turn out.

More fat people less competition for me. Then again if they are women well I dunno go find a fat boyfriend?

This guy makes it sound like the entire City of San Antonio is comprised of a single race of fat people lol. There are plenty of beautiful people in San Antonio.

Now the thread is totally derailed. Umm.. GO SPURS GO!!

[crc21209]

Jesus fucking Christ when is this guy gonna stop? Seriously I mean who gave this fucker a job at ESPN? I could write better shit in my sleep. We havent been healthy at all all year up until this point and yet we are in 3rd place. Dallas, Portland, Denver, and Phoenix have all lost winnable games also and are not dominating everyone either. And Utah just lost Boozer for a damn good while. In my opinion, the Spurs will be a top 4-5 seed in the West. I see Dallas, Portland, Phoenix, and Utah fighting for the 6,7, and 8 seeds. One of those teams will be out.

[Hollinger]

Jesus fucking Christ when is this guy gonna stop? Seriously I mean who gave this fucker a job at ESPN? I could write better shit in my sleep. [/B]

What? Didn't you even catch the clever pun in the title of the piece? PER Diem . . . get it? That's pure sports writing gold, man!

At least I know my true fans, like Spork KIller, appreciate fine journalism when they see it.

[benefactor]

Spurs are 14-2 against sub-.500 teams and 6-9 against .500 teams. Spurs had a chance to prove the doubters wrong in the away game at NO and they blew it by choking down the stretch. Getting embarassed by Orlando, the day after, didn't help SA's rep much either.

Your argument really doesn't work here. In 5 of those losses we were at less than full strength. The other loss you mentioned, Orlando, is a loss that most teams would have taken. We didn't get to Orlando until 3 am and then had to play that evening. We should have won the Hornets game...but that game could have been seen as a big step in the right direction, as we had been blown out there late in the season last season and in the playoffs with the exception of Game 7. You are looking at things on paper...just like Hollinger...without considering anything else.


The Phoenix win was nice but the team was thoroughly outplayed that night(Suns shot a better percentage and outrebounded the Spurs) and needed a buzzer beater to pull out a win. The team shouln't have even needed the 2OT to beat a team like the Grizzlies.

Again...you choose to just look at the game without looking at anything else. The Spurs just got through playing 5 games in 7 days with 2 back to backs. Phoenix...meanwhile...got to sit at home and do nothing from the 21st to the 25th. And of course, they looked rested while we looked flat. But we gutted it out and won. Looking at the whole picture, the Phoenix game is more of a reason to fear us instead of counting us out.


Hill and Bonner have been piss poor lately(Hill avg 1.5 ppg the last four games while Bonner's looked lost ever since the NO debacle). Spurs are going to need these two to step up because Parker and Duncan are having a hard time carrying the team(especially difficult with a hobbled Ginobili).
I agree that Hill and Bonner will need to step up. I will be more worried about them if they are still playing the same after the RRT.

[Flux451]

The will lose at memphis and Miami thank you ass kisser


I have two images of Sporkiller.

A 15 year old loner with a lot of acne on his forehead, gets ignored by his popular girl crush, who hates living in Arizona cuz it is hot a hell there and his team gets owned by the Spurs.

Or an oversized twinkie till i die, receding hairline, lonely pathetic guy at end of bar, wasting away his life in front of a computer awaiting every moment to bash Spurs low times in the season cuz his team is the D-league version of the Silver Stars.

Sorry, had a bad day. But I mean it.

[m33p0]

hohum.

[SpursFanFirst]

It was the bucks! We can never, never, never, beat the Bucks! Where were we in the rankings after we beat the Suns? It's so subjective. Believe Spurs fans! Believe!

Hey Ashbeeigh - It looks like you can come back to the chat room now!
See you there Friday. :wakeup

[pawe]

When Mason, Hill and Bonner got to get their groove on...a lot of people will eat crow come June.

[Findog]

:lmao Happy New Year Findog. :toast

Happy New Year to you too.

[Johnny RIngo]

Your argument really doesn't work here. In 5 of those losses we were at less than full strength. The other loss you mentioned, Orlando, is a loss that most teams would have taken. We didn't get to Orlando until 3 am and then had to play that evening. We should have won the Hornets game...but that game could have been seen as a big step in the right direction, as we had been blown out there late in the season last season and in the playoffs with the exception of Game 7. You are looking at things on paper...just like Hollinger...without considering anything else.

Spurs aren't the only team that has to deal with injuries.


Again...you choose to just look at the game without looking at anything else. The Spurs just got through playing 5 games in 7 days with 2 back to backs. Phoenix...meanwhile...got to sit at home and do nothing from the 21st to the 25th. And of course, they looked rested while we looked flat. But we gutted it out and won. Looking at the whole picture, the Phoenix game is more of a reason to fear us instead of counting us out.

I disagree. Spurs were getting key stops in the last two minutes of the game(mostly because of Duncan's great defense on Amare) and they ended up wasting ALL of those possessions. Just like the NO game, Spurs had multiple chances to take the lead and choked down the stretch. The Suns game should have never came down to the buzzer beater(it made for a great finish but that doesn't mean it was smart basketball).

I just find it strange that an experienced team like the Spurs still finds ways to choke so badly. I blame it on the weak bench. We overly rely on out big three with occasional help from Finley and Mason. That gives us five players that actually contribute. This team needs Hill and Bonner to start contributing again because the Spurs have a difficult schedule coming up.

[kcplayboi_26]

also, you guys are fat:

http://archive.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/1480



Let's go celebrate another Spurs win by polishing off 18 burritos at Taco C.


lol ohhh shiiiet wow

[tlongII]

The Spurs will be one of 3 teams fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds in the West. They might make it and they might not.

[Chieflion]

The Spurs will be one of 3 teams fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds in the West. They might make it and they might not.

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[m33p0]

The Spurs will be one of 3 teams fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds in the West. They might make it and they might not.
always in touch with your inner bitch.

[Lakers_55]

Spurs will make the playoffs. Jazz probably will be the 9th seed and miss out. The injuries will do them in. Of course last year, I thought Houston would fall out of the mix when Yao went down, but the Rockets kept winning.

However, no matter what the Jazz do, Spurs qualify.

[Spork KIller]

I have two images of Sporkiller.

A 15 year old loner with a lot of acne on his forehead, gets ignored by his popular girl crush, who hates living in Arizona cuz it is hot a hell there and his team gets owned by the Spurs.

Or an oversized twinkie till i die, receding hairline, lonely pathetic guy at end of bar, wasting away his life in front of a computer awaiting every moment to bash Spurs low times in the season cuz his team is the D-league version of the Silver Stars.

Sorry, had a bad day. But I mean it.

Truth hurts doesn't it?

[Flux451]

Truth hurts doesn't it?

It must, when it hits you that being a fan of a team that is legitimately stagnant will never let you enjoy basketball. That's why your ass tries to bring us loyal fans down...but ain't happening. :nope Suns will never reach the championship caliber the Spurs have, that's why you're bitter.

It hurt when Mason drained that three didn't it?

[Rapper]

PER Diem: Dec. 31, 2008 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Perdiem-081231)
By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/temp/lead124.jpg
D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

Even with a healthy big three in San Antonio, the Spurs might have a hard time making the playoffs.


Checking out the Playoff Odds (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds)on Wednesday, there's a bit of a surprise out West.

According to Wednesday's simulations, the eight most likely playoff teams from that conference are the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavs and Suns.

You'll notice I didn't mention the Spurs. After Tuesday's 100-98 loss at home to Milwaukee, the Spurs project to finish ninth in the West with a 47-35 record. They're a lowly 14th in the Power Rankings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking) -- more than a point behind No. 13 Dallas.

All this seems a bit odd just looking at the standings. San Antonio is 20-11, after all, with the third-best record in the West and just a half-game behind New Orleans in the Southwest Division race.

Intangible factors seem to be on the Spurs' side, too. They've compiled their record despite losing Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for big chunks of time, and they have a history of rallying in the second half of the season after ho-hum starts.

However, the Playoff Odds and Power Rankings underscore this: San Antonio hasn't played nearly as well as its record. The Spurs already have played 18 home games, tied with Boston for most in the league. Also, their opponents' .469 winning percentage is the worst of any team in the West.

Moreover, the Spurs have been remarkably mediocre since Parker and Ginobili returned to the lineup. Their past 10 games include close shaves at home against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Memphis, a home loss to the Bucks and a convincing defeat in Orlando.

As a result, the Playoff Odds project the Spurs to go just 27-24 in their final 51 games. This would be hugely disappointing from San Antonio's perspective, but its schedule is about to rise several notches in difficulty.

From Jan. 11 to March 4, the Spurs will play only eight of their 25 games at home. Of those eight, six are against high-caliber opponents: Orlando, Portland, Cleveland, the Lakers, Dallas and New Orleans. The other two games, against Indiana and New Jersey, aren't exactly gimmes, either.

And of the 17 road games, at least eight -- at L.A., Utah, Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Detroit, Portland and Dallas -- have to be considered likely or somewhat likely defeats. Of the 25 games, only two are against the bottom six teams in the West, and both are on the road.

Thus, the Spurs' position isn't nearly as strong as it appears in the standings. The Spurs aren't playing real well, and they'll get absolutely bushwhacked by the schedule if they don't start playing better real soon.


I agree with you, the spurs need to put a great effort for making into playoffs
But on the other hand I still believe that the spurs will give us a positive surprise during the playoffs

[crc21209]

What? Didn't you even catch the clever pun in the title of the piece? PER Diem . . . get it? That's pure sports writing gold, man!

At least I know my true fans, like Spork KIller, appreciate fine journalism when they see it.


lol this coming from a guy who thinks hes someone else and speaks as someone else. Woooooow. Get a life man.

[xellos88330]

I wonder if Hollinger applies history to his equations. The Spurs seem to be able to just "turn it on" during the second half of the season. Does his mathematics involve those intangible statistics as well?

[Chieflion]

Hollinger is probably a Spurs hater or Spork Killer.

[Rogue]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!
WTF does this sucker mean? rockets or lakers?

waste no attention on this SOB.

[lotr1trekkie]

What is with Sperm Killer? Hopefully we see the Dusks in the first round and put them out of their misery, as usual. They have a former Deisel who is now a "little big assed engine that could". The Dusks are 2 seasons from the lottery.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Does this dildo just wait for the Spurs to lose so he can make an article bashing them?

[tmtcsc]

The Spurs will be one of 3 teams fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds in the West. They might make it and they might not.

The Spurs will be the 1 or 2 seed. The West is overrated. Who cares if we lose to the Bucks ? They aren't going to face us in the Finals. Its all about the Lakers, Hornets and Celtics. Those are the only teams that would give us trouble.

[benefactor]

Spurs aren't the only team that has to deal with injuries.

Indeed...all teams do. That doesn't mean that you can throw stats out there and try to prove a point about the Spurs not being good against good teams when most of those losses are when the Spurs were at less than 100%. Are you expecting us to be able to beat good teams without Tony and/or Manu?


I disagree. Spurs were getting key stops in the last two minutes of the game(mostly because of Duncan's great defense on Amare) and they ended up wasting ALL of those possessions. Just like the NO game, Spurs had multiple chances to take the lead and choked down the stretch. The Suns game should have never came down to the buzzer beater(it made for a great finish but that doesn't mean it was smart basketball).

You're right...we should have won by more...but we WON. We won a game where from the jump it was painfully obvious that Phoenix looked twice as fresh as we did and jumped out to an 11 point lead in the first few minutes. We won it on the road...after playing 5 games in 7 games while our opponent had 4 days of rest. The odds were completely stacked against us. Pointing out a couple of bad possessions and saying that equals failure is pretty shortsighted when you consider all the circumstances. Oh...and did I mention we won?

As for as the NO game goes...you must have not been watching us play there all last season. Before winning game 7, we lost there by 18 pts or more 4 times in a row. They have straight handled us on their home floor. We were competitive right to the end in a game where we are still assimilating new faces with the stars...stars that are still working their way back from injuries(Parker had only been back a little over 2 weeks).

Could we have won by more in Phoenix? Yes. Could we have won the Hornets game? Yes. But its early in the season and to see what they have done while still dealing with the many factors I mentioned above is more than enough for me to feel encouraged going down the stretch. There are still worries about the front line and the role players but as I said, if we get past the RRT and there are still issues I will be more concerned.

[Flux451]

looked twice as fresh as we did

This seems to be the case here and there. It sucks seeing another team outplay Spurs. Not necessarily a team effort, but certain pieces aren't playing consistent. But I think things will change.
Bonner needs to become a man. Now he is looking at the ground when he bricks.
Manu is playing hard, I love his defense right now by the way. Looks like his shot is coming to. All he needs to do is not force things.
OBerto needs to come in and rebound his heart out. I like Oberto cuz he is smart and can pass extremely well. Something that has been missing recently in the post.
Tony is doing a great job. Defense needs some attention.
Mason needs to get involved more, whether its himself or others doing so. Money!!!
Bowen needs a little more PT.
Finely needs to stay in the game when he is on, out when not. He is predictable by the half. For him to score 20 and us to loss is unjustifiable.
Thomas has given us life down low with the absence of Bonner. He has been great. I love how active he is on defense. Get them blocks! old?:rolleyes
Hill needs move the ball more and be more aggressive. He is forcing things of late. I still like him as a back up. Against certain defenses he shines.
Udoka isn't getting enough minutes to get out of his funk. I still think he will show up soon. That or gets traded because our team has changed, and he doesn't fit anymore.
Tolliver slow down his shot, and keep giving us energy. He needs to be that spark, and keep at the defense.
Vaughn, well do what you do.
Tim lead us to a championship!!!

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

On top of the fact the Spurs have a better record than the Suns right now, we can't really talk shit after the Spurs have beaten the Suns 3 outa the past 4 years. Jon Hollinger's predictions have about as much reasoning behind them as my dog's predictions.

[dbreiden83080]

As long as Tim Duncan is on this team and healthy, the Spurs will be in the playoffs.. I'm not worried at all about that..

[Rummpd]

Hollinger is an idiot = end of discussion. He does not factor the fact that the Spurs have almost always surged post the all star game and on the rodeo trip. No worries. Spurs will be a top 4 seed.

[diego]

last year in a competitive western conference the spurs were 3rd seed and WCF finalist. was last years team better than this one with hill and mason?
no.
horry had his moments but did not play a meaningful role until the hornets series where he put in maybe 40 quality mins over 7 games. but especially in the regular season manu was playing on a very high level and now he is still recovering.
its just a matter of things falling in to place. even now the spurs are in good position to carry through, regardless of the schedule.

that doesnt mean it will be easy. it will take a lot of focus and tenacity from everyone and luck with their health but i have faith the team with the highest winning %age of the last 6, 7, 8 years(?) is still more than capable. they have to work hard for it and i think they know they only have a couple shots left

[tlongII]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

[George Gervin's Afro]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

I kind of agree with little dong on this one

[Flux451]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

Let's ask ourselves...what position are the spurs in currently? #3 in the West, only 5.5 games behind #1 Lakers.

Let's ask ourselves something else...how the hell can the Spurs be so close when they are playing so disfunctional and still learning chemistry? They are still contenders, simple as that.

It's funny how people doubt a team that is doing well in the rankings and are playing substandards.

If Spurs were the number 10th seed then I would be doubting...as everyone else.

Just wait till things come around...it's over.

P.S.

Look at your blazers against its own Conference .500, 3-3 in division. sub .500 on the road. I would be worried about your blazers before thinking bout our Spurs.

P.S.S I am voting for Rudy

[PM5K]

27-24 is almost impossible, I'm superstitious so I won't say anything else...

[Cry Havoc]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

Yeah, that really slowed us down in 07.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Hollinger is an idiot = end of discussion. He does not factor the fact that the Spurs have almost always surged post the all star game and on the rodeo trip. No worries. Spurs will be a top 4 seed.

Because he's a stat nerd. Stats and numbers only go so far. It's not as black & white as he makes it.

[Sean Cagney]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

So this article although the Spurs #3 right now is how their season will turn out? Hollingers stats he uses say the outcome? You are obsessed with the Spurs, it's that simple.

[Sean Cagney]

It was the bucks! We can never, never, never, beat the Bucks! Where were we in the rankings after we beat the Suns? It's so subjective. Believe Spurs fans! Believe!

HAHAHA don't go overboard now, the Spurs have swept the Bucks three times in taht span they are 8-12 during the season! They aren't that good against us now lol.... :( Seriously idiots like Hollinger make me laugh, and some fans in here do as well (Sporkkiller is a JOKE). Spurs will make the playoffs and do well.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

Dude, as a Suns fan, I've said that every year to try to convince myself that the Suns won't have to deal with them in the post season.

It took me awhile to learn my lesson but trust me when I say it the Spurs team you see in November and December are completely different than the one you see in March and April. I know the Blazers aren't used to making the playoffs recently so it makes sense why you're taking them for granted.

[Budkin]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!

This guy pleasures himself to thoughts of the Spurs owning his pathetic Suns every year.

[Budkin]

Oh, and Hollinger is as big of a failure with respect to statistics as there's ever been.

[Flux451]

Dude, as a Suns fan, I've said that every year to try to convince myself that the Suns won't have to deal with them in the post season.

It took me awhile to learn my lesson but trust me when I say it the Spurs team you see in November and December are completely different than the one you see in March and April. I know the Blazers aren't used to making the playoffs recently so it makes sense why you're taking them for granted.

Tlong, you could learn something.

[SpursFan0728]

I have no idea why this Hollinger dude is making stupid predictions on whats going to happen in the next 3 to 4 months. Who the hell will know what will happen.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I admire the Spurs' fans belief in their team, but there is NO WAY that a team with little size and moderate athleticism is going to have HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs. The deficiencies on San Antonio's roster are glaring and I believe it will be a mighty struggle for them to just qualify for the postseason.

i admire yours as well. Your team hasn't done shit in about a decade and now that youve had a decent third of a season you think your some sort of hot shit.

we have been there and done that and i imagine that you were in diapers when drexler duckworth and porter were winning games so you wouldnt know what a winner looks like if it hit you in the forehead.

[Mal]

I think that Spurs will end 2-5 in WEST. We are younger, we`ve got better bench player than last year. Last year Spurs easily qualify with only 3 players playing >10ppg. This season is way better in this aspect.

[TEXAS]

I

[TEXAS]

I sure miss how manu would get in and take over the game . Manu is done . He is out of his prime . Duncan is duncan , I wish he would slam the ball on them soft lay-ups that he misses so much . Parker is dangerous skilled guy . Mason is a valuable spark-plug and Hill reminds me of parker but with a little duncan in him because he misses alot of the easy lay-ups that could of been dunks to insure the basket .

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

hahaha

There you go bitches!!!

Failure is the only word for your season!!


Wow... Hollinger said the Spurs are in trouble. HOLLINGER said it... so it must be true! I will immediately stop following the Spurs, so as not to have my heart "Phoenixed" and take up watching European Cricket on a satellite pay-per-view package. :shootme

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Duncan is duncan , I wish he would slam the ball on them soft lay-ups that he misses so much.

:lmao

51% from the field this year, he must miss those layups sooooooooooooo much.

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

I sure miss how manu would get in and take over the game . Manu is done . He is out of his prime . Duncan is duncan , I wish he would slam the ball on them soft lay-ups that he misses so much . Parker is dangerous skilled guy . Mason is a valuable spark-plug and Hill reminds me of parker but with a little duncan in him because he misses alot of the easy lay-ups that could of been dunks to insure the basket .

Bullshit. He's all of 11 months older than Kobe. And keep in mind...

He's only been back for 2 weeks. Jesus people... 2 F**king weeks!!!! He's just now at the point that most players are at when the team is breaking camp.

Or is it 3? What the hell difference does it make?! He's not there yet. For God's sake, give it a little time before you dump all your Ginobili stock like an F'ing idiot.

Injuries like the one Ginobili's coming off of take time to fully recover from. He probably won't be entirely himself until after the all-star break.

"Past his prime"?? One year ago he was taking over games and was gaining recognition as one of the best guards in the game. Suddenly, he's over the hill at age 31? Get a #$%^& life.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Your team hasn't done shit in about a decade and now that youve had a decent third of a season you think your some sort of hot shit.

I tried saying that nicely but your version gets the point across better. It's a little ridiculous, no, it's very ridiculous to say Portland will knock off a 4-time champion based on 2 months. It's like Laker fans last year calling Bynum the next Shaq based on 2 months.

[LEONARD]

Here's how the top 9 Western Conference teams rank record-wise against each other:

1. Lakers 10-0
2. Jazz 5-3
3. Hornets 6-4
4. Rockets 6-6
5. Spurs 5-6
6. Mavericks 4-7
7. Nuggets 5-8
8. Blazers 5-8
9. Suns 5-9

Sure, the Spurs have had close wins against junk teams, haven't played to their potential, etc...yet they are 5-6 against the top 9 Western Conference teams. They aren't playing any drastically different, record-wise against the top 9, than the rest of the West outside of L.A. and Utah.

The team that misses the playoffs will be either the Suns, Blazers, Mavericks, or Rockets.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/399378038_ed2986e3e5.jpg

[manufor3]

I tried saying that nicely but your version gets the point across better. It's a little ridiculous, no, it's very ridiculous to say Portland will knock off a 4-time champion based on 2 months. It's like Laker fans last year calling Bynum the next Shaq based on 2 months.

thank you

[703 Spurz]

PER Diem: Dec. 31, 2008 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Perdiem-081231)
By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/temp/lead124.jpg
D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

Even with a healthy big three in San Antonio, the Spurs might have a hard time making the playoffs.


Checking out the Playoff Odds (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds)on Wednesday, there's a bit of a surprise out West.

According to Wednesday's simulations, the eight most likely playoff teams from that conference are the Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavs and Suns.

You'll notice I didn't mention the Spurs. After Tuesday's 100-98 loss at home to Milwaukee, the Spurs project to finish ninth in the West with a 47-35 record. They're a lowly 14th in the Power Rankings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking) -- more than a point behind No. 13 Dallas.

All this seems a bit odd just looking at the standings. San Antonio is 20-11, after all, with the third-best record in the West and just a half-game behind New Orleans in the Southwest Division race.


How does 21-11 project to 47-35. I mean, 21-11 goes to 42-22. So that means the Spurs would finish 5-13? How unlikely is that?

Also, this douche says the Spurs would be 14th in the conference behind Lakers, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Rockets, Jazz, Mavs and Suns. Hmmm, considering the Spurs have the 3rd highest winning percentage in the West, how the fuck do you conclude they won't make it but the 19-15 Jazz will among the other teams will a poorer winning pct?

[703 Spurz]

The Spurs will be one of 3 teams fighting for the 7 and 8 seeds in the West. They might make it and they might not.

Says the dickweed who's the fan of team whose record is worse.