NBA 2005 Playoff Bracket Graphic

[boutons]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/bamboozool2/999_temp/playoff_bracket_2.gif

===================

Update for 19 Apr:

No seed changes due to Monday's games.

[timvp]

1. Suns
2. Spurs
3. Sonics
4. Mavs
5. Nuggets
6. Kings
7. Rockets
8. Kings


I would love it if the seeding ended like that.

:smokin

[Ginofan]

1.Suns
2.Spurs
3.Sonics
4.Mavs
5.Nuggets
6.Rockets
7.Kings
8.Grizz

Would be even better

[MannyIsGod]

1. Suns
2. Spurs
3. Sonics
4. Mavs
5. Nuggets
6. Kings
7. Rockets
8. Kings


I would love it if the seeding ended like that.

:smokin
Well, do you plan on cloning the Kings?

[timvp]

Yes.

[FromWayDowntown]

I have a hard time believing that SAC will stay at 5 and that Denver will stay at 7. If they do, it seems likely that the Spurs will have a brilliant chance to gain #1, since Denver and Sacramento account for 3 of the Suns 4 remaining games.

Both Denver and Sacramento have tough schedules in the next week.

The Kings have a road-and-road back-to-back and play 3 of their remaining 4 on the road (where they're 19-19 on the season), with the sole home game against Phoenix.

Denver has 2 back-to-backs left: home-and-away with Memphis and Houston, away-and-home with Phoenix and Portland. Denver, though has a lot to continue to play for, since they are technically still alive to jump up to #3. If the Nuggets win out and the Sonics lose out (v. NO, @MIN, @DAL, @HOU), the Nuggs would win the Northwest and the Sonics could fall as far as 6 (they can't get to #7, though, because either Houston or Denver will have 32 losses; the Sonics won't lose more than 31).

Meanwhile, the Rockets have a fairly light schedule, playing 3 home games against Denver (on the second night of a back-to-back), the Clippers, and Seattle.

Here's the remaining schedule for those 3:

SACRAMENTO (48-30)
15: @LAL
16: @PNX
17:
18: @UTH
19:
20: v. PNX

HOUSTON (48-31)
15:
16: v. DEN
17:
18: v. LAC
19:
20: v. SEA

DENVER (47-31)
15: v. MEM
16: @HOU
17:
18: @PNX
19: v. PRT
20:

The tiebreakers go like this:
SACRAMENTO
Sacramento owns the tiebreaker over Denver by virtue of having won the season series 2-1.

Sacramento and Houston split, but if they tied, the Rockets would own the tiebreaker by virtue of a better record against Western Conference teams. (Kings were 22-8 against the East; Rockets were 18-12).

Houston
As noted, Houston has the tiebreaker on Sacramento.

The Houston/Denver tiebreaker is not resolved because the teams have split their two meetings. The game on Saturday in Houston will resolve the tiebreaker and likely decide the playoff seeding, since either Denver or Houston will have 32 losses by the end of Saturday night.

Denver

Denver loses any tie with SAC and needs a win in HOU to get the tiebreaker with the Rockets.

[MadDog73]

I have a hard time believing that SAC will stay at 5 and that Denver will stay at 7. If they do, it seems likely that the Spurs will have a brilliant chance to gain #1, since Denver and Sacramento account for 3 of the Suns 4 remaining games.

Great point.

So, if you had to guess, what do you think the final Seeding will be?

[Jimcs50]

1. Suns
2. Spurs
3. Sonics
4. Mavs
5. Nuggets
6. Kings
7. Rockets
8. Kings


I would love it if the seeding ended like that.

:smokin

No, even better:


1. Suns
2.Spurs
3.Seattle
4.Dallas
5.Denver
6.Houston
7.Sacto
8. Minn

[Jimcs50]

This way, Phoenix would have to play a rejuvinated TWolve team instead of a slumping Grizz team.

We get the bye against the Kings

Mavs have motherfucker first rd aginst a Nugget team

Houston would try to exorcise their demons against a Seattle team that has always knocked them from the playoffs.

The Suns would be in a cat fight against the Mavs-Nugetts winner and we would get a relatively easy Rocket matchup where we only travel 200 miles.

By the time we play the Mavs or Suns, they will be beat up and bleeding from 2 horribly tough rounds beforehand.

Sweet. :smokin

[boutons]

I really don't think the Grizz will collapse that badly (and I figure Pop will let Grizz beat Spurs twice (sitting Tim, Manu, Tony heavily or completely) rather than expend any Spurs effort), nor that the TWolves finish perfectly.

[MannyIsGod]

I guarntee you Tim does not sit one game between now and the playoffs.

[MadDog73]

Well, are we picking what WILL happen, or what we'd like to happen?

I like Jim's scenario the best. But chances are things will stay just as they are right now...

[boutons]

"Tim does not sit one game"

sitting out the whole game is not the only way to sit out. Tim sat out the last 9 minutes last night. Pop preferred to sit Tim than win the game. Why would he not do the same with Tim or anybody in the next 3 games?

Pop doesn't care about "60 W" or seeding position vs caring about the playoffs.

[samikeyp]

Does anyone know the dates of the games?

[Jimcs50]

Does anyone know the dates of the games?


Playoffs start 4-23-05

We do not know who plays first day.

Hopefully not SA.

[50 cent]

This way, Phoenix would have to play a rejuvinated TWolve team instead of a slumping Grizz team.

We get the bye against the Kings

Mavs have motherfucker first rd aginst a Nugget team

Houston would try to exorcise their demons against a Seattle team that has always knocked them from the playoffs.

The Suns would be in a cat fight against the Mavs-Nugetts winner and we would get a relatively easy Rocket matchup where we only travel 200 miles.

By the time we play the Mavs or Suns, they will be beat up and bleeding from 2 horribly tough rounds beforehand.

Sweet.
I've been begging for this scenario for the last week. It's a longshot, but would set us up in an incredible position. PHX and DAL are the biggest threats to us....adding DEN to their bracket is just a bonus and would give us an opportunity to whip SAC, then SEA/HOU and get some nice rest while waiting for DAL/PHX/DEN to duke it out.

[milkyway21]

how about...

1.Suns
2.Spurs
3.Sonics
4.Mavs :angel
5.Houston :angel
6.Nuggets
7.Sacramento
8.Memphis

yeah?Avery Johnson's _allas finally found the D?

[/B]then, let them try that D on Houston in the 1st round... :rolleyes

[Jdspur20]

Well, do you plan on cloning the Kings?

:lol

[boutons]

Bump for 16 Apr:

Wiz move from EC 6 to 5

Pacers move from EC 5 to 6

[HB22inSA]

Looking at that, I like the 2nd seed.

[LakerGod]

spursies out in the first round

BOOK IT!

[Matrix]

wouldn't it be boston at #3 and the bulls at #4

[boutons]

Note that Mavs are numerically 3rd seed, but Sonics are locked into 3rd seed as NWD leader.

[MadDog73]

spursies out in the first round

BOOK IT!


LakerGod kills himself when Spurs win 3rd Championship.

BOOK IT!


Note that Mavs are numerically 3rd seed, but Sonics are locked into 3rd seed as NWD leader.

I agree that the Number 2 seed will have an easier playoff schedule than the Number 1, in general (not necessarily this year). But generally, the 2 will end up playing a weaker 3rd seed than the 4th/5th seed!

Do you think the NBA will do anything about it?

[boutons]

In a game that could reverse or solidify WC 6 and 7 (7 = Spurs first-round opponent), Nuggets@Rockets Saturday night.

Wouldn't we all like to see Rockets put a big dent in Nuggets shiny, new confidence?

[ALVAREZ6]

spursies out in the first round

BOOK IT!
:stfu you fucking :idiot

[MadDog73]

BTW, has everyone just given up the Spurs getting the number 1 seed?

It is still possible....

[boutons]

"has everyone just given up the Spurs getting the number 1 seed?"

I'll take it, but I wouldn't bet $1 on it.

Suns play Kings, Nuggets, @Kings. I can see the Suns losing 1, but I can as easily see the Spurs losing 1. I'd much rather the Spurs win out, gaining momentum and confidence, no matter what happens to the Suns.

61 is a beautiful number!! Considering Spurs injuries this season and Spurs give-away losses.

All you "it's only one game" parrots, give me back the 4th qtr @TOR, the 2nd qtr of Sonics @SBC, the January dog's lunch @SAC, 2 losses to lottery @UTA, the losses @NYK, Hughes-less @WAS, @ORL.

Had the Spurs been as consistent as Suns, had not given away games to lottery teams, had Tony, etc hit FTs @UTA @etc, Spurs would have 65+ wins, even with the injuries.

The milk is spilt, the water is under the bridge, the Spurs will be the Spurs.

Go Spurs Go

[Jimcs50]

BTW, has everyone just given up the Spurs getting the number 1 seed?

It is still possible....

I can still see it.

Just think, if we can pin the blame for us not getting the 1 seed on one person, that person would be:

Memet Okur

Dude stole 2 games from us this year.

Had that not happened, the Spurs would be almost a lock to get the 1 seed.

[sa_butta]

No, even better:


1. Suns
2.Spurs
3.Seattle
4.Dallas
5.Denver
6.Houston
7.Sacto
8. Minn
I think this is best possible senario with H-town
and the Nuggets playing so well down the stretch.

[MadDog73]

OK, so Sonics HAVE clinched NW div. My bad (NBA.com wasn't updated this morning)

As it's looking now, Round two could have some very interesting match-ups:

Spurs vs Rockets
Suns vs Mavs

May the best team (SPURS) win!

[boutons]

Update for 17 Apr:

Rockets move from WC 6 to 5

Kings move from WC 5 to 6.

[MadDog73]

I like it. In the 2nd round, the Suns would play either the Rockets or Mavs.

Meanwhile, the Spurs play the Kings!

[boutons]

"the Spurs play the Kings"

I think Brad may be back but probably very rusty, but the Sonics have already gotten back much more important Rashard, so I favor Sonics over Kings.

[MadDog73]

either way, pretty good deal for the Spurs, agreed?

[boutons]

agreed.

Had the Spurs actually showed up for all 4 games vs Kings, they would have swept easily. Miller might be back, but Peja's out with a groin strain.

Sonics had a fantastic turnaround _season_, but they're no match for the _playoff_ Spurs.

[boutons]

Playoff-important games Sunday:
========================

Pacers @ Heat (ABC) Doesn't change much,
but crippled Pacers are 3 - 0 vs Heat pretenders.

Cavs @ Pistons (ABC) Cavs loss = probably dropping out of playoffs.

Sonics @ TWolves, Twolves loss = elmination, Grizz keep 8 seed.

Sixers @ Nets, Nets win + Cavs loss moves Nets into 8 seed, Nets saved by Vince's bombing, too bad about Richard Jefferson injury.

[Rick Von Braun]

There is an error in the main bracket.

The Bulls cannot be 3rd, since they are in the Central division with the Pistons. They are 4th, despite the total record, similar to Dallas in the West.

[FromWayDowntown]

There is an error in the main bracket.

The Bulls cannot be 3rd, since they are in the Central division with the Pistons. They are 4th, despite the total record, similar to Dallas in the West.

That's exactly right, RVB. Boston would be the #3 seed as the Atlantic Champion.



All you "it's only one game" parrots, give me back the 4th qtr @TOR, the 2nd qtr of Sonics @SBC, the January dog's lunch @SAC, 2 losses to lottery @UTA, the losses @NYK, Hughes-less @WAS, @ORL.

Had the Spurs been as consistent as Suns, had not given away games to lottery teams, had Tony, etc hit FTs @UTA @etc, Spurs would have 65+ wins, even with the injuries.

The milk is spilt, the water is under the bridge, the Spurs will be the Spurs.

I still don't understand the handwringing over that result. As it stands, the Spurs look to have a much more favorable route to the WCF than does Phoenix. I respect the heck out of the Dallas Mavericks right now, and would much rather take my chances with 2 other teams having a shot to knock them off before that juncture of the playoffs. The truth is, if you get those games back, you likely don't get the same "experiential learning" that the Spurs have gained as a group and you end up with a disfavorable playoff seeding. I simply don't see why the status quo is a problem.

[boutons]

"The Bulls cannot be 3rd"

Thanks, RVB. Corrected. I use:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=2005&group=conference&column=gamesBehind&order=null&seasontype=2

and caught the Sonics/Mavs anomaly, but didn't catch the same in the EC. And ESPN still has the Sonics as not yet clinching NWD.

For some reason, I don't pay a close attention to the EC as I do the WC. After Pistons and Heat, I'm not paying ANY attention to EC.

Well, the Nets last-minute run for EC 8 seed is fun to watch, a little drama in-between Spurs games.

[boutons]

"status quo is a problem"

The way I see it, Spurs learn fuck all from blowing out somebody. Listen to Pop talking about Nov/Dec being "too easy", no tests to pass.

And Spurs learn fuck all from playing badly, and giving away games (loss @SAC), or winning badly.

Spurs learn, grow, get tough, from playing good/average basketball, from getting tested, WIN or LOSE.

ie, I complimented the Spurs for GETTING BEAT @POR, who played their game of the season to beat the Spurs, and Spurs played very well, but when a 13 PPG player like Miles drops 17 pts on you in the 4th quarter, there's not much any team can do. A 'good loss".

ie, I bitched about the Spurs barely beating the Clips @SBC, a "bad win", because the Spurs played like crap 1) @SBC 2) against a lottery team who did nothing but hustle.

Hey, it's no big deal, as if anybody's opinion here were a big deal. :)

[mouse]

what is this fassination on where you stand in the brackets, or who you play?


I don't care if we have to play the 1989 Chicago bulls, A true champion does not hide from teams. unlike your cheesy Spurs and there fans worried about whom they play all the time.

What kind of NBA team is worried about whom you play and when? Sounds like you guys just can't win without having to play easy teams, Not me. Do you see me make any I hope we play so and so topics?

bring it on, anyone at any time. If we can't beat the rockets we have no business winning the 2005 NBA Championship.

you folks are some very shallow fans my friends.

http://www.boomspeed.com/woaimouse/Mouses-mojo.jpg

[MadDog73]

[QUOTE=mouse]
bring it on, anyone at any time. If we can't beat the rockets we have no business winning the 1005 NBA Championship.
QUOTE]

Totally agree with that, except when are you planning on playing the 1005 Championship?!? :lol

People mistake speculative threads with fear. First of all, the Spurs themselves are not afraid of any team. Why should they be? They have more playoff experience than any other team in the West right now.

As for fans "fears", well, in my case it's just fun speculation. As a fan, I imagine that other teams match up better that others. So, I think what team would I be most likely to watch at the edge of my seat, eating left over beer cans as tension relief.

But in the end, I believe with all my heart that the Spurs will win. And if they don't, and the Mavs somehow pull it off, I'll be the first offering congrats to you, Mouse!

[mouse]

bring it on, anyone at any time. If we can't beat the rockets we have no business winning the 1005 NBA Championship.



Totally agree with that, except when are you planning on playing the 1005 Championship?!? :lol

You bastard ! I was hoping no one caught that before I went back to edit it. Your fast :lmao


People mistake speculative threads with fear. First of all, the Spurs themselves are not afraid of any team.

You have a point but the fans in here seem very worried.




Why should they be?
Maybe you missed the last Spurs vs Mavs game. I don't think the Spurs want any part of the Mighty Mighty Mavericks, And i don't blame them,


They have more playoff experience than any other team in the West right now.

I get tired of hearing that. Playoff experience? That means nothing, if that was the case karl malone and the Jazz would have a ring already,




As for fans "fears", well, in my case it's just fun speculation. As a fan, I imagine that other teams match up better that others. So, I think what team would I be most likely to watch at the edge of my seat, eating left over beer cans as tension relief.

maybe for you and a few, but I can assure you 95% are worried to death who they face,


But in the end, I believe with all my heart that the Spurs will win. And if they don't, and the Mavs somehow pull it off, I'll be the first offering congrats to you, Mouse!

To bad the rest of this website does not agree with you, :lmao

[MadDog73]

I get tired of hearing that. Playoff experience? That means nothing, if that was the case karl malone and the Jazz would have a ring already,


Let me explain the difference: until the Mavs win a Championship, they are just like the Utah Jazz, Timberwolves, Suns, etc. Sorry, that's just the way it is with me.

By this logic, only the Spurs and Pistons are legitimate contenders until proven otherwise! :)

[mouse]

Let me explain the difference: until the Mavs win a Championship, they are just like the Utah Jazz, Timberwolves, Suns, etc. Sorry, that's just the way it is with me.

By this logic, only the Spurs and Pistons are legitimate contenders until proven otherwise! :)

Can I ask you what you did for the 25 years prior to 1999?

[ducks]

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/spo/med/2005/04/ipt/1113766706.jpg
cavs are harding hard!

[boutons]

Bump for 18 Apr, see initial thread message

[T Park]

harding hard.

Great language there.

[milkyway21]

how about...

1.Suns
2.Spurs
3.Sonics
4.Mavs :angel
5.Houston :angel
6.Nuggets
7.Sacramento
8.Memphis

yeah?Avery Johnson's _allas finally found the D?

[/B]then, let them try that D on Houston in the 1st round... :rolleyes

finally... Dallas vs Houston.:lol
...I'm so excited :elephant

will it be Nuggests or Sac. against the Spurs...
fine with me :rolleyes .

[milkyway21]

BTW, has everyone just given up the Spurs getting the number 1 seed?

It is still possible....#2 is okay with me.

there won't be
#1-Suns
#4-Mavericks
#5-Houston

the Spurs @#2 would only be facing:
#7-Nuggets(?)
#3-Sonics
#6-Sacramento(?)

let the Suns take care of Mavs or Houston in the 1st & 2nd rnd.

[milkyway21]

BTW, has everyone just given up the Spurs getting the number 1 seed?

It is still possible....#2 is okay with me.

there won't be
#1-Suns
#4-Mavericks
#5-Houston

the Spurs @#2 would only be facing:
#7-Nuggets(?)
#3-Sonics
#6-Sacramento(?)

let the Suns take care of Mavs or Houston in the 2nd rnd.(if they can get through Memphis :rolleyes ).

[Charlie]

let the Suns take care of Mavs :rolleyes ).

kinda like the Spurs did last thursday? :lmao

[boutons]

plonk

[milkyway21]

looks like Houston wins tonight & Sac is struggling though.

[boutons]

bump for 19 Apr

[milkyway21]

spurs will beat the mavs in 6
... let's not be too sure if the Mavs can get through Houston & Suns... :rolleyes

[slayermin]

Number two seed is nice. I know the Nuggets are playing well but I do not think they are better than Hou, Dallas, or Phoenix.

Sac vs. Seattle will be an interesting series. The Sonics recently got Rashard Lewis back which makes them much more formidable.

[T Park]

The Nuggets I think have come back to earth a little bit, and with Najera more than likely out for the Spurs series, and Camby hobbled by a bad hammy.

The Spurs front line should take advantage.

Nesterovic wont see much time, while guys like Horry, and Mohammed will get alot of minutes.

Mohammed better be ready to board and dunk like a mofo.


Keeping guys like Martin and Nene off the boards will be tough.

Bowen has to bring that championship D,

Manu has to bring that Offensive, and pesky steals.

Parker has to drive the lane and not care about nene or Martin being there.

Nesterovic, Mohammed, Duncan, and Horry, need to also do the little things like setting picks for Manu, Parker, Barry, and Udrih to drive to the hole and get easy layups.

IMO, the guy that is coming to form, and will be big is Glenn Robinson.

His shot is coming back, hes getting in shape hes more and more comfortable in the system.

Him Barry, Ginobili, Parker, Duncan,

should get huge points.


Bring good defense, keep Nene and Martin from the boards, and keep them from easy shots.

Keep them out of the transistion game, and contain Boykins as best as you can,

and you win this series in 5.

[boutons]

If Spurs don't win the first 2 games @SBC, they'll be in deep shit going to Denver 1-1.

What better way to deflate the Nuggets than pushing them to 2-0?

What better way:

1) to shake up the weak confidence of the Spurs and
2) enourage the Nuggets than going 1-1 @SBC,

... blowing the Spurs HCA and donating the HCA to Nuggets? Split @SBC, and then we have a 5-game series starting with 2 games @DEN, and 3 of 5 games @DEN.

Split in Denver, and come back to finish them off in 5 @SBC.

Counting on Marcus' absence and Voshon's rust (he had a very unrusty stat line last night) doesn't sound like championship attitude to me.

[ManuTastic]

#2 is okay with me.

there won't be
#1-Suns
#4-Mavericks
#5-Houston

the Spurs @#2 would only be facing:
#7-Nuggets(?)
#3-Sonics
#6-Sacramento(?)

let the Suns take care of Mavs or Houston in the 2nd rnd.(if they can get through Memphis :rolleyes ).

True dat. Mavs and Rockets are more worrisome opponents than Den, Sea, or Sacto, I think.

[MadDog73]

If Spurs don't win the first 2 games @SBC, they'll be in deep shit going to Denver 1-1.

What better way to deflate the Nuggets than pushing them to 2-0?

What better way:

1) to shake up the weak confidence of the Spurs and
2) enourage the Nuggets than going 1-1 @SBC,

... blowing the Spurs HCA and donating the HCA to Nuggets? Split @SBC, and then we have a 5-game series starting with 2 games @DEN, and 3 of 5 games @DEN.

Split in Denver, and come back to finish them off in 5 @SBC.

Counting on Marcus' absence and Voshon's rust (he had a very unrusty stat line last night) doesn't sound like championship attitude to me.

Neither does making dire predictions if the Spurs go 1-1 at home.

While certainly not ideal, I wouldn't bail on the Spurs if this happened.

[FromWayDowntown]

Neither does making dire predictions if the Spurs go 1-1 at home.

While certainly not ideal, I wouldn't bail on the Spurs if this happened.

I completely agree. A lot of people around here put a lot of stock in history -- that the Spurs have never won the title without the #1 overall seed; that this Spurs team has a less-than-stellar road record; that teams that end the regular season hot tend to stay hot into the playoffs. I can't rely blindly on those trends to say that anything is impossible this year.

I don't think a home split would be the end of the world for these guys -- as they become whole again, they might actually thrive on the bunker mentality that a home split creates as a team goes out on the road.

It's been so long since we've seen this team playing as a cohesive unit with a number of games to get rolling -- I don't know that any of us can really know what to expect, and I don't know that it's terribly profitable to jump to assumptions based on much of anything that happened in the regular season.

[Jimcs50]

Well, Spurs better win 2 at home or they will have a rough go to take the series.

[boutons]

Nobody's bailing, just pointing out that if the Spurs SBC dominance is worth anything, the Spurs better exploit it to the max and start 2-0, since if their road mediocrity means anything, the Spurs will have a tough time in Denver if arriving 1-1, meaning they lose HCA and start a 5 game series, with Denver having HCA:

2Den -1SA - 1Den - 1SA.

[boutons]

Tue's games with playoff impact:

Wiz @ Nets,
can Nets hang on to/clinch EC 8 seed?

Celts @ Cavs
Will the Cavs stay alive/die for EC 8 seed?

Nets W + Cavs L means Nets clinch EC 8 seed.

Sonics @ Mavs
can the NWD champs Sonics beat Mavs and gain some respect while having a worse record than SWD-non-champion Mavs?

[bigbendbruisebrother]

If Spurs don't win the first 2 games @SBC, they'll be in deep shit going to Denver 1-1.

What better way to deflate the Nuggets than pushing them to 2-0?

What better way:

1) to shake up the weak confidence of the Spurs and
2) enourage the Nuggets than going 1-1 @SBC,

... blowing the Spurs HCA and donating the HCA to Nuggets? Split @SBC, and then we have a 5-game series starting with 2 games @DEN, and 3 of 5 games @DEN.

Split in Denver, and come back to finish them off in 5 @SBC.

Counting on Marcus' absence and Voshon's rust (he had a very unrusty stat line last night) doesn't sound like championship attitude to me.

Good points, but the Spurs have blown games at home before in the first round. They dropped game two against Phoenix in 2003, and went on to win the championship. Its not a recommended path, but then it seems our guys never do things the easy way.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Nuggets may just take this to 7. They are tougher than either the Sonics or Kings. Our first round could be the best series in the playoffs.

I reckon:

Spurs over Nuggets in 7 tough ones.
Sonics over Kings in 6.
Suns over Grizz in 5.
Mavs over Rockets in 6.

Should be an excellent playoffs this season, just wish I wasn't in Japan so I could actually watch them! :(

[boutons]

"They dropped game two against Phoenix in 2003"

The Spurs opened the playoffs with a loss, split against Suns @SBC. The went to PHX, and split there, too. 2-2 against 8th seed, Spurs won games 5,6.

But the Suns weren't winning at a rate of 36-2 at home the way the Nuggets are now under Karl (a better home record that the Spurs), and the 03 Spurs were a much better road team than the 05 Spurs.

If the Spurs split @SBC, they will be in deep shit.

[MadDog73]

"They dropped game two against Phoenix in 2003"

The Spurs opened the playoffs with a loss, split against Suns @SBC. The went to PHX, and split there, too. 2-2 against 8th seed, Spurs won games 5,6.

But the Suns weren't winning at a rate of 36-2 at home the way the Nuggets are now under Karl (a better home record that the Spurs), and the 03 Spurs were a much better road team than the 05 Spurs.

If the Spurs split @SBC, they will be in deep shit.

Yes, and past results are accurate predictors of....

NOTHING! Thing is, last year we were on a 14 game winning streak, then lost 4 in a row!

Spurs won't take Nuggets for granted, and won't lose to them, whether we drop one of the first 2 or not.

[GrandeDavid]

Its crazy how the Spurs' potential second round matchup seems so much easier than their first round opponent. Damn.

[MadDog73]

Maybe, or maybe Nuggets are overrated. We'll soon find out.

If Nuggets ARE as good as everyone says they are, then it will be a good test.

if not, then will the Spurs breeze into the WCF, only to face a team hardened by the fires of true competition?

[boutons]

"we were on a 14 game winning streak, then lost 4 in a row"

It was a 17-game winning streak, 11 season, 6 playoff. But the Spurs sucked on the road last year vs top teams after 1 Jan, under .500, and then lost 3 games @Staples.

I refuse to believe there is a total disconnect between season performance and playoff performance. If season/playoff disconnect were the case, then choose playoff teams randomly with a lottery, rather reward them with playoff seeding based on their season performance.

[Experiment2100]

How many of the road losses were without Tim?

[MadDog73]

"we were on a 14 game winning streak, then lost 4 in a row"

It was a 17-game winning streak, 11 season, 6 playoff. But the Spurs sucked on the road last year vs top teams after 1 Jan, under .500, and then lost 3 games @Staples.

I refuse to believe there is a total disconnect between season performance and playoff performance. If season/playoff disconnect were the case, then choose playoff teams randomly with a lottery, rather reward them with playoff seeding based on their season performance.


Ok, I'll own up about getting the Stats wrong.

I think you make a good point. I believe the Spurs should just play the Pistons for the Championship, and skip all this Playoff nonsense. :D

Seriously, the Regular season is over tonight. The seeding has been decided. Once the Playoffs start, we are all tied: 0-0. Then you just have play against the teams that come up, and either win or go home.

Bringing up pointless crap about the regular season (who won what series, and who was injured at the time) is a waste of time. NO ONE knows what will happen, THAT's why we play. Either you believe or you don't.