Rummpd
12-30-2009, 02:38 AM
For all the rightful negativity, for all the injuries, for all the scheduling quirks, for all Pop's sometimes bizarre rotations, for all the small ball, for all the inconsistent play during the first third of the season, for all the tough losses to the "better teams", for all those who have lost faith, fear not:
The Spurs have done what they absolutely needed to do after a 4 and 6 start and righted the ship enough to be winning almost 2/3 of their games and have done what they absolutely needed to not do, i.e., go into a tailspin and a serious funk and get "punked" repeatedly by bad or lessor teams. Thus today, on 12/30/09 they are seemingly back on track for their normal 53-59 win season after more than 1/3 of the 2009-2010 regular NBA season gone. Of course, it will not be easy as the schedule toughens, as the men of the silver and black go on the road and face multiple back to backs, and start facing again the "tougher teams".
Props to the revitalization of this resilient Spurs team that is beginning to show an edge about them by rolling over teams they are supposed to beat rather easily, by gutting out tough back to backs, and seeming to just have fun again playing basketball as the rotations become more set etc. Now we can mark it down that barring an injury to Duncan - they will continue to win. By the end of the regular season they will have averaged at least 2 of 3 wins over the last 2/3rd of the season, and therefore, be right where I would be happy to see them as a top three seed heading into the WC playoffs.
There will be blips and some minor injuries along the way but they will have at least two impressive stretches of > 0.800 ball over 20+ game stretches and based on the Spurs past history of teams led by the resurgent Duncan - it is highly likely one of those will come right near the end of the season despite a brutal back ended schedule.
My own revised forecast is 55 wins +/- 2 games and 3rd in the West with a strong and resilient surge near the end that will have them entering the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NBA despite a very tough closing schedule. They will also surge past a fading Mavs team and the Suns as Jason Kidd and Steve Nash both wear down (and Parker in particular closes the season replicating his stout play of last year) to win not only their division, but to have home court in the West against all but the Lakers and the Nuggets in the playoffs.
Most importantly, the Spurs (and their loyal fans) will rightfully fear neither team above them, for the Spurs in the end will have a fairly impressive road record of 24 and 17 +/- 1 game either way (not bad after their dismal early road start) and over 0.550 record against playoff bound teams.
What are your revised predictions for the final season record and place in the West going into the playoffs for the new year? Happy Holidays to all!
The Spurs have done what they absolutely needed to do after a 4 and 6 start and righted the ship enough to be winning almost 2/3 of their games and have done what they absolutely needed to not do, i.e., go into a tailspin and a serious funk and get "punked" repeatedly by bad or lessor teams. Thus today, on 12/30/09 they are seemingly back on track for their normal 53-59 win season after more than 1/3 of the 2009-2010 regular NBA season gone. Of course, it will not be easy as the schedule toughens, as the men of the silver and black go on the road and face multiple back to backs, and start facing again the "tougher teams".
Props to the revitalization of this resilient Spurs team that is beginning to show an edge about them by rolling over teams they are supposed to beat rather easily, by gutting out tough back to backs, and seeming to just have fun again playing basketball as the rotations become more set etc. Now we can mark it down that barring an injury to Duncan - they will continue to win. By the end of the regular season they will have averaged at least 2 of 3 wins over the last 2/3rd of the season, and therefore, be right where I would be happy to see them as a top three seed heading into the WC playoffs.
There will be blips and some minor injuries along the way but they will have at least two impressive stretches of > 0.800 ball over 20+ game stretches and based on the Spurs past history of teams led by the resurgent Duncan - it is highly likely one of those will come right near the end of the season despite a brutal back ended schedule.
My own revised forecast is 55 wins +/- 2 games and 3rd in the West with a strong and resilient surge near the end that will have them entering the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NBA despite a very tough closing schedule. They will also surge past a fading Mavs team and the Suns as Jason Kidd and Steve Nash both wear down (and Parker in particular closes the season replicating his stout play of last year) to win not only their division, but to have home court in the West against all but the Lakers and the Nuggets in the playoffs.
Most importantly, the Spurs (and their loyal fans) will rightfully fear neither team above them, for the Spurs in the end will have a fairly impressive road record of 24 and 17 +/- 1 game either way (not bad after their dismal early road start) and over 0.550 record against playoff bound teams.
What are your revised predictions for the final season record and place in the West going into the playoffs for the new year? Happy Holidays to all!