duncan228
02-09-2011, 06:21 PM
It's time to fear San Antonio (http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/02/09/11/Its-time-to-fear-San-Antonio/landing_spurs.html?blockID=407318&feedID=3799)
By Michael Dugat
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
Despite having leapt from the gate to grab the best record in the NBA, it seems the Spurs still are hanging around fourth in most rankings when it comes to favorites to win the Finals. The Celtics, Heat and Lakers continue to be paraded as the teams to beat, with San Antonio being added as a less-than-equal mention.
You must at least mention the team that consistently has dominated the league to the tune of 43-8. But are the Spurs being taken as seriously as they deserve? Do opposing fans and analysts have a healthy fear of the Spurs?
Here are the top 10 reasons why the Spurs need to be taken more seriously:
10. At plus-7.12, San Antonio has the second-best point differential in the NBA. Over the past 20 seasons, the eventual champion has been ranked in the top two in this category 11 times. Should hat translates to a 55 percent chance of the Finals winner being either the Spurs or the Heat, who lead the league with a point differential of plus-7.92.
9. Tim Duncan remains far beneath his career-low in minutes per game, at 29, while also taking far less shots than we’re accustomed to seeing from him. These limited minutes have translated into a handful of other lows. However, when broken down into per-minute rates, he near peak levels in blocks, steals and assists; and shows only very minor dips in both offensive and total rebounding.
8. Joining Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili is as healthy as he’s ever been and leading the trio of Spurs whom are all posting a PER (player efficiency rating) above 20. Excluding those to have played less than ten games, the only other team in the league with at least three players matching this number is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have four.
If you’re wondering about the big three in Miami, Chris Bosh comes in with a PER of 19.2, leaving only two above 20 on their roster.
7. Against the current ten best teams behind the Spurs, those ranking number two through 11 in the league standings, San Antonio posts a record of 13-5, including 2-0 against the Lakers. Though, in fairness, two of the victories came against Dallas playing without Dirk Nowitzki.
6. The most losses the Spurs have totaled in a month is three, and they have yet to lose more than three games over any seven-game stretch. Meaning, if the season were broken down into a chain of playoff series, San Antonio has yet to lose a seven game segment this season. Perhaps this does not accurately translate to playoff matchups, but it remains impressive.
5. Richard Jefferson is not collecting career numbers, but he is adapting to the needs of this team by becoming an assassin behind the three-point line, where he is easily surpassing his former highs by hitting 42.8 percent of his attempts. Not surprisingly, this has him on pace to set a new high in the number three pointers made per game.
4. George Hill, DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal have all proven worth their roles, while also providing a spark of youth to the Spurs rotation.
Hill has finally plugged the long-gaping hole as the team's backup point guard, scoring 11 points per game in just over 27 minutes per game. Blair is a 6'7'' wrecking ball, the shortest starting post player in the league who is beginning to routinely rack up double-doubles against men with several inches on him. Neal has developed into the three-point bomber that the Spurs featured in their title-winning days and sorely lacked in last season's second-round ouster at the hands of Phoenix.
Put them together and the Spurs have more than enough fresh complimentary pieces to supplement the veteran Parker-Duncan-Ginobili core.
3. Speaking of youth: James Anderson and Tiago Splitter have yet to make significant impacts, but both house the talent to do so. While there is no guarantee they will be able to play major roles in the immediate future, the threat looms.
2. Gregg Popovich. Need more be said?
1. The Spurs stand five games ahead of their nearest competition, the Boston Celtics, and have the league’s best road record at 18-6. They also have the best home record at 25-2. Play the Spurs anywhere, and they just wind up winning.
In a world defined by results, they can do no more to force their name to the lips of analysts and fans. They’ve been in the conversation, but seem to linger at the fringe. Is it time they are viewed as a more viable threat to the Lakers’ crown?
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/02/09/11/Its-time-to-fear-San-Antonio/landing_spurs.html?blockID=407318&feedID=3799
By Michael Dugat
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
Despite having leapt from the gate to grab the best record in the NBA, it seems the Spurs still are hanging around fourth in most rankings when it comes to favorites to win the Finals. The Celtics, Heat and Lakers continue to be paraded as the teams to beat, with San Antonio being added as a less-than-equal mention.
You must at least mention the team that consistently has dominated the league to the tune of 43-8. But are the Spurs being taken as seriously as they deserve? Do opposing fans and analysts have a healthy fear of the Spurs?
Here are the top 10 reasons why the Spurs need to be taken more seriously:
10. At plus-7.12, San Antonio has the second-best point differential in the NBA. Over the past 20 seasons, the eventual champion has been ranked in the top two in this category 11 times. Should hat translates to a 55 percent chance of the Finals winner being either the Spurs or the Heat, who lead the league with a point differential of plus-7.92.
9. Tim Duncan remains far beneath his career-low in minutes per game, at 29, while also taking far less shots than we’re accustomed to seeing from him. These limited minutes have translated into a handful of other lows. However, when broken down into per-minute rates, he near peak levels in blocks, steals and assists; and shows only very minor dips in both offensive and total rebounding.
8. Joining Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili is as healthy as he’s ever been and leading the trio of Spurs whom are all posting a PER (player efficiency rating) above 20. Excluding those to have played less than ten games, the only other team in the league with at least three players matching this number is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have four.
If you’re wondering about the big three in Miami, Chris Bosh comes in with a PER of 19.2, leaving only two above 20 on their roster.
7. Against the current ten best teams behind the Spurs, those ranking number two through 11 in the league standings, San Antonio posts a record of 13-5, including 2-0 against the Lakers. Though, in fairness, two of the victories came against Dallas playing without Dirk Nowitzki.
6. The most losses the Spurs have totaled in a month is three, and they have yet to lose more than three games over any seven-game stretch. Meaning, if the season were broken down into a chain of playoff series, San Antonio has yet to lose a seven game segment this season. Perhaps this does not accurately translate to playoff matchups, but it remains impressive.
5. Richard Jefferson is not collecting career numbers, but he is adapting to the needs of this team by becoming an assassin behind the three-point line, where he is easily surpassing his former highs by hitting 42.8 percent of his attempts. Not surprisingly, this has him on pace to set a new high in the number three pointers made per game.
4. George Hill, DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal have all proven worth their roles, while also providing a spark of youth to the Spurs rotation.
Hill has finally plugged the long-gaping hole as the team's backup point guard, scoring 11 points per game in just over 27 minutes per game. Blair is a 6'7'' wrecking ball, the shortest starting post player in the league who is beginning to routinely rack up double-doubles against men with several inches on him. Neal has developed into the three-point bomber that the Spurs featured in their title-winning days and sorely lacked in last season's second-round ouster at the hands of Phoenix.
Put them together and the Spurs have more than enough fresh complimentary pieces to supplement the veteran Parker-Duncan-Ginobili core.
3. Speaking of youth: James Anderson and Tiago Splitter have yet to make significant impacts, but both house the talent to do so. While there is no guarantee they will be able to play major roles in the immediate future, the threat looms.
2. Gregg Popovich. Need more be said?
1. The Spurs stand five games ahead of their nearest competition, the Boston Celtics, and have the league’s best road record at 18-6. They also have the best home record at 25-2. Play the Spurs anywhere, and they just wind up winning.
In a world defined by results, they can do no more to force their name to the lips of analysts and fans. They’ve been in the conversation, but seem to linger at the fringe. Is it time they are viewed as a more viable threat to the Lakers’ crown?
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/02/09/11/Its-time-to-fear-San-Antonio/landing_spurs.html?blockID=407318&feedID=3799