So, how confident are you?..

[HarlemHeat37]

On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in the Spurs making it to the NBA Finals?..

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Honestly?

2

[Ginobili2Duncan]

If Ginobili's injury isn't serious. I say 7.

[mexicanjunior]

With a healthy Manu...7

After Manu's injury...2

[Mugen]

Before tonight - 5.

After Manu went down - 2

If we find out Manu is out for a while - 0

[timtonymanu]

Right now (Manu's injury) - 3
100% Healthy - 7

[slick'81]

well if their healthy and the homecourt in the west i think they can beat anybody

dont know if id put the house up though lol

[Man In Black]

Before Manu went down, I felt 7.5
But now, I feel 7 because of how long round 1 takes to play out.
Assuming that Manu heals fully during Round 1, then it goes back to 7.5.

[Obstructed_View]

I have a ton of confidence in the players. The coach, not so much.

[Mugen]

With a healthy Manu...7

After Manu's injury...2

:lmao C'mon Junior, you're the most negative poster i know. You were really a 7 on the spurs chances of getting to the finals before Manu went down?

[DontStopBelieving]

4 with a healthy Manu
1 at the moment..

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

With a Healthy Manu- 6

Non 100% Manu- 3

No anu at all- 0

[nkdlunch]

assuming healthy Manu

beating mem 8

beating okc 6

beating lakers 3

overall 2

[Calispursfan11]

4 before Manu's injury. 2 at present.

[mexicanjunior]

:lmao C'mon Junior, you're the most negative poster i know. You were really a 7 on the spurs chances of getting to the finals before Manu went down?

Once they captured HCA in the West (thanks Utah...OKC), I think they had a better than average chance, especially with Bynum hurting...

Manu's injury made it easy to kill the optimism...

[ZB 512]

Spurs have no chance without Manu

hopefully for ya'll, he will be back for semis, but he might not be 100 percent

[Cant_Be_Faded]

5

[Mugen]

Once they captured HCA in the West (thanks Utah...OKC), I think they had a better than average chance, especially with Bynum hurting...

Manu's injury made it easy to kill the optimism...

Understandable.

Too bad the coach decided to get really cutesy with this final game.

[mexicanjunior]

Spurs have no chance without Manu

hopefully for ya'll, he will be back for semis, but he might not be 100 percent

If he isn't back healthy in the first round...he will be watching the semis from home.

[Yorae]

8. Manu will be back by game 2 of round 1.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

I'm so disgusted with Pop's consistent fetish for failure.. Putting in Blair & Bonner, having Novak out there in the 4th instead of Jefferson. It's ridiculous, if we lose in the playoffs, it's Pop's fault, that stubborn old fool is afraid of winning (i.e: a Splitter/Duncan frontcourt)

There is no way we will live by the 3, that will be the death of us, and it's depressing how good of a tactic that is in the regular season, but it just doesn't work in the playoffs.

[Spurs Brazil]

6 with a healthy Manu

[Quasar]

1 If pop really uses the turd towers consistently in the playoffs
6 if manu misses only a few games and returns healthy. Super manu healthy, not el contusion nose manu.
8 if pop plays to our strengths and limits the weird player combinations

[Doe]

If Manu is completely healthy, about a 4.

If Manu is completely healthy and Bynum gets injured again, probably an 8.

[ManuBalboa]

4 if the gimmick offense can overshadow the turd towers

[spursbird]

Without Manu, 0

[urunobili]

2

[FvckMavs]

If manu is fine: 3-4
If manu is limited: 0

[ElNono]

9

I know Manu will be fine...

[Cant_Be_Faded]

edit:

4

[Josepatches_]

2

[Nathan89]

WTF. I've seen many 6,7,8 and 9 ratings to make the finals with a healthy Manu. You guys realize that a 6 means you think the Spurs have a 60% chance at making the finals. That is absurd.

[Nathan89]

assuming healthy Manu

beating mem 8

beating okc 6

beating lakers 3

overall 2

I think this is pretty close to what the confidence level should be against those three teams.

To calculate the overall just multiply .8*.6*.3=.144

Your overall confidence is 1.44

.85*.6*.4 is also reasonable and that comes out to 2.04

Point is a reasonable confidence level is probably 1.4 to 2.4

[toki9]

5 to 0, depending on Manu's status.

[Texas_Ranger]

1

[Obstructed_View]

WTF. I've seen many 6,7,8 and 9 ratings to make the finals with a healthy Manu. You guys realize that a 6 means you think the Spurs have a 60% chance at making the finals. That is absurd.

Who's better than the Spurs at this point? There isn't a single team that has their number.

[Crazymaddopeyo]

3

Doesn't mean I'll stop going for the spurs. I never will, but damn I can't see this team going far with the defense they play and how weak they are on the rebounding side.

[Nathan89]

Who's better than the Spurs at this point? There isn't a single team that has their number.

Probably the team that the Grizz were trying to dodge by tanking.

[Obstructed_View]

Probably the team that the Grizz were trying to dodge by tanking.

You mean the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs?

[Obstructed_View]

Probably the team that the Grizz were trying to dodge by tanking.

You mean the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs? The team that couldn't beat the Spurs out for best record in the conference despite playing in a horrible division?

[outmap]

10

[Nathan89]

You mean the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs? The team that couldn't beat the Spurs out for best record in the conference despite playing in a horrible division?

Yeah the team that for all practical matters raped us by 30 points. The team that we barely beat by a dice tip-in(must admit we should have won that game by more but we were choking). The team that has two of the top 8 bigs in the game and a top two sg. The team that has outrageous length that makes it very difficult for us to score. The team with the 6th man of the year. The backtoback champs.

Not playing Splitter all year has only decreased are chances of beating the Lakers. The thing is Blair might be the better player vs. every other team in the league but Splitter is the better option against the Lakers. It really hurt to see both Bynum and Gasol shooting right over the top of Blair the other day. Pop really messed up by not realizing that everything goes through the Lakers.

Having said all that we still have a chance but lets not kid ourselves it will be an upset.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah the team that for all practical matters raped us by 30 points. The team that we barely beat by a dice tip-in(must admit we should have won that game by more but we were choking). The team that has two of the top 8 bigs in the game and a top two sg. The team that has outrageous length that makes it very difficult for us to score. The team with the 6th man of the year. The backtoback champs.

Not playing Splitter all year has only decreased are chances of beating the Lakers. The thing is Blair might be the better player vs. every other team in the league but Splitter is the better option against the Lakers. It really hurt to see both Bynum and Gasol shooting right over the top of Blair the other day. Pop really messed up by not realizing that everything goes through the Lakers.

Having said all that we still have a chance but lets not kid ourselves it will be an upset.

Uh, so yeah, the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs. A team that couldn't hold a 22 point lead against the Kings with six minutes to go. A team that needed to go 17-1 in order to stay in the top half of the draw.

[TD 21]

Anyone who's claiming they're confident at this exact moment is lying. The reality is, Ginobili is probably not going to play in game one given the way this organization deals with injuries (I can hear Pop now: "he's close, but we don't play again until Wednesday night and we'd rather be safe than sorry") and even if he does, he'll be in a diminished state. Naturally, he'll be less aggressive, which plays right into a physical defender like Allen's hands.

Morale has got to be low. They handled everything wrong coming down the stretch, gave away the best record, had one of their three best players get injured, saw the Lakers get as easy a path as possible and didn't get an ideal match-up.

[Budkin]

No Manu 0, With Manu 7

[Chaz]

full of confidence , 9 :flag:

[baseline bum]

i

[Nathan89]

Uh, so yeah, the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs. A team that couldn't hold a 22 point lead against the Kings with six minutes to go. A team that needed to go 17-1 in order to stay in the top half of the draw.

Yeah that team. The team that did what they needed to do.

[rmt]

I think this is pretty close to what the confidence level should be against those three teams.

To calculate the overall just multiply .8*.6*.3=.144

Your overall confidence is 1.44

.85*.6*.4 is also reasonable and that comes out to 2.04

Point is a reasonable confidence level is probably 1.4 to 2.4

Pop's decisions are what has doomed the Spurs. The first was failing to integrate Splitter. The second was playing the big 3 and Dice in meaningless games (with HCA in the West wrapped up).

I like your explanation, but you forgot to add the chances against the East.

vs BOS 4.5
vs MIA 5.5
vs CHI 5.5

EDIT: Sorry, just saw that the OP meant reaching the Finals.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah that team. The team that did what they needed to do.

:lol I guess that's a "glass half full" way to look at the last 8 games.

[Chomag]

Basing of my old fashioned views of Defence wins championships my realistic expectation are not very high for them, but win or lose I'm going to root them on.

Maybe spurs can be the first to show the world that defence is yesterdays news :lol

[Obstructed_View]

The last time the Spurs prepared for a game and treated it like it was meaningful was the one against Dallas, and they played awfully good defense in that game.

[Capt Bringdown]

I've lost confidence in Pop. And outside of the big 3, I don't know who we can rely on.
Without doubt, TD, Tony & Manu will be there - they will dig deep and push themselves to another level.

With the exception of Neal, this is pretty much the same team that got swept by the Phoenix Suns last year.

[Mugen]

I would feel a lot better about their chances if Pop wasn't coaching the team.

The last two months, Pop has had so many WTF moments it's mind boggling.

My confidence in his ability to put this team in the best position to win is slim to none right now.

[Borosai]

Cautiously optimistic.

[Em-City]

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/27550_367521653748_2720_n.jpg

[Obstructed_View]

I wonder how some of you can have been watching the Spurs for the last five years and are just now suddenly losing confidence in the coach.

[024]

for those who have watched the spurs all year, the number shouldn't be any higher than a 6.

[baseline bum]

The West is pretty wide-open this year. If you look at records since the new year, everyone aside from New Orleans is bunched up pretty closely:

1) Lakers: 34-15 (69%)
2) Thunder: 32-15 (68%)
3) Spurs: 33-17 (66%)
4) Blazers: 32-17 (65%)
5) Mavs: 33-18 (65%)
6) Grizzlies: 32-18 (64%)
7) Nuggets: 32-19 (63%)
8) Hornets: 27-22 (55%)

[Capt Bringdown]

The West is pretty wide-open this year. If you look at records since the new year, everyone aside from New Orleans is bunched up pretty closely:

1) Lakers: 34-15 (69%)
2) Thunder: 32-15 (68%)
3) Spurs: 33-17 (66%)
4) Blazers: 32-17 (65%)
5) Mavs: 33-18 (65%)
6) Grizzlies: 32-18 (64%)
7) Nuggets: 32-19 (63%)
8) Hornets: 27-22 (55%)

Toss that out the window, it's the second season now. The degree to which the playoffs are different from the regular season cannot be over-stated IMO.

[Obstructed_View]

The West is pretty wide-open this year. If you look at records since the new year, everyone aside from New Orleans is bunched up pretty closely:

1) Lakers: 34-15 (69%)
2) Thunder: 32-15 (68%)
3) Spurs: 33-17 (66%)
4) Blazers: 32-17 (65%)
5) Mavs: 33-18 (65%)
6) Grizzlies: 32-18 (64%)
7) Nuggets: 32-19 (63%)
8) Hornets: 27-22 (55%)

Good post. Add to that the fact that the Spurs are the only team on that list that has had virtually nothing to play for during the entire stretch.

[siraulo23]

4 at full strength

They will wear down and fall in the WCF

Just cherish every win they can get this playoffs

If manu is out, 5/10 to get out of the first round

[TE]

Playing the Grizzlies in the first round will prepare the Spurs to play the Thunder/Nuggets in the second round.

The Grizzlies are a tough out, but the Spurs have what it takes to take them out in 6 games max (that's of course if Manu comes back and is effective).

If we would have played NO, the Spurs wouldn't be so prepared for the likes of the Thunder/Grizzlies. In that regard, this seeding is good.

[Kuestmaster]

With a healthy Manu: 8
If not: 3

[romain.star]

Against MEM: 75%
Against OKC/DEN: 70%
Against LAL/POR: 45%

Against CHI/MIA/BOS: 35%

5th ring: 10%

[dbestpro]

I wonder how some of you can have been watching the Spurs for the last five years and are just now suddenly losing confidence in the coach.

Pop is still the best x's and o's coach in the NBA. He has almost completely negated that with his mindless rotations of his bigs this year.

If Pop would rotate the bigs based off of match-ups my confidence would be better as I believe we have the right players. My confidence wanes because of the Blair-Bonner entitlement minutes that are given together without regard as to the results.

If Pop coaches like he can in regards to match-ups I have a rating of a 9.
If he does like he has with his big rotations I have a rating of 2.5.

The Blair- Bonner defensive combination will be the undoing of this team.

[TampaDude]

I'm telling you all right now. The Spurs will win it all this year.

Bookmark.

It.

[Sii]

I bet Manu doesnt even miss a game

prob a 7 or 8

The comments on Pop around here have gotten ridiculous. Some of you must be 12-13 years old and just started watching the Spurs. The notion the best coach in franchise history who is a sure fire first ballot hall of famer..and who has coached them to 4 rings suddenly sucks or SA would be in better position without him is beyond insane. This place is so overun with trolls its hard to even read.

[benefactor]

Even before the injury I at about a 5. They have the players, but the plan is pretty shaky.

[BoricuaCJA]

7 (Manu healthy and b/c of the way the bracket turned out for LA)
1(without Manu)

[romain.star]

I bet Manu doesnt even miss a game

prob a 7 or 8

The comments on Pop around here have gotten ridiculous. Some of you must be 12-13 years old and just started watching the Spurs. The notion the best coach in franchise history who is a sure fire first ballot hall of famer..and who has coached them to 4 rings suddenly sucks or SA would be in better position without him is beyond insane. This place is so overun with trolls its hard to even read.

I'd rather have a 100% Manu after missing one or two games instead of having a 80% Manu not missing a game

[hater]

Who's better than the Spurs at this point? There isn't a single team that has their number.

:lmao

Phoenix got their number yesterday and they aint even in the playoffs.

teams that are clearly better than Spurs:
Lakers
OKC
Bulls
Celtics

teams arguably better than Spurs:
Mavs
Heat

teams that could beat them with a 50% Manu:
Denver
Portland
Memphis
Orlando

[alchemist]

not confident at all. When Manu's at his best he has to use both hands (arms) to create his wild drives, when he gets injured Manu loves to over play the uninjured side which ends up costing him a lot more.

hopefully Hill decides to show up, the last 2 games he played didn't show me that he will. Parker/TD will have to go off no doubt.

[Sii]

:lmao

Phoenix got their number yesterday and they aint even in the playoffs.

teams that are clearly better than Spurs:
Lakers
OKC
Bulls
Celtics

teams arguably better than Spurs:
Mavs
Heat



The Lakers just got off losing 5 in a row...and could barely pull out a game against SA's bench with playoff seeding on the line for them. Them "clearly" being better is up for debate. OKC has never won a playoff series and SA handled for the most part this year. They need to prove something first.

The Bulls had a great year in the east but arent even a lock to make the finals. I dont think they would beat a healthy spurs team 4 times in 7 games. Celts have lost a major step since the trade and look really old.

Mavs? Heat? :rollin

You will prob the argue the other way but to suggest all those teams are better than the Spurs is hilarious

[Bukefal]

:lol

http://i.imgur.com/cIZog.png

[Bukefal]

Anyway, I dont like predicting anything with the Spurs. But this was a great season and I have a good feeling about it.

:flag: :flag:

[rascal]

You mean the team the Spurs beat twice and almost beat a third time with their scrubs? The team that couldn't beat the Spurs out for best record in the conference despite playing in a horrible division?

yes. When that team decides it's time to play they are a tough matchup for the Spurs.

[Morg1411]

10.

Sack up, ya pussies.

[Obstructed_View]

Pop is still the best x's and o's coach in the NBA. He has almost completely negated that with his mindless rotations of his bigs this year.

If Pop would rotate the bigs based off of match-ups my confidence would be better as I believe we have the right players. My confidence wanes because of the Blair-Bonner entitlement minutes that are given together without regard as to the results.

If Pop coaches like he can in regards to match-ups I have a rating of a 9.
If he does like he has with his big rotations I have a rating of 2.5.

The Blair- Bonner defensive combination will be the undoing of this team.

Thanks for repeating what you hear, Hubie. The X's and O's ability of the Spurs plunged when PJ left. The Spurs have a fighting chance in most situations based simply on their talent, if Pop's not refusing to play talented players, putting guys in no-win situations, or trying gimmicky lineups.

[GrandeDavid]

Manu healthy, I say an 8. The Spurs can do it. I'm starting to get more worried about facing Chicago on the road...but that's a long time away. Also, I'm not sure I'd want the Spurs to face Miami either. I'm guessing they'd figure out how to beat Boston with HCA.

But as far as the West goes, the Spurs will beat Memphis and either Denver or OKC, and I have little worries about those series. I think the Spurs can beat LA in 6 or 7.

[Obstructed_View]

yes. When that team decides it's time to play they are a tough matchup for the Spurs.

Tough matchup? I agree. "Clearly better than the Spurs?" Nope.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Like I've said for months now, the WCF is San Antonio's ceiling. Going into the year Spur fans would've been elated with that. Congrats on a good season, sorry it has to end though.

[Obstructed_View]

:lmao

Phoenix got their number yesterday and they aint even in the playoffs.
The Spurs won all three games prior to last night, so maybe someone needs to explain what "has their number" means.


teams that are clearly better than Spurs:
Lakers
OKC
Bulls
Celtics

teams arguably better than Spurs:
Mavs
Heat

teams that could beat them with a 50% Manu:
Denver
Portland
Memphis
Orlando

:lmao

[DeadlyDynasty]

Tough matchup? I agree. "Clearly better than the Spurs?" Nope.

They aren't beating the Lakers. You know this.

[sa_butta]

With a healthy Manu...7

Without Manu...4

[Obstructed_View]

They aren't beating the Lakers. You know this.

Lakerfan's always had an excuse handy this season, so make sure you keep them nearby, or at least pray for bad news from Manu's MRI. The Spurs handled the Lakers without much trouble all year.

[TE]

They aren't beating the Lakers. You know this.
Didn't you make a thread where you had a differing opinion about the Lakers, or was it a prototypical vent?

[spursince#99]

honestly IDGAF what the rest of you pessimistic fans think...we going all the way with or without manu...9 with him and 7 without...i think both of those numbers can win us a ship...

[DeadlyDynasty]

Lakerfan's always had an excuse handy this season, so make sure you keep them nearby, or at least pray for bad news from Manu's MRI. The Spurs handled the Lakers without much trouble all year.

Please, we want him fully healthy so Ron-Ron can abuse him with impunity again. Your team chuck's 3's and has nobody who can guard Kobe, Gasol, or, Bynum.

TP is the only mismatch you have on LA, and the Lakers will just clog the lane and knock him on his ass again.

The Spurs have to rely on RJ, Bonner, Neal, and Hill to hit their shots oin the playoffs--in 4 out of 7 games no less.


The Lakers are going to stomp that ass.


Please beat OKC, cause that's the only WC team that can knock LA off.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Didn't you make a thread where you had a differing opinion about the Lakers, or was it a prototypical vent?

I bet (with lakaluva) that they were not going to 3-peat.

I also made a $100 bet and an ELE with cheguevara that if the Lakers and Spurs were to meet, LA would win...he has yet to accept it.

[hater]

LOL Obstructed_Delusion at it again

[DeadlyDynasty]

For the record, if che chickens out on the bet I would love O_V to take it...but we all know he doesn't have the balls to back up his convictions. Deep down he knows LA is better than SA.

[703 Spurz]

134

[TheManFromAcme]

For the record, if che chickens out on the bet I would love O_V to take it...but we all know he doesn't have the balls to back up his convictions. Deep down he knows LA is better than SA.

:corn:

[DeadlyDynasty]

For the record, if che chickens out on the bet I would love O_V to take it...but we all know he doesn't have the balls to back up his convictions. Deep down he knows LA is better than SA.

(crickets)


Just what I thought.

Delusional Spurs homer whose nuts shrivel when I throw down the gauntlet.

Later sweetheart...it's been fun owning you AGAIN

[angelbelow]

probably a 6.

[z0sa]

They aren't beating the Lakers. You know this.

lol post-Gasol lakerfan

My confidence is at a 9 or 10. I came into this season thinking the Spurs would need to hit on all cylinders to simply be a contender.

Even as the season progressed and the wins piled up, I was hesitant, but each victory heartened me more and more.

And even after McDyess floated above multiple Lakers for the winning tip-in, like both a memory from past champions and some glorious prophecy of things to come, I could not help but feel reserved.

Could these Spurs really be the real deal?

With confidence rising with each passing day, the Spurs locked up the #1 seed in the WC and assured HC throughout the West, proving the many haters and doubters hopelessly wrong about their pre-season "irrelevancy" comments permanently, at least for 2011.

as Kobe frustratedly threw his towel and screamed fucking faggot at the ref, I knew, finally, with perfect, un-elapsing confidence, that the Spurs were legitimate.

[Obstructed_View]

(crickets)


Just what I thought.

Delusional Spurs homer whose nuts shrivel when I throw down the gauntlet.

Later sweetheart...it's been fun owning you AGAIN

:lol the 8 minute gauntlet by Lakerfan.

[Obstructed_View]

Please, we want him fully healthy so Ron-Ron can abuse him with impunity again. Your team chuck's 3's and has nobody who can guard Kobe, Gasol, or, Bynum.

TP is the only mismatch you have on LA, and the Lakers will just clog the lane and knock him on his ass again.

The Spurs have to rely on RJ, Bonner, Neal, and Hill to hit their shots oin the playoffs--in 4 out of 7 games no less.


The Lakers are going to stomp that ass.


Please beat OKC, cause that's the only WC team that can knock LA off.

The Spurs handled the Lakers without any problems this year. The Lakers treating one game like a playoff game does not a threepeat make.

[DeadlyDynasty]

The Spurs handled the Lakers without any problems this year. The Lakers treating one game like a playoff game does not a threepeat make.

All this talk, but still too pussy to bet on your own team :lol

I've exposed you as a chickenshit fan...you are my property now. Consider this thread bookmarked in your never ending catalog of idiocy and backpedaling

[honestfool84]

8

[Agloco]

Without Manu 0/10

With Manu 4/10

[howbouthemspurs]

32

[dbestpro]

Thanks for repeating what you hear, Hubie. The X's and O's ability of the Spurs plunged when PJ left. The Spurs have a fighting chance in most situations based simply on their talent, if Pop's not refusing to play talented players, putting guys in no-win situations, or trying gimmicky lineups.

You're starting to sound like Van Gundy. Pop proves his X and O capability with every play that is called after a time out. There is not a better coach in the NBA than Pop in that regard.

I agree he seems to have gone over the deep end when it comes to player match ups.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Pop is a great coach, but his failure to develop Splitter this year will torpedo what was a great season.

[DMC]

I have confidence they can win. I hope for the best but expect the worst.

[DMC]

You're starting to sound like Van Gundy. Pop proves his X and O capability with every play that is called after a time out. There is not a better coach in the NBA than Pop in that regard.

I agree he seems to have gone over the deep end when it comes to player match ups.

Pop is just entertaining himself now. I think he retires when Duncan does. Maybe not though, most are forced out.

[admiralsnackbar]

Can't say I have any idea what this team is capable of from game to game -- that might bode ill, but fuck it: I'm just ready to watch some PO basketball. This last month of regular season has been tedious.

[Obstructed_View]

All this talk, but still too pussy to bet on your own team :lol

I've exposed you as a chickenshit fan...you are my property now. Consider this thread bookmarked in your never ending catalog of idiocy and backpedaling

:lmao Okay, Chazley. Who wouldn't want to bet with someone who declares victory regardless of reality?

[ducks]

On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in the Spurs making it to the NBA Finals?..

3
I am very confident heat will not get to finals

[Obstructed_View]

You're starting to sound like Van Gundy. Pop proves his X and O capability with every play that is called after a time out. There is not a better coach in the NBA than Pop in that regard.

I agree he seems to have gone over the deep end when it comes to player match ups.

So having Steve Novak inbound with .9 to go against Portland (when he hadn't played a second in the entire game) was...

[mingus]

i give the Spurs about a 25% chance of making it to the Finals. before the season starteed, i predicted Spurs had about a 15% chance. LA's most likely to ge to the Finals. OKC has a small chance, probably like 15% to win it.

i still like our core, especially down the stretch. the key is going to be whether this team can defend and rebound well enough to keep it close, and that largely depends on whether Splitter and Duncan can be a defensive force, which i think they can. too many teams are scoring in the paint without any alteration. eventually, Pop will have to go with that combo, probably in the Griz series, and i think by the time the OKC & LA series rolls around those two will have built enough chemistry.

[Texas_Ranger]

now that I know Manu will be OK it's 8

[Stringer_Bell]

Pop is a great coach, but his failure to develop Splitter this year will torpedo what was a great season.

:depressed

My confidence is at a 7, but I have faith it will rise after the first series. I just need to know that we can still take it to another gear - a junk check, if you will. Our bench will be what gets us through to the WCF, and I believe in them more than any recent bench. They will scrap and demand respect, I like our chances with them.

[dbestpro]

So having Steve Novak inbound with .9 to go against Portland (when he hadn't played a second in the entire game) was...

..... a substitution or match up error. This was not an X and O error. Player rotations right now, is Pop's greatest weakness as a coach.

[silverblackfan]

Now that Manu has tweated that his elbow is not serious, I would say a Homer 8. I think the desperation of this team to win it this year will be intense.

[Kool Bob Love]

When Manu went down I didn't want to get on ST because the meltdowns would be to much for me.:lol

As of today Im a 6 after Sunday I expect that to go up 2 numbers.:toast

[Jimcs50]

1

[pjjrfan]

6 Bonner and Blair will kill us if they are both on the floor at the same time. This first matchup with Memphis will expose that weakness if Blair is expected to hold up on Randolph and Gasol. I expect the rest of the team to do a good job otherwise enough to get by, but the matchups will just get worse for these guys as we progress.

[DeadlyDynasty]

:lmao Okay, Chazley. Who wouldn't want to bet with someone who declares victory regardless of reality?

Money talks...if you talk all this big game about "the Spurs handled the Lakers this year," yet are too afraid to put money on them in the playoffs, then that shows that you are:

A. Broke or can't afford to bet $100...If you admit you can't afford it, then I will respect that.

B. You're a chickenshit fan who talks a big game but is afraid of the Lakers.


If you truly thought the Spurs were better than the Lakers, then you'd put money on them. You've been exposed, bro. How long do you want to keep this charade of petty one-liners and deflections going?

Even your fellow fans in this thread are calling you out. :lmao


Put money on the table, or go home and get your fuckin' shinebox.

[cheguevara]

If we lose to the Grizz we'd do it with or without Manu. We have plenty of guards to carry the load. If we lose to the Grizz it'll be because their frontline raped our frontline.

[Mr Fundamental]

7

[Obstructed_View]

Money talks...if you talk all this big game about "the Spurs handled the Lakers this year," yet are too afraid to put money on them in the playoffs, then that shows that you are:

A. Broke or can't afford to bet $100...If you admit you can't afford it, then I will respect that.

B. You're a chickenshit fan who talks a big game but is afraid of the Lakers.


If you truly thought the Spurs were better than the Lakers, then you'd put money on them. You've been exposed, bro. How long do you want to keep this charade of petty one-liners and deflections going?

Even your fellow fans in this thread are calling you out. :lmao


Put money on the table, or go home and get your fuckin' shinebox.

I don't bet money on something someone else does. Even if I did have 100 bucks to throw around, I wouldn't do it. Tim Duncan gets hit by a bus and you'll still think you've proven a point. I also want absolutely no personal contact with you, so there would be no way to do a bet.

The playoffs are going to happen no matter what. I'm still going to be around afterward whether the Spurs win or lose, so your chickenshit fan argument sort of goes out the window at that point.

Since you have bets both for and against the Lakers, I'd say your credibility about confidence in your team is pretty much gone, too. :lol

Fact: The Spurs were in a tougher division than the Lakers
Fact: The Spurs had a better regular season record.
Fact: At no time this season were the Spurs pressed for the number one seed in the west
Fact: The Lakers looked good in one head to head matchup with the Spurs.

Based upon the above facts, I made the statement that the Lakers will not easily beat the Spurs. If the Lakers easily beat the Spurs, I have no doubt you'll be around throwing lmaos everywhere. I'm prepared for that.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I don't bet money on something someone else does. Even if I did have 100 bucks to throw around, I wouldn't do it. Tim Duncan gets hit by a bus and you'll still think you've proven a point. I also want absolutely no personal contact with you, so there would be no way to do a bet.

Poor copout, as I have no personal contact with lakaluva or the other person I'm currently betting with...it's through a paypal account mediated by none other than Kori Ellis. You have no balls to back up your convictions and you are afraid of taking risks (and the Lakers), that's the real reason you aren't betting.


The playoffs are going to happen no matter what. I'm still going to be around afterward whether the Spurs win or lose, so your chickenshit fan argument sort of goes out the window at that point.

Talking big about how the Spurs handled the Lakers and insinuating the same results will happen in the postseason, yet refusing to make any kind of wager (hell, we can do an ELE, sig, or any other kind of bet if you're that broke), shows you have no confidence in your team. Look at it from an outsider's perspective--all talk but no action. Makes you look emasculated, tbh.




Fact: The Spurs were in a tougher division than the Lakers
Fact: The Spurs had a better regular season record.
Fact: At no time this season were the Spurs pressed for the number one seed in the west
Fact: The Lakers looked good in one head to head matchup with the Spurs.


Thanks for furthering my point...all those are facts, yet you are STILL scared to put anything on the line. There's a word for that: chickenshit.



Since you have bets both for and against the Lakers, I'd say your credibility about confidence in your team is pretty much gone, too. :lol

I'm smart, I hedge my bets. I'm also not currently talking shit about a 3-peat (or betting on it), because I believe the Thunder or Heat could take the Lakers out. OTOH, the Spurs scare me about as much as the Clippers, so I'll gladly take any Spur fan's money on that potential series.

See the difference? I'm CONFIDENT LA would beat SA. I'm NOT SO CONFIDENT they will win it all, thus I bet accordingly.



Based upon the above facts, I made the statement that the Lakers will not easily beat the Spurs.

Yet you've repeatedly regurgitated your "we handled them in the regular season," schtick...are you trying to give yourself some sort of false confidence, then?


If the Lakers easily beat the Spurs, I have no doubt you'll be around throwing lmaos everywhere.

That's Philip's job.

But yes, I'll be around to remind people of your idiotic posts (i.e. "Duncan is a better defender than Howard") :lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao.


Your idiocy brings the laughs to ST...keep it up, champ :tu

[Giuseppe]

If we lose to the Grizz we'd do it with or without Manu.

Che, with the goods/per once in a blue moon.

[Giuseppe]

Pop is just entertaining himself now. I think he retires when Duncan does.

& that is so chickenshit & pussy of Pop to keep intimating that.

[dunkman]

10 to win the WCF, however an 7 to win it all. The elite east teams are quite good this season.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Assuming that 1 is less confident, and 10 is most confident?



I'd say 8.

[Obstructed_View]

Poor copout, as I have no personal contact with lakaluva or the other person I'm currently betting with...it's through a paypal account mediated by none other than Kori Ellis. You have no balls to back up your convictions and you are afraid of taking risks (and the Lakers), that's the real reason you aren't betting.
I gave you several reasons, and you picked one. You have no balls if you're betting both for and against your own team.



Talking big about how the Spurs handled the Lakers and insinuating the same results will happen in the postseason, yet refusing to make any kind of wager (hell, we can do an ELE, sig, or any other kind of bet if you're that broke), shows you have no confidence in your team. Look at it from an outsider's perspective--all talk but no action. Makes you look emasculated, tbh.
I'm not sure I insinuated anything. Maybe you should get a dictionary. I think all I ever said was that the Lakers aren't "clearly better than the Spurs" and pointed out that there's zero evidence to suggest that. You decided to come in here and troll.


Thanks for furthering my point...all those are facts, yet you are STILL scared to put anything on the line. There's a word for that: chickenshit.
No, the word for that is "analysis". There are two words for you, though: Gambling problem. :lol


I'm smart

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao.


Your idiocy brings the laughs to ST...keep it up, champ :tu

[lurker23]

Realistically? I'm at about a 5 right now. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good team, and no one should be surprised if they make the Finals (though the media, as per usual, is trying their darndest). However, the steps forward on defense that we were all hoping the team would take in the second half of the season have been slow at best.

I think we'll get a much better idea of what this team truly is in the Memphis series. There's been a lot of talk that once the playoffs come around, Tim Duncan is going to become a much more substantial cog in the Spurs machine; that increased minutes and increased role for Duncan (and Splitter?) will lead to a team that can step up it's defense, while still maintaining the free-scoring portion of it's game.

All I can do at this point is wait and see (and, as a fan, enjoy every freaking minute of it). If the Spurs can turn up the defense against Memphis and dispatch them in 4, 5, or an easy 6 games, then my confidence level will go up to 7 out of 10. If they barely squeak by, then it will likely decrease.

If they lose a playoff series before the Finals, my confidence will drop to 0.

[DMC]

& that is so chickenshit & pussy of Pop to keep intimating that.
Different thread, but look at what Sloan went through post Malone/Stockton. He had some games with Boozer and Williams, but then he's been treated like shit and left on a bad note (at least that's how it appears).

I don't see Pop wanting to do that, for Tony to be the driving force on the team. I don't know how well Pop and Tony mesh if Tony knows he's the franchise. He seems a bit greedier than Tim, less apt to accept a role.

Then again, like I said, the allure of being "that" guy is strong, and some are forced out.

[ShoogarBear]

After thinking about it a long time, 5.

I've finally figured out the odd sensation I had watching this Spurs team. It's something I hadn't felt in years, and just now, with the playoffs here, I figured it out.

It's the exact same feeling I had when the Spurs went to the playoffs every year before Tim Duncan got here.

The Spurs had some damn good teams before 1998. But after four championships, you realize there's a huge difference between a team that has a core of defensive toughness they can rely on no matter what, and one that is just hoping that their shots will go in.

Maybe it will all change when the bell rings and Duncan comes out turning back the clock, and Manu and Tony are creating havoc, and Bruce is putting the clamps o . . . oh, wait. Well, maybe it'll feel better after seeing them in a couple of games and see if George and Gary can produce.

But as it stands, the postseason is going to depend almost entirely on whether the Spurs can hit a tremendous number of threes.

[Fabbs]

Players 9.5
Coach 3.0

Manus injury or not will be huge. For all Parkers speed, and its been fantastic to watch this season, he still lacks as a distributor.
If Popped runs Corky Bonner out and he's being Corky again it will be over quickly.


Laker Gays receiving rigged reffing is always a possibility/probability in the Stern era so Spurs will have to beat them by 20 in reality to make it a 2 point win on the scoreboard. For at least two of the games.

[ShoogarBear]

1

I feel so much better now. :)

[SouthernFried]

After thinking about it a long time, 5.

I've finally figured out the odd sensation I had watching this Spurs team. It's something I hadn't felt in years, and just now, with the playoffs here, I figured it out.

It's the exact same feeling I had when the Spurs went to the playoffs every year before Tim Duncan got here.

The Spurs had some damn good teams before 1998. But after four championships, you realize there's a huge difference between a team that has a core of defensive toughness they can rely on no matter what, and one that is just hoping that their shots will go in.

Maybe it will all change when the bell rings and Duncan comes out turning back the clock, and Manu and Tony are creating havoc, and Bruce is putting the clamps o . . . oh, wait. Well, maybe it'll feel better after seeing them in a couple of games and see if George and Gary can produce.

But as it stands, the postseason is going to depend almost entirely on whether the Spurs can hit a tremendous number of threes.

This.

I've been watching the Spurs since the were formed. And this post summarizes what I'm seeing and feeling.

It reminds me of the old days.

Which is why I finally quit watching the regular season.

[Capt Bringdown]

...there's a huge difference between a team that has a core of defensive toughness they can rely on no matter what, and one that is just hoping that their shots will go in.

Bingo. The Spurs haven't even been able to string together 2 quarters of anything resembling elite defense this entire season.

What's frustrating is that the Spurs had an opportunity to get better in the defensive dept, but our coach went another way - presumably because his way (turd towers) was less risky than playing a rookie.

But of course, Pop did roll the dice on another rookie (Neal, and thank goodness for that), so WTF?