Spurs vs. OKC Last 10: 6-4, OKC 1 Game behind us

[Embedded]

I keep hearing how we've sucked lately, but we're up 1 game vs. OKC, and have the same record over the last 10 games. I know we lost to OKC @ OKC, but we are tied with them for the season series. With our propensity to coast this time of year PLUS our injuries, I think that's pretty good. I want to get this game in Denver, and I know we can do it.

[Dex]

Yes, the Spurs currently still have a 1 game lead over OKC, and could secure HCA by winning their last 5 games. But there are two things that worry me.

1) Both teams have 5 games left, but the Spurs schedule is much tougher.

Spurs: @Denver, Sacramento, @ L.A. Lakers, @Golden State (B2B), Minnesota.
Thunder: @Utah, @Golden State, @Portland, Sacramento, Milwaukee.

For the Spurs, only one of those games (Sacramento) is really a gimme. Denver has become the hardest place in the league to win a game (they've only lost 3 at home all season). Despite their record, the Lakers always put up a good fight and are still scrapping for the playoffs. Golden State is the 2nd of a B2B and has played us well all season, and Minnesota has a tendency to make things tough as well.

For the Thunder, Utah and maybe Golden State are the only two teams that will put up a decent fight. Unless they go cold, they could easily win out.

2) The Spurs have to deal with the aforementioned schedule while still trying to get healthy. We probably won't see Manu for the rest of the season. Tony is a question mark at this point. And now the nagging injury list includes Kawhi, Diaw, Neal, and Jackson (Splitter also doesn't seem to be his normal self either, but I haven't heard of any injuries). This would be challenging enough even with a full squad, but as undergunned as we are right now, I give OKC the advantage.

That being said, dropping to the 2nd seed wouldn't be the end of the world. Of course I'd prefer the Spurs have HCA over the Thunder, but the 2-spot arguably gives them the easier path in the playoffs, so at this point, I'm fine to just let the cards drop and play 'em how they fall.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not entirely convinced that the Spurs really want the #1 seed, for a lot of different reasons. I also think that if they can get to a WCF with OKC, I actually think the odds are better to steal a game up there early in a series (particularly if they've just played a bruising series against someone like Memphis, for instance) than to try to win 4 home games.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

[jestersmash]

I keep hearing how we've sucked lately, but we're up 1 game vs. OKC, and have the same record over the last 10 games. I know we lost to OKC @ OKC, but we are tied with them for the season series. With our propensity to coast this time of year PLUS our injuries, I think that's pretty good. I want to get this game in Denver, and I know we can do it.

Since when do we have a propensity for coasting this time of year?

We used to have a propensity for coasting during the beginning part of the season, and we'd turn it on after all star break.

IIRC all of our championships have come during years where we dominated the latter fraction of the regular season (point differential). We've slipped tremendously in this regard.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I'd prefer the Spurs have HCA over the Thunder, but the 2-spot arguably gives them the easier path in the playoffs, so at this point, I'm fine to just let the cards drop and play 'em how they fall.

I'm feeling the same way at this point as well, though I believe that the Spurs could possibly win out, even with Tony and Manu resting. Tony is pretty banged up, so sitting him with Manu would not be a horrible decision.

[Budkin]

Since when do we have a propensity for coasting this time of year?

We used to have a propensity for coasting during the beginning part of the season, and we'd turn it on after all star break.

IIRC all of our championships have come during years where we dominated the latter fraction of the regular season (point differential). We've slipped tremendously in this regard.

It's obviously because of all the injuries which completely fucks our chemistry.

[Budkin]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

Wow, never thought about that... pretty pathetic.

[Prime Time]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

Meh

Lakers:
2007 vs PHX: 0 road games won
2008 vs BOS: 0 road games won
2011 vs DAL: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

Mavericks
2006 vs MIA: 0 road games won
2007 vs GSW: 0 road games won
2008 vs NOH: 0 road games won
2009 vs DEN: 0 road games won
2010 vs SAS: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

Cavalires
2010 vs BOS: 0 road games won
2009 vs ORL: 0 road games won
2008 vs BOS: 0 road games won
2007 vs SAS: 0 road games won

OKC won a total of 1 road game in their past 3 Eliminations, PHX won 1 road game in their past 3 eliminations, DET won 1 road game in their past 4 eliminations.

Also, Spurs were pretty injured in their 2008, 2009, and 2011 playoff eliminations.

Winning 7-Game Series is all about taking care of business at home. I agree that Spurs need to be stronger when they're outside of SA, But fact is that could be said about 90% of teams. Spurs aren't the only ones with this struggle.

If Spurs were consistently winning on the road, they'd be... well.. NBA Champions lol

[FromWayDowntown]

The Spurs won 4 road playoff games in 2012.

Before they won those games, they had been pretty crummy on the playoff road in any series -- not just the series in which they were ultimately eliminated; they had gone 1-12 in playoff road games between winning Game 7 at New Orleans in 2008 and losing Game 6 at Memphis in 2011. By comparison, in their last 3 title years, the Spurs were 22-10 in playoff road games (7-2 in 2007, 7-4 in 2005, 8-4 in 2003).

If you're going to take the gold ball, you'd better be able to win on the road.

[Captivus]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

Wow! good stat! :depressed

[phxspurfan]

I think OKC really doesn't want to play the revitalized Lakers in the first round. I'd guess they will tank the last two or so games to avoid them.

[hater]

I'm gonna go ahead and say #1 will be decided by tomorrow.

If Spurs beat DEN and OKC loses to Utah - Spurs get #1 seed
Otherwise, OKC gets #1 seed. I'd say it's a 50-50 at this point.

Oh, and Spurs are gunning for #1 seed. No doubt about this.

[Beaverfuzz]

Portland plays home to the Lakers on Wed and Thunder on Friday, they will put up a good fight against both teams. Don't be so sure that the Thunder is going to coast right through to the playoffs.

[superjames1992]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won
And this is why it would be so nice to get the #1 seed over OKC. It would be nice not to have to steal one against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

[hater]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won

boom

[Brunodf]

The Spurs have been really really crummy on the road in the series they've been eliminated in the past 5 years.

2008 vs Lakers: 0 road games won
2009 vs Mavs: 0 road games won
2010 vs Suns: 0 road games won
2011 vs Grizzlies: 0 road games won
2012 vs OKC: 0 road games won
No shit

[MSPaint]

I think OKC really doesn't want to play the revitalized Lakers in the first round. I'd guess they will tank the last two or so games to avoid them.

I honestly don't think any teams are scared of the lakers. The only thing they've accomplished all season long has been dropping the ball. No teams in the top 4 should really be scared of facing the lakers, imo.

[Sean Cagney]

The Spurs won 4 road playoff games in 2012.

Before they won those games, they had been pretty crummy on the playoff road in any series -- not just the series in which they were ultimately eliminated; they had gone 1-12 in playoff road games between winning Game 7 at New Orleans in 2008 and losing Game 6 at Memphis in 2011. By comparison, in their last 3 title years, the Spurs were 22-10 in playoff road games (7-2 in 2007, 7-4 in 2005, 8-4 in 2003).

If you're going to take the gold ball, you'd better be able to win on the road.

YEP!!!!!!!!!!

[exstatic]

The Spurs won 4 road playoff games in 2012.

Before they won those games, they had been pretty crummy on the playoff road in any series -- not just the series in which they were ultimately eliminated; they had gone 1-12 in playoff road games between winning Game 7 at New Orleans in 2008 and losing Game 6 at Memphis in 2011. By comparison, in their last 3 title years, the Spurs were 22-10 in playoff road games (7-2 in 2007, 7-4 in 2005, 8-4 in 2003).

If you're going to take the gold ball, you'd better be able to win on the road.

That's actually what Pop says.

You need to be able to get a game back that you dropped at home that you need to win the series, and you also need to be able to get games you DON'T need to shorten a series.

[will_spurs]

The only positive about the Lakers getting the #8 seed is that Stern won't be able to rig the balls so that the Lakers get the #1 draft pick.

[tp2021]

The only positive about the Lakers getting the #8 seed is that Stern won't be able to rig the balls so that the Lakers get the #1 draft pick.The Lakers traded their pick to the Suns. If they miss out on the playoffs, they will miss out on the lottery as well.

[DesignatedT]

The Spurs will know how to approach their final three games by Sunday. OKC plays 3 more times by then and we play twice. If we lose tomorrow night it becomes very difficult to get the 1.

[will_spurs]

The Lakers traded their pick to the Suns. If they miss out on the playoffs, they will miss out on the lottery as well.

Oooh right, I had forgotten about that. So sweet.