ESPN Forecast Has the Spurs at 57 wins, Second in the West

[BillMc]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11334331/2014-summer-forecast-west-standings

While obviously I'm biased (as you all are) but 57 wins seems low. Even with all our injuries mid-season and mailing it in the last 2 games of the regular season we still won over 60 last year.

This team wins 61 unless we have a SEVERAL major injuries. Maybe they think the Spurs have lost motivation? Patty's delayed start can't cost us that many games.

[RD2191]

Lol @ all the Thunder fans making excuses. My troll account Rob Short. :lol

[dabom]

I saw this earlier but didn't wanna post it. You can bet pop is going for that number 1 seed, and add that he has the best minute management in the league, we can do it without getting tired.

[manufan10]

I'm okay with that prediction.

[Dex]

God, I'm ready for next season to start already.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs need to have HCA over the Thunder. No lead is safe in that building when it's five on eight.

[FromWayDowntown]

Historically, these things love the Thunder and tend to underestimate the Spurs:

2013 ESPN Summer Forecast (Actual finish)

OKC 58-24 (59-23, #2)
LAC 57-25 (57-25, #3)
SAS 55-27 (62-20, #1)

2012 ESPN Summer Forecast

OKC 59-23 (60-22, #1)
LAL 59-23 (45-37, #7)
SAS 54-28 (58-24, #2)

2011 Winter Forecast

OKC 48-18 (47-19, #2)
DAL 45-21 (36-30, #7)
LAL 42-24 (41-25, #3)
LAC 41-25 (40-26, #5)
MEM 40-26 (41-25, #4)
SAS 40-26 (50-16, #1)

2010 ESPN Summer Forecast

LAL 58-24 (57-25, #2)
OKC 52-30 (55-27, #4)
DAL 52-30 (57-25, #3)
DEN 49-33 (50-32, #5)
PRT 49-33 (48-34, #6)
SAS 48-34 (61-21, #1)

[Prime Time]

Eh, that's fair. I could see this being the year where Pop really goes out of his way to rest his guys, plus the Spurs are NBA champions - sub-par teams always seem to pull an amazing performance out of their ass when going up against the defending champs.

This could also be the year where OKC thinks "zOMG, IN ORDER TO BEAT THE SPURS WE HAAAAAVE TO GET THE #1 SEED GUYS" just like the Pacers last year. And we saw how that turned out for them..

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Interesting that they decreased everyone's win percentage of the top 7 (relative to what they achieved in 2014) except for the Mavericks.

[Seventyniner]

Historically, these things love the Thunder and tend to underestimate the Spurs:

2013 ESPN Summer Forecast (Actual finish)

OKC 58-24 (59-23, #2)
LAC 57-25 (57-25, #3)
SAS 55-27 (62-20, #1)

2012 ESPN Summer Forecast

OKC 59-23 (60-22, #1)
LAL 59-23 (45-37, #7)
SAS 54-28 (58-24, #2)

2011 Winter Forecast

OKC 48-18 (47-19, #2)
DAL 45-21 (36-30, #7)
LAL 42-24 (41-25, #3)
LAC 41-25 (40-26, #5)
MEM 40-26 (41-25, #4)
SAS 40-26 (50-16, #1)

2010 ESPN Summer Forecast

LAL 58-24 (57-25, #2)
OKC 52-30 (55-27, #4)
DAL 52-30 (57-25, #3)
DEN 49-33 (50-32, #5)
PRT 49-33 (48-34, #6)
SAS 48-34 (61-21, #1)

Thanks for the compilation. :toast

They rate the Thunder pretty fairly actually. But you're right that they systematically underrate the Spurs. It's like they think the Spurs will fall off a cliff any season and are trying to be all hipster about it.

[FromWayDowntown]

It's like they think the Spurs will fall off a cliff any season and are trying to be all hipster about it.

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :)

[SupremeGuy]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :):flag:

[DJR210]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :)

I can't wait to see what our team looks like when the window is open!

[BillMc]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :)

Window closed and Spurs smashed through the glass!:hat

[spurs1990]

Thanks for the rundown FromWayDowntown. Espn always goes to lengths in downcasting the Spurs.

I'd like to see them go for the gusto and win upwards of 66+ to silence everyone including those experts who still believe methlahoma would have won if Abaka had played the first two games. As if 3 monumental blowouts including game 5 weren't enough to dispel that silly notion.

I'm hoping for a 67-15 season followed by an opponent-injury-free run in the playoffs to cement this last few years as a dominant and indisputable dynastic team.

[dabom]

Thanks for the rundown FromWayDowntown. Espn always goes to lengths in downcasting the Spurs.

I'd like to see them go for the gusto and win upwards of 66+ to silence everyone including those experts who still believe methlahoma would have won if Abaka had played the first two games. As if 3 monumental blowouts including game 5 weren't enough to dispel that silly notion.

I'm hoping for a 67-15 season followed by an opponent-injury-free run in the playoffs to cement this last few years as a dominant and indisputable dynastic team.

Might as well go all in with this one. 73 wins and back to back champs without losing a playoff game. :toast

[marinoman]

Let us be 8th for all I care, just make the playoffs healthy.

Hell after 35 games or so we were like 1-9 vs top 5 teams, who cares, regular season is vastly overrated

[spurs1990]

Might as well go all in with this one. 73 wins and back to back champs without losing a playoff game. :toast

from your keyboard to Pop's ear my brother.

[Obstructed_View]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :)

http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2013-10/371541/4225316_640px.jpg?1383265196

[BanditHiro]

yep coasting most of the season tbh. just need to keep slight pressure so Brooks is forced to play Durant and Westbrook 40 minutes a game

[xmas1997]

I don't get where these people get their predictions from.

[ElNono]

By mid-November, lots of folks here will call the Spurs overrated anyways, tbh... ESPN just calling it early...

[~O~]

I wonder how long the Spurs will be overrated?Grain of salt and grains of sand. Its all dried up perspectives.

If no major injuries occur, the Spurs will set sail to yet another championship berth. :flag:

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

The Spurs have the regular season sussed: have a tough training camp and be ready to beat poor, mediocre and undercooked teams from game 1 (IIRC we didn't lose a game against a lesser team until Jan last season); rest players appropriately; don't worry about early season losses to contenders - they are meaningless as long as you are winning 90% of the other games; expect a short, frustrating run of bad losses in the dog days of January; start to ramp things up in Feb and start to notch some wins against contenders; SPAM.

Having Patty out until Jan might cost us 2-3wins, so I say we win 57-60 games.

[look_at_g_shred]

http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2013-10/371541/4225316_640px.jpg?1383265196
Hahahahah

[Cry Havoc]

It's a really tough conference and could be even tougher next year. The Spurs core is aging and therefore vulnerable to injury.

I don't agree with it but it's not crazy to suggest we finish a game back of OKC. This conference is unbelievably loaded. Maybe the toughest in NBA history.

[PÒÓCH]

Predictions are like assholes...........(insert witty reply)

[Spurs 4 The Win]

It's a really tough conference and could be even tougher next year. The Spurs core is aging and therefore vulnerable to injury.

I don't agree with it but it's not crazy to suggest we finish a game back of OKC. This conference is unbelievably loaded. Maybe the toughest in NBA history.

lol we could easily lose by 4-5 games to OKC, they threw away a lot of games to shitty opponents last year and lost on 4 buzzer beaters.... If they truly want it, they will get it, health permitting

[itzsoweezee]

Spurs are going to be five games worse than last year?

I don't see how that's possible. Especially if consider that Tony is going to be rejuvenated with the summer off and Kawhi's going to be on a mission to take over the throne and be an all-star.

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Window closed and Spurs smashed through the glass!:hat

[howbouthemspurs]

Spurs win the Championship and go on one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history and come back next season with virtually the same exact team? Yet is placed number two in the opening standings? I call BS on that! This is probably the spurs best chance in their history for a repeat! Two straight trips to the finals and ESPN still don't give them the respect they deserve. They are too busy gagging on Lebron's nuts!

[100%duncan]

Spurs finish top 1 tbh

[bluebellmaniac]

Historically, these things love the Thunder and tend to underestimate the Spurs:

2013 ESPN Summer Forecast (Actual finish)

OKC 58-24 (59-23, #2)
LAC 57-25 (57-25, #3)
SAS 55-27 (62-20, #1)

2012 ESPN Summer Forecast

OKC 59-23 (60-22, #1)
LAL 59-23 (45-37, #7)
SAS 54-28 (58-24, #2)

2011 Winter Forecast

OKC 48-18 (47-19, #2)
DAL 45-21 (36-30, #7)
LAL 42-24 (41-25, #3)
LAC 41-25 (40-26, #5)
MEM 40-26 (41-25, #4)
SAS 40-26 (50-16, #1)

2010 ESPN Summer Forecast

LAL 58-24 (57-25, #2)
OKC 52-30 (55-27, #4)
DAL 52-30 (57-25, #3)
DEN 49-33 (50-32, #5)
PRT 49-33 (48-34, #6)
SAS 48-34 (61-21, #1)


Interesting. Definite pattern of underestimating Spurs win #...

[Uriel]

These forecasts are an average of the opinion of a wide array of diverse people, so it makes sense that the Spurs are only expected to win 57 games. In reality, they might win something closer to 60 games. But I wouldn't be surprised if OKC went 62-20 and still finished as the #1 seed in the West.

[jag]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a title. :)

One of these days they'll actually be right. No reason to stop now.

[Obstructed_View]

These forecasts are an average of the opinion of a wide array of diverse people, so it makes sense that the Spurs are only expected to win 57 games. In reality, they might win something closer to 60 games. But I wouldn't be surprised if OKC went 62-20 and still finished as the #1 seed in the West.

The opinions of the diverse people are based on rooting interest and wishful thinking. I'm not sure the Thunder got appreciably better in the offseason. Westbrook will be healthy, but aside from gaudy stats, he's simply not that big of a difference maker for them. They're about as likely to finish third in the west as they are to finish first in the west.

[FireMicoHalili]

I imagine long-time fans aren't surprised. Not much to make of too, I read somewhere sports writers have the lowest percentages in predicting outcomes among all professions. I wish I bookmarked that article. So yeah, I'd take this prediction it with boulders of salt.

[Fireball]

back under the radar ... mission accomplished

we ill have our share of injuries again ... just hope its not Timmy or Kawhi ... I really wanna see Kawhi being able to develop his game over 82 games

[Seventyniner]

Window closed and Spurs smashed through the wall!:hat

Fixed.

[BillMc]

Fixed.

Well done!:toast

[EVAY]

It is a little surprising to see some folks in here getting upset because sportscasters are predicting a smaller number of regular season wins than last year, when so many posters in here denigrated the regular season stats for the Spurs last year by saying that regular season wins are fools' gold and mean nothing.

HCA matters...it showed very much in the last two seasons. I hope that we win the West. Doesn't mean that we can't win the title without it, but I hope we win.

[xmas1997]

I don't care how many wins the Spurs have as long as they have the LAST WIN in the post season!
:hat
:lobt2:
:flag:

[vander]

I personally think the Spurs will win 54 games next year