18-12 the worst start ever in Duncan era

[spurs1990]

I've been following the Spurs since 2002 and never seen a schedule the likes of this season

Tons of playoff caliber teams compressed into short weeks and b2bs.

And so I looked up how the Spurs started since Duncan's rookie year and sure enough they'd never lost 12 in the first 30 before.

Hell even in that crap 2010 year where they topped out at 50 wins they only lost 11.

I can't help but assign blame to the all-star break being extended for this start.

I'm not afraid of missing the top seed but being placed 5th or below is a road you want to avoid in 2015.

This shit start along with the loaded competition means we are staring that squarely in the eye.

1998: 19-11
1999: 20-10
2000: 20-10
2001: 19-11
2002: 22-8
2003: 19-11
2004: 20-10
2005: 24-6
2006: 23-7
2007: 22-8
2008: 21-9
2009: 20-10
2010: 19-11
2011: 26-4
2012: 21-9
2013: 22-8
2014: 23-7

Just pissed off bro.

Every time they get a great chance to repeat logistics get in the way. See 2006 - having to play freakin Mavs in the 2nd round.

F$*k the NBA league office bro.

[RD2191]

Don't bro me. And we're fine.

[BillMc]

Cheers, thanks for the research.

I'd say though, even depressing as it is, that in a way it is mighty impressive. 18-12 isn't that bad of a record, and if that is your worst...man, we Spurs fans are spoiled.

I don't think our 50 win season streak is in jeopardy (though we're not on pace now). I'm sure we'll end up with about 53 to 54 wins. It sucks but Pop is right, if you have to choose between health and seeding - health wins. Even if we're the 8th seed I'm not too scared of Golden State (assuming they hold on).

But I completely agree that extending the All-Star break was a dumb move. It just made more back-to-backs.

[ElNono]

Not too late to tank, IMO

[Dex]

Not too late to tank, IMO

Can we still get Wiggins?

[Skull-1]

50-win streak in jeopardy....

[benefactor]

Don't care. Thumb has a ring.

[SnakeBoy]

The schedule is pretty favorable the rest of the season so they should be able to make up ground if they can get past the injury bugs. I'm just hoping they can close out December 3-1.

[Budkin]

5 tbh

[Leetonidas]

Curious to know what injury issues those teams were facing tbh. And Spurs were 19-11 in 2003 and won the title. Simmer down. When the Spurs are shitting the bed and 30-21 in February then we can start worrying imho

[Leetonidas]

Keep in mind Spurs have been to the Finals for 2 straight years and WCF 3 straight years and Pop is resting motherfuckers like crazy. Spurs haven't even played a single game at full strength nor have they really been able to get into any rhythm with the injuries piling up. Keep shit in perspective, you'd think especially now that Spurs are the champs people would stop whining over the regular season tbh

[Spur|n|Austin]

2003 was a similar start; we know how that season ended.. Calm down people.

Regardless, we are the reigning champs, enjoy it.

[Sean Cagney]

2003 was a similar start; we know how that season ended.. Calm down people.

Regardless, we are the reigning champs, enjoy it.
I think they went a month or near it without losing in 2003 though, if they can do a similar run (Doubt it) that would be outstanding.

[superbigtime]

So many games lost in the 4th quarter. But team has not been full strength. As long as Kawhi returns healthy, Spurs will be okay. I'm hoping for 3rd or 4th seed.

[weebo]

5 rings F*****s

[Spur|n|Austin]

So many games lost in the 4th quarter. But team has not been full strength. As long as Kawhi returns healthy, Spurs will be okay. I'm hoping for 3rd or 4th seed.

This is a good point; though it could also be looked at like they're not able to finish games anymore.

[EVAY]

One thing to bear in mind this season is that, although the Spurs brought everyone back and have had really bad injury problems this season, lots of the other western conference teams got better than they were last year. It is not going to be easy, even if we get everyone healthy.

I'm of the opinion that they might as well get Kawhi's hand surgery out of the way now, too. I just don't see a good way forward for him without getting that thing fixed permanently.
If they do't fix it, it is going to be sore and swollen after every single game this year, and that just makes no sense to me. Not doing it runs the risk, imo, of Kawhi's hand becoming as lingering an ailment as Parker's hamstring. Can't ever get right and stay right.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

Keep in mind Spurs have been to the Finals for 2 straight years and WCF 3 straight years and Pop is resting motherfuckers like crazy. Spurs haven't even played a single game at full strength nor have they really been able to get into any rhythm with the injuries piling up. Keep shit in perspective, you'd think especially now that Spurs are the champs people would stop whining over the regular season tbh


This

[01Snake]

Not worried at all. Once we get everyone back and healthy, we'll be ready to roll.

We are going down to the wire (or triple-overtime) against the top teams in the West while missing one or more key players in just about all those loses.

[timtonymanu]

Keep in mind Spurs have been to the Finals for 2 straight years and WCF 3 straight years and Pop is resting motherfuckers like crazy. Spurs haven't even played a single game at full strength nor have they really been able to get into any rhythm with the injuries piling up. Keep shit in perspective, you'd think especially now that Spurs are the champs people would stop whining over the regular season tbh

:tu

[kaji157]

Not worried at all. Once we get everyone back and healthy, we'll be ready to roll.

We are going down to the wire (or triple-overtime) against the top teams in the West while missing one or more key players in just about all those loses.

In all of them because we never had our complete squad.

[dbreiden83080]

I am frustrated too. But if you look at the entire schedule we actually have a lot of games against bad teams coming up in January February and March. With the way that our record is we are definitely going to have to win 90% of those games we are supposed to win going forward. More than anything else we need to get healthy

[SnakeBoy]

One thing to bear in mind this season is that, although the Spurs brought everyone back and have had really bad injury problems this season, lots of the other western conference teams got better than they were last year. It is not going to be easy, even if we get everyone healthy.


It's never easy but I don't think any team has improved enough to take out the Spurs if they are healthy & playing well. GSW & Houston are built for the regular season, Memphis can't match our offense, OKC is still a two man team with a bad coach, CP3 will still choke in playoffs, Portland really didn't improve, and the East is the East minus the Heat.

[EVAY]

It's never easy but I don't think any team has improved enough to take out the Spurs if they are healthy & playing well. GSW & Houston are built for the regular season, Memphis can't match our offense, OKC is still a two man team with a bad coach, CP3 will still choke in playoffs, Portland really didn't improve, and the East is the East minus the Heat.

I sure do hope you are right.

[spurtech09]

spurs look weak

[horsielove]

18-13 tbh

[Proxy]

Hit full stride during the Rodeo Road Trip.... like the old days.

[HI-FI]

Ugh.

:pop: "Timmy I'm going to need 40+ minutes from you. Parker's pussy is still healing."

[Dancelot]

Every loss is a higher draft pick pop won't play.

[midnightpulp]

Ugh.

:pop: "Timmy I'm going to need 40+ minutes from you. Parker's pussy is still healing."


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/dam/assets/140610130836-20140610-kawhi-leonard-00000417.large-video-thumbnail.jpg "It's not as bad as it sounds. I'll be back soon."

:pop: "NO KAWHI!!! You have to sit. This is the worst hand injury me and my doctors have seen since time began. You can't even palm the basketball!"

[TheGreatYacht]

We need our 6th man back

[spurtech09]

Every loss is a higher draft pick pop won't play.
by the time you know it spurs are going to get a top draft pick

[Cry Havoc]

http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/trackback-spam.jpg

[ElNono]

Not worried

[daslicer]

Its a gamble in what Pop is doing by resting players every game and just hoping that a healthy team without HCA will be good enough once the playoffs starts. The regular season to me is a time that you build up chemistry and cohesion and if the spurs just stumble into the playoffs without it then it will be difficult to turn on the "switch".

[mkurts]

Retards want to get rid of Duncan despite him being the only constant on the team.... the other two of the big three having seizures instead

[Skull-1]

We need our 6th man back

Who dat be?

[therealtruth]

Its a gamble in what Pop is doing by resting players every game and just hoping that a healthy team without HCA will be good enough once the playoffs starts. The regular season to me is a time that you build up chemistry and cohesion and if the spurs just stumble into the playoffs without it then it will be difficult to turn on the "switch".

This. They're going to need enough time to build up chemistry. Last year we had the long winning streak when Kawhi got healthy.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

This will phase over. Things looks bleak right now, but things will get better when Kawhi and Patty Mills are back in uniform.

[TheGreatYacht]

Who dat be?
Mills the god!

[007nites]

Timmy is averaging 32 mins per a game this season. He hasn't averaged that much since 2008.

[DJR210]

I'm not gonna panic until the Spurs struggle during the RRT. That is the yearly measuring stick IMO.

[spurs1990]

Could have at least replaced 'era' with 'drafted' or something.

548685412483747840

[siraulo23]

no need to panic yet but it is a bit concerning, im sure once the spurs are fully healthy they will start playing much better

just worried about timmy and manu, manu you know will go through his annual injury and duncan playing so many minutes just suck tbh, this and of course they dont got much room for error the rest of the year season if they continue to lose games

[cd021]

The Spurs should be able to go around 34-12 (.739) in 2015. if they go 2-1 to go to 20-14 the should be able to finish in the 54 -56 range. Probably 4th or 5th in the west

[r0drig0lac]

is all about front office

[dbreiden83080]

They have games against a lot of teams they should beat in Jan and Feb.. Need to get healthy.. But do we need KL back..

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Yeah, it's been frustrating. But health is key. Right now Pop is doing even more experimenting than usual. In think the Spurs are going to sell a couple dudes while their value is high. I think after the January 1st, the Spurs are going to go on a big run with a healthy Parker and Mills. We'll have to wait and see with Leonard.

This has been one of the hardest schedules ever. So many back to backs, so many games crammed in a small window, with so many good opponents. The Spurs have had these games all right in front of them to win with seconds left in the 4TH(Or OT lol). With no Leonard, Mills, or Parker.

[SnakeBoy]

The schedule is pretty favorable the rest of the season so they should be able to make up ground if they can get past the injury bugs. I'm just hoping they can close out December 3-1.

Revising that to...I just hope they can close out December with a .529 winning pct. I'm confident they can get that done.

[024]

Yeah, it's definitely a reason to be concerned. The Spurs can probably push hard to get HCA the first round but the second round and forward will definitely be without HCA.

Injuries and rest are definitely the main culprits. Plus Pop is experimenting with lineups like crazy. Health is still the number one priority. Spurs can have the #1 seed and lose the first round when they are not healthy. Nevertheless, this year's path to the finals will definitely be harder than previous years'.

[MultiTroll]

Not just NBA but MLB and NFL too, past 5 even 5+ years a high seed is not necc for a legit ring.

Concerned? Yeah but as poster above said if 18 - 12 is our worst......even as an 8, with all healthy a glittery Golden State record doesn't scare.

All or nearly all being healthy come playoff time is what matters.

[kobexxx]

its the end

[tlongII]

The Spurs are done. They should shut Leonard down so he can get surgery.

[-21-]

Do you guys think the 50-win season streak is over?

[daslicer]

Do you guys think the 50-win season streak is over?

I still think its doable but the spurs have to find a way to be atleast 10-12 games over .500 in January or the streak is over.

[ElNono]

There's always a first time for everything, tbh