After the Warriors, a healthy Rockets team would be a terrible matchup for us

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Hopefully we can avoid them as a first round matchup. No answer for Harden and they always get on fire from downtown while our shooters choke

[Robz4000]

White has been amazing at defending Harden so far this season. Problem is Capela emasculating LMA.

[dbestpro]

Not really afraid of any team this year. I would be happy to trade White if it brought back a true PG or 3 and D SF.

[daslicer]

One of the few times I agree with the OP. I have said for a while Spurs have a chance at a first round upset as long as they don't play the Warriors or Rox.

[phxspurfan]

Every team is a bad matchup for this years Spurs

[bklynspursfan]

White has been amazing at defending Harden so far this season. Problem is Capela emasculating LMA.

Yeah. If LMA played with more fire, he could have his way with Capela. Harden will end up choking as usual, and the team will follow

[TheGreatYacht]

Our shit guards can't even defend Austin Rivers or his shadow, and you mf's are talking about guarding Harden? :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

The Spurs worst matchup is playing anywhere outside of San Antonio:lol

[Seventyniner]

The Spurs worst matchup is playing anywhere outside of San Antonio:lol

Good point. With that in mind, the second-worst matchup for the Spurs might be the Nuggets because the Spurs would have to win at least one game in Denver, a tough task for anyone let alone this road-weakling team.

[playbonner15]

Every team is a bad matchup for this years Spurs
Sad but true. This Spurs team can easily beat itself

[TimDunkem]

Our shit guards can't even defend Austin Rivers or his shadow, and you mf's are talking about guarding Harden? :lol


The Spurs worst matchup is playing anywhere outside of San Antonio:lol

Truth bombs.

[HarlemHeat37]

It's a shame that the team isn't better..the Warriors will look more elite in the playoffs once they focus more and shorten their bench, but they're undoubtedly beatable now, especially if Cousins is no longer an impact player..

It isn't a given that Draymond and Klay will turn their shit around..the latter is likely to regress positively, but Draymond is just a disaster this season..

[emanueldavidginobili]

It’s bizarre, Draymond Green looks like a shell of himself. Playing with zero confidence.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs worst matchup is playing anywhere outside of San Antonio:lol

:lmao :lmao

[RC_Drunkford]

I think that changes if we get Gasol back. They don't have an answer against 2 bigs

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I think that changes if we get Gasol back. They don't have an answer against 2 bigs

Gasol is soft as hell

[TimmyBuckets]

No team is a good matchup.

[Fusternino]

I think that changes if we get Gasol back. They don't have an answer against 2 bigs

Pretty sure we're among the few Gasol defenders on this forum, tbh.

[RC_Drunkford]

Gasol is soft as hell

that doesn't have shit to do with it. If you watched the 2017 series you know why he's important to beat the Rockets and it's not Gasol post-ups

[Amuseddaysleeper]

that doesn't have shit to do with it. If you watched the 2017 series you know why he's important to beat the Rockets and it's not Gasol post-ups

Gasol was great in that series no doubt but Houston when healthy is also better now.

[RC_Drunkford]

Gasol was great in that series no doubt but Houston when healthy is also better now.

no they are not. They have washed up Chris Paul but they also have weaker wings/forwards and play a lot slower

[Dex]

The Rockets are who they are. The philosophy against them is still the same...guard the three-point line.

If they are hot, you are probably fucked. If not, you stand a good chance.

It's the same tired scheme Pringles has trotted out for years, then he busts out the Pikachu face when it fails in the playoffs. It's not a recipe for sustained success in a 7-game series.

It ALMOST held out last year, then crashed and burned in spectacular fashion in Game 7 of the WCF.

[Dex]

Gasol was great in that series no doubt but Houston when healthy is also better now.

No way. They are pretty much the same team with less defense.

Their D was the reason they were blowing out teams last year. This year, they are back to relying on a shootout mentality.

[marinoman]

Disagree, the formula is the same as when we played them a few years Ago, 1 big in the paint, 4 guard 3 line,show your hands
if we make the playoffs, their one of the teams I’d prefer to play

[skin27]

Just hope they miss they’re 3’s, that’s it.

[offset formation]

No way. They are pretty much the same team with less defense.

Their D was the reason they were blowing out teams last year. This year, they are back to relying on a shootout mentality.

Contrary to popular belief, their defense hasn't been too bad, in comparison. In fact, in the Western Conference, only Denver, Utah, and Memphis are allowing fewer points per game. They've just been really inconsistent with the loss of Ariza. But they still have Paul (when healthy) and Tucker providing good D.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

They are on fire right now and this is without Chris Paul.

And no, Pau Gasol coming off a bad injury isn’t going to save us.

[DAF86]

Harden is the only one on fire and I doubt he will remain on fire 'till the playoffs, tbh.

Their style is just too predictable and unsustainable. It's just isolation everytime down and hope that Harden's stepback threes goe down. Once he gets back down to Earth, they will start losing again.

[gambit1990]

rockets actually bothered using capela.

they shoulda done that in western conference finals last year.

[SwansonInSibagat]

Of course here you go with your pusillanimous shit.

[gambit1990]

anyone thinking the spurs could beat the rockets :lol

[gambit1990]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=303&v=xn74Sw1GlAE

[timtonymanu]

The Spurs worst matchup is playing anywhere outside of San Antonio:lol

Still the most accurate

[timtonymanu]

Not really afraid of any team this year. I would be happy to trade White if it brought back a true PG or 3 and D SF.

Holy fucking shit :lol :lol :lol

[alpha_HaZE]

pretty much ANY team is a terrible matchup for us.

[cpds421]

I kind of would like a matchup with the Rockets in the playoffs. D’ antoni is so weak against Pop and the Spurs.

[Mr. Body]

Not really afraid of any team this year. I would be happy to trade White if it brought back a true PG or 3 and D SF.

He's literally the different whether this team is any good or not.

[gambit1990]

1st round matchup if the POs started today.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

This is probably the first potential playoff matchup that D'Antoni has the clear talent advantage over a Pop coached team. I'd almost like to see this matchup just in the event the Spurs could somehow pull out the miracle upset.


As others have pointed out, the Spurs will be a serious underdog as long as we don't have HCA, regardless of the opponent. There were years where I wasn't too concerned about stealing a game or two on the road, when necessary, but this team downshifts by 3 gears on the road for whatever reason, and so I'm anticipating road wins being really, really hard to get.


Defense, even in this watered down version of defensive play in today's NBA, will still win playoff series, and I don't know that our guys can tighten the defensive screws enough to win. Derek White is the closest thing we have to a defensive stopper, and unfortunately, we don't even have a lot of guys I would call average defenders. It's a very non-Spurs-like team from that perspective. I hope they prove me wrong.

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs can still beat the Rockets in a 7-game series. Especially now when they start Poeltl. They can only beat Houston by playing 2 bigs. 1 to contest Harden or Capela and the other to get the board. Plus LA loves the rims in Houston, he always goes off there. And CP3 always gets injured after the first round, that's a given by now. Harden also loves to choke in big games. Pop will always beat D'Antoni

[Dex]

This is probably the first potential playoff matchup that D'Antoni has the clear talent advantage over a Pop coached team. I'd almost like to see this matchup just in the event the Spurs could somehow pull out the miracle upset.


As others have pointed out, the Spurs will be a serious underdog as long as we don't have HCA, regardless of the opponent. There were years where I wasn't too concerned about stealing a game or two on the road, when necessary, but this team downshifts by 3 gears on the road for whatever reason, and so I'm anticipating road wins being really, really hard to get.


Defense, even in this watered down version of defensive play in today's NBA, will still win playoff series, and I don't know that our guys can tighten the defensive screws enough to win. Derek White is the closest thing we have to a defensive stopper, and unfortunately, we don't even have a lot of guys I would call average defenders. It's a very non-Spurs-like team from that perspective. I hope they prove me wrong.

2005 was tough. Nash was in his MVP prime, Stoudemire was a monster, and they had a lot of good pieces around them (Marion, Barbosa, QRich, Johnson until he got hurt).

Sure, the Spurs had prime Duncan (who was hurting after spraining his ankle against Seattle) and Super Saiyan Manu, but that was before Tony really hit his prime. If anything, I'd say it was a wash as far as talent was concerned.

That was one of Pop's best coaching jobs as far as I'm concerned. Let Tony and Bowen hassle Nash, basically concede that Stoudemire is going to win the post battle, keep the other guys in check and try to beat them at their own game by running and gunning against them.

It was made even more special by the fact that they out D'Antoni'd D'Antoni...then had to go and slug it out defensively against the Pistons.

[ZeusWillJudge]

2005 was tough. Nash was in his MVP prime, Stoudemire was a monster, and they had a lot of good pieces around them (Marion, Barbosa, QRich, Johnson until he got hurt).

Sure, the Spurs had prime Duncan (who was hurting after spraining his ankle against Seattle) and Super Saiyan Manu, but that was before Tony really hit his prime. If anything, I'd say it was a wash as far as talent was concerned.

That was one of Pop's best coaching jobs as far as I'm concerned. Let Tony and Bowen hassle Nash, basically concede that Stoudemire is going to win the post battle, and try to beat them at their own game by running and gunning against them.

It was made even more special by the fact that they out D'Antoni'd D'Antoni...then had to go and slug it out defensively against the Pistons.


I hadn't even looked at this thread until I saw your name pop up. That 2005 team had to play so many different styles to get through the playoffs. That Seattle team was dirty. I remember how ugly it was looking after the Spurs lost those two games in Seattle, and thinking that the whole season could turn on an injury. And that Phoenix team was a terror. Detroit wasn't dirty, but they played hard-nosed, physical ball. I agree that postseason was a Pop masterpiece.

[gambit1990]

I think that changes if we get Gasol back. They don't have an answer against 2 bigs
thinking gasol might be the difference maker :lmao


Spurs can still beat the Rockets in a 7-game series. Especially now when they start Poeltl. They can only beat Houston by playing 2 bigs. 1 to contest Harden or Capela and the other to get the board. Plus LA loves the rims in Houston, he always goes off there. And CP3 always gets injured after the first round, that's a given by now. Harden also loves to choke in big games. Pop will always beat D'Antoni

poeltl isn't gonna be the difference maker either.