Moving on with Manu back - through Jan is a key stretch

[Rummpd]

Lots of good teams coming ahead but for extended stretch most are at home. Time for the Spurs to buckle down, get it in gear and try to: 1) stay ahead of the Mavs; 2) get one back against the Pistons on the 12th (glad the rematch is fairly soon).

Notice also only 1 back to back and an interesting home and away against a stout Memphis team where I am predicting a split. If Spurs get it in gear could see them going on a roll of 15-2 (my predictions on the side of schedule) to put them at 36-9 and back at 0.800 ball - which this team, if motivated again, is fully capable of playing at.

Tue 27 Indiana 7:30pm FSNSW NBALP W
Thu 29 NO/Okla. City 7:30pm FSNSW NBALP W
Sat 31 @ Denver 8:00pm WB35 NBALP W
Jan Opponent Time* Local TV National TV
Wed 4 Portland 7:30pm FSNSW NBALP W
Fri 6 Minnesota 7:00pm FSNSW ESPN2 W
Sat 7 @ Phoenix 8:00pm FSNSW NBATV W
Tue 10 New Jersey 7:30pm FSNSW NBATVHighDef W
Thu 12 Detroit 7:00pm -- TNT W
Sat 14 Memphis 7:30pm WB35 NBALP W
Mon 16 @ Memphis 7:00pm -- TNT L
Wed 18 Milwaukee 7:30pm FSNSW NBALP W
Fri 20 @ Miami 7:00pm KENS ESPN L (close)
Sun 22 Denver 12:00pm -- ABC W
Tue 24 Charlotte 7:30pm FSNSW NBALP W
Wed 25 @ NO/Okla. City 7:00pm WB35 NBALP W (Spurs will remember losing to them there)
Sat 28 Minnesota 7:30pm WB35 NBATV W
Mon 30 @ Utah W


Go Spurs!

[Rummpd]

Nobody is ready to move forward, forget the Pistons until Jan 12th - then game on with a healthy Manu.

[E20]

You never know against the Hornets, Blazers, Bobcats, Bucks, and the Jazz.

Spurs might not feel like trying against lottery teams so those might be losses.

[Solid D]

I won't predict individual Ws and Ls but with 11 home games and 6 on the road, but with Manu back and their strong home court advantage, 13 wins (.765) looks very possible.

[Rummpd]

Spurs need to go at least 13-4 during this stretch to hold off Dallas IMO going into Feb.

[Solid D]

This thread was started by Rummpd after Christmas while looking ahead to the 17 games late December and all of January.

Manu was just coming back from his ankle injury around Christmas. He has gone down now versus Miami and their record over this period of time is 10-2 with 5 games remaining in Jan.. The details:

Date Opponent..Score...W-L.....High Pts...High Reb
Tue 27 Indiana W 99 - 86 22-7 T. Parker 27 T. Duncan 9
Thu 29 NO/Okla. City W 111 - 84 23-7 M. Finley 18 T. Duncan 7
Sat 31 @ Denver W 98 - 88 24-7 T. Duncan 25 T. Duncan 10
Wed 4 Portland W 106 - 75 25-7 T. Duncan, T. Parker 18 T. Duncan 13
Fri 6 Minnesota W 83 - 77 26-7 T. Parker 23 T. Duncan 14
Sat 7 @ Phoenix L 86 - 91 26-8 M. Ginobili, T. Duncan 19 T. Duncan 12
Tue 10 New Jersey W 96 - 91 27-8 T. Duncan 27 T. Duncan 12
Thu 12 Detroit L 68 - 83 27-9 T. Duncan, T. Parker 17 T. Duncan 13
Sat 14 Memphis W 80 - 79 28-9 M. Ginobili 20 T. Duncan 13
Mon 16 @ Memphis W 93 - 83 29-9 T. Parker 28 T. Duncan 12
Wed 18 Milwaukee W 95 - 92 30-9 T. Duncan 27 T. Duncan 9
Fri 20 @ Miami W 101 - 94 31-9 T. Parker 34 T. Duncan 11
Sun 22 Denver 12:00 noon
Tue 24 Charlotte 7:30pm
Wed 25 @ NO/Okla. City 7:00pm
Sat 28 Minnesota 7:30pm
Mon 30 @ Utah 8:00pm

Can they win at least 3 of the next 5 without Manu and maybe without Horry, two key guys the Spurs employ to close out games?

[Despot]

I need them to win all 5.......vbookie baby!!!!

[Solid D]

The San Antonio Rodeo runs from Feb. 3rd through 19th. This may be without Manu :( and will be a huge challenge this time.

Rodeo Road Trip Schedule (including last game in Jan.)

Jan Opponent Time* Local TV National TV
Mon 30 @ Utah 8:00pm WB35 NBALP
Feb Opponent Time* Local TV National TV
Wed 1 @ Portland 9:00pm WB35 NBALP
Thu 2 @ Golden State 9:30pm FSNSW TNT
Wed 8 @ Toronto 6:00pm FSNSW NBALP, SCORE
Fri 10 @ New Jersey 6:30pm FSNSW NBALP
Sun 12 @ Indiana 12:00pm -- ABC
Mon 13 @ Cleveland 6:00pm WB35 NBALP
Wed 15 @ Philadelphia 6:00pm FSNSW NBALP