Are we still on the decline?

[SpursDynasty]

The Spurs continue to roll along through the latter part of the regular season, not to my surprise. SA has won 17 of its last 19 overall, standing at 50-20 after being 33-18 just over a month ago.

I read so much about the Spurs being old and unathletic and on the decline, and if that is true, then I must say that SA is the best declining team ever in NBA history. SA could be the first old, unathletic, and declining team to win an NBA championship. Oh wait, that happened last year....I don't want to say that SA will get another routine day at the office 60-win season, because then if they don't, it's my fault and I jinxed them, right? SA only needs a 10-2 record as of now.

Michael Finley = Option #4 for the playoffs. Then Brent Barry.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Option #4 for the Playoffs: James White


















:lol

[Solid D]

If Pop didn't have such idiotic rotations, the Spurs would have won by 70.

[T Park]

:lol

[DubMcDub]

In those past 19 games, the Spurs have beat 2 good teams. Det (twice) and Houston. If you want to classify Denver as a good team then it's 3 good teams.

Big congrats on beating up on crappy teams. The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

[Solid D]

Beat the Warriors then get back to us.

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/03/13/sp_warriors062.jpg

[SAtown]

In those past 19 games, the Spurs have beat 2 good teams. Det (twice) and Houston. If you want to classify Denver as a good team then it's 3 good teams.

Big congrats on beating up on crappy teams. The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

Your mighty Mavs play the same teams dumbfuck

[DubMcDub]

Your mighty Mavs play the same teams dumbfuck

My mighty Mavs also have a better record overall and a considerably better record against the Top 3-4 teams in the conference than your Spurs do.

[SAtown]

My mighty Mavs also have a better record overall and a considerably better record against the Top 3-4 teams in the conference than your Spurs do.

I'll just make it easy for you and spell it out:

R E G U L A R ............ S E A S O N

[Solid D]

After the Mavs have lost the past 4 contests versus Golden State, the prospects of the (Warriors) 8th seed versus (Dallas) 1st seed matchup must give you goosebumps in anticipation.

[DubMcDub]

After the Mavs have lost the past 4 contests versus Golden State, the prospects of the (Warriors) 8th seed versus (Dallas) 1st seed matchup must give you goosebumps in anticipation.

Nope. Mavs in 5. But thanks all the same for beating them tonight and ensuring that I probably won't have to worry about it anyway.

[DubMcDub]

I'll just make it easy for you and spell it out:

R E G U L A R ............ S E A S O N

Given that the subject of the original post is the regular season and the Spurs recent success, I'd say that my response citing the regular season was warranted. No?

Also, I figure most of you would have learned your lesson after spewing the "just wait until the playoffs" nonsense for months and months last year. Guess not.

[phyzik]

Given that the subject of the original post is the regular season and the Spurs recent success, I'd say that my response citing the regular season was warranted. No?

Also, I figure most of you would have learned your lesson after spewing the "just wait until the playoffs" nonsense for months and months last year. Guess not.


Didnt you know? Its an odd year!!! :drunk

[Solid D]

Maybe the Mavs should win 1 against them first, then worry about 3 more. It can be a daunting thought getting that first one after such a long string of losses to...I can't say it but..... you know...(whispers) that team.

[DubMcDub]

Maybe the Mavs should win 1 against them first, then worry about 3 more. It can be a daunting thought getting that first one after such a long string of losses to...I can't say it but..... you know...(whispers) that team.

I know, it's pretty embarrassing right.

Say, on a completely unrelated note, how did the Spurs fare against the Bucks this year? :rolleyes

[Solid D]

The Bucks are that team for the Spurs this year. The prospects of that team meeting the Spurs in the playoffs are slim to none...thus, not so daunting, or should I say haunting, a notion?

[phyzik]

The Bucks are that team for the Spurs this year. The prospects of that team meeting the Spurs in the playoffs are slim to none...thus, not so daunting, or should I say haunting, a notion?


He's got you there Dub.

Check.

Mate.

:stirpot:

[DubMcDub]

The Bucks are that team for the Spurs this year. The prospects of that team meeting the Spurs in the playoffs are slim to none...thus, not so daunting, or should I say haunting, a notion?

And even if the prospects were high, I'd imagine you wouldn't be too scared of the Bucks.

Thus my point. Mavs would/will destroy GS in a playoff series.

[phyzik]

And even if the prospects were high, I'd imagine you wouldn't be too scared of the Bucks.

Thus my point. Mavs would/will destroy GS in a playoff series.


but dont you remember?

We Spurs fans said the same thing about the "lowly" Mavs last year.... you never freaking know man. :hat

[Solid D]

Ohhhh, yes I would. Appropriate fear. Appropriate fear.

[Solid D]

Ask any soldier and they will tell you...you have to take the hill before you can actually say you took the hill.

[DubMcDub]

but dont you remember?

We Spurs fans said the same thing about the "lowly" Mavs last year.... you never freaking know man. :hat

Absolutely right. That's why they play the games. My point is simply that I wouldn't be too scared of a clearly lower echelon team. Your point about the Mavs-Spurs is well noted, but at the same time those were two pretty even teams--3 wins apart in last years regular season to be exact. The gap between the Mavs and GS or the Spurs and the Bucks is, well, monumentally larger.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

why dont you like the spurs?

[bdictjames]

Mavs are still gonna play the Rockets in the second round anyway. Thats a potential scare right there Dirk just might go soft again.

[Kori Ellis]

In those past 19 games, the Spurs have beat 2 good teams. Det (twice) and Houston. If you want to classify Denver as a good team then it's 3 good teams.

Big congrats on beating up on crappy teams. The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

When Mavs fans were touting their big win streak, Spurs fans would mention the (low) quality of opponents and get bashed.

Bottom line is that you can only play the teams that are on the schedule and the Spurs are playing good basketball right now as they head into the stretch run toward the playoffs - whoever the teams are that they are beating. I don't care about what the Spurs record was agains the elite teams of the West early in the season - the Spurs D sucked early in the season.

I only care about what is happening right now. And right now - the Spurs are playing very good basektball.

[ManuMagic]

When Mavs fans were touting their big win streak, Spurs fans would mention the (low) quality of opponents and get bashed.

Bottom line is that you can only play the teams that are on the schedule and the Spurs are playing good basketball right now as they head into the stretch run toward the playoffs - whoever the teams are that they are beating. I don't care about what the Spurs record was agains the elite teams of the West early in the season - the Spurs D sucked early in the season.

I only care about what is happening right now. And right now - the Spurs are playing very good basektball.

I don't care who you play in the NBA - two 40 point beatings speaks volumes. It wasn't against the top teams in the league, but still NBA talent all the same. They weren't playing Chaminade.

[rayray2k8]

Age is something that the spurs have said they will address come this offseason.
Right now it think having 3 solid contributers under the age of 30 would do the trick.
But yes, the spurs are on a steady decline only because duncan is.
The spurs are gonna have to milk him for what he has left in the tank.
He turns 31 this May and it makes you wonder how time has flown us by?
I believe he has at least 3 good years left in him.
All things do come to an end my friends.

[Kevin Blackistone]

All things come to an end. Just like my employment.

[spursfan09]

I don't think Tim Duncan is declining. I think its more like he's just saving himself for the playoffs.. Why should he extend so much energy now? 31 is not that old.

[T Park]

But yes, the spurs are on a steady decline only because duncan is

yeah dominating a good 20 year old center on the second night of a back to back clearly showed Duncan's declining game :lol

[greensborohill]

I don't think Tim Duncan is declining. I think its more like he's just saving himself for the playoffs.. Why should he extend so much energy now? 31 is not that old.


Isn't that what y'all said last year?

[J.T.]

In our recent hot streak, we've been putting away teams that we should beat and playing well against playoff teams. Yeah, we lost two to the bottom feeders of the Eastern conference, but the Mavs always lose to GS, Detroit always lost to Utah last year. Shit happens. Earlier in the season we were coughing up big leads and making way too many mistakes. If we can put together some kind of scheme to improve rebounding down the stretch, I'd be really scared if I was any team playing the Spurs in the postseason.

I was never worried about Phoenix, but these last two games have me feeling good about playing them in the second round. We broke 120 on back to back nights. I don't care who we played, that's a good sign.

[Tbiggums]

In those past 19 games, the Spurs have beat 2 good teams. Det (twice) and Houston. If you want to classify Denver as a good team then it's 3 good teams.

Big congrats on beating up on crappy teams. The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

Just like a Mavs lover....Most of your record is built on beating the crap out of lower eschelon teams but you can't give the Spurs credit for doing the same. The overall record is what it is. You Mavs fans are going to learn the hardway that : Your record does not promise you ANYTHING! :dizzy

[Tbiggums]

Isn't that what y'all said last year?

Yes. And we're saying again this year! :fro

[Tbiggums]

Age is something that the spurs have said they will address come this offseason.
Right now it think having 3 solid contributers under the age of 30 would do the trick.
But yes, the spurs are on a steady decline only because duncan is.
The spurs are gonna have to milk him for what he has left in the tank.
He turns 31 this May and it makes you wonder how time has flown us by?
I believe he has at least 3 good years left in him.
All things do come to an end my friends.

Agreed! :drunk

[Tbiggums]

My mighty Mavs also have a better record overall and a considerably better record against the Top 3-4 teams in the conference than your Spurs do.

Mavs fan. So you had a good regular season. SO WHAT? Good For Dallas...The truth will be told about your INFLATED RECORD. :reading

[phyzik]

yeah dominating a good 20 year old center on the second night of a back to back clearly showed Duncan's declining game :lol


no kidding, nevermind his stats.... I believe he is having his best season since his rookie season....



declining.... :rolleyes

[lefty]

The good news is that Pop is yelling at his players again (Bowen yesterday) ; that's good for focusing on the game

[DarrinS]

James White has played in ONE NBA game and people are ready to put him into a playoff rotation. LOL.

[mathbzh]

When I look at Malone career. I believe Duncan can be great for at least 5 more years... If he is willing to and is not injured.
But I am afraid he is tired of playing so much games without nothing more to prove in few years.

[DarrinS]

When I look at Malone career. I believe Duncan can be great for at least 5 more years... If he is willing to and is not injured.
But I am afraid he is tired of playing so much games without nothing more to prove in few years.


I'd be surprised if Tim could last that long. He has played sooo hard the last three seasons. He really stepped up in the 2005 finals and also during game 7 vs. Dallas. A lot of people don't know that he had to get an I.V. after that game.

[mathbzh]

I'd be surprised too.

[FromWayDowntown]

Like any team that experiences a long run of success, there are signs that the Spurs aren't what they once were. That doesn't mean that I don't think the Spurs are contenders this year, and it doesn't mean that the erosion can't be reversed for a few more seasons.

But I do believe that the end of these halycon days are in sight, absent another quirky twist of fate that begets the Spurs a dominating young player who can serve an apprenticeship alongside Tim Duncan before assuming the reins. That, though, would be too much to hope for, I think.

[wildbill2u]

Age is something that the spurs have said they will address come this offseason.
Right now it think having 3 solid contributers under the age of 30 would do the trick.
But yes, the spurs are on a steady decline only because duncan is.
The spurs are gonna have to milk him for what he has left in the tank.
He turns 31 this May and it makes you wonder how time has flown us by?
I believe he has at least 3 good years left in him.
All things do come to an end my friends.
Speaking of milking a player, how old was Patrick Ewing before he quit being the Knicks main man?

[DubMcDub]

Just like a Mavs lover....Most of your record is built on beating the crap out of lower eschelon teams but you can't give the Spurs credit for doing the same. The overall record is what it is. You Mavs fans are going to learn the hardway that : Your record does not promise you ANYTHING! :dizzy

Again, you miss the critical point that the Mavs also have a considerably better record against the top teams of the West than the Spurs do.

Neither team can help who they play. That most of the NBA sucks (and thus most of both our records come from beating bad teams) is no one's fault. But the fact is that one of our teams has fared well against the top competition, and the other has not.

[Dirk Nowitzki]

In those past 19 games, the Spurs have beat 2 good teams. Det (twice) and Houston. If you want to classify Denver as a good team then it's 3 good teams.

Big congrats on beating up on crappy teams. The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

Miami was like 1-9 against the top 4 teams in the league last season (that only 1 win came against the Pistons needed Wade to go apeshite for them to barley pull the win out) and look where it got them. :depressed :depressed

[DubMcDub]

Miami was like 1-9 against the top 4 teams in the league last season (that only 1 win came against the Pistons needed Wade to go apeshite for them to barley pull the win out) and look where it got them. :depressed :depressed

No doubt. The Spurs are definitely a contender and could win it all.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Miami was like 1-9 against the top 4 teams in the league last season (that only 1 win came against the Pistons needed Wade to go apeshite for them to barley pull the win out) and look where it got them. :depressed :depressed

Exactly....Detroit owned Miami 3-1 last year and it was a different story in the postseason. Regular season records vs. top teams mean squat. Sure, it could give you a mental edge in a playoff series (IE Spurs beating Lakers 4-0 in the reg season in 2003), but like last year with Detroit over Miami 3-1, and I think Miami won by 1 pt in that lone victory.

[Dirk Nowitzki]

No doubt. The Spurs are definitely a contender and could win it all.

:depressed :depressed I am scared/excited about the playoffs. Is that normal? :lol

[mardigan]

Age is something that the spurs have said they will address come this offseason.
Right now it think having 3 solid contributers under the age of 30 would do the trick.
But yes, the spurs are on a steady decline only because duncan is.
The spurs are gonna have to milk him for what he has left in the tank.
He turns 31 this May and it makes you wonder how time has flown us by?
I believe he has at least 3 good years left in him.
All things do come to an end my friends.
You need to do some Duncan research, he turns 31 next month on the 25th. Duncan is averagin as much as he did the last 3 years, grabbing 11 boards, 2 and a half blocks,and a steal, while shooting the second highest % of his career from the field, yea, he is definately on the decline :lol

[SpursFanInAustin]

You need to do some Duncan research, he turns 30 next month on the 25th. Duncan is averagin as much as he did the last 3 years, grabbing 11 boards, 2 and a half blocks,and a steal, while shooting the second highest % of his career from the field, yea, he is definately on the decline :lol

Actually, he turns 31 on April 25th.....but you're right, he's having a much better season that last year.

[Tony Reali]

All things come to an end. Just like my employment.

Not to worry KB. You wanna take my stat-boy spot on PTI?

[mardigan]

Actually, he turns 31 on April 25th.....but you're right, he's having a much better season that last year.
There fixed

[SpursDynasty]

Duncan could still put up 25 ppg if he wanted to. But he's realized that sharing the ball and getting the whole team involved = championships. He is no where near his declining years.

[mardigan]

Duncan could still put up 25 ppg if he wanted to. But he's realized that sharing the ball and getting the whole team involved = championships. He is no where near his declining years.
I actually totally agree with you on that, his shots per game have gone down every year since 01-02, doesnt show he is declining, just that he smart to let the young guys get involved. Now if he could only get his ft% up.....

[dbreiden83080]

Nope. Mavs in 5. But thanks all the same for beating them tonight and ensuring that I probably won't have to worry about it anyway.

Mavs in 5 my ass watching Dirk choke his ass off against the Suns not too long ago had to have sent shivers down your spine. If the Spurs get by the Suns it will be another great classic series.

[dbreiden83080]

Duncan could still put up 25 ppg if he wanted to. But he's realized that sharing the ball and getting the whole team involved = championships. He is no where near his declining years.

Exactly what you rather have Timmy giving you about 20 and 11 a night and the Spurs are 50-20, or 25 and 12 and they are 40-30 probably?

[DubMcDub]

Mavs in 5 my ass watching Dirk choke his ass off against the Suns not too long ago had to have sent shivers down your spine. If the Spurs get by the Suns it will be another great classic series.

Maybe you should have actually read what I was responding to instead of being a typical super-defensive Spurs fan. I was talking about a potential Mavs-Warriors series when I said "Mavs in 5".

[dallasmavsnfuego214]

Mavs record consists of just beating up on the lower teams? really?

vs San Antonio 2-1
vs Phoenix 2-1 (should be a sweep :bang )
vs Houston 2-1 (only loss came at the beginning of the year)
vs Utah 2-1
vs Lakers 3-1

vs Cleveland 2-0
vs Toronto 2-0
vs Detroit 1-1
vs Miami 2-0

only team we dont have a winning record against is Detroit

[samikeyp]

a typical super-defensive Spurs fan.

I guess I am atypical then because I don't get defensive when talking about the Spurs. :)

(psst...there are more of us than you think) :toast

[SpursDynasty]

Mavs record consists of just beating up on the lower teams? really?

vs San Antonio 2-1
vs Phoenix 2-1 (should be a sweep :bang )
vs Houston 2-1 (only loss came at the beginning of the year)
vs Utah 2-1
vs Lakers 3-1

vs Cleveland 2-0
vs Toronto 2-0
vs Detroit 1-1
vs Miami 2-0

only team we dont have a winning record against is Detroit

The only teams that matter in that list are SA, Phoenix and Utah. There are still games to be played vs those teams. DALLAS IS 1-1 VS UTAH, by the way. Boston could beat Houston, Lakers, Cleveland, Toronto, and Miami if they wanted to.

You also left out 0-2 vs GS, a possible first round opponent.

[Russ]

If the whiskey that the Prime Minister has consumed were poured into this chamber of Parliament, it would reach halfway to the ceiling.


So much to do and so little time.


The Spurs record this year against the elite teams of the West is still pretty horrible.

So much to do and so little time . . . :)

[LEONARD]

DALLAS IS 1-1 VS UTAH, by the way

Are you going to hang your hat on that one loss all season, Jeff?? :lol

[Shank]

I think we can ease up on the Golden State/8th seed talk

[Tbiggums]

Again, you miss the critical point that the Mavs also have a considerably better record against the top teams of the West than the Spurs do.

Neither team can help who they play. That most of the NBA sucks (and thus most of both our records come from beating bad teams) is no one's fault. But the fact is that one of our teams has fared well against the top competition, and the other has not.

Whats your point? I've already given you Kudos for your regular season play? Beat all the teams you should beat right? Listen, I don't know how much knowledgeable detail you know about the Spurs this season but there are reasons for their record. The Spurs coaches and players have owned those reasons and righted their ship. Beating up on bad teams always help. To me winning is always better than losing. You need to drop the superior arrogance attitude dude. The Mavs are having a phenomenal run but I refuse to concede to you, The Spurs, The Suns, that this promises you anything....Not from my point of view. You have locked up the top seed. Now comes the hard part...Earning the spoils. I still think that last years playoff win by your team was an abboration....Good luck to you :wtf You'll need it.