West Finals: Spurs V. (suns, sonics, mavs, kings, wolves)?

[freemeat]

Of Course, the Spurs will show...but who then?

Of course the Spurs will be in the West Finals (unless some extradorinary catastrophic *anything* happens). And, probably any one of up to ten teams, in the east, are elegible to meet the western finalist at the pace the conference is at now.

POINT:?

Spurs definitely make the west finals....It's a "?" as to who comes in to play 'em...

Either way...Spurs V. (Pacers/Pistons/Miami/Cleveland/NY)... Great series...

[Rummpd]

Wolves after a late season charge.

However, Spurs will whip them. Parker and Manu now better than Spree and Casell.

Candyass will dissapear and Bowen will concentrate on stopping Wally.

MadDoc

[waly.mg]

T-Wolves

A Team who can't play a Good D will never be in the Conference Finals

[boutons]

Wolves are still looking mangy at the end of December. That can be treated, but the novelty of last season's arrival of the old Alien and povertry-stricken Spree has worn off, aided by apparently salary and playing time problems, and recently Hudson talking trade. I figure they'll crawl into the playoffs at 6 or 7 seed, and honor their long tradition of first round exit.

[Jimcs50]

Suns

[boutons]

W L PCT GB HM RD CONF DIV PF PA STRK L10

============= Playoffs ===================================

Phoenix 25 4 .862 - 13-2 12-2 14-3 4-1 108.7 98.4 Won 1 9-1
San Antonio 23 6 .793 2 14-1 9-5 11-4 3-2 96.7 85.5 Won 3 7-3
Seattle 20 6 .769 3 ½ 11-3 9-3 13-3 6-1 100.7 94.7 Lost 1 7-3
Dallas 19 10 .655 6 9-6 10-4 11-7 5-2 100.1 94.8 Won 2 7-3
Sacramento 17 9 .654 6 ½ 11-4 6-5 8-8 2-2 101.8 98.5 Lost 2 6-4
Minnesota 16 11 .593 8 8-3 8-8 12-4 1-2 99.6 95.3 Lost 1 5-5
LA Lakers 15 12 .556 9 10-6 5-6 9-8 4-3 98.4 97.2 Won 1 5-5
Portland 13 13 .500 10 ½ 7-4 6-9 4-7 2-3 91.2 92.0 Lost 1 5-5

============= Gone Fishin' ===================================

Houston 14 15 .483 11 9-7 5-8 9-7 4-2 89.4 89.8 Won 1 6-4
LA Clippers 13 14 .481 11 9-7 4-7 6-11 3-3 95.5 94.8 Won 1 3-7
Denver 13 15 .464 11 ½ 9-6 4-9 4-10 1-4 94.9 97.4 Lost 6 2-8
Memphis 14 17 .452 12 9-7 5-10 8-11 1-4 93.0 92.7 Won 2 6-4
Utah 11 18 .379 14 6-7 5-11 7-9 3-3 95.3 98.0 Lost 3 3-7
Golden State 11 18 .379 14 8-8 3-10 5-15 1-5 94.8 99.2 Won 4 6-4
New Orleans 2 26 .071 22 ½ 1-11 1-15 2-16 0-3 85.6 95.0 Lost 7 1-9


Based on Nov/Dec, I find it hard to imagine the Top3 changing in anything but order. The battle will be, like last season, most seasons?, for 7th and 8th.

SA clearly has been a weak road team so far. The next 3 Spurs games will show if they're hardening into a better road team.

[T Park]

playoffs started today they would play the Lakers??

I like that!! :)

Seattle VS Minnesota?? Damn that would be a good first round matchup.

Id take Minnesota in 7 in that one.

Spurs VS Minnesota in the second round?

more than likely it would be Phoenix.

I dont see Portland, Dallas, or Sacramento being a challenge to Phoenix.

[kskonn]

They do have the 5th best road winning percentage in the NBA. I would say road games are their weakness but not weakness as compared to the other teams in the NBA.

[boutons]

"5th best road winning percentage'

I'm a spoiled Spurs fan, so 5th sucks. 5th is losers' stuff, come Mar-Apr-May.

Just as rebounding reliably indicates individual desire, toughness, and smarts, road-winning defines the team.

[spursfaninla]

Hmm, didn't notice until this post about the Spurs mediocre road record. .55 is probably good enough to have a good record but not to maintain their position in the standings.

Come the playoffs, most teams hold serve at home anyway. Unless a team is much better and just dominates, it is unusual for a team to win more than 1 or 2 on the road in the playoffs.

Which would you rather have, holding the Spurs record equal; a dominant home record and mediocre road record, or good for each? I would rather take a dominant home record; they will get hca, and will win at home there and take it all. I remember Utah going to the finals with such a team.

[kskonn]

"5th best road winning percentage'

I'm a spoiled Spurs fan, so 5th sucks. 5th is losers' stuff, come Mar-Apr-May.

Just as rebounding reliably indicates individual desire, toughness, and smarts, road-winning defines the team.


I do agree with that, especially since the spurs trademark, besides defense, over the past few years has been their road toughness. I think we all know what the spurs need to get that road toughness back.!!!!! The RODEO!!!!!