McDonald: "Step Back From The Ledge Spurs Fans"

[duncan228]

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/01/jeff_mcdonald_a_7.html

Jeff McDonald: Another no cigar

Rockets 83, Spurs 81.

That was the final score Saturday night from Houston's Toyota Center, but this could have been Thursday night against the Cleveland LeBrons at the AT&T Center or earlier this month in Denver or Oakland.

You've seen this game before Spurs fans, like a half dozen times in the span of a month. Spurs play well in spurts, Spurs fade for a too-long stretch, Spurs battle back, Spurs have a chance to win at the end ... and then don't.

All told, the Spurs have dropped 10 of their last 18, and haven't beaten a team above .500 in more than a month. If the playoffs started today, the defending champs would be the sixth seed out of the Western Conference.

Much like how it's hard to tell if an economic recession is coming until you're smack in the middle of one, it's hard to tell if this is just another of the Spurs' patented January swoons, or if it is something more catastrophic than that.

This much is certain: If the Spurs were a stock, most folks would be selling.

But step back from the ledge, Spurs fans. We're here to tell you the glass is still half full.

At least the Spurs are losing close. Six of the their losses during their recent slump have come down to the final possession or two of regulation.

Take a look at these losing scores: 100-95 to Phoenix; 88-85 at Memphis; 80-77 at Denver; 130-121 to Golden State (in overtime); 90-88 against Cleveland. Saturday's loss to Houston was simply the same sad song, a different sad verse.

For you eternal optimists in the Spurs' kingdom, it seems as if your favorite team is about six or seven plays away from being 31-7, which would by far give them the best record in the West. Had the Spurs simply split those six games, they'd be 28-10 and still sitting atop the conference.

But, of course, they're not. They are 25-13. Which begs the honest question: When are these guys going to figure out a way to win a close game?

The Spurs' turnaround, in all likelihood, won't begin in earnest until they answer it.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Pretty much what we've been saying around here for a while.

[urunobili]

who is this guy to talk about the San Antonio Spurs like that? he needs a new job

[picnroll]

Spurs two games out of eighth send in the West near the mid-point of the season. Defense has looked mediocre from game one on. When is the last time you could say that?

[davi78239]

yea, it definetly seems different this January compared to others. I wanna say they'll break out of it, but somehow I don't think so this time.

[exstatic]

Spurs two games out of eighth send in the West near the mid-point of the season. Defense has looked mediocre from game one on. When is the last time you could say that?
Spurs one game out of first in the West in the loss column, which is the only number that matters. You can never make those up, but you can win games that you haven't played yet.

[exstatic]

Spurs two games out of eighth send in the West near the mid-point of the season. Defense has looked mediocre from game one on. When is the last time you could say that?
It seems like SA was in 5th or maybe 6th last year in January.

[sa_kid20]

Spurs two games out of eighth send in the West near the mid-point of the season. Defense has looked mediocre from game one on. When is the last time you could say that?
Yesterday. But seriously though it's the same song every year and things have worked out pretty good up to this point. Since we've had the big three together the Spurs always get it together come playoff time and have just as good a shot at winning it all than anybody. Even when we didn't win it you can't say it was cause lack of effort or anything. Things just didn't go our way (.4 & Manu's foul) . When the day comes that the Spurs tank in the playoffs and give lack luster effort then you can hit the panic button but until then all of you should know better.

[wildbill2u]

Earlier in the year there was a thread to compare this team with the Championship teams of the past. The Spurs were leading the league at the time and riding high.

At the time, I compared them favorably to the 99 team which had a will to win that allowed them to come back in the 4th quarter and win close games. But I said it would take a full season rather than a short span.

At this point I don't see any favorable signs in the comparison. The team simply doesn't look like it can come together with purpose and will to win except in short spurts and without the final result--a win.

I don't doubt we'll be in the playoffs and hope we do well enough to go all the way, but I'm less saguine about our chances with every game where the team seems to be without direction or the typical Spurs team play.

[ShoogarBear]

The best gauge of current standings is the Doug Moe system of road wins - home losses.

The most concerning thing is that the Spurs have had to date a VERY favorable home/road ratio of 23H/15R. That's the highest home/road ratio of any of the top teams in the West. Despite that, the Spurs are only tied for 8th in the Moe system.

Championship teams win road games. Their current road record of 6-9 spells playoff disaster. We keep comparing this year to last year, but last year's team was always an excellent road team, even when slumping, and was 11-4 through their first 15 games, and 15-6 on the road by MLK day last year.

On that basis the standings in the West with home/road splits are:
Phx +10 (18H/22R)
NO +8 (19/20)
GS +7 (18/24)
Dal +6 (21/18)
LAL +5 (21/18)
Port +4 (20/20)
Utah +3 (20/21)
SA +2 (23/15)
Den +2 (22/17)

This ain't last year, folks.

[timmy21_4rings]

Spurs one game out of first in the West in the loss column, which is the only number that matters. You can never make those up, but you can win games that you haven't played yet.

I would disagree on this. It depends on if they are in winning mode or losing mode...There is 70% for losing those games than winning as far their recent past is concerned...Their recent form suggest that they could lose games that they have not played, not the other way around..

[DieMrBond]

[QUOTE=sa_kid20] :clap [QUOTE]

Thats an awesome photo... it's great to see the difference in how they all look now.

[SequSpur]

Nobody is at the ledge but when your 2nd stringers are elson, vaughn and bonner, you have no fucking chance.

[BonnerDynasty]

We need Splitter.