Spurs defensive streak in jeopardy

[Jimcs50]

Spurs are giving up 90.9 pts a game this year making it 8 straight years without giving up 91 pts a game defensively, the only team in the NBA to accomplish that feat since the advent of the shot clock.



Team History
YEAR W L PF PA
2007-2008 52 23 96.2 90.9
2006-2007 58 24 98.5 90.1
2005-2006 63 19 95.6 88.8
2004-2005 59 23 96.2 88.4
2003-2004 57 25 91.5 84.3
2002-2003 60 22 95.8 90.4
2001-2002 58 24 96.7 90.5
2000-2001 58 24 95.7 90.3

Looking at their remaining schedule, this streak will be almost impossible to maintain. They play 4 of the top 7 scoring teams, all of which score well over 100 pts a game and two teams that score over 95 pts a game.


Sun, Apr 6 @ Portland
Wed, Apr 9 Phoenix
Fri, Apr 11 Seattle
Sun, Apr 13 @ LA Lakers
Mon, Apr 14 @ Sacramento
Wed, Apr 16 Utah


They did hold the top scoring team to 92 pts last night, but that was at home. The good news is, if the Spurs do keep all the remaining teams below 91 pts, they probably will win out and get the #1 seed, if NO stumbles a tad and loses 2 games.

[WildcardManu]

Would much rather the Spurs not go into playoffs as #1 seed.

[spursfan09]

Times they are a changin. But yet Spurs are still in the thick of things.

[nkdlunch]

couldnt care less of any Spurs record. Only championship matters

[BlackSwordsMan]

Would much rather the Spurs not go into playoffs as #1 seed.
Why?

[spursfan09]

Didn't Spurs have the #1 seed in 04 and 06?

[rAm]

Didn't Spurs have the #1 seed in 04 and 06?

no

[RandomGuy]

Looking at their remaining schedule, this streak will be almost impossible to maintain. They play 4 of the top 7 scoring teams, all of which score well over 100 pts a game and two teams that score over 95 pts a game.


Since those are averages, we would then have to evaluate how often they play low-scoring teams and the scores barely break 80 points for the really stinky teams.

[RandomGuy]

For example if you go here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/sas/schedule?v=cal&m=01&y=2008

You can quickly find a good 10 games easily that they held their opponents to less than 82 points.

[RandomGuy]

Wed, Apr 9 Phoenix



First game againts Phoenix, they kept them to 82 points. The second game wasn't quite so dramatic, but I think they can keep their average low enough this season.

Interesting orginal post, it was something to think about.

[travis2]

Spurs are giving up 90.9 pts a game this year making it 8 straight years without giving up 91 pts a game defensively, the only team in the NBA to accomplish that feat since the advent of the shot clock.



Team History
YEAR W L PF PA
2007-2008 52 23 96.2 90.9
2006-2007 58 24 98.5 90.1
2005-2006 63 19 95.6 88.8
2004-2005 59 23 96.2 88.4
2003-2004 57 25 91.5 84.3
2002-2003 60 22 95.8 90.4
2001-2002 58 24 96.7 90.5
2000-2001 58 24 95.7 90.3

Looking at their remaining schedule, this streak will be almost impossible to maintain. They play 4 of the top 7 scoring teams, all of which score well over 100 pts a game and two teams that score over 95 pts a game.


Sun, Apr 6 @ Portland
Wed, Apr 9 Phoenix
Fri, Apr 11 Seattle
Sun, Apr 13 @ LA Lakers
Mon, Apr 14 @ Sacramento
Wed, Apr 16 Utah


They did hold the top scoring team to 92 pts last night, but that was at home. The good news is, if the Spurs do keep all the remaining teams below 91 pts, they probably will win out and get the #1 seed, if NO stumbles a tad and loses 2 games.

They need to average 92/game from here on out to maintain the streak.

[Extra Stout]

Didn't Spurs have the #1 seed in 04 and 06?
1998 - 5 seed - conference semifinals
1999 - 1 seed - championship
2000 - 4 seed - first round
2001 - 1 seed - conference finals
2002 - 2 seed - conference semifinals
2003 - 1 seed - championship
2004 - 3 seed - conference semifinals
2005 - 2 seed - championship
2006 - 1 seed - conference semifinals
2007 - 3 seed - championship

Any further questions?

[Gooshie]

There are 2 more impressive streaks that are on the line:

1. 10 years in a row being in the top 5 in least points allowed per game - the Spurs have pretty much sewn up the # 3 spot this year (which would be 11 years in a row)

2. 10 years in a row being in the top 5 in Defensive Field Goal Percentage - The Spurs currently stand in 6th place, only .04 percentage points behind the Lakers for # 5. It has been a slow and steady climb to the top 5 of this category, but they're almost there and I think they'll reach that mark yet again. (which would aslo be 11 years in a row)

By the way, if they are in the top 5 for both of these categories again this year, it will mean they would have done so in every single year of Duncan's career. We will likely never see this feat duplicated in our lifetimes.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

None of those teams will score more than 75. Book it.

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[Jimcs50]

There are 2 more impressive streaks that are on the line:

1. 10 years in a row being in the top 5 in least points allowed per game - the Spurs have pretty much sewn up the # 3 spot this year (which would be 11 years in a row)

2. 10 years in a row being in the top 5 in Defensive Field Goal Percentage - The Spurs currently stand in 6th place, only .04 percentage points behind the Lakers for # 5. It has been a slow and steady climb to the top 5 of this category, but they're almost there and I think they'll reach that mark yet again. (which would aslo be 11 years in a row)

By the way, if they are in the top 5 for both of these categories again this year, it will mean they would have done so in every single year of Duncan's career. We will likely never see this feat duplicated in our lifetimes.


You got that right. The Spurs not only have had great team defense, but they have had 3 players(DRob, TD and Bruce) that have been on all defense 1st team individually.

I guees, we can say that Pop is the greatest defensive coach in NBA history, yes?

[travis2]

They need to average 92/game from here on out to maintain the streak.

...so far, so good...

[Timpu]

3 games is home

[Jimcs50]

The Spurs-Blazers total combined score 137 pts is less than Denver's losing total of 147 pts in their game last night against Seattle.

:lol

[Agloco]

Would much rather the Spurs not go into playoffs as #1 seed.

Two of the four championships came out of the one seed (99 and 03 I think)

[travis2]

Total points allowed: 7427
Average: 90.57


The streak is alive.