The bottom line...

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Originally Posted by TampaDude

The bottom line is unless they can find some defense, the Spurs are fucked.

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Defense is defined by effort, IMO. Since January the Spurs haven't been showing the effort they showed early in the year. You can tell when a team's defensive intensity is there and when it isn't. The Spurs haven't shown it in a couple of months.

I like this team. I like what they bring. I think we'll see the defensive intensity ramp up. You're seeing the Lakers at their best right now, and the Spurs at 80%. I agree that beating them will be a daunting task, they have the youth and the size in the post to frustrate SA immensely.

But I'm going to give TD the benefit of the doubt until he proves he can't go in a post season. To date he's always turned things up once the playoffs start. If this team is healthy going into the playoffs I think we'll make some noise. When he's playing up to his best this team is hard to beat, whether he's scoring or not. I think if he is efforting on defense and rebounding that there are enough good shooters around him that we'll see a different team on the floor once the playoffs begin.

RJ is the other key. I think we'll get supreme effort from Manu and TP, but RJ will need to be the 4th cog in the wheel. He'll need to be a beast on the perimeter.

LA is the best team until someone beats them, no doubt. But I think the Spurs are going to give them a challenge and that things can go well if the cards turn in our favor. I believe the Spurs can prevail. The Lakers are not clearly better than us this year -- last year I couldn't have made that argument.

I don't see us keeping the #1 seed...Lakers will catch us...

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Defense is defined by effort, IMO. Since January the Spurs haven't been showing the effort they showed early in the year. You can tell when a team's defensive intensity is there and when it isn't. The Spurs haven't shown it in a couple of months.

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Got to have the tools though for playoff defense. Have to be able to take away primary options on opponents and dictate your style on that end.

Figuring you can just run-run-run never has resulted in a ring.

From the start, SA went offense first. Splitter signing was the lone exception and he hasn't gotten any run.

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Defense is defined by effort, IMO. Since January the Spurs haven't been showing the effort they showed early in the year. You can tell when a team's defensive intensity is there and when it isn't. The Spurs haven't shown it in a couple of months.

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Bonner gives 110% effort, he just doesn't have the tools. Blair gives 110% effort, he's just not long enough. Hill gives 100% effort, he is just too scrawny.

Effort is important, and with 100% from everyone Spurs will be very good. But still, the limitations are there.

But like I said, I like my chances this year a lot more vs. 08,09,10

meh, anything can happen in the playoffs....

the Lakers are a major injury away from falling out of contention just like all the other elite teams.

the Spurs have definitely hit a lull which is understandable considering their hot start, but i have confidence they will turn it up again for the playoffs.

the Lakers/Miami hit their low points this season too but they both look strong again thanks to their recent play.

Though they have been nowhere near consistent, this team has shown flashes of being able to play shutdown D for a period of time. I still don't think comparisons to D'Antoni Suns are warranted, but even that team was a few lucky breaks away from being the 2007 title team.

My point being is that barring any sort of major injury, the Big 3 will be healthy going into the playoffs with the best supporting cast they've had since the 07 team. Thats all you could have asked for at the beginning of the season so I'll be happy. I expect the Spurs to be in the final four of the playoffs where anything is possible.

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Originally Posted by mexicanjunior

I don't see us keeping the #1 seed...Lakers will catch us...

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The Lakers play Portland twice, OKC, NOH, the Mavs and the Spurs yet in the regular season. They are 7 games back in the loss column with 14 to play. If they were to win out they'd only have 62 wins. The Spurs can go 9-6 and better that mark.

Dallas is more concerning from a #1 seed standpoint. They still have 16 games to play. They, too, play Portland twice, and have games against the Lakers, Spurs and Hornets. Beyond that, though their schedule is cake. They are 6 games back in the loss column and so they have a chance to seriously challenge SA. Kind of makes our game this week against them pretty darned important.

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Originally Posted by benefactor

In previous years I would buy the complacency argument...but this year it's different. The Spurs have yet to show that they can be a consistent enough defensive team to be considered a contender. In years past, the Spurs would coast a bit but at the end of the day you still knew that Bowen was there on the perimeter and Duncan would be locking down the paint...with the rest of the role players following suit and playing good team D. Those days are long gone now. The perimeter is extremely shaky defensively and past his prime Duncan can't do it all anymore...and he only really has one other front line player to help him.

Things are just not the same. They have managed to post a fine record(and will likely have the first seed) thanks to the new offensive philosophy of allowing the guards to run the show. But the things that have been ignored are terminal...an aging anchor has no one to lean on and lock down perimeter has left with no one even doing a passable job of replacing him.

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This is all true there, some will deny it and stay in fantasy land, but the fact these things will show up scares the hell out of me. It is what it is though, they won alot with what they had and overachieved IMO.

You may be right Chopper. I think the Spurs have been playing soft and favoring transition D readiness a bit too much, lately. I'd like to see them being stronger with the ball and matching physicality, drawing fouls, and getting chippy to protect their style of play from the opposing team and the officiating crew.

Also, I fully expect a:
* TD21 "Splitter is needed" post any time now;
* Sequ "Bonner sucks" post any time now;
* Marcus Bryant getting-serious-now sighting any time now;
* Shelly sighting any time now (we wish)
* timvp breakout revelation any time now.

That is all.

bunch of little babies in here...lol...wah wah wah...dude what ever happen to the old saying we believe and blah blah blah....bunch of fakers up in here thats what it is....I believe the spurs will go all the way and win a championship.....Yes I believe...lets go spurs :)

Now thats the bottom line!!!!!

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Originally Posted by spurtech09

bunch of little babies in here...lol...wah wah wah...dude what ever happen to the old saying we believe and blah blah blah....bunch of fakers up in here thats what it is....I believe the spurs will go all the way and win a championship.....Yes I believe...lets go spurs :)

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Can't believe it took me this long to notice this troll...

Well done, BUMP :tu

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Originally Posted by mexicanjunior

I don't see us keeping the #1 seed...Lakers will catch us...

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yeah.......................that's not happening...

I agree with most that the Spurs have been consistently lacking on the defensive end, which is the M.O. that won us our four titles.

This Friday's game vs. the Mavs, in my opinion, is a bigger "statement" game than our recent loss against the Heat. The only way we'll see the Heat again is if the Finals is Spurs-Heat, which won't be the case. We've beaten LA twice so I'm confident Pop can figure out a way to do that again. Meanwhile, the Mavs blew two huge opportunities to gain ground with losses to the Griz and the Hornets (sans CP3).

Maybe this is just complacency talking, but they at least need to make things interesting in these games vs. top teams.

My prediction: If we win Friday, we'll hold on to the #1 seed in the West.

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Originally Posted by Budkin

Pretty much yeah. Plus we were playing with so much heart and determination earlier in the season that is just not there any more. I haven't given up on them by any means, but every team is a bad matchup for us now mainly because of size. I honestly will be very surprised if we get to the Finals.

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It's the Spurs and Lakers in the WC......and then everybody else.
Regardless of age, the Spurs still have Tony, Manu and Tim.....3 guys with the pedigree and experience and of course Mr.Air Force Academy himself....Pop.

They're going to make a stand come playoffs. Foolish to think otherwise.
I still believe the Lakers are the better team but many things can happen between now and April.

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDynasty

yeah.......................that's not happening...

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my exact sentiments

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Originally Posted by 2Cleva

Gotta ask - why didn't you guys see this coming? The record covered the weakness?

SA will end up with the top seed but they aren't built to get out of the West.

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And that's why they play the games. We'll see what happens in the end...

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Originally Posted by Ed Helicopter Jones

Defense is defined by effort, IMO. Since January the Spurs haven't been showing the effort they showed early in the year. You can tell when a team's defensive intensity is there and when it isn't. The Spurs haven't shown it in a couple of months.

I like this team. I like what they bring. I think we'll see the defensive intensity ramp up. You're seeing the Lakers at their best right now, and the Spurs at 80%. I agree that beating them will be a daunting task, they have the youth and the size in the post to frustrate SA immensely.

But I'm going to give TD the benefit of the doubt until he proves he can't go in a post season. To date he's always turned things up once the playoffs start. If this team is healthy going into the playoffs I think we'll make some noise. When he's playing up to his best this team is hard to beat, whether he's scoring or not. I think if he is efforting on defense and rebounding that there are enough good shooters around him that we'll see a different team on the floor once the playoffs begin.

RJ is the other key. I think we'll get supreme effort from Manu and TP, but RJ will need to be the 4th cog in the wheel. He'll need to be a beast on the perimeter.

LA is the best team until someone beats them, no doubt. But I think the Spurs are going to give them a challenge and that things can go well if the cards turn in our favor. I believe the Spurs can prevail. The Lakers are not clearly better than us this year -- last year I couldn't have made that argument.

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+1. The Lakers have had a cake-walk in the Playoffs the last couple years. Who did they beat (other than Boston in last year's Finals) that gave them a true challenge? The only other team I can think of is OKC. Other than that it was a cakewalk. Utah? No. Denver? Nice try, but no. Phoenix? Nah. Orlando in the 09' Finals? Pleeease. I think the two teams who could give the Lakers a run for their money this year are Dallas and the Spurs. The Spurs were "too young" in 03', and yet they pulled it off. In 05' the Spurs were praying TD's ankles would be fine, and they pulled it off. In 07' they were "too old,"and they won it all again. I'll never give up on this team, and TD, TP, and Manu know that that window is rapidly closing, and they'll give it all they have in the Playoffs, that's for damn sure...

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Originally Posted by TheManFromAcme

It's the Spurs and Lakers in the WC......and then everybody else.
Regardless of age, the Spurs still have Tony, Manu and Tim.....3 guys with the pedigree and experience and of course Mr.Air Force Academy himself....Pop.

They're going to make a stand come playoffs. Foolish to think otherwise.
I still believe the Lakers are the better team but many things can happen between now and April.

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Actually its the back-to-back champs and 3x conference winner then everyone else.

SA hasn't done enough in recent years to warrant the standing.

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Originally Posted by 2Cleva

Actually its the back-to-back champs and 3x conference winner then everyone else.

SA hasn't done enough in recent years to warrant the standing.

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The Spurs' players and coaches have continued to say the entire season that the Lakers are the team to beat. With that said, the Spurs 54-13 record in an evenly distributed number of home and away games, thusfar, "is what it is". At this juncture it = HCA as far as they can go in the playoffs.

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Originally Posted by Solid D

The Spurs have continued to say the entire season that the Lakers are the team to beat. With that said, the Spurs 54-13 record in an evenly distributed number of home and away games, thusfar, "is what it is". At this juncture it = HCA as far as they can go in the playoffs.

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SA has had a great reg season this year. But over the past 4, forget the titles, its clear no other team is on the Lakers level in the West.

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Originally Posted by 2Cleva

Actually its the back-to-back champs and 3x conference winner then everyone else.

SA hasn't done enough in recent years to warrant the standing.

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Partially true. The Spurs core of Tony, Manu and Tim is 4 years displaced from their last championship. Yeah, it's been a while but not ancient history either.

Given the fact that Manu did experience some crappy injuries, they would have been in the mix of things in '08 and '09 for sure. Lakers were still the better team but I for one am not going to sleep on S.A. just yet.

:toast

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Originally Posted by 2Cleva

SA has had a great reg season this year. But over the past 4, forget the titles, its clear no other team is on the Lakers level in the West.

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Yes, we know that already. Plenty of Spurs fans have already stated that in this thread, no need for you to come in and deepthroat them to get your point across....:lol

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Originally Posted by 2Cleva

SA has had a great reg season this year. But over the past 4, forget the titles, its clear no other team is on the Lakers level in the West.

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Clearly, since the Gasols trade.

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Originally Posted by crc21209

Yes, we know that already. Plenty of Spurs fans have already stated that in this thread, no need for you to come in and deepthroat them to get your point across....:lol

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:lol

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Originally Posted by Solid D

Clearly, since the Gasols trade.

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Kobe would probably be in a different uniform right now had that deal not gone down.