It's not worth hand-wringing about.

I think Steph Curry made a deal with the devil. Or, a djinn or something. It's the only legitimate explanation.

After one game this season, conclusion is Warriors are not that good and Spurs are not that bad. Perspective:

Nov 2014
Spurs 113 - Warriors 110

April 2015
Spurs 107 - Warriors 92

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Originally Posted by MultiTroll

After one game this season, conclusion is Warriors are not that good and Spurs are not that bad. Perspective:

Nov 2014
Spurs 113 - Warriors 110

April 2015
Spurs 107 - Warriors 92

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However after seeing all of Spurs/Ws and Mavs/Ws, Warriorref is a legitimate concern.

It's just silly to try to take much away from regular season games, even more from a single game, IMO.

Playoffs are a lot about matchups, because tactically, they're largely a completely different game. It's actually pretty common to have your 1st and 2nd option neutered for games in a series (GS is no exception, look at the Finals last year). Games are called different, and there's much more attention to detail wrt your opponent in the series.

Now, it's not that we played to lose that game against the Dubs, but this was no playoff game. Pop didn't coach it like it, team didn't prepare it like it, etc, and there's zero wrong with that.
The Spurs have a lot of work still ahead of them, and we knew this before that game. Especially on consistency in execution, players you can give the ball and rely on, etc. It's stuff we're still working on because we know there's a much higher ceiling with this team, and we're not there yet. And so we'll keep chomping at that bit and hopefully we'll get better in time for the playoffs.

I would also add that we've been in that position before where we felt like a million bucks team, only for a freak injury to derail our season. And that's why you want to keep improving and trying to be the best team you can be, because you really never know what you're going to be facing. The only thing you can control is getting better, and that's what we're doing.

Why even think about GS? Why even think about OKC? The only thing we should think about is improving, which there is plenty of room to do, and taking things one game at a time. Things will take care of themselves...or not...but its the best approach if we want another ring. Its about confidence and momentum and we have to put our nose to the grindstone. I think thats why LMA canceled his Twitter account because if we want a ring basketball is the only thing that the Spurs should think about. And we as Spurs fans should also take on this attitude. Lets relax knowing that we are the Spurs and we are the feared ones too.

LMA has been good but could be better. KA and Simmons have plenty of room to grow. Who knows the untapped potential of Boban. You think Diaw cant do better? What about Greene finding himself again? Kawhi has been great but he could find his 2013 Finals form. All these things and more have the potential to make us way better than we are right now. If all these things pan out the way they could, that could inspire the big three to step back into the time machine and BAM we could be the best team of all times.

Stop thinking about facts and stats, they only explain the past. Think instead of inspiration and positivity and gaining momentum. That loss to GS couldve been the best thing that happens to us

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Originally Posted by DarrinS

If the Spurs played their best basketball at Oracle and lost by 30, then I'd be wringing my hands.

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This.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

The Spurs are actually maximizing their potential given their roster. Danny is finally back (50% from 3 in Jan.). LMA has worked out in 95% of the games. Parker has resurged on all levels, from offense to defense. Kawhi is the best two way player in the league. Duncan, while banged up right now, has remained his stalwart self. And the bench is one of the best in league.

There's really nothing to "improve" with this team from a rotation or strategy standpoint. And if the Warriors didn't exist, we'd living it up on here and pretty much be dusting off the shelf for number 6.

I'm not going to bemoan our luck or situation, since the Basketball Gods have smiled on us plenty of times, but yes, it does kind of suck that what could be the best team in franchise history exists at the same time as what could be the best team (by far) in NBA history. It's gotten to the point that when the Warriors win by "only" 15, I start believing they're "vulnerable."

The optimists will be rolling their eyes here. No. I'm not giving up. We have a puncher's chance, and maybe (but improbably) the Warriors are just riding a variance streak right now and will come back down to Earth. I'm just highlighting a reason for a lot of the angst and argument on here lately is because we're trying to measure ourselves up against the Warriors, trying to figure out a formula (more touches for Kawhi, more Simmons, less Danny, small ball, limiting Tony's minutes, etc) when there is none. Curry is having the best season in NBA history and is surrounded by a perfect complementary roster who are all in their primes and playing at their peak.

And again, no, I'm not giving up. Just saying it's not worth stressing over. There's no magic lineups. Or strategies. They're just better, but hopefully we can land a surprise knockout punch somehow, and win the what would be the greatest title in franchise history (even sweeter, imo, than 5).

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Why has everyone forgot this team does not come together until after the rodeo road trip and maybe not all the way until march? Did that look like our Spurs on Monday? And credit to the warriors but it was more than just them. Did Pop even leave his seat?

Some of you are acting like the Spurs "gave up" or were "pussies" for letting the game go early? Have you just started watching this team? There's no reason to reveal all your tricks and waste energy in a regular season game vs your biggest rival when you're already down big. Better to surprise them with effective tactics in the playoffs and steal a game or two on the road because of them not being prepared.

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Originally Posted by 100%duncan

It was a road game without our leader holding LMA's and Kawhi's hands. Chill. It was an expected loss, we're still the 2nd best team in the league. Stay healthy, peak at the right time, that's all we can ask for imho.

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This. No Duncan and at GSW vs fully healthy GSW. Anyone who expects a win there is delusional.

Chinook and ElNono shitting all over OP. :lmao

Time to give up. One regular season game. :lmao

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Originally Posted by ElNono

Now, it's not that we played to lose that game against the Dubs, but this was no playoff game. Pop didn't coach it like it, team didn't prepare it like it, etc, and there's zero wrong with that.

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Well...It's not like he was a lot better last playoffs, that was one of the worst coaching series of his career.

He couldn't adjust to poor Parker's performances, he was too reluctant to play other options, a bad game plan on both ends.

I try to stay positive and believe that Monday night Pop didn't "show all his cars" but...not sure.

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Originally Posted by YGWHI

Well...It's not like he was a lot better last playoffs, that was one of the worst coaching series of his career.

He couldn't adjust to poor Parker's performances, he was too reluctant to play other options, a bad game plan on both ends.

I try to stay positive and believe that Monday night Pop didn't "show all his cars" but...not sure.

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I am not sure what Pop will show us in the postseason, but I have seen him willing to play more guys than previously. A huge part of it is development, but also it's a new team. Pop got to see everyone in this game, in different lineups (except Tim). Anyone he wanted to see put in some spot he got to see. Diaw was very underwhelming. In fact, everyone was pretty much playing poorly. It was a teamwide breakdown.

Maybe the need for a new leader to rise? We don't know. I definitely think there was a bit of CIA POP at work. He was too nonchalant in this kind of loss, when normally he's fuming in beatdown like this.

Spurs beat themselves vs warriors. There is VERY little to take away from that game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YGWHI

Well...It's not like he was a lot better last playoffs, that was one of the worst coaching series of his career.

He couldn't adjust to poor Parker's performances, he was too reluctant to play other options, a bad game plan on both ends.

I try to stay positive and believe that Monday night Pop didn't "show all his cars" but...not sure.

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Well, of course he was much more attentive. There's no "adjustment" to your top players not playing well, that's the bottom line. He didn't 'adjust' to Tony sucking against Dallas in the 1st round the year before either, we had to find a way to win through it.

It's not uncommon to lose your 1st or 2nd option in a playoff series, but that doesn't mean you don't keep playing those guys. It's not just the Spurs, but pretty much every team.

Last playoffs, Kawhi also went from high to low, Manu wasn't stellar, we missed a couple of chip shots that could've won the game and series for us... this season we have a few more options, and hopefully the team as a whole can improve where you have more versatility when your first few options are neutered.

That game should be miles away from being Pop's fault tbh. Players outside West showed no heart. And those turnovers damn... Of course you get blown out by 30.

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Originally Posted by SAGirl

I am not sure what Pop will show us in the postseason, but I have seen him willing to play more guys than previously. A huge part of it is development, but also it's a new team. Pop got to see everyone in this game, in different lineups (except Tim). Anyone he wanted to see put in some spot he got to see. Diaw was very underwhelming. In fact, everyone was pretty much playing poorly. It was a teamwide breakdown.

Maybe the need for a new leader to rise? We don't know. I definitely think there was a bit of CIA POP at work. He was too nonchalant in this kind of loss, when normally he's fuming in beatdown like this.

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Do you really think that if it was a close game we would have seen a lot of Simms, Rasual, and the rest of the bench?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ElNono

Well, of course he was much more attentive. There's no "adjustment" to your top players not playing well, that's the bottom line. He didn't 'adjust' to Tony sucking against Dallas in the 1st round the year before either, we had to find a way to win through it.

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Not sure. He played an injured point guard a ton of minutes when his back up looked really good. You have to find a way to win through it or... you can find other way to win.

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Originally Posted by YGWHI

Do you really think that if it was a close game we would have seen a lot of Simms, Rasual, and the rest of the guys?

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I doubt it.
There is only one vacancy in the rotation and Simmons earned it, and in a tight game, he's really only played 8 mins. He has played a few more when he's doing an excellent defensive job (like he did against Cleveland), and those minutes have been gifted by Danny actually having a bad game shooting/compounded by him missing defensive assignments.

Anderson has seen a few minutes against playoff teams as well, and those minutes were being gifted by Diaw not being able to handle his defensive assignments(CLE/GRIZZ), and he's likely to play a few minutes now bc Tim is down and against some matchups he's a better option than the other big we have in Boban.

Those are the only circumstances I see those two playing in the postseason up to this point. I could see Rasual if you need a shooter. He's been solid every time and doesn't need a whole lot to stay ready.

Now I am not saying I see any of these guys to close out a game, but I can see them giving minutes bc in certain circumstances their specific skillset is needed.

But they are roleplayers, the stars are the ones who have to do the heavy lifting and they are irreplaceable. You can sub one roleplayer for another and get similar production, though no identical, but what your best players do for the team cannot easily be replaced.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YGWHI

Not sure. He played an injured point guard a ton of minutes when his back up looked really good. You have to find a way to win through it or... you can find other way to win.

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AFAIK, other than Chris Paul in the last game, nobody was injured. And you play your best players unless they can't play. That always happened when we won it all, or when we didn't.

Sometimes you need a stroke of luck, or you're just not good enough. It's hard to win it all.