Hollinger on Spurs being ignored on ESPN

[jiggy_55]

He just tweeted this:

@johnhollinger
John Hollinger
Apologies to Spurs for us (again) ignoring them. #1 in Power Ranks, with sizable lead, after as good a 2nd half as you'll ever see last nite

http://twitter.com/#!/johnhollinger/...98111830687744

[chazley]

Hollinger usually has good things to say about the Spurs, not surprising.

[WildcardManu]

Please keep ignoring the Spurs, there are no expectations.

[Cane]

The Spurs were the first team to really be talked about on ESPN's NBA Podcast with Ryen Russilo today as well. He broke down their wins (said there was really only 5 good wins but most of the NBA teams will be hovering around that this early in the season) and advanced stats, mostly Hollinger stuff. He basically gave the impression that he doesn't think this hot start will last long since RJ, Parker, and Ginobili are shooting above their career averages. However he also brought in other interesting stuff like how the the Spurs don't allow teams free throws since we don't foul opponents and a bunch of stats that compare the Spurs to the rest of the league which put them in some elite territory.

[sananspursfan21]

The Spurs were the first team to really be talked about on ESPN's NBA Podcast with Ryen Russilo today as well. He broke down their wins (said there was really only 5 good wins but most of the NBA teams will be hovering around that this early in the season) and advanced stats, mostly Hollinger stuff. He basically gave the impression that he doesn't think this hot start won't last long since RJ, Parker, and Ginobili are shooting above their career averages. However he also brought in other interesting stuff like how the the Spurs don't allow teams free throws since we don't foul opponents and a bunch of stats that compare the Spurs to the rest of the league which put them in some elite territory.

usually dont allow free throws but tyson chandler ate em up the other night from the ft. didnt know he was that good of a free throw shooter either.

[CubanMustGo]

The Spurs were the first team to really be talked about on ESPN's NBA Podcast with Ryen Russilo today as well. He broke down their wins (said there was really only 5 good wins but most of the NBA teams will be hovering around that this early in the season) and advanced stats, mostly Hollinger stuff. He basically gave the impression that he doesn't think this hot start will last long since RJ, Parker, and Ginobili are shooting above their career averages. However he also brought in other interesting stuff like how the the Spurs don't allow teams free throws since we don't foul opponents and a bunch of stats that compare the Spurs to the rest of the league which put them in some elite territory.

Lakers, BTW, have exactly ONE win against a team over .500. The Mavs are the team on my radar right now - besides the win against us last week, they've played a tougher schedule so far.

[sananspursfan21]

Lakers, BTW, have exactly ONE win against a team over .500. The Mavs are the team on my radar right now - besides the win against us last week, they've played a tougher schedule so far.

and i member the article on espn earlier this season about the lakers. it said: "Lakers continue dominance". i think they beat the grizzlies lol

[benefactor]

Who cares?

[Dex]

Spurs are already #1 on the only rankings that matter: the league standings.

[Cane]

usually dont allow free throws but tyson chandler ate em up the other night from the ft. didnt know he was that good of a free throw shooter either.

Yea true that. I can only imagine how pissed Pop and the Spurs were.

Lakers, BTW, have exactly ONE win against a team over .500. The Mavs are the team on my radar right now - besides the win against us last week, they've played a tougher schedule so far.

Yea I think Ryen Russillo talked about the weak schedule for the Lakers and their lack of W's against playoffs teams. Mavs definitely look like a strong and impressive team though...imo the Spurs and the Mavs have the best chance to beat the Lakers in the West followed by Utah and maybe OKC.

[lefty]

Please ignore us, we don't want to be jinxed

[Bender]

aren't stein's weekly power rankings supposed to come out on mondays? I don't see them yet.

[Trill Clinton]

Who cares?

[jeebus]

aren't stein's weekly power rankings supposed to come out on mondays? I don't see them yet.

I don't see them either but I'm fairly certain the spurs will be number 1 followed by the mavs and the celtics.

[Cry Havoc]

Sigh.

I remember a time when it was Laker/Maverick/Suns fans (though admittedly more of the latter two) who were talking about how tough they are in the regular season. The Spurs meanwhile were trundling along to 55 wins, good enough for a top 3 seed just so they could be mentioned as a "well they might make the conference finals" before blowing away teams in the playoffs.

Make no mistake, I'm absolutely THRILLED at the start, if for no other reason than it's giving our guys confidence that they can beat anyone, but this season will not be made or lost on how "hyped" we are. If this team has the balls to win when it counts, it won't matter if we're heavy favorites or 10-1 dogs.

Just put the ing ball in the hole and make the other team go home when it's over. worrying about "flying under the radar". We don't need to be underrated to win a le.

[MaNu4Tres]

It's only November

[Darkwaters]

It's only November

November Champions

[yavozerb]

November Champions

Ya baby, on too December....

[duncan228]

Hit the links for the rest.

Spurs stay on top as Heat slide out of top 10
By John Schuhmann, NBA.com

1. San Antonio (14-2)
Pace: 96.9 (8), Off: 109.1 (3), Def: 100.8 (9)
The Spurs’ 12-game winning streak came to an end on Friday, but they rebounded as well as you can, handing the Hornets their first home loss of the season on Sunday with a 65-34 second half. They have the best record in the league with Tim Duncan averaging just 29.3 minutes and 14 points per game.

*********************

2. Boston (12-4)
3. Orlando (12-4)
4. L.A. Lakers (13-4)
5. Dallas (12-4)
6. Utah (13-5)
7. New Orleans (12-4)
8. Oklahoma City (11-6)
9. Denver (10-6)
10. Chicago (9-6)

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/powerra...s=iref:nbahpt1

*********************

NBA Power Rankings, where that Lakers/Heat finals seems a long ways away
Kurt Helin
ProBasketballTalk

1. Spurs (14-2). They were down 17 at half to the Hornets Sunday when Gregg Popovich went small — Richard Jefferson at the four, Duncan at the five — and the team just ran and pressured. It worked and the Spurs beat a very good team. I don’t think the Spurs or Popovich could have done this a year ago. Things are different on the Riverwalk.

*********************

2. Magic (12-4)
3. Mavericks (12-4)
4. Jazz (13-5)
5. Celtics (12-4)
6. Lakers (13-4)
7. Hornets (12-4)
8. Hawks (11-7)
9. Thunder (11-6)
10. Nuggets (10-6)

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...ong-ways-away/

[LoneStarState'sPride]

worrying about "flying under the radar". We don't need to be underrated to win a le.

Co- ing-signed. About damn time this team started getting SOME notoriety in the regular season, in the twilight of Timmy's career, no less.

[Dex]

Sigh.

I remember a time when it was Laker/Maverick/Suns fans (though admittedly more of the latter two) who were talking about how tough they are in the regular season. The Spurs meanwhile were trundling along to 55 wins, good enough for a top 3 seed just so they could be mentioned as a "well they might make the conference finals" before blowing away teams in the playoffs.

Make no mistake, I'm absolutely THRILLED at the start, if for no other reason than it's giving our guys confidence that they can beat anyone, but this season will not be made or lost on how "hyped" we are. If this team has the balls to win when it counts, it won't matter if we're heavy favorites or 10-1 dogs.

Just put the ing ball in the hole and make the other team go home when it's over. worrying about "flying under the radar". We don't need to be underrated to win a le.

Agreed. Spurs used to have the luxury of snoozing their way through 55-wins and that being enough for HCA. That time has come and gone.

Due to the aging of our Big Three and an influx of talent into the Western Conference, that can no longer be the standard M.O. No season exemplified that better than last, when a few early stumbles caused the team to be scraping for 50 wins AND a playoff berth, and they were lucky to check in at #7 (with no home court in sight unless they faced OKC in the WCF).

I am excited about the great start and the win streak and what it does for our player's confidence. Moreso, however, I am glad the Spurs are stockpiling wins now, which will only make it easier for them to finish in the top four later, and could even earn them a couple games rest at the end of the season.

[Spurminator]

Screw ESPN, I want to know why the NBA bit-torrent community continues to ignore the Spurs. I missed two key games the last few days and I can't find them anywhere.

[SA210]

Co- ing-signed. About damn time this team started getting SOME notoriety in the regular season, in the twilight of Timmy's career, no less.

[Agloco]

usually dont allow free throws but tyson chandler ate em up the other night from the ft. didnt know he was that good of a free throw shooter either.

He's not.......at least not before this season. He's around 62% for his career but hes hovering at 80% for right now. Still very early in the season though.

I'd consider his performance against the Spurs an outlier, just like Dirks performance.

[NASpurs]

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings

The San Antonio Spurs couldn't avoid a loss to their old friends from Dallas at home Friday night, but the Spurs' hugely impressive wins to start and end the week -- over Orlando at home and Sunday's comeback in New Orleans to deal the Hornets their first home loss -- narrowly placed Team Duncan ahead of the resurgent Mavs.

1 (2) Spurs 14-2 Stealing this edgy but effective comment concept from friend o' the committee Jemele Hill: How many Hollywood actresses must Tony Parker split up with to get the new high-octane Spurs some media spotlight?