West Finals: Spurs V. (suns, sonics, mavs, kings, wolves)?

[freemeat]

Of Course, the Spurs will show...but who then?

Of course the Spurs will be in the West Finals (unless some extradorinary catastrophic *anything* happens). And, probably any one of up to ten teams, in the east, are elegible to meet the western finalist at the pace the conference is at now.

POINT:?

Spurs definitely make the west finals....It's a "?" as to who comes in to play 'em...

Either way...Spurs V. (Pacers/Pistons/Miami/Cleveland/NY)... Great series...

[Rummpd]

Wolves after a late season charge.

However, Spurs will whip them. Parker and Manu now better than Spree and Casell.

Candyass will dissapear and Bowen will concentrate on stopping Wally.

MadDoc

[waly.mg]

T-Wolves

A Team who can't play a Good D will never be in the Conference Finals

[boutons]

Wolves are still looking mangy at the end of December. That can be treated, but the novelty of last season's arrival of the old Alien and povertry-stricken Spree has worn off, aided by apparently salary and playing time problems, and recently Hudson talking trade. I figure they'll crawl into the playoffs at 6 or 7 seed, and honor their long tradition of first round exit.

[Jimcs50]

Suns

[boutons]

                W       L       PCT     GB      HM      RD      CONF    DIV     PF      PA      STRK    L10

============= Playoffs ===================================

Phoenix         25      4       .862    -       13-2    12-2    14-3    4-1     108.7   98.4    Won 1   9-1
San Antonio     23      6       .793    2       14-1    9-5     11-4    3-2     96.7    85.5    Won 3   7-3
Seattle         20      6       .769    3 ½     11-3    9-3     13-3    6-1     100.7   94.7    Lost 1  7-3
Dallas          19      10      .655    6       9-6     10-4    11-7    5-2     100.1   94.8    Won 2   7-3
Sacramento      17      9       .654    6 ½     11-4    6-5     8-8     2-2     101.8   98.5    Lost 2  6-4
Minnesota       16      11      .593    8       8-3     8-8     12-4    1-2     99.6    95.3    Lost 1  5-5
LA Lakers       15      12      .556    9       10-6    5-6     9-8     4-3     98.4    97.2    Won 1   5-5
Portland        13      13      .500    10 ½    7-4     6-9     4-7     2-3     91.2    92.0    Lost 1  5-5

============= Gone Fishin' ===================================

Houston         14      15      .483    11      9-7     5-8     9-7     4-2     89.4    89.8    Won 1   6-4
LA Clippers     13      14      .481    11      9-7     4-7     6-11    3-3     95.5    94.8    Won 1   3-7
Denver          13      15      .464    11 ½    9-6     4-9     4-10    1-4     94.9    97.4    Lost 6  2-8
Memphis         14      17      .452    12      9-7     5-10    8-11    1-4     93.0    92.7    Won 2   6-4
Utah            11      18      .379    14      6-7     5-11    7-9     3-3     95.3    98.0    Lost 3  3-7
Golden State    11      18      .379    14      8-8     3-10    5-15    1-5     94.8    99.2    Won 4   6-4
New Orleans     2       26      .071    22 ½    1-11    1-15    2-16    0-3     85.6    95.0    Lost 7  1-9

Based on Nov/Dec, I find it hard to imagine the Top3 changing in anything but order. The battle will be, like last season, most seasons?, for 7th and 8th.

SA clearly has been a weak road team so far. The next 3 Spurs games will show if they're hardening into a better road team.

[T Park]

playoffs started today they would play the Lakers??

I like that!!

Seattle VS Minnesota?? Damn that would be a good first round matchup.

Id take Minnesota in 7 in that one.

Spurs VS Minnesota in the second round?

more than likely it would be Phoenix.

I dont see Portland, Dallas, or Sacramento being a challenge to Phoenix.

[kskonn]

They do have the 5th best road winning percentage in the NBA. I would say road games are their weakness but not weakness as compared to the other teams in the NBA.

[boutons]

"5th best road winning percentage'

I'm a spoiled Spurs fan, so 5th sucks. 5th is losers' stuff, come Mar-Apr-May.

Just as rebounding reliably indicates individual desire, toughness, and smarts, road-winning defines the team.

[spursfaninla]

Hmm, didn't notice until this post about the Spurs mediocre road record. .55 is probably good enough to have a good record but not to maintain their position in the standings.

Come the playoffs, most teams hold serve at home anyway. Unless a team is much better and just dominates, it is unusual for a team to win more than 1 or 2 on the road in the playoffs.

Which would you rather have, holding the Spurs record equal; a dominant home record and mediocre road record, or good for each? I would rather take a dominant home record; they will get hca, and will win at home there and take it all. I remember Utah going to the finals with such a team.

[kskonn]

"5th best road winning percentage'

I'm a spoiled Spurs fan, so 5th sucks. 5th is losers' stuff, come Mar-Apr-May.

Just as rebounding reliably indicates individual desire, toughness, and smarts, road-winning defines the team.

I do agree with that, especially since the spurs trademark, besides defense, over the past few years has been their road toughness. I think we all know what the spurs need to get that road toughness back.!!!!! The RODEO!!!!!