Right now, the Spurs are definitely the second best team in the West

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I've always said people were overplaying the struggles. They were just losing close games. That's not that important.

They're defense is not much improved. Some guys have picked up their defensive games but even that was predictable.



Again, you have no idea what you're talking about. People put too much stock in winning/losing close games. The Spurs had one of the best PD in the league 3 months ago.

Wrong, their defense is a 100 times better and it has a lot to do with Pop playing a lot less small ball and players like RJ and Bogans stepping up in that department.

As for PD, the Spurs had a pretty cupcake schedule through most of the season, and they were always good at dominating the sub .500 teams of the league. Which is why they have the toughest schedule to close out the season, to make up for the games they've been coasting on the bottom feeders all season long. The Spurs PD from 3 months was definitely inflated due to the compe ion they faced.

[anonoftheinternets]

Wrong, their defense is a 100 times better and it has a lot to do with Pop playing a lot less small ball and players like RJ and Bogans stepping up in that department.

As for PD, the Spurs had a pretty cupcake schedule through most of the season, and they were always good at dominating the sub .500 teams of the league. Which is why they have the toughest schedule to close out the season, to make up for the games they've been coasting on the bottom feeders all season long. The Spurs PD from 3 months was definitely inflated due to the compe ion they faced.

actually hte only difference is they dont fold in the 4th. through 3 quarters spurs were always good this year. It comes down to lack of execution and now there is better chemistry. It will only improve once parker gets back, its disgusting to see some of the linups without any of the big three out there, and as well as hill is playing, he wont be able to do it day in and day out this year. Maybe next year or the year after that, but this year it would be too much on his plate. Anyway, I think the spurs are as good as 2-7, but so is everyone else.

I htink there is Magic, Cavs, LA, everyione else.

[mogrovejo]

Wrong, their defense is a 100 times better and it has a lot to do with Pop playing a lot less small ball and players like RJ and Bogans stepping up in that department.

As for PD, the Spurs had a pretty cupcake schedule through most of the season, and they were always good at dominating the sub .500 teams of the league. Which is why they have the toughest schedule to close out the season, to make up for the games they've been coasting on the bottom feeders all season long. The Spurs PD from 3 months was definitely inflated due to the compe ion they faced.

Again, you're wrong. The PD adjusted for sos was still good. You guys were overdramatizing the losses to good teams, as if a close loss was all that different than a close win. It isn't. Some are able to see the big picture; some are not. Ex post facto analysis everybody can do.

And trust me: the Spurs still have some important defensive weaknesses.

[j.dizzle]

Last 5 games in the western conference are gonna be ridiculous..Im looking forward for the last game of the season between SA vs Dal & Den vs PHX...Pretty insane how even then last game of the season is huge in the west

[mogrovejo]

Hollinger's infamous rankings have the Spurs as the best team in the West and third overall, trailing Orlando and Cleveland:

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

Spurs fans have spend the entire season calling Hollinger an idiot because he was obviously overrating the Spurs big time.

Now he's finally right.

It's amazing people don't understand they were actually wrong in the first place.

[Ghazi]

So if Hollinger abides by his formula if the playoffs started today he'd pick the BLazers over the Lakers?

[ElNono]

Spurs fans have spend the entire season calling Hollinger an idiot because he was obviously overrating the Spurs big time.

Now he's finally right.

Is he? Do you really think the Spurs are the best team out west?

And the team's defense is indeed much improved, especially in the interior and with rotations. We still have a lot of work to do in that department though.