This, but we won't be playing "mediocre ball or terrible defense." Our team will be motivated and playing with all they got, which has them about 6 games ahead of their closest compe ion right now. I think it will get much closer, maybe even only a 2 or 3 game lead in the end. I don't think the Lakers are deep enough, despite their length and youth in the post. I say this with respect to those who have their doubts. I just don't believe that a couple of blowouts mean a lot in the grand scheme of things (see 2005 Finals). The Lakers will be tough as , but I'd bet on the Spurs from what I've seen (which includes moments of good defense both individually and as a team).
Everyone is freaking out here. Do you see LakaLuva and the other Laker fans freaking out when their team loses 4 in a row? No.
Keep the faith Spurs fans. Pop's master plan is in motion. The Spurs are the same team that demolished the Heat not too long ago. Their are just taking a breather, but will be back to elite in no time.
The crowd is fickle. Just a couple of weeks ago, Eric Spoelstra was on the verge of getting fired. Now his team is a legitimate le contender again. Come on now.
I think RJ will come to play in the playoffs as it could possibly be his last shot to, unless he gets traded from SA.
He's been there and lost it he knows that feeling, and like Dice the chance is so close to have another shot that is will get the blood pumping.
If these guys can stand and be counted we have a starting 5 that have all played in a finals series, 3 that know what it takes to win it all and 2 who have felt the pain of the other end of the stick which I believe will be enough drive for them to not want to feel it again.
the bottom line is that at the beginning of the season we all thought we would need several miracles to be 6 games up on the entire league, yet here we are and only a few of those miracles have happened- splitter and anderson are basically empty roster spots, we were unable to pick up any quality player during the season.. two big things most everyone thought would be vital to have a strong season.
I disagree that the analysis should be that we fed on weak teams and got lucky in close games. For a good stretch the spurs played great basketball, controlling the tempo, creating turnovers and shooting lights out. most importantly, RJ looked like he actually fit in. Lately he's been invisible, on top of that pop is clearly trying out lineups- he wouldnt guard lebron with steve novak in the playoffs. there is still plenty of room for improvement (and miracles)
we are not favorites to win by any means, but the team has put itself in the best position (in terms of seeding) to roll the dice and see if TD and RJ wake up and they get those 3s to drop. if they get going anything can happen, and the same goes for all other teams- a slump or injury at the wrong time vs a basketball epiphany at the right time. given the cir stances, this is as good of a chance as we could have hoped for this season. I have even less faith in the next. may the basketball gods smile upon us
People are freaking out because we have a legitimate weakness on our squad. LA had injuries and chemistry was an issue. Chemistry is improving and they are getting healthy.
Still think we can beat them in seven....But we need to improve our weaknesses.
The Heat and Lakers have proven they can play lockdown defense consistently. The Spurs can't stop anybody
2/16 Cleveland 104, Lakers 99
2/14 Charlotte 109, Lakers 89
1/30 Boston 109, Lakers 96
1/19 Dallas 109, Lakers 100
3/8 Portland 105, Heat 96
3/4 San Antonio 125, Heat 95
1/13 Denver 130, Heat 102
1/12 Clippers 111, Heat 105
The Spurs can lockdown when they need to. Again, they're up by 6 games on the rest of the freaking league.
The Lakers have certainly tightened the screws recently, but they needed to otherwise they could have fallen into the second half of the seedings. The Spurs haven't had such challenges.
The Spurs are better defensively than they're given credit for and the Lakers are worse defensively than they're given credit for. Perfect example of people judging a book by their cover and not looking at the facts.
Up until yesterday, the Spurs were ahead of the Lakers virtually the entire season in defensive efficiency (with Duncan playing roughly 29 mpg, McDyess roughly 18 mpg and Splitter not being in the rotation). Even now, they're only a spot behind them. Yet the perception persists that the Lakers are a lock down outfit and the Spurs are a sieve, when in fact they're both somewhere in the middle.
The team that win the championship is the team that is playing the best ball at the end of the season. We are starting to play like and Pop is coaching like !
Tim Duncan is a s of the defender he once was, and the Spurs have no lockdown defender like Bowen.
The Spurs don't rebound particularly well either.
They also defend the 3 like too...
But hey, you guys are 53-12 so your success will undoubtedly translate to the postseason as well
If you're concerned about defense the Knicks may have been a bad bandwagon choice, Nick.
When the Spurs try on defense they've done pretty well this year. Effort does mean alot. Bonner is the only guy that can't play defense even when he's trying. He's got his role, though, which is to draw out the other team's big men and hit the 3. Everyone else on the roster is a capable defender. Again, they just haven't needed a lot of it this season. I expect to see a tightening of the screws in the playoffs.
First of all, it's 54-13 Nick. Secondly, hearing a Knicks fan talk about defense is like a Mavs fan talking about championships. Hope to see you in the Finals, but the chances of that happening are far worse than the world coming to the end.
We're not talking about the Knicks, and fyi I have no delusions of grandeur about their obvious shortcomings on defense--unlike you with your team.
Your team is incapable of defending the Lakers over the course of a Playoff series. You know, the playoffs, where LAL tends to dominate teams and expose their weaknesses.
Nobody on the Spurs can guard Bynum or Gasol one-on-one w/o getting face ed. Seriously, do you think Duncan/Blair/Dice/Bonner is going to even come close to matching the production of Bynum/Odom/Gasol?
Come to think of it, who the is gonna guard Kobe? George Hill? crofl, Kobe will just post him up again and get easy shots.
No matter how you slice it, the Spurs defense can't dictate against a focused Laker team
"but but but we're 53-12 so that's all that matters"
The Phoenix Suns say wassup
LA may lose before the WCF this year. That's my gut feeling.
+1. I agree with you that being a solid defensive team is based on effort most of the time. At times (the 1st Laker game at home) the Spurs have looked superb on D. The rotations were crisp and quick as . There have been other games as well but I remember that 1st Laker game sticking out in my mind because I remember watching and thinking "Damn they're everywhere on D." I think the Spurs do have another gear when it comes to defense, but why bust your balls right now when you have a 6-7 game league on the rest of the guys behind you...
scro that feeling is probably gas.
OKC and Portland are the only teams that pose significant matchup problems for them, and OKC is pretty much locked into the 4th seed while the Blazers will probably finish 5th or 6th.
DAL w/o HCA against LAL would be done in 5.
It's wishful thinking to suggest that LA won't make the WCF. Start praying, brah. Pray the outta that prayer
Oh my bad, scrah...that changes everything now...First of all, it's 54-13 Nick. Secondly, hearing a Knicks fan talk about defense is like a Mavs fan talking about championships. Hope to see you in the Finals, but the chances of that happening are far worse than the world coming to the end.
There's just no rational scenario that has San Antonio beating Los Angeles 4 times in a series. tbh I'm having a hard time seeing them win even 2 or 3 games. Sorry brah, the Lakers are just too big and the Spurs have nobody who can adequately defend Kobe.
These are things we know.
The truth is everyone has been waiting for a slump all year long and we kept bouncing back and winning, now we're in a slump better to get it over with now. We are so deep and yes we depend on the 3, but those 3's have been going down no reason to think they won't start falling again. Every team has weaknesses we just have to exploit them I trust Pop will have us ready come playoff time.
How bout our backcourt vs. theres dip , or our bench vs. theres. If we can overcome phil's whining at the press conference between games and the gigantic effect it's always had, going back to his chicago days(your a knick fan you know what I'm talking about) we can get those la s.
lol at you, you just lost hca to the lakers. That means bye bye in the second round. No more rick.
Looking at the remaining schedules I think Dallas will have HCA over LA. LA will have to claw through Portland and Dallas to reach the WCF. Won't be easy.
Considering the fact that you'll disappear as soon as LA is gone, I'm not sure why I'm even having this conversation with you.
lol getting defensive
Dallas has 7 home games and 8 road games left. LA has 10 home and 4 away left...yet you, in your infinite wisdom predict Dallas to finish better despite being 1 game behind and still having to go to Staples for another game.
Then you have a red-hot Blazers team actually falling in the standings to the point where they'd play LA in the first round.
Do you think before you post?
Take a look at both of our scenarios and ask yourself this: Which one is based in reality, and which one is wishful thinking?
You are a ing dumbass and I just proved it...moving along...
But wait, you're going to at least stick around until LA loses, right?? Don't go Nick...I'm sorry...come back...come back......
call me.
Had Dirk not have gotten injurned the Mavs may have the best record now. The mavs went on a bad run right after Dirk and Butler went down. They righted the ship when Dirk got back.
It would not be an upset if the Spurs lose to the mavs and especially if the Spurs are playing mediocre ball and terrible defense like they have been lately.
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