Seedings will be a key if we want to win it all,its all about having your best matchups and for the other giants to fight and eliminate each other, in short, an easy way to the big stage. Currently, the spurs sit in 1,okc 2 ,la 3,lac 4,mem 5 (pls cortect me if im wrong) and utah and suns belonging in the" fight for 8 "teams in the west. Now our dream would be to have the weakest team possible in the first and clips in the 2nd round with la and okc having a 7 game dogfight to face us in the WCF. If you were Pop what will you do with the two utah games considering they can make it to the 8th spot and is a favorable matchup for us(imo)?will you win those two games and maybe the suns finds a way to be the 8th seed which is also favorable for us and we can finally avenge the skunker. We also have 3 games in the next 2 weeks against LA, now we would love to help La clinch the 2/3 spot with okc because of their WCSF dogfight. The question is will we tank the 2 or 1 game/s we have against them for their seedings or we will win the 3 games against them (which imo is unlikely to happen) to clinch our 1 seed and let their play dictate their seeding come playoff time?
Right now the most likely matchup to remain as is happens to be in the middle of the pack, clippers and memphis. The rest of the teams are either huddled fairly close at the top or near the bottom and a crapshoot. Obviously, this can still change but if it didn't I would predict the grizz advance.
Assuming the spurs capture #1 and can get to the 2nd round a rematch of last year with the grizz would be awaiting them.
Hmm... I'm not sure that's such a good idea. That team is also playing some good ball. If this is the big rotation Pop wants to use, then I'd rather not play the Grizzlies if it can be helped.
Well, the lakers appear to be the next most likely team to remain where they are (at #3) so if the spurs tanked to get #2 they would most likely face the lakers in the 2nd round assuming they get past their 1st round opponent.
Pick your poison. I'd rather face the lakers tbh. The grizz look extremely tough (even better than last year) since you have to stop both Gay and Randolph now. Plus I think Arenas and Speights can easily replace Arthur/Vasquez and really the only thing that one could argue they'll be missing from last year is Battier's experience and toughness. But overall they are all more experienced now and don't appear to be lacking in latter category either.
I hate that it's come to this but I have to agree with you.
The Lakers look dysfunctional on their best days and I feel like if Tim/Blair/Bonner/Diaw can somewhat limit their bigs and Leonard can goad Kobe into chucking, then the series would work in San Antonio's favour.
Memphis on the other hand, would probably employ the same strategy they used last time. Personally, I don't really see a reason why last season's strategy wouldn't work with a few tweaks for them. Z-bo is back, and like you say that team is more experienced and they're putting it together. Revenge isn't worth it to me because we're still weak inside.
Here's my up-to-date "scary list" of teams in the order I would not want to face them:
1. Memphis
2. Houston
3. LA Lakers
4. OKC
5. Den
6. Dal
7. Phoenix
8. LA Clippers
9. Utah
10. Port
I would probably switch Denver with OKC and place LAC a little bit higher but I more or less agree with this list.
The Spurs want the teams that plays the least amount of defense.
Den scares you the most huh? What exactly?
I myself would welcome them as a 1st or 2nd round opponent. Easy pickings since that trade where they lost Nene. So far McGee hasn't looked like a fit with that team at all and Chandler has less basketball IQ than Blair. All in all, a much less scarier team now IMHO.
Not the most. Just more than OKC.
I would agree with your points, except that George Karl is a really good coach. His history of making knuckleheads play organized ball is enough to make me cautious. I mean, Denver didn't even have Nene and Gallo when they came to San Antonio and beat us. Nene's gone but Gallo would probably give the Spurs even more problems.
Overall they're deep, they're athletic, they'll know how to exploit the Spurs' weaknesses, and I just like the way Karl runs things. He adjusts faster than Popovich and he really knows how to get more out of his players. Between that and the fact that we'd be counting on Blair and Bonner I just don't think they'd be an easy out.
OKC on the other hand, is exactly the kind of team the Spurs can comfortably beat with their depth and experience. They seem kind of y and while Fisher is a concern, with proper rotations and enough game planning I think the Spurs take that series without too much trouble. Call me crazy but Westbrook inspires that kind of confidence in me. That and we also know that Blair is not going to be a complete liability against this team so that's a little less babysitting Tim is going to have to do.
Didn't think of the Karl angle. You're right, that could be problematic. And Gallinari/Harrington are really tough covers for the turds. West is gettin' scarier and scarier as the season winds down. Alot of really good teams starting to establish themselves as potential contenders now: Mem, LA, Den, Hou, Phoenix.Not the most. Just more than OKC.
I would agree with your points, except that George Karl is a really good coach. His history of making knuckleheads play organized ball is enough to make me cautious. I mean, Denver didn't even have Nene and Gallo when they came to San Antonio and beat us. Nene's gone but Gallo would probably give the Spurs even more problems.
Overall they're deep, they're athletic, they'll know how to exploit the Spurs' weaknesses, and I just like the way Karl runs things. He adjusts faster than Popovich and he really knows how to get more out of his players. Between that and the fact that we'd be counting on Blair and Bonner I just don't think they'd be an easy out.
OKC on the other hand, is exactly the kind of team the Spurs can comfortably beat with their depth and experience. They seem kind of y and while Fisher is a concern, with proper rotations and enough game planning I think the Spurs take that series without too much trouble. Call me crazy but Westbrook inspires that kind of confidence in me. That and we also know that Blair is not going to be a complete liability against this team so that's a little less babysitting Tim is going to have to do.
Yeah. I really hadn't expected teams like Houston and Denver to play this well to be honest. Phoenix is another surprise to me as well. As for the Lakers, I keep saying I wouldn't mind playing them but visions of Bonner or Blair guarding Bynum and Gasol keep running through my mind. That and Miami and Chicago are exactly the type of teams that have had San Antonio's number for the last several seasons.
I'm not convinced but I'm really hoping that Diaw can be that difference maker. Though I feel uneasy in general with the direction the Spurs are headed. Can't quite put my finger on why...
Anyone know the h2h of clips vs mem this season? I assumed and am hoping that la wins their playoff matchup tbh.
Does it really make sense NOW to think about that?
The running is to close...If we tank games to create a "nice path" we might loosing this path to OKC, skrewing ourselfes and so on.
IMO, you can think about something like that with like 3 games left but right now, we just need to win as often as possible:
- coz hca is the surest thing we know right now
- it would be easier to tank 1-2 games later, than needing wins at this point
As for matchups: LAK, MEM, DAL and OKC are the only teams that scare me and we will meet two of them anyway...and I dont care who it will be!
Dream scenario and very possible
#1 Spurs
#2 OKC
#3 LAL
#4 Clippers
#5 Mavs
#6 Memphis
#7 Houston
#8 Denver
This would put Memphis and LAL in the OKC half of the bracket which would be a dream scenario for the Spurs. That being said I am not trying to duck any team just admitting that matchup wise the Grizz and the Lakers are the most worrisome matchups for this Spurs roster, we are stacked but are not stacked with quality bigs.
Point well made. But it does makes sense because the next games are the teams that we want and not want to face come playoffs. I also didnt say to tank too much and I also said it would be nice to clinch west hca.
100%Duncan with the scared thread
Play for the best seed, whoever we play, we play. This team is too talented to tank or try to manipulate the seedings. Don't play scared lil bro
Lakers and Thunder are the two most dangerous teams. Spurs should try to put both on the other side of the bracket.
While it's almost a given that Spurs and Thunder won't potentially face before the WCF since they should share the #1 and #2 seed, it's more complicate for the Lakers. Spurs will face Lakers 3 times. If Spurs win 2 or 3 of these games, they have a good shot at being #1 but Lakers could slip to #4. If Spurs lose 2 or 3 of these games, Lakers should hold into #3 but Spurs could slip to #2.
No sense trying to manipulate seeding by tanking unless there are only one or two games left. Too many unknowns at this point.
Sincerely,
ter McGee
Exactly! We should simply focus on getting the #1 seed period. Also, I know Houston has given us fits in the reg season but give me a break. In the playoffs, they would be toast against us. On the other hand, OKC, is very dangerous with the Durant and Westbrook combo and they will be our toughest challenge in my opinion. I think Memphis is stronger than the Lakers or Dallas but it would be nice payback in the 2nd round. The only apprehension to playing them is they are very physical and we would be pretty banged up after that series.
I want Houston.
Without K-Martin and Lowry they couldn't go hard on us. They look good now but when playoff time comes they'll miss Lowry and Martin.
Our bench is too deep for Houston.
In the semis Clippers could be dangerous. Memphis would be fine. This year we can beat them.
Exactly. At this point are rotations are so deep that we can try and win every game up to the end. We're still gelling as a team also and need work on our rotations. Tanking will do no good right now seeing how close the bottom seeds are, we're just Gona have to wait it out. Besides we still have lots of Basketball to play.
Game 64 is on Monday, April 23rd at home v. Portland
Game 65: Wed, Apr 25 @ PHX
Game 66: Thurs, Apr 26 @ GS (late game on TNT)
Round 1/Game 1: Sat, Apr 28 or Sun, Apr 29
If we're lucky enough to get through Game 64 with the Big 3 healthy, then I leave them in San Antonio for the last two games. If it was allowed, I'd keep the whole team back and let the Toros play those last two games. I don't care what seeding possibilities still remain.
But ideally being healthy and avoiding LA/OKC until a possible WCF match up is great & dream would be avoiding MEM altogether.
C'mon thispego100%Duncan with the scared thread
Play for the best seed, whoever we play, we play. This team is too talented to tank or try to manipulate the seedings. Don't play scared lil bro
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