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I want Utah. Nash is still dangerous, and Gentry is a better coach than Corbin, imo. Spurs should win either series, but I could see Phoenix taking a series to 6 games.
At the time of this posting, the Jazz have a record of 34 - 30 while the Suns have a record of 33 - 31. Phoenix currently owns a 2 - 0 season series lead over the Jazz, which means they will have the tiebreaker, should the two teams finish with identical records.
So what does this mean for the Spurs? Tomorrow's PHX @ UTA game will have significant implications for who our first round opponent will be. If the Jazz win, they will clinch the 8th seed and become our first round opponent. But if they don't? Here's where it gets interesting.
If the Suns win tomorrow's game, they will usurp Utah for the final playoff spot in the West, pending their final game against San Antonio. Since this is the case, the Spurs' coaching staff will have a very interesting choice to make. They can effectively "choose" which team they'd rather play in the first round, either by tanking the game against Phoenix, or choosing to go all out and win it. If they lose, they get the Suns, and conversely, they get the Jazz if they win, assuming the Jazz beat the Blazers in their finale.
It should be really interesting to watch how these final few days of the regular season play out.
I want Utah. Nash is still dangerous, and Gentry is a better coach than Corbin, imo. Spurs should win either series, but I could see Phoenix taking a series to 6 games.
I'll say Suns, only because the Jazz are more physical and have the third best starting big duo in the league. But their duo doesn't have nearly the size of the Lakers or even Grizzlies. In all honesty though, I don't really care. The best that can be hoped for by either of those teams is to extend the series to five and to avoid being blown out more than twice.
FYI, on the unlikely chance that the Nuggets lose their last two games (they would have to lose their final game to Minnesota), and the Jazz win their last two games, then Denver would be the 8th seed.
Its a win-win situation but I'd prefer the Jazz.
-They lack depth at every position.
-Devin Harris won't make clutch three pointers
-No consistent scorer outside of big Al.
-No defensive aces
-No consistent 3 point threat.
I'll say suns. Now that we have number 1 seed locked up we can play our bench and lets see what happens in the suns and utah game
Dont matter but I'm guessing the Jazz take care of biz at home tom and then our game vs phx is meaningless.
It's an interesting scenario, and while I would prefer to face Phoenix over Utah, there's just no way the Spurs will "tank" a game. They don't have that mentality. Even if all of the big 3 sit out, the rest of our guys will still play balls-out to win...and they probably will. Right now, the Spurs reserves could beat most NBA starters.
When you consider that Utah still has another game after that, the Spurs can't directly determine anything. So we can't worry about that. The focus has to be on staying healthy and continuing to play elite basketball.
Phoenix, I think. Sorta. Utah would possibly bang them up more.
But the Spurs have over the Suns for so long, I don't think it's fair to do it again.
But they swept us in 2010! We need revenge on that.
PHX = sweep.
Utah = 4-1
I'd take PHX and the extra game off.
I think the Spurs sweep them both in the current form they are in.
Prefer the Jazz, as their team is largely composed of guys with little or no playoff experience.
There's no getting revenge for that sweep. Stoudemire is in NY now.
I'm not sure about wanting the Jazz. Those guys don't say quit ever.
We can sweep both but we gotta repay the skunker
This. Plus, Utah's crowd can get a little rowdy.
That said, the Spurs should be able to win their first round series in 5 games regardless of who it is, and I'd honestly find a Spurs - Suns series more entertaining than a Spurs - Jazz one, mostly because of the rivalry.
Not gonna happen.
Yeah, but it isn't difficult to come up with a laundry list of problems the Suns possess as well, and then proclaim them the better match-up. Besides, Utah's frontcourt depth is pretty good (Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors are their backups), and Devin Harris did go off against us towards the end of our last meeting.
I agree with you, I think its a win-win situation and that you can make good arguments either way. I would be happy with either opponent.
But to play devils advocate:
-Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are both young and have no playoff experience. They both have loads of potential but neither has been dominant with their playing time this season.
-Devin Harris went off against us from the 3point line. I doubt that happens again because he's streaky shooter and has never been consistent from beyond the arc.
-Jazz have no leadership and no one with anything resembling playoff experience.. well besides Raja Bell.
-They don't have the outside shooting to compound Al Jefferson's post play.
Want Suns so I can see a few games here in Phoenix lol
I would say Phoenix, just because the Jazz are a more physical team than the Suns overall. Plus they have a better post game with Millsap and Jefferson inside...
Someone brought up a point in another thread about the Spurs possibly playing Denver in the first round. If Denver ends up tied with the Jazz (both have 2 games left and the Nuggets are only 2 games up) the Jazz own the tiebreaker and would be the 7th seed.
Who cares, line them up and beat them all.
I would prefer we play the Jazz. I would like for Splitter to get more experience against physical bigs to prepare for the later rounds. Our overall team is capable of handling the Jazz so I wouldn't like for Splitter to play against the Suns. They aren't as physical as say, Memphis or LA and that's when Splitter will be needed most. The crowd in Utah is amazing and they have a great home record so it'll be great for the younger guys to know what to expect past the first round.
Green is used to the bright lights so I don't worry as much about him. North Carolina is a great proving ground for younger players to understand what "big" games are about. I'm not sure about Leonard, but he doesn't look like he fazes easily. I would just prefer the tougher matchup to get the other guys focused.
Don't really matter, and even though the big three will likely sit out the last two I think we still have to try to win the last two to keep the momentum. I don't think there should be any tanking of the last game regardless of the scenario. Either matchup should be favorable to us in round one.
I would probably lean on the Suns though I won't get excited until we beat whoever we meet in the first round.
I'd prefer PHO, but wouldnt tank to get them (oh yeah...we should sit the big3 anyway, but we can beat them witout them).
but UTA will take care of them today!
Spurs struggle against good three point shooting teams.
I vote Utah. Plus their depth sucks.
Their front line being tough rugged and the building being tough reminds me of the Nuggets of 03-08. Good prepare er for the playoffs.
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