We have recently lost 3 of the last 6 close games. I gotta think with Manu...

[Horse]

Exactly.

This is the biggest reason this team won't be "fine" in the long run, as so many seem to think. People have this idea that they can get by a few 1st round games or potentially even the entire series without him and I don't disagree. But he's not just going to jump back in and immediately give them 30 mpg of elite per minute play and by the 2nd round, that combined with Neal not being right physically and Jackson being teetering on the brink of being done (I'll give him the playoffs before making it official), is going to be extremely difficult to overcome.

Neal looks like he's just about back. If you wanna compare to last season Leonard is better Splitter is alot better. I think even Green is better and Duncan is playing better. The D is better and the overall FT% is the best it's been under Pop that's gotta count for something.

[ElNono]

Well, we were winning games and beating the best the West has to offer when he was closing games a mere week ago...

proof, pudding, etc...

[Monkeyboy14]

At this point I think the spurs need to find a way to win without manu. Dudes getting injured right and left. I think the Spurs need to find a way to limit the amount of damage they take when he is injured. Then sore when he is good to go.

[ElNono]

At this point I think the spurs need to find a way to win without manu. Dudes getting injured right and left. I think the Spurs need to find a way to limit the amount of damage they take when he is injured. Then sore when he is good to go.

The Spurs have a winning record when missing one of Tony, Duncan or Manu, so they 'know how to win' without each one of them.

But it's a matter of talent and level of compe ion. When the playoffs roll around and over a 7 games series, you want your team to have the best shot at winning, and that means you need to have available your best talent. That includes all of the big 3.

[Chinook]

Here's the question on my mind: Are the Spurs with a hobbled Ginobili better than the Thunder with Martin instead of Harden? I think it's a wash. If the Medium Three can play good to great ball, I think they still have a chance to make it out of the west.

[Monkeyboy14]

The Spurs have a winning record when missing one of Tony, Duncan or Manu, so they 'know how to win' without each one of them.

But it's a matter of talent and level of compe ion. When the playoffs roll around and over a 7 games series, you want your team to have the best shot at winning, and that means you need to have available your best talent. That includes all of the big 3.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. Spurs need to find a way to challenge for a le without manu. I think they need to look at it as, manu is here, great! we have that amazing x-factor. We dont have manu? Ok, we can still contend.

[ElNono]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. Spurs need to find a way to challenge for a le without manu. I think they need to look at it as, manu is here, great! we have that amazing x-factor. We dont have manu? Ok, we can still contend.

You can't do that IMO, without having somebody else reaching a level that replaces 'the good Manu' contributions. That's not really something you can coach or anything. The good news is that Manu's deal is off the books next season, so there will be cap space to looks for fresher legs and talent, while you can relegate Manu if he decides to come back to a lesser role. The other good news is that we have a bunch of young players (Green, CoJo, De Colo, etc), that are still getting better.

[hater]

Here's the question on my mind: Are the Spurs with a hobbled Ginobili better than the Thunder with Martin instead of Harden? I think it's a wash. If the Medium Three can play good to great ball, I think they still have a chance to make it out of the west.

James Harden of 2012 >>>> Ginobili of 2012

is not even close. OKC will miss him more. Kmart is just a filler and he has a really bad playoff track record, so he is irrelevant.

[TD 21]

Neal looks like he's just about back. If you wanna compare to last season Leonard is better Splitter is alot better. I think even Green is better and Duncan is playing better. The D is better and the overall FT% is the best it's been under Pop that's gotta count for something.

Splitter is not better, he's just playing more minutes. As for the rest, who cares? None of that matters, because once again bad luck has ruined their season. It's absolutely, positively over. To many are still in denial, but deep down, they know.

[TheGoldStandard]

If we stay in the 8th seed we'll probably win in 6 games in the first round but it's not like each matchup will have a cakewalk into the 2nd round so I think we can manage to get to the WCF this year. The biggest problem is health and the bench. Now if we can get Manu back in the 2nd round that will be nice, regardless if he's making shots or not he does draw defenders and his intangibles makes him a threat so he can help get the bench involved. If he is able to contribute 8 or 10 points a game that's even better especially if Kawhi is still producing like he has been.

The only thing that last night told me is that if TP was 100% we'd have either won or made it even more compe ive than it was, very little dribble penetration all night and stagnant when our 1st team was out there because nobody was creating that space on the perimeter. An 80% parker and an 80% Manu will get us a good chance to get into the WCF and hopefully by then we'll be able to get our bench together to show up and contribute enough to get us into the Finals. Then all bets are off.

[rascal]

The way manu has been playing they may have lost a couple of those wins.

[rascal]

James Harden of 2012 >>>> Ginobili of 2012

is not even close. OKC will miss him more. Kmart is just a filler and he has a really bad playoff track record, so he is irrelevant.

You really have to take the equation (Martin - Harden > - Manu)

[Phenomanul]

You really have to take the equation (Martin - Harden > - Manu)

ummm ok.... if you say so...

[Josepatches_]

As bad as he was playing he still being key for a long run in the playoffs. Like or not but that's the truth

This team is a worse team without Manu. Only haters can argue with that

[100%duncan]

yes.

[boutons_deux]

As bad as he was playing he still being key for a long run in the playoffs. Like or not but that's the truth

This team is a worse team without Manu. Only haters can argue with that

off the bench, Manu really helped the 2nd unit, which is in bad shape without him.