LA Times Picks Spurs To Win It All in '14

[Holden_Caulfield]

everyone pretty much doesnt want a 3peat

[spurs10]

1) It comes down to health, we enter playoffs healthy and we have as good a chance as anyone.

2) Duncan's new playing weight should keep father time away for another year.

3) Kawhi's development.

4) Very underrated and won't be talked about much by media but like Bruno noticed during the prep games for Eurobasket, Diaw is playing with extra aggressiveness and it looks like he wants to translate that to the NBA season as well.

5) First full year with Splitter in starting line up.

6) Change in bench rotation.

7) Finally have a true back up PG to start the season in CJ.

Yes health has to be kind to us, but I think we have much to look forward to this season.

[spurs10]

Please let it happen.

Will you change your heartbreaking avatar if we do??!!

[weeks]

i think last year lit a fire under a lot of the players. i think they realized it really is right there for them to grasp if they just take it.

[timtonymanu]

It's very possible that the Spurs could win. I feel confident about them going into the season. They know what they lost in the Finals.I actually see them improving from last year. Of course, they got to stay healthy first. I wouldn't call the Heat the favorites just yet even though LeBron is a great talent.

[Skull-1]

Major jinx attempt by the LA newspaper, tbh.

[KaiRMD1]

It is ours ol' sport

[Chillen]

Spurs have no reason at all to not be motivated, they were mere seconds away from winning an NBA le in game 6 vs Miami and let it slip away in the closing moments. If they can stay healthy and having more experience with them and some fire lit in them from last seasons disappointment they are in a good position to win it all so it's very possible, got to play harder than they did in 2013 to pull it off though. No team in the NBA will roll over and die for you, you have to play hard and go take it from them, Miami didn't give up vs the Spurs in the Finals. Spurs have to learn from the way they lost the Finals and comeback with huge motivation to win the championship.

[Kidd K]

You are absolutely right on. Tim is a pro but a guy can only take so much... Last year was a perfect storm. Everything went our way until the final 26 seconds of Game Six...

Perhaps Belli will surprise us and Manu won't be such a negative with reduced playing time as a result...

Thanks. And yeah I agree, we were VERY fortunate last year. Before the season I listed out a list of stuff we needed to happen to win a le, and we got over 80% of it. We neded Tim to be better, he was WAY better (so much better that it helped try to negate Ginobili's decline), we neded Kawhi to be better and he got a lot better. We needed Tony to get back to his peak form and he did. We needed Splitter to improve and he did (those he disappeared in the Finals), we needed Manu to get back to form (not did he not do that he got a lot worse, this is my biggest fear going forward; that he will get even worse and Pop will continue to give him too much responsibility that he can't handle anymore), and we needed Green to step up and he stepped up huge.

Non-Spur related things, we needed OKC to pick up and injury or somehow decline, and not only did they stupidly trade Harden to get a lot more beatable but even Westbrook went down. So our biggest roadblock was gone. Almost everything last year went great and according to most optomistic expectation except for Ginobili.

We will not have all the dice bounce our way again, so yes we will be worse this year. It's almost a foregone conclusion since last year went so well and the only way to be better would be to win the le.

We're going to be BETTER than last year, and we're coming home with the hardware, but continue to hide under your bed.

I hope we are and will be watching the whole season again, but yeah I don't see how I'm "hiding under my bed" by giving a realistic take on how we won't be as good be this year. More like you can continue burying your head in the sand. Two of our best players are old and one of the two is in rapid decline.

[exstatic]

Thanks. And yeah I agree, we were VERY fortunate last year. Before the season I listed out a list of stuff we needed to happen to win a le, and we got over 80% of it. We neded Tim to be better, he was WAY better (so much better that it helped try to negate Ginobili's decline), we neded Kawhi to be better and he got a lot better. We needed Tony to get back to his peak form and he did. We needed Splitter to improve and he did (those he disappeared in the Finals), we needed Manu to get back to form (not did he not do that he got a lot worse, this is my biggest fear going forward; that he will get even worse and Pop will continue to give him too much responsibility that he can't handle anymore), and we needed Green to step up and he stepped up huge.

Non-Spur related things, we needed OKC to pick up and injury or somehow decline, and not only did they stupidly trade Harden to get a lot more beatable but even Westbrook went down. So our biggest roadblock was gone. Almost everything last year went great and according to most optomistic expectation except for Ginobili.

We will not have all the dice bounce our way again, so yes we will be worse this year. It's almost a foregone conclusion since last year went so well and the only way to be better would be to win the le.



I hope we are and will be watching the whole season again, but yeah I don't see how I'm "hiding under my bed" by giving a realistic take on how we won't be as good be this year. More like you can continue burying your head in the sand. Two of our best players are old and one of the two is in rapid decline.

Manu's further decline will be more than offset by our budding 22 YO future All Star.

None of the things that happened last year has to come undone, but you seem to believe that ALL of them will. OKC has gotten even worse. In the past 12 months or so, they've gone from Harden, to Martin, to Jeremy Lamb at the SG position. They have a lot more to worry about there than we do, even with Manu's decline. The funniest thing I read this summer was that Durant REALLY, REALLY wanted Belineli, but they were too capped/taxed out to make him an offer. He would certainly start for them, but is bench depth for us. That should tell you all you need to know about their talent decline.

[xmas1997]

Naturally I want the Spurs to win it all, I do every year.
But as long as the Heat do not 3peat and neither the Mavs, Lakers, nor Nets win it, I'm ok with whoever takes it.

[Macca76]

Read the "Duncan's summer workout" thread. Dude is shadowboxing and has been training all summer. He is pissed and could easily have a similarly spectacular season what with all the workouts and focus this offseason. Green, Leonard, Diaw, Cojo, Baynes and Splitter could all step up to varying degrees. Plus we upgraded the two weakest spots on the roster with Belli coming in for Neal and Pend switching out Blair's weakened efforts.

Manu skipped National team play for ARG and has been working out in South America with a Spurs trainer for the last month.

This is a team that had all but stolen a le from the nike-fed super group last June, it was the Spurs' to lose. And now they upgraded the weakest spots on the roster, fringe roleplayers had another year to acclimate with the system and should make even more impact, and the core is still capable with only Ginobili really looking to revamp how he contributes.

We were #2 last season, and all the parts are coming back. Some might even be stronger. No reason we can't finish #1 this season. Especially if Beasley starts passing the dabs round the Heat locker room.

But I agree, like Van Gundy says, the wheels will eventually have to come off, but until they do, Spurs look pretty strong and capable.

Couldn't agree more and great post indeed !

One of my concerns is TP health / fatigue following a long season and a Euro Tournament. I do hope Pop will rest him a lot at the beginning of the season and through the season and we are lucky that Pop isn't Thibodeau (for that item) so I hope it's gonna be ok.

As Bruno and ace3g just pointed out, an aggressive Boris Diaw (two dunks in Euro tournament and one from a alley hoop ) could do wonders and change things a bit in the game .

So all in all I'm pretty optimistic (but I often am )

[Captivus]

Clippers...?

[rmt]

This isn't about the Spurs winning. It's LA hoping and wishing that Lebron doesn't 3-peat. Sentiment is echoed at the beginning and end of the story. Don't take anything regarding the Spurs outta that article.

[Sportcamper]

It is a good NBA article…But BEN BOLCH …

[Skull-1]

Thanks. And yeah I agree, we were VERY fortunate last year. Before the season I listed out a list of stuff we needed to happen to win a le, and we got over 80% of it. We neded Tim to be better, he was WAY better (so much better that it helped try to negate Ginobili's decline), we neded Kawhi to be better and he got a lot better. We needed Tony to get back to his peak form and he did. We needed Splitter to improve and he did (those he disappeared in the Finals), we needed Manu to get back to form (not did he not do that he got a lot worse, this is my biggest fear going forward; that he will get even worse and Pop will continue to give him too much responsibility that he can't handle anymore), and we needed Green to step up and he stepped up huge.

Non-Spur related things, we needed OKC to pick up and injury or somehow decline, and not only did they stupidly trade Harden to get a lot more beatable but even Westbrook went down. So our biggest roadblock was gone. Almost everything last year went great and according to most optomistic expectation except for Ginobili.

We will not have all the dice bounce our way again, so yes we will be worse this year. It's almost a foregone conclusion since last year went so well and the only way to be better would be to win the le.



I hope we are and will be watching the whole season again, but yeah I don't see how I'm "hiding under my bed" by giving a realistic take on how we won't be as good be this year. More like you can continue burying your head in the sand. Two of our best players are old and one of the two is in rapid decline.

Dead on, bro. You missed that Parker is once again foolishly playing in the off season. This will be at our expense. He is primed to breakdown...

[sammy]

Read the "Duncan's summer workout" thread. Dude is shadowboxing and has been training all summer. He is pissed and could easily have a similarly spectacular season what with all the workouts and focus this offseason. Green, Leonard, Diaw, Cojo, Baynes and Splitter could all step up to varying degrees. Plus we upgraded the two weakest spots on the roster with Belli coming in for Neal and Pend switching out Blair's weakened efforts.

Manu skipped National team play for ARG and has been working out in South America with a Spurs trainer for the last month.

This is a team that had all but stolen a le from the nike-fed super group last June, it was the Spurs' to lose. And now they upgraded the weakest spots on the roster, fringe roleplayers had another year to acclimate with the system and should make even more impact, and the core is still capable with only Ginobili really looking to revamp how he contributes.

We were #2 last season, and all the parts are coming back. Some might even be stronger. No reason we can't finish #1 this season. Especially if Beasley starts passing the dabs round the Heat locker room.

But I agree, like Van Gundy says, the wheels will eventually have to come off, but until they do, Spurs look pretty strong and capable.

So true!

[Sean Cagney]

Naturally I want the Spurs to win it all, I do every year.
But as long as the Heat do not 3peat and neither the Mavs, Lakers, nor Nets win it, I'm ok with whoever takes it.

I agree, but I want the SPURS damnit! ONE MORE.

[look_at_g_shred]

I agree, but I want the SPURS damnit! ONE MORE.

[Budkin]

Will you change your heartbreaking avatar if we do??!!

Oh I'm changing that as soon as the season starts.

[exstatic]

Clippers...?

Show ponies.

[james evans]

Read the "Duncan's summer workout" thread. Dude is shadowboxing and has been training all summer. He is pissed and could easily have a similarly spectacular season what with all the workouts and focus this offseason. Green, Leonard, Diaw, Cojo, Baynes and Splitter could all step up to varying degrees. Plus we upgraded the two weakest spots on the roster with Belli coming in for Neal and Pend switching out Blair's weakened efforts.

Manu skipped National team play for ARG and has been working out in South America with a Spurs trainer for the last month.

This is a team that had all but stolen a le from the nike-fed super group last June, it was the Spurs' to lose. And now they upgraded the weakest spots on the roster, fringe roleplayers had another year to acclimate with the system and should make even more impact, and the core is still capable with only Ginobili really looking to revamp how he contributes.

We were #2 last season, and all the parts are coming back. Some might even be stronger. No reason we can't finish #1 this season. Especially if Beasley starts passing the dabs round the Heat locker room.

But I agree, like Van Gundy says, the wheels will eventually have to come off, but until they do, Spurs look pretty strong and capable.

won't mean when he's going off in games and popovich decides to sit him down because he's playing too well but continues to leave ginobli on the floor turning the ball over and forcing bad shots. i don't care if' he's fighting bulls in spain. none of that means as long as popovich continues to make ty decisions during games

[Kidd K]

Manu's further decline will be more than offset by our budding 22 YO future All Star.

None of the things that happened last year has to come undone, but you seem to believe that ALL of them will. OKC has gotten even worse. In the past 12 months or so, they've gone from Harden, to Martin, to Jeremy Lamb at the SG position. They have a lot more to worry about there than we do, even with Manu's decline. The funniest thing I read this summer was that Durant REALLY, REALLY wanted Belineli, but they were too capped/taxed out to make him an offer. He would certainly start for them, but is bench depth for us. That should tell you all you need to know about their talent decline.

I do not think all of them will (did not say they all will), I was saying I think some will as it's almost inevitable; however, because that only makes sense as they were all a STEP UP from the past THREE seasons.

This is what's known as an anomally, or in sports terms, a miracle season where almost everything goes just right.

You have to be crazy to expect the following things to all happen again:

Duncan to again have his best season in 5 years at 37 (and this is my favorite player, zero bias against Duncan)

Ginobili to somehow get a lot better

The Thunder to be missing one of their best two players again.


^ Those are key things I don't expect to happen again. The other stuff is more likely to repeat or to happen, but all of them at once AND these three things? Yeah, that's what isn't happening. Can I roll a die 8 times and get a 6 every time? I can, but how likely is it?


As for Belinelli, since he isn't that good, it's probable that Durant was just trying to prop him up so he'd feel wanted and go there. It's ridiculous you'd even insinuate that OKC had declined extensitvely. Their declined started when Harden was traded and also stopped when Harden was traded until Westbrook hurt his knee. Don't forget they finished top 2 even without Harden anyway. OKC is not a declining team in any way outside of Westbrook's knee status.

As for OKC declining at SG. . .really? Hmm, I seem to recall some other team in the west declining heavily at SG over the past couple seasons too. . .who could that be? That team seems incredibly familiar almost as if I watch all their games every season, but I can't quite place it for some reason.

[exstatic]

I do not think all of them will (did not say they all will), I was saying I think some will as it's almost inevitable; however, because that only makes sense as they were all a STEP UP from the past THREE seasons.

This is what's known as an anomally, or in sports terms, a miracle season where almost everything goes just right.

You have to be crazy to expect the following things to all happen again:

Duncan to again have his best season in 5 years at 37 (and this is my favorite player, zero bias against Duncan)

Ginobili to somehow get a lot better

The Thunder to be missing one of their best two players again.


^ Those are key things I don't expect to happen again. The other stuff is more likely to repeat or to happen, but all of them at once AND these three things? Yeah, that's what isn't happening. Can I roll a die 8 times and get a 6 every time? I can, but how likely is it?


As for Belinelli, since he isn't that good, it's probable that Durant was just trying to prop him up so he'd feel wanted and go there. It's ridiculous you'd even insinuate that OKC had declined extensitvely. Their declined started when Harden was traded and also stopped when Harden was traded until Westbrook hurt his knee. Don't forget they finished top 2 even without Harden anyway. OKC is not a declining team in any way outside of Westbrook's knee status.

As for OKC declining at SG. . .really? Hmm, I seem to recall some other team in the west declining heavily at SG over the past couple seasons too. . .who could that be? That team seems incredibly familiar almost as if I watch all their games every season, but I can't quite place it for some reason.

We were beating OKC, even with a healthy Westbrook. Unless they somehow get Harden back, their days of Finals are done.

Our SG position is better and deeper than theirs, even if Manu doesn't come back to where he was even two seasons ago.

Us: Green, Manu, Beli

OKC: Lamb, Thabo, Andre Roberson

I'm also loving all of the Manu hate. What you people are saying about him is EXACTLY what people were saying about Duncan 12 months ago.

[Skull-1]

won't mean when he's going off in games and popovich decides to sit him down because he's playing too well but continues to leave ginobli on the floor turning the ball over and forcing bad shots. i don't care if' he's fighting bulls in spain. none of that means as long as popovich continues to make ty decisions during games

Oh don't worry about it. Cd021 assures us that Manu's turnovers "didn't really hurt us".