So halfway through the season... what are you thinking about the Spurs?

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

I think this is it, the last stand. Parker was playing at an MVP level, Duncan pulled one out of his ass and had an amazing Finals run, GOAT PF doing GOAT PF things, and Danny Green broke a Finals 3 point record. That was a lot of things that went right for the Spurs, not to mention Westbrooks injury, which opened the door to the Finals for the Spurs. The Spurs will go down swinging and fighting father time, but I think its the end of an era.

I'm starting to lean towards this too... it was perfect each one of the big 3 had their patented "big game" despite struggling all year, Manu pulled one more out of his ass in game 5, and duncan had one of his legendary closeout games.... i think i'm going to start watching SA with no expectations and just enjoy these last two years of the big 3

[TD 21]

I thought we beat a lot of the "top" teams in 2010-2011?

Halfway through the season my impression is that, as expected, the Spurs have been taking it relatively easy. It's a double-edged sword. You know you can play a lot better, especially defensively, but you don't want to slack too much and lose your edge.

All in all, the injuries so far have happened when you want them to happen, in the middle of the regular season, and no season-enders, so in that aspect, we've been generally fortunate. Could be much worse.

This team now needs to get healthy and whole again, hope there are no more injury setbacks, and build towards the playoffs. Especially regain the defensive for ude they've shown back in November.

tbh, Tony has me a little worried. He doesn't look explosive, and I think he's a little banged up. He needs to rest. It might cost some games now, but we're already shorthanded, so if I'm Pop, I would just do it.

Your blind optimism/excuses make me sick.

The Heat have been coasting even more than the Spurs and Wade has sat out (I believe) 12 games, in addition to a few other random minor injuries sprinkled in along the way, yet you don't see them constantly being embarrassed against elite teams, at home no less. Every once in a while, they remind teams who they are because they know, no matter what you've done, you've got to occasionally send a message to other top teams and not let their confidence escalate.

I've never seen a championship team unable to enforce their will on demand. The last two, they really wanted, yet they flat out weren't capable. Sure, the injuries hurt, but they weren't any better with all of them and let's not act like the Thunder weren't missing Westbrook.

[Raven]

i think that when healthy we need to ditch bellinelli and play green+kawhi for 40mpg. Also play cojo ahead of patty.

[RD2191]

I'm starting to lean towards this too... it was perfect each one of the big 3 had their patented "big game" despite struggling all year, Manu pulled one more out of his ass in game 5, and duncan had one of his legendary closeout games.... i think i'm going to start watching SA with no expectations and just enjoy these last two years of the big 3

Yeah, I think these loses are just setting us up for the post big 3 era.

[ElNono]

Your blind optimism/excuses make me sick.

The Heat have been coasting even more than the Spurs and Wade has sat out (I believe) 12 games, in addition to a few other random minor injuries sprinkled in along the way, yet you don't see them constantly being embarrassed against elite teams, at home no less. Every once in a while, they remind teams who they are because they know, no matter what you've done, you've got to send a message to other top teams and not let their confidence escalate.

I've never seen a championship team unable to oppose their will on demand. The last two, they really wanted, yet they just weren't capable. Sure, they injuries hurt, but they weren't any better with all of them and let's not act like the Thunder weren't missing Westbrook.

It isn't optimism, this team was whole and playing excellent defense two months ago. That's just a fact. Notice you can't quote me saying "they're going to flip a switch and be great", because I never say anything like that.

It's a process and this team has all the tools to be great (by league's standards), but they're not there yet. Now with the injuries, they're farther than closer from there. But being whole, and working their way back into defensive shape, there's no reason why they can't contend in the West.

About the games against Portland and this one, I though they were both a step in the right direction, despite the loss. I thought we competed well in both games, and we were into it all the way to the end.

[TheGoldStandard]

i think that when healthy we need to ditch bellinelli and play green+kawhi for 40mpg. Also play cojo ahead of patty.

Wouldn't be fair to Marco.. Kawhi will play 28 minutes a game when he returns, 22 for Green.. nothing new.

[Raven]

Wouldn't be fair to Marco.. Kawhi will play 28 minutes a game when he returns, 22 for Green.. nothing new.

why not, he's killing our team D.

[cjw]

Your blind optimism/excuses make me sick.

The Heat have been coasting even more than the Spurs and Wade has sat out (I believe) 12 games, in addition to a few other random minor injuries sprinkled in along the way, yet you don't see them constantly being embarrassed against elite teams, at home no less. Every once in a while, they remind teams who they are because they know, no matter what you've done, you've got to occasionally send a message to other top teams and not let their confidence escalate.

I've never seen a championship team unable to enforce their will on demand. The last two, they really wanted, yet they flat out weren't capable. Sure, the injuries hurt, but they weren't any better with all of them and let's not act like the Thunder weren't missing Westbrook.

Coasting in the east is a little bit easier... But we play in the west and it hasn't been pretty. The only person not missing Westbrook is KD. He has a demeanor about him like No Headband Lebron.

i think that when healthy we need to ditch bellinelli and play green+kawhi for 40mpg. Also play cojo ahead of patty.

I agree to go heavier with Green and Kawhi but I think Marco will see more playoff minutes than guys like Patty. I'm okay with Manu-Marco-Danny-Boris-Splitter (or something like that) lineups that let the offense run through Manu with Green guarding the point. Would not work against OKC though if both stars are on the floor. As I said before, good defenders need to shadow stars minute for minute.

[Chomag]

Spurs are good, just not good enough. Luckly there is still time where they can make changes to address the issues but acting like nothing is wrong is the worst thing they can do. Pretty much all my thoughts in a nuts .

[spurtech09]

who are we kidding here....the spurs had there chance last yr.....with all these injuries plus spurs can't even beat a good team the spurs are not going to the finals

[G-Dawgg]

If this year is Duncan's best chance at getting another ring before he retires then I feel very sorry for him.. The Spurs do not look confident against the upper tier teams that they've lost to. They seem to fold under the pressure which is something championship caliber team do not do... anybody disagreeing needs to open their eyes and honestly make an evaluation of this team. Do you think this team how they are playing and all the injuries deserves to be crowned as the best in the NBA? .....exactly. No trade is going to fix that. Our Spurs are so good in their old age that they can remain relevant, however we no longer have anybody with enough star power to lead us to the promised land. Still love my Spurs and with cheer them till the bitter end, but I have to look at this team through non-homer goggles too...

[TampaDude]

Ask me in March when everyone's back. Either way, another 50-win season is in the bag.

[Juggity]

The Rodeo Road trip will be a good indicator, depending on whether Splitter and green can get back from injury by that point.

Right now my thoughts are simple: disappointed that the spurs have not been able to stay healthy at the point in the season that normally corresponds to the team's coalescence into a playoff contender.

The spurs do not need to make another trade. The team, as constructed, is roughly as powerful as it will realistically be. You might be able to exchange a few spare parts, like Ayres or Baynes or de colo, or whoever. Maybe mills. But the core of the roster is not going to change. Period. It's not going to happen. The FO is not a subscriber to the "sky is falling" philosophy of spurstalk plebs. I'd like to hear any trade scenarios that work for both the spurs and the trading partner that could significantly improve the spurs. Of course, I'll be interested to watch the trade deadline events, but ultimately I'm pretty positive that no major swaps will take place.

What the spurs need is to get healthy. They need the starters to reacquire the chemistry that made them a finals contender. The Splitter-Duncan pairing, to my eyes, is what made the spurs legit contenders from a defensive standpoint. We need enough offensive production from Splitter, green, kawhi, Duncan, Parker to run that unit as the starters. Defensively, there's no question that can be an elite, finals-level team. Offensively, it's up in the air. But I think that's the crux of any of the the spurs' problems: injuries and chemistry. Marco should not be starting. He belongs to the bench unit, and we need Green's elite transition D and Kawhi's elite man D to check the jumpshooting teams. Houston, Golden State, etc. We learned in 2009-2012 that elite offense is no match for elite defense.

Bottom line: get healthy, don't panic. Over the course of a 7 game series, I trust Pop's adjustment and management skill over any other coach in the NBA. This team is not 2013, but it's not 2011 either. There are problems, of course, but nothing that can't be corrected as long as players come back from injury ready to put the puzzle together again.

[TD 21]

It isn't optimism, this team was whole and playing excellent defense two months ago. That's just a fact. Notice you can't quote me saying "they're going to flip a switch and be great", because I never say anything like that.

It's a process and this team has all the tools to be great (by league's standards), but they're not there yet. Now with the injuries, they're farther than closer from there. But being whole, and working their way back into defensive shape, there's no reason why they can't contend in the West.

About the games against Portland and this one, I though they were both a step in the right direction, despite the loss. I thought we competed well in both games, and we were into it all the way to the end.

It was a small sample size and came almost entirely against weak compe ion. They've been absolutely lit up against the elite, especially at home. Trust me: That doesn't repeatedly happen to championship caliber teams. It just doesn't, because at some point, they put their foot down and impose their will.

Within' that process, you look for things that are indications of what's to come and I've seen more than enough to know that, unless every thing lines up just right, like last season, they're not contenders.

You need greatness or something perilously close to contend and for the first time since the pre-Robinson days, they don't have it. Parker can get there in bursts, but he can't sustain it. That's why they can't impose their will, because they never have the best player against any elite team.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

It was a small sample size and came almost entirely against weak compe ion. They've been absolutely lit up against the elite, especially at home. Trust me: That doesn't repeatedly happen to championship caliber teams. It just doesn't, because at some point, they put their foot down and impose their will.

Within' that process, you look for things that are indications of what's to come and I've seen more than enough to know that, unless every thing lines up just right, like last season, they're not contenders.

I do agree with what you said, but I don't think this game should be an example of that. Because with Leonard being injured, we simply ran out of bodies. We have three players from our starting line-up injured. We had to put Joseph on Durant ffs. You have to put all that into account.

[Chinook]

Your blind optimism/excuses make me sick.

The Heat have been coasting even more than the Spurs and Wade has sat out (I believe) 12 games, in addition to a few other random minor injuries sprinkled in along the way, yet you don't see them constantly being embarrassed against elite teams, at home no less. Every once in a while, they remind teams who they are because they know, no matter what you've done, you've got to occasionally send a message to other top teams and not let their confidence escalate.

I've never seen a championship team unable to enforce their will on demand. The last two, they really wanted, yet they flat out weren't capable. Sure, the injuries hurt, but they weren't any better with all of them and let's not act like the Thunder weren't missing Westbrook.

The Heat have a worse record against an easier schedule, and they have their best players available for big games. I don't think they're coasting any better than SA is.

A lot of the Spurs' strength comes from their Medium Three. Them being out drops the team to 2009-2011 level. The Thunder can be the Thunder without Westbrook because Durant is finally getting hia optimal number of touches. Despite all this talk about the system, the Spurs need the Medium Three much more than other elites need their second stars.

I'm not worried. Too early to be worried. The team has the potential to be better than last year. Still have a season to get there.

[TD 21]

I do agree with what you said, but I don't think this game should be an example of that. Because with Leonard being injured, we simply ran out of bodies. We have three players from our starting line-up injured. We had to put Joseph on Durant ffs. You have to put all that into account.

On its own, as a stand alone, obviously it's not alarming. But in conjunction with all of the other examples, it is.

Specifically regarding the Thunder, the Spurs are now 2-9 against them in their last 11 meetings. Worse yet, the two times they won, once they squandered a 20+ point lead and narrowly survived and the other time, they were trailing in the dying seconds and won on a game winner. Even the blind homers that pollute this board can't possible dismiss/make excuses for all of those.

The Heat have a worse record against an easier schedule, and they have their best players available for big games. I don't think they're coasting any better than SA is.

A lot of the Spurs' strength comes from their Medium Three. Them being out drops the team to 2009-2011 level. The Thunder can be the Thunder without Westbrook because Durant is finally getting hia optimal number of touches. Despite all this talk about the system, the Spurs need the Medium Three much more than other elites need their second stars.

I'm not worried. Too early to be worried. The team has the potential to be better than last year. Still have a season to get there.

Yeah, but in the (relatively) important games, they're still able to impose their will on demand.

They had their "Medium Three" for many of these match-ups and the results were downright embarrassing in the vast majority of match-ups against elite teams.

Again, it's about signs. There's certain things championship caliber teams do and possess.

[ElNono]

It was a small sample size and came almost entirely against weak compe ion. They've been absolutely lit up against the elite, especially at home. Trust me: That doesn't repeatedly happen to championship caliber teams. It just doesn't, because at some point, they put their foot down and impose their will.

Within' that process, you look for things that are indications of what's to come and I've seen more than enough to know that, unless every thing lines up just right, like last season, they're not contenders.

You need greatness or something perilously close to contend and for the first time since the pre-Robinson days, they don't have it. Parker can get there in bursts, but he can't sustain it. That's why they can't impose their will, because they never have the best player against any elite team.

Disagree. It was a continuation of last season defensive improvement, which is no small sample size. The reality is that this team relies heavily on all the pieces being there. Namely Tiago giving Tim some help inside, and players like Green playing to his defensive potential. Now we'll me missing Kawhi too, which basically means we're going to suck on defense for the next few weeks. It happens. Buckle up, and try to win any games you can.

What the Spurs can't afford is to get more injuries down the road, or to spend too much energy right now and not have enough when they're whole again. All in all, despite the struggles, the current record allows them to lose 5-6 games and still look great on the standings to try to peak in March like they normally do. There's no guarantees they will, but barring injury there's no reason why they can't do it. Like I said, this team is extremely dependent on Parker, and if he's going to get some rest for that shin, it better be now. He's no giving even 70% on defense, so why risk aggravating an injury now.

[tim_duncan_fan]

We suck, mostly because Timmy is old.

But there is nothing we can do about that!

So...

Kawhi needs to step up. Manu needs to stay consistently decent. Tony needs to be an MVP.

Maybe one of those three things will happen, so I'm gonna try to bring my expectations down to zero and just roll with whatever happens. It'll be less painful that way.

[TD 21]

Disagree. It was a continuation of last season defensive improvement, which is no small sample size. The reality is that this team relies heavily on all the pieces being there. Namely Tiago giving Tim some help inside, and players like Green playing to his defensive potential. Now we'll me missing Kawhi too, which basically means we're going to suck on defense for the next few weeks. It happens. Buckle up, and try to win any games you can.

What the Spurs can't afford is to get more injuries down the road, or to spend too much energy right now and not have enough when they're whole again. All in all, despite the struggles, the current record allows them to lose 5-6 games and still look great on the standings to try to peak in March like they normally do. There's no guarantees they will, but barring injury there's no reason why they can't do it. Like I said, this team is extremely dependent on Parker, and if he's going to get some rest for that shin, it better be now. He's no giving even 70% on defense, so why risk aggravating an injury now.

I knew you'd say that, but even that was a relatively small sample size. Look no further than the offense with that starting lineup, which was very good last season, yet terrible this season. Things change season to season and the bottom line is, they play an archaic rotation that's not athletic/mobile enough to defend the vast majority of the current elite teams.

Seeing as how there's a far bigger gap between the Thunder and them than you either realize or care to admit, I'm going to guess that they're not "going to be fine losing 5-6 games" and ceding the one seed to them (again). To have even a sliver of a chance, they need home court.

Again, with this "like they normally do" mentality. This isn't pre-08, when Duncan was the best player in the league and they were the best team in the league and could turn it on whenever they decided. The reality is, other than '12, they've generally been on a slide going into the playoffs in recent years, which has led to early ousters and disappointing finishes. And let's be honest: If literally everything didn't line up just in time last season, they probably would have suffered a similar fate.

[Sean Cagney]

Ask me in March when everyone's back. Either way, another 50-win season is in the bag.

Yeah basically this. I am a negative dude alot but I am not right now because they are banged up and I want to see how they are in the second half of the season. If they are still not beating any good teams and looking bad at home then I will say they might be done.

[TheGoldStandard]

Pop needs to take one for the team, meet up with Stern and Silver and just suck them off already. I bet the moment that happens Stern picks up the phone and the Spurs are apart of the Illuminati teams of the NBA.

[Robz4000]

It isn't optimism, this team was whole and playing excellent defense two months ago. That's just a fact. Notice you can't quote me saying "they're going to flip a switch and be great", because I never say anything like that.

It's a process and this team has all the tools to be great (by league's standards), but they're not there yet. Now with the injuries, they're farther than closer from there. But being whole, and working their way back into defensive shape, there's no reason why they can't contend in the West.

About the games against Portland and this one, I though they were both a step in the right direction, despite the loss. I thought we competed well in both games, and we were into it all the way to the end.

Was just about to post this. Despite the losses there were a lot of things I liked. IMO when Green and Splitter return the defense will return to top 10 and when they get Leonard back they'll be even better. They're gonna have to make a trade to get by the Thunder considering how their roleplayers go off on the Spurs (someone who can guard the 2/3 competently), but other than that its the same story coming into the season: matchups determine who comes out of the West.

[BackHome]

Spurs are good, just not good enough. Luckly there is still time where they can make changes to address the issues but acting like nothing is wrong is the worst thing they can do. Pretty much all my thoughts in a nuts .

+1

I felt better about this team last year we will be good but have no chance of winning with the players we have now.

[ElNono]

I knew you'd say that, but even that was a relatively small sample size. Look no further than the offense with that starting lineup, which was very good last season, yet terrible this season. Things change season to season and the bottom line is, they play an archaic rotation that's not athletic/mobile enough to defend the vast majority of the current elite teams.

Pop admitted not even looking at other team's tape right now (link). He isn't worried about how we match up with X team at this point in time, he's trying to figure out how we can be a better team.

I don't think I have to tell you the regular season is a different beast. Take the Heat, we haven't beaten them in the regular season since 2010-2011. Yet, when we went to the Finals last season, we took 3 from them, and a different bounce and we take 4. The whole getting ready for teams is different.

Look, we were 2-2 against OKC last season, and are 0-3 this season, with games where both teams were missing players. I don't think the gap is that great between teams. I think if both teams are whole and focused, it could be a great series and it would be difficult to pick who wins. When whole, I think those are the top two teams in the West. Matchup-wise, I think we match up worse with Portland, but I also think they're lacking on the experience department, and wouldn't surprise me to see them getting knocked out in the early rounds.

Seeing as how there's a far bigger gap between the Thunder and them than you either realize or care to admit, I'm going to guess that they're not "going to be fine losing 5-6 games" and ceding the one seed to them (again). To have even a sliver of a chance, they need home court.

If the Spurs can manage to be as good as last season, especially defensively, I don't think they would need that. Plus this isn't picking and choosing. We got hurt, it's part of the game, now we have to deal with it. If the Spurs were the 5th or 6th seed, then this would certainly be a struggle, especially looking how close everyone from 6th to 10th are right now.

Again, with this "like they normally do" mentality. This isn't pre-08, when Duncan was the best player in the league and they were the best team in the league and could turn it on whenever they decided. The reality is, other than '12, they've generally been on a slide going into the playoffs in recent years, which has led to early ousters and disappointing finishes. And let's be honest: If literally everything didn't line up just in time last season, they probably would have suffered a similar fate.

If there's anything the Spurs are, is consistent. They might not manage to be the best they can be every season, or they might have some injury that derails their season, but there's nothing new in the way they approach the season. They've been doing this pre-08 and still do it post-08. They'll probably keep on doing the same thing as long as Pop is around. I used to "wonder and whine" about a lot of things with this team many moons ago, but it's not worth it. Nobody thought they could reach the Finals last season, things aligned or not, and they did. My impression is that trying to guess about this team or league is largely a waste of time. I know some people find it interesting, or enjoy the confirmation bias, and that's fine. JMO, anyways.