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

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Injuries. A lot.

[TD 21]

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.

Good for him. They have blatant issues with the Thunder, none of which are going away no matter how much time he spends watching film of them.

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.

Still, like I said, from time to time you've got to impose your will.

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.

2-9 in their past 11, with the two being narrow escapes. Try spinning it all you want, it's alarming and indicates that there's a clear divide between the two teams.

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.

Home court is a must when you're an inferior team and have no better than the co-second best player in the series. I realize there's nothing they can do about the injuries, but again, they're alarming because of what they're going to mean for seeding.

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.

That's great. But when you're as compe ive as I am, good isn't good enough.

[T Park]

My thoughts stay the same, when healthy this team is a giant step up from last year' steam in versatility and offense. When healthy and playing together the defense will improve and offense takes care of it's self. That simple.

[RD2191]

My thoughts stay the same, when healthy this team is a giant step up from last year' steam in versatility and offense. When healthy and playing together the defense will improve and offense takes care of it's self. That simple.

[ElNono]

Good for him. They have blatant issues with the Thunder, none of which are going away no matter how much time he spends watching film of them.
Still, like I said, from time to time you've got to impose your will.

That's what the playoffs are for. Win or go home.

2-9 in their past 11, with the two being narrow escapes. Try spinning it all you want, it's alarming and indicates that there's a clear divide between the two teams.

Well, if you're going to include games from the 2011-2012 season, don't include just the last 4 losses in the WCF, otherwise it looks like you're cherry-picking. Since 2011-2012 we're 6-10 against them. Since last season, 2-5 and this season 0-3.
I thought we could've easily won tonight, despite the injuries. Personally, I don't see the "clear divide" between the two teams.

Home court is a must when you're an inferior team and have no better than the co-second best player in the series. I realize there's nothing they can do about the injuries, but again, they're alarming because of what they're going to mean for seeding.

Last season all the chatter was how we're going to match up/avoid OKC, and we didn't play them at all. Also disagree the Spurs are the inferior team. I think right now they might be, but they still have time and room to improve.

That's great. But when you're as compe ive as I am, good isn't good enough.

Every fan of every team wants their team to win it all every season. That's not being "compe ive", that's being a greedy fan. There's nothing inherently wrong with that.
On the other hand, the fans of a mul ude of teams would love to be in the position Spurs fan are in. A team that has the ability to still come together into being the best in the West (like last season). That's being "realistic".

[hater]

2nd round fodder

[justinandimcool]

Still a tough out in the playoffs, but nothing more. Wheels are falling off tbh.

[weeks]

the team has been getting punked by elite compe ion.

regular season is the only thing that makes it palatable, but it's annoying, and alarming.
it's not just about the losses, but it's about how they've gone down. they seem to lack confidence or ability to impose their will in high pressure situations

[FireMicoHalili]

Guys it's fine it's just the regular season. I'm sure we'll kill it in the playoffs. Last year, we beat a lot of teams in the playoffs so it's fine the top teams are kicking our butts because last season we went to the Finals. And having been in the Finals means these regular season games mean squat.

[timmy2003]

The window has closed unfortunately.

[Capt Bringdown]

Giving away a championship to the Heat was a sad coda to the Duncan era. I've yet to see any sign this team can recover this year.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Last night we were missing an AWFUL lot of starters. We lost by 6. Missing Leonard, Green, and ter. I do think we would have won with even Leonard. That's great and all, but Westbrook is missing for OKC. At full strength I still think OKC beats us in 6. I fully favor a trade. I fully favor taking on salary to get better if that is what it takes. This is legitimately the Spurs last stand. This season is it. The front office has to do absolutely everything in their power to make this team the best they possibly can. It needs to be realized.

[Chomag]

Last night we were missing an AWFUL lot of starters. We lost by 6. Missing Leonard, Green, and ter. I do think we would have won with even Leonard. That's great and all, but Westbrook is missing for OKC. At full strength I still think OKC beats us in 6. I fully favor a trade. I fully favor taking on salary to get better if that is what it takes. This is legitimately the Spurs last stand. This season is it. The front office has to do absolutely everything in their power to make this team the best they possibly can. It needs to be realized.

Agree, its a bad time to be cheap. If FO is unwilling to spend extra money for that one last go at the the chip, Spurs most likely will never see that chance again.

[G-Dawgg]

Other teams have players like Lebron, Durant, Paul George who have the option of turning on 'God Mode'... we don't have that one player anymore who can go ape and carry us even when the rest of the team is having an off day. That's what separates us from the true contenders. Also teams don't tend to win championships when half of their starting lineup has spent time on the injured list. It just doesn't happen.

[Skull-1]

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

Been saying ing that since the end of Game Six. People are f'ing delusional to think Spurs will get a second perfect storm like last season....

And nothing Manu does will ever redeem his collapse when we needed him to play smart in the final round.

[Skull-1]

Giving away a championship to the Heat was a sad coda to the Duncan era. I've yet to see any sign this team can recover this year.

They can't. They won't. See the 80s Dallas Cowboys after losing to San Francisco in the NFC Championship.... You don't come back from a nut punch like that.

[Two10Whitey]

[FireMicoHalili]

"Cliff jumpers lmao tbh "

[Texas_Ranger]

Get better at defense and trade for a backup SF or a 2nd round exit team tbh.

[024]

As is, the Spurs will get stomped in the WCF by a healthy Thunder team... if the Spurs even get there. It will be a 50/50 dogfight in the second round against whoever faces the Spurs, whether it be the Rockets, Blazers, Clippers, or Warriors.

[Mikeanaro]

FO is so ing cheap they wont make any change, sorry...

[Capt Bringdown]

Duncan now getting ridiculed on Yahoo sports:
Tim Duncan shows us how Kevin Durant is making opponents feel right now
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ba...2321--nba.html

How soon they forget. But the Spurs do have to kinda own the sad-sack label.
The wheels came off when the Spurs gave the championship away.
F'n , Duncan looks like he's 60 already.

[BacktoBasics]

FO is so ing cheap they wont make any change, sorry...

Of course their the lack of changes has nothing to do with being cheap. Again you're statements are rooted in utter stupidity and ignorance.

[spurs10]

Would anyone not take being #1 at the halfway point? Seriously? So we lost game 42 with 3 of our starters injured. No we don't want to lose the #1 seed, but we'll take what we can get. If anything I'm a bit concerned about all our injuries happening to our younger players. Pop has vowed not to overplay the Big 3 meanwhile. It's just the wrong guys are resting. Let's win in Hotlanta and take it from there!

[TD 21]

That's what the playoffs are for. Win or go home.

So are the occasional regular season game. At some point, if you're really a contender, you don't allow other elite teams to continuously stomp you, especially at home. They're aware of this, which is why they've admitted to being concerned with this in the past few weeks, yet nothing's changed. The obvious conclusion to draw is that they're incapable.

Well, if you're going to include games from the 2011-2012 season, don't include just the last 4 losses in the WCF, otherwise it looks like you're cherry-picking. Since 2011-2012 we're 6-10 against them. Since last season, 2-5 and this season 0-3.
I thought we could've easily won tonight, despite the injuries. Personally, I don't see the "clear divide" between the two teams.

Again, spin it all you want, but 2-9 can't be argued, nor can they way they won the 2 they did.

Last season all the chatter was how we're going to match up/avoid OKC, and we didn't play them at all. Also disagree the Spurs are the inferior team. I think right now they might be, but they still have time and room to improve.

Well, barring another untimely injury to Westbrook (or Durant obviously), the only way the Spurs won't play them in the playoffs this season is if they don't make the WCF, because the Thunder are going to be there.

Every fan of every team wants their team to win it all every season. That's not being "compe ive", that's being a greedy fan. There's nothing inherently wrong with that.
On the other hand, the fans of a mul ude of teams would love to be in the position Spurs fan are in. A team that has the ability to still come together into being the best in the West (like last season). That's being "realistic".

Again with this loser mentality. Get over how "unlikely it was 4 or 5 years ago for them to be where they are today". The reality is they are and they've been close the past two seasons, only to completely melt down and piss away their opportunity, yet you and people of your ilk are apparently fine with this. I don't get it.