Are you feeling more or less confident with our squad this year compared to last?

[SpursFan86]

Improvements:

- Belinelli over Neal
- Diaw 2.0
- Backup PG situation is much better. Mills/Joseph have both played well this year
- Despite what some may think, Leonard HAS been better this year. Only thing he hasn't improved on is 3-point shooting, and he's steadily improved in that aspect as the season has carried on
- Ginobili playing more like himself

Areas of retrogression:

- While Duncan has looked much better than he did to start the season...I think we can all agree he doesn't look as well as he did last season
- Parker not where he was at last year. Hopefully he'll look better after this extended period of rest he's gotten.

So on paper, it would appear our team is better than last year. But there are a few things worth mentioning:

1) West is stronger this year. We almost certainly won't have as easy of a path to the Finals as we did last season. Even our 1st-round matchup could provide a bit of trouble. OKC/Houston/Portland/LAC will all be challenging matchups. Say what you want about the Clippers...this team is different. Doc Rivers >>>>>>> Del Negro, and they've finally improved their bench with the additions of Big Baby and Granger. Griffin is also playing like a true elite player this year. Anyone who says he "can only dunk" clearly hasn't watched him much this year and is basing their opinions off what they see on SportsCenter (which, ironically enough, these same people tend to claim he's overrated because others only see his highlights on ESPN).

2) While I love having a great bench and strong role players, in the playoffs I'd rather have Duncan playing like he was last year or Parker back to playing like one of the best PGs in the league. I just don't feel great placing trust in players like Patty Mills and Boris Diaw to show up big consistently.

If Parker comes back looking like he did last season, I'll feel much more confident. I still feel pretty good about this team though. I think we have as good of chances as anyone outside a healthy OKC to make it out of the West.

[Mel_13]

Improvements:

- Belinelli over Neal
- Diaw 2.0
- Backup PG situation is much better. Mills/Joseph have both played well this year
- Despite what some may think, Leonard HAS been better this year. Only thing he hasn't improved on is 3-point shooting, and he's steadily improved in that aspect as the season has carried on
- Ginobili playing more like himself

Areas of retrogression:

- While Duncan has looked much better than he did to start the season...I think we can all agree he doesn't look as well as he did last season
- Parker not where he was at last year. Hopefully he'll look better after this extended period of rest he's gotten.

So on paper, it would appear our team is better than last year. But there are a few things worth mentioning:

1) West is stronger this year. We almost certainly won't have as easy of a path to the Finals as we did last season. Even our 1st-round matchup could provide a bit of trouble. OKC/Houston/Portland/LAC will all be challenging matchups. Say what you want about the Clippers...this team is different. Doc Rivers >>>>>>> Del Negro, and they've finally improved their bench with the additions of Big Baby and Granger. Griffin is also playing like a true elite player this year. Anyone who says he "can only dunk" clearly hasn't watched him much this year and is basing their opinions off what they see on SportsCenter (which, ironically enough, these same people tend to claim he's overrated because others only see his highlights on ESPN).

2) While I love having a great bench and strong role players, in the playoffs I'd rather have Duncan playing like he was last year or Parker back to playing like one of the best PGs in the league. I just don't feel great placing trust in players like Patty Mills and Boris Diaw to show up big consistently.

If Parker comes back looking like he did last season, I'll feel much more confident. I still feel pretty good about this team though. I think we have as good of chances as anyone outside a healthy OKC to make it out of the West.

That's the big one. Even if the team gets back to last year's levels, the road to the Finals will be much more difficult.

[Russ]

Clippers signing Granger (and Big Baby) is good news and gives the Spurs a shot.

Simply put, I'm not sure the Spurs can beat OKC in a series but now I think the Clippers can.

The Spurs can beat the Clippers (even with their additions) so it could be similar to last year and '07 (when GS knocked the Spurs-killing Mavs).

How's that for optimism?

[DesignatedT]

How confident were you going into last years playoffs?

[Russ]

How confident were you going into last years playoffs?

Last year the Spurs had come off losing four straight to OKC in the WCF and showed little ability to beat them in a rematch.

This year the Spurs are coming off a season that was a break or two away from a le.

I'm more optimistic this year but that's just a function of expectations based upon the above.

[Ocotillo]

Last year we were a bit charmed in that injuries were not a problem (in the playoffs). The way the injury bug has been going this year I am snakebit and have some concerns we won't be as lucky this year.

[21209]

It's hard to say at this point. Parker is clearly coasting this season and Duncan has also done so at times. They're the key elements if they are to make any deep playoff run, obviously.

The second unit players have been excellent, namely Manu, Boris, Marco and Patty. However, the fact is that teams shorten their rotations in the playoffs and we all know that Parker and Duncan won't be suited to playing 40 minutes a game in the postseason.

[DesignatedT]

Last year the Spurs had come off losing four straight to OKC in the WCF and showed little ability to beat them in a rematch.

This year the Spurs are coming off a season that was a break or two away from a le.

I'm more optimistic this year but that's just a function of expectations based upon the above.

Exactly. Nobody gave us a shot last year. Maybe some people are giving us a shot this year but probably not.

[Mel_13]

It's hard to say at this point. Parker is clearly coasting this season and Duncan has also done so at times. They're the key elements if they are to make any deep playoff run, obviously.

The second unit players have been excellent, namely Manu, Boris, Marco and Patty. However, the fact is that teams shorten their rotations in the playoffs and we all know that Parker and Duncan won't be suited to playing 40 minutes a game in the postseason.

They averaged 36 and 35 last season and that was during a run that included a number of blowouts.

[Texas_Ranger]

Even if the Spurs do get to the WCF the Thunder are just too good. I am still mad that the team went into the season without a backup SF and a capable big. LOL signing Errors and not amnestying Bonner. If I was Tim I'd be ing mad at the FO for not getting him help over the last 10 years. The only two bigs that are decent are Tim and Diaw. Splitter will turn into a vagina when he faces Perkins and Ibaka.

Oh I ed up, I wanted to say that Splitter will turn into a bigger vagina, cause he already is one.

[DesignatedT]

The thunder look extremely beatable right now. Westbrook has been awful in his return and is really killing the momentum they had. If he regains form then they should be the clear favorites out west but until then it's wide open. 3 knee surgeries in what.. a year? That's worrisome. Who knows if he holds up.

[SpursFan86]

The thunder look extremely beatable right now. Westbrook has been awful in his return and is really killing the momentum they had. If he regains form then they should be the clear favorites out west but until then it's wide open. 3 knee surgeries in what.. a year? That's worrisome.

Well to be fair, I wouldn't expect him to look great in his first 3 games back from surgery. But you're right, 3 surgeries in a year means Westbrook being healthy and 100% come playoff time is far from guaranteed.

[Texas_Ranger]

Wesbrook is not the guy that worries me. It's Jackson

[Fireball]

Its simply too hard to tell. If healthy our chances are pretty good. Second half of last season Spurs only had a .500 record or so and then they easily went to the Finals. The West is stronger now (especially bad matchups for the Spurs like Blazers and Rockets), but everything is possible ... I am not giving up

[DesignatedT]

Lets just assume the Spurs get back to the level they were at last year. The Thunder completely healthy might have been able to beat the Spurs (not sure about that) but a Thunder team with a less than 100% Westbrook would have had a 0% chance at beating the Spurs last year. Jackson plays well against us but if they don't have Westbrook at his best they are toast in the West.

[21209]

They averaged 36 and 35 last season and that was during a run that included a number of blowouts.

Even if he has been given time off, I'm still concerned about Tony since he hasn't really had an extended break for over a year-and-a-half.

He could even be hampered by some injuries in the postseason again , such as last year that could have been partly to blame for his game 6 and 7 performances in the finals.

[Mel_13]

Even if he has been given time off, I'm still concerned about Tony since he hasn't really had an extended break for over a year-and-a-half.

He could even be hampered by some injuries in the postseason again , such as last year that could have been partly to blame for his game 6 and 7 performances in the finals.

Tony's health is a valid concern.

[Skull-1]

Way less. Last year was destiny until Manu the Turnover Machine sowed destruction in Game Six.

[Splits]

You forgot the one key which will put us over the hump:

[timtonymanu]

I really can't say until the playoffs start, but this team doesn't look ready for the postseason yet. It depends on how Parker looks when he comes back and Kawhi is just getting into rhythm.

The Spurs have a pretty solid 8/9 man rotation when healthy. And I'm sure they are motivated after being so close last season. But the West is better this year. And the Spurs failed to upgrade their roster a third time this season.

OKC and Houston still present bad matchups for them. Portland isnt a contender at all, but they would give the Spurs trouble in a series.

[kjhip1]

The trending thing here is Parker. I think for us to have any chance. It hinges on him! The development of patty mills is a good thing and I think his level of play will not drop off. I think he loves pressure and will do just fine. West is indeed stronger and I do think a top team will get knocked out of the 1st round. It'll be interesting this year to say the least. If the Spurs keep winning with Parker sidelined I'd keep resting him as long as possible

[dallasmaverickslose]

No, because Timmy has regressed a bit (understandably), and Tony has not been himself this season.

If we are going to win a le this season, we will need our role players (Splitter, Diaw, Belinelli, Mills, etc.) to step up. Especially Splitter.

[bklynspursfan]

This team can hang with the best of them. I still believe that. if healthy, of course.

[SpurPadre]

You forgot the one key which will put us over the hump:

That's his "I'm going to take a huge on the entire team and their fanbase" pose.

[Aremid]

This team will be lucky to get to the wcf. Anyone who thinks we will win the le this year is ing stupid.