Spurs Crazy Schedule: Nov 5-Nov 11

[Hoops Czar]

Division rivals games are the only relatively key games now. Atlanta doesn't really matter for positioning in the West. If Kawhi and Splitter are back, then even more reason to rest TD/Manu...

If they need to rest players three games into the season, coming off 4 days of rest and a summer of doing nothing, the Spurs are in worst shape than we thought. No reason to piss away a very winnable home game because there's a good chance they'll probably lose in Houston regardless. The Spurs were swept by Houston last year and they still won the division and the Rockets are arguably worst this year. Ginobili had the summer off. He could use these games to get his timing back. If Leonard and Splitter are back, you can reduce minutes but no reason to punt a very winnable game.

[Mikeanaro]

Well, it is better to be busy at the start to take some rust off and find a groove than later in the season when you have seeding and some players burning out.

[Vic Petro]

This makes zero sense:

11/10 @ LAC
11/11 @ GS
11/14 @ LAL
11/15 @ SAC

[ElNono]

Division rival is only meaningful in tie-breaker situations. Tie-breakers are rarely necessary. Therefore, making sure you rack up wins vs. all the lower-tiered teams is very important, in this case, ATL. We have a higher chance of losing to HOU even full-strength on a single night. Tank vs. ATL to try to get the win against HOU on the road on a back-to-back and your probability of walking away with two losses has been dramatically increased. Since we do not agree, I am just glad Pop gets to make this decision, and suffice it to say I will be shocked if he takes your tack. I totally expect A serious effort from them vs. ATL, and the Big Three to play, or at least 2/3. It is difficult to tell what Pop will do as they continue to get older and we have these 5 games in 7 nights, but whatever he does, I definitely don't expect a tank job vs. ATL.

Of course, for bragging rights, we would have to precisely define "Tank Job".

The Atlanta game is the third game of the season on the ninth night of the season. They will have had four full days off since the second game. The game is at home. In all the years of Pop resting healthy players, I can't think of any similar situation where he rested anyone.

If they need to rest players three games into the season, coming off 4 days of rest and a summer of doing nothing, the Spurs are in worst shape than we thought. No reason to piss away a very winnable home game because there's a good chance they'll probably lose in Houston regardless. The Spurs were swept by Houston last year and they still won the division and the Rockets are arguably worst this year. Ginobili had the summer off. He could use these games to get his timing back. If Leonard and Splitter are back, you can reduce minutes but no reason to punt a very winnable game.

The rationale is to head into Houston well rested, because THAT game would actually matter. Now Pop certainly could decide everyone plays on the back to back, I'm just saying if the idea is that Pop doesn't want TD/Manu/TP to play back to back games, then the Atlanta game would be, in theory, the disposable one.

[Mel_13]

The rationale is to head into Houston well rested, because THAT game would actually matter. Now Pop certainly could decide everyone plays on the back to back, I'm just saying if the idea is that Pop doesn't want TD/Manu/TP to play back to back games, then the Atlanta game would be, in theory, the disposable one.

In actual practice, however, Pop has punted the second game in this sort of scenario. I don't see him punting either game, although if one of the older guys has to play extended minutes against Atlanta that could change.

[boutons_deux]

deep benchers gonna get some minutes

[littlecoyotecoin]

In actual practice, however, Pop has punted the second game in this sort of scenario. I don't see him punting either game, although if one of the older guys has to play extended minutes against Atlanta that could change.

Again, this, and the ATL game matters just as much or more on the back to back. It is the the one we are most likely to win, and it comes first, at home, making it all the more likely to win. The HOU game is not more important just because they are in the West. We didn't have a winning record against any of the West leaders last year and it was of no consequence, because we took all of the low hanging fruit off the tree. ATL, at home, at the beginning of the season, after four days of rest, is low hanging fruit. HOU, on a back-to-back, on the road is not low hanging fruit. If it is within reach, and they didn't have a rough night in ATL, Pop may go for it, especially early in the season. This makes logical/mathematical sense to me, and as Mel points out, jives with Pop's MO in the past.

Sharpen your spear for the death blow on the first strike. Try to bludgeon then with a dull instrument on the second night. If unsuccessful turn tail and run. Repeat.

[Obstructed_View]

Chill out, es. I've got this.

[ElNono]

In actual practice, however, Pop has punted the second game in this sort of scenario. I don't see him punting either game, although if one of the older guys has to play extended minutes against Atlanta that could change.

I don't pretend to know what goes through Pop's mind anymore

He'll play whoever he wants to play. I would agree that, in general, I don't think he'll punt either game.