Can A Healthy Spurs/Thunder Win Four Rounds Without Home Court?

[houston spurs fan]

We are returning the same team plus 1 year experience who destroyed the Heat, OKC, and Blazers last year. We peaked against the Heat. If we are healthy, we can beat anybody regardless of seed. Kawhi's injury is a major concern right now.

[cjw]

The only team ahead of us that will be very tough to catch is Golden State (8 ahead in the loss column, but we may grab the tiebreaker from them so say 7 for argument's sake). If they win at a 60% clip (50 win pace), they'll get to 57 wins. We would need to win at a 75% clip to match that (60 win pace).

OKC is in a similar predicament where it'll be tougher for them to grab a top 3 seed. As long as we finish on different sides of the bracket, I'll be happy to defer them for as long as possible and see them on our home court.

[100%duncan]

Id take a healthy Spurs team over anyone but 4 series of no HCA is really scary

[Cry Havoc]

A lot of the top teams in the West will regress to the mean. Utah beat Memphis last night. SEGABABA's will take their toll. Injuries will happen. Golden State isn't going to win 70+, and we might have 3 or 4 teams around 60 wins but we aren't going to have 4 teams winning 65+.

[ElNono]

I dunno about the Thunder, tbh... I'm not sold they're making the playoffs yet.

I couldn't believe how many doubted them in the first place. It was stupid then, but it's flat out insane now.

Looking pretty much like a done deal now

[ezau]

I expect the Spurs to step on the gas pedal and rack up 10-15 wins when fully healthy.

[boutons_deux]

"I expect the Spurs to step on the gas pedal and rack up 10-15 wins when fully healthy."

Spurs would finish season 12-0 if they win in the BigEasy. With 2 days rest before and maybe 3 days rest after Wed, nobody hurt (some hurting), I think Spurs will play everybody Wed.

[Seventyniner]

Looking pretty much like a done deal now

I thought it would be impossible for the Thunder to miss out, though I think my prediction was before Ibaka's injury and Durant's re-injury. With even one of those guys they have at least 2 extra wins and are locked in 7th or 8th.

[ElNono]

Hold that thought, looks like the NBA gave them new life rescinding WB tech...

They're just battered though. You actually have to wonder how Durant will look like in the future. I think they rushed both KD and RW back too quickly earlier in the season. They should've tanked, tbh

[james evans]

home court is overrated. The rims are 10 feet and length of court is 94 in every arena. If you can't play because someone is booing you, then you can't play period..

[ElNono]

I thought it would be impossible for the Thunder to miss out, though I think my prediction was before Ibaka's injury and Durant's re-injury. With even one of those guys they have at least 2 extra wins and are locked in 7th or 8th.

No doubt. I never doubt their talent level. I just thought that if KD or RW would miss more weeks, it would be troublesome for them. They're an extremely top-heavy team, the rest of their roster is a turd, including newly added Kanter.

[Seventyniner]

No doubt. I never doubt their talent level. I just thought that if KD or RW would miss more weeks, it would be troublesome for them. They're an extremely top-heavy team, the rest of their roster is a turd, including newly added Kanter.

Yeah, Kanter is very overrated by some. If the Thunder give him something like a $44M/4-year contract I won't be able to sit down because I will have laughed my ass off.

[ElNono]

Does the NBA rescinds the tech if it's somebody like the Lakers getting screwed instead of the Pelicans, tbh?

[TD 21]

If Durant or Westbrook misses significant time from now on, they won't make it.

That goes without saying though. So when I say, "it was stupid then, but it's flat out insane now", it's based on that premise. Like when I said a year ago that the Spurs couldn't beat the Thunder in a series.

Looking pretty much like a done deal now

[Malik Hairston]

home court is overrated. The rims are 10 feet and length of court is 94 in every arena. If you can't play because someone is booing you, then you can't play period..

HCA is statistically the least effective it has ever been, at the moment, tbh..probably due to more transparency in officiating IMO..

[ElNono]

That goes without saying though. So when I say, "it was stupid then, but it's flat out insane now", it's based on that premise. Like when I said a year ago that the Spurs couldn't beat the Thunder in a series.

^ Not a knock on this. That's exactly why I thought they might not make it. Heck, I'm sure they would be on vacations already if not for that rescinded T.

[spurs10]

Does the NBA rescinds the tech if it's somebody like the Lakers getting screwed instead of the Pelicans, tbh?

If I was a Pelicans fan I'd be rabid. How transparently bull they rescinded his tech. Sorry Pels, but we are going to have to beat ya down...

[weeks]

Does the NBA rescinds the tech if it's somebody like the Lakers getting screwed instead of the Pelicans, tbh?

[MilesTeg]

?

If this is a "see, I was right" post, it's a pretty weak one. This is too close for anyone to feel vindicated, no matter what happens tonight.

Edit: answering TD 21.

[Pauleta14]

home court is overrated. The rims are 10 feet and length of court is 94 in every arena. If you can't play because someone is booing you, then you can't play period..

No for the players, but it still is for the refs in some arenas (OKC's..)

[21209]

HCA is statistically the least effective it has ever been, at the moment, tbh..probably due to more transparency in officiating IMO..

I don't buy that if game 7's are in play. It's still just as tough as ever to win game 7's if you're the road team.

[james evans]

No for the players, but it still is for the refs in some arenas (OKC's..)

well that has nothing to do with HCA, that has to do with cheating. Refs cheat at every arena. If they cheat because a team is home, the order came down from high above. Where was game 7 in 2006 of the spurs vs mavs series when Duncan grabbed the rebound off of ginobli's miss and dirk fouled him on the put back at the end of regulation? Did we get the call? Refs are gonna cheat regardless of where the games are being played

[daslicer]

home court is overrated. The rims are 10 feet and length of court is 94 in every arena. If you can't play because someone is booing you, then you can't play period..

HCA is not as effective as it was in the past but it still gives the home team an edge. I have noticed role players tend to play better at home than on the road especially for a young team. I still remember in '08 how in every home game the Hornets scrubs went off on the Spurs but every time the series went back to SA they sucked.

[TampaDude]

Can we win 4 rounds without HCA?

Beat the Pels tonight and we won't have to.

[james evans]

HCA is not as effective as it was in the past but it still gives the home team an edge. I have noticed role players tend to play better at home than on the road especially for a young team. I still remember in '08 how in every home game the Hornets scrubs went off on the Spurs but every time the series went back to SA they sucked.

if any team in the league should have a home court advantage, it's the Nuggets.