Yet the Spurs w/o Splitter mind you and w/o Mills, beat the Clips on their HC at the beginning of the season when the Clips were at full strength.
Please, you overestimate the Clippers. They are paper tigers. The were 20-21 against playoff teams this year, yeah, a losing record. Spurs were 24-19. 14 of the Spurs loses came when a combination either Parker, Kawhi, Splitter, Mills, or Beli (just saying) were out.
With the Spurs at full strength, they were 17-5. Spurs will be at full strength to start the playoffs. Yes, Splitter will be playing on Sunday.
Did we just win 11 of 12? Did we just win 21 of 25? We lost one game to a team who desperately needed it. If we lost last week and won last night the hysteria wouldn't be there and we'd still be the 6th seed. Calm down people
We just showed the NBA we can beat anyone and are playing well. We will beat the Clippers in 5-6. They don't play well in playoffs.
Role players play much better at home. The Clippers get away with starting both Barnes and Red , both of which are bench players, but at home they can play very well. Home court refs will help an emotional/immature Griffin and Paul, plus buy their flopping.
Those things worry me and may cost the series.
But the problem with the a spurs, as much as injury, has been a lack of concentration. When they are forced to concentrate they can be very, very good.
That is why Jordan is the ace in the hole for Pop. He can counter any hot streak or partial reffing by just hacking Jordan. Rockets and Clips are going to get screwed over this playoffs because of horrible FT shooting.
Hack a Jordan hasn't worked for anybody this season. Clips have a junky flow and Paul is good enough to maintain concentration. You're too optimistic in this regard.
I'll also add that they depend heavily in Crawford when things get tight. He's a total wildcard and can win at least a game for them like Carter did last year for the Mavs.
Pop did it in the game in December and it worked. The guy is shooting 40% at the line. Yes, it is very much an option to take the crowd out of the game or to counter any partial treatment by the refs.
It's like the dude that posted the Spurs should have fouled Irving or whomever and sent the Cavs on the line instead of just letting Irving shot a contest 3, saying it was the better strategy. Yet the Spurs did the very same thing against the Piston and lost because they missed 7 of 9 FTs down the stretch.
Hack-a-Jordan worked for the Spurs this year. It has been proven that it works. Is it something to totally rely on, no. But it is a viable option for Pop to utilize in this series.
If you win 1 on the road you bring back the home court advantage. Spurs arent worried if they are home or on the road. They have too much experience for it to even matter. If Splitter comes back and plays well game over.
Last edited by DawgMilkX; 04-16-2015 at 09:46 AM.
The playoffs this year will be a "do over" for the Rodeo Road Trip.
The RRT this year was the first losing one ever -- the team tanked against NO because they wanted the chance to wash that taste out of their mouth.
So these playoffs will be the real RRT -- Rodeo Road Trip II.
Well, maybe.
Let's hope so anyway . . .
Like the 2008 Spurs sleeping on an airplane?
I feel like fans worry far more about HC than any player on the Spurs. Do any of you honestly think that the Spurs see their seeding and automatically say "oh well we're ed". No becuase they are pros this doesn't phase them and shouldnt get everyones panties in a bunch. Is it the best seeding we could of had? No but I def will not count them out. They just need to play Spurs ball.
We aren't winning anything without Tiago.
2012- won both in LAC
2013- closed out GS in GS (took 2 there overall)
2014- closed out OKC in OKC
2014- took both games in Miami
over the past couple years, we have won big games on the road, and especially those GS & OKC series as they have 2 of the better HC's in the league.
It can be done, but obviously won't be easy. And hypothetically if we win, what if Dallas beats Houston? We would have home court in the 2nd round.
We've won les before, but never lower than the 3rd seed. But, we also got to B2B finals for the first time ever and been to the at least the WCF since Kawhi came on board. First time for everything...
The Clips have been playing great too. The 2 hottest teams meeting up. Just need to take 1 of the first 2 in LA. Game 1 is always easiest to steal on the road. With plenty of rest, and Tiago returning, that's our best chance.
Facing the Clippers in the first round without HCA is pretty much the worst case scenario other than facing the Warriors in the first round. The Spurs will have to play the Clippers before Splitter is healthy. This will be a hard series with Splitter limited on minutes. The Spurs need his lateral quickness to keep up with Griffin and Baynes will not cut it.
As for the second round, it will definitely be easier if the Spurs make it there. Mavs might just upset the Rockets and the Spurs might get HCA then. The Rockets basically have to rely on Harden to run the offense in a 7 game series. No one else on that team can reliably create their own shot. You would think a smart coach like Carlisle can figure out how to shut down one player in a 7 game series. Rockets also have no bench so everyone will be playing heavy minutes. Even if they defeat the Mavs, the Rockets will be an easier opponent than the Clippers.
Third round would stay the same, no HCA against the Warriors. No change here, this remains the most difficult challenge.
I like this. Avenge a sub-.500 RRT with a plus-.500 road record in the playoffs.The playoffs this year will be a "do over" for the Rodeo Road Trip.
The RRT this year was the first losing one ever -- the team tanked against NO because they wanted the chance to wash that taste out of their mouth.
So these playoffs will be the real RRT -- Rodeo Road Trip II.
Well, maybe.
Let's hope so anyway . . .
Yes.
Not to mention sweeps of Utah (before Clippers sweep), Lakers & Grizzlies (before/after GS), splitting on road vs. Portland last year and taking game 1 in the '13 Finals in Miami. Winning at home is easier, but I don't think playing on the road phases this team.
HCA only matters if you win the 1st 2 games. If you dont, well you are in deep dog poo. Win one of the 1st 2 on the road and HC changes. Pressure becomes the inexperienced teams problem.
I think last night was yet another wakeup call as to being able to handle the playoff crowds. We couldnt weather the storm and got behind by too much, Im sure the team took notice. Same thing happened at Houston and we were down big early. We will see if they learned from those in game 1.
Are they good enough? Possibly. We saw what kind of damage they do when they're firing on all cylinders. Splitter's fitness is a huge question mark.
Realistically, historically, and statistically speaking, the Spurs will probably get bounced before they have a chance to defend their le against GSW. The Dubs have the easiest possible path to the WCF and IF the Spurs get there, they're entirely likely to be exhausted from grueling series against LA and Houston/Dallas. Two pivotal Game 5s on the road, potentially two Game 7s on the road. It's ing D-Day and the Spurs are about to be the first wave to hit Normandy.
But they're good enough to get there. It will take a Herculean effort and will require the entire roster to be focused and motivated. That final game of the season loss had to deflate the team a bit, from pre-playoff interviews it sure sounds like they're bummed out that they couldn't get it done.
One game at a time, though. Take 1 of 2 out here, and deal with the rest later.
We havent been a good road team this year
6th ring as 6th seed.
It will be epic.
We must think 1 round at a time.
And if 2010 Spurs were able to beat the Mavs as a 7th seed in 6 games, then I know that the defending champs, winners 11 of last 12 games, 21 of 25 can sure as heck beat the Clips 4 out of 7 times.
And then we just played Houston so we know we can beat them. And same goes for the Warriors.
We are the ing Defending-Champions. Decisive calls should go our way.
If you claim Clippers in 5, then we could not beat them with HCA too.
Please stop using syntetic drugs, it gives enormous damage to the brain.
Hey, we played like for about a third of the season, that's what happens. I think the west is full of great teams and maybe any of the west teams could go all the way. The Spurs just need to do it.
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