Spurs have basically now caught up to GS in point differential

[Spurtacular]

Spurs v. Warriors will be the real NBA Finals this year

It was last year too. Clips just played as Warriors proxy is all.

[Galileo]

Points differential has been a pretty good indicator of post-season success. Doesn't mean it predicts which team will win it all, but it's one of the best ways to spot the contenders vs the pretenders. Back in 08-09, the Spurs won 54 games and the SW Division, but their points differential was only something like 3.5, and they got knocked out in the first round by Dallas. They were pretenders.

But comparing the Spurs and Warriors differential doesn't prove anything. Normally, if two teams have roughly the same point differential in the regular season, go with the one that plays the best defense when it's playoff time. One team scores 105 and gives up 97 all season and the other team scores 98 and gives up 90 - same differential, but playoff basketball favors the second more often than not. The Mike D'Antoni Suns are the best example of that I can think of.

The way Golden State is playing right now, it may be a different story. But we're only 25 games in. Still, if I had to pick a team to put against the Dubs in the playoffs, it would be one that had a high point differential but gave up a lot fewer points per game. As of now, that's the Spurs.

Good point. If you go by points ratio, Spurs are already better than GS.

[bic50]

are the Spurs ever going to play against a decent team? oh ya they lost to Toronto and Ok City lol

Lakers lol

[cjw]

Lakers lol

Trollin' ain't easy

[Galileo]

Points differential has been a pretty good indicator of post-season success. Doesn't mean it predicts which team will win it all, but it's one of the best ways to spot the contenders vs the pretenders. Back in 08-09, the Spurs won 54 games and the SW Division, but their points differential was only something like 3.5, and they got knocked out in the first round by Dallas. They were pretenders.

But comparing the Spurs and Warriors differential doesn't prove anything. Normally, if two teams have roughly the same point differential in the regular season, go with the one that plays the best defense when it's playoff time. One team scores 105 and gives up 97 all season and the other team scores 98 and gives up 90 - same differential, but playoff basketball favors the second more often than not. The Mike D'Antoni Suns are the best example of that I can think of.

GS points ratio: 1.1272 to 1
Spurs: 1.1383 to 1

Spurs > GS.

[GSH]

Good point. If you go by points ratio, Spurs are already better than GS.

You're on your own with that. I'm being perfectly clear, that's not what I said.

What I did say was that the Spurs are they kind of team that probably has the best chance against a team like the Warriors in the playoffs. No more, no less.

[tmtcsc]

Spurs fans are so happy that the Warriors finally lost 1 game, this is pathetic lol

What? Nobody here gives a about that team of twinks. Streaks are meaningless and they weren't going to go 82-0. I'm looking forward to seeing the Spurs win #6.

[Hoops Czar]

What? Nobody here gives a about that team of twinks. Streaks are meaningless and they weren't going to go 82-0. I'm looking forward to seeing the Spurs win #6.

Of course not. That's why 6 out of the top 14 threads in the Spurs forum are dedicated to the Warriors. Because apparently, nobody cares . Posters here are so hot and bothered by the Warriors and their success, that Spurs fans can't handle it.

[313]

SOS

GSW .503 (13th)

SAS .468 (29th)

Point differential in mid December

[DenialTwist]

And we ain't playing good basketball.

This is what Ryen Russillo just said on NBA Tonight too. He said their offense hasn't caught up to their excellent defense.

[Galileo]

You're on your own with that. I'm being perfectly clear, that's not what I said.

What I did say was that the Spurs are they kind of team that probably has the best chance against a team like the Warriors in the playoffs. No more, no less.

That is what you said without realizing it. Given equal point differentials, as points allowed goes down, points ratio goes up, even allowing points scored going down. In other words, the Spurs can beat GS with clamp-down defense.

[TD 21]

In addition: while other sites still have it as a slight gap, net rating is equal according to basketball-reference, expected w-l record (theirs is a whopping 3 games worse than their actual record) is too and they had virtually identical strength of schedules until a few days ago.

In other words, their start has been both overrated and lucky and the Spurs' has been underrated, more so recently, as they've progressively closed the gap on them.

Meanwhile, there's reason to believe the Spurs have another gear, for obvious reasons, while they probably don't and might be in the process of blowing their load before the playoffs even commence.

[hater]

Means absolutely ing nothing.

What's more interesting is Spurs only have 5 losses and Worriers have 1. Basically 1st seed is still up in the air crazy

[ducks]

Means rest for starters

[Uriel]

What's more, our point differential should be even higher than it currently is, since Pop tends to bench the starters early and have the third-stringers blow the lead.

[silverblackfan]

What's more, our point differential should be even higher than it currently is, since Pop tends to bench the starters early and have the third-stringers blow the lead.

Pop does this to reduce the injuries and wear on the playoff key guys. If another key guy is discovered in the process and they keep winning? Bonus.

[boutons_deux]

point differential plus road record are very good measures

[LoneStarState'sPride]

That's actually a pretty ing scary thought for the rest of the league. The warriors played basically as best as they possibly can and we haven't even sniffed our ceiling yet.

[cjw]

People talking about how the Spurs "can't win close games" and that the every game is about skill and there's no element of luck:

http://stats.nba.com/playtype/#!/iso...r&OD=offensive

Game 1 of the season, the Spurs force the ball out of the hands of the guy who's turned out to be the best ISO player in the league this year (Durant) and to Waiters, who is the WORST based on the above - 1/2 the expect PPP as Durant. That's great execution, but awful luck.

Other fun observations from these rankings:

- Kawhi has been a beast both in ISO and post-ups. Duncan great in the post too. Kawhi's also leading the league in spot-up points (guys like Curry obviously have better PPP), and been good on hand-offs - akin to a pick.

- Aldridge is #1 in putbacks by a wide margin. Great to have a guy who can work the offensive glass when that hasn't been a focus in the past, and especially when it works against teams like the Warriors

- Patty leading league in off-screen action (yes, he's an offensive SG in a PG body). Parker and Mills with solid 1.0 PPP as PNR ballhandler.

- Blake and Durant have been beasting this year

[-21-]

[cd98]

It's interesting that the Spurs losses were all close games. But for a play or two, Spurs could be undefeated. And GS has won a few they could have lost.

[Uriel]

Spurs should pass Golden State in net rating after this Jazz game.

[SpursFan86]

Spurs now #1 in point differential (13.2 vs. 13.1). Margin is a bit wider if you look at net rating since the Spurs play at a much slower pace than GS.

[Galileo]

Spurs now #1 in point differential (13.2 vs. 13.1). Margin is a bit wider if you look at net rating since the Spurs play at a much slower pace than GS.

Galileo is a genius!!!!!!

[Galileo]