Woj: "Fear is he's (Kevin Durant) out months, not weeks."

[UNT Eagles 2016]

That tibial bone could be a b*tch from what i have read...He won't be operating at 100% in coming few months, that's almost for sure..I would be shocked if KD returns before the end of regular season..I think they might even hold him out of 1st round if its Denver..

But if it's OKC (they fall to 2nd), there could be an upset... OKC fans remember all the times Durant cost them by being injured so it would be the ultimate revenge if they can pull off the upset. OKC would definitely have the best player in the series if Durant is out.

[DAF86]

That tibial bone could be a b*tch from what i have read...He won't be operating at 100% in coming few months, that's almost for sure..I would be shocked if KD returns before the end of regular season..I think they might even hold him out of 1st round if its Denver..

Actually, Denver is one of the few teams that have given the Warriors some fits these last couple of seasons.

[DAF86]

But if it's OKC (they fall to 2nd), there could be an upset... OKC fans remember all the times Durant cost them by being injured so it would be the ultimate revenge if they can pull off the upset. OKC would definitely have the best player in the series if Durant is out.

OKC would be a much easier out than Denver for the Warriors.

[SpursforSix]

OKC would be a much easier out than Denver for the Warriors.

On paper...yeah. But I wouldn't discount the motivation behind OKC if they were playing GSW.

[DAF86]

On paper...yeah. But I wouldn't discount the motivation behind OKC if they were playing GSW.

What good did that motivation do for them in the three embarrassing routes they had against GS this season?

[Blake]

It's based on my own advanced metrics. I don't think I'd be able to explain the math to you.

You're the track expert after all

[Splits]

And the Spurs were 0-4 against OKC in 2014. The Spurs needed two lucky threes just to force a game 6 vs Memphis, so I don't buy they win that series if Manu plays game 1. That team was not playing good basketball to end the season and they all looked beaten up. I remember as the playoffs were approaching that year thinking the only WC team the Spurs would beat in a series would have been New Orleans.

Not to mention we were also starting Richard ing Jefferson

[Splits]

But if it's OKC (they fall to 2nd), there could be an upset... OKC fans remember all the times Durant cost them by being injured so it would be the ultimate revenge if they can pull off the upset. OKC would definitely have the best player in the series if Durant is out.

Annnnndddd the resident re weighs in with a re ed take.

[Strategic]

Since the W's released Calderon and signed Barnes I don't believe they have confidence in Durant returning this season.

[SpursforSix]

What good did that motivation do for them in the three embarrassing routes they had against GS this season?

I don't know. But with Durant down, it opens the door up. I agree with you that Denver is a tougher matchup. I'm just saying don't totally discount OKC. Especially if Durant is out.

[Seventyniner]

I can't imagine Durant coming back before the end of round 1 unless he's 100% fully and completely healthy and just wants to get back into the flow.

[Old School 44]

I can't imagine Durant coming back before the end of round 1 unless he's 100% fully and completely healthy and just wants to get back into the flow.

Not that he will be hurting for money, but isn't he on a short contract? He might not want to risk a long term injury by coming back too soon.

[heyheymymy]

This full strength argument is stupid. Virtually every team to win an NBA le has benefited hugely from injuries to another compe or. In recent memory:

2016 - Curry, Bogut
2015 - Irving, Love
2014 - Ibaka
2013 - Parker
2012 - Rose
2011 - <can't think of any>
2010 - Perkins
2009 - Garnett, Yao, McGrady
2008 - Bynum

2011 was manu thanks to grant hill in the last ing game of the rs.

[TheDoctor]

Annnnndddd the resident re weighs in with a re ed take.

ROOOFL

[pookenstein]

2011 was manu thanks to grant hill in the last ing game of the rs.

Pop should have rested him.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Obviously Pop won't make it a priority to grab the #1 seed, but I sure hope he doesn't play cute and stay complacent with #2 - there need's to be a push here.

Spurs have a solid opportunity in front of them if the Warriors drop a couple more games here and there because of this.

Our remaining schedule > Their remaining schedule

[Splits]

^ never knew "need" could be possessive.

Impressive's

[SpursforSix]

Not that he will be hurting for money, but isn't he on a short contract? He might not want to risk a long term injury by coming back too soon.

Not a bad point. But I'm not sure that top level athletes think that way. I can't remember who was saying it...just the other day on radio...I think it was some QB commenting on the Romo situation. But he was saying that as a top level athlete, you never really believe you're in danger of getting injured again. Even if you're injury prone or coming back from an injury.

And Durant surely knows that he'd take a ton of grief if he made a decision not to play if he was cleared.

[SpursforSix]

Obviously Pop won't make it a priority to grab the #1 seed, but I sure hope he doesn't play cute and stay complacent with #2 - there need's to be a push here.

Spurs have a solid opportunity in front of them if the Warriors drop a couple more games here and there because of this.

Our remaining schedule > Their remaining schedule

my only priority is making sure that Parker is healthy enough to start next year.

[Blake]

Obviously Pop won't make it a priority to grab the #1 seed, but I sure hope he doesn't play cute and stay complacent with #2 - there need's to be a push here.

Spurs have a solid opportunity in front of them if the Warriors drop a couple more games here and there because of this.

Our remaining schedule > Their remaining schedule

Can't see him not resting players.

[UZER]

1 month sounds too generous. I think it's worse than that but they won't let on to keep everyone guessing.

Regardless, if he comes back, I see him being primarily a spot up shooter. He won't be driving aggressively to the hole or blocking shots.

[diego]

Spurs have to pressure gsw so they overplay their other guys. Make sure green, curry, klay iggy especially cant take any nights off in the stretch run.

Also, at gsw fans crying. When Zaza slapped Westbrook a month ago Zaza said "if he gets injured that's fine, it's part of the game". Indeed Zaza, indeed.

[BatManu20]

In other news, Joel Embiid is out for the season. Again.

[SpursforSix]

1 month sounds too generous. I think it's worse than that but they won't let on to keep everyone guessing.

Regardless, if he comes back, I see him being primarily a spot up shooter. He won't be driving aggressively to the hole or blocking shots.

Hopefully, they play a first round opponent that will punish him when he drives.

[SpursforSix]