Nuggets' ty play in the last week of reg season will probably sway some pf them to pick the Spurs in 6 or 7..
Mostly hearing Nuggets in 5 or 6 so far. Anybody in the media picking the Spurs?
Nuggets' ty play in the last week of reg season will probably sway some pf them to pick the Spurs in 6 or 7..
The NBA "experts" on NBA radio are going with Nuggets in 6 or 7. A couple have said Nuggets in 5. I haven't heard any pick the Spurs.
Most feel like Pop will strategize in ways that will translate to a win or two for the Spurs, and there's a feeling that Denver has some vulnerabilities with their lack of playoff experience.
I don't think any "expert" has watched a Spurs or Nuggets game outside of when they played Lakers or Warriors.
The last game against them with Pop getting ejected was pretty disturbing for our prospects, tbh.
Perception is reality to these NBA pundits.
Colin Cowherd (no font of NBA knowledge) picks the Nuggets but does admit Denver's vulnerability because:
1. Denver may have problems because they're a young, inexperienced (in the playoffs) team against the older wily veteran Spurs. (Of course, 3 of the 5 Spurs starters are basically 2d year players).
2. Denver is a great three-point shooting team but that could abandon them in the playoffs whereas the Spurs don't shoot threes but only rely on mid-range jumpers. (The Spurs, of course, finished the regular season as the NBA's number one three point shooting team.)
I don’t think anyone will go on a limb and pick the Spurs. Maybe Beadle or Skip, I can’t see anyone else. I’m hoping Barkley picks the Nuggets in a sweep, it would guarantee a long compe ive series.
If only Dejounte could return, we'd have... BATTLE OF THE MURRAYS
And our best PG, tbh.
Barkley and Stephen A Smith are our chance if they pick the Nuggets. If that doesn't work and we lose in 4 or 5 then we're the definition of treadmill team and we definitely need to tank next season.
I don’t get why people give a about prediction bull , especially in the nfl. Pregames are mostly unwatchable to me, yea I really care what fired nba coaches think or nba players that have only watched a handful of games for each team. And that’s whether they pick my team or not
My favorite part is when an asshat says “this game 5 is a must win” when the series is tied 2 to 2. It’s almost as funny as a Spurstalker saying a random February game is a must win.
I agree 100%.
Post Big 3 era, this doesn't apply
I used to write for the (lousy) defunct site hoopsworld.com and am a high school basketball official-with those bs credentials will pick Spurs in shocking 6! If I am right send me a Shiner Bock!
I agree with you Spurs in 6
I'm not sure what qualifies as an expert but Joel Meyers (NBA XMRAdio) and Jason Goff (?) like the Spurs in 6. Meyers gives Spurs the nod over OKC in 2nd round too.
We've seen all year the Spurs have the offensive capability to hang with anyone on most nights. However, they lack a winning pedigree & instinct to just ing compete or get stops on defense when they absolutely need to. They don't have it and don't have leaders who display it consistently. For them to have any sort of chance, things have to really bounce their way (they make shots, Denver plays poorly or their inexperience gets them jittery).
Incredibly, the path to the WCF could be favorable for the Spurs if they buckle down and play defense. DeMar also has to know when not to force things. IF the Spurs emerge from the 1st round, Portland and OKC have enough flaws for the Spurs to have a chance.
Last edited by tmtcsc; 04-11-2019 at 02:55 PM.
The storyline from the "experts" so far
1. OKC has an "Dream/easy" path to the WCF
2. HOU 1st round might be tough before they play GS in 2nd round.
3. Nothing else is worth talking about in the Western conference.
This is easily a 7 game series. Spurs will probably win in San Antonio and lose on the road. The Spurs lost an important game to the Knicks on the road. I have no confidence in any road game they play. Moreover, in years past the Spurs would’ve won this game on execution alone. But the players that mattered are gone. Spurs have talent, but not any special cohesion and will probably die on their team defense.
You don't pick the underdog in a 7v2 unless it's obvious (injury, ownage, intentional tanking like the Grizz did to us, etc). And in this case the Spurs are the true lower seed.
Denver in 5 or 6 most likely. If Spurs manage to steal one in Denver in game 1 or 2 it could be Denver in 6 or 7
IMO any team with LMA and DeMar as its core is a treadmill team. They're good, but there are only 5 top 5 players in the league, and the rest are treadmill players. Unfortunately this isn't the NCAA and the refs / media / Silver bias to help stars win rings is real. You not only have to beat the superstars hitting all their shots, but also everything that comes with them (ref manipulation, stars teammates allowed to set moving picks and play overly physical, lack of foul calls, ridiculous scheduling, quick whistles on underdog players/stars, etc.). It really is the WWE, packaged for the casual fan to enjoy going to games or bars to watch the guy whose name is on their jersey get 50 and a ring.
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