SPURS are not good against the BEST

[TD 21]

But it was a negative spin in december, and now is "I'm not sold". I said back in December that this team needed time to grow, and they'll either come together or they won't. And for all intents and purposes, they did. They're currently the best team in the league, not just record-wise, but also beating the other top teams in the league (and actually handing out beatdowns). So on that aspect, yeah, you can consider your december concerns addressed. Will they stay healthy or be able to maintain this level in the playoffs? neither you or I know that, but all we can do is hope that they do, and at the very least we know that they can play like THIS.

The Spurs are not the only team with flaws. Every team has them. OKC, Rockets, Clippers, Miami... they all have them one way or another. The Spurs have done an admirable job of masking them, and that's what got them to this point. Why not celebrate it?

No, it was a realistic assessment. Have they really "grown" though or did they just plain get healthy and more motivated? We all knew they were capable of looking like the best team in the league, but the big picture concerns from earlier in the season are still there.

The Thunder have Durant and the Heat have James, which gives them a greater room for error. Even the Rockets and Clippers, despite being inferior to the Spurs, in a certain respect have that over them, because their two best players are essentially in their prime.

Why not celebrate it? Because of the last two years, because of their ongoing inability to look like themselves against the Thunder and because they don't have anyone playing at a top ten, much less five, level.

[ElNono]

No, it was a realistic assessment. Have they really "grown" though or they just they plain get healthy? We all knew they were capable of looking like the best team in the league, but the big picture concerns from earlier in the season are still there.

The Thunder have Durant and the Heat have James, which gives them a greater room for error. Even the Rockets and Clippers, despite being inferior to the Spurs, have that over them, because their two best players are essentially in their prime.

Nah, there's no injury excuse. Our new guys were just starting to gel, and the defense just wasn't there yet. Now they're clicking on both ends. Obviously, demoting Errors helped. Guys like Boris and Patty are in a rhythm now, and guys like Beli understand where to be and what to do. Being healthy will always be a priority, but this team has come a long way, IMO.

Why not celebrate it? Because of the last two years, because of their ongoing inability to look like themselves against the Thunder and because they don't have anyone playing at a top ten, much less five, level.

What are you afraid of, a heart-break? That's what being a fan is all about. I still don't really share your concern about the Thunder. They won't be a walk in the park, but if healthy, I think we can take them.

The whole "only appreciate when they win a championship" thing is really spoiled stuff. This is a great team (one of the best Spurs teams, IMO), regardless if they lift the LOBT next June or not. Last year, they were also a great team, regardless of the ball bouncing a different way. Everybody wants to win every year, and I'm sure the Spurs aim for that every season, but it's unrealistic. I'll save the "negligent" stuff when we actually have a team that can't even sniff the playoffs.

EDIT: FWIW, it's not just the Spurs. The Heat lost in 2010, and they were a great team too, IMO.

[TD 21]

Nah, there's no injury excuse. Our new guys were just starting to gel, and the defense just wasn't there yet. Now they're clicking on both ends. Obviously, demoting Errors helped. Guys like Boris and Patty are in a rhythm now, and guys like Beli understand where to be and what to do. Being healthy will always be a priority, but this team has come a long way, IMO.



What are you afraid of, a heart-break? That's what being a fan is all about. I still don't really share your concern about the Thunder. They won't be a walk in the park, but if healthy, I think we can take them.

The whole "only appreciate when they win a championship" thing is really spoiled stuff. This is a great team (one of the best Spurs teams, IMO), regardless if they lift the LOBT next June or not. Last year, they were also a great team, regardless of the ball bouncing a different way. Everybody wants to win every year, and I'm sure the Spurs aim for that every season, but it's unrealistic. I'll save the "negligent" stuff when we actually have a team that can't even sniff the playoffs.

EDIT: FWIW, it's not just the Spurs. The Heat lost in 2010, and they were a great team too, IMO.

When you have as many as they had, it's a legitimate reason. Granted, they were healthy for a number of those games against elite teams early though. As far as gelling, Belinelli did instantly and Ayres still hasn't, so nothing's changed in that regard. Sure, Mills was new to the rotation, but he instantly gelled too.

I'm not afraid, I'm just not getting sucked in. You need a top five player or at least someone playing at that level to win it all and they don't have it. If that changes in the playoffs, they've got a chance.

Of course I appreciate them, but it's old hat at this point. It's championship or bust.

Building a team with one player who's a natural at a certain position is absolutely negligent, particularly when said position is the one that features the two players standing between you and a championship.

[Sean Cagney]

that's RS + playoffs... this mark is the new RS record...

Yes but to me the 10 straight in the playoffs added on to the 10 RS is more impressive! that is just very hard to do. Too bad they had to lose 4 straight after that magical run

[ElNono]

When you have as many as they had, it's a legitimate reason. Granted, they were healthy for a number of those games against elite teams early though. As far as gelling, Belinelli did instantly and Ayres still hasn't, so nothing's changed in that regard. Sure, Mills was new to the rotation, but he instantly gelled too.

Ayres is not going to play in the playoffs, barring injury. I said it back then, and I think we're seeing that now. I do think Pop ran a bit longer than I thought with him, but it's clear he has the new "Dejuan Blair minute burner" role.

Beli has come a long way, and I thought Patty has elevated his game since the RRT, especially while Tony was out. There's palpable growth within the system there, IMO, and some of these games against top teams have shown they can be counted on when it matters, which was not always the case last season. We're always going to be reliant on our Big 4 (TP/TD/Manu/Kawhi) and secondary Big 3 (Green/Splitter/Diaw)... but all teams rely on their best players, so nothing new there.

I'm not afraid, I'm just not getting sucked in. You need a top five player or at least someone playing at that level to win it all and they don't have it. If that changes in the playoffs, they've got a chance.

Of course I appreciate them, but it's old hat at this point. It's championship or bust.

I think they should be appreciated exactly because they don't have a top 5 player. I think the bar of "championship or bust" effectively changed when we stopped having a top 5 player, it's what happens to most every team.

But there's no need to be scared. They got game, and the league itself isn't full of world-beaters these days.

[ElNono]

Yes but to me the 10 straight in the playoffs added on to the 10 RS is more impressive! that is just very hard to do. Too bad they had to lose 4 straight after that magical run

That team though wasn't anywhere near as good defensively (ranked #11 in the RS, #8 in the playoffs). You just knew eventually when the ball stopped going in, it was going to be a struggle because we didn't have the defensive tools yet. I thought last season we were much better prepared (and this season too).

[SpursFan86]

I don't understand how any Spurs fan could not be excited about the way this team is looking this year. This is the best we've looked in I don't know how long. In 2012 we weren't elite defensively and relied more on our offense. This year we're the 3rd best defense in the league and don't rely as heavily on our offense.

Obviously making it to the Finals will be tough this year given how good the West is, but I think we have the best chance out of anyone aside from maybe a healthy OKC. Even then, I like our chances with HCA against them. No one is guaranteeing a championship or anything...but there is reason to be excited.

[Trainwreck2100]

I don't understand how any Spurs fan could not be excited about the way this team is looking this year. This is the best we've looked in I don't know how long. In 2012 we weren't elite defensively and relied more on our offense. This year we're the 3rd best defense in the league and don't rely as heavily on our offense.

Obviously making it to the Finals will be tough this year given how good the West is, but I think we have the best chance out of anyone aside from maybe a healthy OKC. Even then, I like our chances with HCA against them. No one is guaranteeing a championship or anything...but there is reason to be excited.

Cause we've seen this before this offense is predicated on handlers slashing and making the open 3. The latter of which has been a fickle in the playoffs over the years

[ElNono]

Cause we've seen this before this offense is predicated on handlers slashing and making the open 3. The latter of which has been a fickle in the playoffs over the years

That's why improving the defense was key the last two seasons... the offense bogging down happens to every team, tbh... even OKC with Harden only lasted 5 games against the Heat...

You look at the West, and I think that if healthy, we're in pretty good shape. All you can ask for this late in the game.

[SpursFan86]

Cause we've seen this before this offense is predicated on handlers slashing and making the open 3. The latter of which has been a fickle in the playoffs over the years

In how many of those previous years did we have a top 3 defense in the league to fall back on when our offense wasn't in rhythm? From '09-'12 we were outside of the top 5 defensively. In 2012 we were 10th.

I know we've seen regular season success not translate into postseason success...but we've never had this type of regular seasons success. This is the highest SRS we've had since 2007. Again, I'm not guaranteeing a championship or anything, but I don't know why anyone wouldn't be excited to see how well this team is playing this year.

[Trainwreck2100]

That's why improving the defense was key the last two seasons... the offense bogging down happens to every team, tbh... even OKC with Harden only lasted 5 games against the Heat...

You look at the West, and I think that if healthy, we're in pretty good shape. All you can ask for this late in the game.

Dem whistles doh. That's really the only thing that scares me.

[Winehole23]

lol gloomy gus meltdowns in the historic streak. typical spoiled Spurs fans.

these are the good old days. barring injury, Spurs got a good shot to win it all this year.

[FromWayDowntown]

I forgot that the Spurs weren't even close to winning a le last year. The club is obviously flawed from a personnel standpoint and the "system" can't possibly work in the playoffs.

Any realist would know those truths.[/blue text]

[ElNono]

Dem whistles doh. That's really the only thing that scares me.

that's a legit concern, but I can't put that on the team or the FO... they're just going to have to play through that.

[szkorhetz]

Serious question: do you think this is the best Spurs team ever?

[phyzik]

I forgot that the Spurs weren't even close to winning a le last year. The club is obviously flawed from a personnel standpoint and the "system" can't possibly work in the playoffs.

Any realist would know those truths.

FIFY

[phyzik]

Serious question: do you think this is the best Spurs team ever?

Let them get a le and then I will compare, tbh. If this team chokes in the playoffs, the answer is obviously "NO". If they win it all, then that question can be debated. To be compared to greatness, you must first be great yourself.

[ElNono]

Serious question: do you think this is the best Spurs team ever?

IMO, one of the best. You could argue they were much more dominant when TD was in his prime, and it would be difficult to argue with that, but back then they also had much less options.

This is a team with great fits, likeable players, they seem to like eachother too, bought fully into the system, depth like we've not had in a long while... and yet I still think they have room to grow... I think TP can play better more often, and I think Kawhi can get better. Beli is just really only getting his feet wet out there.

They're not unbeatable or anything like that, but they really execute a great and efficient brand of basketball most of the time that can be dominant and very enjoyable (at least to me).

[ElNono]

Winning it all would be great validation, but I don't think it removes merits from the team... I think this is a team you can look back 10 years from now and say, like WH said above, "those were the good old days"... last year's team was pretty darn good too, even with the heart-break, IMO.

[Chinook]

Serious question: do you think this is the best Spurs team ever?

It's easily the best supporting cast ever. The Medium Three and Diaw are so good that people actually believe the Big Three haven't fallen off as much as they have. This team is really special in how dependent everyone is on each other.

[KaiRMD1]

Serious question: do you think this is the best Spurs team ever?

Only if the ol' sports win a le can we started comparing them as one of the best teams. Last year's team could be considered one of the best Spurs teams to NOT win a le.

[RD2191]

that, Spurs better win it all or they're going down as chokers.

[playbonner15]

[Sean Cagney]

That team though wasn't anywhere near as good defensively (ranked #11 in the RS, #8 in the playoffs). You just knew eventually when the ball stopped going in, it was going to be a struggle because we didn't have the defensive tools yet. I thought last season we were much better prepared (and this season too).

I did at the time but I did not want to accept it, thought we would just win it all with shots going down at an alarming rate!

[rascal]

Still say that. Splitter sucks.