Spurs... can they get better?

[RD2191]

They can, but they can also regress.

They at least earned the benefit of the doubt until the playoffs roll around... They're going to have a target on their backs now, and teams will play harder to measure themselves against the Champs, even though Pop will probably massage minutes left and right, and the team won't be really whole until Patty comes back and has a few weeks with everybody.

I still expect ST to meltdown over December/January losses tho

[intlspurshk]

Half of the league's teams tanked last year. This year will not be the same and it will be diffcult to gain top seed TBH.

[Splits]

Asking now... should we tank for Okafor?

[Malik Hairston]

Very, very unlikely, tbh..

The 2014 Spurs were one of the 3 best teams in the 90s/2000s/2010s eras, they were completely dominant against top-level compe ion..part of it is the roster and coach, but another part is just getting hot at the right time, tbh..

It can't be under-valued how much the 2013 loss to Miami helped motivate the Spurs for the 2014 season, too..everybody returned hungry and motivated..players like Diaw aren't guaranteed to be motivated for even a single week, but the loss to Miami helped motivate Diaw and keep him aggressive for an entire season/playoff run..

[KaiRMD1]

I can see CoJo getting good this year.
the ol' sport showed some great flashes during the playoffs. From breaking Westbrook's ankles to this


This team can definitely get better

[Splits]

It's hard to imagine the team getting any better. The Spurs have had some amazing teams in the last 15 years and none of them have ever played at the level of the 2014 Spurs of the final three rounds. They have a great shot at going for the repeat with everyone back, but improving on the most dominant Finals in league history?

Pop has been pushing the NBA envelope in terms of adjustments and adaptation like no other the past couple of years. It's like he's moved the league from the mainframe/supercomputer era to the plug-and-play era. To a point where consolidated power is less efficient than distributed consistency. I don't know if he can keep it up, or if this is a "new era", but 2015 will be a benchmark.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I'm actually kinda giddy looking forward to the first loss to OKC...

You gonna bump the "Spurs can't beat good teams" thread?

Please do! I believe I'm in there talking sense a number of times.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

I think Parker is gonna be in better form for the playoffs and regular season than he was this last season. I think he really wore himself down winning the Euro le and it definitely showed in the playoffs, rest will be great for him.

[Darkwaters]

The one thing that can, and always can, seriously derail a season is injury. That is, and always largely has been, our limiting factor. So long as we can stay healthy I like our chances.

[RD2191]

Asking now... should we tank for Okafor?

I'm gonna have to say yes. Just no way in we repeat. Spurs had their moment. Don't think we can recapture the magic.

[Splits]

I'm gonna have to say yes. Just no way in we repeat. Spurs had their moment. Don't think we can recapture the magic.

Got it

[hooperflash]

I could see Beli and Ayres getting better in their second year with the team, especially so for Ayres. He was pathetic last year so there's nowhere to go but up.

Tough to see TP, Manu, or TD getting any better really.

Hard to foresee what will happen with Kawhi, whether he'll make the jump to an ~18 and 10 guy or stay doing his Shawn Marion thing in the RS.

Patty will be injured most of the year and for a player like him, it's hard to imagine a better year than 2014.

Baynes and Splitter are known quan ies at this point. Boris will be Boris. Green will be Green.

KA is the real mystery. Will he carve out a rotation spot or do the De Colo thing?

Cory Joseph sucks and will continue to suck.

How would Cory crack some playing time when we have Kris Joseph?

[RD2191]

Got it

[Splits]

Wow, 68? So much for a slow offseason.

[superbigtime]

Spurs playoff performance in the Finals was legendary perfection, but I think Spurs can continue improving as a team. And they will have to because our division rivals and the Clippers will not stand pat. Beli will improve in his 2nd year. I expect Cojo to play well while Patty rehabs. Green will continue improving his all around game like he showed toward the end of the playoffs. Kawhi will surely improve as he asserts himself. Tim, Tony, Manu, Boris, Splitter will continue to do what they do. If Spurs land an impactful player for MLE like Aminu or Gasol, that obviously improves the team. I think Baynes will improve if he stays. Bonner, Daye, and Ayers ... I don't expect much playing time from them to show much.

[100%duncan]

I'm actually kinda giddy looking forward to the first loss to OKC...

Now that you've mentioned it, me too.

[skulls138]

In my opinion, this year's "redemption" or "revenge" helped drive this team, coach Pop included. Next year there won't be that same stigma I'm afraid. They won't be better until Manu and Mills play and perform at the levels they're capable of and that may take a while considering their injuries. We'll just have to wait and see.

Yeah but if they win it next year the haters will truly be in pain. I want mother ers to hate basketball, just give up on the NBA all together, their player-worshiping-as-if-they-were-gods thinking just shattered in the wind, as well as the players who buy into it. Last championship was revenge against the Heat. Next championship should be revenge against the doubting, ignoring and disrespecting WORLD!!!

[siraulo23]

Spurs can definitely improve, no question

but i dont think they'll ever play at such a high level like the did vs miami

[NRHector]

I think next season the motivation is going to be to try to repeat they haven't done it

[admiralsnackbar]

I like our chances, but the obsessive focus the Spurs had to right the wrong of 2013 will be hard to maintain. I'll grant that 2013 was theirs but for an amazing Ray Allen 3, but that was a close series, where 2014 was a complete ass-kicking. Repeating would require at least half as much focus as 2014, and certainly more than what the guys put forth in 2013 imo.

[scanry]

Pop should pull what Phil did back in 1998 - "The Last Dance." Seeing that it'll be Tim's last year, make him go out on top.

[Uriel]

I love this team

[Mr. Body]

Pop hasn't figured out how best to use Diaw yet, by his own admission.

Leonard is still expanding his game, Green is actually starting to drive with some confidence.

There's room for a backup point to improve in the wake of Mills' injury. Ginobili may not be back to form. Belinelli has some personal things to prove.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Splitter trying some new things out (a mid-range jumper?).

As for motivation, fortunately this system/team can win 50 games in its sleep. They'll need to do better for homecourt, but they can crank it up in 2015.

This actually may not be Duncan's final year - his goal may be to play until he's 40 - and so the "win one last one for Timmy" thing might not be a factor.

[ginobilized]

Health and another player are the unknown quan ies. So much has to go "right', but, it is definitely within the realm of possibility that they improve.
Their versatility alone is freakish. I have never seen a squad that can counter about any lineup on a given night.
Bonner, Ayres, Anderson, Cojo and Baynes may be expendable. Can't wait to see what happens, after I watch the championship DVD 25x!!!

[BatManu20]

I think we actually end up with a worse record next year (62-20 this season). Teams will be targeting us and likely playing their best games against us, and Pop is going to manage minutes regardless, even if it means sacrificing a few wins and costing us home court in the playoffs. I think OKC finishes with the best record in the West this season.

Also, this year's Redemption factor can't be overstressed. The taste of revenge is a powerful thing. They won't have that next season. So all in all, I wouldn't be surprised if we regressed a little bit. All that maters is being healthy come playoffs.