ESPN Forecast Has the Spurs at 57 wins, Second in the West

[Cry Havoc]

It's a really tough conference and could be even tougher next year. The Spurs core is aging and therefore vulnerable to injury.

I don't agree with it but it's not crazy to suggest we finish a game back of OKC. This conference is unbelievably loaded. Maybe the toughest in NBA history.

[PÒÓCH]

Predictions are like assholes...........(insert witty reply)

[Spurs 4 The Win]

It's a really tough conference and could be even tougher next year. The Spurs core is aging and therefore vulnerable to injury.

I don't agree with it but it's not crazy to suggest we finish a game back of OKC. This conference is unbelievably loaded. Maybe the toughest in NBA history.

lol we could easily lose by 4-5 games to OKC, they threw away a lot of games to ty opponents last year and lost on 4 buzzer beaters.... If they truly want it, they will get it, health permitting

[itzsoweezee]

Spurs are going to be five games worse than last year?

I don't see how that's possible. Especially if consider that Tony is going to be rejuvenated with the summer off and Kawhi's going to be on a mission to take over the throne and be an all-star.

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Window closed and Spurs smashed through the glass!

[howbouthemspurs]

Spurs win the Championship and go on one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history and come back next season with virtually the same exact team? Yet is placed number two in the opening standings? I call BS on that! This is probably the spurs best chance in their history for a repeat! Two straight trips to the finals and ESPN still don't give them the respect they deserve. They are too busy gagging on Lebron's nuts!

[100%duncan]

Spurs finish top 1 tbh

[bluebellmaniac]

Historically, these things love the Thunder and tend to underestimate the Spurs:

2013 ESPN Summer Forecast (Actual finish)

OKC 58-24 (59-23, #2)
LAC 57-25 (57-25, #3)
SAS 55-27 (62-20, #1)

2012 ESPN Summer Forecast

OKC 59-23 (60-22, #1)
LAL 59-23 (45-37, #7)
SAS 54-28 (58-24, #2)

2011 Winter Forecast

OKC 48-18 (47-19, #2)
DAL 45-21 (36-30, #7)
LAL 42-24 (41-25, #3)
LAC 41-25 (40-26, #5)
MEM 40-26 (41-25, #4)
SAS 40-26 (50-16, #1)

2010 ESPN Summer Forecast

LAL 58-24 (57-25, #2)
OKC 52-30 (55-27, #4)
DAL 52-30 (57-25, #3)
DEN 49-33 (50-32, #5)
PRT 49-33 (48-34, #6)
SAS 48-34 (61-21, #1)

Interesting. Definite pattern of underestimating Spurs win #...

[Uriel]

These forecasts are an average of the opinion of a wide array of diverse people, so it makes sense that the Spurs are only expected to win 57 games. In reality, they might win something closer to 60 games. But I wouldn't be surprised if OKC went 62-20 and still finished as the #1 seed in the West.

[jag]

2010: "Tim Duncan was in college the last time the Spurs finished under .600, but that's what our panel forecasts for this fading power."

Since the Spurs' window "closed" as they became a fading power, they've been in the West Finals 3 times, in the Finals 2 times, and have a le.

One of these days they'll actually be right. No reason to stop now.

[Obstructed_View]

These forecasts are an average of the opinion of a wide array of diverse people, so it makes sense that the Spurs are only expected to win 57 games. In reality, they might win something closer to 60 games. But I wouldn't be surprised if OKC went 62-20 and still finished as the #1 seed in the West.

The opinions of the diverse people are based on rooting interest and wishful thinking. I'm not sure the Thunder got appreciably better in the offseason. Westbrook will be healthy, but aside from gaudy stats, he's simply not that big of a difference maker for them. They're about as likely to finish third in the west as they are to finish first in the west.

[FireMicoHalili]

I imagine long-time fans aren't surprised. Not much to make of too, I read somewhere sports writers have the lowest percentages in predicting outcomes among all professions. I wish I bookmarked that article. So yeah, I'd take this prediction it with boulders of salt.

[Fireball]

back under the radar ... mission accomplished

we ill have our share of injuries again ... just hope its not Timmy or Kawhi ... I really wanna see Kawhi being able to develop his game over 82 games

[Seventyniner]

Window closed and Spurs smashed through the wall!

Fixed.

[BillMc]

Fixed.

Well done!

[EVAY]

It is a little surprising to see some folks in here getting upset because sportscasters are predicting a smaller number of regular season wins than last year, when so many posters in here denigrated the regular season stats for the Spurs last year by saying that regular season wins are fools' gold and mean nothing.

HCA matters...it showed very much in the last two seasons. I hope that we win the West. Doesn't mean that we can't win the le without it, but I hope we win.

[xmas1997]

I don't care how many wins the Spurs have as long as they have the LAST WIN in the post season!

[vander]

I personally think the Spurs will win 54 games next year