Race to #1 Seed, San Antonio or Oklahoma City?

[rascal]

Utah is a scrappy team who is shockingly good at home (29-10, .740) they have a ton of length with Milsap, Jefferson, Kantor, & Favors. They may get swept again but they are going to battle to the nail.

Utah stinks. That is why most in here are praying to land Utah in the first round.

[cd021]

The Spurs are not as great as their record. That has been proven over the last two years, they folded the first time they got tested in the playoffs, it is the same roster as last year.

Same roster different rotation. I shouldn't have to explain the difference. Splitter is starting over Diaw. Duncan & Splitter on court together are excellent on both sides of the basketball.

Neal is out of the rotation, Blair, & Bonner are as well. Green, Leonard & Splitter are seeing bigger minutes. De Colo is out backup PG. That's a lot of changes compared to last season. Also Jackson & Diaw have training camp + full season under their belt both are key bench players.


Green, Splitter, & Leonard are have played bigger roles and have been successful in those roles. Green & Splitter can be inconsistent but Splitter is still 3rd in the NBA in FG%. Green is shooting over 44% 3pt thats almost 9% above league average. Leonards scoring has jumped since just before the all star break. With a healthy big 3 and any one of these 3 players capable of going off during any post season game.

http://stats.nba.com/teamLineups.htm...eType=Advanced

Parker/Green/Leonard/Duncan/Splitter

Offensive Rating-106.7 (Mark would rank 7th in NBA)
Defensive Rating-88.8 (Mark would rank 1st in NBA ,League best is 96.1 by OKC)

Offensive Rating-based on 100 offensive possessions. The further number away from 100 the better
Offensive Rating-based on 100 defensive possessions. The closer number to 100 the better

That lineup wouldn't have been together last season let alone playing at such a high level. Green was the behind Manu & Neal in the rotation to start the season and Splitter was the backup Center and seldom played with Duncan.

[cd021]

Utah stinks. That is why most in here are praying to land Utah in the first round.

Most here just hate the Lakers that much. Having the highest payroll in the NBA and missing the postseason is an epic fail. A Kobe, Nash, D12, Gasol team miss the playoffs. No would have guessed that was even a possibility. Utah when you're fighting for the last spot in the post season you aren't going to be a great team anyway.

[cd021]

The Spurs are not as great as their record. That has been proven over the last two years, they folded the first time they got tested in the playoffs, it is the same roster as last year.

You don't win games by accident. TBH we let several slip away with poor play (@ Utah 1st game, @ Portland 1st game, @Houston 2nd game, @Miami, Miami) Spurs have 3rd best record vs +500 teams (.658) Only Miami & have better records. We should have already cleared 60 wins a week ago.

Just cause you lose in the playoffs doesn't mean you're not as good as you're record thats just ridiculous. Memphis was a physical squad was more athletic we lost, OKC won 3 close games and blew us out in another. Show your work before you come up with such wild conclusions.

[DesignatedT]

At this point, I would continue to sit Tony and play the rest of the guys against SAC to at least lock up the #2 seed. After that, I would leave at least Duncan and Parker at home for the 2 game road b2b (@LAL, @GS). Make sure Tony is healthy for the playoffs and give Tim some extra rest for the playoffs. After that 2 game road trip I would then play everybody who is healthy enough to play in the home game vs MIN to give the team 1 warm-up game before the playoffs start.

This whole "build momentum" crap is re ed. The Spurs aren't going to build any momentum if Manu and Diaw are still out. Might as well sit everyone and make sure they are healthy at this point.

It's definitely not an ideal situation to be in going into the playoffs but the Spurs were dealt a hand with injuries down the stretch. Hopefully they can play the whole team (Tony, Manu, Diaw, everyone) in that home finale against MIN and let some of the guys knock off some rust before the playoffs.

I say shut down Tony until the MIN game and then shutdown Duncan until the MIN game after Friday.

[therealtruth]

At this point, I would continue to sit Tony and play the rest of the guys against SAC to at least lock up the #2 seed. After that, I would leave at least Duncan and Parker at home for the 2 game road b2b (@LAL, @GS). Make sure Tony is healthy for the playoffs and give Tim some extra rest for the playoffs. After that 2 game road trip I would then play everybody who is healthy enough to play in the home game vs MIN to give the team 1 warm-up game before the playoffs start.

This whole "build momentum" crap is re ed. The Spurs aren't going to build any momentum if Manu and Diaw are still out. Might as well sit everyone and make sure they are healthy at this point.

It's definitely not an ideal situation to be in going into the playoffs but the Spurs were dealt a hand with injuries down the stretch. Hopefully they can play the whole team (Tony, Manu, Diaw, everyone) in that home finale against MIN and let some of the guys knock off some rust before the playoffs.

I say shut down Tony until the MIN game and then shutdown Duncan until the MIN game after Friday.

That kind of feeling helpless and losing mentality leads to playoff losses. Hoping TP, Manu, Diaw will save the day isn't the recipe for being successful. I'm not saying they won't help but it's detrimental if the team has the at ude that they can't do anything to help themselves. They need to look inwards to figure it out.

[DesignatedT]

That kind of feeling helpless and losing mentality leads to playoff losses. Hoping TP, Manu, Diaw will save the day isn't the recipe for being successful. I'm not saying they won't help but it's detrimental if the team has the at ude that they can't do anything to help themselves. They need to look inwards to figure it out.

Feeling helpless and losing mentality? huh?

Not sure what you are getting at with this. We are missing are main pieces right now. You better be hoping that TP and Manu save the day because its this teams only hope. This is the equivalent of the Heat being without Lebron and Wade and people freaking out because they look bad. The Spurs need to get healthy. I was all for playing the season out and maybe havin a shot at getting the 1 seed but now it just seems pointless. There's no momentum to be made if different guys are hurt every night. You might as well just sit and rest everyone until they can ALL get on the court together. Rushing people back from injuries makes zero sense to me right now.

[crc21209]

Well...it's looking more and more like we're going to be the #2 seed. OKC is beating the crap out of Golden State right now, and I think that's the only possible game they could've lost on their remaining schedule. So, would we prefer Houston or Golden State now?

[hater]

who cares. at least that's settled. Time to tank and rest for the playoffs.

I don't think anyone is beating OKC btw

[spurs1990]

And their reward is Bryant and a resurgent Lakers team. Then another tough Mem or Clippers in the 2nd.

[crc21209]

So what are the pros and cons to facing Houston or GS?

Houston

Pros
1. Dead crowd, usually filled with Spurs fans throughout the crowd.
2. Inexperienced young team
3. More of an offensive team and don't really play much D

Cons
1. James Harden will get his and get ALOT of calls in a series.
2. Young team that has nothing to lose and can get hot from 3


Golden State

Pros
1. Inexperienced and young team.
2. Outside of Curry, Jack, and Thompson, they can struggle to score
3. No real inside presence
4. Another offensive minded team that plays little defense

Cons
1. Curry can get hot in a hurry (50+ point performance in the Garden this season)
2. Young guards can get hot from 3 in a hurry
3. Rabid home crowd

[thunderup]

Yall should just rest your starters and call up d-league players to finish the season. We aren't going to lose the #1 seed.

Yall can use the rest.

[Budkin]

Yall should just rest your starters and call up d-league players to finish the season. We aren't going to lose the #1 seed.

Yall can use the rest.

Agreed.

[crc21209]

thunderup on cue showing up when his team is doing good....

[InRareForm]

Blair going to lose 5 pounds this week.

[timtonymanu]

The 2 seed is starting to look more appealing at this point. Going through Houston/GS and possibly a depleted Nuggets team in the 2nd round seems easier than going through the Lakers and having to deal with MEM/LAC in the 2nd round.

[timtonymanu]

Give me the Warriors over the Rockets. With how vulnerable we look lately, I feel like James Harden can defeat us by himself.

[Mugen]

Give me the Warriors over the Rockets. With how vulnerable we look lately, I feel like James Harden can defeat us by himself.

I'd rather face the Rockets. Shorter travel time, tier crowd support, and good practice for when playing RefKC tbh.

Wouldn't mind knocking Harden out after last year's WCF as well.

[spurs1990]

If I'm not mistaken the Spurs haven't played either since the early 1990s.

I recall the Houston debacle in '95.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Spurs could do a revenge tour in the West:

Rockets, Grizzlies, Thunder

[Bruno]

OKC will likely keep that first seed. Their remaining schedule is easy with a game at Portland today followed by two home games against Kings and Bucks.

If I'm Spurs and if OKC beat Portland today, I won't even try to beat Lakers this Sunday. I way rather put Lakers in Thunder's lap for the first round than Utah. Even with all their flaws, Lakers >>>>>> Utah. Spurs just shouldn't help OKC to get the easiest road possible before a possible WCF rematch.

[crc21209]

OKC will likely keep that first seed. Their remaining schedule is easy with a game at Portland today followed by two home games against Kings and Bucks.

If I'm Spurs and if OKC beat Portland today, I won't even try to beat Lakers this Sunday. I way rather put Lakers in Thunder's lap for the first round than Utah. Even with all their flaws, Lakers >>>>>> Utah. Spurs just shouldn't help OKC to get the easiest road possible before a possible WCF rematch.

Agreed. The Spurs shouldnt play anyone important in the last 2 road games at LA and at Golden State. Let them play a little in the season finale against the T'Wolves to gear up for the playoffs. And yeah...help LA land that 8 seed as well...

[rascal]

Lining up perfect for the Spurs with the easier teams, just like last year. The Spurs will need all the help they can get because they really are not that good of a playoff team and I expect them to fall to the first tough opponent they face, likely now in WCF again.

[TJastal]

Spurs could do a revenge tour in the West:

Rockets, Grizzlies, Thunder

[spurraider21]

Lining up perfect for the Spurs with the easier teams, just like last year. The Spurs will need all the help they can get because they really are not that good of a playoff team and I expect them to fall to the first tough opponent they face, likely now in WCF again.

everybody doubting CIA pop