Are the Spurs for real? Three very telling, very important stats.

[SenorSpur]

This team -- if this is the roster we're to see finish the year -- has to have Anderson and Splitter playing significant roles. They're that important for the Spurs championship aspirations.

Even if everything goes right and everyone plays to the best of their ability, I don't believe this team gets over the top without those two. They may not have a huge role compared to others, but it's a crucial one.

Amen.

Let us also not forget something else. The Fakers have, besides having probably the NBA's best starting five and the most length, they now have a stacked bench. Like a lot of upper-echelon teams, they WILL find their niche and begin to play better.

It will be interesting to see these two teams lock horns now - and later on down the line.

[Seventyniner]

And championship teams must be able to win on the road

Unless you're the 2008 Celtics; they managed to lose their first 6 road playoffs games (3-9 on the road overall in the postseason) and won the le anyway.

[ChuckD]

Where is Sequ?

Sequ is a troll. He won't be back until there is a little kink in the machine.