Spurs: Don't sleep on them Spurs

[Banzai]

I know this is a Spurs forum but to the uninformed, with tonights OKC loss the Spurs are now the # 1 team in the league. They won 17 out of 20 without Kawhi Leonard and Jackson out in some stretches. # 4 in defensive efficiency and owner of the best home record.


Championship this time or another fail year?

[Killakobe81]

Kawhi is good when did I say he ever choked I just said you can't win with 3 point shooters . Also great PG don't mean in the playoffs that's why I think Memphis has a chance ( Conley is way better than recent PG's in the finals doe ) /. Guys like JJ Baraea , Old Kidd , Mario Chalmers , Westbrick ( Not a true PG ) and Derick Fisher look at them in the Finals

3 point shooters are valuable ...look how Miller/Battier/Chalmers getting hot turned a close Finals in to a blowout in the deciding game. That being said ... only the Pistons and maybe the Celts ( i think KG was a legit MVP candidate but pierce was the Playoff and finals MVP) have won a le in the last 30 years without a player that was playing at a top 3 MVP level during that season. Dirk would of been that if he stayed healthy in 2011 but if you want to add the Mavs to that list ...fine.

If any team can pull off a 2004 Pistons ....San Antonio would be a great candidate .... but the odds are against it.

My guess is Durant or Lebron is winning it and the media will be hyping up a Magic bird 2.0 if we get a Finals repeat ...

[DMC]

spurs were an elite rebounding team in their championship years, especially their defensive rebounding but the current team ain't nowhere close. in fact they will struggle alot combating those monkeyball teams, and even if they manage to wriggle out of the west somehow they'll have to face miami in the finals whom they have no chance to get through. i predict spurs will get eliminated in the 2nd round or WCF depending on what teams they're gonna play

The Spurs get more rebounds a game now than they did then. The differential is worse now and the ranking is worse. We allow 1 more offensive board per game now than we did in 2007. The major difference between then and now can be attributed to stacking of teams. The best team in the East was the Cavs. The 2nd best team in the West was the Mavs who lost to the Warriors, or the Suns (I'd take the Suns over the Mavs that year and I think the Suns crush Utah and Cleveland). Utah had an easy road to the WCF and got crushed. None of those teams had more than one legit player that could carry the team. Now you have teams with 4 franchise players. It's a different world.

[dbreiden83080]

Win or lose i want another crack at OKC in the WCF.. Minus Harden who knows??

[Raven]

Time will tell, too soon to know what teams might get stronger with the trade deadline and what teams will stay healthy. Most likely there will be at least one upset in the first round playoffs in the West this year - Denver, Golden State, and LAL (which will make it unless another big injury) will all be tough outs. Spurs with their experience should move on however, and if, Spurs healthy and get fair calls (unlike the travesty that was the WCF last year) they can compete with anyone.

i don't remember such a huge difference in strength from the 4th seed to the 5th.. there will be no upsets this year in the west, as long as there are not bad injuries or trades that change the talent level.. at least, that's my opinion.

[irishock]

irishock might be the worst poster in this forum's history.

Try posting without an agenda, please.

[Killakobe81]

Last year Spur fans, Simmons, the advanced stats nerds ... even myself got swept up in the best passing team since the 86 celts hoopla ...and you guys do play the right way. Again the Pistons won like this. But even if you point to the Mavs ...it took Dirk having a Bird like season on offense (and Lebron to defer to Wade ...) for the Mavs to ring. With Lebron now clutch and the more aggressive KD I just dont see those teams being beat. Grizz and Clips though are just the type of teams for the Spurs to beat ... because I dont think their best player is CONSIDERABLY better than Parker & duncan.

Problem is Durant and Lebron are ... sure it's ateam game. But if a legit star is playing at an elite level, in their prime and they get some decent help they usually win. Not saying Spurs winning is impossible, just not likely. But at least your team is btter than mine. and the games are enjoyable to watch ... Spurs are far from boring and they win. Cant ask for more ...but I understand once you win les ... regular season success means little. I can respect that.

[ElNono]

irishock might be the worst poster in this forum's history.

amen

[timtonymanu]

Spurs do look better than last season, but I'm still not convinced they can go all the way. Can Parker and Duncan keep up their level of play in the playoffs? Can Splitter and Leonard be reliable? Can Manu stay healthy? A lot has to go right for the Spurs to get there because LeBron/Durant can outplay our whole team. It's just a matter of clicking at the right time.

[JRHernandez88]

We winning it all if we get past OKC

[rascal]

Allen is the glue that holds MEM and your saying Danny Green is better than him .... BLASMPHOUS

He forgot how bad Green was last year in the playoffs. Until Green does for even one year in the playoffs he isn't better than anyone.

Don't overlook the Lakers. Their size will still give the Spurs problems. They start turning it around and sneak in to the playoffs they can knock off the Spurs from the 8th seed.

[StrengthAndHonor]

We winning it all if we get past OKC

I'm still iffy about their chances against Miami but I do like the idea of Tiago and Duncan playing together. And unlike most coaches, Pop does know how to utilize his players.

[Brunodf]

OKC/Clippers are the biggest threats.
Heat is a good matchup for the Spurs tbh(no bigs/weak pg spot), they will be raped if the Spurs get to the Finals...

[benefactor]

Last year Spur fans, Simmons, the advanced stats nerds ... even myself got swept up in the best passing team since the 86 celts hoopla ...and you guys do play the right way. Again the Pistons won like this.

The difference between the Pistons and last years or this years Spurs team is that not only were they an elite defensive team, but their whole starting five played at least 35MPG with their best offensive player and best defensive player/rebounder both playing 40MPG in the playoffs. Compare that with the Spurs, who only had two starting players average over 30MPG and Parker being the only one over 35. That's just not going to equal a championship.

The only way the Spurs can win it all is if they can get over 35MPG from Duncan, Splitter and Leonard, 38-40MPG from Parker and somewhere between 30 and 35MPG from Ginobili. I just don't see that happening.

[HarlemHeat37]

I'm not a Spurs homer at all, as most people here can attest to, but I'm pretty confident that they will win the West, depending on Duncan/Manu's health(although there is a realistic chance that Ginobili will be hurt and Duncan will be worn out by May, tbh) and barring a 2012 Thunder/2002 Lakers officiating advantage..

This is the first time I've been confident in the Spurs since 2007..

I also believe that the Spurs are the only team in the NBA that could challenge Miami in a 7-game series, tbh.. at the "die-hard" fans that overanalyze and believe teams like OKC, Clippers, Indiana and Memphis could beat the Heat in the playoffs..

[Reck]

You simply can't take the Spurs seriously when they still rely on so many scrubs for production. Danny Green is still Danny Green at the end of the day. Last year's WCF proved this.

Yep, Spurs have one too many playoff proven chokers on the team to have a legit shot.

[DMC]

Last year Spur fans, Simmons, the advanced stats nerds ... even myself got swept up in the best passing team since the 86 celts hoopla ...and you guys do play the right way. Again the Pistons won like this. But even if you point to the Mavs ...it took Dirk having a Bird like season on offense (and Lebron to defer to Wade ...) for the Mavs to ring. With Lebron now clutch and the more aggressive KD I just dont see those teams being beat. Grizz and Clips though are just the type of teams for the Spurs to beat ... because I dont think their best player is CONSIDERABLY better than Parker & duncan.

Problem is Durant and Lebron are ... sure it's ateam game. But if a legit star is playing at an elite level, in their prime and they get some decent help they usually win. Not saying Spurs winning is impossible, just not likely. But at least your team is btter than mine. and the games are enjoyable to watch ... Spurs are far from boring and they win. Cant ask for more ...but I understand once you win les ... regular season success means little. I can respect that.

I didn't get caught up in it and I was right about dem Spurs.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

If the OKC bigs didn't hit 22/25 in game 5 we go to the Finals last year, and this year we have a BETTER team playing much better defence, and OKC have no Harden (who killed us at times with big shots and getting to the line).

I think we have a really good chance this year.

[DJB]

Spurs have a chance this year, but tbh i see them having an even better chance NEXT year. With the main reasons being, more growth from Kawhi, and a possible offseason signing *cough* Al jefferson *cough* chris Kaman *cough* David West *cough*

Shut up ass clown. You sound like a Mavs fan.

[Monkeyboy14]

Shut up ass clown. You sound like a Mavs fan.

Why? You actually have a reason behind that? Or are you just trying to get props from other posters for making fun of someone? You are pretty tough, TBH.

[Monkeyboy14]

Yep, Spurs have one too many playoff proven chokers on the team to have a legit shot.

Who exactly are you talking about? Matt Bonner? Who is out of the ration. Tiago Splitter? Playing better than he has so far and in pops words "finally healthy." Danny Green? Ill give you that.. haha The point is, I dont think the spurs will win it all this year, but i dont think the reason will be players choking.

[Sean Cagney]

Yep, Spurs have one too many playoff proven chokers on the team to have a legit shot.

Yes maybe from Bonner to BONNER!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. Green has one series yes, can he turn it around YES! I hope he can that is. Alot will have to go right for the Spurs to make that run, if not they are out in round two or WCF. Time will tell.

[racm]

Green was invisible in the WCF but was very good in the prior two rounds, tbh.

That's just the thing with streaky shooters. Unlike Bowen his defense isn't as good so he can't be kept on the floor longer.

[spursfan09]

Every year it seems like a "don't sleep on the Spurs" year, but what happens is that teams don't sleep on them, and the Spurs get exposed for the reg season team they are. I love the Spurs!! And yes they do have a chance, but role players tighten up and Spurs need a clutch super star to get over the hump.

[Killakobe81]

Spurs best chance would be a OKC/MIA upset. I think Spurs would have a great le chance against any other team. Those are the only 2 guys that CONSITENTLY can just drop 30 efficiently and change the momentum at a moments notice. Spurs balance and coaching gives them an advantage over anyone else. But Durant and Lebron are different you can play them well and they can still beat you.