Spurs: Little Improvement / Average team beat a bad team today

[EVAY]

The media is dumb. Stars win in the playoffs in today's NBA...not systems. Miami won le last year with a head coach that used to a video guy. They are even better this year. The Knicks might make it interesting but they won't win. I'll wager any amount on that series.

The Spurs first two round of the playoffs last year were fools gold. They swept a couple of teams that sucked(Jazz) and were horribly coached/mentally weak/stupid(Clippers). As soon as OKC disrupted their ball movement their lack of defense became glaring and they were done. And don't give me the ref card. OKC's stars were simply better and could play more minutes while still being effective.

Don't patronize me, mother er. I am a fan that knows exactly where my team is and what to expect and not to expect. I know the window is closing and I'm glad they are where they are. If you think it's a waste to time to cheer for a team that's not a championship team then by all means, go cheer for Miami.

They need a lot of things to happen...and it's going to take a minor miracle for it all to come together. Diaw has to come back and be effective, Manu has to stay healthy while being effective(he's looked bad since the first hamstring injury), Parker has to get his speed back and be 100% Parker...all these things have to happen for the Spurs to have a shot at making the finals so they can get the rolled out of them by Miami. It's just too much. I will gladly eat crow if it does come together...but until then I will look at the situation as a realist and accept what is real.

I agree with your position and, although I would love to see us beat OKC and Miami, either or both of those things are really really long shots. I am already on record as being very happy and thankful for a whole season of Spurs basketball this year, and if we don't go any further, it will still have been a treat to watch this team.

BTW, benefactor, thank you for the advice on how to stop all the pics on everybody's signatures. It has been so nice since you taught me how to avoid that.

[JR3]

You sound like ESPN.

[will_spurs]

BTW ESPN asked 5 writers the question: "Which outcome of the playoffs' opening weekend was most telling?"

and 3 of them had this reply:

Dubin: The Lakers didn't seriously challenge the Spurs, even in a game in which San Antonio shot about as poorly (37.6 percent) as it's ever going to shoot. Los Angeles was riding a narrative wave, and San Antonio looked banged up coming into the postseason, so many predicted a long series. But if Game 1 is any indication, the Spurs could get things over with quickly.
Mason: The Spurs dispatch the Lakers despite their own mediocre performance. Kobe Bryant tweeted, "This game has a 'steal one' written all over it for us" as the Spurs struggled to find the basket early on. Yet the Lakers could never create consistent offense of their own, and it's hard to imagine them scoring against San Antonio's third-ranked defense well enough to keep pace for an entire game.
Nowell: Having shown the Pacers some love, I'll point to the Lakers, who got monster double-doubles from Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol but still failed to be compe ive. Sunday showed it's going to take more than just inspired play from its two best players for L.A. to keep pace with San Antonio, and this series looks as short as the seeds might indicate.

Full article: http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2013/...ekend-playoffs

[benefactor]

I agree with your position and, although I would love to see us beat OKC and Miami, either or both of those things are really really long shots. I am already on record as being very happy and thankful for a whole season of Spurs basketball this year, and if we don't go any further, it will still have been a treat to watch this team.

BTW, benefactor, thank you for the advice on how to stop all the pics on everybody's signatures. It has been so nice since you taught me how to avoid that.

Agree fully...and you're welcome.

[tmtcsc]

Don't patronize me, mother er.

Was that really necessary? I thought more of you than that.

By the way, Miami. The media is riding their jocks just like they were riding the Spurs' last year. OKC took a step back this year while the Spurs improved their defense. All things being equal (Health being the most important), we'll beat them. Miami would be the toughest challenge.

I don't agree with you about stars vs systems either. Case in point - Our current opponent. There's no doubt that Miami has the best player in the league but Spoelstra is a good coach. He has that team playing outstanding defense and had to manage some strong egos and personalities a long the way. Now they're in cruise control.

The Spurs have enough star power at full strength to compete with the type of system they run. If they just tried to dump in to Tim every time, they'd get toasted. Pop realized that and adjusted things. It's all about ball movement to create the best shot available.

Now you're getting me all fired up. the defeatist at ude.

[benefactor]

You got the response you asked for when you took a patronizing tone about what you perceived to be right about my fandom and followed it up with a horrible analogy.

And no...the Spurs don't have the star power. That's a straight homer take. They can't beat Miami even at full strength and they will need to have everyone completely healthy and playing at a high level to beat OKC. That is highly unlikely.

homer at udes.

[benefactor]

An at you citing our current opponent in a stars/system argument. That's just awful.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

I didn't see much today to raise my hopes for reaching the Finals. Ginobili contributed more than I thought he could and I'll certainly take the win but the second round may be our ceiling. Perhaps this is the year George Karl exorcises his demons and gets past the Spurs.

The Lakers were the easiest team we could have hoped for in the 1st round. They are more banged up than we are and have more chemistry issues. It's shameful if this thing goes more than 5.

Our best hope is that we improve, catch fire and get on some sort of roll.

I agree with you for the most part. But seeing a W is an obvious sign of improvement. This is the same team that beat us a week and a half ago. We couldn't buy a W for 3 weeks. It was good to see Manu hit some shots. Timmy was solid as always. Splitter played solid, it's almost like Splitter has to get mad to get into the game and get his compe ive flow going. Fine with me, as long as he's engaged. Parker still looks like , I'm not going to touch that. I have gave my take for a couple weeks on him now. Leonard looked mediocre, Green mediocre, Neal mediocre. I fully expect Leonard to play much better.
All that, and we still won. It's a good sign overall. We need to/ have to get better, and we will. If Parker gets going he opens things up for our perimeter obviously, that will help Neal and Green. But don't be surprised if he struggles this series. Teams with a lineup of 2 talented big men always give him fits. It's a tough task for a smaller PG. If you see the mid range jumper going for him, be happy.

[rascal]

i love it when people answer their own questions

they can play bad and get away with it against a crippled la, but it's not good news

The Spurs caught a big break with the seedings, playing the lakers without Kobe and then the easier 2nd round matchup. The spurs fall the first tough healthy opponent they meet.

The spurs win a le if there are injuries to their western conference opponent and Miami, that is the only way a le comes to San Antonio.

[rascal]

I agree with you for the most part. But seeing a W is an obvious sign of improvement. This is the same team that beat us a week and a half ago. We couldn't buy a W for 3 weeks. It was good to see Manu hit some shots. Timmy was solid as always. Splitter played solid, it's almost like Splitter has to get mad to get into the game and get his compe ive flow going. Fine with me, as long as he's engaged. Parker still looks like , I'm not going to touch that. I have gave my take for a couple weeks on him now. Leonard looked mediocre, Green mediocre, Neal mediocre. I fully expect Leonard to play much better.
All that, and we still won. It's a good sign overall. We need to/ have to get better, and we will. If Parker gets going he opens things up for our perimeter obviously, that will help Neal and Green. But don't be surprised if he struggles this series. Teams with a lineup of 2 talented big men always give him fits. It's a tough task for a smaller PG. If you see the mid range jumper going for him, be happy.

That regular season game meant nothing to the Spurs.

[tmtcsc]

An at you citing our current opponent in a stars/system argument. That's just awful.

You know what's really awful? I had you mixed up with someone else on this board. Turns out your 'mother er' comment was pretty much exactly who you are. But you couldn't just stop could you? I let you have the last word to feel good about yourself and you come back with some weak-ass, ignorant comeback.

The Lakers rolled out a season starting line-up that consisted of 35 career All-Star appearances between them and barely earned the 7th seed.
This STAR laden team was picked by 25 of 35 ESPN analysts to represent the West and ended up firing their coach 5 games in to the season because the SYSTEM wasn't right. So, another coach was brought in and again the SYSTEM wasn't right. A SYSTEM that plays to the team's strengths. Chances are, they aren't winning anything until the right system is in place.

Your Stars over Systems take is regurgitated nonsense from Collin Cowherd. The Spurs are the best example of how a system can win without a bunch of All-Stars. Need another example? Take a look at the 2004 Detroit Pistons who trounced a Laker team that featured four future hall of famers. Ben Wallace was the only Piston that was even in the All Star game that year. Larry Brown was in his first year at Detroit and his SYSTEM helped a bunch of role players win the LOB trophy. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks featured 1 Star in Dirk Nowitzki when they won their Chip.

[Sean Cagney]

So you suffered...got some les...now you are spoiled and can't even enjoy wins...

News flash...barring a serious injury Miami are the champions. No one can beat them.

This team is not only struggling coming into the playoffs rhythm-wise...they don't have two rotation players(one gone for good and one injured) and two other impact players are still trying to get back to 100%. All those things considered, I'm ing thrilled with this win. They are likely going to need the whole first round to get back to where they were...that is...if they do. I have zero expectations beyond this round. I'd be ecstatic if they made the WCF and were eliminated in a tough fought series.

Championship or bust is a stupid mindset with this team. They are lucky just to be where they are.

I agree with you 100% here! GOOD POST!

[benefactor]

The Lakers rolled out a season starting line-up that consisted of 35 career All-Star appearances between them and barely earned the 7th seed.
This STAR laden team was picked by 25 of 35 ESPN analysts to represent the West and ended up firing their coach 5 games in to the season because the SYSTEM wasn't right. So, another coach was brought in and again the SYSTEM wasn't right. A SYSTEM that plays to the team's strengths. Chances are, they aren't winning anything until the right system is in place.

Your Stars over Systems take is regurgitated nonsense from Collin Cowherd. The Spurs are the best example of how a system can win without a bunch of All-Stars. Need another example? Take a look at the 2004 Detroit Pistons who trounced a Laker team that featured four future hall of famers. Ben Wallace was the only Piston that was even in the All Star game that year. Larry Brown was in his first year at Detroit and his SYSTEM helped a bunch of role players win the LOB trophy. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks featured 1 Star in Dirk Nowitzki when they won their Chip.

Don't listen to Cowherd, tbh.

I knew you would pull the Pistons card. Can you name another in the modern era that wasn't a great defensive team? That Pistons team played defense at a historical level. You saying that the Spurs are capable of playing that level of defense? You try to solidify your argument by citing the Mavs and downplaying Dirk being the only star, but not only did Dirk have a superstar level run(28/8 46% from distance and 94% from the line)...he had a great defensive big man and healthy role players that caught fire in a major way. The Spurs aren't even ing healthy right now and if they were, they wouldn't beat that Mavericks team at the level they were playing at.

I've told you that all the way healthy and completely in rhythm this Spurs team can beat OKC. That's all I can give you. They can't beat Miami. Lebron is playing at an individual level we have not seen since Jordan and when they are dialed in Miami can lock teams down defensively.

Right now all the Spurs are is a beat up team that's being carried by their ageless franchise big man and their young, talented forward while praying for magic in a bottle to mend all the injuries to players they need in order to get out of the next round of the playoffs. They are nothing close to the Mavericks of '11 or the Pistons of '04.

[will_spurs]

I've told you that all the way healthy and completely in rhythm this Spurs team can beat OKC. That's all I can give you. They can't beat Miami. Lebron is playing at an individual level we have not seen since Jordan and when they are dialed in Miami can lock teams down defensively.

So basically everybody should go home, hand over the le to Miami and be done with it? Because I don't see how you could give OKC a chance if you aren't giving any to the Spurs.

Beating Miami is a really tall order and would be a major upset (regardless of which team represents the West in the Finals) but it's certainly not impossible. Let's first see how they make it to the Finals, what their confidence will be, how tired they will be... They are playing great right now for sure, they are still 11 games away from the Finals, like everybody else (except the Clippers).

[Cane]

I thought Miami would be on the verge of a god damn three peat by now but then Dirk and the Mavs did their work a couple of years ago. Hopefully it's a Texas thing that works for Duncan and the Spurs too

[benefactor]

So basically everybody should go home, hand over the le to Miami and be done with it? Because I don't see how you could give OKC a chance if you aren't giving any to the Spurs.

Beating Miami is a really tall order and would be a major upset (regardless of which team represents the West in the Finals) but it's certainly not impossible. Let's first see how they make it to the Finals, what their confidence will be, how tired they will be... They are playing great right now for sure, they are still 11 games away from the Finals, like everybody else (except the Clippers).

OKC can't beat them either.

And of course anything can happen. I could hit the ing lotto tomorrow and never work again. It's highly unlikely though.

All I'm saying is it's horribly unrealistic to look at this Spurs team and say championship or bust...especially when they looked like ass late in the season and they aren't even healthy. RIGHT NOW they are not close to being a contender and to get even close they will have to A. get completely healthy and B. get completely in sync to the point where they are playing at an extremely high level. If you want me to put a number to that I'd say there is about a 10% chance that happens.

[will_spurs]

10% is fine for me. Definitely better than "can't".

[Slippy]

The defense on lakers bigs was very good. The open jumpshots Laker perimeter players got was by partly by design because of the doubling down low. When you got Dwight Howard shooting 15 foot jumpshots that's certainly a good sign the defense was working.