Gentlemen, time for your Spurs vs. Suns series predicitons

[greyforest]

spurs in 3. the suns will literally give up playing basketball and the franchise will dissolve.

[SenorSpur]

Lopez is either out, or if he comes back, he'll be like 50%. That means the Suns literally have no one to guard Duncan, Blair, and McDyess. I can't see the Suns winning this.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/20...lopez-doubtful

Suns Sources: Robin Lopez Doubtful for Spurs Series

Sources within the Suns organization confirmed this telling Bright Side of the Sun that Robin's progress has been steady but not leaps and bounds and the Suns are thinking of the big picture and want what's best for Lopez long-term.

If Robin does come back it will only be when he's fully healed. Right now the team is focused on strengthening his right leg to avoid re-injury due to over compensating.

Without Lopez to guard Tim Duncan in the post, the Suns will likely have to rely on more double teams and hope that their defense, which was active and rotated well against the Portland Trail Blazers, can continue to perform without the big man in the middle.

The Suns were a top level rebounding team with Robin in the starting line-up but still managed to beat Portland on the glass by 21 rebounds in the first round without him.

[SenorSpur]

Spurs in 6

[Brazil]

I'll go with Spurs in 6.

The suns are a very solid team this year, they are under the radar and they will enter in this serie with a more solid defense than the other years. Nash is playing well, Amare improved his game.

What I like about this serie for the spurs is if RJ / Hill keep on delivering, TP will contribute by his assists, clutch plays and improved D. If both struggle a little, TP can take over against the suns Offensively.

The crucial Pop decision will be start TP or Hill. IMO TP woud do more damage against Nash than against Dragic, on the other hand I think Hill is better against Dragic than Nash. Nevertheless hard to change what worked for the dallas serie. I can see Pop beginning with the same lineups he used against the mavs and adjust if needed by starting TP .

[Michi_Germany]

Spurs in 6

[shelshor]

Spurs in 6

[ATXSPUR]

Spurs in 6 sounds reasonable. It plays out similar to the Dallas series I think. spurs take one of the first two in Phoenix, and never lose a home game.

I'd really like to get two in Phoenix though.

[Kamnik]

Spurs in 5 or 6...

I will try to be optimistic and say Spurs in 5.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Spurs in 6 sounds reasonable. It plays out similar to the Dallas series I think. spurs take one of the first two in Phoenix, and never lose a home game.

I'd really like to get two in Phoenix though.

This.

Two things make this a more dangerous series than in the past: (1) Phoenix is a better defensive team this year (2) Spurs don't have the great 3 point shooting that we have had in the past.

However, George Hill will make life miserable for the Suns. Spurs defend the 3 very well. Spurs defense is vastly superior. Timmy will have a number of big games against the Suns (and 2 bad to mediocre ones). The Spurs now are extremely dangerous on fastbreaks with Richard Jefferson, George Hill, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. We don't fastbreak for jumpshots which is what kills so many teams when they play the Suns.

I agree with the consensus: Spurs in 6. Spurs get at least 1 of 2 in Phoenix, win both their home games, Phoenix wins game 5 (possibly easily), and Spurs close it out at home in game 6.

[TJastal]

This thing is going the full 7 games IMO...suns are deeper than the spurs but when it comes down to the last game (in Phoenix) I still believe in the big 3 to close it out.

Spurs in 7.

[Thompson]

I want to say Spurs in 5, but I'm probably being too optimistic so I'll say Spurs in 6.

[Kuestmaster]

spurs in 5

[Cry Havoc]

Trying to pull a TimVP here....

I think the Spurs take game 1. We played a much tougher series than the Suns did against the Blazers, thus our level of play is higher right now. 3 days of rest will see Manu in full attack mode, and the Spurs will win by 7-10 points.

Game 2 will be won handily by the Suns, as they adjust and have a surging home crowd in their favor. I see a ~15 point Suns victory.

Game 3 will be dominated by the Spurs as the Suns struggle against San Antonio's suffocating home defense and our boys are hot from 3 for a change. Spurs win going away.

Game 4 will be the closest game of the series. It will be an epic battle that might go to OT. Either team can pull this out. I'm going to say the Suns even the series at 2-2 with a huge performance by Nash.

Game 5 is the surprise of the series, as the Spurs head back to Phoenix and beat them yet again on their home floor. Duncan cleans up in the block and finishes with 22-14 to go with 2 blocks. Parker comes alive in this game and lights up the Suns for 28 points as the Spurs win a closely contested battle by 6 points, but lead most of the way.

Game 6 is the closeout for the Spurs, as they again knock the Suns out of the playoffs and move to the WCF.

Expectations:

DeJuan Blair will have one or two huge games of 8+ rebounds and will again be an absolute freak in the PER department.

Manu will erupt for at least 30 points in one game of the series.

Parker will (again) remind Spurs fans that he's one of the best point guards in basketball, and average 18 points and 6 assists in slightly limited minutes.

George Hill will perform well but not quite as lights out as he was in the Dallas series.

Dice is going to be absolutely HUGE again for us, as the Suns have no one to answer for his jumper and his defense will be lockdown.

Total pushups by Amare: 0

Total times Steve Nash crumples to the court: 1

Maximum effort given by the Suns on defense (avg): 30%.

I like this series for the Spurs. I think we could actually take it in 5, but J Rich getting hot is inevitable in at least a game or two.

[Xylus]

Trying to pull a TimVP here....

I think the Spurs take game 1. We played a much tougher series than the Suns did against the Blazers, thus our level of play is higher right now. 3 days of rest will see Manu in full attack mode, and the Spurs will win by 7-10 points.

Game 2 will be won handily by the Suns, as they adjust and have a surging home crowd in their favor. I see a ~15 point Suns victory.

Game 3 will be dominated by the Spurs as the Suns struggle against San Antonio's suffocating home defense and our boys are hot from 3 for a change. Spurs win going away.

Game 4 will be the closest game of the series. It will be an epic battle that might go to OT. Either team can pull this out. I'm going to say the Suns even the series at 2-2 with a huge performance by Nash.

Game 5 is the surprise of the series, as the Spurs head back to Phoenix and beat them yet again on their home floor. Duncan cleans up in the block and finishes with 22-14 to go with 2 blocks. Parker comes alive in this game and lights up the Suns for 28 points as the Spurs win a closely contested battle by 6 points, but lead most of the way.

Game 6 is the closeout for the Spurs, as they again knock the Suns out of the playoffs and move to the WCF.

So you're saying this will be an exact repeat of the '06-'07 series, minus the suspensions.

[Goran Dragic]

Trying to pull a TimVP here....

I think the Spurs take game 1. We played a much tougher series than the Suns did against the Blazers, thus our level of play is higher right now. 3 days of rest will see Manu in full attack mode, and the Spurs will win by 7-10 points.

Game 2 will be won handily by the Suns, as they adjust and have a surging home crowd in their favor. I see a ~15 point Suns victory.

Game 3 will be dominated by the Spurs as the Suns struggle against San Antonio's suffocating home defense and our boys are hot from 3 for a change. Spurs win going away.

Game 4 will be the closest game of the series. It will be an epic battle that might go to OT. Either team can pull this out. I'm going to say the Suns even the series at 2-2 with a huge performance by Nash.

Game 5 is the surprise of the series, as the Spurs head back to Phoenix and beat them yet again on their home floor. Duncan cleans up in the block and finishes with 22-14 to go with 2 blocks. Parker comes alive in this game and lights up the Suns for 28 points as the Spurs win a closely contested battle by 6 points, but lead most of the way.

Game 6 is the closeout for the Spurs, as they again knock the Suns out of the playoffs and move to the WCF.

Expectations:

DeJuan Blair will have one or two huge games of 8+ rebounds and will again be an absolute freak in the PER department.

Manu will erupt for at least 30 points in one game of the series.

Parker will (again) remind Spurs fans that he's one of the best point guards in basketball, and average 18 points and 6 assists in slightly limited minutes.

George Hill will perform well but not quite as lights out as he was in the Dallas series.

Dice is going to be absolutely HUGE again for us, as the Suns have no one to answer for his jumper and his defense will be lockdown.

Total pushups by Amare: 0

Total times Steve Nash crumples to the court: 1

Maximum effort given by the Suns on defense (avg): 30%.

I like this series for the Spurs. I think we could actually take it in 5, but J Rich getting hot is inevitable in at least a game or two.

there's so much homerism in this post it's not even funny (actually it is)

The Suns have no one to answer McDyess' jumper? Jeez, i didn't know a wide open jumper created by someone else is such a hard shot to defend.

18 points and 6 assists is "one of the best PG's in basketball"

[Cry Havoc]

there's so much homerism in this post it's not even funny (actually it is)

The Suns have no one to answer McDyess' jumper? Jeez, i didn't know a wide open jumper created by someone else is such a hard shot to defend.

18 points and 6 assists is "one of the best PG's in basketball"

I can't wait to see the Spurs kick your ass, and Dice stick about 5 of those Js in your teams face. It's definitely a weapon when Amare won't play defense outside of 10 feet of the hoop.

18 points and 6 assists in LIMITED MINUTES (~25) is something few other PGs could do. So suck on it. I can see why you're bitter though. It must suck to have a PG who has never heard of playing even average defense.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Spurs in 5 or 6 I can't see the suns covering us they have no shot blocking and they have no one compared to damp and Haywood in the defensive post, honestly whoes going to stop Tony Manu George and Richard slashing to the hoop? And whoes going to stop Tim? Tim got tires because Haywood and damp were physical...the suns are soft.

[bigfan]

I think this one goes all the way, Spurs in 7.

[rascal]

Spurs in 6. Dallas is better than Phoenix. Spurs will make it all the way to the WCF and get knocked out like usual to the Lakers.

[Jeremy]

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/20...lopez-doubtful

Suns Sources: Robin Lopez Doubtful for Spurs Series

Sources within the Suns organization confirmed this telling Bright Side of the Sun that Robin's progress has been steady but not leaps and bounds and the Suns are thinking of the big picture and want what's best for Lopez long-term.

If Robin does come back it will only be when he's fully healed. Right now the team is focused on strengthening his right leg to avoid re-injury due to over compensating.

Without Lopez to guard Tim Duncan in the post, the Suns will likely have to rely on more double teams and hope that their defense, which was active and rotated well against the Portland Trail Blazers, can continue to perform without the big man in the middle.

The Suns were a top level rebounding team with Robin in the starting line-up but still managed to beat Portland on the glass by 21 rebounds in the first round without him.

Again, that is another unrealistic article. The Suns are simply trying to remove all pressure from Lopez.

Here is the latest, accurate, update on Lopez: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns...nio-spurs.html

[PeterBurns]

trying to pull a timvp here....

I think the spurs take game 1. We played a much tougher series than the suns did against the blazers, thus our level of play is higher right now. 3 days of rest will see manu in full attack mode, and the spurs will win by 7-10 points.

Game 2 will be won handily by the suns, as they adjust and have a surging home crowd in their favor. I see a ~15 point suns victory.

Game 3 will be dominated by the spurs as the suns struggle against san antonio's suffocating home defense and our boys are hot from 3 for a change. Spurs win going away.

Game 4 will be the closest game of the series. It will be an epic battle that might go to ot. Either team can pull this out. I'm going to say the suns even the series at 2-2 with a huge performance by nash.

Game 5 is the surprise of the series, as the spurs head back to phoenix and beat them yet again on their home floor. Duncan cleans up in the block and finishes with 22-14 to go with 2 blocks. Parker comes alive in this game and lights up the suns for 28 points as the spurs win a closely contested battle by 6 points, but lead most of the way.

Game 6 is the closeout for the spurs, as they again knock the suns out of the playoffs and move to the wcf.

Expectations:

Dejuan blair will have one or two huge games of 8+ rebounds and will again be an absolute freak in the per department.

Manu will erupt for at least 30 points in one game of the series.

Parker will (again) remind spurs fans that he's one of the best point guards in basketball, and average 18 points and 6 assists in slightly limited minutes.

George hill will perform well but not quite as lights out as he was in the dallas series.

Dice is going to be absolutely huge again for us, as the suns have no one to answer for his jumper and his defense will be lockdown.

Total pushups by amare: 0

total times steve nash crumples to the court: 1

maximum effort given by the suns on defense (avg): 30%.

I like this series for the spurs. I think we could actually take it in 5, but j rich getting hot is inevitable in at least a game or two.

+1

[superbigtime]

Spurs in 6. Need to win one on the road obviously and I think game 1 is hugely important.

[Spursfan092120]

Spurs in 6..

[Sisk]

My mind says Spurs in 6
My heart says Spurs in 4

Official prediction: Spurs in 5

if you didn't go with your mind or heart.. what'd you go with?

Spurs in 6.

[TD 21]

Spurs in 6. Need to win one on the road obviously and I think game 1 is hugely important.

It is. There's a good chance that game one is the game Duncan, McDyess and Ginobili are most spry, Nash is still bothered by his hip injury and Lopez doesn't play. If the Spurs can pull out game one, then game two becomes a throwaway game. Meaning obviously you come in with the mindset to win, but if the Suns predictably jump out to a big lead and it looks bleak at best, then you keep the top six players minutes down so that they end up basically having a half a night off and have as much energy as possible going into games three and four. Then if the Spurs win both of those, game five becomes another throwaway game and then they can go all out to wrap it up in six.

I know it's easier said than done and I'm getting way ahead of myself, but if they're going to win this series, it's going to be done in, if not exact, at least similar fashion.

This is the type of formula this team is going to have to follow in the playoffs for the duration of the Duncan era. Because three of their top six are on the wrong side of 30, even though it's the playoffs, the Spurs can't attempt to win every game at all costs. The worst possible result is one in which they lose and have to play those players extended minutes. One or the other is generally fine, but both could easily be costly, because of the potential carry over effect.