Most Difficult Playoff Matchups for the Spurs

[SpursDynasty85]

I hink Memphis will be the toughest matchup. They will have extreme confidence, BC of last year. Their a team built for the playoffsoffs. Skilled big men. Extremely athletic wings and a proven playoff performer in Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. They are as deep as anyone in the league. Next would be the Lakers. Then OKC. I really do see us neating Dallas. Not having Tyson Chandler will be the real diff for them.

[jesterbobman]

The playoffs, much more than the regular season is about the top 6 players(Starting 5 + 6th man).

http://arturogalletti.wordpress.com/...-the-playoffs/

I'd look at the top 6 players on opposing teams.
LAL: Bynum, Gasol, Sessions, Kobe, Barnes, (Best of Hill, Murphy, MWP etc)
OKC: Durant, Harden, Ibaka, Westbrook, Perkins, (Sefolosha or Collison)
Dal:Marion, Kidd, Dirk, Terry, Haywood, Carter
Mem: Gasol, Conley, Allen, Randolph, Gay, Mayo
Hou: Lowry, Scola, Dalembert, Parsons, Martin, (Lee or Dragic or...)
DEN: Faried, Lawson, Miller, Afflalo, whoever karl plays at SF, Koufus
PHX: Nash, Gortat, Frye, Dudley, Hill, Morris
LAC: Paul, Jordan, Griffin, Butler, Evans, Mo Williams
Utah: Millsap, Jefferson, Hayward, Howard, harris, Favors
Min: Love, Pek, Ridnour, Barea, Williams, Johnson

Teams that rely on depth get a downgrade relative to the regular season, as the advantage of a better backup is reduced in minutes. (Not saying it's not good to have depth, just that it matters less.)

I'd say, from this super half baked analysis, that the Lakers, thunder, Suns and Grizzlies will be the biggest challenges. The Jazz have an overlap where their best players are, Houston lacks top talent, Denver lacks it a bit(and Karl is useless at playing his best players). Minnesota is down to 2 elite players, and Wes Johnson is playing for them. Dallas missing Chandler is big.

By difficulty,
Lakers and OKC as the hardest teams
Memphis and Phoenix next
Then the field.

[Obstructed_View]

Tired? Bynum's only 24. Lakers' stars are used to playing big minutes. TD averaging only 28 mins. Mark my words, he'll start the playoffs very well and fade as they go on and games are every other day and he has to play 34+ mins/game. Splitter - don't know if Pop thinks he's fragile or something. C'mon a 27 year old can play much more than 20 mins. - what astounds me is that no matter how well Splitter plays (obscene 11-13 or 7-9), Pop plays him so few minutes. And Diaw, Bonner and Blair are going to get abused by Gasol/Bynum.

Pace - even more reason for LA's half court, post offense to be a big mismatch. And Parker ain't scoring vs those 2 big giants. Biggest hope is for the 3pt shooting to be clicking and Green and Leonard to run past Artest and Kobe.

While I don't completely agree, there's something to be said for guys being conditioned to play a lot of minutes. Mike D'Antoni did that with the Suns and they always seemed to run out of gas, so you certainly don't want to beat them completely down. I'd like to see Pop get some of these guys up to around 40 minutes toward the end of the season and then just give them a couple of days off to heal up before the playoffs start. Duncan was rested all season long last year and then seemed completely unable to do anything by the second half of games in the playoffs.

[sehui]

I'm going to be really pissed if Memphis tries to get us again by tanking games. We need to be cautious about the seeding, playing against Utah/Houston or Memphis in the first round is going to be make all the difference.

[therealtruth]

While I don't completely agree, there's something to be said for guys being conditioned to play a lot of minutes. Mike D'Antoni did that with the Suns and they always seemed to run out of gas, so you certainly don't want to beat them completely down. I'd like to see Pop get some of these guys up to around 40 minutes toward the end of the season and then just give them a couple of days off to heal up before the playoffs start. Duncan was rested all season long last year and then seemed completely unable to do anything by the second half of games in the playoffs.

I agree. I don't think you can suddenly go from averaging under 30 minutes to to 35+ without any effect. The other option is Pop won't change minutes much and hope that works. Part of the reason coaches play their starters more minutes in the playoffs is because the other coach is doing the same thing.

[TheSkeptic]

I agree. I don't think you can suddenly go from averaging under 30 minutes to to 35+ without any effect. The other option is Pop won't change minutes much and hope that works. Part of the reason coaches play their starters more minutes in the playoffs is because the other coach is doing the same thing.

So all of these new pick-ups and we're still doomed?

Actually I'll wait a few more games before panicking but if this rotation doesn't change our team doesn't get past the semis short of some miraculous injuries to opponents.

[Rapper]

The only team in the playoffs who is possible beat the spurs is mavs

[100%duncan]

The only team in the playoffs who is possible beat the spurs is mavs

No, mavs would be a favorable 2nd rnd matchup.

[shorttotry]

Instead of LA it should be Dallas to make it a true redemption theme. Also, put it in the order of MEM, PHX, and DAL.

nice....

[Splits]

Lakers sure look good in Oakland tonight...

or not. How anyone could fear them, after they proved they're a joke of a team last year getting swept in the most egregious fashion, is beyond me. They'll be lucky to get out of the first round this year.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

In Spurs basketball, nothing is sweeter than beating the Lakers in the playoffs. Second to winning the Finals itself outright, of course.

[ducks]

I want the thunder in the first round
spurs will destroy their first round team they face

[angelbelow]

No, mavs would be a favorable 2nd rnd matchup.

Favorable is too strong of a word. I would be confident against Dallas but it won't be a easy series. Their depth is lacking this year but they still have some nice pieces that can do some damage.

[Doctor J]

On positive thing I can think of the match-up with the Lakers is Mike Brown.

Phil Jackson could out-psyche Popovich any time.

But Mike Brown can't.

[Man In Black]

It's a different year and even the variables that one used to be able to call CONSTANT, is no longer that.
Bean doesn't look to be able to shoot with high efficiency and while both Bynum and Gasol present length problems, it would seem that their inability to adhere to their NEW coach's principles, is causing everyone to spend time on the bench. That was a crappy 3 pt attempt Bynum. No Derek Fisher means one other block to unleashing the 1 against 5 Bean has been released. If you go into just thinking how Bean played when he didn't have Phil Jackson coaching him, you get the 06 LAL. The same team that lost a 3-1 lead to a Mike D'Antoni coached Suns team.
Yeah, they have some pieces, but they ain't the same team. Why does one have to prop them like the 4-letter does daily?I most certainly don't and really...what have they done to make it appear like they've earned it? To let GSW come back and nearly steal a game from them the way they let Washington and Detroit do them weeks earlier? That Parabolic arc is on the downside and this time, there is no Zen hand or newly obtained talent that will bring them back up. They have to run what they brung and they are a hot rod that keeps misfiring.

[Robz4000]

I'm going to be really pissed if Memphis tries to get us again by tanking games. We need to be cautious about the seeding, playing against Utah/Houston or Memphis in the first round is going to be make all the difference.

Memphis isn't going to tank again this year. They have a shot to get the 4 seed and they're gonna gun for it. Even if they do drop out of the race for it, the Spurs so far are 0-3 against them, with 2 of the wins coming shorthanded in Memphis. Spurs are a good deal tougher than last year and added pieces that make the Grizz not as tough of a match-up.

[HeroSquad]

Here's an interesting (but probably unsurprising) fact about the Lakers: Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are 2nd and 6th in the league, respectively, in minutes played; Andrew Bynum is 29th. For comparison, the highest Spurs on that list are Tony Parker (46th) and Tim Duncan (102nd). Pau and Kobe aren't young anymore and Bynum still has a history of being injury prone (though he's stayed healthy for the majority of the season). I can't help but think that this could work to our advantage given our depth.

[timvp]

Alright, we can end the debate on whether or not the Lakers deserve to be number one on this list. They obviously do.

Tonight's game should be a great way to gauge how high Memphis should be on the list. I still think 4 is about right even though the Grizzlies have a whole lot of impressive wins lately. The Grizzlies are big but nothing compared to the Lakers. In theory, I think the Spurs should be able to handle their size enough to then exploit some of their advantages.

Shall be interesting tonight.

[timvp]

Tbh, Memphis just doesn't look too scary this year. Zach Randolph is like 75% of what he was last season and there's not much time for him to get healthier between now and the start of the playoffs. That alone is a gigantic difference. Sure, the Spurs caught a break with no Tony Allen tonight but I don't think this is a matchup to be scared about. Certainly not on the level of the Lakers.

It's not impossible for the Grizzlies to beat the Spurs but as long as San Antonio is healthy, they should easily be the favorites in a series.

[elemento]

Honestly i don't fear Memphis at all. They lost key players from the last seriers and we've changed.

My biggest concern going forward is against good rebounding teams. So far this season, there were two teams that completely out-rebounded us. Chicago and LA .And these are the two teams i would like to avoid. If we give these two teams 2nd chances to score all the time like we did when we played against them, i don't see the Spurs winning against them at all in the playoffs.

[Spurtacus]

Most difficult run to the playoffs imo:

1st round: Dallas #7
2nd round: Lakers #3
3rd round: Memphis #4 (upset over #1 Thunder in round 2)

Spurs are 4-0 against Memphis this year but their bigs are always a threat to turn it up a notch. OKC doesn't have offensive bigs that will give the Spurs problems.

[temujin]

Eh, I'm not going to put much stock in regular season games. In the regular season, the Spurs should do well against them due to their much superior depth.

The 1999 Spurs and the 2005 Spurs could only go about seven players deep, yet both of those teams would sweep the 2012 Spurs.

This.

[beachwood]

Looking at a lot of post on this and seeing people disregard the beat down the Lakers gave the Spurs. The Lakers should be #1 on everyone's list. They are the worst possible match up for the Spurs.

The Lakers win was no fluke. The Lakers dominated because they are supremely confident that they can beat the Spurs. Besides health, in the playoffs it is all about confidence.

These past two games against the Lakers and Grizzlies, which were the closest games this season to a playoff level intensity, the Spurs were extremely shaky. And it was all mental. I'm not saying things can change, but as of right now, the Spurs have not demonstrated the intestinal for ude to deal with a team like the Lakers; a team has recently won back to back championships.

[MaNu4Tres]

The 2012 NBA Playoffs are already around the corner. A month from today, the regular season ends. Which Western Conference teams do I hope the Spurs avoid in the playoffs? IMO, the top five teams below are pretty much set in stone.

1. Los Angeles Lakers
The Spurs struggle with bigmen with length who can score in the paint. The Lakers have a pair of bigs who definitely fit that description. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili depend on finishing in the paint, and that's not easy to do against the Lakers. There's no Bruce Bowen to sic on Kobe Bryant. Ramon Sessions is also a huge upgrade over the corpse of Derek Fisher. And though the Spurs are much deeper than the Lakers, depth becomes much less important in the postseason. Of all the matchups out West, this is by far the most unfavorable for the Spurs.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Despite the fact that the Spurs have played the Thunder well during the regular season recently, the amount of talent on OKC's roster simply cannot be ignored. When the pace slows and the game begins to hinge on one-on-one situations, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be extremely tough to slow down. Add in James Harden (the closest thing in the NBA to the next Manu Ginobili), the athletic shotblocking nightmare that is Serge Ibaka, and their beaucoup solid role players, it's safe to say the Thunder won't be going down without a fight.

3. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have experienced their dry spells this season but I shouldn't have to quote Rudy T to explain why it would be unwise to underestimate Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki hasn't done well against the Spurs this season but come playoff time, he's still the most intimidating offensive force in the West. Defensively, the Mavs are the most well-coached squad in the conference and they'd be able to take the Spurs out of their comfort zones much better than any other team in this half of the bracket.

4. Memphis Grizzlies
With Zach Randolph rounding into shape and Marc Gasol enjoying his first All-Star campaign, it's no secret that duo creates matchup problems for San Antonio. If Rudy Gay can play at the top of his game while complementing their big boys in the middle, the Grizzlies might move all the way up to No. 2 on this list. Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if these Grizzlies have the chemistry of last year's Grizzlies. Then again, there's still another month for Memphis to rediscover that magic.

5. Los Angeles Clippers
They're horrible coached. Their management still doesn't have a clue. Donald Sterling is still Donald Sterling. That said, the duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin is potentially as dangerous as any duo in the West. If Vinny Del Negro can accidentally stumble into a winning formula, the Clippers have the necessary talent to surprise any team in the West.

6. Denver Nuggets
Let's be honest: The Spurs are an offensive team this year. They aren't going to be winning anything if they solely depend on their defense to carry the load. With that in mind, the Nuggets are one of the few teams in the West that can claim their offense is better. If the Spurs get in a shootout with these guys, Denver has the weaponry to give San Antonio a run for their playoff lives.

7. Phoenix Suns
A couple weeks ago, it appeared as if the Suns were dead. However, following a 12-19 start, the Suns have won 13 of their previous 18 games heading into Tuesday's showdown in Phoenix. Their offense has really picked it up and the ageless Steve Nash shows few signs of slowing down. And I'm not even going to mention the sweep.

8. Utah Jazz
The Jazz have a ton of bigmen depth -- highlighted by Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson -- plus a pair of guards who have defended Tony Parker well in the past in Devin Harris and Earl Watson. If one of their swingmen emerges as anything resembling a star (watch out for Alec Burks), they could give San Antonio a real test.

9. Houston Rockets
The Rockets and Spurs always play close games. Always. It's not exactly a rivalry but with solid players such as Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and that Argentine guy, it wouldn't be an easy series for San Antonio.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves
The loss of Ricky Rubio really hurts the T'Wolves' chances of beating the Spurs in the playoffs. But Kevin Love is a beast, Rick Adelman is a very good coach and there are a handful of players on that roster with All-Star potential. We've already seen what happens when this young, talented bunch gets rolling in Minnesota.

Pop's brain when it comes to rotations and the front-court has to be moved to at least number 2.

[T Park]

Tbh, Memphis just doesn't look too scary this year. Zach Randolph is like 75% of what he was last season and there's not much time for him to get healthier between now and the start of the playoffs. That alone is a gigantic difference. Sure, the Spurs caught a break with no Tony Allen tonight but I don't think this is a matchup to be scared about. Certainly not on the level of the Lakers.

It's not impossible for the Grizzlies to beat the Spurs but as long as San Antonio is healthy, they should easily be the favorites in a series.

I really think losing Battier was the death knell? (spelling)

Him along Arthur and Vasquez won that series and those key pieces are not there. Vasquez still gives them problems. I don't think Speights is the perimeter threat that Arthur is and that's a big difference.

Would I want to face them? No.
If they did in the second round though I'd say Spurs in 6. Also, Randolph had a "year" last year that I don't think he'd match again, along with Gasol.