Elliott: Don't Expect Big 3 vs. Lakers

[Old School 44]

That's one way of looking at it. How about if we beat the lakers twice making them slip to 4th, while OKC lose another couple of games - that'd leave the Spurs locked for 1st and even if they wanted to tank, it'd depend on whether OKC want the 2nd or 1st seed, so basically it would depend on them as well. Worst case scenario would be the Spurs locking up 1st while Lakers slip to 4th and Dallas slip to 8th, in this case there's no way whatsoever OKC pushes for 1st.

The smart thing to do is to be within a single game of OKC until the very last day of the season.

^This. I posted something similar in another thread. Try to stay even with OKC until the last day and then tank or win the last game to control which half of the bracket you want to be in. The Spurs play one of the league's last games of the season against Golden State @ 10:30 pacific. Hopefully, the 3/4 seeds are determined by then, since the Lakers also have their final game at 10:30 vs. the Kings.

Personally, I wish the NBA would just scrap the the playoff seeding format and let the team with the best record pick from 5-8 and then the 2nd seed can pick from what's leftover....and so on. This might help with some of the playoff position tanking.

[DesignatedT]

The Spurs would have a hard time losing to golden state the last game of the season. Even if they try to lose

[spursfanincolorado]

I feel like you play every game full strength... Chemistry being first and foremost. One of the Big Three can get injured in any game so it's silly to try and rest them overly cautiously on one or the other. Phoenix last year being one example.

I think you blend all the player's minutes effectively and try a few smarter rotations and get the bench to play some with the Big Three and each other.

I think tanking games is really dumb - like many have said you want to beat the best, not hide from teams....

[Jumi]

If Pop sits the Big 3 vs. LA tonite, then this season's over! There's no reasons to sit them because of fatigue! They played less than 15 minutes last nite! After that ass kickin LA placed on them in San Antonio, any compe or worth his salt would relish a chance for payback. Stop with all the "over analysis" of this situation! Sit em vs Sac and call it a day. Sit em tonite and this team has no heart! Sometimes you gotta show some pride!! Damn! I can't believe we're even having this conversation after that ass kickin! At least put up a fight!

[Splits]

The books currently have the Spurs favored by 3.5 tonight. They must be assuming a full Spurs squad vs. Kobeless Fakers. If this number jumps suddenly in favor of the bad guys, it most likely means word has leaked that the Spurs will rest players.

[Jumi]

I can't be the only one who thinks this is gutless. We have the Kings next! The freakin Kings! We could beat them with our bench. If they win tonite, the game tomorrow doesn't matter! Trot out the youngsters and let them go at it!

[mando6599]

I feel like you play every game full strength... Chemistry being first and foremost. One of the Big Three can get injured in any game so it's silly to try and rest them overly cautiously on one or the other. Phoenix last year being one example.

I think you blend all the player's minutes effectively and try a few smarter rotations and get the bench to play some with the Big Three and each other.

I think tanking games is really dumb - like many have said you want to beat the best, not hide from teams....

I agree with your sentiments exactly.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

Sorry folks but on a B2B2B you rest your main guys on the middle game. As a matter of fact, I bet many of us when we first saw the schedule in December figured that Pop would play the Big 3 on the first and last game.

I guess people let their subjectivity get the better of them and make irrational decisions because of the opponent. Pop is picking and choosing his spots to rest folks and this is a logical spot. Folks, dont let your emotions get the best of you.

[smaka]

So folks, what's the latest word? Big 3 in black silver or in suits with ties? I'm planning on waking up at 4:30 am to watch the game (no school tomorrow, so I can allow that lol), but if big 3 doesn't play, I'm not so optimistic to watch tbh.

So, anyone with latest news?

[Splits]

So folks, what's the latest word? Big 3 in black silver or in suits with ties? I'm planning on waking up at 4:30 am to watch the game (no school tomorrow, so I can allow that lol), but if big 3 doesn't play, I'm not so optimistic to watch tbh.

So, anyone with latest news?

If history is any guide, we won't find out until an hour or so before tipoff. As I mentioned in a comment a couple minutes ago, the bookies in Vegas have the Spurs favored by 3.5 so they are assuming the big 3 play as of right now.

[jjktkk]

Let's just call it what it is, regardless of the consequences down the road... it's a coward move.

But Pop is arrogant enough to think his bench still has enough of a chance of still winning the game even without the big 3. Likely the spurs will still lose the game and in the process jeapordize their hard fought #1 seed to OKC.

This is one of those "calculated" risks Pop loves to come up with (he thinks he's being clever) that usually backfires in some way.

I agree with Tjastal.

And I agree with you SA210.

These 3 fine posters remind me of another great 3-man team.

[DesignatedT]

[Splits]

These 3 fine posters remind me of another great 3-man team.

And all will be forgotten when we go out and bootstomp them tonight. There will be no "I was wrong, Pop isn't a coward". There will be no "Wow, Pop isn't arrogant". There will be no "Damn, I'm an idiot for thinking Pop would try to be so 'clever'". None of it. Instead, these self-aggrandizing clowns will find something else to complain about in the next 24 hours yet never offer any solution except "START SPLITTER PLAY HIM 49 MIN/GAME AND I HOPE BONNER GETS INJURED SOON!!!11"

[Obstructed_View]

But for whatever reason, I think Pop doesn't want to the Big 3 to play the Lakers. It makes no sense to me. The only way it could make sense in Pop's mind is if: 1) He is okay with a loss because it could help move the Lakers to the other side of the bracket, or 2) Pop thinks the Kings are going to be more difficult than they appear on paper, or 3) Pop doesn't want to risk a confidence killer by losing against the Lakers again.

Pop will sit some combination of players to give the Spurs a pass, especially in a nationally televised game. It's sad that Appropriate Fear has been replaced by Plausible Excusability.

[Knoxxx]

No big 3 tonight, Monday against Portland, and on the last two game road trip. Hopefully we win 1-2 of those, but not critical either way.

(edit: my bad, he won't sit them last 3 games, put them down for playing at Phoenix second to last game)

If we beat Phoenix with big 3 mins. like last night, Pop may try to win the GS game with similar Big 3 mins. Keeping them and the team sharp and confident does factor in. Home court not much.

[SA210]

These 3 fine posters remind me of another great 3-man team.

I appreciate that. They are my favorite team of all time.

[SA210]

And all will be forgotten when we go out and bootstomp them tonight. There will be no "I was wrong, Pop isn't a coward". There will be no "Wow, Pop isn't arrogant". There will be no "Damn, I'm an idiot for thinking Pop would try to be so 'clever'". None of it. Instead, these self-aggrandizing clowns will find something else to complain about in the next 24 hours yet never offer any solution except "START SPLITTER PLAY HIM 49 MIN/GAME AND I HOPE BONNER GETS INJURED SOON!!!11"

Pop is a stubborn asshole regardless of tonight's game.

[spurs10]

These 3 fine posters remind me of another great 3-man team.

That's is funny!

[Beaverfuzz]

Just pull them at halftime regardless of the score.

[Keepin' it real]

I like the company the "3-man team" is keeping these days!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think Pop is terrified of LA and this proves it.

[DesignatedT]

Pop is more terrified of Injuries then he is LA.

and tbh, that's all I seem to be thinking about as well when watching Spurs games recently. Repeating "Just don't get hurt" 50 times throughout the game. I could give two s about winning and losing against the Lakers in the regular season.

[703 Spurz]

I like the company the "3-man team" is keeping these days!

The Stooges and sex. Why not right? It is 2012 after all.

[smaka]

Pop is more terrified of Injuries then he is LA.

and tbh, that's all I seem to be thinking about as well when watching Spurs games recently. Repeating "Just don't get hurt" 50 times throughout the game. I could give two s about winning and losing against the Lakers in the regular season.

Tell that Fakers fans lol.

[Knoxxx]

Priorities last 7 games are:

1) Health
2) Team is playing well
3) Wins

That is in order of priority.