What's so bad about being 1-8 against top teams...

[Embedded]

...When you have the best record in the west? I mean, the other top teams have all lost more to below .500 teams than we have. It seems a sign that we're coasting.

[RD2191]

2011

[313]

We're coasting. Playing at the same level p much for every game. This team is just waiting for the PO to turn it up.

[RD2191]

We're coasting. Playing at the same level p much for every game. This team is just waiting for the PO to turn it up.

[look_at_g_shred]

If you watch today's practice video, Tony says sure you want to win now but it only matters about playing your best basketball going into the playoffs. Take whatever you want from that..

[313]

Wait....this just in....


wins against teams below .500 are worth .5 wins....and wins against teams above .500 are worth 1.5 wins
























seems legit

[FromWayDowntown]

It's troubling, particularly in an NBA where the gap between the haves and the have nots is as considerable as it currently is. But if you had told most basketball people, after the Finals, that the Spurs response would be to rip off a 32-9 run in the first half of this season, I suspect most would have thought that very unlikely. The raw numbers don't, obviously, account for scheduling and other things that are beyond the control of the teams but which can make a difference in a particular outcome here or there.

I also wonder how much the Spurs are really putting in detailed game plans at this juncture. Pop said a couple of weeks ago that he's been focusing his film study on his own team and spending less time scouting future opponents. (LINK) I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things. It would make some sense and it would also provide a somewhat palatable explanation for the fact that they've struggled so much with better teams.

[Pako]

It's troubling, particularly in an NBA where the gap between the haves and the have nots is as considerable as it currently is. But if you had told most basketball people, after the Finals, that the Spurs response would be to rip off a 32-9 run in the first half of this season, I suspect most would have thought that very unlikely. The raw numbers don't, obviously, account for scheduling and other things that are beyond the control of the teams but which can make a difference in a particular outcome here or there.

I also wonder how much the Spurs are really putting in detailed game plans at this juncture. Pop said a couple of weeks ago that he's been focusing his film study on his own team and spending less time scouting future opponents. (LINK) I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things. It would make some sense and it would also provide a somewhat palatable explanation for the fact that they've struggled so much with better teams.

This!

[gameFACE]

I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things.

There have been other seasons where the Spurs have not done well against "good" teams early on only to knock them out in the playoffs. Phoenix in '05 comes to mind. But last year Spoelstra won the chess match with Pop big time. Pop had a check on the first regular season game but Spoelstra got the check mate on the second. Then there were the finals, of course.

But I mostly want to see wins against OKC and Houston this next week since both are already up 2-0 on the Spurs. Even with the Spurs being a decent road team I would hate to lose home court in the playoffs advantage against anyone in the west this year.

[hater]

the years we got bounced in the 1st and 2nd rounds were also years we were bad vs. top teams.

coincidence? I think not

[r0drig0lac]

lol

[cjw]

This!

If only we had +1 or like buttons, good posts like this wouldn't go buried in the forum...

[rascal]

A win against OK City now doesn't count as a win against a top team. Westbrook is out. That is like the Spurs playing without Parker or Duncan, one of their top two players.

[Mikeanaro]

I´ll take a win over a Westbrook-less OKC as legitimate since yesterday Durant was inhuman.

[313]

If you watch today's practice video, Tony says sure you want to win now but it only matters about playing your best basketball going into the playoffs. Take whatever you want from that..

MVParker with the right mindset

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

It's troubling, particularly in an NBA where the gap between the haves and the have nots is as considerable as it currently is. But if you had told most basketball people, after the Finals, that the Spurs response would be to rip off a 32-9 run in the first half of this season, I suspect most would have thought that very unlikely. The raw numbers don't, obviously, account for scheduling and other things that are beyond the control of the teams but which can make a difference in a particular outcome here or there.

I also wonder how much the Spurs are really putting in detailed game plans at this juncture. Pop said a couple of weeks ago that he's been focusing his film study on his own team and spending less time scouting future opponents. (LINK) I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things. It would make some sense and it would also provide a somewhat palatable explanation for the fact that they've struggled so much with better teams.

FWD, still with the goods.


I'd point to the Spurs 15-3 road record as evidence that they are playing well. 1-8 against top teams is certainly something to be concerned about, but I agree strongly with the sense that we'll prepare differently for these top tier teams once the playoffs roll around. Portland is beating us with athletic ability right now, but I get the sense we haven't incorporated a whole lot of strategy into the first two meetings. Leonard getting forgotten on the bench is evidence of that......or maybe that plays into Pop's grand plan to not show his hand at this point in the year. X Factors usually don't get forgotten on the bench.

[look_at_g_shred]

It's troubling, particularly in an NBA where the gap between the haves and the have nots is as considerable as it currently is. But if you had told most basketball people, after the Finals, that the Spurs response would be to rip off a 32-9 run in the first half of this season, I suspect most would have thought that very unlikely. The raw numbers don't, obviously, account for scheduling and other things that are beyond the control of the teams but which can make a difference in a particular outcome here or there.

I also wonder how much the Spurs are really putting in detailed game plans at this juncture. Pop said a couple of weeks ago that he's been focusing his film study on his own team and spending less time scouting future opponents. (LINK) I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things. It would make some sense and it would also provide a somewhat palatable explanation for the fact that they've struggled so much with better teams.

damn dude !! A very nice way to look at things!

[Brutalis]

It's troubling, particularly in an NBA where the gap between the haves and the have nots is as considerable as it currently is. But if you had told most basketball people, after the Finals, that the Spurs response would be to rip off a 32-9 run in the first half of this season, I suspect most would have thought that very unlikely. The raw numbers don't, obviously, account for scheduling and other things that are beyond the control of the teams but which can make a difference in a particular outcome here or there.

I also wonder how much the Spurs are really putting in detailed game plans at this juncture. Pop said a couple of weeks ago that he's been focusing his film study on his own team and spending less time scouting future opponents. (LINK) I doubt the Spurs have completely abandoned the idea of preparing for specific games, but it may be that if they have ideas about how to deal with particular issues presented by particular opponents, they're not showing their hands on those things. It would make some sense and it would also provide a somewhat palatable explanation for the fact that they've struggled so much with better teams.

What hand are the holding back this year that hasn't already been shown in previous years? Mainly the Finals...???

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

How are we 1-8? We beat the Suns, the Warriors without our big 3 and the Clips

[TampaDude]

We have 32 wins at the halfway point. We could play the bench the rest of the way and still get to 50 wins.

[Reck]

We're coasting. Playing at the same level p much for every game. This team is just waiting for the PO to turn it up.

You're an idiot.

[Reck]

We have 32 wins at the halfway point. We could play the bench the rest of the way and still get to 50 wins.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226567

Indeed. Also looks like Spurs are trying but just struggling to win games against top teams still. SMDH

[timtonymanu]

Leonard's injury really messed things up. Injuries are a factor for our struggles but the 1-9 record against good teams is concerning.

The Spurs as of right now are behind Miami/Indiana/OKC.

[Spurs 4 The Win]

Honestly, the refs have been beyond atrocious tonight. We are missing players and teams have career three point nights against us. Its January, dont freak, most of this is a product of ty reffing and injuries.

[KaiRMD1]

Well, unless the ol' sports can actually turn it up, this looks like another failed season.