Currently two games back of the Rockets. I am wondering how the rest of the West will shake out if we beat the Thunder and take both against the Rockets. Anyone know the tie breakers?
Go Spurs.
Currently two games back of the Rockets. I am wondering how the rest of the West will shake out if we beat the Thunder and take both against the Rockets. Anyone know the tie breakers?
Go Spurs.
Really looking forward to this b2b games vs Houston..nice if we can beat them 2 out of 2 to get the advantage.
Let's keep the winning streak going!!
Houston poses a greater match up problem for San Antonio than other teams...
We could be 20:0 at the Conference Finals!...Sounds like '13 all over again.
"Huge" games start in May, tbh...
It's likely to see Pop resting the Big 3 on the road and doesn't give a about that game.
I see them playing if we can get a better matchup for the playoffs
Pop has masterfully managed minutes already this year and doesn't have to hold back at this point, even on B2Bs. Let's just hope Tiago gets healthy and Patty finds his shot.
More important than us beating the Rockets is Patty finding his shot, tbh. We can't rely on Cojo in the playoffs. He kills our spacing offensively.
Pop was on playoffs' mode about some rotations tonight. Changing defensive assignments early in the 3rd q and Beli playing limited minutes in the first half, I'd love it if he goes full against the Rox.
Win both and the Spurs will probably finish with the 3 seed IMO..massive games..
Hopefully Memphis continues to struggle, though, which would mean the Spurs could probably get the 5 seed(my preference) even with a split vs. Houston..
Houston's going to be tough, especially given Harden's continual dominance. If Spurs win both, then #2 seed is very likely.
Crazy how Spurs went from struggling to hold on to #7 seed to potentially snatching the second highest playoff spot.
Probably the 3 seed if they win both, look at the Clippers schedule, tbh..they aren't losing a game the rest of the way..
Spur killer Jason Terry won't let that happen tbh. He'll have career games.
Not anymore without Beverly. To be a matchup problem you have to have someone that's hard to guard after Kawhi and Green are guarding someone.
Also having a defender that can guard Parker doesn't stop the Spurs anymore with Kawhi's insurgence plus the motion offense.
The rockets aren't scary anymore.
Like his game 6 1-7 shooting in 010 right? That or some of his bad games after that. This is not 06 man... He fell off years ago tbh.
They have Harden so they are still a problem for us tbh. They are a very good team and a matchup problem for the Spurs.
Harden isn't the problem. He can drop 40 on a great night against Kawhi/Danny, but odds says below that, and that's not enough to beat us...
The problem with them is Ariza, Brewer, Terry lightning it up from the perimeter, and whatever they get inside with Howard/Jones. Ariza has been actually playing really well off of Harden, that's a guy we're going to have to keep an eye on.
So Harden was not the problem in OKC in 012 or last year before Ariza and Terry were there and they went 4-0 against the Spurs? He has always been a huge thorn in their sides man, sorry but he is the head of the snake.
In 2012 we had to deal with Durant, Westbrook AND Harden. And what are you talking about last year? regular season?
I actually think this Rockets team matches up worse with us than last year's Rockets team. Last year they had more shot makers from outside (Parsons, Caspi, Lin, Beverly), a speedy point guard that could also hit 3s (Aaron Brooks) and Asik to manhandle Tim. This year they've been extremely reliant on Harden to drop 40-50 pts (which he's done) and guys like Ariza (who has played well) and Corey Brewer off the bench (do you trust this guy to step it up in the playoffs? I don't).
The whole point I'm trying to make is that the Spurs can live with 40pts from Harden. The question is how are the Rockets going to score the other 60 pts or so they need to win the game, over a 7 game series? Do you see Dwight and Ariza consistently dropping 20 ppg a night? You keep either of those in the lower 10s and they don't have enough offense. IMO, anyways.
Don't underestimate their Big rotation Elnono.
Jones, Donatas, and Howard can put up points..fast points. Smith has also adjusted his game to the benefit of his team..Houston is an inside and outside team
Their biggest issue right now is ballhandling. No one outside of Harden can run plays.
To me, the game plan against the Rockets is: play Harden straight up, don't foul, don't help. He can get his, try to minimize sending him to the line. Foul any of their bigs, including Howard, they're all below average free throw shooters. And then stay on the rest of their guys and minimize their damage. The rest of that team can't get past anybody on a dribble drive, nor post up. Get back in transition, since Brewer and Terry like to leak out for the open court drive or 3 pointer.
There's some difficulty for the Spurs because we're over eager to help, and this is a situation where you don't want to do that. But with proper execution, there's nothing more to it, IMO.
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