What Is the Measure of Succes This Year?

[DPG21920]

Wanting to get a pulse for what the average fan feels the measure of success is this year for this team. If you would have known Kawhi would have been out the entire season, what would success look like to you?

1. Just making the playoffs regardless of record?

2. Winning at least 50 games again while making the playoffs as a top 3-4 seed?

3. Making the playoffs and winning the first round?

4. Going to the WCF or beyond?

I think, in looking at how other teams with a lot of healthy top-tier talent did, that SA keeping record pace with them in a tough conference is a pretty damn big deal. I am content with making the playoffs but ultimately think that winning the first round (unless you play HOU or GS) would be the cherry on top of a damn good season overall all things considered.

Where is every one else at mentally with this team?

[BillMc]

We need perspective. Being 10 games over 500, having clinched a playoff spot, and being in the fight for better seeding is a good year for most teams league-wide, especially in the West and very much especially without the team's best player. So, all the "fire Pop, fire RC, this roster sucks" talk has to be taken with a grain of salt, as we are the most spoiled fanbase is sports for the last 20 years.

Beyond that, and moving the goal posts without Kawhi, I think making the second round would take a good year and move it into an excellent year. Still, bittersweet because "what could have been" but once the Kawhi reality has been accepted, then I can say it was a successful year, and a second round would make it a very successful year. If somehow there was some extra "juice" like eliminating the Dubs or D'Antoni again (always fun), then that would be a nice bonus. But the second round regardless of the first round opponent would be very good.

Also got to give some real props to LMA for pulling this team into the playoffs, Manu for being so good at his age, and Rudy and Tony for coming back from horrific injuries. Also, Kyle proved he belongs in this league.

[Russ]

Wanting to get a pulse for what the average fan feels the measure of success is this year for this team.

Just a point of internet etiquette.

If you want meaningful responses, please don't call we/us "average fans." (Even if we really are.)

[TDomination]

For me personally this team has been successful and the rest is gravy. Making the playoffs is a great accomplishment considering the injuries and kawhi distraction.

Every playoff game is a bonus at this point. But if somehow someway they could pull off a series win with this group, it would be memorable.

[NASpurs]

5. None of the above. Should had tanked and gotten a good lottery pick. Whether they would had drafted someone good or use that pick + other players to bring in some talent and now we're talking. Would had also meant some high turnover next year too. Instead next year it's going to be another year of horrible contracts, old dudes overstaying their welcomes and a good but not good enough middling team.

Anything else is just extra fluff in Pop's legacy.

[bklynspursfan]

5. None of the above. Should had tanked and gotten a good lottery pick. Whether they would had drafted someone good or use that pick + other players to bring in some talent and now we're talking. Would had also meant some high turnover next year too. Instead next year it's going to be another year of horrible contracts, old dudes overstaying their welcomes and a good but not good enough middling team.

Anything else is just extra fluff in Pop's legacy.

They thought Kawhi was coming back, by the time he was ruled *out* or at least *probably not returning*, it was too late.

Tanking in possibly Manu's last season too? I'd be curious to see how he'd take that lol

[Robz4000]

5. None of the above. Should had tanked and gotten a good lottery pick. Whether they would had drafted someone good or use that pick + other players to bring in some talent and now we're talking. Would had also meant some high turnover next year too. Instead next year it's going to be another year of horrible contracts, old dudes overstaying their welcomes and a good but not good enough middling team.

Anything else is just extra fluff in Pop's legacy.

This, though it is impressive they made the playoffs with this horrible roster. LMA, Manu, and Gay (at the start of the season and the past 3 weeks or so) deserve a lot of the credit.

[Seventyniner]

Good thread.

1. Moderate success. This team is pretty talented even without Kawhi, and the coaching is easily top 10 in the league and probably top 5.
2. Solid success. What teams can have the player their roster is built around miss 73 games and still finish in the top half of a loaded West?
3. Solid success as well, though it depends on the first round victim.
4. Would be the most surprising Spurs season result I can remember. This team has no business beating Houston or GS so taking one of them down would be success beyond my wildest dreams.

The Spurs sit at 8th in the league in SRS and that shouldn't change tomorrow night even if they get blown out. To me that is very impressive with Kawhi basically out for the season and Gay missing 1/3 of the season. If the Spurs didn't have such luck in close games (and yes, most of it is luck) they would either already have 50 wins or have a chance at it tomorrow.

[sananspursfan21]

My NFL team (until the prick moved em) was the St. Louis Rams and they had about a 5 year incredible run where they were extremely dominant. And then they had a .500 season in '05. It was so deflating. They still made the playoffs and actually became the first 6th (last) seed in history to win. Regardless, I was beyond annoyed as a fan. And then things got worse. They never saw .500 again. And years of 4-12, 1-15, 6-10, I dreamed of an 8-8 season and a taste of the playoffs again. No Super Bowl aspirations necessary, just a compe ive season. What I would have given to see that.

It's hard to do as spoiled Spurs fans, but we've got to do our best to eat this up while we can. Who knows, in 5 years, we could be longing for just a 7th seed playoff appearance. A team that despite jokes and mellow-drama, is compe ive, respectable, and has potential to beat anybody. Because all foolishness aside, our guys can potentially beat anybody or at least make a series interesting.

We're still in a golden age if you ask me. I'm trying to soak this season in as much as I can. We're not guaranteed another winning season ever again, Pop or not.

[diego]

a large vocal part of this forum predicted this team to be trash WITH kawhi. openly campaigned for him to leave due to PATFO/roster being . and here we are, with a very large chance to finish above OKC, wolves, pelicans type teams that loaded up with splashy moves but could do no better than the guys most this forum has spent the last 15 months trashing (did i mention dedmon and simmons are long gone fishin?). So for those people Id say this team is amazing, pop is COY, aldridge mvp, kyle DPOY, manu 6MOY, they pulled off a miracle!

more seriously, I think the spurs can be better in the playoffs, i know green and parker will have at least one good game, pau probably too, if they can get LMA going they actually have a chance, even against warriors and rockets (if dubs were healthy no contest, but in their current state.. they are only slight favorites). I expect them to make the 2nd round vs any team not gs/hou/utah, not bad for a ty roster minus their best player I guess

[weeks]

This has been the worst Spurs season for me so I'm not sure how anyone could say it's been good or successful in any way.
As a spoiled fan, anything short of a chip feels like a failure.

Speaking objectively, winning the first round would wash away a lot of bad taste from this year. Putting down the dubs or rockettes would feel like success beyond hope. Getting to the WCF would be amazing.
Even making the playoffs has noticeably improved the mood around here. That's how bad this season was for most fans. It's not just the end of the stupid 50 w streak it's kawhis fall from grace it's patty scrubbing it up, Parker with one foot in the grave, Danny losing his shot, the 💯 million dollar contracts, pop getting all political which is super annoying no matter which position you take...
Just a mess. Few bright spots, but certainly this wasn't a good season for Spurs fans by any stretch

[SAGirl]

I'd call it a success already. I am hoping for a series win in the playoffs, I am fan after all. If they don't achieve that I will be disappointed but not surprised.

[baseline bum]

Had I known Kawhi was out for the season my idea of success would have been trading Aldridge for young talent and tanking the season to get a high draft pick. Even better if they could have dumped Fifty's contract on someone without losing assets. This is pretty much working out like a near worst case scenario with no Kawhi, no good draft pick, Mills still here, and a likely matchup with Golden State in the first round. The only thing that could make it worse is LMA blowing out his knee in the first round so that he'd have no trade value this summer.

[Leetonidas]

Make it to the 2nd round and I'll be happy

[tholdren]

Playoff series win.
Good trade return for kl
Tony and pau retire
White called up and gets minutes in playoffs that arent garbage

[SPURt]

Championship

[SAGirl]

My NFL team (until the prick moved em) was the St. Louis Rams and they had about a 5 year incredible run where they were extremely dominant. And then they had a .500 season in '05. It was so deflating. They still made the playoffs and actually became the first 6th (last) seed in history to win. Regardless, I was beyond annoyed as a fan. And then things got worse. They never saw .500 again. And years of 4-12, 1-15, 6-10, I dreamed of an 8-8 season and a taste of the playoffs again. No Super Bowl aspirations necessary, just a compe ive season. What I would have given to see that.

It's hard to do as spoiled Spurs fans, but we've got to do our best to eat this up while we can. Who knows, in 5 years, we could be longing for just a 7th seed playoff appearance. A team that despite jokes and mellow-drama, is compe ive, respectable, and has potential to beat anybody. Because all foolishness aside, our guys can potentially beat anybody or at least make a series interesting.

We're still in a golden age if you ask me. I'm trying to soak this season in as much as I can. We're not guaranteed another winning season ever again, Pop or not.

great post.

[BD24]

Wanting to get a pulse for what the average fan feels the measure of success is this year for this team. If you would have known Kawhi would have been out the entire season, what would success look like to you?

1. Just making the playoffs regardless of record?

2. Winning at least 50 games again while making the playoffs as a top 3-4 seed?

3. Making the playoffs and winning the first round?

4. Going to the WCF or beyond?

I think, in looking at how other teams with a lot of healthy top-tier talent did, that SA keeping record pace with them in a tough conference is a pretty damn big deal. I am content with making the playoffs but ultimately think that winning the first round (unless you play HOU or GS) would be the cherry on top of a damn good season overall all things considered.

Where is every one else at mentally with this team?

Just making the playoffs without Kawhi is pretty remarkable tbh. Especially when you consider we really only have two guys that consistently score/create their own shots in the half court (LMA, Rudy)

[MannyIsGod]

Wanting to get a pulse for what the average fan feels the measure of success is this year for this team. If you would have known Kawhi would have been out the entire season, what would success look like to you?

1. Just making the playoffs regardless of record?

2. Winning at least 50 games again while making the playoffs as a top 3-4 seed?

3. Making the playoffs and winning the first round?

4. Going to the WCF or beyond?

I think, in looking at how other teams with a lot of healthy top-tier talent did, that SA keeping record pace with them in a tough conference is a pretty damn big deal. I am content with making the playoffs but ultimately think that winning the first round (unless you play HOU or GS) would be the cherry on top of a damn good season overall all things considered.

Where is every one else at mentally with this team?

I'm 100% with you on this. I think what the Spurs did this year is pretty admirable, and I think they can beat anyone that isn't Hou or GS. I don't want to play Utah, though. I hope we can get to the 2nd round and then we can see what this interesting off season brings.

People shouldn't take playoff years for granted.

[vander]

KL comes back and the Spurs win it all.

Gasol retires, Parker retires, Spurs manage to trade Mills...

[Arcadian]

Arguably 1.

Tanking was never an option, that. Is there even a good draft class this year?

[Robz4000]

Arguably 1.

Tanking was never an option, that. Is there even a good draft class this year?

Best draft class in years.

[Arcadian]

Best draft class in years.

We'll see about that. Things don't always pan out as expected.

[tholdren]

Best draft class in years.

They say every year... ironically it comes when the superstars get long in the tooth. Nba is a joke

[MVPCues]

Success if they make it to the 2nd round. I'm afraid they won't get there.