by Jon Barry
ESPN.com
Answering a few questions after Monday's game in which the San Antonio Spurs dispatched the Toronto Raptors, 107-91 …
What's the latest inside word from Brent Barry, the Spurs guard?
I talked to my brother right after the All-Star break. He told me that he couldn't put his finger on the reason why, but he thinks the team will take off.
What signs do you see of this?
I think the two road wins they earned at the end of the first half, right before the All-Star break, beating Detroit and New Jersey, were crucial. A good sign of a revival for a team that had its struggles in the first half.
The thrashing of the Raptors gave them a season-high six wins in a row. Are we seeing a revving-up process?
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had said earlier in the year about how important it is to be playing your best ball in April. That's all well and good, but if you're not the 1 or 2 seed in the West, the row you have to hoe is difficult.
At their current No. 3 seed, you're looking at a first-round matchup most likely with the Lakers, or maybe the Rockets or Jazz. Then you have to go through Dallas and Phoenix in the next two rounds.
It's hard to believe a team could beat them both. But you can't count out a team that has three players like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.
The centers in the Spurs' lineup have been revamped compared to last year's team. The Wrath of Rasho (Nesterovic, the exiled Spurs center who scored a season-high 18 points for the Raps) was felt early on. How are the new middlemen working out for the Spurs?
They decided to go with Fabricio Oberto and Francisco Elson over Nesterovic and Nazr Mohammed. Earlier this year, when I had asked Popovich about losing Rasho, he made a point of saying that they chose to do it.
So, the numbers from the new centers are basically the same, but the interior D is not. Elson is not a Nesterovic or Mohammad in terms of size. I always liked the Spurs' approach of using ball pressure to funnel guys into two 7-footers like David Robinson and Duncan.
A total of 10 international players saw time in this game, including Spain's World Champion members Jorge Garbajosa and Jose Calderon. The latter had a hard time with France's Parker (27 points). Good call by the NBA to broadcast this one on its international channel?
Oh yeah. I thought I was watching an Olympic game.
The Raptors, though carried early by Rasho, didn't have a great night. Still, they came in with the best record (18-7) in the East in 2007. Good things ahead for the Atlantic Division leaders?
They got a test against one of the better teams from the West. They're not ready for that big Western stage, but they're in the East, and they're going to be in the playoffs and will get some good experience. I give credit to coach Sam Mitc for recognizing this team couldn't go with a wild, take-100-shots approach it started this year with. It didn't work, they recognized it, changed their approach and have been better for it.
Could the Raps take a playoff series as, say, the No. 4 seed?
They could. To me, Detroit is distancing itself from the rest of the field. But a 7 beating a 2 wouldn't surprise me. Washington could beat any of the East teams. And what if Dwyane Wade came back and the Heat had the eight spot to face Detroit in the first round? The East is up for grabs.
ESPN analyst Jon Barry retired last year after 14 years in the NBA.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailyd...ilydime-070227
pistons would be coming back to the finals imo
with the inclusion of webber to the team, is like 03/04 season again with rasheed jumpin ship, which turn them into contenders, first half of 06/07 without ben wallace didnt stop them from winning games....
SPAM is back
6 game win streak? Damn...pretty impressive...
The Spurs will be strong in the playoffs as usual...anybody that thinks they won't be is fooling themselves...
I doubt they will put together long winning streaks this year, but as long as they continue playing like they give a , they will definitely make a good run. This year's playoffs should be very compe ive (at least in the West).
I agree that the East is up for grabs. Detroit clearly looks like the team to beat, but Chicago is just a modi of maturity away from being better (Translation - probably another season) and Detroit is just a serious injury to Sheed or Chauncey away from a serious fall.
Miami, Washington, or Cleveland could pull an upset of anyone, especially depending on who's still standing come playoff time.
And in the west, a 7 game series and no back to backs could be the difference maker for the Spurs. The Mavs and the Suns have had a lighter schedule and gotten some lucky bounces. In a 7 game series, the Spurs can still grind it out against them, and I believe they will, since they'll have to face one of them in the West Finals. As it stands right now, I'm gonna have to go with the Suns, because I think they'll knock the Mavs off for everyone. Amare will dominate Dirk and show him who's boss.
If the suns finished ranked no 2 then they would be facing someone besides the spurs in the WCF. If the spurs finish 3rd they would most likely see the suns in the second round.
Well I dont just expect them to lie down and just give us the series, but I can see us winning it in a non dramatic 5 game series. I just dont think they are as good as last year. They are just on a hot streak (which playoff teams always tend to do). I can see them advancing to the 2nd round but that's it. The Suns and Mavs are clearly the 2 best teams in the league and the WCF will feature that exact matchup.6 game win streak? Damn...pretty impressive...
The Spurs will be strong in the playoffs as usual...anybody that thinks they won't be is fooling themselves...
I think the spurs would take the suns in a seven game series. the spurs play the suns well and anytime the suns hit a team in the playoffs that forces them to play more of a half court game, they struggle.
clearly.
other teams that were clearly better than everybody else: 1995 spurs, jazz, and suns. 1973 celtics and bucks. 1994 sonics. 1986 lakers.
God... the 73 Celtics were like 68-14, the third greatest record in NBA history at the time (and until 1996).
IIRC, the Celtics had a key injury in the playoffs that season. The 73 Celtics aside, 65 or more wins is basically an automatic ticket to a championship. Eleven teams have won 65+ and ten won it all - the one exception being the 73 C's.
Wasn't 2000 the last time the teams with the best record from each conference met in the finals? I've seen the Spurs finish with the best regular season record and not win enough times that it doesn't mean much to me anymore. Being healthy, playing with confidence on both ends and fighting for rebounds are more important IMHO.
Dont we play the Rockets this week? We have to make sure not to overlook them in the playoffs, which I think the Spurs are too smart to do. But you know. we have to make sure to establish some form of hmm whats the word Im looking for? A littler less stronger than control. whatever. we have to establish a form of that during our remaining games against HOU and Utah
Um, isn't Flip still coaching the Pistons?
We will beat the Suns in the 2nd round IMO. They are intimidated by the Spurs physical play and le experience. The Suns are a soft ass team when it is all on the line they fade away. You guys would be the favorites because of how you have played all year but if the Spurs are playing like this no way you take us out in 5.
64 sure isn't though... the 06 Pistons, 98 Jazz, and 94 Sonics were all 64-18.
hey the way the Spurs have been up and down this year....it is.6 game win streak? Damn...pretty impressive..
for us to win, we gotto tell parker there is no more trapdoors on the court for him to pull his disappearing act, plz no more 2 game illusions mr. parkerfield
funny...i member hearing soft and mermaids thoughout the years........
"Good heavens, Mr. Spock! Did they say a SIX-GAME WIN STREAK?"
"Yes, Mr. Scott, they did. Even more remarkable is that they consider it...meaningful."
"Och! A wee bit more and they might be a blip on the sensors."
"Good heavens, Mr. Spock! Did they say a SIX-GAME WIN STREAK?"
"Yes, Mr. Scott, they did. Even more remarkable is that they consider it...meaningful."
"Och! A wee bit more and they might be a blip on the sensors."
This current Mavs team has a major edge in physical play over this current Spurs team. They know how to crash the boards and play lockdown defense in the 4th. This is exactly what the Spurs used to be!
very rough time ahead
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