The NBA must be sick

[tmtcsc]

You have to think that the rest of the NBA teams must be sick watching what the Spurs have been able to do WITHOUT Tim these last 2 games.

It's really unusual to see the Spurs playing so well this early. Can they keep it going all year ? When will the slump come ? I'm actually a little thrown off by this.

Perhaps its the returning roster that has us looking in late season form. Sheesh, Robert really hasn't gotten back to full strength yet either.

[SAGambler]

You have to think that the rest of the NBA teams must be sick watching what the Spurs have been able to do WITHOUT Tim these last 2 games.

It's really unusual to see the Spurs playing so well this early. Can they keep it going all year ? When will the slump come ? I'm actually a little thrown off by this.

Perhaps its the returning roster that has us looking in late season form. Sheesh, Robert really hasn't gotten back to full strength yet either.

And if the Spurs don't have 3 players at the All Star game, I think we should all be pissed.

These guys are playing every bit as good as the year the Pistons started off hot and got 4 guys selected.

[m33p0]

after the phoenix game on the 17th, its relatively light work for the team. i wouldn't be surprised if pop decides to sacrifice a few games against lottery teams.

i think the rejuvanation of the celtics and the constant whining from phoenix has fueled the team's compe ive spirit. and this year, they know for certain, that tony and manu can win games without tim. this would have to put a few wrinkles on their game plan.

[ancestron]

I am thinking this might be the season where theories, expectations, trends, doubts, etc. are just completely obliterated by a Spurs team that has achieved a state of basketball nirvana, winning 70+ games and crushing all doubts of whether or not they are a dynasty by dominating the league even more than they have in the past.
I think all the chatter around last years championship and whether or not it was legit or this and that sorta pissed the Spurs off, more than they would ever let be known.
maybe 2008 is the year the Spurs get EVEN.

[SouthernFried]

You gotta love watching the Spurs right now.

But, you gotta be a little concerned too. All of our Big 3 are now hurting a little. And it's super early in the season.

I love this start, been a lotta fun. I love championships more tho. I like it when the Spurs are under the radar...I think. Mebbe it's just because I've just gotten used to it over the years. I dunno.

Stay healthy.

[td4mvp3]

i just like the idea that the spurs can get better. i think boston is at its peak, which is a good peak by any standards. but the spurs have doing pretty well and still haven't demonstrated the kind of defense they hang their hat on.

[TampaDude]

When the Spurs are healthy and firing on all cylinders, and not making stupid mistakes...in other words, playing Spurs basketball...there is no other team in the NBA that can beat them in a seven-game series...not even the Celtics or the Magic. The only team that can beat the Spurs is the Spurs.

[efrem1]

Many of the NBA teams will accuse the Spurs of filming their time out huddles with an overhead camera, fine the team and Pop and then Pop goes Bellichik and beats every team by 30 points

[TampaDude]

May the NBA teams will accuse the Spurs of filming their time out huddles with an overhead camera, fine the team and Pop and then Pop goes Bellichik and beats every team by 30 points

[td4mvp21]

The scary thing is our defense isn't even where it should be yet.

[Demo Dick Marcinko]

The scary thing is our defense isn't even where it should be yet.

There's a saying that goes; "We ain't where we wanna be, we ain't where we're gonna be, but thank the lord we ain't where we used to be!"

Every game that goes by, without Tim included I see the Spurs defense doing the Tightening Up, for those old school who remember the song. Anyways their rotations, especially in the 2nd half have been almost suffocating. They're looking alot better and they've come a long way, but their journey ain't near finished. As they keep improving on the defensive end and they keep their current offensive output, heaven help the rest of the league.

[Vingianx]

heaven help the rest of the league.

amen

[lefty]

When the Spurs are healthy and firing on all cylinders, and not making stupid mistakes...in other words, playing Spurs basketball...there is no other team in the NBA that can beat them in a seven-game series...not even the Celtics or the Magic. The only team that can beat the Spurs is the Spurs.

ditto

[ShoogarBear]

The Spurs are going to come back down to earth. They've benefitted from a favorable home-road split (12H vs. 8R, compared to PHX's 8H to 12R). Still, on offense they're on autopilot as never before, and we can expect the defense to turn around in a couple of months.

[BonnerDynasty]

It's because we are so deep, have the same team, and Tony/Manu can drive to the lane at will 95% of the time so far. Once we actually play 48 mins of defense toward the end of the season, watch out

[VaSpursFan]

There's a saying that goes; "We ain't where we wanna be, we ain't where we're gonna be, but thank the lord we ain't where we used to be!"

Every game that goes by, without Tim included I see the Spurs defense doing the Tightening Up, for those old school who remember the song. Anyways their rotations, especially in the 2nd half have been almost suffocating. They're looking alot better and they've come a long way, but their journey ain't near finished. As they keep improving on the defensive end and they keep their current offensive output, heaven help the rest of the league.

ITA...their defense in the second half of the Utah game was damn near perfect. the cut off the pick and roll and those backdoors that brewer was getting earlier in the game.

[debo]

as soon as bowen and finley get into a groove, im gonna need to change my pants at halftime of everygame.

[missmyzte]

It doesn't really matter if the Spurs win 70 games. If winning 70 games means not taking care of nagging injuries and risking the post-season, it's not worth it. I'd be much happier with a good 55-win season and then sweeping the post-season. Now that would be an accomplishment.

[nfg3]

I really don't see us winning 70 or more. Even 65+ might be a stretch, too. We'll hit a slump and lose a few to teams we should have beaten. Pop has never really cared about the W/L record in the sense of a goal - win X number of games to have a successful season. He wants to win enough games to get good seeding going into the post season but focusing on peaking towards the end of the season IMO.
Our D isn't anywhere near what I expect come late in the season. Kinda makes me giddy just thinking how good we are going to be later. So if many teams are sick now they may need to invest in a lot more air sickness bags. It's only gonna get worse!

[exstatic]

The Spurs are going to come back down to earth. They've benefitted from a favorable home-road split (12H vs. 8R, compared to PHX's 8H to 12R). Still, on offense they're on autopilot as never before, and we can expect the defense to turn around in a couple of months.

Look at Phoenix's conference record. Even though they've had a worse go of the home/away thing, they've also been feeding on the EC. They're only 5-3 vs the WC, and we're 12-3.

[tmtcsc]

At the very least, its been fun to watch. We have been far from "boring". I too, think we can improve on defense. I could care less about our regular season record or where we finish. Its all about the Rings. The Drive for Five.

Oh yeah, and why the heck would Bones retire after this season. He's now playing like we've always wanted him too. Relaxed and confident. If he continues like this, why not another year or 2 ?

[BonnerDynasty]

Anyone who calls the Spurs boring obviously doesn't watch Spurs games. It's the cool thing to do, but I bet DSF knows the truth deep down inside.

Waits for the link to the boxscore from the Cavs Finals last year....

[Extra Stout]

I am thinking this might be the season where theories, expectations, trends, doubts, etc. are just completely obliterated by a Spurs team that has achieved a state of basketball nirvana, winning 70+ games and crushing all doubts of whether or not they are a dynasty by dominating the league even more than they have in the past.
I think all the chatter around last years championship and whether or not it was legit or this and that sorta pissed the Spurs off, more than they would ever let be known.
maybe 2008 is the year the Spurs get EVEN.

If the Spurs win more than 62 games, then they will have erred by failing to pace themselves in preparation for the playoffs.

[nfg3]

If the Spurs win more than 62 games, then they will have erred by failing to pace themselves in preparation for the playoffs.

Maybe, maybe not. Though I would tend to agree with your statement it depends on how all those wins were acheived - it's not neccessarily about number of wins but but how they are won IMO. If the majority of those wins were of the hard fought kind then they will probably be a little gassed going into the playoffs. But if the Spurs continue this pace with many a game being won by the end of the 3rd Q then 62+ wins will be OK. In many of these games the starters don't even play hardly at all in the 4th Q. Anyway we've haven't gone East yet so I'm expecting some blowouts in those games and more garage time for our bench. Over the season this will be huge. Our "old" guys need their rest.

[BonnerDynasty]

Home court advantage over the Mavs, Suns, Rockets, and whoever else would be nice though.