01-26-2009, 05:42 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 95
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State of the Spurs
I found this in the Weekend Dime on ESPN.com:
"Why are the Spurs still considered contenders?
They were lucky to beat the Lakers last week -- Roger Mason wasn't fouled and Trevor Ariza didn't travel at the end -- and then they were killed by the Sixers, barely beat the Bulls and are struggling against the Bobcats today.
Seems to me that you "analysts" are too afraid to count out a team that has been successful over the years. All good things must come to an end. I just wish some of these experts would have the stones to say it. You guys seem to be so scared of being wrong sometimes.
The Spurs are a middle-of-the-pack team. Accept it."
Discuss.
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The Dallas Mavericks... the team of the FIRST ROUND!
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01-26-2009, 05:55 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 19,413
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Spurs are 2nd in the west. They're fine.
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01-26-2009, 06:05 PM
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#3
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,938
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There are precisely four teams in the NBA that can be considered fine at this point. Three of them are in the East, and the fourth one just beat the Spurs yesterday.
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"He's coming off the bench aggressive right away, looking for his shot. If he has any daylight, we need him to shoot the ball. We know it's going in."
-Dirk Nowitzki on Jason Terry, after JET's 16 point 4th quarter against the Pacers.
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01-26-2009, 06:07 PM
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#4
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,526
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"Middle of the pack" is still light years away from everyone below them.
Afraid to admit that they are old and done? We've been saying that the last 3+ years and every year they prove us wrong. Sorry, i'm not willing to admit it anymore until they fail to make the playoffs at least two consecutive years, otherwise they are still the second best team in the west and arguably the league.
They had a lot of people on this forum fooled when they started out so badly. Not me.
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01-26-2009, 06:20 PM
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#5
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Between Blue Lines
Posts: 4,425
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I'd love to be the Spurs right now.
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![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/1628775622_6196fb1e3a_o.jpg)
"I still go through it in my head," Nowitzki said. "One of my last nights in Germany [last month], I was trying to go to sleep, but I couldn't. I was thinking about the free throw I missed [late in Game 3], about different situations that happened in that series. I'll never forget it. It's going to stay in my mind until we win it all."
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01-26-2009, 06:38 PM
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#6
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,113
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This is the worst edition of the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era IMO.
I think the gap between the Lakers and the rest of the West is extremely large.
Another note, the Spurs have had statistically the EASIEST schedule in the NBA thus far, and are a meager 29-14 with a margin of +2.9. They could easily have 2-3 more losses if not for some lucky shots. They're 2nd on account of the fact that nobody in the West this year is impressive outside of the Lakers.
I think their window is closed, but they still are one of the 2-3 best teams in the West.
They've lost 6 straight @ Staples, I don't see them beating the Lakers in 7.
Everyones window is technically closed though, Lebron is winning the next 3-4 titles.
The Western conference playoffs are probably just a formality. The Lakers won the WEst last year w/o Bynum/Ariza, they're back this year, the Suns/Mavs/Hornets/Spurs have regressed, the Rockets/Jazz are injury riddled, Blazers are too soft/young, and Nuggets best player is a playoff underachieving loser, who is seriously gonna beat the Lakers in the West?
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01-26-2009, 07:03 PM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 41.21.1
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The Spurs are gonna win it all again if you guys keep talking like this before the All-Star break...
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These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when
your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.
Last edited by Underdog; 01-26-2009 at 07:04 PM.
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01-26-2009, 07:07 PM
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#8
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,113
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They need another big IMO to combat the Lakers. matt frickin Bonner in the starting lineup is a joke.
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01-26-2009, 08:33 PM
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#9
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Guru
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: California
Posts: 16,670
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I think the Spurs are fine but will need to find another big man to compete with the Lakers. And Boston or Cleveland should they get past the Lakers and to the finals.
Big men are not exactly laying around but I suspect they make a small trade near the deadline. It won't be anyone you expect but they will contribute. The Spurs always pull this kind of thing off. And they always prove the doubters wrong.
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01-26-2009, 09:32 PM
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 19,413
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Underdog
The Spurs are gonna win it all again if you guys keep talking like this before the All-Star break...
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This same thing happens every other year.
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01-26-2009, 11:43 PM
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#11
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: state of eternal optimism
Posts: 2,854
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Spurs are kinda interesting this year. They go out and get a shooter in Roger Mason... to go with another shooter Matt Bonner..... and now they sign Croshere (another supposed shooter) to another 10 day contract. Oh, and don't forget Finley, another shooter. All of this activity and then we hear Popovich complain (a couple of days ago) that the players are playing pathetic defense. Hmmmmm.... I wonder why.
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"Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But there it is." - Winston Churchill
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01-27-2009, 01:45 AM
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#12
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: hogwarts - school of witchcraft and wizardry
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Odd year = Spurs ftw
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i bleed burnt orange. Hook 'Em Horns \m/
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01-27-2009, 10:53 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 95
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See, I don't see the Spurs being able to win or even compete in a 7 game series against L.A., Cleveland, Orlando or Boston - and I think that New Orleans and a healthy Houston could make a stab at stealing a 7 game series against them...
I don't think that they're a contender this year at all.
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The Dallas Mavericks... the team of the FIRST ROUND!
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01-27-2009, 10:55 AM
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#14
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Platinum Member
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Location: hogwarts - school of witchcraft and wizardry
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Am I the only one not buying into the Orlando hype?
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i bleed burnt orange. Hook 'Em Horns \m/
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01-27-2009, 11:14 AM
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#15
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Guru
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: California
Posts: 16,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by purplefrog
Spurs are kinda interesting this year. They go out and get a shooter in Roger Mason... to go with another shooter Matt Bonner..... and now they sign Croshere (another supposed shooter) to another 10 day contract. Oh, and don't forget Finley, another shooter. All of this activity and then we hear Popovich complain (a couple of days ago) that the players are playing pathetic defense. Hmmmmm.... I wonder why.
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It is strange. Pop has gone for more offensive minded players this year than he has in previous years. He's also limiting Bowen's minutes a lot. It goes beyond wanting to have him rested for the playoffs imo.
The defense hasn't been that bad considering the starting lineup. It's just not the Spurs defense we've seen before.
EDIT: The Spurs didn't sign Austin Croshere to another 10 day contract as expected. The Spurs must be looking at someone else then.
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Last edited by MavsFanFinley; 01-27-2009 at 11:20 AM.
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01-27-2009, 03:40 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 139
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It hasn't been peaches and cream in Spursland so far, but I'm not counting them out yet. I think all Spurs fans realize that we need an athletic big to really compete, but I don't know who (if anybody) is on the radar.
I do know that if history is an indicator, this is the time of year that we come together as a team, and start to play our best ball of the year. Time will tell if that holds true this year.
I'm still optimistic.
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01-27-2009, 04:19 PM
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#17
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nikeball
Am I the only one not buying into the Orlando hype?
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That hype has been silenced a little after losses to the Celtics/Heat. I don't think they can win a title but outside of LA/Boston/Cleveland nobody has has played better than them.
At the end of the day I think they're overreliant on the 3-PT shot and Dwight's offensive game is too raw. They'll lose if/when they run into the Cavs/Celtics.
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01-28-2009, 04:08 PM
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#18
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,841
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I see people have fallen for the trap lol. I will never right the Spurs off again. Especially when they have Three of the most dominant players in the league and one of the best coaches to ever coach in this league. Especially in the odd year. And don't they always go on a run to get into the playoffs? Around the all star break? Seems a bit premature to write them off.
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01-28-2009, 04:25 PM
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#19
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,113
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I only write them off because they seem inable to beat the Lakers. For all of Pop and and the big 3's greatness they have always had trouble v the Lakers in the playoffs, have lost 6 straight at Staples and 2-3 of them have been in blowout fashion.
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01-28-2009, 07:29 PM
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#20
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Guru
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: California
Posts: 16,670
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I'm surprised Pop waved the white flag in the last Laker game. I think they were only down 13 at the start of the 4th quarter yet he had the big 3 on the bench.
If only Bonner and Mason hit half the open shots they took.
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