No Aldridge, Kawhi or Ginobili for the Spurs tomorrow

Isn’t this game on ESPN? The media won’t like this....

 

I smell a trap game!

 

All the computer projections have the Spurs making the playoffs as the 7 seed. They have the Clippers and Nuggets missing out, with the Jazz at #8. At this point, barring a dramatic salvation by Kawhi, I just don't see SA making it. And if the Clippers or Nuggets could get it together (tough, tough schedules though), OKC might flop their way right out.

If there's any doubts why you want to be the number 1 seed, look to the second round. I'd much rather be the #1 and take on the winner of #4 and #5 than have to beat Portland.

 

I wouldn't discount that. Consider Rockets as 1 seed, getting the Spurs as eight seed, and Kawhi returns. I think Rox still win, but that's a terrible matchup for a #1 seed.

 

But it's more risky. IMO:

Without Paul and Harden: 60/40 chance
With Paul: 85/15 chance
With Paul and Harden: 95/5 chance

 

Our next 5 games are against WC teams fighting for their lives. Buckle up.

 

At the very least they should rest CP3.

No reason to play him back to back against two easy opponents(Spurs without their starters) this late into the season.

 

Spurs low key tanking. Miss playoffs, get #1 pick, draft DeAndre Ayton, Kahwi comes back, new decade long dynasty.

Pop knows what he's doing.

 

It will be a good test for the team to feel the intensity of playoff ball.

The Rockets have proven they can lay an egg and still win against +500 teams.

 

Hopefully harden is limited to like 23 minutes due to blowout

 

We did just finished our toughest stretch of games by far and dropped only 1 game.

These next 5 games are against significantly weaker opponents than our previous stretch. Pelicans without Cousins is much more management, Clippers are no threat as long as the Rockets are focused, we have beaten the Wolves by 18 every game so far and now they don't even have Butler.

The only real threat are the Blazers who we are 2-0 against so far, but of course they are scorching hot right now. However, looking at the rest of our schedule, the Blazers are literally our toughest opponents for the rest of the season, and even though they are hot they are only barely on track to win 50 games.

Looking back at our win streak, it's incredible how we basically went from the hardest schedule in the West to now the 3rd easiest, dropping only 1 game.

 

If they trade Kawhi it’ll probably be to knicks for their lotto pick and the kid at 7-9 range would be better than Kawhi

 

If we win, does that finally quiet all those game 6 critics?

 

Better than Kawhi?? You do realize that the majority of lotto picks don't pan out right? Most are barely starters let alone MVP candidates.

 

no, not even if you win the chip this year, youd had to go to the past and beat them for critics to shut up...

 

Must win now

 

I believe this has been part of Pop's regular season strategy over the years, and for me personally, I think it's not only violation of the spirit of the game, even if there aren't any rules against it, but it's a disservice to the fans.

For the Spurs, it's in some respects a win-win. They get to rest their (aging) starters against a team who they would most likely lose to anyways, which not only spares their ego/confidence, but even if they keep it close, its a confidence booster for their bench guys who do end up getting playing time - Pop can tell them afterwards, "look, you went up against the best team in the league and only lost by x" or something to that effect... really, anything to spin it in a positive way. Plus, by running out a bunch of hungry, wanting-to-prove-themselves-bench-scrubs, you just know he's going to have them flying around all over the place, making the Rockets work extra hard and wearing us down, thereby adding to the cumulative fatigue of the regular season grind - especially considering that the Rockets are coming off a game just the night before; plus, there's a very real possibility that we could face them in the playoffs.

With that said, how should the Rockets counter? Do we hope that they build up enough of a lead in the first half to rest our start most of the 2nd half, and then what do you do if that doesn't happen? Do you put CPS & Harden on severe minutes restrictions and let our bench guys get more PT, hoping that they will still find a way to win? Do you just play them as normal (I suspect this is what will happen)? I really don't know, and I'm not a fan of heavy-handed league officials trying to write rules that dictate how teams manage player minutes/rest, although I'm less of a fan of shyster teams like the Spurs pulling these kind of stunts.

All in all, I suppose what I'm really trying to say is F the Spurs

 

I KNOW!!!!! I’m talking about the spurs drafting skills

 

Bet $ on it.