[InsideHoops]Ginobili out for the rest of the season

Wow this is huge. This opens the door to win the division, which ensures we get the 3 seed. This is HUGE! Only thing better than this is if Spurs somehow slide to the 6 or 7 seed, but that's wishful thinking.

 

This doesn't ensure the three seed. Spurs have been playing without Manu for awhile now and he was never really healthy all year.

 

I think it's very possible for the Spurs to fall to #6. The Hornets can win the tie break on the last game of the season with a win. It would put them up 3-1 on the Spurs, and they're only 2 back right now with a chance to make up 1 game on April 15.

The Spurs have the tie break on the Jazz and are up 2.5 (3 in the loss column), so they will not fall to #7.

 

They probably will still win the division. It's not like he's been playing the whole season and went down. He's been out a lot.

 

Another big problem for the spurs is that Duncan is not healthy either! If the spurs soon announce Duncan is out for the season too, I won't be suprised!

 

Flame me for saying this, but now the Lakers don't have any legit competition in the Western Conference. It will be a guaranteed cakewalk to the Finals unless they lose their minds. A theoretically healthy Spurs team was the only real obstacle for them.

abc2007, you make a good point. While I doubt TD will be out for the season, he is clearly in no position to take up the slack. The Spurs are dead. Winning a 1st round series will be an accomplishment for them.

Someone should start a poll asking how many Western Conference playoff games will the Lakers lose on their way to the Finals? I put the number at 4.

 

If they somehow face the Blazers, I would say they will lose 3 to them. Nuggets might streak shoot a win over them. Rockets would probably take 2. I think if thier first round opponent is Dallas they sweep em. Utah takes a game or two from em.

NO, SA wont win any.

 

Keep an eye on this Friday to see how the Blazers can do at home against them when the Lakers really care.

 

I'm sure the Rockets, unlike some fans, aren't scared of the Jazz. I wouldn't care if we got the Jazz. Especially if we get Landry and Barry back.

 

i'd love for the rockets to be the ones to end the jazzholes season personally

 

if that is the case, then spurs is done

 

damn I was hoping spurs drop to the 4th and play the lakers in the second round.
It's pretty pointless now.

 

When is the last time Manu was really healthy? Seems like forever.

 

He was healthy most of last season which is why he had a career year.

 

TD's knees are giving him problems, but he's expected to be good-to-go for the playoffs. As for Manu, he's the #1 story on SA 10pm news. One station talked to a medical person familiar with his injury. He said Manu should be back sometime next season. Pop will talk about Manu's injury tomorrow in OKC.

SA has home games left against Portland, Utah & NO. I was hoping they'd beat them to insure us getting hca. Guess we'll just hafta win out!

 

I remember him being hurt/ineffective during last year's playoffs and he seems to be regularly injured. Is it safe to say he's injury prone?

 

yeah i definitely agree with you. parker has been playing out of his mind this season, and with a healthy ginobili and duncan at his side i thought they might be able to challenge the lakers. but now, the spurs don't have a chance. the finals might not even pose the lakers a significant problem, the cavs' record against top 4 teams (2-6) is alarming. the cavs have to gain the best record overall and hc advantage throughout the playoffs or else i don't see them topping the lakers.

in response to your poll:
dallas - 1
portland - 2
denver - 2

i say 5 max.

i didn't include the rockets in the mix, but i think we'd only win 1 game max against the lakers. we just don't have the offensive firepower to take them down, and that's understandable with t-mac's injury.

 

I don't think calling him injury-prone would be fair. Throughout his career, Manu has played great in the playoffs, so he typically steps up late when some other players decline. But the tragedy of last season's late injury and this season's disaster is what will weigh on most minds. Is it age or just bad luck? I think age is part of it. It's too early to say, but I bet we never see another regular season from him like last season.

 

I'd put it down to the Olympics. He'll be back next season.

 

Don't assume any team, including the Lakers, to be healthy all the way. You never know.