If Duncan is not 100% by playoff time then I could really see Denver/Memphis pulling off the upset and beating them. Suddenly it looks really good for the Rockets if the finish #6 and face the Sonics in round one (who are also banged up) and then face the Spurs who will most likely finsh #2 now.
If the Spurs make it that far then yes. Playoffs begin in 4 and a half weeks so Duncan should be back by then. But if he not totally healthy and maybe even a bit rusty then i could really see them being upset in the first round.
The winner of 1 vs. 8 plays the winner of 4 vs. 5 in the second round. 2-7 plays 6-3. Reason being that generally, the higher seeds win and higher seeds also get an advantage in their path to the championship (see the tourney)...therefore if 1, 2, 3, and 4 win as they should, the crappiest team left for the number 1 seed would be the 4. That's why they set up brackets that way. Now as it pertains to the Spurs and Rockets, with no Duncan it looks as if the Spurs will not get the 1st seed. Maybe as low as 3rd, but most likely 2nd. So if they advanced, they'd play the 3-6 winner, yes.
speaking of the spurs, am i the only one watching them play the knicks on NBC? how does nbc have a game and why is it a random monday matchup? or is this just some austin thing.
Duncan has been one of my favorite players since Wake Forest days. He is a role model for young people. I wanted to die when the Spurs tanked and got him as the #1 pick. Now the point of my post - as I am not a Duncan hater, but I am no Spers fan-will this make the other palyers better in his absence? Will Nesterovich, Mohamed, and others rise to the occasion-"reach deep within themselves" and aactually become a tougher team? With the luck the Spoors have, I think it likely. I hate the Spoors man.......
