Doesn't sound too serious but it looks like the Spurs are in shut down and rest mode, I wonder if they are trying to drop to 4 or 5? Link to article April 10, 2008 Mike Monroe: Groin injury to sideline Ginobili indefinitely Spurs guard Manu Ginobili suffered a strained muscle in his left groin in Wednesday's home loss to the Phoenix Suns and won't play when the Spurs meet the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night at the AT&T Center. Ginobili's status for Sunday's game against the Lakers, in Los Angeles, also is in question. "I don't know how long he will be out," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the Spurs' practice, "but he definitely will be out tomorrow (Friday)." Popovich said Ginobili suffered the injury immediately after checking into Wednesday's game with 6:40 left in the first quarter. Though he played through some discomfort and returned to the game in the second half, Popovich held him out of the bulk of the fourth quarter when it became apparent the injury was affecting his play. "He felt something on his very first play of the game last night," Popovich said. "He tried to play on it. The doctors checked him at half and didn't think there was a defect -- just a little bit tight. That's why we started him in the third quarter, while he was still somewhat loose. "It didn't really get any worse, didn't get any better, so I opted not to play him at all after I took him out early in the fourth quarter." With the playoffs to begin next weekend, the Spurs will take no chances with Ginobili's health, regardless of the effect his absence might have on the team's potential playoff positioning in the closest Western Conference race in NBA history. "It's pretty tight," Popovich said, "and I just don't want to take any chances with him." DD
If Manu is out, I think the Spurs drop games to LA and Utah. They could fall as far as #6 if they do that.
I agree, but they also have been known to manuever themselves into a better position, now that catching New Orleans is unlikely I doubt they care about the number 2 or 5 seed..... DD
holy crap. The Spurs are tanking. We better start tanking too, so they don't overtake us. If the Spurs vacate the #2 seed, maybe we should rush down and get the coveted 7th seed.
please provide an example.. one that you can back up with something other than your opinion.. stop talking stupid..
Agreed, but I think they'd rather have home court in as many series as possible. There really is no intelligent way to tank this year with all the teams bundled so closely together. You could aim for a particular matchup and then wind up with the worst possible scenario instead.
When have the Spurs manuevered themselves down in the playoffs? And you don't think they'd like homecourt advantage in their 2nd round matchup? Good teams are good partially because of their attitude and commitment to winning. Only crappy teams tank. And that attitude tends to be a big part of the reason why they stay crappy. (SA and the Tim Duncan fluke being a notable exception)
The only instance of Playoff tanking that I can remember was the Clippers a few years ago. They blew a few late games to fall to the #6 spot and draw the Nuggets with home court advantage. If they had stayed at #5, they would have opened on the road against Dallas (with the second best record in the West).
As soon as they get paired up with Suns they start ducking. Very shrewd. They have the Sonics tonite. They couldn't lose to that team if they tried. And if they do lose, it was an all-out blatant tank. If we could beat Suns tonite we could all but guarantee them the 6th spot and force the Spurs to go all out on the Lakers Sunday to regain that 2 spot and avoid Suns. If the Spurs start to tank, maybe we should blow this game to Phoenix and give them the 5 spot, on then blow the game Monday against Jazz to bump them ahead of Spurs. (Evil laugh)We control the Spurs destiny!!!
I would not say they are tanking per se, but I believe there is probably not a whole lot of difference between the 2 and 5 seed and they will rest their players more coming down the stretch....moreso than say the Rockets would. DD
I agree. If I were them the teams I least want to face matchup wise and history wise would be the Suns, Lakers and Mavs. Right now it is about impossible to figure out where the Suns, Lakers and Houston fall--so no real tanking will take place, but I wouldn't preclude subjective holding out of players on Sunday. Maybe some more clarity by tomorrow though (NO-LAL outcome, Hou-Phx). If I am the Spurs, I wouldn't mind at all the 5th seed, particularly if the Hornets win tonight and about secure the #1 spot. Open up at home versus Utah, then take on the winner of the Hornets-Nuggets (which I think the Nuggets could win). Still no picnic, but they would avoid probably their 3 toughest match-ups until the WCF.
Ok, explain why a team like the Spurs are tanking so they can lose home court advantage. that makes as much sense as trying to sell condoms to Shawn Kemp.
They probably would have the home court as a 5 seed. I don't think they are tanking. But they clearly are not going to do a full court press. The #2 seed doesn't look too desirable right now (drawing the Mavs, who match-up well and beat SA in a series 2 years ago in SA). I think yes they would much rather start at home versus the Rockets, or even the Jazz. Since it looks really hard for the Spurs to catch NO (2 games behind in the loss column plus tiebreak against), there isn't much to play for except not falling all the way to 6 (where they might open at Phx or LA).
What concerns me is their season finale against Utah. If the Spurs are in shutdown mode, they could lose that game. Even if we beat Phoenix tonight, we'll likely need to win at Denver in order to finish with a better record than the Jazz. Unless by some miracle we win in Salt Lake City next week. Friggin Spurs!!! First they blow it against the Suns the other night when I was actually rooting for them and now this.
Guys I am not saying they are tanking just that they are probably going to rest their players and don't care if they drop a bit....in the standings. DD
uh, that is exactly what the Spurs beat writer said in the article. Then, you editorialized it, with this:, "<i>I wonder if they are trying to drop to 4 or 5?</i>". Which is a pretty good description of tanking or trying to drop to a specific advantageous position. Then you said that they have a history of doing it. Ok, Teflon Man, we accept your retraction. no biggie. You were mistaken. it happens. They are not tanking or "trying to drop to 4 or 5." carry on
