Anybody notice that if the playoffs started today, the #1 vs. # 8 match up in teh West would be... San Antoinio vs. Golden State And guess what! the Warriors have already won the season series winning the first 2 out of 3 games. the last game will be played on April 1st REGULAR SEASON SERIES Warriors lead 2-0 Dec. 11: at Warriors 96, Spurs 84 Jan. 7: at Warriors 130, Spurs 121 (OT) April 1: Golden State at San Antonio I believe that this one could be as good as last year's match up of GSW vs. DAL As a hardcore Rockets fan, there is nothing I would love more than to see Golden State do it again!
It'd be amazing if Golden State pulls off another upset for the second straight year. I don't think it'll happen, though. They won the Mavs series because Don Nelson completely outcoached Avery Johnson, as well as the fact that they match up well with the Dallas players. Not only will Gregg Popovich NOT get outcoached (in fact, it'll probably be the other way around), but the Warriors don't have anyone to contain Tim Duncan's low post presence. Furthermore, the two teams' head-to-head records are a little misleading. The Spurs were either mediocre or downright TERRIBLE during that period before turning it on after the All-Star break. They currently have the second-longest winning streak, and I've little doubt that their next meeting will go differently. But even if the Spurs do get swept, remember that Cleveland did the same thing last year, and look what happened.
This is why it won't happen: Duncan > Nowitski (and every other player in the league during the playoffs) Ginobli > Josh Howard Parker is better for the Spurs than Kidd will be for the Mavs. Now before anyone gets all upset I am not saying Parker is better than Kidd but one guy is in his prime and has been with the same team for years winning rings while the other guy is long in the tooth and was just thrown onto a team with no real identity (but a lot of talent) Popovich is so many light years beyond Avery it is ridiculous. Avery is probably the most overrated coach currently in the league while Pop is probably the best.
The SPurs are the World Champions. And Don Nelson doesn't know all their weaknesses like he knew Dallas's. The Spurs are not the mentally weak team that Dallas was. That being said the Spurs almost got beat by Milwaukee last night and Minny a few games back. They are not the power house that everyone thinks. I suspect they won't even finish 1st in the conference. LA has an easier schedule and the spurs of a grueling 2 weeks coming up. Hell LA isn't even all that the media would have you believe. A healthy Bynum makes them a power house but who knows what shape he will come back in. That's why it is so disappointing Yao went out. This was an opportunity we had a shot to be the number 1 seed.
Spurs are lucky bastards. They didnt even play good in their rodeo trip. They stumble along and suddenly they are atop of the Western Conference again. The Warriors dont match up with the Spurs well. The Warriors' weak interior defense is always their biggest problem. Tim Duncan/Ginobili/Parker are going to kill the Warriors in the paint. The Spurs will shut down the paint and the Warriors will become a jump shooting team. My prediction: Spurs vs Warriors: 4-0 or 4-1 in playoffs
The Spurs aren't on the late season steamroll like last year. They look weaker and unlikely to repeat. I rank them #2 in the West behind the Lakers. They would easily beat the Warriors in a playoff matchup. This year's Warriors are the most schizo team I've seen in many years.
The Spurs have taken the top spot the West while Paker has either missed games, or been nursed back to health. Only this very latest game did he look like himself. That said, the Spurs have more games in March than any month EVER in franchise history: 18! 5 back to backs, and I'm not sure they play more than two consecutive home games - much, much traveling. It almost appears the NBA was intent on not letting them have their typical successful March. They will probably finish with the #2 seed; but could slip further - I don't see Pop selling out for W's when it just doesn't matter that much. THAT said, the Spurs, IMO, are coming out of the West when all is said and done. Houston would have been a tough out, but LA isn't ready, Manu is out of his mind, Tim is Tim, and Tony is looking like himself for the first time in 3 months. The team has replaced it's weakest spots with upgrades from last year's championship team; they are gonna be very, very tough.
The Spurs lack athleticism and Duncan's game has dropped.Even so they are able to execute at the end of games on the offensive end and usually force the opponent into a tough shot.That said,I,for one believe they DO NOT have enough to get it done this year...See Lakers and Rockets...
Well, the Warriors have to reproduce the magic of last year. Lightning in a bottle twice? I don't know about that.
I don't think the spurs are in trouble. I saw them last night in Jerz and they only thing they have to worry about complacency. They will be in the WCF.
No one's been more business like in the playoffs than the Spurs. Duncan raises his game each spring and they've got 3 guys averaging just about 20 per. As far as them looking weak, they've won 13 of their last 14 (only loss - Boston). I'm not saying they're favorites, but I don't see a team that's in danger of going out in the first round. Dallas got bounced because Dirk has a bad habit of shriveling up in the 4th quarter of big games. That's not something the Spurs do. Evan
It doesn't matter if you run a halfcourt or uptempo offense, when it comes down to scoring in the 4th quarter the Spurs simply don't allow teams to do that.
If Spurs were to match up against the Warriors, they would at most take it in 5, most likely 4. Dallas didnt have a post presence, Spurs does. Spurs is warrior's death wish.
in short, the answer to the original question is "no" Dallas was coming off a choke job loss in the Finals, Spurs are coming off their 4th ring in 9 years. it is in the Mavs DNA to lose... it is in the Spurs DNA to win...
