What's left in the tank?

by jollyrogerwilco on Apr 16, 2008 4:23 PM CDT

So, it's one of those items that's always mentioned in those out-of-town newspaper articles: when Pop took over as coach, he decided that regular season wins were less important than entering the playoffs: 1) as healthy and rested as possible, while 2) playing playoff-level basketball as the regular season ends.

As much as I've second-guessed Pop's decisions this year -- he is the same guy who has lead the team to four rings, and I'm thinking that he's sacrificing #2 for #1 -- in view of the two winning streaks we've been on since the All-Star break. We know he hates the regular season grind and I'm betting that Manu's abductor strain scared him to the point where he's decided to take his chances in the playoffs and rely on the team's history in responding to playoff intensity with a renewed effort on the defensive end.

Am I confident about a matchup with the Jazz if we start with 2 games in SLC - no. Do I think we win a series with the Lakers if it started on Saturday? Not from what we've seen lately. But the great thing about the playoffs is that this team has lost plenty of regular season series to teams that it has quickly dispatched as soon as it's "first to four wins."

Hmmm, the further I'm going into this, the more optimistic I'm starting to feel. It's almost like Sunday's rout never happened. Bring on the 2nd season. I'm ready to see just what we've got left in the tank.

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me too

I’m intrigued as well. Bring on the real season…

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." - Muhammad Ali

by DennardC on Apr 16, 2008 4:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Faith in the Spurs

I’ll take our team and coaching staff in a best of 7 series every day of the week.

It’s time to stoke the embers…

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.” Billie Jean King

I am happy. I am proud. – Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Apr 16, 2008 4:58 PM CDT 0 recs

That’s a great point. I’ve been repeating it to myself like a mental patient for the last several weeks, and I still believe it.

“In 7 games, no one beats Tim, Manu, Tony and Pop.” Not one team out there I feel can beat us in the postseason under those circumstances, not one. And even more, if the role players finally come together, I’m willing to say that no one beats us in 5.

It’s been a bumpy road, but we’re there and as ready as we’re going to be.

by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 17, 2008 12:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

And just to clarify, when I said “great point” I wasn’t referring to the Billie Jean King quote. Though the substance is correct, I will never endorse a Billie Jean King quote.

by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 17, 2008 12:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

what up sarge?

Not in touch with your feminine side or more of a Navratilova fan?

I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Apr 19, 2008 9:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

Tim, Tony and Manu all have to be on their game for us to repeat. Anyone else freaking out that the playoffs start on Saturday?!

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Apr 16, 2008 5:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Starting Saturday

I know. It’s finally THAT time of year. Easy to see how it could sneak up on us with all of the injuries and alternating wins with losses. Color me ready to get sick of another team after seeing us play them for 5 or six in a row.

Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule. - Dr. Peter Venkman

by jollyrogerwilco on Apr 16, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

it’s time for the hundred and first blow.

the spurs are splitting the rock tonight.

by dmcnulla on Apr 16, 2008 7:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Just remember that the Spurs were a pedestrian 6-4 in their last ten (including losing their last 2) going into the playoffs in 2005.

by VWolf on Apr 18, 2008 12:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Excellent point, VWolf. What gets lost in the shuffle of obsessing over every regular season game, is that a team coached by a guy like Pop is almost impossible to accurately forecast as a playoff failure, because you never know (looking in from the outside like we do) how much effort is truly being expended during and at the end of the regular season. Since the stated M.O. of the team is to not chase wins, but win championships, it’s all second guessing until the games count … and if I’m not mistaken, they start counting on Saturday, don’t they?

Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule. - Dr. Peter Venkman

by jollyrogerwilco on Apr 18, 2008 12:59 PM CDT 0 recs

Pop WILL outcoach D’antoni, bank on that guys.

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." - Muhammad Ali

by DennardC on Apr 18, 2008 1:07 PM CDT 0 recs

I hate to be the party pooper, but we lost the last two because we rested the starters.

That said, everybody lost some big, must-win games in the final 10 game stretch. Let’s give them hell.

by LatinD on Apr 18, 2008 3:07 PM CDT 0 recs

The last 2 regular season games in 2005.

@Memphis

The Spurs lost in OT by 2 points. Tim played 28 minutes but mainly because he had foul trouble (finished with 5). Manu played 33 minutes (was a starter). Nazr played 32 minutes. Parker didn’t play because he was sick. Pop didn’t burn anyone out before the playoffs, but he didn’t concede the game from the start or anything. It was typical Pop.

@ Minnesota. Spurs got blown out. The starters averaged something like 25 minutes. At this point the playoff matchups were already decided so your comment applies to this game, but regardless, they weren’t looking so hot going into the post-season that year.

The other losses they had recently suffered (going back 11 games) were:

A spanking by Denver on the road 102-84

A humiliating beatdown at Dallas 104-68

A narrow loss at Utah 93-91

Also contributing to the Spurs appearance of weakness at that point:

April 9 they barely beat the Clippers in OT

April 10 they barely beat the Warriors in OT

(Neither of those teams was close to being in the playoffs that season)

by VWolf on Apr 19, 2008 2:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

i don’t think tim played against the warriors or clippers. i recall parker having a good game against baron davis.

the thing about 2005 was the duncan was recovering from a bad ankle sprain (suffered in a game v. the pistons) and the team was struggling without him. then when the playoffs started, the spurs have a good lead going into the fourth against the nuggets of game 1 and went super cold, lost that game. it wasn’t looking good. the spurs pulled off the next 6 games (4 against the nuggets, 2 against the sonics) and 14 of their next 17.

dave mcnulla
spurs fan

by dmcnulla on Apr 19, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up 0 recs