Next 10 games... and then some.

by r21x on Jan 9, 2009 1:05 AM CST

Sun 11	vs Orlando	7:30pm	FSNSW	1200 WOAI
Wed 14	vs LA Lakers	8:00pm	KENS HD	1200 WOAI
Fri 16	@ Philadelphia	6:00pm	My35 HD	1200 WOAI
Sat 17	@ Chicago	7:30pm	KENS HD	1200 WOAI
Mon 19	@ Charlotte	1:00pm	FSNSW	1200 WOAI
Tue 20	vs Indiana	7:30pm	My35 HD	1200 WOAI
Fri 23	vs New Jersey	7:30pm	My35 HD	1200 WOAI
Sun 25	@ LA Lakers	2:30pm		1200 WOAI
Tue 27	@ Utah	8:00pm	FSNSW	1200 WOAI
Thu 29	@ Phoenix	9:30pm		1200 WOAI
Sat 31	vs New Orleans	7:30pm	KENS HD	1200 WOAI

Ok so thats eleven games. I thought the Hornets game was important enough to include in this stretch. After that game begins the rodeo road trip.

The last 10 games the Spurs went 9-1. I posted about that 20 days ago here.

We could have easily been on a 10 game winning streak had it not been for loss against the Bucks. At the same time we were only a couple of missed buckets from going 6-4 at that time too.

Of the next 11 teams Philly, Chicago, Charlotte, and Indiana are the only teams to have missed the playoffs last season. We already blew a 20 point lead to the Sixers and needed a buzzer beater to finish them off. The Pacers have beaten the Lakers, Celtics, and Suns this season. Bobcats and Bulls only look like easy wins.

One back to back, however no real layoffs just the average day of rest between. On top of that lots of road games so most of the time the team will be on a plane. That never ends well.

With all that said this team will somehow pull out some of these wins out of no where. I'm thinking 9-2 being the ceiling and 1-10 being rock bottom. And both could happen. Im saying 6-4.

Just for the sake of discussion.

What the hell is the point of Malik Hairston? We have a bunch of guards and swingmen on this team. The guy has not and probably will not see court time. Its odd that the Spurs have already cut Tolliver off the roster and Hairston is still there. I'm thinking he's out the door by January 10th when his contract becomes guaranteed. If he's still here then he'll be our new James White. Here for the hell of it.

All-Star Weekend

Mike Monroe of the Express News wrote an article the other day on the Spurs and their participation in All-Star Saturday. For the most part there hasn't been any. Besides that stupid WNBA/NBA player/Old guy combo shootout thing and Parker in the skills challenge in 2004 there hasn't been any Spurs players in the real contests. Not since 2000 when Terry Porter was in the 3 point shootout. The last time a Spurs player was in the dunk contest.... was 1988.

Mason and Bonner better not be snubbed out of this years contest. If for nothing else they get some reconignition for all their hard work. After all with all the perimeter shots we've taken this year it only makes sense to have two players in the 3 point shootout. And with that said....

This years team takes too many perimeter shots

Tonight in the Clippers game Parker ran the ball on a fast break, flanked by Fin and Timmy. Instead he stopped and threw the ball outside to Mason who took one of those long twos with his foot planted on the line. And missed. We might be the only team in the league that can run a 3 on 2 break and still finish with a missed jumper.

Good times.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Malik Hairston

is on the roster because Jaque Vaughn needs somebody to talk to on the bench. Pop will not talk to him because he is angry that Vaughn exercised his contract option and chose to stay another year, effectively raising the average age of the team to 248 yrs.

"I like to use my pump fake to make them come hard, that's when I use my penetration." -Manu Ginobili

by Justin Biehle on Jan 9, 2009 3:04 AM CST reply actions

6-4 would cover 10 games. Maybe you meant 7-4?

I just want us to beat the Lakers. Is that too much to ask?

by LatinD on Jan 9, 2009 6:07 AM CST reply actions

Philly made the playoffs last year. I think they took the Pistons to 6 games in the first round, but they suck this year!

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 9, 2009 7:45 AM CST reply actions

Cadillac Anderson was totally robbed in the ‘88 dunk contest. Every true fan knows he’s a better dunker than Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan.

Catch the Spurs Spirit! It's a Fast-breakin' Fiesta!

by tomasito on Jan 9, 2009 8:03 AM CST reply actions

Here are the Spurs home games through Mar. 22nd (13 home games, 19 road games). Play time is over.

Orlando
Lakers
Indiana
New Jersey
New Orleans
Dallas
Portland
Cleveland
Washington
Phoenix
Charlotte
Lakers
Minnesota
Boston
Houston

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 9, 2009 8:17 AM CST reply actions

Imagine if we’d started this year with that schedule…

by LatinD on Jan 9, 2009 8:27 AM CST up reply actions

Once game at a time team, one game at a time.

Just have plenty of ice ready and every players cuddly soft toy ready for a good night sleep after the games.

AND DEFENSE (with about 95 ppg)

by werdnawee on Jan 9, 2009 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

Well, I’m surprised.

The Spurs actually have a 97.1 – 93.2 for/against in points.

So all I want for christmas is 100 ppg!!!!

by werdnawee on Jan 9, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on Jan 10, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

The only .500 teams in the league not on that list are the Nuggets, Jazz, Pistons, and Hawks. We play the first 3 on the road during that stretch. bb is second game of back-to-back. The Blazers and Pacers home games above are segababas as well.

For completeness the road games:
Sixers
Bulls (bb)
Bobcats
Lakers
Jazz
Suns
Warriors
Nuggets(bb)
Celtics
Nets
Raptors(bb)
Knicks
Pistons
Wizards
Blazers
Clippers(bb)
Mavs

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 10, 2009 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Missed the last two:
Houston
OKC

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 10, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Im liking the team so far. I dont think we are championship worthy without another quality big who can defend, but its been a fun year so far. But I agree that we are taking so many jump shots, especially 3’s. It seems the spurs are always jacking at least 20+ 3’s per game. That’s a lot. That’s 2006 phoenixesque when you consider that we play at such a slow pace.
Aside from Duncan and Parker , the rest of the guys launch threes. Yep, even Manu, he is penetrating only 2 or 3 times per game (and even the frenchie can be seen pulling the trigger from distance these days). Even if his drivings are super awesome, 2 or 3 per game from Supernose doesnt cut it. I hope come playoff time that will change.

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 9, 2009 12:33 PM CST reply actions

The only thing good about all the 3’s is that we are the best shooting team from 3 in the league. If we can continue to hit 40% from 3’s while taking 20-25 a game then I’ll live with it. However, you are correct about Manu. I think it penetration is one of the two parts of his game that aren’t quite back yet. The other is his decision-making/feel. He’s just not quite there with his passes and his reads of the defense. His style is such that he needs to be on for his unconventionalness to work.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 9, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

You know what team has lead the league in 3pt shooting for years? The Suns.
Look, being a good 3pt shooting team is a requisite to be a champion, but we are DEPENDING on those long shots right now, and thats no recipe for a championship. Again, ask the Suns.

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 9, 2009 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

Not quite the same. They led the league because their run-n-gun style gave them tons of open looks. We operate on a half-court set, which I think says a lot about the quality of our shooters compared to theirs (average quality, I mean).

I know living and dying by the 3 isn’t usually a good idea. We’ve been saying the same for the entire season… But seriously, how many games has that failed us? Rebounding, we’ve failed lots of times. Taking care of the ball? A few. Scoring droughts? Sure. But 3-point shooting?

Dunno. I want to see what happens against Orlando and LA. We’ll talk after those.

by LatinD on Jan 9, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

Unfortunately

We should all remember 2001. The Spurs led the league in 3 point shooting, all seemed right with the world and then the Lakers came along and completely destroyed them by singling Tim with a capable defender (Grant), and sticking to the jump shooters like glue. The reliance on 3 point shots this year gives me an ill-odor reminder of that season, despite its success thus far.

That being said, this team has much more talent than that one did. Nevertheless, at the current style of play if the Spurs go cold or face a team with a defender capable of single defending Duncan (Garnett or Bynum come to mind), it could be their downfall.

by Neuwaldegg on Jan 9, 2009 6:33 PM CST up reply actions

I know what you mean. But, I could live with the 3’s if Manu & Tony would drive to the basketball a little more.

I don’t do stats, but it seems that points in the paint are a little on the weak side.

I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili

by bellasa on Jan 9, 2009 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

I think Manu and Timmy are saving their bodies by design. I’ll link you guys to the relevant post at 48MoH in the recap.

by LatinD on Jan 9, 2009 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

i think MANU’s lack of penetration comes from his ankle…he’s still not at 100, so i think he’s settling for more of an outside game. once he gets back to 100 i think we’ll see a lot more penetration from NOSEtradamus.

by znimrod on Jan 9, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

6 - 5

I agree, the Spurs might pull out some of these wins from nowhere, with a surprise victory here or there. I’m gonna predict 6-5, with the obvious challenges being Orlando, the Lakers, and the Hornets. The Spurs are capable of beating any of these teams, though. The defense MUST show up.

Oh, and I am PISSED as hell that I will not be able to go to the United Center on January 17th to watch them stomp the Bulls into the ground.

"It's not how you enter your sport, it's how you exit." - Dr. J
http://myspace.com/eme0916

by Ed (dfjmed) on Jan 9, 2009 1:57 PM CST reply actions

i’ll give us 8-4, because i’m optimistic. i think the more MANU’s ankle heals, the better we get, and that should start to come into effect toward the end of this stretch, right around the time we play that tough 4 game stretch at the end of that list. come on, MANU, prove me right.

by znimrod on Jan 9, 2009 2:28 PM CST reply actions

8-4 in an 11 game stretch IS optimistic. :)

I’m going with 7-4 and would be ecstatic if we did it.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jan 9, 2009 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

If we win over the Lakers that counts as 2 victories, right?

"It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what."

by Chilai on Jan 9, 2009 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

chilai’s got my back – that’s what i meant, of course, that the, uh, lakers game, uh, would count as, uh, two wins, giving us 8-4. my optimisticity knows no bounds (it’s a higher level of optimism).

by znimrod on Jan 11, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions