I'm your Huckleberry
by CMoney on Mar 30, 2010 6:00 PM CDT
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PrintI've always been fascinated with the counterintuitive. I think it had to do with convincing myself at a very early age that the Sun revolved around the Earth, only to find out that I was a dumbass. Damn you, science. I remember wrestling with this foreign concept because it flew in the face of my intuition and reasoning. Looking back, I had a paradigm shift. I learned to discredit the stuff that made too much sense, and seek out the counterintuitive. What does any of this have to do with the Spurs' current situation? Well I've been thinking...
Logical reasoning says the Spurs should do everything possible to avoid the dreaded 8th seed. The seed of death. After all, what are the chances that an 8th seed will actually advance to the second round? It just doesn't happen, people! (Wait...what's that you say?.... it happened to the Mavs in 07?....errr.... moving on) And everyone knows that this year, the 8th seed in the West earns you a date on death row with defending champions. Oh you're playing the Lakers? Well just sit right there in that metal chair while I plug this cord in.
The Spurs are currently presented with a unique opportunity that doesn't exist to the teams surrounding them in the standings. Because of our 187 stumbles and false starts at the beginning of this season, we find ourselves sitting last in the playoff race. Looking up, wanting. Usually this time of year we're sitting in the top 3-4 spots waiting to find out whom we're going to play. Well this year, we've been dealt a new hand and we're not quite sure how to play it. A late surge, Parker on the mend, Tim wearing down, Manu returning to form... What's the right play here? For your consideration...
How about we just say: Enough already, we want the Lakers. Instead of relying on the intuitive, why not dance with the devil and see how this plays out? Think about that.
Why not welcome the opportunity to knock off the defending champions? Let's choose to face the Lakers and meet that challenge. If it were up to me, I'd severely limit Tim's minutes for the remainder of the season. He needs and deserves the rest. I'd play Manu selectively and focus the rest of the season on getting Tony up to speed. For us to have any shot of getting out of the 1st round we must be healthy and our legs need to be fresh.
There's something very powerful when you call down the champs and take the fight to their doorstep. I guarantee you that the Spurs are the last team the Lakers want to play, especially in the first round. Unlike most 8th seeds, we have championship experience. We have the know-how; we've connected the dots. Tony will be back. Manu has resurrected himself to shock and awe. A reality that turns the stomachs of opposing coaches and fans across the league, and one that demands the utmost respect. And a rested Tim Duncan is a deadly Tim Duncan.
Some will call me crazy. Why take on such an enormous challenge when we don't have to? They may ask. Let's save this fight for a later day when the Lakers have been weakened by other teams. Other will say, as they blatantly ignore the fact that we too will be a weakened team by then. Well I say to them: Don't tell me I'm crazy because I want to beat the best. And don't tell me that our team, when healthy, can't do it. Let's make that our goal. Let's make that statement. Let's go for broke.
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Damn, Cmoney!
Still would rather not go in 8th (simple, ugly pride on my part), but the thought of having a shot at the defending champs with a rested Timmy, a hungry Tony, and a pissed off Manu turns me on!
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." -Davy Crockett
"Give me an army of West Point graduates, and I'll win a battle. Give me a handful of Texas Aggies, and I'll win a war." -Gen. George S. Patton
fuck it, spurs by 20?
Genibus Nitito Canus
by SpursfanSteve on Apr 2, 2010 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
This idea is a billion times better than your trade Manu idea.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
Amen Brother! I don’t necessarily agree that the 8 seed is what we want, but it is preferable to getting a 6 seed with the tired and worn out Duncan we are seeing right now. I think it is at least partially mental, not just physical. Hopefully a few games off would give Duncan a mental break and he can come back with renewed hope and purpose.
I agree very strongly with your post. I think coasting the rest of the season and going into the playoffs more rested and healthy is a much better idea than wearing Tim and Manu out more trying to move up a spot or two. It’s not like the 2 or 3 seed will be any easier than the Lakers.
I don’t want the Lakers. Or the Mavs. I want the Nuggets or the Suns. Sorry.
I smell death... everywhere.
The problems with the Lakers is that they are tall, very tall. And good tall, not Shawn Bradley tall. He does have a point in that our best chance of beating them would be in the first round. If the road to the finals has to go through LA then we might as well see them early.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
Those Suns are looking pretty damn good right now. I don’t want to play a team peaking at the end of the year.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
Well, the main problem with this strategy is that even if the Spurs did beat the Lakers, chances are it would happen in 7 games, Tim would be beat up again by the time it was over, and, thanks to Ron Artest’s thuggery, probably Manu also.
Then we’ve have to watch some annoying team like the Thuggets or Phoenix make it to the finals. I think the Spurs’ best (realistic) order would be Denver then Phoenix (or reverse) before hitting the Lakers. At least by then there’s a chance the Lakers will have injuries also.
Andrew Bynum is injured right now and his return is still uncertain. That’s a big deal.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
If Bynum is out, I want Portland to get them in the first round. Portland would win a series without Bynum, because they match up well at every position now that they’ve got the Camby man.
Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek
The Camby-man versus the Candyman will be epic.
by silverandblack_davis on Apr 1, 2010 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions
While I’m inclined to agree, except they seem to be used to it by now. And it didn’t stop them from coming out of the West the past two years anyway.
The problem is that there is no way to predict who Spurs get unless they get the 8th seed. Yes Phoenix might be ideal, but they could end up with Denver, the Mavs or Utah and have played out Tim to get there. Do you really think the Spurs can get by anyone in less than 6 games the first round?
I was saying for a while that if we want to beat the Lakers, we better meet them in the 1st round. Right now they seem to be vulnerable. Bynum is injured, Gasol is bitching and Kobe is mad at his teammates. They seem to be one bad home loss in the playoffs from folding completely. After (if) they win in the 1st and 2nd rounds, they would get their swagger back. Besides, 1st round schedule is soft, and teams actually get a lot of rest. Bynum is more likely to get healthy and dust off some rust. On the other hand, after our loss at home I don’t see how we are going to beat that team 4 times in a series. 1 time may be, 2 if we are lucky, but not 4. Unfortunately, we just have nothing going against them inside. We have nobody to match up well with either Gasol or Odom, and I’m not sure if Tim would be able to hold his own against Bynum as well. So we need to rely on jump shots, mostly 3-pointers, where we were alternatively decent and atrocious this season. In general, we have not been a good shooting team. Our best wins came when we could get going inside, with rebounding and penetration (think Bonner dominating Garnett, Blair getting beastly on offensive glass, and Timmy doing what he can do, on top of Manu’s, RJ’s, Hill’s and Tony’s drives to the basket). Unfortunately, inside domination for us all but impossible against the Lakers. We still have Manu, but they have Kobe, so we don’t have any advantage here as well. All in all, I don’t see how we can beat the Lakers unless we take and somehow make a ton of 3s. But this is a good recipe for 1 win may be, not for 4 wins.
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
You make a very good argument here. I think our best chance against the Lakers (aside from a possible implosion) is the fact that they are one of the worst-shooting teams in the NBA, and the absolute worst in the league from 3-point range.
I had kind of no idea of what I wanted, get a higher seed to avoid those Lakers, or be eighth and get them fresh. You convinced me, I like the idea. And us winning that series (maybe even taking them to a very close win) would make these playoffs a good one. Seeing I didn’t have that much of expectations this year…
But maybe… Just maybe!
I understand your point and agree with you do some degree. It would be sweet to beat LA in any round and we might as well try it early on while we’re healthy and semi-rested. That being said, it would be sweeter to win a championship and if you can do so without even playing LA then who cares? If the Spurs end up with any seed that will allow other teams to match up with LA and beat them, then I’m all for that. I’d love to see the Spurs in the WCF against OKC or the Suns…would I rather beat LA on the way, sure, but I’d much prefer a ’chip over beating LA.
I guarantee you that the Spurs are the last team the Lakers want to play
Hey don’t take it personally. It’s just that the Spurs have that kind of um . . .old team smell, you know? Besides like you say, perhaps you can take us in the 1st round. You did beat us soundly earlier this year much to my disappointment. Besides, even when we do beat you I am still left wondering if Pop “really” tried to to win or if he’s just playing with our minds.
Part of the hazard of leading the west by 10ish games by the all-star break is that the Lakers don’t have much to play for. No chance we catch the Cavs but I will be pissed if we don’t stay ahead of the Magic. I am hoping their current problems are caused by boredom. Focused, relentless rock-pounding type play has never been a Laker strong suit.
It should be interesting to see which 2 teams show up this Sunday. Will it be the Cav/Celtic killing Spurs? Will Pop even try to win? Will the Lakers have a pulse? Hard to tell.
Just please don’t make us face those Oklahoma guys again or those gawd-awful Hornets.
The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."
Hey Olf, I am curious what are your preferences for the first round? Who would you rather play and who would you rather avoid? As I said above, I don’t really see how we can beat you guys 4 times in a series. Your front line is too intimidating, and having Kobe helps your case as well.
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
Um, let’s see. Well Denver is 5th today but at this point I am going to presume we stay in 1st and they don’t drop to 8th. So that would make it either OKC, Portland or SAS. Honestly, if we are playing well I think we have a good chance against any of them. If we are not then they are all trouble.
I do hate that whole rabid Blazermania fan thing so I prefer not to face them at all but that’s not really because of the team. Although I sure couldn’t stand to lose to the Thunder. And then again, we all know how annoying those damn Spurs are. So it is hard to pick. Like I said they can all be trouble.
The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."
I know you’re just trying to goad me into replying so that you can blast me with the “I can’t believe you responded to so many comments” stuff again. :: cyber-bully shield activated ::
OK, I’m just kidding. I don’t like any of ’em. If we are playing well I like our chances against all of them. Losing to any of them would be a punch in the . . . I will say that the thought of knocking the Spurs out in the 1st round makes me kind of sad (in a smiling happy sort of way though).
PS. To Big50 – typical Spurs fan. Give ‘em the truth & they can’t handle it. And here’s one of these back for you my friend. :)
The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."
If it helps, on tonight’s Laker broadcast they did a fan text-in poll asking: Who do you want the Lakers to face in the first round of the playoffs? Last I saw the voting it was:
Spurs – 61%
Blazers – 20%
Thunder – 19%
I didn’t vote and I continue with my non-answer that I don’t like any of them. And if the Lakers don’t start playing better, any of the three are trouble.
The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."
This is the answer. They want our blood.
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
May be it’s better to let OKC run them down.
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
True but that message would only be sent once everything is all said and done. We can turn the Western Conference on its head if we knock off the Lakers. All eyes would be on San Antonio.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
Why Johnny Ringo...looks like somebody just walked over your grave...
I like your style of thinking CMoney.
I did not return empty handed. I came back with two huge handfulls.
by JonnyJam on Mar 31, 2010 4:40 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Completely agree with you, as does Pop. No use putting anyone off to later rounds, we’re gonna have to face them anyway and I’d just as soon get it over with. Plus, there’s the added bonus in potentially bowing out in the 1st again that the FO would be willing to “step up” in the off-season yet again, which probably wouldn’t be as likely if we went further into the playoffs.
But I’m with you in that we have a solid chance of beating LA. LA’s regular-season-coasting will be difficult for them to instantly turn off and catching them early means catching them ungelled and at their weakest point. I don’t see injuries in the PS being as big of an issue for them as they will be for us, so getting them early helps that. In addition, knocking off LA would do wonders for our psyche and momentum going deeper in the playoffs.
Some will call me crazy.
Incidentally…. no, I don’t think you’re crazy. I can now see that trading Manu would have been a great idea and we should have capitalized on that.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
Good thing that Tonygate has essentially been forgotten by the current generation.
The jrwlings can live in peace.
Too bad that the CMoneyites will be facing these issues for generations to come.
Alfajores cause mojo! - janieannie
I will have to atone for this when I have kids. Otherwise they’ll hear it from some tool looking to ruin a happy home…
“Hey kids, guess what your sonofabitch father did!” – SiMA
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
That sounds like something I’d do, yes.
But the unfortunate truth of the matter for you is that cosmically, when one disparages the Manu, he is immediately and supernaturally rendered sterile. It’s just the way things work when a mortal verbally attacks an immortal. You’re just lucky that your skin didn’t immediately fall off as well. You can think nothing more than the sheer mercy of the Manu for that.
So the opportunity for me to say something like this is gone already.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 1, 2010 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tonygate has receded…. for now.
You can be grateful to Mr. George Hill for that. However, if we somehow decide to trade Hill for cap room and resurrect Jacque Vaughn as our only other PG, your day will come.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 1, 2010 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions
As long as Tony is dominating Fisher that is not going to happen.
In other news… I know you are some kind of civil/traffic engineer. I have a question regarding roundabouts. In Raleigh, NC they have created a set o two new consecutive roundabouts (see here). They replaced two intersections I believe. My question is… what is the freaking point? So far it seems to be slowing down everything. People are hesitant and you never know if the person in the roundabout getting out or continuing the round which seems to make traffic slower. What is the advantage of these things?
I apologize in advance for the random question!
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
1) you don’t need to stop when there is no traffic
2) you don’t need to wait for a green light
3) they don’t need to build/operate/repair the traffic light
I think, it works better when traffic is not too heavy
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
All of those points are true. LE, a lot of the decision making behind what sort of traffic control to use at an intersection is based on site-specific criteria. I noticed that intersections are located near a university, which tend to have more consistent traffic throughout the day. Roundabouts generally work well in this situation, plus they more naturally slow drivers down, as compared to signals (which is often a goal). If the roundabouts haven’t been around for very long, the traffic will become smoother as drivers get used to the intersections and are less hesitant. There are other reasons to install them, related to air quality, but I won’t bore you with those now.
Hope this answered your question. If not, shoot me an e-mail.
I love roundabouts. Whenever I come across one I’ve got to go around at least 2 times. It’s fun.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
This can’t be the truth.
But if it is, I require video proof from multiple roundabouts or multiple days.
Alfajores cause mojo! - janieannie
American love for going in circles is very well documented. It must be another reason for growing popularity of roundabouts.
Next season doesn't exist. Only today exists. So say we all.
Thanks Cap. It actually seems like nobody knows what to do and during peak hours people can be waiting for a while to get into the roundabout. Maybe patience is in order in this case until I decide to start avoiding the area.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
My ultimate solution for this problem is to purchase a fully-armored HUMVEE with gun turret. Now granted, this only helps me, but it would ensure that I would never be stuck behind a Prius on I-25 ever again. Of course, parallel parking in my neighborhood would be near to impossible, but I like a challenge.
I live in a very densely populated urban neighborhood. Most residents don’t have off-street parking; therefore, parking on both sides of the street are required. See this thread. Of course, the Humvee wouldn’t fit in off-street spaces either. Such a pity.
Very well played, sir. Now speed away in your Buick Escalade as I chase you with this 4-iron.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 1, 2010 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions
To build off your previous point. Think of the pressure we could put on LA if we steal one of those first 2 games at their place. The reason you work your ass off to get the #1 spot is so you don’t have get into a long series or give up the home court advantage. We snatch that away and we’ll have one hell of a series sending it back to SA 1-1.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
:: in a Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage voice ::
Ooooohhhhh Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaahhh.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 1, 2010 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Another benefit of this strategy is draft position. Oh yeah.
Spurs Basketball. Improving [other] NBA teams since 2010! - swgeek
May as well face the Lakers before they can reintegrate a rusty Bynum ( and to a much lesser extent, Luke Walton )
Fuck it, lets face them in the first round.
( Then again, dont we need time to reintegrate Parker….??? )
Crappy teams fear us !
Yea, but last I read , Parker will be back for third to last game at earliest. Im thinkin its going to take more than that to successfully reintegrate him….( unfortunately might spill into the postseason )
Do you have any fresh news on his return ?
Crappy teams fear us !
Well keep in mind that Parker this year has been sidelined with two ankle injuries, plantar fasciitis, and a hip injury. His legs have taken a beating. Having to miss time because of a little broken bone in his hand has given his legs plenty of rest. He may not be at 100% game shape when he comes back but we all know the strength and conditioning coach hasn’t let him sit on the couch and eat Funyuns. He’s 27 years old and I bet you he comes back with an explosiveness in his legs that we haven’t seen for sometime. I’m a little concerned that his shooting touch might be rusty, but thankfully he’ll be able to counter that by driving and dishing or just finishing at the rim.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.
No doubt the time off is going to do him well. But im more concerned with how long its going to take to work him back in to the rotation…
Crappy teams fear us !
Funyuns are right up there in my Top 5 with Jelly Bellys and Junior Mints.
"If I was the kind of guy who posted a signature line, this would be it from now on." -SiMA
by SgtinManusArmy on Apr 1, 2010 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Reintegrate? Tony’s game is predicated on getting the ball and getting to the rim. That is what he does best. I think that if any type of player lacks the need for extensive reintegration is the Tony Parker type of player. What Im concerned about is how everyone else is going to adapt to Tony.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
Maybe alamobro meant “Reanimate”?
When’s the last time you saw TP have an expression of any kind?
Alfajores cause mojo! - janieannie
The only expressions Spurs have is confusion when we get called for a foul.
Except for Dejuan, who runs around LOLing all the time.
Genibus Nitito Canus
by SpursfanSteve on Apr 2, 2010 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
It is a conspiracy by David Stern to try to give the rest of the league at least a small chance.
OK, actually, the Lakers have a lot of salary dedicated to their top 5 and that makes it very difficult to have a great bench. Plus don’t forget, we’re not blessed with the awesome Spurs front office.
The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."
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