This is the first in a series of posts examining the matchups that would result if the Spurs end up playing the teams that they would face if the playoffs started today.

Russell Westbrook won't have to deal with Tony Parker tonight, and that's a good thing for him.

The season is past the 3/4 pole and is now loping down the back stretch. Which teams have what it takes to win as the days get longer and the season nears its end?

Which teams have improved and which have fallen back in the race to win a ring?

The Spurs have been called a poor rebounding team, but are they really? Has the rebounding improved this year? If so, who is responsible and would a greater focus on rebounding help the Spurs win more?

What makes players different on offense? Their shot charts often give us the answer. J. Gomez takes a look at the charts of different Spurs player and loves what he sees, especially from Kawhi Leonard.

Tony Parker is out for at least a month. Spurs fans across the galaxy were wondering what moves Pop would use to help the team through the next four weeks without his point guard. Well, he did something unexpected that worked perfectly. Strange, huh?

The Spurs will be without Tony Parker for a month. Can they find a way to replace the production of their MVP and stay at the top of the West?

Several prominent Spurs role players of the past and present share a common trend in their first few playoff years. Can we expect Neal, Leonard, and Green to perform similarly in this year's playoffs?