Spurs vs Warriors Series Thread

[Hambombs]

Indeed. It was, rather, humbling.

Yeah i just looked it up and thats crazy they also forced 7 games against OKC in the second round.

 

[Hambombs]

What are the chances David Lee plays 15+ min in one game this series?

 

[Big Red Slugs]

What are the chances David Lee plays 15+ min in one game this series?

No idea, maybe Montsho or someone else has a better handle on that.

He looked to be in some pain the other day in that short stint, which I think Mark Jackson said was more for an emotional lift than anything else. Still, he must be getting healthy to some degree because he suited up, so I'd imagine he only keeps improving and I'd expect him to play at least 15 minutes at some point in this series, considering he recovered this much already in a week or two.

 

[shitsho]

No idea, maybe Montsho or someone else has a better handle on that.

He looked to be in some pain the other day in that short stint, which I think Mark Jackson said was more for an emotional lift than anything else. Still, he must be getting healthy to some degree because he suited up, so I'd imagine he only keeps improving and I'd expect him to play at least 15 minutes at some point in this series, considering he recovered this much already in a week or two.

I was surprised he was able to play at all. Torn hip flexors are no joke. I dont see him doing much of anything except for emotional support. Then again they now have some wonderful drugs and excellent medical staff.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Memphis vs the Spurs 2 years ago is somewhat irrelevant.

People forget that Manu Ginobili got hurt in regular season game #81. He did not play in pivotal game #1 that Memphis stole on a last second shot. He limped back at 50% for the rest of the series, but the Spur could not regain that blown game 1 at home.

Duncan was also completely banged up and playing on one knee. He had Dajuan Blair and Antonio McDyess as his low post mates.

It was a horrible matchup nightmare for San Antonio down low.
Duncan with a bad knee was trying to match up (by himself) versus Z-bo and Gasol.

And it was only made worse by the injury to Manu Ginobili which eliminated some of the Spurs guard advantages.

...............

This is completely different scenario.

The SPURS are actually getting quite healthy and youthful at the right time.
In 2011, the SPURS were getting injured and old everywhere at the wrong time.

The SPURS have the matchup advantages whereas in 2011, the Grizzlies did.


GSW can still win obviously. But, I really like the Spurs. This is the one opponent that they probably hoped for in the 2nd round of all other teams.

 

[shitsho]

They split the series 2-2. Plus Curry didnt play in one of the losses.

If memory serves me correctly Pop sat some players during the GSW wins due to injury. I just remembered not getting too excited about the wins.

 

[gobigred]

I like being the only person picking the Dubs right now. Not even any of the GSW fans are willing to pick them. All good.





<----- Fourth richest person on SportsHoopla already for a reason.

Actually you are 2nd because the top two (GoldenSpur and SportsHoopla Bookie) are the bookies and dont make the bets so really dont count.


2nd to me that is!! You have done really well in the short time you have been here though in your betting!

 

[TexasWes]

The Warriors main advantage IMO is (blasphemy alert) coaching. That's right, I said it. These guys absolutely buy in to what Mark Jackson is selling, every word of it they're tuned in, and he seems to know exactly what to say at all the right times.

Yea...those old guys are set in their ways...can't get them to listen to Pop no matter what. Always running off...doing their own thing...never worried about being benched. W's have the HUGE coaching advantage here <sic>.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

Yea...those old guys are set in their ways...can't get them to listen to Pop no matter what. Always running off...doing their own thing...never worried about being benched. W's have the HUGE coaching advantage here <sic>.

I know it sounds absurd, that's why I included a "blasphemy alert" for the reaction I knew would follow. And I'm not saying Pop's guys don't buy in to his system completely. I'm talking about motivation really, getting guys fired up to believe they can do anything, and the guys then follow through because they seem to have a special bond that transcends X's and O's or sticking to a certain system or style of play.

An example: In the third the other night, when Mark Jackson gets in Steph Curry's ear to remind him that he is the best player on the court, then Curry goes off for 20-something points in the quarter and seals the series, that's damn good coaching.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

Actually you are 2nd because the top two (GoldenSpur and SportsHoopla Bookie) are the bookies and dont make the bets so really dont count.


2nd to me that is!! You have done really well in the short time you have been here though in your betting!

Even better. Don't let off the gas, I'm gunning for you now.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

They split the series 2-2. Plus Curry didnt play in one of the losses.

Well 3 of the Spurs best (Manu, Timmy, and Parker) did not play in one of those losses.

It was also the 2nd game of a road back to back.

The other loss was also a road back-to-back in OVERTIME.

I don't know why the schedule makers decided to put both @Golden State games as road back-to-backs. But, they don't exist in the playoffs.

Both times DAVID LEE was the monstrous difference maker.

His loss will be sorely missed in this series.

Without David Lee and a fresh Spurs team, it will be very difficult for GSW.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

I have no argument that Mark Jackson is a better coaching match-up against Lionel Hollins, but Pops? C'mon...the vast majority of coaching comes outside of the 48-minutes of game time...and Jackson can't carry Pops water on this issue. He may be a great motivational speaker...but that doesn't make him a better coach. Got disagree with you on this one and await the final scores.

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I know Pop is the best coach in the business, and I really do appreciate the Spurs brand of ball a lot. I'll take the hit like a man if I'm wrong, just got a feeling about the Warriors.

 

[bksballer89]

Definitely not overlooking GSW. Was just two years ago that the #1 seed Spurs lost to the #8 seed Memphis "Had Never Ever Before Won A Playoff Game Much Less Series" Grizzlies.

Well 3 of the Spurs best (Manu, Timmy, and Parker) did not play in one of those losses.

It was also the 2nd game of a road back to back.

The other loss was also a road back-to-back in OVERTIME.

I don't know why the schedule makers decided to put both @Golden State games as road back-to-backs. But, they don't exist in the playoffs.

Both times DAVID LEE was the monstrous difference maker.

His loss will be sorely missed in this series.

Without David Lee and a fresh Spurs team, it will be very difficult for GSW.

Did Bogut play any game against the Spurs?

One thing that must give GSW some confidence is that they did not play bad in San Antonio this year. In game @ SA it was a 2 point Spurs lead with 5 min to go while in the 2nd game, the spurs had a 9 point lead heading to the 4th but GSW cut that down to 4 with under 4 to go so both games were somewhat winnable.....At least they didn't get blown out in either game.

David Lee struggled against the Spurs actually. Yes he avg 17 and 12 but only shot 43% in 4 games. The only teams he shot a lower fg% against this year were the Heat, Clippers, Pacers, and Suns.

 

[TexasWes]

Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I know Pop is the best coach in the business, and I really do appreciate the Spurs brand of ball a lot. I'll take the hit like a man if I'm wrong, just got a feeling about the Warriors.

...and I'll take the hit for putting Hollins in place of Karl. Even though I'll back my Spurs, it is not lost on me that we're in WC playoff basketball. No series is a given...and a few unexpected twists can alter an entire series.

...and congrats on the cash coffers. Maybe one day I'll be old enough (i.e. 50-posts) to gamble. <sigh>

 

[Hambombs]

Nobody will take the warriors and im fine with that. Nobody gave us a chance against denver.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Nobody gave us a chance against Denver.

Everyone gave you a chance versus Denver.

It was the first choice in the polls of the series most likely to go 7 games.

Personally, I was very tempted to pick the Warriors in 5 games.

I picked them in 6 games and made that my #1 confidence pick in a confidence poll. I ranked that confidence higher than the HEAT over Milwaukee.

Over half the prediction threads had GSW winning.

That was one of the easier "UPSET" series.

You had an over-rated team that always loses in the first round with no stars and no defense.

Picking Denver to lose in the first round is like picking the sun to rise the next day.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

Everyone gave you a chance versus Denver.

ESPN EXPERT PICKS

Abbott
DEN in 7

Adande
DEN in 6

Arnovitz
DEN in 7

Barry
DEN in 5

Broussard
DEN in 6

Elhassan
DEN in 6

Ford
DEN in 5

Gutierrez
DEN in 7

Haberstroh
DEN in 5

Legler
DEN in 5

Palmer
DEN in 7

Pelton
DEN in 5

Saunders
DEN in 5

Stein
DEN in 6

Thorpe
DEN in 5

Wallace
DEN in 7

Wilbon
DEN in 6

Windhorst
DEN in 6

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Thanks for the research which supports my point.

11 of 18 of your listed experts picked it to go 6 or 7 games.

40% picked it to go 7 games

Nobody picked a sweep.

Picking a series to go 7 games is the definition of "having a chance".

Picking a series to go 4 games is saying they have no chance.

It only gets worse if you added those picking Golden State....which you left off.

once again, thanks for the research.

 

[SFAnthem]

I like being the only person picking the Dubs right now. Not even any of the GSW fans are willing to pick them. All good.

Hope youre right. The warriors have a shot but they have been playing on a short rotation and are hurt by injuries right now.

Pop has been keeping his players fresh all season.

A lot depends on whether Lee can play next week. But Bogut has been superb on his own. In fact, I think they experienced a bit of a lull when Lee came in, he's not nearly the same on D as what they were getting used to with Bogut in there. Still, Lee is key to making Duncan play both ends.

The Warriors main advantage IMO is (blasphemy alert) coaching. That's right, I said it. These guys absolutely buy in to what Mark Jackson is selling, every word of it they're tuned in, and he seems to know exactly what to say at all the right times. Pop is the king of heady adjustments, but I think the Warriors can still run them to death.

I just don't see David Lee having an impact other than emotionally when he's out there. It was amazing to have him go out there in front of the home crowd after he was declared done for the year but that won't have the same effect in San Antonio.

David Lee could barely walk and if Festus Ezili has to play major minutes, Duncan's little moves in the post will abuse him (and I really like Festus as a rookie, potential shot blocking defensive presence but..he's just really raw.

Did Bogut play any game against the Spurs?

One thing that must give GSW some confidence is that they did not play bad in San Antonio this year. In game @ SA it was a 2 point Spurs lead with 5 min to go while in the 2nd game, the spurs had a 9 point lead heading to the 4th but GSW cut that down to 4 with under 4 to go so both games were somewhat winnable.....At least they didn't get blown out in either game.

David Lee struggled against the Spurs actually. Yes he avg 17 and 12 but only shot 43% in 4 games. The only teams he shot a lower fg% against this year were the Heat, Clippers, Pacers, and Suns.

I remember Lee struggling vs the Spurs and a few other players had to step up in that game (Jack?) I forgot, but Harrison Barnes has replaced Lee's shooting and passing with athletic ability.

I wish the W's could go into this series at full strength but they will need guys like Draymond and Landry to keep playing well to make up for Lee.

Harrison Barnes could emerge as a future star if he keeps this up.

My heart says W's in 6 but rationally it's Spurs in 5.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

Thanks for the research which supports my point.

Research? Hardly. All I did was go to the ESPN series page.

And I don't think when every single "expert" over there picks against the Warriors, that it supports your point at all that "Everyone gave [the Warriors] a chance versus Denver."

11 of 18 of your listed experts picked it to go 6 or 7 games.

So 7 out of 18 picked it to go 5 or less then, right? Against the Warriors. How does that in any way translate to "Everyone gave the [the Warriors] a chance versus Denver"?

It only gets worse if you added those picking Golden State....which you left off.

Except no one at all out of those 18 "expert picks" from ESPN actually picked GSW. No one. Not a single one. I didn't leave anything out. At all.

Maybe it would be better if you found someone that actually picked the Warriors to win the series, to at least show that someone gave them a chance of winning. Again, I'm only asking for one. You said "everyone."