There's no doubt the San Antonio Spurs are winning the championship this year...

[Doctor Rivers]

when they do, will they be considered a top 5 all-time playoff team?

The Spurs will run the table against the overrated Clippers, maybe drop a game to OKC in a 4-1 series victory and finally wrap it up with a sweep of the depleted Heat or aging Celtics.

They're certainly deeper than the 2001 Lakers who were the last dominant playoff team.

Any opinions?

[ProfessorMurder]

They are scary good and definitely my pick to win it all.

They aren't fazed by any team. They just go out, run their sets, and absolutely crush people. Then they go and wait for the next game instead of talking shit.

[ralph_i_el]

they just show how important a good team concept and good coaching is in the NBA. They have talented players too obviously, but none of their big three would be able to play this well on any other team I think

[Clippersfan86]

I agree. I have zero doubt in my mind the Spurs are the champions this year. Miami looks incredibly vulnerable. OKC while elite doesn't look quite as consistently dominant as the Spurs. Besides OKC is very weak defending the 3 so Spurs will feast.

This is going to be the easiest run Spurs have ever gotten considering they are most likely going to play 3 teams they match up extremely favorably with in the Jazz, Clippers and Thunder. Jazz simply didn't have the firepower to handle Spurs. Clippers don't have the team defense to handle Spurs. Thunder don't have the all around execution of the Spurs.

I do think the Thunder will provide a bigger challenge than the Heat. The Spurs remind me of the 2011 Mavs where they just play complete basketball in every way. Miami isn't going to be able to match that.

[ninephive]

when they do, will they be considered a top 5 all-time playoff team?

The Spurs will run the table against the overrated Clippers, maybe drop a game to OKC in a 4-1 series victory and finally wrap it up with a sweep of the depleted Heat or aging Celtics.

They're certainly deeper than the 2001 Lakers who were the last dominant playoff team.

Any opinions?
I'm sleeping on them.

[RaininTwos]

they arent getting out of the west.

next.

[Hammertime]

This is going to be the easiest run Spurs have ever gotten considering they are most likely going to play 3 teams they match up extremely favorably with in the Jazz, Clippers and Thunder. Jazz simply didn't have the firepower to handle Spurs. Clippers don't have the team defense to handle Spurs. Thunder don't have the all around execution of the Spurs.

Here's something we can agree on as a Jazz fan and a Clippers fan. There is no shame in losing to this Spurs team. I do wish the Jazz made it a little more respectable, but this Spurs team is a well-oiled wrecking team. :cheers:

[cavsfanatic]

Why? because their 5-0 in this playoffs?

I'm a Cavs fan so I have this memory in my head. The Cavs swept the 1st 2 rd's, and in The Ecf they couldn't make the same shots they hit all year while Orl was stupid hot.

You never know what's gone happen.

[Hammertime]

Why? because their 5-0 in this playoffs?

I'm a Cavs fan so I have this memory in my head. The Cavs swept the 1st 2 rd's, and in The Ecf they couldn't make the same shots they hit all year while Orl was stupid hot.

You never know what's gone happen.

The Spurs are not a team of one amazing player and 10 circus clowns.

[ninephive]

The Spurs are not a team of one amazing player and 10 circus clowns.
One being more of a "side-show."

[Clippersfan86]

Here's something we can agree on as a Jazz fan and a Clippers fan. There is no shame in losing to this Spurs team. I do wish the Jazz made it a little more respectable, but this Spurs team is a well-oiled wrecking team. :cheers:

Yup. Better team than both of our teams without even thinking about it. Jazz are young and need more time. Clippers have no on court chemistry and a shit coach. I'm starting to understand what Al Jefferson meant when he said basically unless a team plays perfect nobody is going to beat the Spurs. They literally DO NOT hurt themselves like all other teams in the NBA. YOU have to bring it to them and just hope you play at a higher level.

[Hammertime]

The Jazz won 36 games this year, beat a lot of good teams at home and some decent ones away, and yet just barely beat a Spurs team missing Manu, Duncan AND Parker. At home! Fighting for their playoff lives!

I saw the Spurs play the Jazz 6 times in the past month and a half, and I saw them play the Lakers and a couple of other teams. People sleeping on the Spurs just haven't actually watched them play. These guys are freaking robots.

[ErhnamDjinn]

with Dallas, and the Grizz gone Ill be rooting for them ...go old guys

[Clippersfan86]

The Jazz won 36 games this year, beat a lot of good teams at home and some decent ones away, and yet just barely beat a Spurs team missing Manu, Duncan AND Parker. At home! Fighting for their playoff lives!

I saw the Spurs play the Jazz 6 times in the past month and a half, and I saw them play the Lakers and a couple of other teams. People sleeping on the Spurs just haven't actually watched them play. These guys are freaking robots.

Also that 8 or 9 days rest was HUGE. They earned it though so nobody can cry foul. Pop brilliantly rested his stars during regular season too. Not only did they jump from 4 seed at one point to 1st but they managed to sweep in playoffs so far and get a ton of rest. Pop is a fu**ing basketball genius and nobody can deny it. He's making Vinny look stupider than a monkey.

[lakerspng]

Spurs look great, but they've only won 1 game in the second round so far. I've seen teams look amazing for a couple series in the playoffs and then crumble. A ton of basketball still to be played, anything can happen.

No crowns yet.

[TrueRob]

Spurs are getting overrated due to playing poor defensive teams so far in the playoffs. Once they play a team that knows how to defend the 3-point line, then they won't look so dominant.

[Jimbozeubuen]

I would like to see Thunder vs Heat in the finals, but Spurs are the most balanced team and their three-point shooting right now is just as incredible as the Mavs last year.

[Is He Ill]

This is the best team that we have ever assembled IMO. At least since I've been watching basketball. I think the Thunder will give us hell, but I still believe that team has one more year before it makes the final push. Them and the Clippers are the future of the West since most of the top teams in the conference are on the decline. I think OKC might win the next 3 championships, but this is definitely our season. Miami doesn't have the depth or the coaching to oust us this season, but I do believe it will be a fairly close series if both teams end up making it to the finals. This years Spurs team is DEEP and the SJAX acquisition was huge.

[Clippersfan86]

Spurs are getting overrated due to playing poor defensive teams so far in the playoffs. Once they play a team that knows how to defend the 3-point line, then they won't look so dominant.

Obviously they won't dominate Thunder/Lakers as bad.... but they still look pretty damn flawless. I don't see a single weakness really. They are a very good defensive and rebounding team AND the hands down best offense in the NBA. They share the ball like the Mavs did last year to pick apart teams.

[TrueRob]

The two teams that I thought could beat the Spurs are getting hammered with injuries (CHI & MIA). OKC has a shot, but the Spurs match up well, and they have HCA.

[Clippersfan86]

The two teams that I thought could beat the Spurs are getting hammered with injuries (CHI & MIA). OKC has a shot, but the Spurs match up well, and they have HCA.

I'm factoring in injuries. I agree 100 percent healthy Heat+Bulls do pose a threat.

[Stern]

Boston in 6.

[All Net]

Great team no doubt but I still fancy OKC to beat them in the conference finals if everything pans out...but if they do beat the Thunder will be damn hard to stop them in the finals.

[rmt]

Obviously they won't dominate Thunder/Lakers as bad.... but they still look pretty damn flawless. I don't see a single weakness really. They are a very good defensive and rebounding team AND the hands down best offense in the NBA. They share the ball like the Mavs did last year to pick apart teams.

They are most vulnerable to teams with post scoring bigs (LAL and MEM) as there's no height behind Duncan and Splitter (who only averaged 19 minutes a game and can't play long mins as he's as fragile as a China doll). Hopefully, OKC will take care of LAL, and I feel they would have the experience and coaching advantage over OKC in a possible WCF.

They have not played well against teams with good defenses (BOS, MIA, CHI). Against BOS they barely won without Ray Allen playing. Against MIA, it was a pitiful 30 point beat down. These games, however, were without SJax and Diaw who are huge pickups. Diaw fits seamlessly (love his passing/high bbiq) next to TD and just the subtraction of RJ is enough to make SJax (love his edge/toughness that's missing on the Spurs) a plus.

A lot of their success depends on relative newbies (Leonard, Green, Splitter, Neal) who might not stand up under intense pressure, but I'm glad that they finally have a veteran cast they can close close games with (TD, TP, Manu, SJax and Diaw). It's a very nice blend of veterans and young legs. But, the SF star positions (Lebron, Pierce) is thin (both literally and figuratively) with rookie Leonard and SJax.

As a Spurs fan, it would be a dream come true if they were to win this year (as I thought their championship contention was long over). Then please, TD, re-sign for MLE or vet min type money so that they can keep Diaw, Green and bring over Lorbek. Then I can dream about a repeat.

[Wonder Bread Kid]

LOL at people who still think the Spurs don't match up well with big front lines. I guess going 4-0 against the Grizz in the regular seasoning and completely dominating the Lakers after Pop made adjustments wasn't enough evidence to prove frontlines really don't give the Spurs problems.

[Alamo]

LOL at people who still think the Spurs don't match up well with big front lines. I guess going 4-0 against the Grizz in the regular seasoning and completely dominating the Lakers after Pop made adjustments wasn't enough evidence to prove frontlines really don't give the Spurs problems.


That's the scary part. Their only weakness, isn't really that much of a weakness.

[Celtic_Pride]

I am still interested to see who will be their go to guy during last 2 minutes

But yeah their team is perfectly balanced!

[Doctor Rivers]

I am still interested to see who will be their go to guy during last 2 minutes

They don't need a go to guy b/c they're always up by double digits in the last two minutes.

[ProfessorMurder]

They don't need a go to guy b/c they're always up by double digits in the last two minutes.

:lol Plus Pops is a match up master and knows what guy to go to in what series immediately.

[All Net]

They don't need a go to guy b/c they're always up by double digits in the last two minutes.

Not right now but they be in close games come CF TIME..I think Parker will be the one they go to...him or Manu.

[the_future02]

I am still interested to see who will be their go to guy during last 2 minutes

But yeah their team is perfectly balanced!

Thats the beauty of the Spurs. They rely on ball movement not a single super star. With their ball movement they will get wide open shots so it really doesnt matter

[Meticode]

They have a great shot. They're finally healthy, they have key pieces, they're running and building the offense around Parker's penetration and the have the best coach in the playoffs right now in Pop (although you could argue Rivers as well). It's going to be interesting to see how the Spurs/Thunder series pan out. I'd be surprised if the Lakers take out the Thunder. Mike Brown doesn't have a clue like usual.

[Kiddlovesnets]

Why? because their 5-0 in this playoffs?

I'm a Cavs fan so I have this memory in my head. The Cavs swept the 1st 2 rd's, and in The Ecf they couldn't make the same shots they hit all year while Orl was stupid hot.

You never know what's gone happen.

Well it will be 12-0 by the time WCF is over.
:cheers:

[Meticode]

Thats the beauty of the Spurs. They rely on ball movement not a single super star. With their ball movement they will get wide open shots so it really doesnt matter
This. They're the best overall "team" team in the playoffs currently.

[lbj23clutch]

I don't know. OKC has been dominating, while playing much better teams then the Spurs. Sweeping the defending champs and then just flat out embarrassing the Lakers in game 1.



The Spurs have faced an inexperienced, borderline playoff team in Utah and now facing a banged up overrated Clippers team whose two best players are playing through injuries. I'm not very impressed...

[ihoopallday]

Just pray your team doesn't have injuries to main players.

[Wonder Bread Kid]

I don't know. OKC has been dominating, while playing much better teams then the Spurs. Sweeping the defending champs and then just flat out embarrassing the Lakers in game 1.



The Spurs have faced an inexperienced, borderline playoff team in Utah and now facing a banged up overrated Clippers team whose two best players are playing through injuries. I'm not very impressed...

The defending champs? In title only. That Mavs team was a couple of losses from not even being in the playoffs. A week or two before it actually looked like they were not going to make it.

Chicago was the defending champs in 1999 too. Means jack if your team isn't the same team that win the title.

The Lakers are not the team everyone seems to make them out to be. The hype machine has work overtime on the Lakers this season.

Spurs have no only owned the Thunder historically, we owned them is season.

[Replay32]

Yeah. I believe the Spurs are the best team in the league. It's going to be hard for anybody to beat them 4 out of 7 times.

[All Net]

The defending champs? In title only. That Mavs team was a couple of losses from not even being in the playoffs. A week or two before it actually looked like they were not going to make it.

Chicago was the defending champs in 1999 too. Means jack if your team isn't the same team that win the title.The Lakers are not the team everyone seems to make them out to be. The hype machine has work overtime on the Lakers this season.

Spurs have no only owned the Thunder historically, we owned them is season.

If that doesn't matter why does what the Spurs have done to the Thunder in the past mattered? as afterall they are a different team now to what they have been over the years when they sucked for example.

Spurs won the head to head 2-1 this year. Hardly owned.

Spurs will have HCA which could be a big advantage but lets not act like this series wouldn't be a great one if it happens. There is a reason why these two are the only two unbeaten teams in the playoffs.

[imdaman99]

The defending champs? In title only. That Mavs team was a couple of losses from not even being in the playoffs. A week or two before it actually looked like they were not going to make it.

Chicago was the defending champs in 1999 too. Means jack if your team isn't the same team that win the title.

The Lakers are not the team everyone seems to make them out to be. The hype machine has work overtime on the Lakers this season.

Spurs have no only owned the Thunder historically, we owned them is season.
mavs + lakers >>>>>>>>> jazz + clippers.

take off your boring duncan-tinted shades

[Cowboy Thunder]

Thunder up!

[Doctor Rivers]

Thunder up!

Don't sleep on the spurs

[Cowboy Thunder]

Don't sleep on the spurs
I highly doubt any Thunder fan is.

We should give em a run for their money. Hopefully the Clips wear em out a bit.

[Doctor Rivers]

We should give em a run for their money.

Not being an a$$, but I really don't think they will.

[kingkong]

I would have said OKC at the start of the playoffs, but San Antonio looks so much better and they actually run an offense

[ILLsmak]

I bet they'll lose to OKC.

-Smak

[All Net]

I would have said OKC at the start of the playoffs, but San Antonio looks so much better and they actually run an offense

Its difficult to compare series by series...the reason why so many experts picked the Cavs over the Celtics in 08 was the fact the Cavs swept through the first two rounds...how teams play before getting to the conference finals isn't always the deciding factor.

Spurs are dominating so far but come conference finals it could be completely different.

[swi7ch]

No chance against OKC, sorry.

[Doctor Rivers]

I would have said OKC at the start of the playoffs, but San Antonio looks so much better and they actually run an offense

OKC is going to get blitzed in game one. :coleman:

[ILLsmak]

Its difficult to compare series by series...the reason why so many experts picked the Cavs over the Celtics in 08 was the fact the Cavs swept through the first two rounds...how teams play before getting to the conference finals isn't always the deciding factor.

Spurs are dominating so far but come conference finals it could be completely different.

Not only that, but I'm not buying the Jazz or one game vs the Clips as a good measurement.

-Smak

[kingkong]

Its difficult to compare series by series...the reason why so many experts picked the Cavs over the Celtics in 08 was the fact the Cavs swept through the first two rounds...how teams play before getting to the conference finals isn't always the deciding factor.

Spurs are dominating so far but come conference finals it could be completely different.

sure, but you can compare offensive and defensive execution. OKC doesnt run an offense. they have Harden, Durant or Westbrook go 1 on 1 and take shots. They turn the ball over a lot. the Spurs have an actual offense where they move the ball and get open shots

[All Net]

sure, but you can compare offensive and defensive execution. OKC doesnt run an offense. they have Harden, Durant or Westbrook go 1 on 1 and take shots. They turn the ball over a lot. the Spurs have an actual offense where they move the ball and get open shots

Indeed they do but alot of time in certain match-ups star power wins and in a series the Thunder will always have the two best players on the floor it's wether the Spurs team play and depth wins out. It's tough to call as the Thunder's big 3 don't often have bad games but last night they did...

Spurs/Thunder will be tough to call and I expect alot to be 50/50 on who they think would win. This could be huge for Durant in his career if he can have a mega series and lead OKC to the finals...long way to go yet though.

[unknowns8]

spurs v celtics finals

shortened seasons seem to suit the older teams, spurs won the last shortened season, it probably has something to do with those teams hitting peak form on the court after 50-60 games approx :confusedshrug:

[Artillery]

I don't know. OKC has been dominating, while playing much better teams then the Spurs. Sweeping the defending champs and then just flat out embarrassing the Lakers in game 1.



The Spurs have faced an inexperienced, borderline playoff team in Utah and now facing a banged up overrated Clippers team whose two best players are playing through injuries. I'm not very impressed...

Eh, OKC is getting a bit overrated after beating an LA team team that had no business being in the second round. Lakers had a mediocre point differential(4th lowest of all playoff teams), a losing road record, ranked outside the top ten in both offense AND defense. This team sucks. But they had a fortunate draw in the first round playing a Nuggets team coached by an all-time playoff loser in George Karl.

Clippers beat a much better team in Memphis in the first round and had superior regular season stats across the board. Pretty obvious they're the best LA team. Unfortunately, the media(like the Kobe fans on ISH) have been duped into believing this LA team is legit based on a first round series against the Nuggets(a team that's made it out of the first round ONCE in the past decade). If this group couldn't win a second round game with Phil Jackson, what the hell is making everyone think they could with Mike Brown? Clippers have the better star, better depth, and are the younger team. Lakers have been done for two years.

[Doctor Rivers]

I bet they'll lose to OKC.

-Smak

I bet you're wrong.

[blablabla]

spurs vs. okx
spurs in 5

[SacJB Shady]

bump

[Doctor Rivers]

when they do, will they be considered a top 5 all-time playoff team?

The Spurs will run the table against the overrated Clippers, maybe drop a game to OKC in a 4-1 series victory and finally wrap it up with a sweep of the depleted Heat or aging Celtics.

They're certainly deeper than the 2001 Lakers who were the last dominant playoff team.

Any opinions?

BOOM

[Doctor Rivers]

still undefeated

[ILLsmak]

still undefeated

Nice, but it was just one game since then. Are you planning on doing that after every Spurs win?

We'll see what happens in the end.

-Smak

[824]

Buddy it's not like you were picking the Bobcats to win it all even if the spurs do win it all you made a safe bet the one that the many have made

You ain't no crystal ball

[swi7ch]

MIA needs a healthy Bosh to prove the OP wrong! :(

[PJR]

Miami can absolutely beat them. With or without Bosh.

[Salazaar]

Miami can absolutely beat them. With or without Bosh.

:biggums:

[Rysio]

Miami can absolutely beat them. With or without Bosh.
:lol

[Doctor Rivers]

Nice, but it was just one game since then. Are you planning on doing that after every Spurs win?


I might.

[Doctor Rivers]

Buddy it's not like you were picking the Bobcats to win it all even if the spurs do win it all you made a safe bet the one that the many have made

You ain't no crystal ball

read the rest of my OP.

i asked a question of everyone.