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What are your predictions for the upcoming season? I'm going to go out and say it. I think we're going to win 57 games and the NBA championship. I know it sounds like a stretch but I have confidence in this lineup. This could possibly be the most talented Spurs team we've had in a long time. Who would have thought that Richard Jefferson would be the 4th or possibly 5th option (Hill) on the Spurs? And to add on top of that what many people say is the best big man in Europe, Tiago Splitter. Not to mention we have even more steals in Dejuan Blair and James Anderson (yes I'll finally admit Blair's a steal). I know there's a lot of reason for many to doubt, but crazier things have happened and all this talk about a lockout ensuing...we all remember the last time a lockout occurred.

Final predictions: 57-25, NBA championship, Timmy Duncan and Greg Popovich retire, Spurs "dynasty"/era officially over with fifth and final title

The fact that we "upset" Dallas in the first round as a 7th seed, finished top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating last season, and matched our Pythagorean W-L in '07-'08 give me hope.

I think we're being overlooked big time. I don't know that we'll win the chip but when so-called experts are declaring us a first round and out team, I know we're being slept on.

I'm going to wait a few games before I make any bold predictions, but anywhere between 50 and 59 wins seems reasonable to me. We're not a 60 win team anymore, but who cares.

I don't think TD will retire after this season. I do think Parker will not be on the team after this season.

What makes me cautious is the fact that we got swept by a team we used to own annually in the playoffs. That's a worrying sign to me.

In the end, I think it's a Lakers-Celtics final again.

I think we finished 3rd. Spurs try to avoid the 4th seed so they don't meet LA in the 2nd round. We end up with perhaps 55 win. Bow out to the Lakers in WCF. And yeah, I put my bet on Lakers-Celtics Finals.

I can see us winning around 55 games and making it too the WCF. But I just can't see us getting past the Lakers.

co_laper wrote:I think we finished 3rd. Spurs try to avoid the 4th seed so they don't meet LA in the 2nd round. We end up with perhaps 55 win. Bow out to the Lakers in WCF. And yeah, I put my bet on Lakers-Celtics Finals.

Just curious - who is your second seed?

I think as far as regular season goes, Dallas is likely to get a higher seed than us. During the season, there will be injuries and that's where depth helps them a lot. They're built better for the regular season than we are. My pick for top 4 is LA, Dallas, Spurs, and OKC. I'm being optimistic and say San Antonio manage to avoid the 4th seed, so that means OKC or Dallas at 2nd. OKC is kinda overrated IMO so i'll stick with Dallas for 2nd seed.

OKC are monumentally overrated. Bill Simmons is riding their jocks more than anyone, declaring that they'll win 60+ and get to the finals. All based on them pushing the Lakers to six in the playoffs last season?!

I thought you'd say Dallas for 2nd. I think they might win more than us, but I wouldn't put any money on it or anything. I'm not impressed with their roster at all. They do have more depth at each position and this, along with us losing players to injury at various stages during the season, is the best chance they have at passing us in the standings.

Donald Kaufman wrote:OKC are monumentally overrated. Bill Simmons is riding their jocks more than anyone, declaring that they'll win 60+ and get to the finals. All based on them pushing the Lakers to six in the playoffs last season?!

I thought you'd say Dallas for 2nd. I think they might win more than us, but I wouldn't put any money on it or anything. I'm not impressed with their roster at all. They do have more depth at each position and this, along with us losing players to injury at various stages during the season, is the best chance they have at passing us in the standings.

I'm really not that impressed with the Mavs either. I really think the Rockets are going to suprise alot of people this year and I think they'll be our biggest problem in our division.

The Lakers are top tier and you can pencil them in for the WCF unless there's a major injury.

After that, it's tough to call. I honestly don't know how it's going to shake out. All things being equal, and barring major injury, us, Portland, Dallas, Utah, OKC, Houston, Denver are all fairly evenly matched. We could all realistically end up with between 50 and 59 wins at the end of the regular season.

Southwest division champs, 55 wins, 2nd seed, WCF.