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I'm not really sure if I should be worried about these losses right now. I wonder if you guys see something wrong with the team right now.

What I will refuse to use as an excuse is not having Patty Mills. Cory Joseph has been simply amazing for us this season and is not the one costing us games. In fact, he's been one of our better players every time he's on the court. He's playing better than he should.

So now, I see a few things that I think are reasons for these losses, but I really don't see it as a problem come playoff time.

Injuries.
We haven't had our full roster for a while now. Kawhi and Splitter missed a whole lot of games. Kawhi with his eye infection. Splitter with whatever he had and he's still on limited minutes right now. Then there's Parker's injury. Now Kawhi's injured again. Patty is out so far. And then all the rests that Pop has for TD and Manu and everything is out of whack. I expect everyone to be at full strength come playoff time because that's really all we talk about in the regular season. Having everyone healthy for the playoff run.

Effort and Intensity.
As expected, the Spurs have a target on their back. Every team from Philadelphia to the title contenders circle a game againts San Antonio. I can't recall us having a blow out game yet. Almost every game we're in, we're being out hustled. We weren't a very energetic team to begin with. What we can usually count on is execution to finish a quarter off. I expect when the playoff starts, we're as hungry as everyone are. I can understand us not being able to match their intensity in the regular season.

Defense.
A lot of this is from us giving up offensive boards IMO. Offensive boards are hustle plays and that's the battle we're losing every night because of the above, Effort and Intensity. At the same time, we've been missing Kawhi and Tiago for long stretches of the season and that's 2 of our top 3 rebounders. I personally don't see us being hurt on the rebounding department when we had Kawhi and Tiago playing and that's what I expect us to have come playoff time. Historically, we're a great defensive rebounding team. Offensive rebounds aren't something we give up that often.

One thing I will say is that I have a feeling that this is going to continue all season long. This season will have more B2B than any other season, meaning more games that Pop rests players. And every game until the last game of the season, everyone will want to kick our ass and we'll give up more offensive rebounds than usual and lose the hustle battle.

Nothing. With the schedule we've had and our injury issues i'm not surprised that we're 18-12.

The defense has looked pretty good so far and it's only going to get better once Tiago gets back into things and once Kawhi gets back.

Rebounding has been a bit of an issue at times but if you look at our numbers to date we're still a top 10 rebounding team that doesn't give up a lot of offensive boards.

The only thing that really worries me right now is our offense. We've been going through some growing pains trying to get Kawhi more touches and things have looke pretty ugly at times, but I have confidence in the coaching staff and our players and i'm sure we'll turn things around on that end eventually.

If we can go 2-2 in these last 4 games of December we'll be a pretty good spot. Things will get much easier for us in the new year.

It's the injuries. It's been really awful this year.

Injuries pretty much

We're having a hard schedule at the wrong time. Hard to beat top teams starting your 3rd string PG and playing with no true SF.

Just the lack of stability right now. Wasn't last game our 18th different starting lineup this season? That would have to be a record in such a short span.

I also think there's a small element of over confidence. Just in regards to how the team fought through some tough games and series' last playoffs. Almost like they feel they can overcome any situation and instead of working their asses off this early, they are possibly going through the motions at times.

I'm ok with it all right now. Seriously, the way the west is, it would not shock anyone for an 8th seed to win it all. Other than home court, it really doesn't matter who you play, you are in for a fight against everyone.

So in that sense, I think the team and Pop are well aware that as long as they are in the playoffs with a fully healthy squad, they have as good a shot as ever.

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/12/ ... -bad-three

This article above sums the whole thing up.

The combination of injuries, championship hangover and that its December.
Pop usually uses the entire roster anyway for the first few months of the season but with all the injuries and overtime games he is forced to put guys into situations they aren't comfortable in or ready for. I expect things to calm down when the scheduele lightens up but I am not surprised at all that this regular season is a struggle. This team lacks a purpose right now. The mountain they had to climb to recover from game 6 the previous year isn't there this time around.

Injuries and intensity, but these two are linked. We need Leonard, he's the guy who made the difference with his intensity in offence and in defence last season