RealGM

Long Read!

Hello Spurs fans! Very excited about the playoffs so I decided to do a rundown about how quit frankly the Spurs should end up..

1. Spurs (We SHOULD get the first spot)
2. Lakers (Once Pau comes back, they'll be right here)
3. NOH (I don't see them dropping down any further, great core)
4. Jazz (Eh)
5. Dallas (People see them falling, but I see Dirk coming back asap)
6. Suns (Tough remaining schedule; @SA, @DEN, DEN)
7. Denver (Rockets fall out)
8. Warriors (Easy remaining schedule)

First round, I see us finishing the Warriors in 5 Games. No inside presence.
I see the LA/DEN going into 6, possibly 7, Camby/Martin/Nene will give LA a tough time.
NOH Vs. Suns, Suns in 7, too much experience
Jazz Vs. Dallas, Jazz in 6 or 7

After that i see us beating the Jazz in 6 or 7, very tough games.
I actually see the Suns beating the Lakers in 7, I know they have Kobe and Pau and possibly Bynum.. but the emotional level of the suns will be up there, their FINAL chance at a ring..

Spurs Vs. Suns.. Conference Finals!

still searching for the "long read"

my bet is on a spurs-boston-finals-matchup and sadly we will loose our first finals series!

if we can make it through the tough West, I actually think we would beat Boston in 7..IF we make it..

in the finals we had a 4-3 (DET), a 4-2 (NJ), a 4-1 (NY) and a 4-0 (CLE) ...what is left?

mudyez wrote:in the finals we had a 4-3 (DET), a 4-2 (NJ), a 4-1 (NY) and a 4-0 (CLE) ...what is left?

The dreaded first finals loss, most likely. As strange as it may sound, I'd rather lose in the preceding rounds than make it to the big stage and Maverick. I like our perfect 4-0 Finals record intact.

That being said, I'd love a matchup with Boston with both of us at full strength. KG vs TD alone would like a dream come true for me. A Pistons rematch wouldn't be too shabby either.

seriously i dont wanna play the nuggets in the first round....a joke of a team and how many times do we need to see duncan exposing camby anyway

I'll definitely admit I'm somwhat scared of Boston, but at the same time we'd have a legitimate chance to beat them. Also, they do rely on the jumpshot more than us, and I think they could be iffy at PG as a whole, in certain areas. They have some young players that are mature and play consistent, in their main group, but the inexperience in the playoffs is still there, and while it may not matter because of talent/chemistry/coaching, it's still a question mark.

TOKing wrote:The dreaded first finals loss, most likely. As strange as it may sound, I'd rather lose in the preceding rounds than make it to the big stage and Maverick. I like our perfect 4-0 Finals record intact.

Yeah, it is strange how it could end up like that, from over the years, and we wouldn't repeat again - but there's still the other realistic side of things.

Ballings7 wrote:I'll definitely admit I'm kinda scared of Boston, but at the same time we'd have a legitimate chance to beat them. Also, they do rely on the jumpshot more than us, and I think they could be iffy at PG as a whole, in certain areas. They have some young players that are mature and play consistent, in their main group, but the inexperience in the playoffs is still there, and while it may not matter because of talent/chemistry/coaching, it's still a question mark.

Boston concern me more than any other team we faced in the Finals.

But I think the Pistons are going to provide many problems for them in the playoffs anyway. I don't think the Celts are a lock to rep the east this year.

TOKing wrote:Boston concern me more than any other team we faced in the Finals.

But I think the Pistons are going to provide many problems for them in the playoffs anyway. I don't think the Celts are a lock to rep the east this year.

Yup

I actually would be leaning to Detroit in a Boston/Detroit series - because of Chauncey Billups. Don't think any of their wings can defend him with success, but Tony Allen (if he's right/healthy).

Also, I like the bigs they can throw at KG. Rasheed, McDyess, Maxiell. All are mobile, strong, and skilled enough to guard KG and have success.

And again on another match-up, other than Tony Allen, Boston doesn't really have anybody suitable enough in the way of consistency of quickness, to stay with Rip. Ray Allen fits the bill, but, is he really going to be able to have enough energy to play Rip over a series? Doubtful, and I don't think so.

Problem with Tony Allen is he's probably not going to playing a lot late in the game, because Ray Allen gets that spot. And if so, you have to go small with a Rondo/Ray/TA/Pierce/KG line-up. If anything he'd be subbed in for defensive possessions late.

However if Detroit have that cruising, too relaxed approach (which would be surprising, again), Boston I think will win.

^^^ agreed. The only thing that seems to have held Detroit back in the past few playoffs has been their attitude. They seemed to get more arrogant as the playoffs progressed, and it cost them dearly at inopportune times.

But they're deeper and more battle tested than Boston, and at the end of the day Chauncey really is the x-factor as far as advancing goes.

But in reality, it's hard to simply count the Celts out. Their top 3 are simply too talented and poised to ignore.

There are two matchups I want to see in the playoffs: Detroit vs Boston and us vs LA.

TOKing wrote:^^^ agreed. The only thing that seems to have held Detroit back in the past few playoffs has been their attitude. They seemed to get more arrogant as the playoffs progressed, and it cost them dearly at inopportune times.

But they're deeper and more battle tested than Boston, and at the end of the day Chauncey really is the x-factor as far as advancing goes.

But in reality, it's hard to simply count the Celts out. Their top 3 are simply too talented and poised to ignore.

There are two matchups I want to see in the playoffs: Detroit vs Boston and us vs LA

Yeah

I think the Lakers significant amount of relative youth and inexperience relating to the playoffs, is a question mark that a lot of people are overlooking. Also something defensively to keep an eye on, is with Pau sliding over to PF when Bynum's back, and Pau not having quick feet laterally.

Bynum getting back into well enough shape and rhythm is also a question mark to a degree. Depends on the amount of games.

The overall question being, can the Lakers (before injuries), play like they did for most of the regular season? I don't quite know.

Assuming their health is going to be fine, I buy them as contenders, but I think we'd take care of them in 6 games. A respectable threat.

I'd rather play Boston, as opposed to Detroit..we've all seen how Wallace defends Timmy..

I like our chances vs. either one of those East teams. Obviously they've beaten us a few times this year, but the playoffs are obviously a different beast. Each of those teams, Boston especially, has a myriad of guys who haven't been through the wars before. Not to mention the edge that we'll have in coaching. Pop vs. Flip/Doc? Uh-huh. That's probably why I fear the Lakers more than any other team this year, because of Kobe/Phil.