What team would you rather face in the first round?

[MAD MAV MAN]

I would think you would rather face the Jazz, but I just wanted to poll to check.

[DirtyDez]

I think PHX will overtake Utah and play SA in the first round again. Mavs vs Lakers WCF.

[Donald Kaufman]

I'll take the Suns any day of the week over anyone else. But I don't think they'll get a top 4 seed.

Out of LA, Dallas, Denver or Utah I'd take Denver. We'd probably lose to all four anyway, but I like our chances of stealing a game or two against Denver.

No way I want any part of the Jazz. We don't match up well with them at all.

[co_laper]

Yeah I'll take Denver too.

Lakers is too big.

Utah is too efficient offensively and I don't think our current defense can do anything to bother them.

Dallas has Dirk and way too much talent all around. Plus, againts Dallas we're likely to be playing Small Ball a whole lot of time and Dallas' lineup of Dirk, Marion, Butler, Terry, and Kidd is a much better small ball lineup than ours.

Denver atleast is a more traditional team and will allow us to stay with our traditional (bigger) lineups opposed to playing Pop's small ball lineup.

[Nolan]

Denver for me. Utah has had our number all year long, Dallas has a lot of talent and depth and no one wants to match up against the Lakers.

[co_laper]

I miss those days when we'd love to take the best team in the 1st round because we know we're better. Now, we choose the weakest one because we HOPE we get out of the 1st round.

[SApuro_]

I want the Lakers. Handle the impossible first.

[Black_Jack21]

Ditto bring on LA knock them out nice and early!

[co_laper]

Yeah but you have to wonder what's gonna happen to our team if we got knocked out in the 1st round without putting up much of a fight.

Why would the FO bring back a 32 year old Manu and lock him up long term if we're not gonna contend for a title and start rebuilding. Plus, we're already way over the tax.

If this team loses Bogans, Manu, Bonner, and Mason (because they're expirings and we're way over the tax), can we really hope that we have a better team next year?

Will Duncan want to stay? He will be on his contract year and he feels he's got 2 more years after his contract expires. If the Spurs aren't contending for a title, what reason is there for him to stay?

If this happens, most likely we'll start cleaning up the house.

[Donald Kaufman]

I tend to agree. If we go out in the 1st round - which is highly probable - I think this team will be dismantled in the offseason.

In which case I think the right thing for management to do would be to let Manu and TD finish their careers with contenders.

[SApuro_]

If we don't get out of the 1st round agree chances of resigning Manu go away.

TD will never be anywhere else besides SA. Pop and him have such a great relationship no way he plays for any other team. Plus I don't see him learning an entirely new system so late in his career when he doesnt have to. He can just leverage the FO to make us competitive.

[Nolan]

I really doubt we just blow it up if we lose in the first round. The front office will try and do what they did last summer, add pieces and hopefully this time around it will work. The FO has stated many times that as long as TD is still playing they're gonna do everything they can to build an contender.

Sugesting that we deal Duncan is straight up blasphemy.

[Donald Kaufman]

Not if he makes the request himself.

[Nolan]

Not if he makes the request himself.

Well I really doubt he does that because of a first round exit.

[Donald Kaufman]

Sure, but what if Manu leaves for another team? Does that change his mind? It's not set in stone that TD ends his career in SA.

[realrayman]

It won't make a huge difference who Spurs play - you eventually go up against the best. Almost all the teams ahead of us have looked shaky in recent games.

Spurs have owned the Jazz in recent years; I think this year's sweep was a blemish. Apart from Booz they've got nobody playing down in the low post. I think facing the Jazz would be fine.

Denver are weak in the frontline now that Kenyon come down with injuries

tbh I'd rather Spurs play the Mavs knowing how epic a series that usually is.


And of topic I think it's a blessing in disguise TP's broken his hand so now he'll be forced to have a rest for his:

- hip
- foot
- stomach bugs

When playoffs are starting he would've just had a week or so to rev up again.

[Black_Jack21]

Sure, but what if Manu leaves for another team? Does that change his mind? It's not set in stone that TD ends his career in SA.

Exactly.
I'm sure there were plenty of Rockets fans that thought Hakeem would finish in Houston.
I really do hope that the team pulls itself together for one more serious crack at the title before 21 retires, we all know that we still have the talent to contend we just desperatly need the pieces to fit.

[Lava Rock Kid]

As a Jazz fan, I want nothing to do with the spurs. Sure we won this years series, but your team has owned us for the past decade. I would rather play the suns or even the Thunder.

[Donald Kaufman]

This might be stubborn pride talking, but we're not your typical 7/8 seed. I know we've been a "bucket of suck" (one of BR's) most of the year but we know how to get it done in the playoffs. The defense is not what it was but we've got Duncan, Gino, Parker (for the playoffs) and Pop and that has to play on the minds of whoever we face in the first round. We won't win the title this year but if we can spoil the party for a Denver or LA or Dallas that'll be enough for me.

Take the Thunder, who are a great young team but have no postseason experience. They'll potentially be a threat because they have a fantastic scorer, solid D and nothing to lose. But they're green in the playoff environment.

The Suns are not a threat.

[SApuro_]

Anything could happen in a playoff series. The spurs will prove to be a tougher competitor this year then last. Not sure how far this team goes but one thing is for sure isn't going to be an easy go for who ever we face.