Expectations for the 2013-14 season

[Durins Baynes]

Duncan is 1 year older, but in the 2 seasons before last years "resurgent year" the Spurs had a 60+ win %, so clearly it's not just Duncan coming back strong. Tony is 31, hardly an age we should expect him to break down (and no evidence of it either). Manu will be a year older, and looked worse last year, but Kawhi will be better. The rest of the Spurs are not old. Then factor in that the Spurs 4 best players missed a combined 75 games last year. Hard to believe they're heading for a big drop, given all that. The Lakers core players are old, and are starting to look it, which is the problem- Nash, Gasol and Kobe (all with major injury issues), and outside that core the Lakers don't have a lot. The Lakers, unlike the Spurs, are coming off a season in which they scraped into the playoffs, and no longer have Dwight. The logic is they'd do worse, not better. I think they could scrape in to the playoffs again (but won't), but the idea that the situations are similar is pretty far fetched.

[DEEP3CL]

Duncan is 1 year older, but in the 2 seasons before last years "resurgent year" the Spurs had a 60+ win %, so clearly it's not just Duncan coming back strong.

I hardley think Duncan is coming back strong. I expect a significant dip in his production this season.

Tony is 31, hardly an age we should expect him to break down (and no evidence of it either).

No evidence as of yet but seeing as how he injured his knee this summer, let's just say the Spurs and Parker dodged a bullet for now. I find it funny that how when Kobe turned 30 guys tried to write him off but now that it's others their age is just wonderful.

Manu will be a year older, and looked worse last year

And expect more of the same this season, yeah he'll have that occasional throwback game now and then but not often.

Kawhi will be better.

That's no lock, he still lacks range on his jumper from anywhere that's not the corner 3. If teams can get their scouting together, they should be forcing him in the middle of the floor because he's no creator and can't create for others. His offense tends to get overrated, he's not that polished.

The rest of the Spurs are not old.

And neither are the Lakers outside of Kobe,Pau and the Steve's.

Then factor in that the Spurs 4 best players missed a combined 75 games last year. Hard to believe they're heading for a big drop, given all that.

This is just utter denial to the fullest, you do realize that no one season is like the other. The Spurs core is just as old and it's safe to say probably not as productive outside of Parker who like I said will have to shoulder a ton of the stuff the Spurs do.

The Lakers core players are old, and are starting to look it, which is the problem- Nash, Gasol and Kobe (all with major injury issues), and outside that core the Lakers don't have a lot.

And who do the Spurs have that's approaching All Star status ? I could say Farmar is a lot better than Cory Joseph is. And Young can hold his own with Danny Green who can disappear faster than crack off the table.

The Lakers, unlike the Spurs, are coming off a season in which they scraped into the playoffs, and no longer have Dwight. The logic is they'd do worse, not better.

This is all subjective, the Spurs are coming off a devastating defeat in what will be the last Final they get to, they blew their best and only chance. And the mental frame of mind they'll forever have to garner is detrimental, you just don't lose Finals in the fashion they did. Yeah they'll win close to 50 games but I seriously doubt they'll come close to 56-60 wins. I'm too damn smart to think that.

I think they could scrape in to the playoffs again (but won't), but the idea that the situations are similar is pretty far fetched.

That's you're opinion, you're entitled to it. But I believe the things I see and expect from the Spurs are more factual to happen. You're going to see first hand the tremendous load Parker will be under. A hard head makes a soft ass........watch what I tell you.

[TyCobb]

How many games will Nash play? Kobe? No defense + inefficient scoring is not a good combo. They could have a surprising ceiling, but I don't think it's more than a 1st round exit.

[ak7]

How many games will Nash play? Kobe? No defense + inefficient scoring is not a good combo. They could have a surprising ceiling, but I don't think it's more than a 1st round exit.

+1

Who needs a huge free agent splash if you can get Wiggins or Parker, or even Randle?

I'm just saying.....

[SlimShady83]

How many games will Nash play? Kobe? No defense + inefficient scoring is not a good combo. They could have a surprising ceiling, but I don't think it's more than a 1st round exit.

+1

Who needs a huge free agent splash if you can get Wiggins or Parker, or even Randle?

I'm just saying.....

Let's be realistic shall we, do you even think we can get a Wiggin or Randle in the draft even if we Tank it?? Even if we Tank I doubt we can get a top 4 or even a top 8 pic in the draft, so let's stop being unrealistic their < when was the last time we got a top 10 pic???

As for Parker I feel he is much like Kobe at this time of his career and is staying a spurs for rest of career so no chance of getting him and Spurs will most likely match any offer, anybody else will have on paper < not only that I doubt Parker wants to leave Spurs at alll

[Durins Baynes]

I hardley think Duncan is coming back strong. I expect a significant dip in his production this season.

It seems at least as likely that he can contribute as it does that Kobe will come back and be able to play anything like last year, after an Achilles injury. I mean, what is your expectation based on? Historical precedent for aging players who stay in shape is gradually getting worse. Historical precedent for an Achilles injury is that they never recover. It seems weird to suggest Duncan will not buck the trend, but Kobe will. The odds Kobe is facing are much worse than what Duncan faces. But even if Duncan gets worse, what of it? In 2011 and 2012 when Duncan's play wasn't as good as 2013, the team still had a win % of over 60 games.

No evidence as of yet but seeing as how he injured his knee this summer, let's just say the Spurs and Parker dodged a bullet for now. I find it funny that how when Kobe turned 30 guys tried to write him off but now that it's others their age is just wonderful.

Nobody said Kobe would drop off a cliff at age 30, just gradually get worse... and he's mostly done that. The point is Tony is not at an age where we should expect him to be worse, he's 31, which for a point guard not dependant on hops isn't old.

And expect more of the same this season, yeah he'll have that occasional throwback game now and then but not often.

But Kawhi will be better, so it balances out. You'd also think that the Spurs 4 best players won't miss a combined 75 games again, given it was very unusual given their injury history.

That's no lock, he still lacks range on his jumper from anywhere that's not the corner 3. If teams can get their scouting together, they should be forcing him in the middle of the floor because he's no creator and can't create for others. His offense tends to get overrated, he's not that polished.

Wow. I recommend you go to this thread. You are majorly sleeping on Kawhi.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1269142&start=60

And neither are the Lakers outside of Kobe,Pau and the Steve's.

Your 3 most important players by far. Seems relevant.

And who do the Spurs have that's approaching All Star status ? I could say Farmar is a lot better than Cory Joseph is. And Young can hold his own with Danny Green who can disappear faster than crack off the table.

I don't rate team strength based on who has the better back up point guard (though I'm not sure I agree Corey is worse than Farmar next season- we'll wait and see)

Yeah they'll win close to 50 games but I seriously doubt they'll come close to 56-60 wins. I'm too damn smart to think that.

How did they win 60+ games in 2011 and 2012 then?

[krikor]

The spurs have leonard though, and I think this season he will be much much better player as well. The lakers lack a young talent like him. I believe last year manu played a little role too for the spurs in regular season. And despite his minimal role, they got 2nd seed.

Lakers are capable of 7th 8 th seed.But this time there is no dwight howard and kobe is injured, and dallas are better team then last year with nowitzki healthy.

[DEEP3CL]

The spurs have leonard though, and I think this season he will be much much better player as well. The lakers lack a young talent like him. I believe last year manu played a little role too for the spurs in regular season. And despite his minimal role, they got 2nd seed.

Lakers are capable of 7th 8 th seed.But this time there is no dwight howard and kobe is injured, and dallas are better team then last year with nowitzki healthy.

It's not Kobe is going to be injured all year. We'll have to see about Dallas, they're getting a lot of respect yet they lost O.J. Mayo and replaced him with the gunner Monte Ellis. Calderon is ok but he ain't putting them over the hump. Their main weakness is up front, they lack size across the board and rebounding will be an issue for them just as it was last season. Dallas will still probably make the post season though, I just don't feel they'll be what everybody think they'll be.

[Durins Baynes]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQZnQU-Ep8w[/youtube]
ESPN take on the Lakers.

[chefy]

How many games will Nash play? Kobe? No defense + inefficient scoring is not a good combo. They could have a surprising ceiling, but I don't think it's more than a 1st round exit.

Add the fact that we lost a DPOY player and Metta(probably our best wing defender las year, sad but true), and Nash and Kobe's another year older and (he's also recovering from a serious injury) I expect the defense this year to be unwatchable.

But, you never know tho, this season is really hard to predict.

Nash is healthy this year, the team had a full training camp, D'antoni focusing more on d, I also like the balance of veteran players and young players that we have right now, and the chemistry is much better this year too. So maybe, just maybe, we'll see a slight improvement in defense this year.