2015-16 NBA Standings Thru Feb. 5

Another amazing season is shaping up - in case you haven't been paying attention!

Here are the NBA standings through Feb. 5, 2016:

Click to enlarge! -- (Source)

My Prediction

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Yeah it's December 8th, barely.

We shall see!

One down, 4 to go.

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Really ESPN? We led for like 97% of this game. Except for about 2 minutes, this was a domination. C'Mon, Espn.

Go Spurs..

The Stage is Set!

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...and I can't friggin' wait!

Yeah I forgot to come back and finish up the results of the Spurs/Memphis series, but it's only because that series seemed like a cake-walk compared to the Golden State series. Once we were up 2-0, I knew if we could stay in game-3, we'd have a great chance to win it. Likewise I also knew that if we stole game-3, it was soon to be over. There was no doubt in my mind, after what happened last year, that Pop and company was about to give them ANY chance whatsoever to come back.

Now, it's LeBron vs. Kawhi.   Wade vs. Green.   Chalmers vs. Mr. Tony Parker.   Bosh vs. Splitter.   Haslem and Birdman vs. Timmy Duncan.   Spoelstra vs. the King, Gregg Popovich.

Yeah the King in this series is not LeBron James, it's Coach Pop. He has an answer for everything. I think you'll see the key to the entire series is gonna be Pop's adjustments on the different things the Heat try to throw at us. In addition to that, I believe our team is deeper. Yeah they have several shooters. If there's one tiny achilles heel in Pop's system, it's that the one thing he has a hard time stopping is teams who shoot well from the outside. But isn't that just the way it is? Most coaches are gonna have a very difficult time stopping a team who has great games due to high-percentage outside shooting. Mike Miller, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, and perhaps Norris Cole could give us trouble for a few minutes. However there exists several Spurs players not named Parker-Ginobili-Duncan-Leonard-Splitter who will certainly contribute solid minutes.

Danny Green is a starter, anyway, not Manu, so there's that. Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Patty Mills, Cory Joseph, DeJuan Blair, Nando DeColo, Tracy McGrady, Aaron Baynes....... Let's just say Pop will have plenty of fouls, and fresh legs for the Heat. Oh yeah, and also plenty of threes.


Schedule source: ESPN.com

Experts

Source: ESPN.com Screenshot

I just have to laugh at these things. It was the same way with the last series vs. Golden State. No one gives us much credit. We win titles.. we contend every single season for the last ... 19 seasons? Nine of these seasons we've been in the conference finals. C'mon, man! And Magic was saying the other night (just before our game-3 win, when ESPN thought of nothing better than to allow these guys to ponder when the Spurs were going to retire.. when they'll be done..), "All these young teams are gonna take over the Spurs next year..."

We're all used to it though.. All the media bias. All the lack of respect. All I have to say to them is "Expert this!"


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How Tony Wore down Steph Curry in Game-5

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Coach Nick is a genius, and I love his analysis videos. This one is one of the best ever.

So Many People Wrong

This is a screenshot from an ESPN poll that was posted at their site last Thursday, May 9th. Golden State had just evened-up the series at 1-1 in game 2.


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Did That Really Just Happen?

Spurs 129 - Warriors 127 Final/2OT.

Couple hours later, and I'm still amazed, and in disbelief! Turrible as that Manu three was a few seconds prior, the last one was simply amazing. And that crowd reaction - yowza, I wish I would've been there.

Way to comeback, Spurs! Now don't get so far behind in game-2!


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Go Spurs!

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Spurs Update

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There's been lots of NBA action the last few days. All six series that weren't done went to a sixth game. One of those went on to a 7th game, and that one is tomorrow. The other five are done, and we are almost ready for second round action.

Yeah it's about time we get to play. Golden State is a team to be reckoned with. But they haven't won in San Antonio in a long, long, long time. I picked them to beat the Nuggets, and no one else did. Now let's go Spurs!

Four Down - Twelve To Go!

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Bring on the Warriors! Or the Nuggets if it has to be that way. If you still think the Nuggets are gonna win that series, you must not be watchin'! Nevertheless, nothing from here on out is gonna be as easy as it's been so far!

Spurs/Lakers

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It's GO Time!

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Lakers are going down - HARD! 2:30pm..

2013 NBA Playoffs Bracket

Mine -- CLICK FOR CLARITY

Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

Game-5 Thunder @ Spurs is probably the most hyped game of the last several years. It's 2-2, and the Thunder have all the momentum. But these Spurs have been here before.

And the organization has passed out white T-shirts - finally! Straight off the tip, the crowd was with us, and OKC only saw two possessions before it was 5-0 Spurs. Manu started the game, and both he & Tony got to the line before OKC knew what had hit them. Continuing drives, both Manu & Tony drew two fouls on Ibaka, and he had to sit down before 2 minutes were gone. 15-10 Spurs, both Timmy & Diaw would draw two fouls. SO Pop sent in a crazy-small lineup. It was just what the Thunder needed with Ibaka sitting. Blair & Manu kept us in it, but after 1Q Thunder led 26-21.

Splitter and Jack entered, but Ibaka and Fisher both hit incredible shots. Manu would then single-handedly keep us in the game. Enter DaeQuan Cook. He would hit 8 in 2 minutes, and a Manu three made it 40-36 OKC. As is consistent with the rest of the series, the Spurs would go cold for a lot of the 2nd, as a 10-0 run gave the Thunder the 50-36 lead. Jack, Tony, & Tim would then respond with an 8-2 run of our own to close the half down by only 8: 52-44.

Now I know my Spurs. We are going to launch this into a great game. So Tony & Timmy get the pick n roll right and Westbrook does what he does best - miss shots and turn it over. Manu hits a three, and then another, and then another... A Duncan jumper and 2 Kawhi FTs, and we're up 6: 62-56. No one can guard Kevin Durant, though, as he & Westbrook would nail everything they shot. After we had launched a nice lead late into the 3rd-Q (67-61), Perkins, Westbrook, Harden, and especially Durant burned us. After 3Qs OKC's 81 to SA's 72 was surprising - They ran off a bunch in a row.

Down by as much as 12, Tony & Manu brought us back. Jackson & Timmy too. But Durant & Harden were still making everything they put up. The Spurs then held them scoreless for almost 4 minutes.. 5:16 to 1:36. Meanwhile, Jack hit another three, Timmy scored 6, and Manu hit two FTs.

But it was a James Harden three at the :28 mark that was effectively the game-winner.

OKC 108 SA 103.

Here is ESPN's game-5 boxscore..

Oklahoma City Wednesday. My Spurs will come through. I guarantee we will win game-6!!!

Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

Yeah I know I'm way behind. But I'll post two games right here right now. The way my Spurs are playing it's not gonna make me lose any sleep for doing so.

Game-4 in OKC was totally different than game-3 as I'm sure my Spurs welcomed the challenge of finally losing a game. Game-4 began with a lot of great interior play from the OKC big-men. But we would take the early lead 13-5 after some key jumpers by Tony, Kawhi, and Danny Green. We would then go up 19-12, and then the Thunder would hold us scoreless for almost 3 minutes. With 2 minutes to go in the 1st-Q, the Thunder led 22-19. Captain Jack and Manu had something to say, though, as the 1stQ would up tied 26-26.

Serge Ibaka opened up with a couple jumpers, as our offense took a dump. After another Ibaka dunk, and a Westbrook three, it was 43-33 with 4:43 left in the 2ndQ. Timmy, Jack, and Diaw kept us in it while Ibaka and Durant netted 4 more each. Once again our 2nd quarter performance lacked .. well, everything. At the half, we were down 12... 55-43. Jeeeez! As Pop always does at halftime, the guys get in gear, and Leonard, Diaw, and Duncan combined for 10 right quick. But Ibaka would hit two FTs, followed by another surge from both Ibaka and Durant.

Again down by 12, Duncan, Jack, and Manu would pull us back to within two! It was a massive, and necessary 10-0 run and it certainly quieted the OKC crowd. Manu has been Manu and he not to be denied. After 3-Qs OKC led 75-71.

Ibaka continued his perfection, and Harden would net 5 straight. The Spurs resolve appeared.. we would do everything we could possession to possession to stay in the game. Duncan. Leonard. Jackson.

But then Kevin Durant did this:


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16 straight for OKC, and what a beast! James Harden then hit a critical three, and just like that we were down 9. Timmy, Neal, and Green would hit key shots in the last minute, but OKC hit enough FTs down the stretch to take it. Ibaka had a perfect game: 26 pts. 11 of 11 shooting 5 rebs. 3 blks. Perkins had 15-9. We did well on Durant, except for the dominating 4th-Q, and additionally on Westbrook & Harden. They were a combined 6 of 23.
Ibaka went 11 for 11 - Image Source (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Kawhi was our player of the game, but Timmy had 21-8. Thunder D seriously did a number on our offense. Here's ESPN's boxscore..

No doubt game-5 is gonna be one of the best games in recent memory!

Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

The scene changed dramatically for game-3, as a seemingly half-dejected OKC Thunder crowd outside Chesapeake Energy Arena welcomed the San Antonio Spurs for game-3, and the feeling was that of confident reserve for Spurs' fans. I said it over a week ago that if we're gonna lose a game, it's gonna be this one. Barkley thought so too, but both Kenny and Shaq picked Spurs.

Priority #1 was withstanding the overwhelming crowd that is present in this Arena. As the game began, OKC went up 8-0 before Popovich had even sat down, it seemed like. So timeout Spurs, and now let's begin for real. Everyone would get quickly into the scoring mix. By the end of

The Sea of Blue - Img Source: 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

the 1st-Q 6 Spurs and 6 Thunder players had scored, and the score was 24-22, Spurs.

The advantage continued for the Thunder, however, as their shots kept going in, but ours were just a little off. After almost 8 minutes had gone by, the Spurs had only scored 8 (four from Manu), while the Thunder had scored just about every time down the floor. The lead grew quickly to 14, 46-32, and it would be all we could do with a few subs off the bench, to stay in it as best we could. Durant hit a bunch of FTs, and a difficult jumper, while Tony & Manu kept us in the game. But at the horn, the Thunder had outscored us 32-17 in the 2nd-Q. To me it seemed as if Pop wasn't realizing the adjustments they made after game-2 were working. So we all await Pop's own classic halftime adjustments, down 54-41. Thabo Sefolosha assigned to Tony Parker was one of the main adjustments - Tony only had 10 thus far.

Then Sefolosha began the 2nd-half hitting a three of his own - his second of the game. Then after Danny Green hit a three, and Tony nailed a jumper, OKC would go on a 16-5 run over almost 8 minutes. During this time Sefolosha's play was incredible: Steals, defense.. frustrating Tony with his length. ...And we were down 22!! 73-51 with 2:31 left in the 3rd.

Obviously the crowd was going INSANE by this time, and I think it was apparent on the faces of most of the Spurs that we were probably gonna take this one on the chin. Then Jack hit two straight threes - but Thabo came back with another one of his
Thabo was key - Img Source: 2012 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

own, and the 4th-Q stage was set with the Thunder up by 18.. 78-60.

Jackson opened the 4th with another three, closing to within 15, but then OKC would score 8-striaght. Wow. Now down 23, Pop appears to have given up WAYYY too early by putting in James Anderson (who had actually earned a few earlier minutes), along with Patty Mills and DeJuan Blair, who's been in the doghouse ever since Boris Diaw happened. Neal & Anderson pulled us to within 18 again with 8:52 on the clock, but then OKC ran off another 9-straight and pretty much putting all the nails in the coffin, 95-68. But there's still 6:35 left, and aren't we the top-scoring team in the league?

It didn't matter.. Tony, Tim, & Manu never saw another second. Sefolosha would continue to impress as he'd finish with 19 & 6 along with SIX steals. DeJuan Blair actually showed something most weren't prepared for - in 10 minutes, he scored 10 on 5 of 7 shooting, with 6 rebounds. Yeah, Pop, you should've tried him sooner.

The game was lost late in the 2nd-Q, but I give this one to Pop for not recognizing that all the adjustments they made were working, and working well. And it took him too long to make some changes himself. I guess when you win 20-straight games, you start to be a little reluctant to make changes. We had wayy too many turnovers (21), only 18 assists, but we failed to match their energy that lasted throughout 48 minutes. Here's ESPN's boxscore..

Game-4 Saturday night should be better.

Pop Cleaning

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Spurs Update: Western Conference Finals

Game-2 of the Western Conference Finals took place in San Antonio Tuesday night, as Oklahoma City would try to even up the 1-0 series.

The Spurs jumped out to a 6-0 lead as Danny Green finally made his first shot of the series. By the time half the quarter was gone, Tony had 6, Green had 5, and the Spurs' lead was 15-7. We got off to a MUCH better start this time around. Kevin Durant and Tony Parker would effectively trade buckets for a few possessions. Spurs would then hold OKC scoreless for two minutes, while Timmy got his stuff going. The last minute of the 1st-Q saw OKC pour in 7 to the Spurs' 6, and the break at 28-22, San Antonio. 1st-Q points: Tony-10, Durant-12. Wow!

After Derek Fisher opened the 2nd-Q with a three, the Spurs would go on a 14-4 run for the first half of the 2nd-Q (all 4 Thunder points by James Harden). Five different Spurs scored those 14 points, Tony Parker or Tim Duncan not included! So with the 13-pt. lead (42-29) most of both team's starters returned. The Thunder would slowly close this lead to 11 by the end of the half, but Tony netted 7 more, and then Tim Duncan did this on Serge Ibaka:


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So after a Durant three, Timmy would hit two FTs, and then close the half with a sweet block on a Westbrook layup attempt: 55-44.

The 3rd-Q saw the scoring-fest commence. Both offenses scored at will for a few minutes, including 3 Spurs' threes by Leonard, Green, and Diaw - and one from Westbrook. After only 3½ minutes had gone by, the Spurs had scored 13 to the Thunder's 8, and the score was quickly 68-52. The Thunder would keep fighting but it was getting quickly out of hand. With a 75-58 lead, and with 23 points already, Tony Parker lined-up one of the most wide-open threes in NBA history:


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This forced a Thunder timeout, but as soon as play resumed, Boris Diaw hit a layup to put the Spurs up 80-58, the largest lead of the game.

Kevin Durant & Manu would then begin demanding the ball, but after OKC closed the 22-pt. lead to 14, Hack-a-Splitter began. Tiago made 5 of 10, and OKC scored 6, so they made up 1 measly point. Timmy entered for Tiago, and we'd close out the 3rd-Q 92-76.

The Thunder are a good team, so no one expects them to crumble. They kept fighting, and went on their own 10-3 4th-Q run, despite a clutch Gary Neal three. With James Harden leading this charge, and down 95-86, Harden, Durant, and Westbrook
A rare growl from a charged Manu - Image Source (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

would get to the line time in and time out. But for most of the 4th-Q either Manu, Tony, or Timmy would respond to the Thunder closing the lead to within 7 or so, and then extend it back to 9, or 11. Tony & Manu continued to get their way when in charge of creating shots. Eight is as close as the Thunder would get, and the Spurs did everything they had to to close it out 120-111.

Tony had 34-8-3 on 16 of 21 shooting! He owned this game, and no one has yet to figure out how to stop him, and our pick-n-roll when Tony's on his game. Duncan had 11 & 12, but Manu & Kawhi had 20 & 18 respectively. Kawhi also added 10 boards. The Thunder's big-3 all got theirs (88 points on 30 of 54 shooting.. Yeah that's 56%). Unfortunately the rest of the team shot 7 of 34 (21%). Here is ESPN's boxscore..

That's 20-straight. TWENTY! Game-3 is Thursday night in OKC at 8pm Central. One more win would tie the Lakers' 2001 record

Tony had a monster game-2 - Image Source (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

of 11-straight to begin the playoffs in any season. It's gonna be a MUST-win for OKC, and I think they could very well win it. But then again, I'll still be a little surprised if they can figure out how to stop us, and especially Tony Parker.

We Just Win

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