Spurs Update

Well it's been exactly 20 days since Tony Parker went down with a severely sprained ankle. Tomorrow will be the 3-week mark. He was already running on the treadmill a week ago, and is now already beginning limited practices. I doubt we'll see him tomorrow night against Utah, but chances are good that my prediction from my last update (back in the lineup by Wednesday, March 27th's game against Denver) will happen. And we may even get him one game sooner than that!

Here is the same schedule I posted for that last update, but this time I've written in the results since that update:


Mine / schedule source

So 6-2 without our leader? Nothing wrong with that, I say. Especially if you consider the following:

Admittedly, we did not play well in that game vs. Minnesota, and they just flat-out wanted it more. Of course when you shoot 35%, you're not gonna win very many - if any - NBA basketball games. But in the Portland game, we actually played pretty well. Shot 52%, had only 12 turnovers, and still had an almost-acceptable 22 assists on 44 FGs. But Portland shot the lights out (62%). Soon-to-be rookie of the year Damian Lillard was practically unstoppable in the 4th quarter, and they're fighting for their playoff lives. I believe they will make it, but that's another blog post.

Anyway to continue my point, we've won a few ugly games in the span as well, as our defense has been questionable lately. Those who have stood in for Tony have done a great job on the offensive side, but Tony's value on the defensive end is becoming very evident. Most importantly, however, is that we won the one game we needed the most - OKC. The Thunder have also helped matters by losing twice since their loss in San Antonio.

Our lead over OKC now stands at 2½, with Memphis, the Clippers, and Denver ALL 5½ back. Look at this way: The Heat have won 24 in a row, and they're still only 2½ games ahead of us.

Spurs Update

Your San Antonio Spurs have gone 5-1 since my last update. We stand at 42-12 at the all-star break, and that's good for the best record in the NBA.. 2½ games clear of Oklahoma City, who have lost 2-straight, and 4 ahead of Miami.

Here are the current standings, and here is a look at the complete Spurs' season schedule, of which the following screenshot is taken.


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The hiccup in Detroit can only be attributed to a Pistons squad who wanted it more. They shot well, and out-rebounded us 49-33. Tim and Manu had both missed a bunch of games, and Tony & Stephen Jackson even missed 1 and 2 respectively, but the last one in Cleveland saw the big-3 playing together for the first time in weeks. Tim & tony will get their quick minutes during this all-star weekend, and that'll be that. Pop's coaching, so I'd be surprised to see either of them on the floor for more than about 10-12 minutes each. Matt Bonner and Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, I expect to have coming out parties this weekend. Then we'll be back on the road to finish up the rodeo road trip.

Spurs Update

Apparently with our win earlier tonight, Gregg Popovich is guaranteed the job of coaching the West in the All-Star game. And this is a great honor! It's only been 9 games since my last update, but this is another good place to post one. Not only because of the All-Star coach deadline, but because it also marks the end of the January schedule for San Antonio: a month in which we went 12-3.

More importantly, we've strung together 9-straight since the loss @ Memphis.

Screenshot from here

Tony is back to form. Tim has sat for 4-straight games, due to a sore knee. Tiago Splitter has been incredible during this stretch, averaging 14.3 ppg, 8 rpg, and shooting 65%! Also during this 9-game streak, Aron Baynes made his season debut. In only a few appearances, he's already showing why he might just be the BIG we've needed this whole time. So yeah, DeJuan Blair's days might be numbered. Sorry buddy.

This 9-game winning streak should improve to 10 right before we go on our annual rodeo road-trip. By the way, a win Saturday would increase our home record to 22-2. Yikes! This year's rodeo trip lasts from Wednesday, Feb. 6 to Sunday, Feb. 24, and encompasses 9 games. Five of those opponents have losing records, so I expect nothing worse than 6-3, but 7-2 is more likely.

Sitting pretty at 37-11 right now, best record in the NBA, PPG scored 3rd overall, PPG allowed 6th overall, and a scoring differential of 8.4 - tied with OKC for tops. We also lead the league in assists per game, are 4th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 2nd in total shooting %, #1 in opponent 3-pt%, and 3rd in shooting defense.

Like a well-oiled machine, we are rolling.. smoooothly! But this is business as usual for us right about now.

All stats from ESPN.com

Wonder If He Realizes This?

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Yeah, that's a pretty big difference! Wake up, Mr. Stern. You approved the schedule, now fine yourself and the schedule-makers.

Way to Go, Spurs!

1 down - 97 more to go!   Here's a recap:

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The 2012-2013 NBA season kicked off Tuesday night, and the Spurs began their schedule on Halloween night with a clutch WIN at New Orleans 99-95. They will follow it up by quickly flying home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. Yeah that's it, start us off with a back-to-back! Anyway, Anthony Davis was impressive in his debut (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 0 turnovers). He has a very pretty shot, in addition to being a premier defender & rebounder. I think he went 9 of 9 from the FT line. Take that Dwight Howard. Here's the box score..

No doubt there will be a seriously high level of revenge in the eyes of San Antonio tonight. After all.. the Thunder ended our 20-game regular season & playoffs win streak, and then our entire season - all in less than a week last June. It should be very loud in the AT&T Center - and extremely white.

Regarding the game updates, am I going to continue where I left off last year? Unfortunately no, I'm not. Not that I didn't enjoy doing them, but they do take quite a bit of time, especially the handful of occasions when I got behind. Plus, I just kind of felt like there were only a few hundred dozen of you actually reading them. Perhaps if I get enough encouragement, I might reconsider this decision. I love my Spurs, so don't worry.. I'll do an update every now & then - just not every single game.

By the way, the all-stars Lakers are 0-2, Dwight Howard has 11 fouls in 2 games.. he's missed 15 of 33 FTs, and Steve Nash left last night's game with a nasty-looking knee injury.

C'Mon Cowboys

3-1 is so much better than 2-2 at this stage, we know you can do it!

Cowboys' offensive line is gonna be the key to this game. Having already faced three fierce tests against the G-Men, the Seahawks, and most importantly the vicious Bucs, we know the Bears D-line is also one of the best. It's not gonna get any easier with this schedule, either. After the week-5 bye, we have to visit the Ravens in Baltimore! Ouch. Let's all say a little prayer now that we see Romo alive & well for week-7's game in Carolina.

Western Conference Finals are Set!

Thanks to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing the Lakers 4-1 a little bit ago, the Western Conference Finals are now set. Sunday night it will all begin. Not sure why they are waiting until Sunday, but I don't make the schedule. As always games 1&2 are in SA, and 3&4 are in OKC. Then 5&7 if necessary would be in SA, and 6 if necessary would be in OKC.

Last night the Clippers gave us everything they had - taking us right down to the wire. I was actually glad the Spurs got to experience a close game for the first time in quite a while. Spurs had SIX guys in double figures, and Chris Paul had his best game of the series, with with 23pts., 11 asst., and 6reb.! Griffin had another strong game with 21, and a few spectacular dunks, but CP3 had TWO chances at the end, but didn't get it done either time. Spurs pulled it out 102-99 for a second straight 4-0 sweep, and our 18th straight win. I'm not gonna write a review, but I'll certainly post ESPN's Spurs/Clippers game-4 recap, as well as EPSN's boxscore..

Bring it on OKC - See you Sunday!

Click for clarity!

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2012 NBA Playoffs Bracket

Looks like this:

Click to enlarge!! - Source - (NBA.com)

And here is the entire Round-1 schedule.. Source - (NBA.com)