“(The Spurs) are not the same team. I look for them to make a trade because they are missing something. They need to make a trade to get more speed and athleticism. Dallas has definitely overtaken San Antonio as the team to beat in the West.”
—Charles Barkley on TNT, January 15, 2007
I usually agree with Sir Charles, and I think he’s right on both points. The Spurs are missing something and the Mavericks are a better team right now. In fact, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, and even Minnesota are playing better than San Antonio.
Here is another way of looking at it: the Spurs have lost 12 games this season and 8 were against possible playoff opponents. If the playoffs were held today, the Spurs would have to get past Houston, Phoenix and Utah or Dallas to face Detroit or maybe Cleveland in the Finals. Of course a lot can happen between now and May, but something has got to change.
The games to watch in the coming weeks, to see if San Antonio can get that something that Charles is talking about:
- 1/24 vs Houston
- 2/1 at Phoenix
- 2/14 at Detroit
