I don’t understand any better than you do how we can lose to the Grizzlies at home on a day’s rest and then go into Denver–one of the most difficult places to get a road win–the very next night and whip the Nuggets by 20 in a game that they desperately needed to win to stay on pace with the Mavs for the 2nd seed. I just don’t. We played great tonight. Our defense was Spursian, and we allowed almost no offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points. Our offense was solid if unspectacular. The game had a very playoff-like feel, with the pace grinding to a halt, the stakes being raised, and the team that could execute better and play with more energy would win. And we did. A night after it seemed like we never might again.
So I’m just going to throw my hands up, be thankful for the win, and stop trying to understand this team. Until the next game.
Looking Forward:
The win put us a half game up on the Blazers and moved us back into 7th place, however tenuously. Let’s look at the remaining schedules of the two teams we’re fighting with and see what might happen.
We play Minnesota at home on Monday and at Dallas on Wednesday to close out the season. The way the team’s playing, it seems we’re more likely to lose to Minnesota and beat Dallas. I hate to predict anything, but for worst case scenario’s sake, let’s say we go 1-1, finishing with a record of 50-32.
Portland plays the Lakers in LA on Sunday, then OKC in Portland on Monday, and they close out the season against the Warriors in Portland on Wednesday. OKC plays at the Warriors on Sunday, at Portland on Monday, and then finish out their season at home against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Obviously, the first thing you notice is the game between OKC and Portland. Honestly, it’s still too early to tell who we want to win that game, but in general we want the Blazers to lose since they hold the tiebreaker over us, and we can finish even with the Thunder since we hold the tiebreaker over them. A lot of it is going to depend on tomorrow’s games, particularly Portland’s game against the Lakers. The Lakers are in an interesting spot, in that if they beat the Blazers, they greatly increase the chances that they will face the Blazers in the first round. If they lose, then it remains a toss up, especially if OKC loses to Golden State (which I’m not counting on).
So for now, pay close attention to those two games tomorrow, and root for the Warriors and (gulp) the Lakers (that is, unless you want to face the Lakers in the first round). Believe me, as a Spurs fan and a Blazers fan, it pains me to write that. But this is playoff seeding we’re talking about. Lines must be drawn and sides must be chosen.
Go Spurs Go.
I hope we face the Lakers in the first round. All roads to glory go through Los Angeles. The sooner we dismiss Kobe & Co — now seems like an especially good time — the better off we'll be.
After beating the Nuggets or the Suns in the second round, we would face the Jazz in the Western Final, and honestly, that team will give us more trouble than Bynum-less LA.