Remember last month when I tried to predict the future, and San Antonio won 11 of the 13 games they played in January? I think I predicted they’d win 12, but I also didn’t predict they would lose Tim Duncan halfway through the month. Maybe I should have seen it coming, or maybe Duncan’s knees should have been more sympathetic to my whimsy.
In any case, predicting the future was fun, and since it’s the All-Star Break and the Rodeo Road Trip is upon us, I say, let’s do it again!
The Spurs are 6-0 thus far in February, which guarantees that they’ll finish at least .500 when the month is over. SPOILER ALERT: That will not happen. Here’s what’s going down when San Antonio kicks off the second half of February play on Thursday…
Note: Spurs’ records are my projections, opponent records are their actual record as of 2/12.
Thursday, February 18
Spurs (45-8) @ Clippers (35-18)
A well-rested Spurs team on the road against a, uh, consistently broken Clippers team that will be without the alien-monster from Planet Basketball, Blake Griffin. Tim Duncan is healthy, which is great, and as good as the Clippers can be at home, I think the edge has to go to San Antonio. Yes, I said the same thing before Game 7 last year. No, I don’t want to talk about that anymore.
Sidenotes:
- Did you know that Jeff Ayres signed a second 10-day contract with the Clippers nine days ago? I don’t like how they’re trying to become likeable over there. Ditch the evil empire, Jeff! It’s not too late!
- I will be at this game, and I hate to say this, but I’ve only seen the Spurs win ONE TIME in person. Hoping to double that sad, sad stat.
Friday, February 19
Spurs (46-8) @ Lakers (11-44)
How the last Spurs/Lakers game was so closely contested is beyond me, but I don’t think that lightning is striking twice. Even on the second night of a back-to-back on the road (without any travel, of course), San Antonio should win this one handily.
I will also be at this game, with my life-long, hardcore Laker fan girlfriend, so my two bold predictions for this game are that the Spurs win by 20 and by halftime I’m single again.
Sunday, February 21
Spurs (47-8) @ Suns (14-40)
I just did a double take on the Suns record. I honestly didn’t realize their record was that bad. Just three games better than the Lakers? Oof. And as of this writing the Suns have lost nine in a row, while the Spurs have lost eight games all season.
I’m taking the Spurs by 17, and predicting 11 minutes of Boban time.
Wednesday, February 24
Spurs (48-8) @ Kings (22-31)
The Kings have gone 2-8 over their last 10 games, only beating the Bucks and 76ers during that stretch. You know what’s crazy? The Spurs are going on a six-game road trip right out of the All-Star Break and the only team they face with a winning record (as of now) is the Clippers. And they get the Clippers at the start of the road trip, which means they should be at their freshest, which is also great, because when you get to games like Sacramento, you might not need your best game to win by 12 points. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen here.
Forgive me if I get wistful while watching Marco Belinelli play in this one.
Thursday, February 25
Spurs (49-8) @ Jazz (26-26)
Despite losing to the Pelicans just before the All-Star break, the Jazz are a hot 8-2 over their last 10 games, including wins against the Bulls and Mavericks. It’s pretty reasonable to believe the Jazz will be better than .500 by the time Pop & co. land in Salt Lake City. The Spurs head to Utah on the second night of a back-to-back, and for this reason, I could see them taking a loss.
Duncan will probably rest, Manu is still going to be out. Hell, maybe even Parker will sit this one out. It just doesn’t seem like a game that Pop is going to be worried about losing. Get ready for a lot of Boban, Simmons, and Anderson, folks. Spurs lose by 6.
Saturday, February 27
Spurs (49-9) @ Rockets (27-28)
Aaaah, back in Texas after a day of rest. Not quite back in San Antonio, but Houston is close enough that besides playing in someone else’s arena, it’s not your typical road game. Also, Houston sucks and everyone on that team is a garbage human being is not a great basketball team, and I don’t believe that playing at home gives them a great advantage over a team like the Spurs.
Yes, I remember the Christmas Day game, and it was awful, but San Antonio is not splitting the season series with Houston. No sir. Not going to happen. Their own coach just called them “broken” and they’re actively trying to shop Dwight Howard before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
With or without Howard, the complexion of this Houston team is just off. This isn’t a team that’s going anywhere, even if they do manage to beat the Spurs. But remember, that’s not going to happen.
San Antonio wins by 17 points and closes the month at 50-9. Not too shabby, eh?
At face value, this seems to be one of the record-friendliest Rodeo Road Trips I can remember. If we’re to include the Magic and Heat games before the All-Star break as part of the eight-game road trip, that makes for two opponents with winning records and six without. Road games are tough, no matter what the record of the other team, but if you have to go on the road eight games in a row, it surely helps to be matched up against lesser teams, no?
Back to my prediction, the Spurs go 11-1 in February, finish the month at 50-9, and somehow still find themselves four games behind Golden State for first place in the Western Conference. Sheesh.
