Mass.....you're wrong about one thing. the spurs are not operating under the assumption they will be in the finals.

they're operating under the assumption the finals don't exist at this point, aka they won't be in the finals.

otherwise, they would play their guys tonight all out to try secure HCA over the Bulls since they are assuming they will be there. If they rest their guys...they're taking more importance in getting to the finals, not operating under the assumption they will be there.

It made absolutely ZERO sense to play the starters against LA. By not playing we

- Another day of rest, instead of playing a physical game vs. LA, when your potential opponent in 4 or 5 days is a very physical Memphis team..

- Why risk having the Lakers at the 4 spot and in the Spurs bracket?..Spurs might eventually have to face the Lakers, but I don't buy the "don't fear" talk..if you can avoid LA and rely on somebody else to beat them, do it..

- HCA is up for grabs, but if the Spurs play seriously and still lose, it's a confidence hit IMO..if the Spurs can make it all the way to the Finals, it means that the role players stepped up and did a good job in the other series', meaning they more than likely won't be affected on the road in the Finals..

If guys like Hill, Neal, Bonner, Blair(and whoever else) played well enough to beat teams like OKC, Dallas and LA in the playoffs, which leads to the Finals, then I'm sure they would be fine on the road, in the Finals..

- If we beat Phoenix (Which Pop says the starters will play) then it still comes down to the tie-breaker with Chicago for HCA... It's not like it is lost for good. Worrying about HCA in the finals if ****ing retarded especially after seeing Bynum go down last night... Imagine if that was Timmy who recently has admitted that his ankle is not 100%

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the spurs are not operating under the assumption they will be in the finals.

they're operating under the assumption the finals don't exist at this point, aka they won't be in the finals.

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que?

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otherwise, they would play their guys tonight all out to try secure HCA over the Bulls since they are assuming they will be there

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Except for the "all out" part, I'm on record as saying this is EXACTLY what will happen. The Spurs shouldn't have to sell themselves out to beat Phoenix the way LA did last night against the Spurs warmup team. But I wouldn't be surprised if all of the "big 3" get minutes.

But I've been wrong before.


[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 4/13/2011 4:15p).]

lets simpletard this...

Question....is Pop going to:
1.do what he did last night. Duncan in street clothes, Parker banging 14 girls in the locker room, Ginobili in the hotel watching flopping techniques.

2. play them.

If 1: Pop is clearly trying to rest his guys and more focused about the Western Conference before even thinking about HCA in the Finals.

If 2: Pop is looking ahead to the NBA Finals, and trying to secure HCA over the Bulls at the risk of possibly hurting/tiring his guys through the WCF. Otherwise, it's an irrelevant game, and have them doing #1.

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Duncan in street clothes, Parker banging 14 girls in the locker room, Ginobili in the hotel watching flopping techniques.

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lol

It's one game, and they didn't play last night. I doubt he's worried about tiring them out. What he's trying to avoid is injury.

Sharkie...i said hurting/tiring. it's right there

also...when the Spurs fanbase has been complaining about back to backs for years taking its toll on the team....which tonight is by the way....i'd say fatigue is a possibility.

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 4/13/2011 6:31p).]

I said they didn't play last night, it's right there

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How do you figure? The road team has to do one of two very difficult things, either:
1. Win 2 games on the road, or
2. Win 3 games in a row at home

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no. they really don't.

let's just say the bulls take home court in the finals. the spurs can win one of two on the road, two of three at home, and one of two on the road again. considering the spurs have a .634 winning percentage on the road, winning 2 of 4 on the road isn't crazy.

for some reason, your argument is in absolutes. you assume the home team never loses, so of course you think it is impossible for the team w/o home court to win a series.

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If anything, I'd say the 2-3-2 format is MORE advantageous for the home team, especially if they win the 1st two games. All they've done is held serve at that point, but they basically force the other team to win 3 in a row, which is an EXTREMELY difficult thing to do in the playoffs.

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i'm not arguing your point about winning at home. holding serve is a commanding way to start a series. but you have to keep in mind how hard it would be to be tied 1-1 and your next three are on the road.

i'm also not saying the road team has an advantage. my whole argument is that getting all up in arms about not being the home team in 2-3-2 isn't the end of the world.

West teams that have now thrown games for seeding purposes:

-Memphis (trying to get 8 seed for matchup with SA)
-San Antonio (trying to avoid 2nd round LA matchup)

Teams I though would probably join them tonight:

-Dallas (trying to fall to the 4)
-OKC (screwing up Mavs plans by clinching the 4) Though, I think it might be hard to lose at home against the Bucks no matter how hard you try.

How did the Bucks even win 34 games?

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/13/2011 7:52p).]

Halfway there to a Spurs-Hornets series. Just need the Grizz to beat the Clippers.

Damn it nets!

Ah well. Gonna have to settle for a tie and a random draw for the overall 1 seed, provided we even win tonight.

[This message has been edited by Obi Wan Ginobili (edited 4/13/2011 9:41p).]

Well, the Thunder pulled through, even though it ended up being pointless. Or should I say "threw."

Kudos to Dallas for going for the win.

Now Memphis is in all out mail it in mode. It is obvious that they are trying to lose on purpose out of the gate. Down 11-0 less than 3 minutes in.

jesus christ grizzlies not even pretending they're not tanking this.