http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012/story/_/page/5-on-5-120517/nba-playoffs-san-antonio-spurs-success


Cut right to the chase:

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5. Fact or Fiction: The Spurs will win the 2012 NBA title.

Abbott: Fact. Of course, I have no idea. Anything can happen. But if I had to pick the most likely team, it's a cinch to pick the team that has managed minutes well, gets good shots on almost every possession and has yet to break a sweat.

Arnovitz: Fact, with an acknowledgment that a healthy Miami squad would be a very tough out and would certainly be a superior defensive team. But so long as the Heat lack the balance Chris Bosh gives them, the Spurs have that springtime look of a veteran team poised for a title run.

Gutierrez: Fiction. Still sticking by the tried and true idea that an offense-first team rarely wins it all. The Spurs were 17th in the regular season in field goal percentage allowed and are dead last among the remaining teams in that category. Yes, they can outscore you, but the Spurs as a defensive team is a thing of the past.

Stein: Fact. Closest thing we've got to a title favorite right now. Deepest, healthiest and, uh, grooviest team on the map.

Windhorst: Fact. They're my favorite at the moment. Right now they remind me a bit of the Argentinean national team from the 2002-06 era, a brilliantly coached team with players who knew each other so well, knew and executed their roles perfectly and consistently, had their systems so well-oiled they could perform them under any circumstance, and were the definition of a great "team." That's what the Spurs are doing right now.

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Guitierrez raises a good point, but they improved their defense down the stretch of the season. Still need to get by the Clips and Thunder though (OKC is turning it on too despite a poor shooting night lastnight).

One of these things is not like the others.

In the last 31 games where the Spurs have played their starters [not including the Jazz loss where Pop sent Duncan/Parker/Ginobili home], the Spurs are 29-2.

Gutierrez is a tranny

Spurs may not have defensive greats... but the way they played the hybrid zone on CP3 in game 1 and held him to no points in 2nd half was clutch. As long as they continue to work together and unselfishly on O & D they should be able to win it all...

OKC will be tougher than Miami who has more of a tendency to not execute and play sloppy.

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Still sticking by the tried and true idea that an offense-first team rarely wins it all. The Spurs were 17th in the regular season in field goal percentage allowed and are dead last among the remaining teams in that category. Yes, they can outscore you, but the Spurs as a defensive team is a thing of the past.

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This is one of the dumbest things I've read in this year's playoffs. Anyone who has paid attention to the Spurs in this year's playoffs has seen them kick the Jazz and the Clips in the teeth defensively.

When was the last time Chris Paul had 6 or fewer points and 5 or more turnovers in any one game? I don't know the answer but my guess would be never.

One of my biggest problems with sports pundits these days is that they rely on statistics far too much. It is easier to just watch the games and let your own eyes tell you whether a team can play defense. I don't care what the regular season defensive efficiency per-48 minutes statistics tell you. The Spurs are a very solid defensive team, and they can get stops when they really need them. Also I think Pop would object to the characterization of the Spurs as "offense first".

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 5/17/2012 1:55p).]

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When was the last time Chris Paul had 6 or fewer points and 5 or more turnovers in any one game? I don't know the answer but my guess would be never.

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2006 vs Spurs
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200612140NOK.html

What are the team stats since the Stephen Jackson trade? Even if has underperformed individually, that move signaled a culture change that they were serious about making a title run. Trading an albatross contract for a former champion veteran leader that would run through a wall to win another one

regular season stats are less relevant now anyways when you get to play the same team in a series. its all about health and adjustments now. the spurs are healthy and have the best coach in the league. even before rose and bosh went down they were probably still a 25-30% favorite.

23-1 with SJax with SJAX minus his first game with the team and the game that Pop refused to send the big 3 to for the second half of a back to back on a 1-game road trip.

Jackson didn't shoot the ball particularly well in the regular season, but he brought a much needed defensive toughness. We are 23-3 by my count since we got him back, and that includes his first game in the loss against Dallas.

Ital, he was cold during his first few weeks w the spurs, but by the end of the season he was shooting fine

Oh on daily dime:


6. Tweet Of The Night
There will eventually be a visiting team with the poise to hold onto a late lead in OKC. Something tells me that team wears black and silver.

— ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein May 16, 2012

Given the number of injuries this postseason, the presence of back to back playoff games, and just the playoff intensity, I feel like the spurs greatest threat is injury, not the clippers..or even the thunder

A healthy spurs team is definitely the favorite at this point, but I could see them conceivably choking a game away that changes their series with OKC.

I could also see OKC doing the same thing because they are so young and Westbrook is so stupid sometimes.

Should be a great series, and it will be the quasi-championship series.

One game at a time guys. The spurs are capable yes, but we have to follow through with execution.

I expect to finish off the clips in 4-5 games. But OKC and Miami will be very tough. Nothing is certain in the playoffs.

Go Spurs Go!!

I wouldn't be surprised if it's Celtics vs. Spurs in Finals.

Spurs look as strong as ever... but OKC isn't gonna be a pushover

Go to the ESPN NBA Playoff page and look at current and past predictions. There is no bigger idiot than Guitierrez. He even picked the Lakers in 6 over the Thunder. He thought the Jazz would take the Spurs to 7, thinks the Clips will take the Spurs to 7.



[This message has been edited by MackeyPatch (edited 5/17/2012 8:30p).]

Like Jalen Rose said: "Popovich is playing chess and everyone else is playing checkers."

Bo Diaw makes a HUGE difference on this team. Takes the pressure off of Tim defensively and on the glass and is a great passer. Has finally become acclimated to what the Spurs are doing on both ends of the floor and has raised the team's level a notch. It's easier for Tim to be fresh and produce offensively when he isn't being beaten to a pulp on the defensive end and being responsible for keeping the other team from killing the Spurs on the offensive glass.

I agree with what a couple of other posters have said... the biggest threats to a 5th Spurs title in 2012 are (in order):
1. injuries
2, OKC
3. Boston

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Go to the ESPN NBA Playoff page and look at current and past predictions. There is no bigger idiot than Guitierrez. He even picked the Lakers in 6 over the Thunder. He thought the Jazz would take the Spurs to 7, thinks the Clips will take the Spurs to 7.

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What an idiot. How does this guy even have a job there? I saw this tranny dumbass on first take and I honestly think they hired this guy to troll.

praying the Pacers beat Miami. Makes it that much easier for the Spurs.

The Spurs won't win because its an even-numbered year.

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I agree with what a couple of other posters have said... the biggest threats to a 5th Spurs title in 2012 are (in order):
1. injuries
2. OKC
3. Boston

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+1, although I'd almost switch #'s 2 and 3. My biggest concern is that the Spurs have played two relatively crappy teams thus far, and haven't had to deal with adversity. They aren't going to sweep the playoffs, so I'll be interested to see how they respond to getting their nose bloodied.

This isn't their first rodeo.. Theyll be fine. They actually need to lose a game just to get it out of their system. Or they could just sweep through the whole playoffs

I think the whole point of ESPN First Take is to troll. They make asinine proclamations (led by Bayless) to get a rise out of the audience to increase viewership.

I agree Mass. It will be interesting to see what happens when the Spurs meet an elite defense (if we get past the Clippers). From what they've showed us in the regular season at least, the Spurs don't handle ball pressure all that well (see the Boston game). We'll see it next round against the Thunder.

Spurs-Celtics would be so ****ing awesome. If the Celtics can make it there they would be vetted as a worthy challenger.

Amazing how they can rely on the young guys late in the 4th quarter. That has to be one of the biggest difference this year - young role players actually stepping it up in the playoffs. And Stephen Jackson I guarantee will have a huge impact vs the Thunder, Heat, Celtics, and obviously Pacers.

The Thunder will be a true test--that's one hell of a team.

Still, if SA takes care of the ball and executes, I don't see OKC hanging with them. Spurs went 2-1 against OKC this season, and those wins were PRE-boris diaw (which is huge, when you stop to think about it).

OKC/Spurs is going to be nerve-wracking to watch if it comes to that.