Analysis Brian Windhorst: “Spurs are a playoff contender”

[spursistan]

We are not contenders, but for the Spurs to start the season 10-4 while being the second most injury-devastated team in the West (after Memphis) is really a big thing and augurs well for this team's ceiling when it is at full heath.. I still think 6th seed is doable if Wemby does not miss more than 15 games..

 

[John B]

Adding the most dominant defensive player, and potentially the most opportunistic scorer with his height and skills, into the 3-guard offense who’s constantly slashing with upbeat tempo, would be the job of Mitch and Co to make it work seamlessly. They have the 2014 blueprints of moving the ball, and now they are blessed with multiple players who can move the ball from 1-5 position. It’s just a matter of time!

 

[timtonymanu]

They've exceeded my expectations already. Potentially can be the 2nd best team in the West. Lakers are flawed as hell, Denver is still heavily Jokic reliant, Rockets have no point guards.

I didn't think they would take off this fast, but I'm also not suprised.

 

[spursistan]

They've exceeded my expectations already. Potentially can be the 2nd best team in the West. Lakers are flawed as hell, Denver is still heavily Jokic reliant, Rockets have no point guards.

I didn't think they would take off this fast, but I'm also not suprised.

We are starting to get NOTICED..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1998990670879707209

 

[bozhemoi]

It's pretty nasty that the Spurs are playing so well with tons of room to grow, pieces to pick up, and much of it without their superstar.

 

[ginobilized]

This season is making me trust the FO and playing the Wright way. I think the FO and coaches will be able to really dial this roster in over the summer, but, we are already very deep when last season was a train wreck.

 

[Uriel]

I would say the tiers right now in the West are, going by point differential:

Tier 1: OKC
Tier 2: HOU, DEN
Tier 3: SAS, LAL, MIN

With us having the chance to jump to tier 2 with Wemby getting back in the fold.

 

[Exstatic]

Tier 1: OKC
Tier 2: SAS,DEN,MIN
Tier 3: HOU,LAL

 

[PokerFace21]

By standings, IMO:

Tier 1: OKC
Tier 2: SAS,DEN,MIN, HOU, LAL
Tier 3: everyone else

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

LA’s inability to play defense will kill them in the playoffs. Especially when fouls are called at a much lower rate. While Luka is having an MVP type of season he is shooting an absurd 13 FTs per game. He won’t get all those pussy calls in the POs. LA will be a 1st round exit.

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

1. OKC
2. Spurs, Denver, Houston
3. LA, Minny

 

[wemvp]

Adding the most dominant defensive player, and potentially the most opportunistic scorer with his height and skills, into the 3-guard offense who’s constantly slashing with upbeat tempo, would be the job of Mitch and Co to make it work seamlessly.

That's a job much harder to do than it sounds. Both the offense and defense changed drastically without Wemby. The offense got better and the defense got worse. If Mitch figures out how to get Wemby to fit within this offense while also fixing the defense he deserves Coach of the Year. I think it's going to be a struggle to get it right.

 

[spursistan]

At the end of regular season, this team may reach pseudo contender status, but for now, they will be one of those up-and-coming future conference powerhouses that will take their lumps in their first rodeo but be a pain in the ass for every higher seed they play e.g. : 2010-11 Thunder, 2013 Warriors, 2020 Nuggets

 

[Shmurs]

At the end of regular season, this team may reach pseudo contender status, but for now, they will be one of those up-and-coming future conference powerhouses that will take their lumps in their first rodeo but be a pain in the ass for every higher seed they play e.g. : 2010-11 Thunder, 2013 Warriors, 2020 Nuggets

They appear to be a clear top 4 team in the west right now and I would actually expect them to beat everyone but Denver, Houston and OKC in a 7 game series.

Gsw? Lal? Phoenix? We have all 3 covered. Minnesota is the only question mark but I think we should be confident in that one too.

This team is well positioned to get to the 2nd round. Really hope they can go for a top 3 seed to avoid the buzz saw until the conference finals.

 

[Spurminator]

Thread title quote approaching Understatement of the Year status.

 

[bozhemoi]

Lakers are much better than I anticipated. I thought they'd get cooked with teammates that don't fit around Doncic. But they do heavily depend on a whistle, which wins them a lot of close games. And they don't do it the OKC way -- Lakers don't even have to try to get whistles for them, they're just given.

 

[Exstatic]

Lakers are much better than I anticipated. I thought they'd get cooked with teammates that don't fit around Doncic. But they do heavily depend on a whistle, which wins them a lot of close games. And they don't do it the OKC way -- Lakers don't even have to try to get whistles for them, they're just given.

They suck on defense, which places them squarely in the pretender category.

 

[Correct Crusader]

Lakers are much better than I anticipated. I thought they'd get cooked with teammates that don't fit around Doncic. But they do heavily depend on a whistle, which wins them a lot of close games. And they don't do it the OKC way -- Lakers don't even have to try to get whistles for them, they're just given.

It'll stop in the playoffs. Look back to how the Wolves treated them last april. You cannot rely on the whistle in the playoffs.