Analysis The first 10 games

[Fireball]

Preseason is over. The Spurs went 5-0, but the competition has been an Chinese team, the Heat, the Jazz and the Pacers. So how do I feel about the first 10 games?

at Mavericks - L
[opening night against one of the toughest matchups - i see Wemby trying a bit too much and the home crowd making the difference.]
at Pelicans - W
vs. Nets - W
vs. Raptors - W
[b2b, 3rd game in four nights, but the Raptors come from a b2b as well]
vs. Heat - W
at Suns - W
at Lakers - L
[I stated it in other threads, Luka will cook us until he does not]
vs. Rockets - L
vs. Pelicans - W
at Bulls - L
[3rd game in four nights, Bulls have 2 days rest, Spurs like to struggle in Chicago]

That would be 5-1 start but only a 6-4 record after 10 games. Of course the Spurs might win in L.A. and Chicago, but then they will produce some duds against New Orleans if Zion goes bonkers.
I still see a lot of question marks with our 3 point shooting and communication on defense - still excited for the season to start.

What are your expectations for the first ten games?

 

[MacNeacail]

10-0... I believe

 

[Neuromancer]

7 and 3 imo. Losses @ NOLA, vs HOU, @ CHI

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Spurs will go 82-0 in their first 10 games.

 

[LeBowen]

I'll be extermely upset if we lose to a team with Vucevic/Collins C rotation in 2025.

Lakers will be without Lebron, will be disappointing if we lose that one.
And we play the Rockets at home.

I said it in another topic, anything less than 7-3 would be disappointing with Mavs and Rockets as the only two games where we won't be favored.

Also, @Fireball , maybe add a poll with record predictions?

 

[brazil]

6-4 would be great... Mavs matchup is tough for the Spurs, rockets, LA.. then we drop one of the rest

 

[Shmurs]

2-3 L’s in there. 7-3 at worst imo. Dallas coming in with no guards isn’t a death sentence but they’re going to look messy in game 1.

This team also is going to have more adrenaline than most, and I think the losses equalize later in the year when they start to get overwhelmed and lose some swagger and poise.

 

[Exstatic]

8-2

 

[SpursBrazil]

7-3

 

[Thoodee]

at Mavericks - W
at Pelicans - L
vs. Nets - L

could see the spurs pull a win on first game, then goose eggs from teams they should beat.

vs. Raptors - W
vs. Heat - W
at Suns - W

at Lakers - L
vs. Rockets - L
vs. Pelicans - W
at Bulls - L

5-5

 

[spurraider21]

Mavs - Loss
Pelicans - Win
Nets - Win
Raptors - Loss
Heat - Win
Suns - Win
Lakers - Loss
Rockets - Loss
Pelicans - Win
Bulls - Win

6-4

 

[dn0774]

I'll go with 6-4 (losses @ DAL, @ NOP, @ LAL, vs HOU would be my guess). Opening night @ Dallas feels like our usual trap opening game against them. Zion shreds the Spurs when healthy. If Fox comes back quickly and is as healthy as he says he is that would help immensely, a healthy Fox draws so much attention.

 

[Exstatic]

Why does everyone have us losing to Dallas? Their guard play is ass, on both ends. We should absolutely dominate in an area not involving Wemby.

 

[dn0774]

Why does everyone have us losing to Dallas? Their guard play is ass, on both ends. We should absolutely dominate in an area not involving Wemby.

I think we're the better team overall, but without Fox they are probably a slight favorite on their home court and I am expecting an anomaly game from Klay or PJ going like 6 for 7 from 3.

I absolutely hope I am wrong and we kill them by 25+ on national tv opening night.

 

[Fireball]

Also, @Fireball , maybe add a poll with record predictions?

I did ... hope I did it correctly

 

[spurraider21]

Why does everyone have us losing to Dallas? Their guard play is ass, on both ends. We should absolutely dominate in an area not involving Wemby.

my gut feeling is it will be one of those games where Wemby just doesnt get comfortable offensively, and those games tend to go poorly for us. i think the spurs best chance of success in this one is wemby bombing away from 3 as the trail man to mitigate Dallas's 2-bigfront. i also think this will be tough for Castle, who has a tendency of getting his shots blocked at the rim when he fearlessly drives, and Mavs are built to do just that, especially if Flagg is his primary defender and can also make recovery blocks from behind. im also having premonitions of Barnes/Champagnie trying to box out Lively/Davis/Gafford to predictable results.

 

[Seventyniner]

6-4 seems about right to me but with a higher chance for upside than downside.

 

[spurraider21]

6-4 seems about right to me but with a higher chance for upside than downside.

i agree with this take. from the games i listed, i think theres a better chance of the spurs beating the mavs/lakers/raptors than them losing to the heat/bulls, which to me are the more questionable predictions

 

[Corso]

Why does everyone have us losing to Dallas? Their guard play is ass, on both ends. We should absolutely dominate in an area not involving Wemby.

Home ref cooking with the Flagg having to be planted.

 

[scott]

Mavs - Win
Pelicans - Win
Nets - Win
Raptors - Win
Heat - Win
Suns - Win
Lakers - Loss
Rockets - Loss
Pelicans - Win
Bulls - Win

8-2. ESPN will write articles about how surprising the Spurs start is, etc.

Also, some people on this Forum will blow a gasket and want to trade everyone when we lose two straight.

I think we'll see Flagg struggle in his debut, kind of like how Wemby did.

 

[LeBowen]

I think we'll see Flagg struggle in his debut, kind of like how Wemby did.

Apparently Kidd is planning to start Flagg at PG.
Flagg/Klay/Washington/AD/Lively.

I got no idea how that game plays out.

 

[Ariel]

Apparently Kidd is planning to start Flagg at PG.
Flagg/Klay/Washington/AD/Lively.

I got no idea how that game plays out.

He's putting Flagg in the Giannis Antetokoumpo development plan

 

[scott]

Lots of steals coming up, which is great because I expect us to be a high-steal team this year and this will get us off to a great start.

 

[brazil]

Why does everyone have us losing to Dallas? Their guard play is ass, on both ends. We should absolutely dominate in an area not involving Wemby.

They are tall, we will have trouble guarding Flagg. Against Mavs you need 3 points shooting and it is untill proven otherwise our biggest issue. It's a game of missmatch but we will balance it out only if we can shoot from distance... Victor will have his hands full with leading with AD, who takes care of Lively and Flagg ?

 

[scott]

Big game for Devin against DAL. You heard it here first.