And the NBA is officially back.

[Kenny]

The Spurs have an awesome bench. Every player from Ginobili to Anderson can contribute. I love what Patty Mills is bringing to their team and he seems to be really thriving in his role. I'm really impressed by them this season and I think they're a legit chance.

[Andrew]

Gamewinner by Aldridge:

phpBB [video]

[koberulz]

"Ugh."

[Kenny]

Nuggets continue to lose to non-playoff teams. 15-24 against conference opponents

[Kenny]

Kenneth Faried 27 and 17 in 24 minutes!

[cavs4872]

Wow very impressive. He's well deserving of the starting spot.... Went from basically no spot in the rotation to a starter in months. Don't see guys bring it every night like he does

[Lamrock]

It amazes me how close the Mavs are to missing the playoffs. I've been rooting for a scenario where Houston falls to ninth and the Suns get the 8 seed, but I want the Mavs' title defense to last at least until the first round of the playoffs. Lockout shortened seasons are crazy, man.

Apologies to Bulls fans, but my new nickname for Rose is Derrick Blows (his knee out), even though his ailments have been his back and ankle. I'm obviously not his biggest fan, but it would be a shame if they entered the playoffs with him not 100% (or not playing at all). With or without him, they're a lock for the ECF imo - their defense is just that good.

Portland is tanking, but they only seem to realize that when they're playing the Bucks. Even though I think he'll be terrible, I kind of want them to draft Tony Wroten with their second lottery pick, since I know the guy. The best and worst thing about the Gerald Wallace trade has been the emergence of Nicolas Batum. He's my favorite Blazer, but I fear he'll recieve a Rudy Gay-type deal due to his "emergence" (getting more shots and minutes). Even worse would be a long term deal for J.J. Hickson, who has been playing as good as he did next to LeBron - for 11 games. The team won't be getting Deron or Nash this off-season, so I'm one of the few Blazers fans that wants Ray Felton back. Crawford should GTFO though.

It's cool to see San Antonio challenge for the top seed out West (like most NBA fans, I used to hate them, and now I like them) but my and everybody else's Miami over OKC finals prediction looks good still.

All this analysis has me actually looking forward to the post-season. Wanted to bandwagon Philly but they are like the Blazers only they may have waited just long enough to flame out to where they still make the playoffs. Instead, I'll go with Memphis again, since I think they'll beat the Clippers (should the standings hold) and were so fun last season.

[Dc311]

It's cool to see San Antonio challenge for the top seed out West but my and everybody else's Miami over OKC finals prediction looks good still.

I honestly think It is going to be Miami/San Antonio.I know i picked OKC to eliminate the Spurs in the playoffs but that was before the new signings.I just can't see Durant and Westbrook along with Harden taking out the TEAM of San Antonio.It may seem i am being a little biased here because i am from San Antonio but i just don't see it happening.

(like most NBA fans, I used to hate them, and now I like them)

That just reminds me of the only time i ever hated the Spurs organization,it was when they fired Larry Brown.

[Lamrock]

Well, the Spurs did lose in the first round to an 8 seed last year. Granted, Manu was hurt, but he's been in and out of the lineup all year, and injuries are part of the game. I like Kawhi Leonard and Splitter has improved, but I don't see this team as much different from the one that fell 14 playoff wins short of a title last year.

OKC also has the league leader in blocks in Serge Ibaka, along with good role players in Perkins (granted he's been horrible post-knee surgery), Collison, Sefolosha, etc. In the playoffs, having the two best players in the series is a pretty big deal, and with Ginobili being limited to under 24 minutes per game, that's the advantage the Thunder would have.

Spurs probably lose to Memphis or the Lakers in the second round anyway though.

[Martti.]

Faried hell yeah! Those are crazy numbers, especially in 24 minutes. Wish he would have started early on.

[Dc311]

but I don't see this team as much different from the one that fell 14 playoff wins short of a title last year.

Really?How is that?
Duncan is playing young again.Manu has said he is not in his basketball form and he will be come playoffs.Parker is having his best season ever.
And also,the bench is without a doubt the best bench in the league.Take yesterdays game against Utah for example.Duncan,Parker and Ginobili did not play.And it was the bench who kept it close against a team who still have a shot at being in the playoffs.Also the fact that the Spurs now know they do not need Ginobili to win games.When he was injured this year the Spurs still won because of the plays of the bench.Patty Mills has been a great add on for just being here less than two weeks and Diaw is doing his job at defense.Splitter is the sixth man of the year for the Spurs team,Dejaun Blair is playing like his first two seasons and i can't say enough about Kawhi Leonard.That dude is quietly making an impact with the team.

[NovU]

Makes sense in some ways. Lamerock likes to go by pythagorean win percentage or whatever and the Spurs are about where they were last season. And Duncan actually isn't playing young as his efficiency dipped a bit while his usage increased. So perhaps an upset is quite possible and their ceiling isn't that high as Lamerock expects. Nobody knows...

[Lamrock]

I didn't really use any metrics in my argument, but giving them a look only backs up what I'm saying. I understand homerism, as I wore Rose Garden tinted glasses all season right until Portland started rebuilding. The Spurs are on pace to finish with around the same winning percentage as last season, and their biggest roster change was swapping George Hill for Kawhi Leonard. I like Leonard, but George Hill is a very good player as well. It's easy to forget the Spurs had the best record in the league for most of last season. That season ended in a first round exit, and while you can blame it on Manu's injury, his 30 missed games this year does not inspire confidence.

And I don't really see how Duncan has been better than last season. No, I don't have time to watch many Spurs games, but the statistics (the closest thing we have to fact) suggest NovU is right that he's merely taken on a slightly bigger role in the offense.

[NovU]

Nonetheless, I have to admit that they look pretty impressive once again this season. But if the playoffs started today, their first round is against the Mavericks and second against the Lakers before facing OKC then the Heat. Lolollol.

[Dc311]

No, I don't have time to watch many Spurs games

And that is where you do not see it.

and while you can blame it on Manu's injury, his 30 missed games this year does not inspire confidence.

And going back to what i posted before.

Also the fact that the Spurs now know they do not need Ginobili to win games.When he was injured this year the Spurs still won because of the plays of the bench.

But if the playoffs started today, their first round is against the Mavericks and second against the Lakers before facing OKC then the Heat. Lolollol.

Hahaha!!!Right on man.

[Andrew]

Apologies to Bulls fans, but my new nickname for Rose is Derrick Blows (his knee out), even though his ailments have been his back and ankle. I'm obviously not his biggest fan, but it would be a shame if they entered the playoffs with him not 100% (or not playing at all). With or without him, they're a lock for the ECF imo - their defense is just that good.

Yeah, it's been a tough year for him with the injuries but it's a rare player that hasn't had at least one season with injuries problems so in the long run, I'm not too concerned. As for this season though...I'm actually not sure about them being a lock for the ECF without him or not being at 100%. I agree that their defense is that good but I don't know if the offense will be there every night. Defense wins championships, as the saying goes - or at the very least, should get you through to the Conference Finals - but holding your opponent to 80 points doesn't matter if you can't score 81. If he's out or hobbled by his injuries, I could see them bowing out in the second round. Obviously, I'm not hoping for that scenario by any means.

You can't help but be impressed by the Spurs. It remains to be seen whether they've got enough in the tank to keep it going through the Playoffs or whether a bad matchup is going to end their season early as it did last year, but every time it looks like they might be at a point where they're on the outside looking in as far as being an elite team, there they are at the top of the standings and still in the discussion when it comes to contenders.

[Lamrock]

Dc311, And then Andrew Bynum grabs 30 boards as the Kobe-less Lakers defeat the Spurs in San Antonio in the likely second round preview. If you're going to pull the "you don't watch the games" argument instead of facts or something you can actually debate, then fine, we'll just wait and see how they do come playoff time.

Andrew, Would you prefer the Celtics or the Pacers in the second round?

[Dc311]

Dc311, And then Andrew Bynum grabs 30 boards as the Kobe-less Lakers defeat the Spurs in San Antonio in the likely second round preview. If you're going to pull the "you don't watch the games" argument instead of facts or something you can actually debate, then fine, we'll just wait and see how they do come playoff time.

Challenge accepted.

Note:
I am willing to say that come the second round,if them two meet,the Lakers will be more winded.
Coach Pop has done great with spreading the minutes.I can't say the same with Coach Brown.

[Andrew]

Andrew, Would you prefer the Celtics or the Pacers in the second round?

Tough call, neither are going to be pushovers. I'd still go with the Pacers though, the Celtics seem to be getting it together after it looked like they were about ready to be put out to pasture, throwing it all into what should be one last run.

[benji]

Jeff McDonald ‏ @JMcDonald_SAEN Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Spurs' postgame locker room mostly a bunch of jokes about Matt Bonner's second-quarter dunk ...
Tim Duncan, for instance: "There's Blake Griffin ... and then there's Matt Bonner."
Bonner breaks down the moment: "I couldn't decide between the windmill or the 360. So I ended up going with the one-handed power slam."
More Matt Bonner: “It’s a new attitude. I’m trying to usher in a new excitement here on the Spurs. Dunks, alley oops, you name it.”

[NovU]

So much for a boring team. Lol. What a good laugh.

[Lamrock]

I feel a lot better about how Portland's season went, seeing Houston likely headed for its third straight 9th place finish and #14 pick. Rooting for Phoenix to grab that eight seed, but I think Utah gets it as their remaining schedule is very easy.

[Phil89]

Fear the beard! 40 points off the bench for Harden against the Suns.

[Stress Fracture]

Things are turning bad for the Rockets.

[Andrew]

The @UtahJazz have completed the "OT cycle" this season: at least one 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4- overtime game... becoming the 3rd team to ever do!