tinysands
2007-03-07, 04:51 PM
Making sense of the Spurs' winning streak
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030707.01C.BKNspurs.graphic.3d75fdc.html
Web Posted: 03/07/2007 01:48 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
After beating Portland on Tuesday, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have won 10-straight games. How impressive is that?
Well, let's not get carried away
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have played only three teams that are above .500 on the streak: the Pistons, Raptors and Rockets. They also beat the Nets, Nuggets, Hawks, Sonics, Magic, Clippers and Trail Blazers.
The Suns have had winning streaks of 15 and 17 games this season, and the Mavericks have had streaks of 13 and 12 games and are on a 16-game streak after beating the Nets on Tuesday. The Spurs' 10-game winning streak pales in comparison to those streaks, and this is the longest such run for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) this season. Before this streak, the Spurs' longest of the season was only five games (twice).
This, in fact, isn't unusual for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) after the rodeo road trip. Last season, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) won seven straight. In 2004, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak. The common factor in those seasons? The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) didn't win a championship.
Hey, winning is winning
The streak has allowed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to move closer to locking up home-court advantage in the first round. The top-four teams in the West will have that edge, and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have the third-best record at 43-18. Just behind them are the Jazz at 41-19 and the Rockets, who are 36-24 and have lost four of their last 10, one of those setbacks coming Saturday against the Spurs. Don't dismiss a No. 2 seed, either. The Suns aren't out of reach at 46-14. The Mavericks, though, do seem to be long gone at 51-9.
The streak has survived with All-Star point guard Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) sidelined for two games, at Houston and at the Clippers on Monday. In both games, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) received solid play from backups Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) and Beno Udrih.
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) has stepped up throughout the streak, giving the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) a spark off the bench. He had 11 of his 16 points Monday during the pivotal third quarter, and he had a season-high 40 against the Hawks on Feb. 21.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030707.01C.BKNspurs.graphic.3d75fdc.html
Web Posted: 03/07/2007 01:48 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
After beating Portland on Tuesday, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have won 10-straight games. How impressive is that?
Well, let's not get carried away
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have played only three teams that are above .500 on the streak: the Pistons, Raptors and Rockets. They also beat the Nets, Nuggets, Hawks, Sonics, Magic, Clippers and Trail Blazers.
The Suns have had winning streaks of 15 and 17 games this season, and the Mavericks have had streaks of 13 and 12 games and are on a 16-game streak after beating the Nets on Tuesday. The Spurs' 10-game winning streak pales in comparison to those streaks, and this is the longest such run for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) this season. Before this streak, the Spurs' longest of the season was only five games (twice).
This, in fact, isn't unusual for the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) after the rodeo road trip. Last season, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) won seven straight. In 2004, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) ended the regular season on an 11-game winning streak. The common factor in those seasons? The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) didn't win a championship.
Hey, winning is winning
The streak has allowed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to move closer to locking up home-court advantage in the first round. The top-four teams in the West will have that edge, and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have the third-best record at 43-18. Just behind them are the Jazz at 41-19 and the Rockets, who are 36-24 and have lost four of their last 10, one of those setbacks coming Saturday against the Spurs. Don't dismiss a No. 2 seed, either. The Suns aren't out of reach at 46-14. The Mavericks, though, do seem to be long gone at 51-9.
The streak has survived with All-Star point guard Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) sidelined for two games, at Houston and at the Clippers on Monday. In both games, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) received solid play from backups Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) and Beno Udrih.
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) has stepped up throughout the streak, giving the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) a spark off the bench. He had 11 of his 16 points Monday during the pivotal third quarter, and he had a season-high 40 against the Hawks on Feb. 21.