The Spurs’ present file would have them within the playoff hunt within the East. Do you suppose they’d make the postseason in the event that they had been within the weaker convention?
Marilyn Dubinski: They actually would have a a lot better probability within the East, however then once more, that could possibly be stated nearly yearly. For no matter cause, regardless of having extra “free agent vacation spot” groups, the East simply by no means lives as much as its billing just like the West does. You’d suppose {that a} convention as deep because the West can be the one which beats up on itself and lowers the general win totals, however as an alternative they simply feast on the East to carry up the rear, whereas I suppose the underside 2⁄3 of the East is the group consuming itself, making it top-heavy however weak in depth. Any fringe West group would most likely like to spend only one season East.
Mark Barrington: Once I regarded on the league earlier than the season began I assumed it could be a down yr for the west and that the east can be resurgent. Boy, was I ever improper. The Spurs are close to a .500 file they usually’ve solely performed one group from the Japanese Convention to this point, so it’s not implausible that they’d have a successful file towards competitors from the east. That form of file would put the Silver and Black proper in the midst of the playoff hunt.
Jesus Gomez: It appears that approach. At the very least the wholesome model of them may. San Antonio has hovered round .500 even after dropping a really winnable recreation towards the Jazz. There are solely 4 groups within the East at or above .500 proper now. Even when the 76ers and Bucks climb up the standings, the Spurs may undoubtedly be within the play-in race. It’s nonetheless early within the season and different East groups may go on a run or make trades to enhance, plus there’s at all times the possibility that the Spurs take a step again, however as issues stand now, San Antonio can be a powerful playoffs contender within the weaker convention.
Invoice Huan: The Spurs undoubtedly wouldn’t have a greater file than the Celtics, Cavs, Magic or Knicks. After that, it stays to be seen if the Sixers and Bucks can get their you-know-what collectively, however I’m certain that they’ll make the play-in on the very least. Provided that the Warmth and Pacers are nonetheless round and with the Pistons and Hawks being friskier than anticipated, I believe San Antonio’s likeliest placement within the East can be a play-in berth.
Devon Birdsong: All I’ll say is there’s a cause LeBron made the Finals 9 instances within the East versus 1 within the West, and it’s not simply Father Time. Within the present format I’m assured the Spurs would land a seventh or eighth seed within the East, principally as a result of I believe there’s a reasonably good probability they find yourself ninth or tenth within the West if they’ll get wholesome. A ten seed within the West is just about the equal of an eighth seed within the East.
The West has 11 groups at or above .500 and the East solely has 4. Ought to the NBA rethink taking away conferences and having the groups with one of the best file make the postseason?
Dubinski: They need to have accomplished away with conferences a very long time in the past since this has been a operating theme this complete century. The issue is that they’ll most likely by no means get the votes to do it, particularly from perennially unhealthy East groups that might in any other case by no means stand an opportunity. There’s additionally the entire concern of determining a schedule that is smart, doesn’t in the reduction of on the variety of video games by an excessive amount of since they’ve TV deal obligations to fill, and maintains affordable journey. (Understandably, East coast groups most likely don’t need to be taking part in extra 10 PM video games on the West coast than they already do.) That being stated, I wouldn’t be towards protecting conferences for scheduling functions however eradicating them from the standings, as a result of as we already identified, regardless of the West being deeper, it’s not stopping these groups from having the higher information.
Barrington: I don’t suppose so, as a result of rivalries are essential in sports activities. Followers sit up for video games towards their rivals, even when the opponent is having a down yr. Possibly much more in a down yr, since what’s finest in life is “… [t]o crush your enemies, see them pushed earlier than you, and to listen to the lamentations of their girls.” [according to Conan the Barbarian] That doesn’t imply that there shouldn’t often be realignments, like when the Spurs had been moved into the Western Convention in 1980. The NBA ought to ultimately develop to 32 groups and after that growth the league ought to reconfigure the divisions.
Gomez: It’s one thing to contemplate, however doing it due to how this season goes can be an overreaction. Within the current previous, the East has had as many good groups because the West, no less than by way of file, a couple of instances. I do suppose it could be fascinating to have the in-season match have blended teams, with groups from each conferences. It is likely to be tough to make it work schedule-wise however it could be a enjoyable experiment.
Huan: Humorous sufficient, Zach Lowe simply tweeted about this and identified that some West group might be transferring East as a consequence of growth. If that occurs, the West will naturally get watered down, particularly because the growth franchises are probably going to be fairly weak.
With that stated, this query brings up a bigger level of competition for me, which is the size of every season. I’ve lengthy thought that the NBA ought to contemplate shortening the season to 58 video games so every group performs everybody else twice, and that might naturally take away the necessity for conferences and permit the league to go together with a 1-16 format.
Birdsong: Apart from a stretch between ‘84 and ‘98 (Celtics, Pistons, Bulls), the East has been the weaker convention because the NBA-ABA merger, so it’s not all that shocking to see it occurring once more this season. Personally, I believe the NBA postseason would profit extra from a smaller pool of groups, by happening to six groups per convention, which might nearly actually eradicate groups with shedding information from qualifying, and preserve groups from coasting right into a low seed ( you, Miami Warmth/Los Angeles Lakers). Nonetheless, each of those points are going to be decided by possession, and there’s a few boulder’s fart of an opportunity that Japanese Convention Governors are going to vote for an elevated probability of them shedding playoff recreation income. Can’t see it being in style with Japanese Convention gamers both. Like Mark, I believe the one probably situation is realignment with growth (which is coming), however I wouldn’t be mad if solely one of the best of one of the best made the postseason.
The Spurs misplaced their first recreation of the NBA Cup group recreation towards the Lakers. Contemplating the standard of the opposite groups of their group, do you suppose they’ve a sensible probability of advancing to the knockout stage?
Dubinski: They don’t have a lot of an opportunity when additionally factoring within the state of the group injury-wise. They’re coming into their second Cup recreation towards OKC shorthanded (no Jeremy Sochan, probably no Victor Wembanyama) with fairly respectable odds of popping out of it 0-2 in Cup play. That might be a virtually inconceivable gap to come back again out of and win their group. They’re undoubtedly a greater group than final season and got here into Cup play with an opportunity, it’s simply unhealthy timing that Wemby banged knees when he did and can miss a key recreation. (After all, beginning off with a win towards the Lakers would have helped.)
Barrington: They don’t have any probability. They’re in a troublesome group they usually’ve already misplaced a recreation. The Thunder ought to win the group, and if a second group advances to the knockout rounds as a wild card from West Group B, it’ll be the Lakers. I simply hope the Spurs can win no less than one NBA Cup recreation this season, as they’re 0-5 to this point within the quick historical past of the match.
Gomez: As quickly because the group was introduced it appeared like a protracted shot for them to make it previous the group stage. As we’ve been saying, the West is deep and San Antonio didn’t simply get some sturdy groups. Three of their groupmates have championship expectations this yr. The Spurs have been respectable and quick tournaments like this one enable for some flukes however it doesn’t appear probably in any respect for the Silver and Black to make it to the knockout video games.
Huan: Realistically? No. However bear in mind, this isn’t a full 82-game slate, so one sudden end result may change something. Nonetheless, with the information that Wemby will miss Tuesday evening’s recreation, issues aren’t wanting too sizzling for the Spurs.
Birdsong: Have they got an opportunity? Completely. They and Lloyd Christmas are actual contenders within the match of hope. If we’re speaking in regards to the NBA Cup (which actually wants a greater title), I’d say their likelihood is about the identical as a full second time period for Abraham Lincoln.
