NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Sweeping Jazz Is Vital for Spurs Spurs' Title Hopes

What happens when you combine an expedited, lockout-shortened season with a veteran team in the early stages of a postseason run?

You end up with a team that would benefit from as much rest as possible. That is why the San Antonio Spurs would help their championship odds if they were able to sweep the Utah Jazz in Game 4 of the first-round series tonight (8:00 p.m. ET on TNT).

Sure, head coach Gregg Popovich got his veteran players a lot of rest down the stretch, all while managing to lock up the top-overall seed in the Western Conference.

But a bit more rest wouldn't hurt, right?

Especially when it looks as though the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies could be heading toward a seven-game series. That means the Spurs could be looking at a very nice, long break in action before the next round of the playoffs begin.

The Spurs aren't the sort of team that needs to worry about a long layoff affecting any momentum they might have. They're too professional for that given the strong veteran presence they have.

Generally, I don't think there is much of a difference between winning in four games or five. But after the crazy regular-season schedule—and with this possibly being the Spurs last title run with Tim Duncan—every little advantage could be huge this year.

The Spurs should earn some rest and knock out the Jazz tonight. It could be vitally important for their title hopes moving forward.

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