San Antonio Spurs' Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for January
Wake the San Antonio Spurs up when December ends. Oh, never mind, it's almost over. What a month it was for Gregg Popovich's team, battling through the best of the Western Conference while short-handed.
The franchise can officially finish the final month of the year no better than 9-9, but January returns San Antonio to nonconference action. Scattered in the six upcoming games against the East, the Spurs should find a few breaks against lower-tier NBA teams.
But as a Dec. 12 meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers showed, the defending NBA champions must take every opponent seriously, whether in the East or West.
San Antonio will play 14 games during January. The month will be broken down into four pieces and accompanied by notable matchups and a final record prediction.
Week 1: Jan. 1 to Jan. 10
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Note: The first three days of January are included in the first full week because San Antonio only plays once.
Key Matchups: Washington Wizards (Home, Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m. ET); Phoenix Suns (Home, Jan. 9, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Detroit Pistons (Home, Jan. 6, 8:30 p.m. ET); Minnesota Timberwolves (Away, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. ET)
The Spurs host Washington for their opening game of the 2015 calendar year, which means one of the NBA's best young rosters will invade San Antonio. However, the Wizards will be addressed more in-depth on the following slide.
Phoenix, on the other hand, is on the front end of a back-to-back that involves travel from Texas to Minnesota. Consequently, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tiago Splitter or a combination thereof will probably be resting.
On Oct. 31, the Suns knocked off the Spurs 94-89, utilizing the monster backcourt of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Gerald Green. Granted, this clash will be at home.
If San Antonio can beat Phoenix, it would allow Pop to confidently rest a few starters the following night, because the Spurs absolutely must win once, though twice is obviously preferred and attainable.
Week 1 Prediction: 3-1
Week 2: Jan. 11 to Jan. 17
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Key Matchups: Washington (Away, Jan. 13, 7 p.m. ET); Portland Trail Blazers (Home, Jan. 16, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Charlotte Hornets (Away, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. ET)
So, about those Wizards. John Wall is making the leap toward superstardom, Rasual Butler is reviving his career as the No. 2 three-point shooter in the league and Bradley Beal ranks sixth. Add in Marcin Gortat, Paul Pierce and Kris Humphries, and Washington is a serious threat in the league.
San Antonio will head to the nation's capital and have three days off before the showdown. The Wizards boast a 14-4 home record, so the Spurs will benefit from the extra time to prepare.
Plus, similar to the first week, Duncan and Co. battle a solid team the day prior to a noticeably weaker one. However, with the Hornets, a star-less San Antonio squad would have to counteract a potentially explosive Kemba Walker.
The Spurs, again, need to earn at least one victory during the back-to-back and take care of business at home.
Week 2 Prediction: 1-2
Week 3: Jan. 18 to Jan. 24
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Key Matchup: Chicago Bulls (Away, Jan. 22, 8 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Utah Jazz (Home, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. ET); Denver Nuggets (Away, Jan. 20, 9 p.m. ET); Los Angeles Lakers (Home, Jan. 23, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Not only is the third week easily San Antonio's busiest portion, the seemingly favorable schedule holds a couple teams that upended the Spurs earlier this season. Despite dwelling in the West's cellar, Utah and Los Angeles have both defeated San Antonio, and Denver is undoubtedly a better squad at home.
Fortunately for the Spurs, though, they avoid back-to-back games, excluding Chicago and the Lakers. So, for each of the Jazz, Nuggets and Bulls, San Antonio should have a full squad.
Now, if Kawhi Leonard is still unavailable at this time due to a hand injury, shutting down Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol will not be easy, since it will stretch the Spurs thin defensively.
Emerging unscathed is highly unlikely, but a plus-.500 finish is still feasible.
Week 3 Prediction: 3-1
Week 4: Jan. 25 to Jan. 31
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Key Matchup: Los Angeles Clippers (Home, Jan. 31, 9 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Milwaukee Bucks (Home, Jan. 25, 8:30 p.m. ET); Charlotte (Home, Jan. 28, 7 p.m. ET)
Starting with the home clash against the Lakers, the Spurs begin their final homestand before taking off on the annual Rodeo Road Trip.
San Antonio is typically a fine team on the road, but the AT&T Center is certainly an advantageous venue for them. Consequently, the Spurs need to capitalize on their first of two six-game home stretches in 2015.
To close the month, the Spurs will host the Clippers, who they've already toppled twice this season. Plus, Los Angeles will have played the New Orleans Pelicans one night earlier.
Beating Charlotte and Milwaukee before Chris Paul and Co. arrive is imperative, though, considering San Antonio will be well-rested for both contests.
Week 4 Prediction: 3-0
Final Prediction
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Barring more injuries, San Antonio will be at full strength once Leonard returns. Patty Mills made his season debut Dec. 29, and the Spurs outlasted the Houston Rockets—even without Parker.
Once the Australian settles into his new role, San Antonio will employ a dangerous three-point weapon. Plus, any night Pop rests his veterans, the Spurs will actually have a legitimate guard coming off the bench instead of Austin Daye.
San Antonio trudged through a quite difficult December with disappointing—but not necessarily horrid— results and the easier slate should pay dividends in victories.
If the Spurs continue a mini-slump, an 8-6 finish is reasonable. Conversely, if they catch fire, 11-3 is the most realistic best-case scenario.
Prediction: 10-4
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