Spurs Schedule Breakdown and Predictions for Final 6 Weeks of 2014-15 Season
The San Antonio Spurs hold a 36-23 record entering the final stretch of the 2014-15 regular season after battling injuries and inefficiency throughout the year.
Since coach Gregg Popovich's team is clinging to the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference standings, an 18th consecutive postseason berth is certainly within grasp. However, the Spurs must finish strongly in order to keep from dropping out.
March provides the best opportunity to solidify a position because San Antonio is set to challenge six potential playoff teams during just eight April outings.
The following is a preview of what remains on the defending champion's slate, accompanied by weekly breakdowns and a final-record prediction.
Note: The Spurs' next two games are included in order to keep each week defined as Sunday through Saturday instead of Wednesday through Tuesday.
Week 1: March 4 to March 14
1 of 7
Key Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers (Home, March 12, 9:30 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Sacramento Kings (Home, March 4, 8:30 p.m. ET); Denver Nuggets (Home, March 6, 8:30 p.m. ET); Chicago Bulls (Home, March 8, 1 p.m. ET); Toronto Raptors (Home, March 10, 8:30 p.m. ET)
San Antonio has returned home after its first-ever losing rodeo road trip, which the squad finished 4-5. While the schedule mostly lightens up, the opening portion of what's left this season is capped by a visit from LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Pop's crew clipped Cleveland 92-90 on Nov. 19, but the active rosters have changed dramatically since that meeting. Neither Tiago Splitter nor Patty Mills was available for San Antonio. And Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert hadn't been acquired by Cleveland.
Nevertheless, even if San Antonio topples LeBron and Co., one slip-up is foreseeable. Anything worse than 4-1 would be a disappointment, however.
The Spurs might avoid DeMarcus Cousins, while Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler are sidelined for the Bulls. Plus, the Raptors are struggling, and Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes that the Nuggets are more focused on Cancun than the court.
Week 1 Prediction: 4-1
Week 2: March 15 to March 21
2 of 7
Key Matchup: Milwaukee Bucks (Away, March 18, 8 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Minnesota Timberwolves (Home, March 15, 7 p.m. ET); New York Knicks (Away, March 17, 7:30 p.m. ET); Boston Celtics (Home, March 20, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Considering their current problems, it's difficult to see the Spurs making it through an entire week completely unscathed. But if there were ever a week for San Antonio to finish 4-0, it's this one.
Though Minnesota is good for a high-flying dunk or two, the T-Wolves should be dispatched without much problem. The Knicks are terrible without Carmelo Anthony, and the Celtics have lost six straight to the Spurs.
When San Antonio heads to Milwaukee, the clash is on the latter end of a back-to-back against a playoff-bound team. If Popovich elects to rest his starters, the Bucks are certainly talented enough to earn the victory.
Those four meetings are the types of games the Spurs need to win, but San Antonio seems likely to collapse at least once.
Week 2 Prediction: 3-1
Week 3: March 22 to March 28
3 of 7
Key Matchup: Atlanta Hawks (Away, March 22, 3 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Dallas Mavericks (Away, March 24, 8 p.m. ET); Oklahoma City Thunder (Home, March 25, 9:30 p.m. ET) Dallas (Home, March 27, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Following that inviting week, the Spurs return to elite competition.
San Antonio kicks off the tough four-game stretch with the Hawks, which are sometimes referred to as "Spurs East" and boast the best record in basketball.
The reward for that bout is three critical Western Conference bouts, as a back-to-back with the Mavericks and Thunder awaits San Antonio.
Kevin Durant will probably still be sidelined, but Russell Westbrook is a lock to give the Spurs a few fits. While sweeping Dallas is unlikely, San Antonio could lift itself to a superb 3-1 mark with a pair of victories.
Week 3 Prediction: 2-2
Week 4: March 29 to April 4
4 of 7
Key Matchup: Memphis Grizzlies (Home, March 29, 7 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Miami Heat (Away, March 31, 8 p.m. ET); Orlando Magic (Away, April 1, 7 p.m. ET); Denver (Home, April 3, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Whenever the Grizzlies and Spurs get together, there's plenty of grit, grind and ball movement. Their final regular-season meeting occurs near the end of March.
During three previous showdowns this year, the Spurs won 107-101 on Dec. 5 and then lost 117-116 on Dec. 17 and 95-87 on Dec. 30.
Between home games, San Antonio takes a quick business trip to sunny Florida for a back-to-back opposite Miami and Orlando. The Heat shouldn't be overlooked after acquiring Goran Dragic, but the Spurs should handle Miami.
And then there's Denver. Again. Half of the team might actually be in Cancun by April.
Week 4 Prediction: 3-1
Week 5: April 5 to April 11
5 of 7
Key Matchup: Oklahoma City (Away, April 7, 8 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Golden State Warriors (Home, April 5, 8:30 p.m. ET); Houston Rockets (Home, April 8, 8:30 p.m. ET); Houston (Away, April 10, 8 p.m. ET)
Welcome to the Western Conference, where a favorable week is quickly forgotten.
Fortunately for San Antonio, it hosts two of the four games, but a Tuesday night matchup against OKC is on the road. The winner might avoid the Warriors in the playoffs, though the Spurs will have just finished a tilt with Golden State.
Consecutive bouts opposite the Rockets—one finishes a back-to-back, and the other is on the road—close a remarkably difficult stretch.
Pop will presumably rest his veterans at least once during this week, effectively ceding one game. A 2-1 record in the other outings would be a major success, but a 1-2 clip is the more likely result.
Week 5 Prediction: 1-3
Week 6: April 12 to April 15
6 of 7
Key Matchup: New Orleans Pelicans (Away, April 15, 8 p.m. ET)
Other Games: Phoenix Suns (Home, April 12, 7 p.m. ET)
San Antonio should lock up a playoff spot by the final week of the regular season. However, the West's two wild-card franchises are the last opponents.
If the Spurs' 101-74 thrashing of Phoenix on Feb. 28 was any indication, the Suns have more worries than a potential postseason position. With that being said, the roster's talent is undeniable, and Phoenix could spring an upset—especially if it's playing spoiler.
Anthony Davis is great for the game of basketball. He's the next best thing. Containing the 6'10" power forward is always a sizable task, and New Orleans has already beaten San Antonio twice.
But as long as Popovich sends out the majority of his team, the Spurs will end the roller-coaster season on a high note.
Week 6 Prediction: 2-0
Final Prediction
7 of 7
Once the postseason begins, no regular-season record matters—other than for home court. But that doesn't mean the currently struggling Spurs can coast to the finish.
San Antonio most overcome the pair of brutal weeks. To be frank, a total of four wins in those eight matchups would be acceptable for Pop's squad.
Consequently, a good chunk of San Antonio's victories down the stretch should come at the expense of Eastern Conference foes. However, those triumphs will propel the Spurs to their 17th straight 50-plus win campaign, which only excludes the 50-game 1998-99 season.
The 18 consecutive playoff berths would give the franchise sole possession of the fifth-best streak in NBA history, passing the Los Angeles Lakers (1977 to 1993).
Most importantly, it will allow San Antonio to pursue its ultimate goal: championship No. 6.
Final Prediction: 15-8
Overall Record: 51-31
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