San Antonio Spurs: Friday Provides Huge Opportunity

The San Antonio Spurs are peaking at just the right time. Their winning streak is up to nine games in a row after their latest beat-down. That triumph came against their division rival, the Houston Rockets. Somehow they managed to slow down MVP candidate James Harden.

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Harden still finished with 22 points, but he shot 6-for-15 and only got to the free-throw line eight times (six coming in the first quarter), down from his usual 10.2 attempts per game. Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green limited his dribble penetration in the second half.

If he is not wreaking havoc in the lane, he is less likely to get fouled. Forcing him to take midrange shots and keeping him off the free throw line is the only way to keep him in check, and the Spurs executed that plan beautifully.

Offensively, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard stole the show. Parker failed to score in double figures in each of his last four games, leading some (me) to worry that the injury issues from earlier in the season were creeping up again.

Parker decided to quiet those concerns by scoring 27 points on 13-for-18 shooting and dishing out four assists. Parker attacked the rim whenever he had an opening, leading to 12 points in the paint. An aggressive Parker is a productive Parker, and when he’s cooking the Spurs are tough to beat.

Leonard continued doing that new thing where he looks unstoppable and terrifies everyone in his vicinity. He’s essentially Godzilla in gym shorts. Leonard scored 20 points, grabbed three rebounds, had two assists and notched four steals, while also guarding James Harden. All in a night’s work.

It was his fourth consecutive game shooting over 60 percent, scoring at least 20 points, and racking up at least one steal. The reigning NBA Finals MVP is closing the regular season better than almost anyone in the league.

Those performances, along with solid efforts from Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw, helped the Spurs grab an important 110-98 win. The victory puts them a half game behind the Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. It just so happens their next opponent is……the Houston Rockets.

The Spurs now control their own destiny to a certain extent. Another win against Houston gives them the third seed, for the time being, and gives them the tiebreaker advantage if these two teams finish with the same record. If the Memphis Grizzlies slip up, the Spurs could even slide past both teams, win the Southwest division, and snatch away the No. 2 seed.

But first they need to beat the Rockets again, otherwise they will likely be destined for the fifth or sixth seed. The Western Conference is madness. Considering all the different scenarios makes my head spin.

The key to defeating Houston is obviously doing exactly what they just did, slowing down James Harden and letting their offense do its thing. That will be much more difficult in Houston than it was in San Antonio, but if anyone can stop Harden in back-to-back games it’s Kawhi Leonard.

With three games remaining, the meeting with the Rockets on the road, is by far the most difficult. They end the season with the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans. Phoenix has nothing left to play for, but Anthony Davis playing to make the playoffs on the final day of the season could be a tough one.

These last three games will test whether or not Gregg Popovich cares about home court advantage in the playoffs. Nabbing the second seed should be the goal. A matchup with the Dallas Mavericks is much more appealing than having to deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers or Grizzlies.

Even if the 2-seed is too far out of reach, he should still push this team to finish out the season as strong as possible. There could be no avoiding a bloodbath series against one of those four dangerous teams, but if it has to happen, you might as well play four of those seven games on your home court.

You also have to consider the implications seeding will have on second round opponent. If the Spurs finish as the second or third seed they will avoid a second round series against the juggernaut that is the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors. If I’m coach Popovich, I want to avoid them as long as possible.

The Western Conference is as competitive as ever and any advantage could be the difference between making the conference finals and losing in the first round. There is every incentive for the Spurs to push and win the three games remaining on their schedule rather than rest their starters like they have done in the past. Now they just have to go out and take care of business.

Next: Spurs On Fire Heading Into the Playoffs

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