When it comes time for the playoffs momentum can mean everything. Come in ice-cold and in the midst of a losing streak and chances are you are going to continue losing no matter who you play. However, come in red-hot and you are more than likely going to stay red-hot (again, no matter who you play).It is safe to say that there is no team in the NBA right now that is even close to generating as much heat as the San Antonio Spurs.
After Friday night’s big win over the Los Angeles Lakers, 121-97, the Spurs are riding a six game winning streak and are in the hunt (much like last year) to finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA (currently 46-16; .004 behind Chicago with four games to go).
It isn’t just the winning streak that has the Spurs the talk of the town though; it’s the way they’ve been winning. The games have not even been close. They’ve scored over 105 in each win; over 120 in three of the last four. The point differential has been more than +20 points a game during the streak.
"We're the same old guys," head coach Greg Popovich said. "We don't get overly confident or overly under confident. It's just another game and anything can happen.â€
Going forward there is no reason to think that the Spurs can’t take their final four games and be riding a 10-game winning streak into the post season. Of the remaining four (Cleveland, Portland, Phoenix, and Golden State), only Phoenix has something to play for still. For the Spurs it will depend on how badly they want to stay hot or how much they want to rest their superstars.
“Everybody wants to be in a rhythm now. It’s too late in the season to go into a slump and lose three out of five, something like that. To be winning down the stretch, nobody would trade that,†said Popovich.
With four games over five nights to end the regular season and the post season potentially starting on Saturday, no one would blame Popovich if he were to rest his super superstars some. At the same time, it would be nice to end the season with the best record in the conference if not the NBA. Should the Lakers do the Spurs a favor and beat Oklahoma City Monday the Spurs can lock up the top spot in the Western Conference with wins over Cleveland and Portland.
What do you say Los Angeles? Feel like doing the Spurs a favor?
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