It seems like just months ago the San Antonio Spurs were on top of the Western Conference with a 10-game lead. That number has now slipped to five with 19 left in the regular season. So how exactly do those remaining 19 games fare for the Silver and Black? Well, for starters, 10 of them are on the road, where the Spurs are 22-9 this season, with nine at home.
San Antonio has only lost three at the AT&T Center and four of their final nine home games will be against above .500 teams. Out of those 10 on the road, nine are against above .500 teams, which the Spurs are 27-11 against. It’s probably fair to say the Spurs will win most if not all but a couple of their remaining home games.
The road is where San Antonio may have some trouble. With trips to Houston, Miami and Dallas scheduled in a span of seven days, to open their last 10 road trips, things could get a little rough. Let’s not also forget there are six back-to-backs in those final 19. In the Spurs’ previous 12 back-to-backs, they swept six times and were either swept or split the other six.
Then, there’s also the issue of facing teams fighting to either hold their playoff spot or earn a postseason berth. So many scenarios, so little time and so much that could happen. To make things easier, let’s go ahead and break down the final 19 and predict how the Spurs will finish the year. Each opponent’s current record is in parenthesis.
• vs. Detroit (23-41), 8:30 p.m. on March 9
The Pistons have barely shown up for practice, and I’ll be surprised if they show up for this game, figuratively speaking of course.
• vs. Sacramento (15-46), 7:30 p.m. on March 11 and 7:30 p.m. on April 6
No way the Spurs lose to the second worst team in the West. There’s just no way.
• at Houston (33-32), 7:30 p.m. on March 12 and 7:30 p.m. on April 1
The Rockets are currently only three games out of the No. 8 seed in the West so they’re hungry. Plus, it’s Houston. This I-10 rivalry always makes for an interesting game. I’m going to say the Spurs split these two.
• at Miami (43-20), 7 p.m. on March 14
San Antonio has a 22-9 record on the road with five of those losses coming against Eastern
Conference teams. Heat get some payback.
• at Dallas (46-17), 7:30 p.m. on March 18
Spurs are winless this season against the Mavericks when Dirk Nowitzki plays. Jason Terry has talked the talked and will walk the walk, especially at home. And Corey Brewer will once again deny the Spurs.
• vs. Charlotte (26-37), 7:30 p.m. on March 19
With only three losses on their homecourt, the Spurs have too much drive and focus to make it four against a team like the Bobcats.
• vs. Golden State (27-35), 7:30 p.m. on March 21
The last time the Warriors came to town San Antonio turned 22 Golden State turnovers into 20 points. Expect much of the same in this one.
• at Denver (37-27), 9:30 p.m. on March 23
Manu Ginobili saved the day the last time the Spurs were in Denver. No late game heroics will be needed this time with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups no longer around.
• at Portland (36-27), 9 p.m. on March 25 and in San Antonio at 7:30 p.m. on March 28
LaMarcus Aldridge single-handed led the Blazers to victory last time the Spurs went to Portland. He won’t have as big a game on March 25 but will get some help to once again beat the Spurs. San Antonio gets revenge three days later.
• at Memphis (36-29), 5 p.m. on March 27
The Grizzlies rolled in their last meeting with the Spurs in Memphis, but there was no Tony Parker. Grizzlies put up a tough fight before Spurs pull away late.
• vs. Boston (46-15), 7 p.m. on March 31
Seems like the Celtics have the Spurs’ number these past few seasons. San Antonio pushes hard, makes a few good runs but comes up just shy of a victory.
• vs. Phoenix (32-29), noon on April 3 and at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. on April 13
Suns forward Channing Frye should just be fully recovered from his dislocated shoulder by their first meeting. Home team takes each matchup.
• at Atlanta (37-26), 6 p.m. on April 5
San Antonio put on a clinic on 3-point shooting in the fourth quarter the last time they played Atlanta. The Hawks won’t allow it again but with a 2-6 record against Southwest Division teams, the Spurs take this one.
• vs. Utah (33-31), 7:30 p.m. on April 9
No more Deron Williams. No more Jerry Sloan. Spurs close out their regular season homestand in dominating fashion.
• at L.A. Lakers (45-19), 9:30 p.m. on April 12
Based on the Lakers’ previous performance and the fact the Spurs won on last second tip in their first visit to L.A., San Antonio falls in this one.
Spurs’ record in their final 19 game: 12-7
What do you think Spurs fans? How do you see these last games going for San Antonio?
