The Spurs’ playoffs streak could soon end at 22 years. The Spurs completed the league’s toughest schedule for January. So, what do you think happened? “That means they won just a few games.” “Are they all but out of the playoffs now?” These may be your thoughts since the Spurs are floating in the water to survive, right? They may be floating in the water but you are dead wrong if you think the Spurs drowned in January.
The Spurs finished January with a 7-8 record! Before defeating the Hornets on February 1st, 2020, the Spurs were 5-2 against teams above .500 in January. Maybe the Spurs only want to play against +.500 teams because they are actually 2-4 against teams below 500. Clippers, Celtics, Bucks, etc. Listen up! The Spurs want to play you more often!
Except that won’t matter. Let me explain why the Spurs’ playoffs streak of 22 years will most likely end this year.
End of Spurs’ Playoffs Streak Will be the End of An Era
It won’t matter because there’s a Time that’s been disrupting the NBA leading up to the All-Star break. This Time has a knack for stepping up in the second half of a game. However, this Time apparently wants to also make an imprint for the second half of the NBA season.
Yes, people. Yes. We are talkin’ about Dame Time! I’ve been a Spurs fan since being amazed at Tim Duncan‘s ability to score on and defend a bully such a Shaq. Duncan even swept a Shaq-Kobe led team! Yes, I know. The Lakers returned the favor the following year. But still, I can say that Duncan SWEPT arguably the greatest duo in NBA history! Okay. Forgive me for digressing. I had to get those sentiments in about Shaq and the Lakers. Let’s go back to Lillard.
I accept the very real possibility that Dame Time’s historic streak could end the Spurs’ playoffs streak at 22 years. Lillard’s dominance and efficacy (48.8 points per game while shooting 54.8% in a 6-game span) has propelled the Blazers to number nine in the West and dropped the Spurs to number ten. To make me even more worried, Lillard said: “I’ve never been in this type of rhythm.” Oh, yeah? Perfect “timing” for you to get into your historic rhythm!
I’m sorry my fellow Spurs’ fans, but given the fact that the Spurs did not make a trade before the deadline (Blazers added Ariza), I see Dame Time propelling the Blazers to the eighth seed while also ending the Spurs’ playoffs streak-and possibly sending Coach Pop to retirement. The Spurs are thus far 2-7 in February and five games back of the eighth seed. Reality is all but a mathematically certainty that the Spurs’ playoffs streak will end.
I’m hearing complaints from some Grizzlies back in Memphis. “Are you having difficulties reading the standings? Can’t you see the Grizzlies have a four-game lead over the Blazers for the eighth seed?” Forgive me and the NBA world but The Grizzlies have been one of those unforeseen developments for this NBA season. I have been waiting for them to drop down in the standings but they’ve actually gained some ground recently.
At the end of this season, the Grizzlies may very well end with the eighth seed- but the historic streak of Lillard is what finally made me admit that the Spurs’ playoffs streak of 22 years will end this season, which will also sadly mark the end of an era.
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P.S. This is my first article, so I would like to end it by saying RIP to Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, and Payton Chester, and Ara Zobayan. I fell in love with the game of basketball since MJ vs Barkley in the 1993 NBA Finals. My best and more memorable times watching basketball, however, were in the 2000s highlighted by Kobe & Shaq battling Tim Duncan in the playoffs. Thank you, Kobe.
