Coasting during the regular season

[vinnie]

One of the repeated themes I read here is how the Spurs coasted through seasons and then turned it on during the playoffs to win their championsiphs. But, if you look at the records the Sprus had during their 4 championship seasons, you will find no coasting:

Here are the records for the Spurs' 4 championship seasons:

98-99  37-13 (lockout season)
02-03  60-22 (best in the NBA)
04-05  59-23
06-07  58-24

One year, I think it was 04-05, they were something like 19-13 heading into January, but then turned it around and finished with a top league record. I think it is safe to say that none of the four win-loss records above will be worse than what the Celtics finish with this year.

[BballTim]

One of the repeated themes I read here is how the Spurs coasted through seasons and then turned it on during the playoffs to win their championsiphs. But, if you look at the records the Sprus had during their 4 championship seasons, you will find no coasting:

Here are the records for the Spurs' 4 championship seasons:

98-99  37-13 (lockout season)
02-03  60-22 (best in the NBA)
04-05  59-23
06-07  58-24

One year, I think it was 04-05, they were something like 19-13 heading into January, but then turned it around and finished with a top league record. I think it is safe to say that none of the four win-loss records above will be worse than what the Celtics finish with this year.

  Did they have injuries to 2 of their top three players during the middle of the season in those years?

[vinnie]

One of the repeated themes I read here is how the Spurs coasted through seasons and then turned it on during the playoffs to win their championsiphs. But, if you look at the records the Sprus had during their 4 championship seasons, you will find no coasting:

Here are the records for the Spurs' 4 championship seasons:

98-99  37-13 (lockout season)
02-03  60-22 (best in the NBA)
04-05  59-23
06-07  58-24

One year, I think it was 04-05, they were something like 19-13 heading into January, but then turned it around and finished with a top league record. I think it is safe to say that none of the four win-loss records above will be worse than what the Celtics finish with this year.

  Did they have injuries to 2 of their top three players during the middle of the season in those years?

Not sure. That's not the point though. The point is that the Spurs never "coasted" through a regular season then won the championship.

[vinnie]

I can't believe that any championship team has lost a game to a team as bad as the New Jersey Nets. But, since it is only February, I know it doesn't matter.