Subscribe
Follow Us
Tuesday's loss to the L.A. Clippers was more than just another rock on the road for the San Antonio Spurs, as they snapped their NBA record of 18 consecutive seasons with 50 wins or more — a standard of excellence for which they've become known as one of the league's powerhouses.
Asked if this snag made any dent in the legacy of this team, Manu Ginobili scoffed at the notion.
“Come on,” the 16-year veteran said, according to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “The most ridiculous thing. I don't care at all. We want to make the playoffs. All those stats of 128 games scoring 14 points in 12 minutes with the left hand while making a 360. Come on. We want to make it to the playoffs. If we won 50, 49, 81, nobody gives a damn.”
The streak Ginobili and the rest of the Spurs most likely care about is going to the postseason for a 21st straight season, after holding on to the third seed in the West for most of the season and now struggling to keep themselves within the first four spots.
The Utah Jazz have taken over fourth place in the West after being out of the playoff picture only a few months ago, going 30-12 since the start of the year and evolving into the best defensive team in the league, boasting a 3-1 record against the Spurs.
With only four games left in the season, this loss to the Clippers is resoundingly painful, as the Spurs hope to inch their way to that fourth spot.
“That's a tough loss,” said head coach Gregg Popovich. “We can't give up forty-whatever, (forty-one) points in a quarter, especially the fourth quarter, and win a basketball game on the road… The defense caved in in the fourth quarter.”
The Spurs will saddle up against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight and finish off the week against the Portland Trail Blazers at home.
