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#1
The Spurs went 18-5 following a loss in the regular season. If you throw out the four games they played with no rest, they went 18-1 following a loss. If you throw out the final game of the regular season (a home game Pop threw to the T-Wolves by pulling his starters in the 3rd quarter so the likes of Aron Baynes could get 13 minutes on the floor), they went 18-0. The Spurs have played two games in the playoffs following a loss. Both were easy wins against the Warriors, 102-92 and 109-91. So that's essentially a perfect 20-0 record for the Spurs this season when playing with rest off a loss.
Those 20 wins resulted in a 13-7 ATS record, which is pretty good, but let's take a closer look at that. Up until mid-March, the Spurs punished almost any opponent who had the misfortune of being on their schedule following any game the Spurs had just lost. Thirteen of these 18 regular season bounceback games were played between the start of the season and March 11th. The Spurs won all 13 while posting a 10-3 ATS record. All ten covers were double-digit blowouts. The 3 non-covers were a 4-point home win over the Grizzlies, a 5-point home win over the Hornets, and a 3-point home win over the Lakers. The average margin of victory in the 13 wins was an intimidating 14.8 points per game.
Beginning around mid-March, Popovich began spreading minutes around to preserve his starters' legs for the playoff run. The Spurs kept winning in this "rested off a loss" situation, but the margins became a lot slimmer. In the last month of the season, they had home wins of 1 point (twice), 2 points, and 7 points (against the pathetic Kings).
So it could be argued that if you threw out the last month of the regular season, a stretch in which the team was downshifted somewhat, the Spurs this season have gone 15-0 SU & 12-3 ATS when playing off a loss as a rested team.
Five of those 15 wins occurred following double-digit losses. Here's what the Spurs did as a rested team up until mid-March and in the playoffs in that situation:
On November 7th, the Spurs lost to the Clippers in L.A., 106-84. On November 9th, laying 6 at Sacramento, they won 97-86.
On January 3rd, the Spurs lost to the Knicks in New York, 100-83. On January 5th, laying 13.5 at home to the Sixers, they won 109-86.
On February 8th, the Spurs lost to the Pistons in Detroit, 119-109. On February 10th, laying 2.5 to the Nets in Brooklyn, they won 111-86.
On March 8th, the Spurs lost at home to the Blazers, 136-106. On March 11th, laying 2 at home to the Thunder, they won 105-93.
On May 12th, the Spurs lost to the Warriors in Oakland, 97-87. On May 14th, laying 6.5 at home to the Warriors, the Spurs won, 109-91.
So excluding the last month of the regular season, that's 5 wins by a combined 90 points for the Spurs as a rested team following a double-digit loss. That's an average of exactly 18 points per game. And here they are tonight, the Spurs playing again as a rested team off a double-digit loss, and they don't have to win by 18. Three will be enough.
Those 20 wins resulted in a 13-7 ATS record, which is pretty good, but let's take a closer look at that. Up until mid-March, the Spurs punished almost any opponent who had the misfortune of being on their schedule following any game the Spurs had just lost. Thirteen of these 18 regular season bounceback games were played between the start of the season and March 11th. The Spurs won all 13 while posting a 10-3 ATS record. All ten covers were double-digit blowouts. The 3 non-covers were a 4-point home win over the Grizzlies, a 5-point home win over the Hornets, and a 3-point home win over the Lakers. The average margin of victory in the 13 wins was an intimidating 14.8 points per game.
Beginning around mid-March, Popovich began spreading minutes around to preserve his starters' legs for the playoff run. The Spurs kept winning in this "rested off a loss" situation, but the margins became a lot slimmer. In the last month of the season, they had home wins of 1 point (twice), 2 points, and 7 points (against the pathetic Kings).
So it could be argued that if you threw out the last month of the regular season, a stretch in which the team was downshifted somewhat, the Spurs this season have gone 15-0 SU & 12-3 ATS when playing off a loss as a rested team.
Five of those 15 wins occurred following double-digit losses. Here's what the Spurs did as a rested team up until mid-March and in the playoffs in that situation:
On November 7th, the Spurs lost to the Clippers in L.A., 106-84. On November 9th, laying 6 at Sacramento, they won 97-86.
On January 3rd, the Spurs lost to the Knicks in New York, 100-83. On January 5th, laying 13.5 at home to the Sixers, they won 109-86.
On February 8th, the Spurs lost to the Pistons in Detroit, 119-109. On February 10th, laying 2.5 to the Nets in Brooklyn, they won 111-86.
On March 8th, the Spurs lost at home to the Blazers, 136-106. On March 11th, laying 2 at home to the Thunder, they won 105-93.
On May 12th, the Spurs lost to the Warriors in Oakland, 97-87. On May 14th, laying 6.5 at home to the Warriors, the Spurs won, 109-91.
So excluding the last month of the regular season, that's 5 wins by a combined 90 points for the Spurs as a rested team following a double-digit loss. That's an average of exactly 18 points per game. And here they are tonight, the Spurs playing again as a rested team off a double-digit loss, and they don't have to win by 18. Three will be enough.
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