The Spurs are looking for two things tomorrow, beneath the obvious shield of the "we just want to win" coach speak that permeates professional sports. To end their five-game losing streak against the Miami Heat and to go 5-0 for the first time in the history of the franchise. Neither one is more important than the other, but they're still significant for the storylines of the season.
No NBA team should have the Spurs' number anymore
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Over the past five seasons, it was more understandable to be on the losing side of a streak, but that's not the case any longer. Not with this team. The pride in San Antonio never faded, but there was a reality everyone had to face while the team rebuilt. Now that they look poised to dominate the Western Conference for the foreseeable future, nobody is allowed to have a consistent advantage against them.
Erik Spoelstra is still a damn good coach. That's the truth of the matter. He knows how to take advantage of a young and inexperienced team that doesn't know how to close. Even when his teams weren't ripe with talent, they had a bunch of veterans who understood how to close games, and he is a master at steering the ship. It's why they've beaten SA's unbalanced teams in nine of the last ten meetings.
Kel'el Ware has been playing like Kal-El, aka Superman, the last couple of times these teams met. Their dedication to pressure defense has made the Spurs look out of their league at times. At the end of the day, this isn't a Western Conference foe, so it's not the end of the world if they lose. But other than that obvious fact, the competitive fire in my heart says [it's time to end](https://airalamo.com/spurs-smash-every-expectation-they-pull-off-impossible-without-fox) this nonsense.
Who doesn't want to set new franchise records?
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If the Silver and Black lose their first game of the season, life will go on. Tim Duncan never began a season 5-0, but that didn't stop him from winning five championships, becoming the greatest power forward of all time, and dominating the West for over 15 years... But it would be nice.
Anytime you can set a new franchise record that involves winning, it's a good thing. This is a team stat, not an individual one, so it lines up for a San Antonio franchise that has emphasized the team aspect of the sport for decades.
Besides, the Spurs' competition thus far has been questioned by many. "They haven't played anyone yet," they say. Well, let's not stumble in the first game against a good opponent. The Heat are ranked in the top ten in both offensive and defensive ratings, just like the home team. Don't expect anything more than an all-out battle.