If people didn't realize what the Spurs are capable of before tonight, they certainly do after tonight's game 1 annihilation of the Kings.

After dropping two during the regular season to Detroit most people wrote the Spurs off as being able to beat Detroit in a 7 game series.  All i have heard leading up to the playoffs is that the Pistons can not be beat.  But as Jules in Pulp Fiction put it, "Allow me to retort!"

Let me throw in some key factors that i feel like many people outside of San Antonio may not realize.  The first of which being that no team must play back to back games in the playoffs.   Now for a team like the Spurs, who have been hindered much of the season by injury, this is a significant advantage for them.  If i have my numbers correct, which they should be, the Spurs are a mere 6-10 in those games this year.  That stat seems hardly impressive.  But here is one that is impressive.  They are 57-9 excluding those back to backs.  Now one can't help but notice that the Spurs, when rested, are a good team.  A very good team.

Now lets take a look at the two matchups of the Spurs and Pistons this season.  First and foremost, these two teams have not met since January 12.  Therefore one can not even begin to say the Spurs team that played on that date is what it is today.  During the last few years the Spurs have been known to not really start "gelling" as a team until around the time of the Rodeo road trip.  This of course is in the month of February long after the last time they met the Pistons.  With that in mind let me throw in a couple of factors that i thought played an important part in the Spurs losses to the Pistons.

1.  Manu Ginobili did not start in either game.  In fact he didnt even dress for one of those games.  During the other one he was still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered and was not at 100%.  Im not trying to play the injury card as justification for them losing.  Im simply stating a factor.  Do with it what you will.  Nevertheless, the Spurs without Ginobili usually would be able to make adjustments.  However with a team like the Pistons they must have Ginobili in the lineup.  His ability to create mismatch problems for the Pistons and put up 15-20 points is crucial for the Spurs.

2.  Nazr Mohammed played less than 23 minutes combined in both games.  Why Pop didnt play him more i have no clue.  Believe me i was scratching my head over that one.  The point is that the Pistons had 52 more rebounds in the 2 matchups.  Nazr, who is one of their best rebounders and is undoubtedly their biggest monster on the offensive glass was riding the bench most of the 2 games. 

3.  The Spurs bench was highly ineffective in both games.  Michael Finley, who will be coming of the bench in the playoffs had a grand total of 3 points in 2 games.  3 points!!!  In their last meeting the bench had a total of 26 points.  Put Manu as a starter and Finley on the bench for that game and that point total drops to 10.  Thats not a misprint, 10 points.  The lack of the bench to give the starters any help at all proved to be the Spurs downfall.

There are so many things that played into the Spurs two losses that one must take into account before they immediately draw the conclusion that the Pistons are a far superior basketball team.  The Spurs took most of the season to get everyone healthy and find their chemistry as a team.  Now that the playoffs are upon us Pop has them in a position to to make a run at the Finals again.

I know Detroit is good.  They very well could be the best team in basketball.  And it is still way too early to start saying that these teams will even meet one another in the finals.  We aren't even out of the first round yet!  What i would like to achieve by writing this blog is to let my fellow bloggers in on a little insight from the team that many people aren't giving a chance.  Just please dont write them off yet.