we need to win these next 3 games so we can have 63 wins for the season which will be a franchise best, so i hope we can get some consistency<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Spurs seek consistency over seedWeb Posted: 04/16/2006 12:00 AM CDTJohnny LuddenExpress-News Staff WriterMINNEAPOLIS ? As the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks enter the final four days of their six-month pursuit of the Western Conference's best record, the biggest question is no longer which of them will finish with the No. 1 playoff seed.Rather, what most recent observers of the two teams want to know is, does either want it?The Spurs hold a 1 1/2-game lead over Dallas heading into today's game against Minnesota. But after suffering three loses in their just-completed five-game homestand, the Spurs have ceded control of the Southwest Division race as much as they have taken it.Although Orlando was on its way to beating the Spurs on Thursday night, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson already had decided to shift his team's focus to preserving its health and prepping for the playoffs. When Dallas took the floor in Phoenix moments after the Spurs lost, it did so with starters Jerry Stackhouse and DeSagana Diop on the bench.Of the 40 losses the Spurs and Mavericks have combined to suffer, 10 have come in the past three weeks."For us and Dallas it's been a little strange because we've had different injuries at different times and that's been tough to get a rhythm," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think that's the most important thing for both teams going down the stretch. First and fourth isn't that much consequence."It's how well we're going to be playing (in the playoffs)."That said, the Spurs would like to secure the division title and top seed as soon as possible, which explains why Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are expected to share the floor tonight in Minneapolis. A victory tonight coupled with a loss by the Mavericks against Utah would assure the Spurs of finishing first in the conference.At worst, the Spurs will enter Wednesday's season finale in Houston still able to win the division with a victory over the Rockets."The more (the Mavericks) lose, the better," Ginobili said. "Less responsibility for us."But it's still going to be a tough end for us."With its own playoff aspirations already snuffed out, Minnesota has held Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis out of the lineup the past four games, but Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey offered no guarantee about the pair's status for tonight. And if the past two weeks have taught the Spurs anything, it's that they would be wise to avoid becoming complacent.With 11 of their past 21 opponents having shot at least 47 percent, the Spurs also know they still have some work to do before the playoffs begin next weekend.Said Tim Duncan: "It's about shoring up our defense.""Everybody knowing what defense we're in at all points of the game ? that communication is important throughout the game," Popovich said when asked what he would like to see the team improve upon. "Offensively, execution as far as not just being in the right place, but timing and quick recognition of what we're trying to do."You just want to get better and better in both of those areas for sure. Not much else is going to change."Injuries have contributed to the recent struggles of both Dallas and the Spurs. The Mavericks have been trying to work Josh Howard, Devin Harris and Adrian Griffin back into the rotation. Ginobili has missed the past three games with a bruised left calf and Parker has been battling a stomach virus."I just think we're both playing multiple lineups," Popovich said. "I don't know if Avery feels similar, but we're searching for who should be in the game and who's playing well and who's not. It seems like every night, it's different people and there's no real consistency as far as what five are going to be on the court in synergy playing well together."It seems like the only teams that are doing that are Detroit and Orlando. Everybody else is trying to get there."The Spurs were happy to see Duncan have his best performance in months Thursday when he scored 31 points, his second-most of the season."Tim Duncan looked like the Tim Duncan of old," Popovich said. "He just couldn't get any help from anybody. It was like a wasted effort on his part, but (his performance) was the best part of the whole game."While the Spurs would like to find a little more rhythm before beginning the playoffs, maintaining their health is the top priority. They entered the 2004 postseason on a roll, having won 11 consecutive games, but still got bounced out by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.If the Spurs clinch tonight, Popovich would be able to cut back the minutes of his regulars in the final two games."You can build something on (the last few games)," Ginobili said. "But pretty much you are who you are."</div>http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...es.30d0342.html
