Why are the Spurs struggling so much on the road this year?

[Randy]

They were 22-19 during the regular season and are 1-4 in the playoffs.  This is something that you attribute more to a young team than a seasoned veteran team like the Spurs.  Why are the Spurs struggling on the road so badly this year?

[WayOutWest]

They were 22-19 during the regular season and are 1-4 in the playoffs.  This is something that you attribute more to a young team than a seasoned veteran team like the Spurs.  Why are the Spurs struggling on the road so badly this year?

They were the champs so teams were gunning for them.
They had injuries.
The teams in the WC are the best in history, they could not feast of EC D-League teams.
They are getting old.

In the past it seemed like every team in the league had 5 gears and the Spurs had 6.  In the past few years the Spurs seem to lose that 6th gear but their 5th gear combined with their poise and experience was enough to best everyone elses 5th gear.  Now they look like they only have 4 gears on the road.  They cannot seem to match the opponents stepping up on their home court.  They do not look like a team that is going to repeat as champs and that has been the story and knock against the franchise and Pop/TD in particular.

[Joe Vancil]

Well, for starters, three of those four losses have come to a team with a better record than they have.  They're not SUPPOSED to win those games.  The fact that they have in previous years is irrelevant.  It only goes to show how special those FORMER teams were.  It's not a poor reflection on this year's version, at all.

[westkoast]

Last night was a full blown brain fart in the 3rd.  I am just waiting for Reality to say that the offense ala Pop-a-cement was stagnant last night and that was the problem.  It's not offense or defense specifically IMO.  The execution was not there and neither was their heads.    Had to pinch myself in the 3rd after watching Duncan set a screen for Parker, Parker goes to shoot a bounce pass to Duncan like he has 1,000,000 of times before except for the fact Duncan never turned around to see the pass.  Just small little things like weak cuts, bad decisions, poor close outs on shooters.  Small things that added up to them getting pounded in the 3rd once again.  By the time the 4th quarter comes around they are down double digits and can't seem to get motivated without their home crowd.

This is problem is not exclusive to the Spurs either I might add.  This seems to be the case with most of the road teams in this 2nd round. 

[WayOutWest]

Did a quick check at all the games the Spurs have lost on the road in 07-08, seems like they are struggling because they keep losing those games.  Those loses really affect their road record.

[SPURSX3]

Charles said it best last night...with the eception of the Pistons - EVERY team is doing badly on the road.  Home cooking is just that much better this year...

[Laker Fan]

I am just waiting for Reality to say that the offense ala Pop-a-cement was stagnant last night and that was the problem.

Don't think you will be seeing much from that quarter, how sweet it is!

Tough loss Lurker, X3

[Lurker]

They were 22-19 during the regular season and are 1-4 in the playoffs.  This is something that you attribute more to a young team than a seasoned veteran team like the Spurs.  Why are the Spurs struggling on the road so badly this year?

They have struggled as much as most of the top teams.  They were 6th in the league for road record.  They hare 1-3 in the playoffs on the road.  Boston who had the best road record in the NBA hasn't won any playoff road games (0-5).  The Lakers are 2-2 on the raod in the playoffs.  The only team above .500 on the road in the playoffs is Detroit at 3-2.

Then there is the last 3 title years...

06/07  27-14 on road
04/05  21-20 on road
02/03  27-14 on road

Not a good indicator...