Preview of the Spurs' Rodeo Road Trip

Preview of the Spurs' Rodeo Road Trip

The San Antonio Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip has begun. Every year, the team heads out of town for the majority of February while the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo occupies their home at the AT&T Center. While it's always been an interesting stretch of the season, this year it will be crucial for the struggling Spurs. This trip will give San Antonio the opportunity to either develop their identity as a team or lose their place as the third seed in the West.

The San Antonio Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip has begun. Every year, the team heads out of town for the majority of February while the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo occupies their home at the AT&T Center. While it's always been an interesting stretch of the season, this year it will be crucial for the struggling Spurs. This trip will give San Antonio the opportunity to either develop their identity as a team or lose their place as the third seed in the West.

The San Antonio Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip has begun. Every year, the team heads out of town for the majority of February as the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo occupies their home at the AT&T Center. While it's always been an interesting stretch of the season, this year it will be crucial for the struggling Spurs. This trip will give San Antonio the opportunity to either develop their identity as a team or lose their place at third seed in the West.

A Brief History

The Road Trip was born in 2003 when the Spurs decided to play their games in the AT&T Center, rather than the Alamodome. This was done for a number of reasons, including better seating and amenities. The one drawback to this new situation, however, was that the AT&TT Center was built partially to host the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. This event features live entertainment and a wide variety of events, from the Swine Skillathon to one of the largest indoor rodeos in the country. According to its website, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo draws over 2 million visitors each year. 

Because of the event's popularity, the Spurs agreed to vacate the building for a few weeks each February. While this extensive road trip would be highly undesirable for most teams, it has turned into a wonderful tradition for the Spurs. In the 15 years the team has taken the trip, they have come home with a winning record 14 times. Overall, they have posted a winning percentage of .704, which is incredibly good for a team on the road. 

Not only does the Road Trip help their place in the standings, it also improves their chemistry as a team. LaMarcus Aldridge is one player who appreciates its value. According to Micheal C. Wright of ESPN.com, Aldridge said, "It’s always good for us to be on the road. You wouldn’t ask for this, but being on the road so long, being able to have to do it every night, you kind of become closer because you’re grinding together. That always makes you better.”

Why this Road Trip is crucial

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Spurs are different this year, and not in a good way. Their winning percentage, .618, is one of their worst in recent history. In fact, only one Gregg Popovich coached Spurs team has had a lower percentage. If they continue at this pace, they will barely win 50 games. While many franchises would dream of this kind of record, it isn't what we've come to expect from San Antonio.

In January, the Spurs won just nine of sixteen games. If they continue on this track, there is no doubt they will fall behind the fourth-seeded Timberwolves, who are just half a game back. Even more concerning, they are only 3.5 games ahead of the fifth-seeded Thunder and 4.5 games ahead of the Nuggets and Trailblazers, who are tied for sixth. There is the very real possibility that the Spurs could lose home court advantage in the postseason, and maybe even fall out of the playoff picture. 

This unusual amount of losses could easily be attributed to injuries. Kawhi Leonard, who finished third in MVP voting last year, has missed all but nine games this year. In addition, all but three players on their roster have missed games this season. But there is something else going on this year, something more than just injuries. There is something undeniably off about their style of play. They are not the same unflappable, in-sync Spurs of old that went about demolishing teams with mechanical precision. 

Even the Spurs' spark, Manu Ginobili, is feeling the change:"It feels like we are terrible, that we have so many things to improve," he said, per Tom Osborn of San Antonio Express-News. "It feels like we have played 10 games, not 60, or how many we have played," he said. "We've got a feeling we are still building, trying to find our identity, trying to get players back, rotations and who is in and who is out."

Luckily for Ginobili and the Spurs, if they are looking for an opportunity to come together as a team, the Rodeo Road Trip is the right place to start. They will be traveling for the better part of the month, with only each other to keep them company in opposing cities. Gregg Popovich spoke about this topic before the 2016 Road Trip: “Camaraderie is always a big thing, especially with new players," he said, according to Micheal C. Wright of ESPN.com. "You get used to each other, break bread and find out about each other's families. It makes you want to play together.” 

This quote from Pop is very reassuring, considering he is a proven expert on this topic. Hopefully, this year's trip will proceed like previous years' have, and the Spurs will come out on the other side with a better record and improved chemistry. 

Logistics of the trip

This year, the Spurs will play only six games on their Rodeo Road Trip. The first game in Phoenix should be the easiest, considering the Suns are just 18-36 this season. Their next game will be much more challenging, as they will be heading to Oracle Arena to face the Warriors. After that, they will face the Jazz in Utah, who have beaten the Spurs both times they have met this season. The Jazz are also currently on a six-game winning streak, which included a blowout win over the Warriors. The Spurs final game before the All-Star Break will be against the sixth-seeded Nuggets, which could be crucial if they want to retain home-court advantage in the playoffs. 

After nine days off, in which LaMarcus Aldridge will be traveling to Los Angeles for the All-Star game, they will face the Nuggets a second time. The Spurs will finish the Rodeo Road Trip with a game in Cleveland against the tumultuous Cavaliers team. 

It is by no means an easy schedule, but it's not impossible, either. If the Spurs are ever going to get themselves together enough for a run in the postseason, it will most likely be on this trip. Luckily for Spurs fans, if history is any guide for what the future will bring, this Rodeo Road Trip will be just what the team needs to get back on track.

The San Antonio Spurs' annual Rodeo Road Trip has begun. Every year, the team heads out of town for the majority of February as the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo occupies their home at the AT&T Center. While it's always been an interesting stretch of the season, this year it will be crucial for the struggling Spurs. This trip will give San Antonio the opportunity to either develop their identity as a team or lose their place at third seed in the West.

A Brief History

The Road Trip was born in 2003 when the Spurs decided to play their games in the AT&T Center, rather than the Alamodome. This was done for a number of reasons, including better seating and amenities. The one drawback to this new situation, however, was that the AT&TT Center was built partially to host the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. This event features live entertainment and a wide variety of events, from the Swine Skillathon to one of the largest indoor rodeos in the country. According to its website, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo draws over 2 million visitors each year. 

Because of the event's popularity, the Spurs agreed to vacate the building for a few weeks each February. While this extensive road trip would be highly undesirable for most teams, it has turned into a wonderful tradition for the Spurs. In the 15 years the team has taken the trip, they have come home with a winning record 14 times. Overall, they have posted a winning percentage of .704, which is incredibly good for a team on the road. 

Not only does the Road Trip help their place in the standings, it also improves their chemistry as a team. LaMarcus Aldridge is one player who appreciates its value. According to Micheal C. Wright of ESPN.com, Aldridge said, "It’s always good for us to be on the road. You wouldn’t ask for this, but being on the road so long, being able to have to do it every night, you kind of become closer because you’re grinding together. That always makes you better.”

Why this Road Trip is crucial

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Spurs are different this year, and not in a good way. Their winning percentage, .618, is one of their worst in recent history. In fact, only one Gregg Popovich coached Spurs team has had a lower percentage. If they continue at this pace, they will barely win 50 games. While many franchises would dream of this kind of record, it isn't what we've come to expect from San Antonio.

In January, the Spurs won just nine of sixteen games. If they continue on this track, there is no doubt they will fall behind the fourth-seeded Timberwolves, who are just half a game back. Even more concerning, they are only 3.5 games ahead of the fifth-seeded Thunder and 4.5 games ahead of the Nuggets and Trailblazers, who are tied for sixth. There is the very real possibility that the Spurs could lose home court advantage in the postseason, and maybe even fall out of the playoff picture. 

This unusual amount of losses could easily be attributed to injuries. Kawhi Leonard, who finished third in MVP voting last year, has missed all but nine games this year. In addition, all but three players on their roster have missed games this season. But there is something else going on this year, something more than just injuries. There is something undeniably off about their style of play. They are not the same unflappable, in-sync Spurs of old that went about demolishing teams with mechanical precision. 

Even the Spurs' spark, Manu Ginobili, is feeling the change:"It feels like we are terrible, that we have so many things to improve," he said, per Tom Osborn of San Antonio Express-News. "It feels like we have played 10 games, not 60, or how many we have played," he said. "We've got a feeling we are still building, trying to find our identity, trying to get players back, rotations and who is in and who is out."

Luckily for Ginobili and the Spurs, if they are looking for an opportunity to come together as a team, the Rodeo Road Trip is the right place to start. They will be traveling for the better part of the month, with only each other to keep them company in opposing cities. Gregg Popovich spoke about this topic before the 2016 Road Trip: “Camaraderie is always a big thing, especially with new players," he said, according to Micheal C. Wright of ESPN.com. "You get used to each other, break bread and find out about each other's families. It makes you want to play together.” 

This quote from Pop is very reassuring, considering he is a proven expert on this topic. Hopefully, this year's trip will proceed like previous years' have, and the Spurs will come out on the other side with a better record and improved chemistry. 

Logistics of the trip

This year, the Spurs will play only six games on their Rodeo Road Trip. The first game in Phoenix should be the easiest, considering the Suns are just 18-36 this season. Their next game will be much more challenging, as they will be heading to Oracle Arena to face the Warriors. After that, they will face the Jazz in Utah, who have beaten the Spurs both times they have met this season. The Jazz are also currently on a six-game winning streak, which included a blowout win over the Warriors. The Spurs final game before the All-Star Break will be against the sixth-seeded Nuggets, which could be crucial if they want to retain home-court advantage in the playoffs. 

After nine days off, in which LaMarcus Aldridge will be traveling to Los Angeles for the All-Star game, they will face the Nuggets a second time. The Spurs will finish the Rodeo Road Trip with a game in Cleveland against the tumultuous Cavaliers team. 

It is by no means an easy schedule, but it's not impossible, either. If the Spurs are ever going to get themselves together enough for a run in the postseason, it will most likely be on this trip. Luckily for Spurs fans, if history is any guide for what the future will bring, this Rodeo Road Trip will be just what the team needs to get back on track.

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