The San Antonio Spurs are now the dirtiest team in the NBA. At least that's how ESPN, NBA beat writers, and many fans are painting them. The same Spurs who have been called "model citizens," "the quintessential NBA franchise," and "winners" for the past decade plus. In that time period, they've also been called my favorite (non-Charlotte) NBA team.
In 1988, I went to the first Diet Pepsi Tournament of Champions at the then-new Charlotte Coliseum. The beloved Tar Heels were playing their first game in the gargantuan arena and my Dad ensured that we were there to see it. In this tournament were four teams, matching a double-header Friday night with a loser vs loser & winner vs winner double-header on Saturday night. Carolina, Temple, Missouri, and Arizona comprised the field that season, with all four team ranked in the top 25 of the AP poll. Carolina played Arizona in the first round, winning the advance to Saturday night's championship game versus Missouri. I went home a happy Tar Heel after the squad defeated Stormin' Norman's Mizzou Tigers...and I also went home with some perspective. As a bright and shining six-year old, this was the first time I saw a team play in a game that did not involve Carolina. Somehow I became fixated with Arizona (I guess I had forgiven the Wildcats for eliminating the Tar Heels in the West Regional Final the prior season). I also got stuck on a particular player: Sean Elliott. Don't ask me why, as I honestly think I thought he had a cool name (which is also why I started pulling for BYU football: Ty Detmer had a cool name). I continued to follow Elliott as much as a six-year old could that year.
The following June, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Elliott third overall in the NBA Draft. My Dad also told me about David Robinson, who was to be a rookie that season for the Spurs following two years of military service with the Naval Academy. Combine those two young players with hip new colors (remember, neon blue, pink, and orange were soooo in during the early nineties) and I had a Western Conference team to cheer for. I had two Spurs shirts and a hat by fourth grade. I used to attend Charlotte Hornets games versus San Antonio every year, pulling for the home team, but also pulling for my two favorite players not named Michael Jeffery Jordan.
This continued throughout the nineties, painful as it could be at times, as the Spurs lost every season in the playoffs. Portland, Houston, Phoenix...never reaching the NBA Finals. Until the season that changed their franchise's trajectory.
David Robinson went down early in the 1996-1997 season. Bob Hill was fired as coach and some guy named Gregg Popovich took over. The Spurs struggled all year long, finishing at the bottom of the old Midwest Division. As luck, fate, and possibly some Jesus would have it, the Spurs ended up with the number one overall pick and drafted some dude named Tim Duncan.
Duncan terrorized my Tar Heels for four seasons. Unemotional, almost assassin-like, a methodical 20 & 12 what seemed like every night. But I knew, though I screamed against him many a night, that he was really good. Plus, he stayed in school for his senior year. Of course, I knew he'd be a great NBA player, as did everyone else who knew what a basketball was. So when the Spurs captured the number one pick, it was a no-brainer as to who they'd draft.
Fast forward to now. Three titles later, the Spurs are the closest thing to a dynasty in the league right now. Duncan is all that remains from that 1999 team's players, along with much of the coaching staff. However, I have continued to pull for San Antonio over all these years. Had the Hornets and Spurs played, I'd have been rooting on my home-town Hornets; of course, this never happened because George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge are pompous jerks (this blog is rated PG). Today, I'd pull for the Bobcats. But since that's not happening for a while, I'll continue to enjoy the Spurs.
Now, on to the dirty part of the Spurs. I love how all of a sudden, the Spurs are the bad guys. It's great. It just goes to show that no one likes a winner. People love to see Duke & Carolina lose. Why? Because chances are one or both have kicked their teams' ass at some point (PG-13). Same for the Yankees. Same for the Detroit Red Wings & New Jersey Devils. Same for the Dallas Cowboys of old or New England Patriots of today. Notre Dame? Different story for another day.
The Spurs play ugly basketball. Not much personality, some whining, some clutching, some grabbing...and some serious winning. Every time someone asks Gregg Popovich about his squad being dirty, he should rub his face with his right hand, three NBA Championship rings shining in the light, and ask them to repeat their question. As Jimmie Johnson's Sprint/Nextel commercials says, "I'm gonna need it again" as his teammate brings over his championship trophy from last season. I fully expect Coach Pop to be able to do that next season as well.
I have nothing against the Phoenix Suns. They play fun, exciting basketball. Extremely talented team, albeit a little on the soft side at times. Everyone who doesn't have a favorite team or whose team is sitting at home is pulling for them. That's cool, I'd likely be on that side if I was not a Spurs fan. But somehow I don't think the Spurs will be rattled by being the hated, "dirty" team. They'll be too busy thinking about the design for their next title ring.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Big Picture
Last night's meltdown by Golden State in its NBA Playoffs game at Utah was tough to watch. As the self-proclaimed conductor on the Warriors' bandwagon, I was a little frustrated with their ability to choke away another certain victory. But, Derek Fisher's story, the Utah shooting guard who arrived midway through the third quarter was much larger than the game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070510
Fisher has never really played on a squad I particularly liked at the time. In fact, his buzzer beater in game five of the Lakers/Spurs series in 2004 is one of the angriest NBA Playoffs moments of my life; remarkable shot, totally unexpected, yet very frustrating. But, Derek plays hard, plays tough, and leads. And he really loves him some Jesus. He used to play with a WWJD bracelet and almost always references his faith in interviews, including after the shot to beat the Spurs. Last night was no different, as the first words out of his mouth referenced the Grace of God. It was at that point that any frustration with the Warriors' defeat was replaced by a thankfulness that God's plan, the big picture, is perfect. No matter what I think should have happened or what I want to see happen, His Will is bigger and better. Can I get an amen?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070510
Fisher has never really played on a squad I particularly liked at the time. In fact, his buzzer beater in game five of the Lakers/Spurs series in 2004 is one of the angriest NBA Playoffs moments of my life; remarkable shot, totally unexpected, yet very frustrating. But, Derek plays hard, plays tough, and leads. And he really loves him some Jesus. He used to play with a WWJD bracelet and almost always references his faith in interviews, including after the shot to beat the Spurs. Last night was no different, as the first words out of his mouth referenced the Grace of God. It was at that point that any frustration with the Warriors' defeat was replaced by a thankfulness that God's plan, the big picture, is perfect. No matter what I think should have happened or what I want to see happen, His Will is bigger and better. Can I get an amen?
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Golden State vs Dallas
The Golden State Warriors finished off the 67-win Dallas Mavericks late last night with a barrage of three-pointers & dunks in what is being discussed as the biggest upset in NBA Playoffs history. I'm not qualified to comment on the historical implications, seeing as I am only 24 years old. However, I will say that it was one of the most enjoyable series to watch as a fan that I've ever seen. The games were intense and free-wheeling at times, with the contrast between the two organizations making it that much more entertaining. Today's storylines center on the underdog Warriors being an eight-seed, Dallas losing much earlier than anticipated, and Dirk Nowitzki's supposed inability to perform in the clutch (not true always, definitely true in this series). However, not enough has been made about the characters on this Golden State team and how it was put together.
Baron Davis is the centerpiece of the Warriors' squad. He came over in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2004-2005 season and was the number three overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the then-Charlotte Hornets. As a Hornets fan turned Bobcats fan, I must say that Davis' brilliance in these playoffs is not surprise. When it matters most, when it's "do-or-die" time, when the spotlight is on your team in the playoffs, Baron Davis shows up. Big time. He was virtually unstoppable in the 2002 playoffs. The problem in his career has been two-fold. He has battled injuries and lacked a ton of talent around him. After the team moved from Charlotte, Baron has suffered injuries that kept him out for an extended period of time every season. The New Orleans Hornets were a middle-of-the-road team, with no real shot at a championship; the Warriors were stuck with a bad salary cap situation and too many young players. But now, with the right system and a talented (yet borderline crazy) group of guys around him, Davis is excelling. His game one performace was almost exactly as I remember his performance against Orlando in those 2002 playoffs: scooping layups, a vicious dunk, spinning jumpers, and three-pointers from waaaay downtown in someone's face with the shotclock winding down. Of all the players in the league, a Baron Davis three-pointer is one of the most fun to watch. He shoots with such a pronounced squat, almost throwing his arms down in the follow-through, spinning to celebrate almost before it goes in, always back-peddling. So exactly the kind of shot you dream about hitting on someone in a pickup game, except he hits them on a regular basis. Quickly, Davis has reintroduced himself to the NBA world as a clutch playoff performer.
Steven Jackson came over in a trade with Indiana. We've all seen him in the Palace brawl backing up Ron Artest and throwing wild haymakers at a fan. We've all heard him through his various run-ins with the law, most recently the strip club shoot-out as a member of the Pacers. But now, we're getting to see why he was instrumental in the Spurs' 2003 championship and why fellow players have so much respect for the guy. He is tough, he doesn't care what people think, and he plays big when it matters. He was a second-round pick out of high school, played in Venezuela, the CBA, and the Dominican Republic. I would never argue Jackson to be the brightest crayon in the box, but I would argue him to be one of the most loyal and tough players in the game today.
Jason Richardson was a first-round pick by Golden State in the 2001 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Michigan St. He is a two-time NBA Slam-Dunk Champion and a highlight real on many a night. This is his first playoff series. He has taken a backseat of sorts to Davis, and even Jackson recently, but has continued to go about his business of averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds per game.
The supporting cast is no different than the three big guns on this team. Al Harrington - very talented, often traded. Matt Barnes - five NBA teams, an ABA stint, and an appearance in the NBDL. Monta Ellis - high draft pick, no experience. Andris Biedrins - high draft pick, no experience. Mickael Pietrus - French pro with no playoffs experience.
Don Nelson is the coach of this ragtag group. They free-wheel, the NBA's version of rapper Twista - fast, exciting, hard to understand, and without a clue where it will all lead. But Nelson has found a mix of players who love his system. A lot of these players are finding an identity on this team with a coach who accepts them and emphasizes their strengths. He wants them to play with reckless abandonment, borderline out-of-control. Plus, Nellie really understands what buttons to push as a player's coach. He has formed a style and a mantra that these guys rally around, where they want to play hard, play tough, play aggressive defense, and play for one another. The scary thing about this team is they have been together and healthy for less than half a season. No one in their rotation has been in the league longer than seven years, there is no age factor adversely affecting this team's ceiling. Translation: they could be just scratching the surface of being a competitive playoff-caliber team.
Where Golden State goes from here (meaning after this season) is up to Chris Mullin, a former Warriors' great and the current decision maker on player personnel. He has been rightfully criticized for some horrendous signings, specifically of big men (see Dampier, Eric and Foyle, Adonal) and tall, unathletic white guys (Murphy, Troy and Dunleavey, Mike Jr.). With the development of Biedrins and hopefully last year's first rounder, Patrick O'Bryant (I'm not holding my breath on O'Bryant, he is a long ways off), the Warriors could have a young core of eight or nine guys who would potentially win a lot of games.
In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy Golden State; an eclectic, often-hilarious bunch of guys to watch fly around, wreaking havoc and having a blast. The Phoenix/San Antonio series will be great, but Golden State has stolen the show thus far in these playoffs.
Baron Davis is the centerpiece of the Warriors' squad. He came over in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2004-2005 season and was the number three overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the then-Charlotte Hornets. As a Hornets fan turned Bobcats fan, I must say that Davis' brilliance in these playoffs is not surprise. When it matters most, when it's "do-or-die" time, when the spotlight is on your team in the playoffs, Baron Davis shows up. Big time. He was virtually unstoppable in the 2002 playoffs. The problem in his career has been two-fold. He has battled injuries and lacked a ton of talent around him. After the team moved from Charlotte, Baron has suffered injuries that kept him out for an extended period of time every season. The New Orleans Hornets were a middle-of-the-road team, with no real shot at a championship; the Warriors were stuck with a bad salary cap situation and too many young players. But now, with the right system and a talented (yet borderline crazy) group of guys around him, Davis is excelling. His game one performace was almost exactly as I remember his performance against Orlando in those 2002 playoffs: scooping layups, a vicious dunk, spinning jumpers, and three-pointers from waaaay downtown in someone's face with the shotclock winding down. Of all the players in the league, a Baron Davis three-pointer is one of the most fun to watch. He shoots with such a pronounced squat, almost throwing his arms down in the follow-through, spinning to celebrate almost before it goes in, always back-peddling. So exactly the kind of shot you dream about hitting on someone in a pickup game, except he hits them on a regular basis. Quickly, Davis has reintroduced himself to the NBA world as a clutch playoff performer.
Steven Jackson came over in a trade with Indiana. We've all seen him in the Palace brawl backing up Ron Artest and throwing wild haymakers at a fan. We've all heard him through his various run-ins with the law, most recently the strip club shoot-out as a member of the Pacers. But now, we're getting to see why he was instrumental in the Spurs' 2003 championship and why fellow players have so much respect for the guy. He is tough, he doesn't care what people think, and he plays big when it matters. He was a second-round pick out of high school, played in Venezuela, the CBA, and the Dominican Republic. I would never argue Jackson to be the brightest crayon in the box, but I would argue him to be one of the most loyal and tough players in the game today.
Jason Richardson was a first-round pick by Golden State in the 2001 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Michigan St. He is a two-time NBA Slam-Dunk Champion and a highlight real on many a night. This is his first playoff series. He has taken a backseat of sorts to Davis, and even Jackson recently, but has continued to go about his business of averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds per game.
The supporting cast is no different than the three big guns on this team. Al Harrington - very talented, often traded. Matt Barnes - five NBA teams, an ABA stint, and an appearance in the NBDL. Monta Ellis - high draft pick, no experience. Andris Biedrins - high draft pick, no experience. Mickael Pietrus - French pro with no playoffs experience.
Don Nelson is the coach of this ragtag group. They free-wheel, the NBA's version of rapper Twista - fast, exciting, hard to understand, and without a clue where it will all lead. But Nelson has found a mix of players who love his system. A lot of these players are finding an identity on this team with a coach who accepts them and emphasizes their strengths. He wants them to play with reckless abandonment, borderline out-of-control. Plus, Nellie really understands what buttons to push as a player's coach. He has formed a style and a mantra that these guys rally around, where they want to play hard, play tough, play aggressive defense, and play for one another. The scary thing about this team is they have been together and healthy for less than half a season. No one in their rotation has been in the league longer than seven years, there is no age factor adversely affecting this team's ceiling. Translation: they could be just scratching the surface of being a competitive playoff-caliber team.
Where Golden State goes from here (meaning after this season) is up to Chris Mullin, a former Warriors' great and the current decision maker on player personnel. He has been rightfully criticized for some horrendous signings, specifically of big men (see Dampier, Eric and Foyle, Adonal) and tall, unathletic white guys (Murphy, Troy and Dunleavey, Mike Jr.). With the development of Biedrins and hopefully last year's first rounder, Patrick O'Bryant (I'm not holding my breath on O'Bryant, he is a long ways off), the Warriors could have a young core of eight or nine guys who would potentially win a lot of games.
In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy Golden State; an eclectic, often-hilarious bunch of guys to watch fly around, wreaking havoc and having a blast. The Phoenix/San Antonio series will be great, but Golden State has stolen the show thus far in these playoffs.
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