Spurs dynasty over per ESPN First Take

[crc21209]

So I was watching Espn First Take in the morning, which is (1st and 10) later in the afternoon, and they brought up the Spurs being 0-3 for the first time since 73'. And both JA Adande and Skip Bayless agreed that the dynasty run is over and we will make playoffs but as a 6,7, or 8 seed and have a 1st round exit. Kind of dissapointing and pissed me off listening to that crap, seeing as its the 1st month of the season, 1st 3 games, with a team who has been there time and time again, and no Manu yet. Are you kidding me? Ppl are writing us off THAT fast?!? It's ridiculous, but gonna be hilarious hearing later in the year how ohhh no we never doubted the Spurs blah blah. We all know this team ALWAYS starts off slow, even with Manu, why would this year be any different? We have to integrate Mason, Hill, Tolliver, and Mahinmi. Once this team comes together we all know they can do it. I mean the Big 3 carried us to the Conf. Finals last year with Horry, Barry, Thomas, and Vaughn coming off the bench, this year were a little younger now with Hill, Mason, Farmer, Tolliver, and Mahinmi. We all know they'll bounce back. Believe. :flag:

[spursfan09]

:tu

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Damn, Skip used to be one of the few national media guys who would back the Spurs. Oh well, bandwagon's a little lighter and I've got more leg room.

[xtremesteven33]

Under the radar again....just where we wanna be :tu

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah. For those folks who wanted the Spurs to be around .500 when Manu comes back, I have a question: How many of the first three games did you expect the Spurs to win? One would figure they're going to win most of the games against bad teams and lose most of the games against good teams until then. They haven't played anybody bad yet.

[tmtcsc]

Yeah. For those folks who wanted the Spurs to be around .500 when Manu comes back, I have a question: How many of the first three games did you expect the Spurs to win? One would figure they're going to win most of the games against bad teams and lose most of the games against good teams until then. They haven't played anybody bad yet.

I thought we'd beat Phoenix. The other games were really toss ups. Not worried at all. I'm not really into the games yet because it still feels like preseason or a work in progress.

[JamStone]

We all know this team ALWAYS starts off slow, even with Manu, why would this year be any different?


Because sooner or later, all good things must come to an end. Do you expect Duncan and Parker and Manu still carrying this team at a championship level in 2015? At some point, the decline happens. I'm sure Laker fans felt the same way in 2002-03. But, it does happen.

I'm not personally saying the Spurs are done. But, you have to understand that at some point that they will be, and yes, possibly even before Duncan retires.

I have great respect for the Spurs franchise, their players, and the manner in which their success has come. Still, you have to come to grips that the drop-off or decline and even eventual end of a reign will come. You don't want it to happen. Some won't accept that it's happening. But, it will. It shouldn't change your loyal fandom, but you can realize and accept it.

[wildbill2u]

Yeah. For those folks who wanted the Spurs to be around .500 when Manu comes back, I have a question: How many of the first three games did you expect the Spurs to win? One would figure they're going to win most of the games against bad teams and lose most of the games against good teams until then. They haven't played anybody bad yet.

As soon as it was announced that Manu would miss several months of the season someone put on a poll about what our record would be after XX games.

I think I put down a losing record because he is irreplaceable on this team. We'll have to make up a lot of lost ground by the end of the season against Western conference teams that are either great or improved with no patsies in sight.

[duncan228]

Hollinger's PER Diem: Nov. 5, 2008 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-081105)
By John Hollinger

Everyone said last night was a historic evening, the kind that happens once a generation. They were correct: For the first time in 35 years, the Spurs fell to 0-3 after Tuesday's 98-81 loss to Dallas. What, you were thinking of something else?

While San Antonio's slow start can't compare to the landmark election results in terms of jarring impact, it's nonetheless a big story on the NBA landscape. Many had presumed the Spurs could make a run back to the conference finals this season, and it's possible they'll still get there. But through three games, it ain't looking good. The Spurs have already lost twice at home, and last night's defeat was significant because they were bushwhacked by a Dallas team that was playing on back-to-back nights and didn't play well against Cleveland on Monday.

Here's the part where Spurs fans should really start worrying: Tony Parker is leading the league in PER (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fhollinger%2fstatistics), and Tim Duncan is third … and yet the team still hasn't won a game. That's major red-flag territory, people -- San Antonio's two stars couldn't possibly be playing any better, and it hasn't been enough to get them even one win.

Ready to be shocked further? Try this: The Spurs are dead last in defensive efficiency (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats?sort=defeff&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fhollinger%2fteamstats%3fsort%3ddefeff). It's not a close dead last, either -- even lowly Sacramento ranks well ahead of them. Parker and Duncan are dominating and the team is second in the NBA in offensive efficiency, but the normally buttoned-down San Antonio D has been surrendering points with such ease that it hasn't mattered.

When the season started, the consensus was that San Antonio was trying to hang on until Manu Ginobili could return in early to mid-December (they hope) or late December (I suspect). But that perspective relies on the assumption that the Spurs are a quality defensive team that only needs Ginobili's added firepower to hang with the elite contenders. Through three games, they've been a completely different team from what we expected, and unless they get some stops, getting Ginobili back isn't going to make much of a difference.

[gingerwave]

Not over just under the radar. Well put.

[mexicanjunior]

We all know this team ALWAYS starts off slow, even with Manu, why would this year be any different?

You think 17-3 last year was a slow start?

[Rummpd]

We just got to win about 17 in a row and all will be fine then.