Blackjack
06-30-2009, 12:14 PM
Spurs and Patriots
48MoH reader Matthew Molina via email:
The Spurs and Patriots are often thrown into the same sentence because of their dominance over a sustained period of time so it is no surprise that comparisons are drawn. Both franchises are known for no-nonsense head coaches who have no problem making heart-breaking decisions (Elliott, M-Rose, Bowen) for the betterment of the franchise. Both franchises are led by an understated superstar (Duncan, Brady) that allow them to put a system in place and know that the other players will fall into line or else. Both teams take chances on former superstars (Finley, Seau) at value prices knowing that these players have experience and high IQ’s in their sports and are more reliable than younger, more athletic players in pressure situations. Both teams are famous for their beyond the norm level of secrecy. Both coaches, ostensibly, have almost a disdain for speaking to the media. The list can go on and on, however, I feel that the similarities with the most league-wide impact center around the front offices for the respective teams.
The Spurs and Patriots were among the first teams to begin valuing character over anything else. The teams target players that will flourish in their particular system not only because of their specific skill set but because of their ability to contribute to the locker room as well. This kind of wisdom has allowed them to sign reasonably priced free agents that other teams may have missed. (Mason, Welker). The Spurs success in the draft is no secret (Blair is the latest coup) while the Patriots had positioned themselves so strongly that post-Spygate infractions they still had a 1st rd pick where they selected Jerod Mayo, the 2008 Defensive ROY.
It is not surprising that these two teams have contended for championships for nearly a decade, with injuries possibly being their toughest opponent. The Spurs are often quoted as the winningest franchise of all professional sports in the last 10 years with the Patriots not far behind. With this kind of success, logical people look to emulate these models in hopes of achieving the same kind of results. The quickest way to do this is hiring (stealing) the actual people making the tough decisions for the Spurs and Patriots. Most fans will not have to look far to see these Spurs/Patriots connections. The Belichick coaching tree is well documented with Josh McDaniels (Broncos), Jim Schwartz (Lions) joining this year’s club of Belichick-inspired head coaches. Spurs fans are very familiar with various household names spread around the country. I realize that the actual effect the Spurs organization actually had on the individual varies, but the connection should be noted nonetheless.
Name Current Position Spurs Connection
Cleveland Cavaliers Danny Ferry General Manager Player (’00-’03); Director of Basketball Operations (’03-’05)
Lance Blanks Assistant General Manager Scout (’00); Director of Scouting (’02)
Mike Brown Head Coach Assistant Coach (’00-’03)
Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti General Manager Various Front Office (’00-’07)
Rob Hennigan Director of College/International Personnel Asst. Basketball Operations (’05-’08)
Paul Rivers Director of Basketball Admin and Technology Video Coordinator (’04-’05)
Brian Facchini Director of Basketball Communications Media Relations Manager (’03-’05)
Phoenix Suns Steve Kerr President of Basketball Operations Player (’99-’01, ‘02-’03)
Portland Trailblazers Kevin Pritchard General Manager Scout (’02-’04)
Note that the list does only accounts for front office individuals, not coaches (P.J., Avery) or future front office candidates (Coach Bud, Dennis Lindsey).
There are many ways to build a championship contender but there is no denying that the Spurs model is good one to follow. That being said this offseason reeks of the San Antonio way and that chart explains part of the reason why. We have seen multiple teams begin to stockpile draft picks and position themselves in the 2nd round (Blazers, Thunder, Rockets) in hopes of developing a pool for talent development in a manner that is “cap-friendly”. While a few teams still spend like congressmen, more teams are becoming reluctant to over-pay for role players (Ben Gordon, Rajon Rondo) or give lengthy deals to players nearing the end of their prime. It makes headlines when max players “consider” taking less than they are worth for the team but people forget Duncan has been doing that for his entire contract not to mention both Ginobilli and Parker both have very reasonable contracts which again speaks volumes for the Spurs front office. Almost all of the mock drafts had the Thunder taking Rubio with the 3rd pick and many were surprised with the selection of Harden instead. That to me seems like classic Spurs misdirection.
High character players, smart contracts, smart cap management, intelligent scouting both locally and internationally, a D-League “farm system”, having a system in place are all hallmarks of the successful franchises in today’s NBA and each of these traits can arguably be attributed to the San Antonio organization.
Graydon Gordian: (48MoH)
The Spurs-Patriots comparison is often made, and with good reason, but I have two fundamental problems with it.
a) You said, “the Spurs and the Patriots value character over anything else.” That is true of the Spurs, but I am not so sure with the Patriots. I think that is a hard claim to make when the Pats were recently involved in one of the larger cheating scandals in the history of the modern NFL.
b) Obviously Belichick is an excellent coach, there is no denying that. But there is something Popovich has that Belichick never will: Class. Belichick’s unsportsmanlike conduct is well recorded. Whether it be leaving the field before the game was formally concluded during Super Bowl XLII or barely acknowledging former assistant Eric Mangini after Jets-Pats games, Belichick has repeatedly proven himself to be an asshole.
Popovich may be bristly with the media, but he is always respectful of his opponents and supportive of his former assistants.
The Spurs are a classy, successful organization. The Pats are just a successful one.
I’d also like to note that most of Belichick’s assistants that have gone on to be head coaches have not performed well, while, as you note, the network of former Spurs FO and coaching personnel has done quite well.
http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2009/06/30/spurs-and-patriots/
48MoH reader Matthew Molina via email:
The Spurs and Patriots are often thrown into the same sentence because of their dominance over a sustained period of time so it is no surprise that comparisons are drawn. Both franchises are known for no-nonsense head coaches who have no problem making heart-breaking decisions (Elliott, M-Rose, Bowen) for the betterment of the franchise. Both franchises are led by an understated superstar (Duncan, Brady) that allow them to put a system in place and know that the other players will fall into line or else. Both teams take chances on former superstars (Finley, Seau) at value prices knowing that these players have experience and high IQ’s in their sports and are more reliable than younger, more athletic players in pressure situations. Both teams are famous for their beyond the norm level of secrecy. Both coaches, ostensibly, have almost a disdain for speaking to the media. The list can go on and on, however, I feel that the similarities with the most league-wide impact center around the front offices for the respective teams.
The Spurs and Patriots were among the first teams to begin valuing character over anything else. The teams target players that will flourish in their particular system not only because of their specific skill set but because of their ability to contribute to the locker room as well. This kind of wisdom has allowed them to sign reasonably priced free agents that other teams may have missed. (Mason, Welker). The Spurs success in the draft is no secret (Blair is the latest coup) while the Patriots had positioned themselves so strongly that post-Spygate infractions they still had a 1st rd pick where they selected Jerod Mayo, the 2008 Defensive ROY.
It is not surprising that these two teams have contended for championships for nearly a decade, with injuries possibly being their toughest opponent. The Spurs are often quoted as the winningest franchise of all professional sports in the last 10 years with the Patriots not far behind. With this kind of success, logical people look to emulate these models in hopes of achieving the same kind of results. The quickest way to do this is hiring (stealing) the actual people making the tough decisions for the Spurs and Patriots. Most fans will not have to look far to see these Spurs/Patriots connections. The Belichick coaching tree is well documented with Josh McDaniels (Broncos), Jim Schwartz (Lions) joining this year’s club of Belichick-inspired head coaches. Spurs fans are very familiar with various household names spread around the country. I realize that the actual effect the Spurs organization actually had on the individual varies, but the connection should be noted nonetheless.
Name Current Position Spurs Connection
Cleveland Cavaliers Danny Ferry General Manager Player (’00-’03); Director of Basketball Operations (’03-’05)
Lance Blanks Assistant General Manager Scout (’00); Director of Scouting (’02)
Mike Brown Head Coach Assistant Coach (’00-’03)
Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti General Manager Various Front Office (’00-’07)
Rob Hennigan Director of College/International Personnel Asst. Basketball Operations (’05-’08)
Paul Rivers Director of Basketball Admin and Technology Video Coordinator (’04-’05)
Brian Facchini Director of Basketball Communications Media Relations Manager (’03-’05)
Phoenix Suns Steve Kerr President of Basketball Operations Player (’99-’01, ‘02-’03)
Portland Trailblazers Kevin Pritchard General Manager Scout (’02-’04)
Note that the list does only accounts for front office individuals, not coaches (P.J., Avery) or future front office candidates (Coach Bud, Dennis Lindsey).
There are many ways to build a championship contender but there is no denying that the Spurs model is good one to follow. That being said this offseason reeks of the San Antonio way and that chart explains part of the reason why. We have seen multiple teams begin to stockpile draft picks and position themselves in the 2nd round (Blazers, Thunder, Rockets) in hopes of developing a pool for talent development in a manner that is “cap-friendly”. While a few teams still spend like congressmen, more teams are becoming reluctant to over-pay for role players (Ben Gordon, Rajon Rondo) or give lengthy deals to players nearing the end of their prime. It makes headlines when max players “consider” taking less than they are worth for the team but people forget Duncan has been doing that for his entire contract not to mention both Ginobilli and Parker both have very reasonable contracts which again speaks volumes for the Spurs front office. Almost all of the mock drafts had the Thunder taking Rubio with the 3rd pick and many were surprised with the selection of Harden instead. That to me seems like classic Spurs misdirection.
High character players, smart contracts, smart cap management, intelligent scouting both locally and internationally, a D-League “farm system”, having a system in place are all hallmarks of the successful franchises in today’s NBA and each of these traits can arguably be attributed to the San Antonio organization.
Graydon Gordian: (48MoH)
The Spurs-Patriots comparison is often made, and with good reason, but I have two fundamental problems with it.
a) You said, “the Spurs and the Patriots value character over anything else.” That is true of the Spurs, but I am not so sure with the Patriots. I think that is a hard claim to make when the Pats were recently involved in one of the larger cheating scandals in the history of the modern NFL.
b) Obviously Belichick is an excellent coach, there is no denying that. But there is something Popovich has that Belichick never will: Class. Belichick’s unsportsmanlike conduct is well recorded. Whether it be leaving the field before the game was formally concluded during Super Bowl XLII or barely acknowledging former assistant Eric Mangini after Jets-Pats games, Belichick has repeatedly proven himself to be an asshole.
Popovich may be bristly with the media, but he is always respectful of his opponents and supportive of his former assistants.
The Spurs are a classy, successful organization. The Pats are just a successful one.
I’d also like to note that most of Belichick’s assistants that have gone on to be head coaches have not performed well, while, as you note, the network of former Spurs FO and coaching personnel has done quite well.
http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2009/06/30/spurs-and-patriots/