Rummpd
04-12-2005, 02:01 PM
In counter to another post.
Spurs will win the title and why?
The Spurs have been among the most consistent and solid teams in the NBA the last half decade at least but this year they are ready to take into another gear, circa 1999 and roll through the playoffs. This was expected by some plaundits but recently it has been fashionable to pick Dallas or Denver or the Suns to come out of the West to face either the defending champs, the Pistons or the Heat citing mainly injuries on the Spurs, primarily to one Tim Duncan. Three are some tough teams out there but no worries, the Spurs are also finally peaking at the right time.
Therefore these new fangled paundits are wrong, unless we get a repeat of Duncan's horrible fall again. Like in the case where metal is forged by fire, the Spurs have been tested by adversity and have survived and although they are missing Rasho potentially for a couple of games into the playoffs, as he returns and based on the play of his backups, they will be all right.
There five reasons to be very confident of the Spurs chances:
1) Continuity and Improvement - for all the injuries and such, the Spurs go into the playoffs with a core big three of Duncan, Manu and Parker that for the first time, on any given night, each one of these three could well be the best player on the floor and who are locked down by contracts. Manu has had nights that are unreal, Parker is coming into his own, and Tim Duncan on his game takes a back seat to know one, Shaq included, and by the finals he will be more healed and ready.
2) Defense - is the heart of success and no other team can argue going in that they have two top 5 defenders on the floor in Duncan and Bowen. When Rasho returns that piece is even stronger and Parker is also a much better defender + Manu is also very good.
3) Better Offense and Depth - we hear blah, blah, blah about the Mavs depth and the Suns hyped offense but if Devin Brown can go the Spurs have to pick between 5-6 decision points to fill the last two playoff spots. This is a very deep team with veterans and youth mixed together just right. They can now put a line up on the floor of players who at one time or the another have all averaged more than 15 points per game.
4) Confidence - other than Detroit no other team in this years playoffs knows it can get it done. Like Woods at the Master's you don't lose that. Manu especially has that winning edge and seemingly will not let the Spurs lose. In the playoffs he will be relatively fresh so watch out world.
5) Resiliency and Heart - this team can take it on the chin and bounce back. They have suffered cruel defeats several times this year but have hung in there and unbelievably could well end up with the number one seed - despite missing their MVP for over a dozen games. What they did after a horrible game with Dallas to stay on the road and gut out two wins with as many as 3 starters missing, especially on the second game against a hot team is the stuff of legends. Again, fire tempers steel and these battle toughed Spurs are ready to rumble and take it up another gear. I would have been more worried if they had saudered into the playoffs but know I can state confidently:
Mark it down: we are fans of the 2004-05 Champion Spurs.
See you in SA for the Parade.
Spurs will win the title and why?
The Spurs have been among the most consistent and solid teams in the NBA the last half decade at least but this year they are ready to take into another gear, circa 1999 and roll through the playoffs. This was expected by some plaundits but recently it has been fashionable to pick Dallas or Denver or the Suns to come out of the West to face either the defending champs, the Pistons or the Heat citing mainly injuries on the Spurs, primarily to one Tim Duncan. Three are some tough teams out there but no worries, the Spurs are also finally peaking at the right time.
Therefore these new fangled paundits are wrong, unless we get a repeat of Duncan's horrible fall again. Like in the case where metal is forged by fire, the Spurs have been tested by adversity and have survived and although they are missing Rasho potentially for a couple of games into the playoffs, as he returns and based on the play of his backups, they will be all right.
There five reasons to be very confident of the Spurs chances:
1) Continuity and Improvement - for all the injuries and such, the Spurs go into the playoffs with a core big three of Duncan, Manu and Parker that for the first time, on any given night, each one of these three could well be the best player on the floor and who are locked down by contracts. Manu has had nights that are unreal, Parker is coming into his own, and Tim Duncan on his game takes a back seat to know one, Shaq included, and by the finals he will be more healed and ready.
2) Defense - is the heart of success and no other team can argue going in that they have two top 5 defenders on the floor in Duncan and Bowen. When Rasho returns that piece is even stronger and Parker is also a much better defender + Manu is also very good.
3) Better Offense and Depth - we hear blah, blah, blah about the Mavs depth and the Suns hyped offense but if Devin Brown can go the Spurs have to pick between 5-6 decision points to fill the last two playoff spots. This is a very deep team with veterans and youth mixed together just right. They can now put a line up on the floor of players who at one time or the another have all averaged more than 15 points per game.
4) Confidence - other than Detroit no other team in this years playoffs knows it can get it done. Like Woods at the Master's you don't lose that. Manu especially has that winning edge and seemingly will not let the Spurs lose. In the playoffs he will be relatively fresh so watch out world.
5) Resiliency and Heart - this team can take it on the chin and bounce back. They have suffered cruel defeats several times this year but have hung in there and unbelievably could well end up with the number one seed - despite missing their MVP for over a dozen games. What they did after a horrible game with Dallas to stay on the road and gut out two wins with as many as 3 starters missing, especially on the second game against a hot team is the stuff of legends. Again, fire tempers steel and these battle toughed Spurs are ready to rumble and take it up another gear. I would have been more worried if they had saudered into the playoffs but know I can state confidently:
Mark it down: we are fans of the 2004-05 Champion Spurs.
See you in SA for the Parade.