Rummpd
03-27-2010, 05:11 AM
I was expected to be hammered after the Spurs took a nosedive on Wed vs. the Lakers (and rightfully was by a few after a night when the bottom line is Duncan was terrible, and the Spurs clanked multiple open opportunities) but I firmly believe this team is still vastly under-rated; and has been given up for dead by far too many media pundits, every trolll on this site, and a few Spurs fans.
However, I want to give them more and state openly, a strong belief that the Spurs may still have their very best basketball ahead of them this year.
The bottom line is this team since Finley left in has shown "addition by subtraction" and despite a brutal schedule, has been surging. The Spurs in the Duncan, Manu and Parker era have had tough times before and rose to the occassion many times to doubt them (including when all but a few gave up on them when they were hammered by the Hornets in the first two games of classic series before seemingly coming out of near death experience and beating a very strong team that year.)
They have been a resilient bunch this year through many injuries and wierd lineups (that Popovich seems to have finally abandoned) to count them out yet.
I also believe that Popovich (who is still also still a damm fine coach) at some point recently has told Manu to take the reins. I would not be surprised if Popovich has told Manu that this year this team is yours that he has the permission to free wheel out there to try to take it as far as you can. Whatever, has turned the switch back on (most likely just better health) Manu has been playing the last 15 or so games again, as well as any player in the league and, most importantly, despite long minutes still looks very fresh and surely seems unafraid of the stout challenges ahead.
Furthermore, despite, all the bad play this year there have been enough signs to me of a true revival. There have been several stretches of games recently against top tier opposition to doubt that this team still believes in itself or is really lacking as much talent or will as some naysayers have said.
This week alone, the win over the Cavs (and 2 out of 3 vs the Okies, Lakers, and Cavs and 3 out of 5 against tough teams) is demonstrative that this team is truly not that far from competing with any and potentially beating any top tier team, at any time.
Also is no player in the NBA, Kobe included, whom has anymore competitive fire than Manu (and only a few, ala Kobe, at his position with more talent).
Importantly, with Manu surging himself, the Spurs now again have that end game go to guy and I expect their will not be as many late game dissapointments going forward as we have endured this year [and by the way, Manu has also been rated the most clutch player in the NBA and remains under-rated by parts of the media and fans (don't believe me? search on Google - "Manu Ginobili, most clutch player in the NBA". http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/11/05/clutch.numbersgame/index.html is one example]
This team also importantly still has one of the largest point differentials in the leage which is a potent indicator of playoff success.
Furthermore, while Duncan is also banged up, I have seen him also rise to the occassion too many times in the playoffs to count the Spurs out, and they will also be adding in the last 10 or so games and the playoffs the best player of anyone in the league out with injuries, in Parker.
Add Manu and Jefferson at least contributing some nights. Hill's considerable talents and guts; and Pop's and the team's faith in a system and team defense - this team is not dead and has the full potential to challenge and throw a serious scare (if not beat) any team in the league in a playoff series.
After the end of this regular season ,the Spurs will also feel like they are on a relative vacation without odd travel back and forth accross the coasts, multiple back to backs to end the season and having faced a guantlet of top tier teams. In the playoffs they will get days off and some relative rest after this brutul end run to a strange season.
As such, I believe that like "tempered steel" this resilient and still very talented team will continue to surge and having run a strange scheduling guantlet (seemingly as tough as any team ever to end the reguluar season), will not fear any challenge ahead.
Mark my words - any team they face in the standing above them in the first round will have their hands full. Most importanlty, this team is led this year by the indomitable will and talent of Manu, has the intelligence and still under-appreciated drive of a proud Duncan, and perhaps best of all, the rare sight of a stud named, Tony Parker, returning on fresh legs. The "three amigos" that have led the Spurs the last half decade DO HAVE ONE MORE STRONG PLAYOFF RUN IN THEM (THAT WHILE IT MAY NOT END IN A CHAMPIONSHIP, ALTHOUGH DON''T EVEN RULE THAT OUT) THAT WILL MAKE SPURS FANS PROUD.
Watch and Learn naysayers - this team will surprise many.
However, I want to give them more and state openly, a strong belief that the Spurs may still have their very best basketball ahead of them this year.
The bottom line is this team since Finley left in has shown "addition by subtraction" and despite a brutal schedule, has been surging. The Spurs in the Duncan, Manu and Parker era have had tough times before and rose to the occassion many times to doubt them (including when all but a few gave up on them when they were hammered by the Hornets in the first two games of classic series before seemingly coming out of near death experience and beating a very strong team that year.)
They have been a resilient bunch this year through many injuries and wierd lineups (that Popovich seems to have finally abandoned) to count them out yet.
I also believe that Popovich (who is still also still a damm fine coach) at some point recently has told Manu to take the reins. I would not be surprised if Popovich has told Manu that this year this team is yours that he has the permission to free wheel out there to try to take it as far as you can. Whatever, has turned the switch back on (most likely just better health) Manu has been playing the last 15 or so games again, as well as any player in the league and, most importantly, despite long minutes still looks very fresh and surely seems unafraid of the stout challenges ahead.
Furthermore, despite, all the bad play this year there have been enough signs to me of a true revival. There have been several stretches of games recently against top tier opposition to doubt that this team still believes in itself or is really lacking as much talent or will as some naysayers have said.
This week alone, the win over the Cavs (and 2 out of 3 vs the Okies, Lakers, and Cavs and 3 out of 5 against tough teams) is demonstrative that this team is truly not that far from competing with any and potentially beating any top tier team, at any time.
Also is no player in the NBA, Kobe included, whom has anymore competitive fire than Manu (and only a few, ala Kobe, at his position with more talent).
Importantly, with Manu surging himself, the Spurs now again have that end game go to guy and I expect their will not be as many late game dissapointments going forward as we have endured this year [and by the way, Manu has also been rated the most clutch player in the NBA and remains under-rated by parts of the media and fans (don't believe me? search on Google - "Manu Ginobili, most clutch player in the NBA". http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/11/05/clutch.numbersgame/index.html is one example]
This team also importantly still has one of the largest point differentials in the leage which is a potent indicator of playoff success.
Furthermore, while Duncan is also banged up, I have seen him also rise to the occassion too many times in the playoffs to count the Spurs out, and they will also be adding in the last 10 or so games and the playoffs the best player of anyone in the league out with injuries, in Parker.
Add Manu and Jefferson at least contributing some nights. Hill's considerable talents and guts; and Pop's and the team's faith in a system and team defense - this team is not dead and has the full potential to challenge and throw a serious scare (if not beat) any team in the league in a playoff series.
After the end of this regular season ,the Spurs will also feel like they are on a relative vacation without odd travel back and forth accross the coasts, multiple back to backs to end the season and having faced a guantlet of top tier teams. In the playoffs they will get days off and some relative rest after this brutul end run to a strange season.
As such, I believe that like "tempered steel" this resilient and still very talented team will continue to surge and having run a strange scheduling guantlet (seemingly as tough as any team ever to end the reguluar season), will not fear any challenge ahead.
Mark my words - any team they face in the standing above them in the first round will have their hands full. Most importanlty, this team is led this year by the indomitable will and talent of Manu, has the intelligence and still under-appreciated drive of a proud Duncan, and perhaps best of all, the rare sight of a stud named, Tony Parker, returning on fresh legs. The "three amigos" that have led the Spurs the last half decade DO HAVE ONE MORE STRONG PLAYOFF RUN IN THEM (THAT WHILE IT MAY NOT END IN A CHAMPIONSHIP, ALTHOUGH DON''T EVEN RULE THAT OUT) THAT WILL MAKE SPURS FANS PROUD.
Watch and Learn naysayers - this team will surprise many.