Samr
05-03-2005, 09:16 PM
After pulling out an unquestionably tough game four, the Spurs lead the series 3-1 with the next game on their home turf. The probability of surviving an SBC Center close-out game is slim-to-none. Fate? Maybe. Fighting through a series of coincidental events and fatal underestimates, Denver had managed to become the team that no one wanted to face. But now, facing elimination, it is time to look back on what might have been.
The Nuggets picked fifth in the 1997 NBA Draft, selecting Tony Battie. Picking first, was San Antonio. Tim Duncan is now a two-time MVP, perennial All-Star, while Tony Battie is averaging 5 points, and a little over 5 rebounds per game with Orlando.
After winning the championship in 1999, the Spurs selected Emanuel Ginobili with the 28th pick in the second round. Denver landed James Posey at 18, and Chris Herren with the fourth pick in the second round. Posey, now with Memphis, is 8 points and 4 and a half rebounds per game.
In 2001, the Spurs snagged Tony Parker with the last pick in the first round. Denver traded away their first round pick that year, in a draft which produced 13, current starters. They settled for Ousmane Cisse with the 18th pick in the second.
Denver managed to survive without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, or Manu Ginobili. They chugged along, year after year, landing right back into the lottery and with visions of sugar plumbs. When they drafted Carmelo Anthony with the third pick in the 2003 draft, they thought their luck had changed. During the ’04 off-season, they added Kenyon Martin to an already strong lineup featuring Anthony, Andre Miller, and Marcus Camby. Kenyon, however, was a second choice.
Originally courting Manu, the same person they selected Chris Herren over, Denver was searching for the competitively unpredictable guard they lacked. They were searching for that extra element that would help catapult them to post-season glory. But Manu remained loyal, and instead decided to stay with the team that gave him his first chance.
Starting the year, Denver seemed doomed to yet another early trip home. With Carmelo’s contract years slowly slipping away, they needed to make a case to him- to free-agents everywhere- that they were the real deal. A frustrated franchise fired a frustrated coach, and brought in George Karl. Going 20-2 after the All-Star break, Denver entered the playoffs as the, young fashionably offensive team that could upset the best on any given night.
They took game one, and their confidence rose. For a young team, with a new coach, and a lost understanding of what it takes to win a series, this was their undoing. As the Spurs retaliated like Sam Houston and the men at the Alamo were given a re-do, the Nuggets crumpled. Like it should have been. They entered Denver with a tied series and a team looking to prove that they just over-slept their alarm in the first game.
In Denver, it would be Manu Ginobili to lead the first offensive charge. Scoring 32 points, grabbing rebounds, and effectively putting the entire city of Denver on a leash did not agree with Mr. Karl. So he took it to the press. After accusing Manu of everything from dirty play, to a fundamentally unsound game, to stealing his ball and not giving it back, George Karl thought he had done well. He thought that, surely, someone would take note. They did.
Calling over 70 fouls in a single-overtime game, I believe, was not quite what George had in mind. While Manu was certainly called for his share of fouls, so were the rest of the Spurs. And the Nuggets. And the towel boy. It got so bad that both teams had brought out uniforms for their respective coaches so that, if need be, they would have an able body to place in the game.
But George’s wish was the NBA’s command. After scoring 39 points and snatching 14 rebounds, Duncan used his last foul on a wet spot (prompting the foul on the towel boy). And as he walked off the court, he brought his teammates together. They would finish the rest of overtime without their leader, but not without their leadership.
Parker’s internal clock told him it was time to play, as did the sporadically running game clock. Finishing the game with 29 points on 11-19 shooting was not what Denver had in mind when they opted for Ousmane Cissie.
It’s sad to imagine what might have been if the ping pong balls had fallen the other way. If Denver had landed Tim Duncan instead of Tony Battie. It’s scary to think that Denver was so close to stealing Tony Parker. It’s humbling to think that they missed on Manu Ginobili. Twice. It was those three players that beat them.
But it was when Denver hired George Karl, the Nugget Savior, that they ended their season. Had he not shot of his mouth, the officials would have allowed a both teams to play a looser game- a type game which Denver’s fanatic crowd, and steaming emotions would be able to affect. But George also landed them in the playoffs, which in hindsight, should have been the last thing Denver wished for. With Utah’s Andrew Bogut entering the draft, they would have at least had a fighting chance.
link (http://p204.ezboard.com/fsanantoniospurs62937frm1.showMessage?topicID=1463 0.topic)
The Nuggets picked fifth in the 1997 NBA Draft, selecting Tony Battie. Picking first, was San Antonio. Tim Duncan is now a two-time MVP, perennial All-Star, while Tony Battie is averaging 5 points, and a little over 5 rebounds per game with Orlando.
After winning the championship in 1999, the Spurs selected Emanuel Ginobili with the 28th pick in the second round. Denver landed James Posey at 18, and Chris Herren with the fourth pick in the second round. Posey, now with Memphis, is 8 points and 4 and a half rebounds per game.
In 2001, the Spurs snagged Tony Parker with the last pick in the first round. Denver traded away their first round pick that year, in a draft which produced 13, current starters. They settled for Ousmane Cisse with the 18th pick in the second.
Denver managed to survive without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, or Manu Ginobili. They chugged along, year after year, landing right back into the lottery and with visions of sugar plumbs. When they drafted Carmelo Anthony with the third pick in the 2003 draft, they thought their luck had changed. During the ’04 off-season, they added Kenyon Martin to an already strong lineup featuring Anthony, Andre Miller, and Marcus Camby. Kenyon, however, was a second choice.
Originally courting Manu, the same person they selected Chris Herren over, Denver was searching for the competitively unpredictable guard they lacked. They were searching for that extra element that would help catapult them to post-season glory. But Manu remained loyal, and instead decided to stay with the team that gave him his first chance.
Starting the year, Denver seemed doomed to yet another early trip home. With Carmelo’s contract years slowly slipping away, they needed to make a case to him- to free-agents everywhere- that they were the real deal. A frustrated franchise fired a frustrated coach, and brought in George Karl. Going 20-2 after the All-Star break, Denver entered the playoffs as the, young fashionably offensive team that could upset the best on any given night.
They took game one, and their confidence rose. For a young team, with a new coach, and a lost understanding of what it takes to win a series, this was their undoing. As the Spurs retaliated like Sam Houston and the men at the Alamo were given a re-do, the Nuggets crumpled. Like it should have been. They entered Denver with a tied series and a team looking to prove that they just over-slept their alarm in the first game.
In Denver, it would be Manu Ginobili to lead the first offensive charge. Scoring 32 points, grabbing rebounds, and effectively putting the entire city of Denver on a leash did not agree with Mr. Karl. So he took it to the press. After accusing Manu of everything from dirty play, to a fundamentally unsound game, to stealing his ball and not giving it back, George Karl thought he had done well. He thought that, surely, someone would take note. They did.
Calling over 70 fouls in a single-overtime game, I believe, was not quite what George had in mind. While Manu was certainly called for his share of fouls, so were the rest of the Spurs. And the Nuggets. And the towel boy. It got so bad that both teams had brought out uniforms for their respective coaches so that, if need be, they would have an able body to place in the game.
But George’s wish was the NBA’s command. After scoring 39 points and snatching 14 rebounds, Duncan used his last foul on a wet spot (prompting the foul on the towel boy). And as he walked off the court, he brought his teammates together. They would finish the rest of overtime without their leader, but not without their leadership.
Parker’s internal clock told him it was time to play, as did the sporadically running game clock. Finishing the game with 29 points on 11-19 shooting was not what Denver had in mind when they opted for Ousmane Cissie.
It’s sad to imagine what might have been if the ping pong balls had fallen the other way. If Denver had landed Tim Duncan instead of Tony Battie. It’s scary to think that Denver was so close to stealing Tony Parker. It’s humbling to think that they missed on Manu Ginobili. Twice. It was those three players that beat them.
But it was when Denver hired George Karl, the Nugget Savior, that they ended their season. Had he not shot of his mouth, the officials would have allowed a both teams to play a looser game- a type game which Denver’s fanatic crowd, and steaming emotions would be able to affect. But George also landed them in the playoffs, which in hindsight, should have been the last thing Denver wished for. With Utah’s Andrew Bogut entering the draft, they would have at least had a fighting chance.
link (http://p204.ezboard.com/fsanantoniospurs62937frm1.showMessage?topicID=1463 0.topic)