This One Hurts

[timvp]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

[sananspursfan21]

Mine too, especially when there was a great chance to win game 6

[TXstbobcat]

For some reason, I took the game 5 loss a lot harder than the game 6 loss last night.

[DeadlyDynasty]

2001 hurt more than 2004? 2001 was euthanasia. 2004 was a heart attack.

[dbreiden83080]

It is sobering and crushing.. I am grateful for what Duncan has given the Spurs his whole career and don't take it for granted. Thunder just ran us out of the series, too young and too much fire-power. As mad as i am we really did lose to the better team..

Thanks for the memories..

[cheguevara]

You allowed the homerism to take over your generally good reasoning. Had you looked at both teams neutrally, you would have seen OKC big 3 are much better, younger, hungrier than Spurs big 3. You would have seen OKC frontline is built for a championship. Spurs frontline of Bonner/Tiago/Blair, hello???

no way in hell this defeat is as bad as 04, 06. Even the 11 defeat was worse than this one. This one was too obvious.

[TXstbobcat]

Even with the heartbreaking way that the season ended, I still had a blast following the spurs this year. I still got to go to 5 spurs games this year even though I don't live in Texas anymore and my biggest thrill was going to the Bowen jersey retirement game.

[Budkin]

Im still in the anger phase. I can't stop thinking about the huge amount if ridiculous calls that went against us.

[DarrinS]

.4 was way worse than this

[timvp]

2001 hurt more than 2004? 2001 was euthanasia. 2004 was a heart attack.
2004 was the first year post-Robinson and that Pistons team would have been extremely difficult to beat. The 2001 sweep, IMO, hurt more especially because of the buildup to the series and the intensifying asterisk talk.

[100%duncan]

It hurts this bad because this was the last chance.

[DarrinS]

2006 was also worse.


It's more painful losing to teams you really dispise. Helped that in 2004 and 2006, those teams went on to get beat in the finals. :toast

[cheguevara]

2006 was also worse.


It's more painful losing to teams you really dispise. Helped that in 2004 and 2006, those teams went on to get beat in the finals. :toast

spot on

[thispego]

how can this one hurt when the circumstances were so stacked against the spurs? NOTHING the spurs could have done would have changed the results. when the league wants a team in the finals THAT TEAM WILL BE IN THE FINALS. Simple as that.

[TimmehC]

It hurts this bad because this was the last chance.

This. Tim Duncan's not going to get another chance this good.

[weebo]

I am glad and proud that I'm a fan of this team. Since "The Admiral" jumped on board, this organization has exemplified the team first concept. Even last night with their backs firmly against the wall and everything going against them, they played with a lot of heart and pride. If this the end of Manu, Tony, Tim, and Pop, I wish them nothing but the best and thank them for all my fondest sports memories.

[dbreiden83080]

2004 was the worst for me in the Duncan era with 2006 right behind it..

[temujin]

How about talking about what was actually better?
As a purist of the game, 2012 Feb-May Spurs team basketball ranks among the top 5 I can remember.
For winning at this stage, other things are involved, clearly missing.

[blackfire12]

You know... You're completely right and it does hurt after watching that and I think spurs fans have every right to feel this way. The thing that gets me looking back was this.. and I don't want to be living in a world full of what-ifs? But it is a shortened schedule, it makes you think what would have happened if the spurs played another 16 games to closeout the season? If there was a downturn like what happened here then it wouldn't have been near as shocking or bad. At least we can say that the 2012 title will be 2012*.

[DeadlyDynasty]

2004 was the first year post-Robinson and that Pistons team would have been extremely difficult to beat. The 2001 sweep, IMO, hurt more especially because of the buildup to the series and the intensifying asterisk talk.

meh, I guess...04 Spurs had a 2-0 lead then as well and were beast defensively. They would've had HCA against Detroit too. There was a legitimate chance, basically. 2001 it became evident quickly that no one was touching the Lakers

[dbestpro]

The series was made irrelevant by the zebras. I changed the channel at the end of the 3rd quarter because it was obvious we would no longer be allowed to compete. Such a shame because if it was about the game and the players it could have been one of the best series to ever be played. Instead, the most influential person on the court is someone who never even takes a shot.

[DarrinS]

2004 was the worst for me in the Duncan era with 2006 right behind it..

I agree.

[100%duncan]

The series was made irrelevant by the zebras. I changed the channel at the end of the 3rd quarter because it was obvious we would no longer be allowed to compete. Such a shame because if it was about the game and the players it could have been one of the best series to ever be played. Instead, the most influential person on the court is someone who never even takes a shot.

You don't fucking change the channel when the season is on the line. :bang

[NRHector]

how can this one hurt when the circumstances were so stacked against the spurs? Nothing the spurs could have done would have changed the results. When the league wants a team in the finals that team will be in the finals. Simple as that.

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000

[boutons_deux]

"Nothing the spurs could have done would have changed the results"

bullshit. They could have shot better than 40% in the 2nd half which would have nullified the reffing.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

06 and 04 still hurt more from single season basketball standpoint

From a dynasty standpoint, this one hurts the most and its not even close.

Like you said, everything stacked up in our favor.
Health.
playoff seeds.
The mid season acquisitions.

And this was the last chance to get another one.

when 04 and 06 happened, I was able to say "see you fuckers next year"

But I can't say that this time.

Hell of a team, but I only wish we could have stretched this to 7

[Gooshie]

Yes, this one hurts, but to me, 2006 was the biggest stomach punch. For one, we actually made it to a Game 7. Secondly, we pretty much had the game won if not for Manu's foul on Dirk. And finally, the heart we showed coming back from 3-1 down and 20 points in Game 7 was all forgotten because we couldn't finish it off.

Had we won that year, we could have seriously won 3 straight, and the "Dynasty" tag would no doubt apply. Now, people can always just point to the fact that we never won back-to-back titles to dispute the Dynasty claim.

Personally, what made matters worse was that I live in Phoenix and had tickets to Game 7 between the Clippers and Suns, which immediately followed Mavs-Spurs Game 7. After watching the heartbreaking Spurs loss at a nearby bar, I reluctantly walked to the US Airways Center with my head down (but with my Spurs beanie still on).

As soon as I entered the arena, I heard the PA announcer relay the Mavs-Spurs score to the crowd. I tell you, I have never heard Suns fans so loud and happy. It was the biggest cheer of the night by far, even though the Suns crushed the Clips in that deciding game. What that told me was those fans feared the Spurs like no other. And that's a big difference between now and then - nobody fears us anymore.

Look, any time you know your team is good enough to win it all and you come up short, it hurts. But I think we can all agree that this year's success came as a pleasant surprise. We weren't supposed to win. In 2006 we were, and that's why that loss still lingers and always will.

[cheguevara]

From a dynasty standpoint, this one hurts the most and its not even close.


disagree, we all thought window was closed long ago.

Suns sweep was one time everyone thought we were done.

last year same thing.

anything could happen next year. this is not an issue.

[Juggity]

Had we won that year, we could have seriously won 3 straight, and the "Dynasty" tag would no doubt apply. Now, people can always just point to the fact that we never won back-to-back titles to dispute the Dynasty claim.


The "no repeat=no dynasty" argument is probably one of the dumbest in sports. "Title defense" is a term invented by lakerfans to artificially prop up their team. There's zero difference between a trophy won a year apart and a trophy won back to back. It's still gold and shimmery, and still indelible, tbh.

[ALVAREZ6]

I've been butthurt about it all week. I was MOST worried after the game 4 loss, that's when the reality hit me. After game 3 I thought the Spurs threw the game and Pop would make some adjustments and take the series back, but clearly that didn't happen. Once I saw the series go back to 0-0, with OKC momentum, I thought it was going to be a miracle if the Spurs won this series.

After winning so convincingly for the past 2 months, going 10-0 in the first 10 games of the postseason, this shit hurts. It would have been my favorite season of sports, the tired old shit bags from San Antonio once again proving everyone wrong and winning a championship in an extremely unlikely year. The perfect way for Pop, Tim, and Manu to bring their careers to an end (maybe play a year more or w/e but you get the idea).

They let this last chance get away from them.

[spursfan09]

3rd time I cried over the Spurs

2006
2008
2012.

Even number years suck.

[100%duncan]

06 and 04 still hurt more from single season basketball standpoint

from a dynasty standpoint, this one hurts the most and its not even close.

Like you said, everything stacked up in our favor.
Health.
Playoff seeds.
The mid season acquisitions.

And this was the last chance to get another one.

when 04 and 06 happened, i was able to say "see you fuckers next year"

but i can't say that this time.

Hell of a team, but i only wish we could have stretched this to 7
+1

[thispego]

"Nothing the spurs could have done would have changed the results"

bullshit. They could have shot better than 40% in the 2nd half which would have nullified the reffing.

when the league wants a team in the finals THAT TEAM WILL BE IN THE FINALS

there is nothing the spurs could have done.

[Spurs Brazil]

This one was painful but for me it's not close to 2006.

2006 we were a Manu foul of a title. We'd kill Suns and Miami. And 2006 team was better than this one. We had TD, Bruce, TP and Manu at their prime.

For me is

2006
2012
2004
1995

[TheChillFactor]

2006 was the worst. If you think the calls last night were bad, go rewatch that series. That was when we still had MVP Tim Duncan. This team to be honest was held together with duct tape and when Bonner, Green, Neal etc. choked it wasn't that shocking to those of us who suspected it might happen.

The idea that this team was one of the greatest teams of all time or the best Spurs team was just media hyperbole. We don't have a top 3 player in the NBA.

[VBM]

:lol at the Spurs are done talk. I'm usually a pessimist when it comes to the Spurs, but going into next year, it'll still be OKC on a tier by itself with the Spurs/Lakers/Mavs/Clippers/Grizzlies all bunched together. Denver and Utah will still be on that 3rd tier. Spurs won't be a 1 seed next year more than likely. Hell, they may not even have HCA in the first round. But they'll still compete against that 2nd tier of teams, and if Kawhi improves, and the team is healthy, the Spurs will be underdogs, but will be in the mix.

[silverblk mystix]

1979 getting robbed after being up 3-1 on the Washington Bullets.

Spurs leading by dbl-digits in landover maryland and then the lights go out--literally the fucking lights in the building go out. Game Delay.

Later Spurs still up by 6 or 8 points ...3 to 4 OFFENSIVE fouls in a row!

ABA teams were not supposed to beat original NBA teams...ABA teams were not really welcomed by NBA teams and the league did not want to be embarrassed. NBA teams and officials had claimed that the ABA was inferior and the talent was not equal-yet here were the Spurs about to embarrass one of the NBA's best.

I still remember the asshole refs name: Jake muthafuckin' Odonnell...I wanted to kill him.
Pretty painful to a youngster.

Gervin,Silas,Kenon,Paultz,Olberding,Bristow....I loved those guys.

2006 sucked too.

[timvp]

We had TD, Bruce, TP and Manu at their prime.

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.












All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close. :depressed

[rascal]

You allowed the homerism to take over your generally good reasoning. Had you looked at both teams neutrally, you would have seen OKC big 3 are much better, younger, hungrier than Spurs big 3. You would have seen OKC frontline is built for a championship. Spurs frontline of Bonner/Tiago/Blair, hello???

no way in hell this defeat is as bad as 04, 06. Even the 11 defeat was worse than this one. This one was too obvious.

Good post. Expectations were too high coming off the regular season. Lessons should have been learned from last season but they weren't for many on this board.

The Spurs still had the same frontline more or less that they had last season. That issue was not addressed by the front office.

WCF was very good for the roster the Spurs had and they needed the good fortune of staying healthy and getting easy early playoff matchups to get there.

[spursparker9]

2012
2004
2006

2012 because it is our last chance of winning. OKC is really young and they will dominate the west for a long time. In 2004 and 2006, at least we still knew that Duncan and Ginobili were still in their prime and Parker was a rising star.

But losing game 6 in the WCF, I have the feeling watching a sun setting...

[Man In Black]

It sux.

Normally, the Spurs can overcome bad officiating but hell man, you give a guy a tech for looking at a coach who was badmouthing directly at you during a 3 point attempt, you give a guy a charge call when he's never taken a charge at all in his career, and then you give an actress a flop when a play had developed into a made 3 pointer?

WTF Was that?

Thispego has got it pegged O!

[boutons_deux]

when the league wants a team in the finals THAT TEAM WILL BE IN THE FINALS

there is nothing the spurs could have done.

Bullshit, repeat ad finitum

Shooting under 40% for 2nd half in elimination game ain't the reffing.

[rascal]

It sux.

Normally, the Spurs can overcome bad officiating but hell man, you give a guy a tech for looking at a coach who was badmouthing directly at you during a 3 point attempt, you give a guy a charge call when he's never taken a charge at all in his career, and then you give an actress a flop when a play had developed into a made 3 pointer?

WTF Was that?

Thispego has got it pegged O!

Stop it. Jackson was taunting the entire game after he started hitting his 3 pt. shots.

[td4mvp21]

I think 2004 and 2006 hurt worse for me, but it's been so long that I don't really care. I hate this. They went on a tear for months and have nothing to show for it.

[Doe]

This one hurts a lot in the big picture sense. But I don't think anything will touch 2004. I've never gone from such a high to such a low, although 2006 was really close.

[SpurinDallas]

It hurts now because it's so fresh and I was guilty of it last night too, but I'm not going to buy into the "its all over now" talk. If our creative front office can figure out a way to beef up the frontline with defensive players who rebound and play smart, physical ball, get in here a legit backup point guard and trim the dead weight off this team, we'll be right back in the mix as long as Pop continues to successfully manage minutes like he did this season.

Wouldn't hurt to have an assistant coach with balls step up to Pop when he throws out ridiculous lineups that make no sense and swing the game's momentum to the other team.

[rascal]

1979 getting robbed after being up 3-1 on the Washington Bullets.

Spurs leading by dbl-digits in landover maryland and then the lights go out--literally the fucking lights in the building go out. Game Delay.

Later Spurs still up by 6 or 8 points ...3 to 4 OFFENSIVE fouls in a row!

ABA teams were not supposed to beat original NBA teams...ABA teams were not really welcomed by NBA teams and the league did not want to be embarrassed. NBA teams and officials had claimed that the ABA was inferior and the talent was not equal-yet here were the Spurs about to embarrass one of the NBA's best.

I still remember the asshole refs name: Jake muthafuckin' Odonnell...I wanted to kill him.
Pretty painful to a youngster.

Gervin,Silas,Kenon,Paultz,Olberding,Bristow....I loved those guys.

2006 sucked too.

Yes this was the most disappointing moment in Spurs history for those who were alive then.

The Spurs have already won titles so this year is no where near the disappointment level it was back then. Back then the Spurs were still just trying to reach the top for the first time.

[100%duncan]

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.












All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close. :depressed


The last but not the least: No coach blows up a formula that gave him success throughout the season in the WCF.

[gameFACE]

It hurts for me because TD is older. Back in 2004 or 2006 that hurt too but you know they were still in their prime. Watching Tim play as hard as he can with a brace and still kicking ass but knowing he's 36, hurts. The Admiral was lucky that Tim was here so he could retire with a swan song championship. Tim doesn't have that. If big time free agents never came here they definitely won't come now.

My hopes got high after the way they played this year and the first two series and first two games of the WCF. But After last years exit, knowing the inadequate size of our bigs and losing TJ Ford there was still a sense of skepticism in the back of ny mind.

Maybe the Tim will take a low contract and there could be a restructuring of a couple of others. And then MAYBE they could lure another big time player. Who knows? Not likely.

[thispego]

Bullshit, repeat ad finitum

Shooting under 40% for 2nd half in elimination game ain't the reffing.

how many missed shots contributing to that 40% shooting were the result of non-called defensive fouls?

[temujin]

1979 getting robbed after being up 3-1 on the Washington Bullets.

Spurs leading by dbl-digits in landover maryland and then the lights go out--literally the fucking lights in the building go out. Game Delay.

Later Spurs still up by 6 or 8 points ...3 to 4 OFFENSIVE fouls in a row!

ABA teams were not supposed to beat original NBA teams...ABA teams were not really welcomed by NBA teams and the league did not want to be embarrassed. NBA teams and officials had claimed that the ABA was inferior and the talent was not equal-yet here were the Spurs about to embarrass one of the NBA's best.

I still remember the asshole refs name: Jake muthafuckin' Odonnell...I wanted to kill him.
Pretty painful to a youngster.

Gervin,Silas,Kenon,Paultz,Olberding,Bristow....I loved those guys.

2006 sucked too.

Glad someone brought this one up.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.












All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close. :depressed


Exactly. With all the improbabilities against them, it seemed like something magical/surreal was happening that transcended logic. Everything seemed storybook. Jackson, the prodigal son, returning home. There was a poetic sense of closure to this that meant the Spurs would go out champions and be respected for the dynasty they were. It was overkill but the media were fawning over the Spurs. Yeah, who cares what the media thinks because they've put asterix on our other titles, but this season was beginning to seem special.

And to fizzle out like this...it's sort of the last funeral for the team that wouldn't die. Now, the only footnote is our 20 game winning streak. The narrative has shifted to the young upstart Thunder.

Ugh. A bitter pill.

I know the Thunder were the better team, but the Spurs haven beaten better teams all the time.

Still proud of their fight, at least those who showed up. But damn...

[IwantSomeNsty]

what hurts is OKC given series by refs

[SenorSpur]

Wow. This is a really interesting question.

2004 - that series versus the Fakers, and all championship aspirations that came with it, ended with an abrupt assassin's bullet. Fisher's 0.4 shot was like a fatal gunshot wound to the head. It was swift, sudden and unexpected. In the wake, the patient, in this case the Spurs title hopes, slowly bled to death in the aftermath. IMHO, Fisher's devastating dagger shot mentally killed the Spurs and cost them a shot at the Pistons for the 2004 championship.

2006 - that WCSF series versus the Mavs was a heavyweight match. Back and forth. Truly one of the best playoff series I've ever witnessed. Coming into that epic Game #7 at home, I just knew the Spurs had that game and the series. Even right down to the end, when the Spurs were up by 3 with several seconds left. I kept thinking, "we got this. We got this." Then the shocking heartbreak that came with that inexplicable Manu foul on Dirk, that gave him the "and-1" to tie the game and send it into overtime - where the Spurs eventually lost. To this day, I still don't know what Manu was thinking? To me, that single play cost the Spurs a certain berth in the WCF and a championship. It was a devastating example of having a defeat snatched from jaws of victory.

2012 - After going up 2-0, an almost certain upcoming berth in the NBA Finals and the taste of another championship was on my lips. I got so caught up in how this team was playing that I even began thinking the Spurs could sweep the Thunder. I foolishly expected a young team to fold. Unfortunately, they did not. I guess for me, after Game 5, I began to see the hand-writing on the wall. I didn't allow myself to buy into the Spurs being able to turn back the hands of time and go into OKC and produce a win.

I can honestly say that 2004 & 2006 were more devastating. However, at least I had the certainty of knowing that the Spurs, with the championship-level core, would still be in contention for years to come. Unfortunately, that isn't the case now.

This most recent series loss, while the end didn't come as quick as the others, the devastation is no less painful. It was like slow death over the last four games of the series. Now, as I write this post, I'm realizing that this incarnation of the Spurs, as currently constructed, will likely never be this close again in the Duncan era. This was their best shot - and possibly last - shot. Knowing that this team had a chance to do something so unexpected and couldn't seal the deal is depressing. So much for the elusive even-year championship. Then again, I never expected them to be in this position in the first place.

[baseline bum]

I can't look at this loss negatively. Coming into this season I thought the team was done and should probably be blown up. I never figured they'd make it through a season, and yet, here they were in the WCF with a legit chance to win it all. They were way better than I could have ever expected, and on top of that they brought back my favorite role player of all time. The execution was incredible to watch, but they just ran into a dynasty whose time is now. I can't be down because they really weren't supposed to be here.

Now a real punch in the gut was 1995, when a prime DRob got destroyed, when a prime Rodman decided to say fuck the team, when a prime Elliott missed critical free throws, when they evened the series with two tough road wins only for Rodman to be a bitch in practice leading up to game 5, and so on.

[itsamanuthree]

It hurts this bad because this was the last chance.

Definitely. This was probably the end of the ride, will the boys give it another shot? Probably, but chances are very slim. What really hurts is the feeling that it wan't enough, that it should have been more.

[michaelwcho]

There is a big time player who could possibly be had, one of the greatest PGs of all time. Nash. Lure him to SA and we would cruise through the regular season and break scoring records. Trade TP for Marcus Camby and you'd get great D and boards. Between TD and MC, you could clean up the mess Nash makes on D. The Spurs would set records for 3 pointers and assisted baskets. Nash is money from outside, so spacing would be improved. Wouldn't necessarily be championship favs, but we'd be back and have another shot at it. Call it the moneyball team.




It hurts for me because TD is older. Back in 2004 or 2006 that hurt too but you know they were still in their prime. Watching Tim play as hard as he can with a brace and still kicking ass but knowing he's 36, hurts. The Admiral was lucky that Tim was here so he could retire with a swan song championship. Tim doesn't have that. If big time free agents never came here they definitely won't come now.

My hopes got high after the way they played this year and the first two series and first two games of the WCF. But After last years exit, knowing the inadequate size of our bigs and losing TJ Ford there was still a sense of skepticism in the back of ny mind.

Maybe the Tim will take a low contract and there could be a restructuring of a couple of others. And then MAYBE they could lure another big time player. Who knows? Not likely.

[SpursDynasty85]

2004 and 2006 were tough. Its really hard to think about. This one wasn't that bad, just because, I know Thunder deserved it, and Spurs overachieved all year long and gave us one hell of an entertaining season.

I would still rank 2006 the toughest, just because, Dallas fan's are so annoying, and to know the Spurs would not have squandered the finals to the Heat.

[Keepin' it real]

This one didn't hurt as much as other painful losses because as soon as I saw the writing on the wall (the glaring similarities between 2012 and 2004), I knew what was coming, so I detached myself emotionally. I usually scream and cuss like a mother in games as close and critical as game 6. But last night, I didn't make a sound. I already knew what was coming.

[phxspurfan]

For me this is nowhere close. The crappiest feelings were in these years, in order:

2001 (I think this was the year of the DA injury)
2002 (the year DRob was bullied by Shaq in the playoffs and Spurs got swept really badly)
2008 (We had it in the 3rd qtr of some game and I think Pop took Bowen out against the Lakers and it all went downhill...?)
2004 bullshit
2006 Manu foul on Dirk
2012 w/e...Spurs are old now, Thunder are playing out of their friggin minds and deserve to win it all.

But I'll be happy if the Celtics play defense (something we never did) and win it all.

[phxspurfan]

OTOH, the glory of 2003, 2005, 2007 will stay with me forever. 1999 I was still a Heat fan TBH. The 200s championships outweigh all negatives in my mind. Thanks for the memories Tim, Tony, Manu and Bruce!

[DeadlyDynasty]

OTOH, the glory of 2003, 2005, 2007 will stay with me forever. 1999 I was still a Heat fan TBH. The 200s championships outweigh all negatives in my mind. Thanks for the memories Tim, Tony, Manu and Bruce!

Nobody recognizes 1999 anyways so it's all good, b:tu

[jjktkk]

This one hurt the least, because I didn't think the Spurs would get this far. And also the way the Thunder beat us. IMO, OKC proved, without a doubt, to be the better team. DROB's rookie year was painful for me, because of Strickland's boneheaded pass in game 7 of the WC finals against the Blazers. I thought that Spurs squad was going to compete for championships for several years.

[DDS4]

I think the 2012 can summed up as a "pleasant surprise" season. Only the hardcore, slightly delusional Spurs fan would have predicted a NBA Finals berth before the season started. Most of us were pretty down on them after they got knocked out by Memphis in the 1st round last year.

The chances of Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan being all healthy next year is pretty slim but it's the supporting cast (players 6-10) that I'm worried about.

2006 still sticks out to me as the one that got away. However, the way Wade got going in the Finals (with some help), it could have been the Spurs first NBA Finals loss.

[pad300]

I wasn't watching for 1979, so that doesn't hurt.

06 was horrid, double punch, both it being the Mavs and the refs screw job (just look at the play after Manu's foul on Dirk. Manu drives the lane, gets fouled about 3 times without getting a call and gets the shot up. Duncan goes up for the the put-back, and gets repeatedly fouled as well. No calls. You can't say let em play at one end and call fouls at the other. Dirk has admitted in interviews "I fouled the shit out of him..." (him being TD)).

08 was another screw job - how many times does the league issue an apology about the reffing? That's only one I can think of... But I wasn't really expecting us to win that series anyway, so it's less painful.

Same with the .04 shot, yeah, we got screwed, but it was a series that the Lakers had a good shot at winning anyways, and there was always next year.

This year though, it may just hurt the most. To watch what may be Duncan's last great run sacrificed on the altar of Dave Stern's fucking marketing plan. In an absolutely blatant fashion. They had already pushed the knife in hard in games 4 and 5, but to just blatantly screw TD's last run like that. Man if someone shot Dave Stern tomorrow, I'd raise a glass and the toast the shooter.

So yeah, my personal order of pain is
2006
2012
2004
2008

[Juggity]

Nobody recognizes 1999 anyways so it's all good, b:tu

Only Phil Jackson & lakerfans, who got their asses handed to them in '99 :lol

[DeadlyDynasty]

Only Phil Jackson & lakerfans, who got their asses handed to them in '99 :lol

Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

[Juggity]

Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

Quote comes from him :lol

Must have been big market butthurt syndrome.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Why does everyone think the Spurs have 0 chance next year? We have been writing the Spurs eulogy every year since 2008.

Shore up the frontline with an additional shot blocker and the Spurs will be right back in the thick of it.

I don't get why this has to be their last chance when next year's team can be just as good with some tweaks.

[BUMP]

2006 still sticks out to me as the one that got away. However, the way Wade got going in the Finals (with some help), it could have been the Spurs first NBA Finals loss.

nah i think the Spurs beat Miami easily that year. They had a Bowen and we didn't. Plus we struggled against power guards during that era (Golden State the next season) since they would get in the paint at will. The Spurs also were a more mentally tough team.


Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[Basketball Power]

Does t come close to 04 or 06

[DeadlyDynasty]

Why does everyone think the Spurs have 0 chance next year? We have been writing the Spurs eulogy every year since 2008.

Shore up the frontline with an additional shot blocker and the Spurs will be right back in the thick of it.

I don't get why this has to be their last chance when next year's team can be just as good with some tweaks.

It's a superstar's league. Those who have them, win.

[senorglory]

Actually, since we're on the topic of butthurt, I was pretty pissed last year. An ankle injury to Duncan at the end of regular season then a broken arm to Manu in the last minute of the last game? Damn. Punk assed Grizzlies? Damn, damn, damn.

I know I'm one of the few here who liked our guys last season, but I was looking forward to a good run.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Quote comes from him :lol

Yeah, he trolled the shit out of Spurfan...and it's still evident 13 years later as evidenced by your post.:lol


Nice backpedaling, though.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

It's a superstar's league. Those who have them, win.

Give Kawhi Leonard another couple years :toast

[SenorSpur]

I wasn't watching for 1979, so that doesn't hurt.


It hurts for me because I watched that '79 ECF series. The Spurs squandered a 3-1 series lead and lost to the Bullets. Game #7 was marred by even more crappy officiating than what we saw last night. That '79 team could've and shouldve been in the NBA Finals. In my mind, they would've fared very well versus the Seattle SuperSonics of Dennis Johnson, Jack Sikma and Gus Williams. That Spurs team could've easily been our very first title team.

[Mugen]

Still not as bad as 06 & 04 but it's close.

I think the fact that it was the Thunder helped because the Spurs never really had a rivalry with them.

But when you start getting in the particulars of the season, then yeah it was a tough one.

I actually think they have one more run left in them, though very unlikely. The West is a Kevin Durant injury away from being wide open next year and Miami is getting broken up if they're out this year.

They'll be a tough out as long as Duncan is around.

[Juggity]

Yeah, he trolled the shit out of Spurfan...and it's still evident 13 years later as evidenced by your post.:lol


Nice backpedaling, though.

I dunno, big market butthurt about '99 seems pretty contagious

PJ's gospel was adopted as truth by lakerfan to justify det asswhipping

[guzmangm]

'04 hurt more for me. 0.4 seconds for a shot that shouldn't of counted (late) after a miracle Duncan three over Shaq. That one should of been championship number 3, provide we would of beaten Detroit.

Then the '06 Ginobili foul on Dirk was just plain dumb. That hurt too, because we definitely would of won the Championship that year. These both hurt because I feel like these were wasted opportunities to get another ring. We may never see another chance to get back up there. We were lucky with Robinson and Duncan in the draft. OKC was lucky with Durant, the Lakers with Kobe. It's hard.

This year, you could tell that father time caught up to the Spurs, the deep roster didn't help in the end and our guys were tired when the rotation was cut short. No shame in losing to a bunch of outstanding 20 year olds. Full of energy. Better them than Dallas or LA or god, Miami getting another championship.

[guzmangm]

Still not as bad as 06 & 04 but it's close.

I think the fact that it was the Thunder helped because the Spurs never really had a rivalry with them.

But when you start getting in the particulars of the season, then yeah it was a tough one.

I actually think they have one more run left in them, though very unlikely. The West is a Kevin Durant injury away from being wide open next year and Miami is getting broken up if they're out this year.

They'll be a tough out as long as Duncan is around.

That's what I was thinking. Westbrook or Durant goes out for the season and this team can win it. That's really the only way. Who knows if Duncan wasn't injured in 2000...

[PDXSpursFan]

The way I see it:

Chances for the Spurs be on the WCF again next year, if all big 3 are healthy = 75%
But, chances of all big 3 to be healthy again <25%

[roycrikside]

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.



All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close. :depressed


<<

None of the things you're writing are wrong. You haven't written anything that's factually incorrect. However, the thing that's frustrating a huge segment of the Spurstalk community about you, whether you care or not, is that you refuse to acknowledge the obvious.

Two things can be equally true. Of course you should be proud of the Spurs. We all should. Maybe they did overachieve somewhat. Maybe it was a borderline miracle they stayed healthy enough to get this far. And yes, the Thunder are god damn ridiculously good, especially Durant.

STILL, with all that being said, the people who are writing and complaining about what a travesty that officiating was AREN'T WRONG. Lots of neutral media people agree. It was obvious and blatant what was going on in that game.

You've got your head in the stand ignoring it just like Pop does, and it's pissing a lot of people off I think. It's some BS morality that doesn't help him or his teams and it's not helping you with the your Spurstalk community.

What's wrong with just being honest and calling a spade a spade?

That refereeing was a joke, tbh.

Also, Pop got schooled by Brooks. He panicked, got away from everything that was working the whole year and tried to win with a 7 man rotation. It was plainly evident the whole season he never liked Tiago and this series showed it.

The media and all these former players talk about how Pop gets so much respect because he treats Tim the same way he treats the 12th man on the roster, but that's clearly a lie. Five guys on this team are allowed to make 20 mistakes a night and the other five aren't allowed to make any. Pop has constantly overlooked all of Tiago's positives while harping on every negative.

The Spurs couldn't have used his offense in the second half when nothing else was working? Stubborn old fool.

[dbreiden83080]

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.












All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close. :depressed

And in spite of all that they were right there in game 4 and 5 and 6.. Would have beat the Heat or Celts in the finals.. :bang

[z0sa]

2x

[z0sa]

It frustrates the fuck out of me. Danny Green, Matt Bonner, and yes even the Savior Splitter were all grossly gargantuan failures, forcing Pop to shorten the rotation at the worst of times.

Splitter and Green especially deserve my ire. Green choked hard, as hard or harder than Bonner ever has in his life considering Green had big duties on defense as well. Splitter getting beat by the ref on a post-up of Derek Fisher will rank among my top ten worst spurs memories ever.

[Mark in Austin]

'06 hurt worse. Much worse.

I watched each game this series and came away very impressed with OKC. I honestly think the Spurs beatdown in game two caused OKC to take the next step, and it actually happened in that third quarter. The Spurs were in a groove of historic quality offensively. It was beautiful to watch. And any other team playing against that would have folded. But OKC just kept coming. It was damn impressive. They started sharing the ball better, and Westbrook was slightly less out of control the rest of the series. They defended the Spurs brilliantly. They figured out what it takes to win. We all knew OKC had the talent to do this, I always questioned if the had the brains / heart. I'm not questioning it anymore. Props to OKC. If they play the next series as well as they played the Spurs, I'd be surprised if it's NOT a sweep.

I enjoyed the ride this year. It really would have been special to see this team win another ring. But to quote Jack:

"...those motherfuckers were just better than us."

Amen.

[objective]

I don't remember 01 hurting at all. One, sure, they had no chance after Anderson was taken out, but still, that team didn't have it. It was Duncan, DA's modest second scorer role, and that's it. They had nothing on that Lakers team.

06 and 04 were much worse than this year. 09, 10, and 11 were also worse to me because I feel Pop let the team down those years with his bizarre coaching.

They lost this year to a team whose Big 3 were each better than any one of the Spurs Big 3. Pop's coaching wasn't going to be the difference, he doesn't win without the better players.

[romsho]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

Cosign. Phuck.

[silverblk mystix]

<<

None of the things you're writing are wrong. You haven't written anything that's factually incorrect. However, the thing that's frustrating a huge segment of the Spurstalk community about you, whether you care or not, is that you refuse to acknowledge the obvious.

Two things can be equally true. Of course you should be proud of the Spurs. We all should. Maybe they did overachieve somewhat. Maybe it was a borderline miracle they stayed healthy enough to get this far. And yes, the Thunder are god damn ridiculously good, especially Durant.

STILL, with all that being said, the people who are writing and complaining about what a travesty that officiating was AREN'T WRONG. Lots of neutral media people agree. It was obvious and blatant what was going on in that game.

You've got your head in the stand ignoring it just like Pop does, and it's pissing a lot of people off I think. It's some BS morality that doesn't help him or his teams and it's not helping you with the your Spurstalk community.

What's wrong with just being honest and calling a spade a spade?

That refereeing was a joke, tbh.

Also, Pop got schooled by Brooks. He panicked, got away from everything that was working the whole year and tried to win with a 7 man rotation. It was plainly evident the whole season he never liked Tiago and this series showed it.

The media and all these former players talk about how Pop gets so much respect because he treats Tim the same way he treats the 12th man on the roster, but that's clearly a lie. Five guys on this team are allowed to make 20 mistakes a night and the other five aren't allowed to make any. Pop has constantly overlooked all of Tiago's positives while harping on every negative.

The Spurs couldn't have used his offense in the second half when nothing else was working? Stubborn old fool.


Well, I for one, can call a spade-a spade.

This post by crikside was nothing but truth.

[Budkin]

I need to stay away from SpursTalk for a while. Every time I see the site I just get depressed again.

[blizz]

For me this one is just sad. I'm sad for them.

[Legacy]

After all the wonderful, magical 'coincidences' and 'synchronocities' after 'synchronocities' that were being showered down upon The Spurs this whole year/season ... I swear... I truly, truly thought The Basketball Gods were on their sides this time. Heh ...



HOW???


WWWWWWWHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!??????????????????????????



... Ain't that some shit ...


2__enML2FmM


:p:

[lmbebo]

No one could talk to me at work today I was still so pissed off.

This one hurts as bad 04. Not a perfect team, but I believed we were good enough to win it all. I still do.


I have no problem with OKC winning. Spurs didn't play great after game 2. Missed calls happened here and there. Got tired of Harden's flopping as the games wore on. But he made clutch shots.

This one hurts most of all because of the officiating in game 6. I felt we could win this game.

[GrandeDavid]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

I think all of those series losses stink. I guess this one stings less because at least we've experienced several championships and the Spurs did kick some butt in light of beginning season expectations. Plus the fact that I'm older helps me put in perspective that its just a basketball game for which I don't get paid and doesn't help me grow, but it is entertainment and I enjoy the community cameraderie. Here are mine:


1. 1995 (First championship seemed in the bag. I was younger and this one really let me down.)
2. 2006 (Manu's foul in Game 7 on our floor. Flat out cruel.)
3. 2001 (High expectations. Spurs left wallowing in a pool of humiliation. The Laker smack and fan jabs were harsh.)
4. 1990 (Blown 7 point lead with 2:30 left in Portland, Rod Strickland's no look out of bounds. No this wasn't necessarily a championship team, but you never know!)
5. 2004 (.4)
6. 2012 (Fantastic season, but the Spurs didn't lose to cupcakes. Sign of looming disaster as Spurs had to rally to win Game 1.)

[lowdown]

I agree this hurts. I was trying to convey that last night. I'm actually still a bit in shock. I mean, I never saw this season being this good only to end so badly. I appreciate how the organization conducts themselves with such class but sometimes it seems like that replaces the fire needed in certain moments - 4th & 5th game & the 2nd half last night. This is a choke job. It doesn't cause me to love the Spurs any less and it doesn't diminish my appreciation and respect for Pop, Parker, Ginobili, & Duncan. But after all - and I mean all - the games I watched this year by the Spurs, the Spurs were the better team and they fucked up.

[angelbelow]

Two things can be equally true. Of course you should be proud of the Spurs. We all should. Maybe they did overachieve somewhat. Maybe it was a borderline miracle they stayed healthy enough to get this far. And yes, the Thunder are god damn ridiculously good, especially Durant.

STILL, with all that being said, the people who are writing and complaining about what a travesty that officiating was AREN'T WRONG. Lots of neutral media people agree. It was obvious and blatant what was going on in that game.

You've got your head in the stand ignoring it just like Pop does, and it's pissing a lot of people off I think. It's some BS morality that doesn't help him or his teams and it's not helping you with the your Spurstalk community.

What's wrong with just being honest and calling a spade a spade?

That refereeing was a joke, tbh.

+1

Initially, I didn't want to blame the refs. But some of those plays just kept replaying in my head the rest of the night. Seemed like 8 calls in a row were offensive fouls or defensive fouls on the Spurs.


Also, Pop got schooled by Brooks. He panicked, got away from everything that was working the whole year and tried to win with a 7 man rotation. It was plainly evident the whole season he never liked Tiago and this series showed it.

The media and all these former players talk about how Pop gets so much respect because he treats Tim the same way he treats the 12th man on the roster, but that's clearly a lie. Five guys on this team are allowed to make 20 mistakes a night and the other five aren't allowed to make any. Pop has constantly overlooked all of Tiago's positives while harping on every negative.

The Spurs couldn't have used his offense in the second half when nothing else was working? Stubborn old fool.

Neutral friend who doesn't like the Spurs but watched a few games with us this year asked, does "Pop hate Tiago?"

Maybe he does?

Either way, massive overreaction and a mental meltdown regarding that play in my book.

[Arcadian]

These are my rankings:

1. 2006 - We lost in overtime of game 7 at home against the rival Mavericks in Tim Duncan's prime. This is easily the #1 hardest loss.

2. 2004 - The way it happened makes this one utterly sour. Game 5 should have been Tim duncan's finest moment, his version of The Shot, and he was the best player on earth at the time...only for a scrub like Derek Fisher to take it away in an impossible manner? Fuck no.

3. 2012 - We dominated the regular season and won 20 straight games, plus two other 11 game streaks. We wonour first 10 playoff games...only to lose 4 in a row, in part due to disappearing acts of role players, in part due to bad coaching strategy, and in part due to shit-bag officiating.

4. 2011 - This was the comeback year for the Spurs. After two disappointing seasons, we kicked ass in 2011. Then Ginobili broke his elbow in the final game of the season, and we lost in the first round to a team tha possibly "tanked" to play us.

5. 2008 - This was our chance to finally repeat as champions. Once again, in a game 5 swing-game, we lost to the Lakers in a close game. I really wanted to see Duncan and Garnett face off in the finals. It would have been epic.

I was too young to care in 1995, and even 2001 is a vague memory for me...I'm 23 now, so I was 6 in 95 and 12 in 01. I became a hardcore fan in the 2002-03 season - a good time indeed!

[slick'81]

hardest for me for sure only because i really wanted the trio to get a last run at the finals but the thunder and that town were hungry like the spurs were in 99 it was their time

[Legacy]

2012 - We dominated the regular season and won 20 straight games, plus two other 11 game streaks. We wonour first 10 playoff games...only to lose 4 in a row, in part due to disappearing acts of role players, in part due to bad coaching strategy, and in part due to shit-bag officiating.



Agreed. It was pretty much just a lovely combination of so many sides of shit-bagness. Simple as that.


:p:

[EVAY]

I never in my life expected to say this, Timvp, but Crikside is right in this one.



2006. I was at that game holding my granddaughter when Ginobili made the three pointer that put us up by three. Javie was officiating and I thought to myself at the time (mentioning something to 4 year old didn't seem useful)
so I thought...Javie is going to find a way to give this to Dallas. I don't know how, but he will. He always loved Dallas, and he called the foul on Ginobili. Since the foul was real but didn't change the basket by Dirk and would have ben ignored by refs who didn't have an agenda, I was angry.

But here's the thing, folks:

In both THAT game (2006) and the .4 game, the Spurs still had a chance!

All Dallas got from that call was an overtime period. We lost during the overtime.

In the .4 game, the Spurs still had a chance in the Series! That was a game 5 and we had the chance to go L.A. and get another.

But in BOTH those situations, the Spurs didn't come back from a mental let-down, and it began with Pop in both instances. He said after the .4 shot, "I don't know how anybody comes back from something like that". I knew that we wouldn't and we didn't.

I love Pop and hope he will be our coach for as long as he wants to be. But trying to be realistic, one of the great things that we all love about Pop is that he is very cognizant that basketball is not life, and other things are more important than basketball. That outlook occasionally bites us in the rear.
Pop is not the absolute best ever at getting his team mentally and emotionally in the place they need to be to finish things out. Doesn't mean he isn't a hall-of-fame coach. Just means that sometimes he doesn't come through.

The refs took this game last night. I'm upset for the Spurs that they lost and this was such a great chance for them...but I don't hold any Spur or coach responsible for doing anything other than playing their hardest and trying their best.

Thank you Spurs for an absolutely wonderful year!! You all made us all proud and we owe you big time.

But Timvp...Crikside really is right this time. Sorry.

[slayermin]

2004 - I still say that was some BS.

1995 - Wouldn't have been so bad if I had not gone to the game five debacle. Still that series was just torture.

2008 - Champion Air, no vacancy in New Orleans, blowing a 20 point lead in game one. But in hindsight, it was Boston's time and with Manu playing with a broken ankle, we probably lose in the Finals anyway.

[Dex]

I didn't feel too bad about it until this flurking thread. :pctoss

[J.T.]

2006 hurt a lot more, honestly. The NBA put the Spurs in a really bad position to start that series by giving them one day of rest and an early start time for Game 1, which if I recall correctly they amazingly won on some clutch shooting down the stretch. Then Devin Harris blew our shit up in Game 2. About the only other thing I remember from that game is the entire AT&T Center chanting "Ref you suck" in unison. Burn in hell Steve Javie. Game 3 I affectionately remember as the game Duncan fouled out because Dirk stepped on his foot, and Game 4 Ginobili fouled out on a phantom foul on Terry. We'll all remember Game 5 for "The Block" and "The Nut Punch." Game 6, Tony Parker was clutch down the stretch playing on no legs in a must win road game which amazingly they won. And it all came crashing down in Game 7 with "The Foul."

That Game 7 was a million times more painful than any of the losses in this series. The Spurs were down big, I think as much as 20. They came roaring back and basically had the game won. All Manu had to do was not foul, we trade free throws for half an hour to end the game, and probably win. Instead we go to OT and run out of gas. I'll take to my grave that Duncan was decisively fouled on his last shot at the regulation buzzer.

My point with all of this is that those Spurs fought and died together and were in it every game. For some reason after Game 2 of this series, I felt like I was watching a different team. Even when the Spurs were within striking distance or had a lead, I didn't feel safe. The magic was gone. I always want the Spurs to win but I didn't have faith like I did back in the day. I just knew they were going to lose. Sometimes you just get that feeling and that's all you can do. Last night hurts a lot because I feel like their opportunity to win the game was taken away from them by the whistles. But that's how the NBA is sometimes. You might say that because they were two wins away from the Finals, this hurts more than 2006 but keep this in mind:

Had the Spurs beaten Dallas in 2006, their next two opponents were Phoenix and Miami. That is an almost guaranteed repeat championship. No, 2006 hurts a lot more. After the way they played against OKC after being up 2-0, does anyone think they would have reverted "back to normal" against the East champ and just blown them out? I don't. The Spurs Dynasty died the minute Bruce Bowen retired.

[TD 21]

Yeah, this one hurts more than '06, because at least then, you could look at the core and go "they've got at least a few more shots at this". At this point, they probably don't have another realistic shot. They could get back to the Conference Finals next season and I wouldn't be surprised if they do, but if they couldn't beat the Thunder this season, the odds of them doing so next season are slim to none.

It's amazing, for a franchise that has had so much success, just how many gut wrenching defeats they've had along the way. Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I can't think of one the Lakers have had in this era. Seriously. I'm not saying they haven't had tough ones, because anytime you lose in the Finals it's obviously tough. But I'm talking like this or '06 or '04.

[UZER]

The spurs have officialy become old guy at the club. Sure theyre exerienced, decent looking, and girls will talk to them. But at the end of the night, those same girls are going home with the young bucks, and the Spurs are going home without a prize.

[Arcadian]

There is a bright side to all of this. At least the Spurs have never lost in the NBA Finals. That would hypothetically be the hardest loss of all. But nope - we're 4 for 4.

On the other hand, this is arguably due to the superiority of West over East. Many of the WCF we've been in have resulted in the eventual NBA champion.

[rascal]

That's what I was thinking. Westbrook or Durant goes out for the season and this team can win it. That's really the only way. Who knows if Duncan wasn't injured in 2000...

You are talking like the league will remain exactly the same as it is now next season. There will be big changes with player movement and teams like the lakers will be better.

[rascal]

That's what I was thinking. Westbrook or Durant goes out for the season and this team can win it. That's really the only way. Who knows if Duncan wasn't injured in 2000...

You are talking like the league will remain exactly the same as it is now next season. There will be big changes with player movement and teams like the lakers will be better.

[MannyIsGod]

This one sucks but I remember how 2006 and 2004 sucked the air out of me. 2006 especially since after .4 we had a chance. This was bad, and sadder because of the finality but 2006 will always be the worst for me.

[ffadicted]

Have only been a spurs fan since 03, but this and 06 definitly hurt the most... I think once the initial sting of this one goes out though, 06 will hurt more. It was our best chance for a 3peat and we were essetially 1 bad foul away from doing so

[MI21]

For me, it's the years the Spurs would have most certainly gone on to win the championship that hurt the most.

2006, the Spurs would have beat Phoenix (our bitches) and Heat. Dallas went from being Dirk and a bunch or good role players against the NBA to Dirk, a superstar SG (Terry) and an elite SF (Howard) against the Spurs. That really, really hurt.

2004 was the singular most devastating blow obviously. Fisher, as always, with the dagger. I'm not 100% sure the Spurs beat Detroit, but I'm thinking they would.

2012 really hurt. What I think was the Spurs last true shot at a title and potentially coming up against a weak Eastern Conference foe.

Ugh.

[Johnny RIngo]

2006 was the worst. Spurs were the defending champs and a MUCH better team than those Mavs but Pop had an awful series from a coaching standpoint(ridiculous when you remember he was up against Avery Johnson). Pretty sure Spurs would have repeated if Ginobili never fouled Dirk.

I thought Spurs were bound for 4th/5th seed this year, after last year's disaster. Hell, I thought they were done after the Ginobili injury. They surprised me more than anything. Also, this being an asterisk season makes the loss hurt less.

[bulakenyo]

I love my Spurs.

This last series hurt.

Yesterday morning, I was in Manila and I had something to do later that day, but the Spurs game was in 30 minutes and I had no place to watch it.

So, what I did was rent a motel room for 3 hours, and watched the game right there.
Took a cold shower (90 degree tropical heat outside) and had my early lunch there too.

I was sorta laughing at myself when I realised how hard I was screaming

"In your face, Bitches!"
"BOOM!"
"FUCK IT!"
"FUCK NOO!"

all alone, inside a love motel. Haha.

Anyway, after the consecutive bullshit calls in the second half, my nerves couldn't take it anymore and checked out early. And just waited for the sports report on radio that day.

I still haven't seen the last few minutes of the game. Maybe in a few more days, I'm feeling down about all this, right now.

GO SPURS GO!


PS:
I hope SAS retires Capt. Jack's jersey. I know he hasn't clocked that many minutes, or completed that many games in a Spurs uni, but I think the Spurs should make an exception.

He's a 100% Spur, in my eyes.

[ViceCity86]

2006 was the crusher.The worst one
2004 I don't think they beat Pistons relying on Rasho and Turk.Manu was a year away.
2012 This one sucked but Im not convinced they beat Miami even they did get by Thunder.

I been a fan since Robinson rookie year.I don't think any other year they would of won,including 1995.They weren't good enough.

[NickiRasgo]

Agree with the first two. :(

[TDfan2007]

I wasn't around for 95, but it looked like a painful one.

2006 was the worst because that team was definitely championship-caliber and better than the Mavs imo. Those Spurs would have beaten both Phoenix and Miami and repeated.

2004 was the hardest to swallow at first, but in hindsight the Spurs weren't beating Detroit that season. Too many holes in the roster and nobody to help Tim outside of Tony on occasion (Manu was a year away from finding himself in the NBA at that time).

This year hurts because it feels like a curtain call for our Big 3, but from a basketball standpoint the Thunder were the better team. Definitely not at the start of the series, but the Thunder evolved faster than a goddamn virus, while the Spurs were overwhelmed by OKC's youth and stamina. This season is the most comparable to 2001, tbh. Both times the expectations were high, and the letdown was massive.

[Slippy]

This one hurts because it wasn't the storybook ending we all hoped for the big 3. Damn shame as they got so far. Would of really sealed their legacy, Sjax as the returning fan favourite and the Spurs as a dynasty.

Last season was the most embarrassing in my book. Hurts in a different way and 95 not as much. Jus all the bull that comes when looking back at David Robinson.

04 would be up there too.

[polandprzem]

WHAT?

It does not hurts!

Before the season they were not favorites and I'm so proud they lost in the WCF !!!!!

[Capt Bringdown]

The recent playoff beatdowns at the hands of Phoenix and Memphis were kinda refreshing - At last a "normal" playoff loss.

Spurs have certainly had their share of bone-crushing playoff exits. This one hurt, not so much in the mere fact of losing, but in the way we lost, the dreaded backdoor sweep.

[polandprzem]

Spurs are mentally weak

The haters were always right as it appears.
Pop is not a great playoff coach.


We've got to admit those and stop with homerism ...

[polandprzem]

'12 backdoor sweep
'11 memphis disaster
'10 swept by suns /lol/
'09 Dallas smackin
'08 LA toying with spurs


Now you also can extend those - in like Mem we had the best record, Suns pnr no adjustments, Parker disappearing etc.


S[purs got a history of heartbreaking loses.
TD has a great legacy, but those gives some arguments to why he is not so close to being top big man all time.




btw. Pistons championship squad had a superstar?

[blkroadrunners]

2004 was the worst for me in the Duncan era with 2006 right behind it..

+1

That was the only instance regarding Spurs I cried over (2004).

[BillMc]

This hurt so bad, because we had

1) Homecort advantage throughout this and the Finals round
2) We were healthy, with Tim and Manu both being healthy since the last time we won it.
3) We had a 2-0 lead on the only team that could beat us. (I am convinced we would have easily taken the Heat and the Celtics
4) We'd won 20 straight, and I have to admit, the question in my mind wasn't "Can we win it all?" but "will we sweep the playoffs?" It's like being on that undefeated Pats team who lost in the Superbowl. "We're the greatest team of all time! Oh? Oops, we're not even the best team this year..."
5) Tony seemed to be playing the most complete ball of his career
6) We had great depth, some of which we cannot afford to keep long term. So we had to win now....
7) We all know/knew that there won't be many more chances....

All in all, this was crushing. I felt so bad for Timmy.

My rankings of the "bummer" fest?

1. 2012
2. 2004
3. 2001 (Spurs fans said "We'd have defended our title with Timmy healthy in 2000." Laker fans said, "It wouldn't have mattered." The way we lost in 2001, made it feel like the hated Laker fans we're right)
4. 2006

However, something should be said about the suckitude of being swept by the Suns (the Suns!?!) in 2010.
Also, losing to Dallas and Memphis in 2009, 2011 first rounds wasn't fun. And, of course, there was 2008 when we slept on planes, lost leads in the WCF and had Joey Crawford ignore fouls.... (Very similar to this year, minus the on planes part!)

In short, any losing sucks. But in 2012, it seemed such a glorious last hurrah, and then the power went out..

[polandprzem]

btw.

LJ you do not sleep much recently do you?

[MmP]

How a team that screamed "champion" in every way as the 2006 team, fall 3-1 against the mavs? I know that that Dallas team was very good but I can't understand why most of you say that about the 06 Spurs if they managed to stay in front of Dirk.

[MmP]

I agree that we had a good roster but other than that I don't see how a championship team can fall 1-3 and still be an 'if champion'. Suns I can understand we would have beaten them,but it would have been a tought finals agains the Heat.
Besides the roster was that much more good that this year's: Our big were Mohamed, Rasho and Oberto, other than Horry I don't see an improvement. Finley played a subpar series agains Dallas. NVE was non existent. Manu most of game 7 was very slow for some reason. He had a good game 6 though.

[dunkman]

2001 hurt more than 2004? 2001 was euthanasia. 2004 was a heart attack.

No Spur cried, though. ;) :D

[therealtruth]

I think what hurts so much is that Pop went away from what worked. If he had continued playing how we won in the playoffs through game 2 we would have been fine. Second he should never have given away game 3. That kind of stupid thing has to stop.

[ploto]

I think 2006 hurt the most because I was there. 2004 ended in LA and this one ended in OKC. Watching it end in person is the worst.

[HI-FI]

this one hurts the most, partly because it's the most recent and I felt this was our last chance at glory (for the foreseeable future). In previous failures, I still had hope that we could come back strong the next year. it's possible we might have another run in us, i won't discredit the hearts of champions, but this felt like it could have been a storybook ending.

2004 and 2006 were probably more painful at the time, but remembering how the Lakers and Mavs choked in the Finals still brings a warm smile to my face.

I suppose if the Thunder get beat in the Finals i might be able to get over this as well, sorry i'm a hater.

as much as I hate to see the Big 3 retire, I would love to see what Pop would do if he had a roster like the Thunder, with their youth and energy.

[Budkin]

I still haven't gotten over this one. After we went up 2-0 I really thought we'd win in 5. We were playing so well it seemed like we couldn't be beaten. And then the wheels fell off the bus and now we're all sitting here stunned.

[Spurtacus]

This one stings pretty bad. Just as bad as losing to the Lakers in 2004 behind Fisher's .4 shot. That was a potential three peat. But I really felt we were going to win it all this year. More confident in this team than I have been for any Spurs team in the Duncan era. We were so dominant and deep.

I've tuned out everything NBA since the Spurs loss.

[Legacy]

TRUE Spurs fans sure do have to be able to handle major poundings through years and years, that's for sure. :lol

[HI-FI]

the one thing i'll always appreciate about this team and organization is that we were able to win 4 championships in a league/era that is notorious for shitty parity and officiating.

when you look back at how some teams like the Lakers spent their cash on all star teams, or how officiating ruined so many great series, the Spurs still have accomplished some incredible things. Yes we could have had more but our 4 championships absolutely defied the odds.

[Legacy]

the one thing i'll always appreciate about this team and organization is that we were able to win 4 championships in a league/era that is notorious for shitty parity and officiating.

when you look back at how some teams like the Lakers spent their cash on all star teams, or how officiating ruined so many great series, the Spurs still have accomplished some incredible things. Yes we could have had more but our 4 championships absolutely defied the odds.


:toast

[DMC]

I started getting over it when I saw Bonner still with the team. I saw that we had the best regular season record in the West, like last year, and saw that we had the easiest path to the WCF, and knew this season would be emotionally worse than last, just because of the false hope.

The + though: We shed RJ's contract. Picking up Jax and Diaw are temporary things, but getting rid of that shit sack contract was monumental factored in with Tim's contract ending. The Spurs have a name and a reputation as a winning franchise, so they might attract a big name, might. They've had a big contract guy for 25 years at least, next year that will end.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

That's pretty much exactly how I feel. :depressed

For me it's

2012 (I just feel so sad that these guys couldn't sneak one more unexpected ring before the end of the Dynasty - they were playing so damned well! How did this happen!?)
2006 (why, Manu, whyyyyy? We would've slaughtered the Heat)
2004 (Pistons probably would've beaten us that year, but losing that way was a gut-punch)
1995 (Hakeem had the better team - if David had his supporting cast he would've bitch-slapped Hakeem)
2001 and 2002 (although those two made 2003 all the sweeter)

[bulakenyo]

Spurs supporter for life.
I'll always be the biggest Manu fan.

I think I'll stay away from NBA games a little while, while the wounds are still fresh.

I'm focused on boxing now, will watch Pacquiao vs Bradley tomorrow.

The Spurs reminded me of an aging, technically gifted, boxer-puncher ex-champ, with a strong second wind in the twilight of his career, winning a string of KO victories.

Faced an up and coming, hot prospect, brash and talented and strong, for a title eliminator. In the young boxer's hometown.

Fight night. Old champ hangs punch for punch with the young buck, winning in the early to middle rounds, busting up the youngster's face and buckling his knees with stinging counters and body shots, but slowly fading during the final stretches.

Close final rounds, but still losing on the scorecards. And also getting some not so favorable referee calls.

Old champ losing by referee TKO, but never going down.

Beaten but unbowed.

[Jumi]

B Hop v Dawson

[Capt Bringdown]

At what point do you decide that the wheels have come off?
This has gone as far as it will go. Spurs have become what we used to mock in teams like the Mavericks: regular season trick artists who get savagely exposed in the post season.
Defense wins championships. Start the rebuilding from there.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

At what point do you decide that the wheels have come off?
This has gone as far as it will go. Spurs have become what we used to mock in teams like the Mavericks: regular season trick artists who get savagely exposed in the post season.
Defense wins championships. Start the rebuilding from there.

4-0, 4-0, 2-0 isn't "savagely exposed". This team would have won it all in most other years, just happened to run into another team playing at an astounding level with the best closer in the game as hot as he can be. C'est la sports.

I favoured rebuilding 2 years ago but now freely admit I was wrong - we should ride the Big 3 until the end (another 2 years). There's plenty of time in the future to be garbage and go through the pain of rebuilding.

One key signing can make all the difference when you have a system like the Spurs do (see: Diaw, Boris, Jax, Stephen), and I think the FO can find the guys we need to give us a real chance until Timmy and Manu retire.

[Budkin]

We should be celebrating the Western Conference championship right now... :cry

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

We should be celebrating the Western Conference championship right now... :cry

Yeah, we should... :cry

I fucking hate this feeling. Had it in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006. Ugh. But then again, if you never feel like this you don't feel as good when your team wins, and 1999, 03, 05, 07 were all sooooo sweet.

[Uriel]

This one honestly still hurts. Even until now.

Most days, this doesn't even occur to me, and I'm able to get on with my life. But some days, I think about how seemingly invincible we were, about how we were destined to finally bring back a championship to the Alamo city after one final glorious run, about how the conversation among pundits wasn't even whether we would win it all, but whether we were one of the best teams of all time.

Then that epic collapse after a 20-game winning streak. We were so close. And to think that was probably our last shot at winning it all. It really, really hurts just thinking about it.

[benefactor]

This one honestly still hurts. Even until now.

Most days, this doesn't even occur to me, and I'm able to get on with my life. But some days, I think about how seemingly invincible we were, about how we were destined to finally bring back a championship to the Alamo city after one final glorious run, about how the conversation among pundits wasn't even whether we would win it all, but whether we were one of the best teams of all time.

Then that epic collapse after a 20-game winning streak. We were so close. And to think that was probably our last shot at winning it all. It really, really hurts just thinking about it.
I'm sure you thought about ending it all. If that is the case once again, acting on those thoughts wouldn't be a bad idea.

[DeadlyDynasty]

dominating the league for an entire decade.

They dominated that entire decade, except for the 5 Laker titles and 7 overall Finals appearances:rollin

[rmt]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

2006 was the worst for me. Suns and Heat to win the championship - chance for a 3 peat. After that 2004, maybe Spurs wouldn't have beaten DET since Parker was a year younger and Manu wasn't at his peak 05 form. But 2012, was like a dream year - very surprised at the level they were playing at during the regular season but never really thought they'd win because of the defense. Besides IMO, Lebron wanted it too much.

[Uriel]

I'm sure you thought about ending it all. If that is the case once again, acting on those thoughts wouldn't be a bad idea.

'kaaaaaaaay.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I'm talking about the Spurs. If three rings, 5 WCF finals, 14 straight playoffs appereances doesn't count as "domination" to you, well you might have a problem. Where were you when the Lakers sucked between 2004 and 2008?
hmm...let's compare:

5 NBA titles and 7 WC titles

or...

4 NBA titles?

Lakers didn't suck in 2004 and 2008, so way lose credibility on det one.:lol

Oh, and where were you?

[TE]

It certainly hurts considering how the team performed at its peak...but really, the pain isn't as bad when one comes to terms with reality. OKC is just a better team. Now add the Lakers to that upper tier of teams in the league. It's gonna take some injuries to contending teams along with lady luck for this Spurs team to get that far into the postseason.

[Venti Quattro]

I'm sure you thought about ending it all. If that is the case once again, acting on those thoughts wouldn't be a bad idea.

The viability of suicide :rollin

[benefactor]

The viability of suicide :rollin
I am a BUMP disciple when it comes to this.

[DeadlyDynasty]

All right, 2005-2007. Does it make any difference to you?. Tell me one season where the Spurs didn't go the playoffs in the last decade. There's no much difference between 5 and 4 NBA titles.

PS: I was watching the Spurs dominance
Yeah, the difference is the Lakers won more championships...ipso facto, The Spurs dominating the decade statement is fucking retarded.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Also, nobody gives a shit if you went that long without missing the playoffs. Utah and Portland had longer streaks, and STILL nobody gave a fuck.

[SpurNation]

It's over now. 2012 now approaches. No interior improvement as of yet. Signed same crew as last year. Expectations not high for a different outcome than last season.

Famous quote..."If you're not getting better...you're getting worse." Take it for what you want. Have the Spurs improved their weakest attributes from last season?

[DeadlyDynasty]

No, it's not. If four titles, five WCF, ten straight playoffs appereances (the entire decade), the greatest winning percentage during a decade in all major sports is not "dominating the decade" for you, then you are clueless. Besides, I didn't say the Spurs were the only ones who dominated the league. Ask anyone (apart from Lakers fans) who dominated the NBA in the 00's and they would tell you Lakers and Spurs.
Wrong again. You can't call it dominance when you couldn't even string 2 truly dominant years together b2b. Dominant teams defend titles. San Antonio was 0-4 in that department...in fact, they only even went as far as the WCF in 1 of those title defense years. Lame.


Yeah, I bet all my money that Kobe didn't give a fuck as well

That makes no sense whatsoever.

[timtonymanu]

Meh. I'm over it. If the Spurs couldn't hold an 18 point lead, they weren't destined for a title this year. I still think they wouldn't have beaten the Heat anyway. LeBron was on a mission last season. No one was stopping him.

[Obstructed_View]

Also, nobody gives a shit if you went that long without missing the playoffs. Utah and Portland had longer streaks, and STILL nobody gave a fuck.

Clearly you give a fuck, since you're in here fighting so vehemently about it. :lol

[Sean Cagney]

Meh. I'm over it. If the Spurs couldn't hold an 18 point lead, they weren't destined for a title this year. I still think they wouldn't have beaten the Heat anyway. LeBron was on a mission last season. No one was stopping him.

True..

[DMC]

Wrong again. You can't call it dominance when you couldn't even string 2 truly dominant years together b2b. Dominant teams defend titles. San Antonio was 0-4 in that department...in fact, they only even went as far as the WCF in 1 of those title defense years. Lame.

The "dominant teams defended titles" is non sequitur. You just created a prerequisite out of thin air and passed it into law without so much as a vote. Bird never defended his title, yet his team was dominant. Sure he had competition, but no one who knows anything about the game would say the Celtics of that era weren't a dominant team.

When a team can win every other year for 5 years, they are doing something right. Any stacked team can carry a streak. The Spurs were never stacked. It's those who can get back to the crown again and again that truly illustrate resolve and leadership.

Spo's team has been to the Finals 2 years running, and they will likely go again this year. That's called being stacked. It has nothing to do with being able to defend a title, but to repeat as champion. Boxers don't count their title defenses as "I have 20 championships". No, they have the title, and they've defended it 20 times. In football, baseball and basketball, the term "Defend the title" is just media bullshit. You won or you didn't. Rings are rings.

[spurs10]

Also, nobody gives a shit if you went that long without missing the playoffs. Utah and Portland had longer streaks, and STILL nobody gave a fuck.
The Spurs are the most winning team of all team sports for 10+ years. That's pretty dominate. Seeing how you've posted on their website 16 thousand times, it looks like they've got your attention. That's the equivalent of once every day for 32 years. Yeah, they're really lame!

[Ross Parrot]

The Rockets are more of a dynasty than the Spurs:downspin:

[rascal]

Miami would have easily beaten the Spurs. The spurs 4-0 unbeaten championship record stays intact.

[Sean Cagney]

Miami would have easily beaten the Spurs. The spurs 4-0 unbeaten championship record stays intact.

Yep, I like it just like that.

[SpursFanInAustin]

Immediately after Game 6, some of the pain was dulled by the fact that the Spurs put up a good fight in a hostile environment. The opposition did what they set out to do and the Thunder played well too. The Spurs did all they could given the circumstances, IMO.

But, damn, this one hurts. Bad. I never allowed myself to get too high even as the Spurs were on their historic run. I've seen too many harsh U-turns occur in the NBA playoffs to get too caught up in any hot streak. And I know it's just a game, blah, blah ... but this morning, after soaking everything in, I can honestly say that was the most painful end to a season I've ever experience.

The Spurs weren't a perfect team. Despite the hype, if they won it all, I would have maintained it was the fifth best of their championship teams. But, man, they were right there. One more win in their last four games and their chance at a championship is pretty damn good. If they would have won it all, it probably would have been the sweetest of the five just because the ride was so enjoyable due to the low expectations at the outset of the season.

And then you add in the fact that this was very likely their last chance to get it done, and the pain is magnified. The Spurs needed a miracle just to stay this healthy for this long. Duncan was able to somehow turn back the hands of time for one final glorious run. Ginobili, despite declining physical skills, was able to remain relatively close to his best level. But add another year to those two and we probably see a huge drop in play by next season's playoffs. With that, San Antonio's chances go from slim to none.

I've been a hardcore fan since David Robinson's rookie season. In that time, the most painful defeats I've experienced in order:

1. 2012
2. 2006
3. 1995
4. 2001
5. 2004


Ugh. :depressed

:lobt2:??

[in2deep]

:lol

[SpursFanInAustin]

disagree, we all thought window was closed long ago.

Suns sweep was one time everyone thought we were done.

last year same thing.

anything could happen next year. this is not an issue.

Spot on

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Im still in the anger phase. I can't stop thinking about the huge amount if ridiculous calls that went against us.

Hope this doesn't happen again.

[cheguevara]

Spot on

:tu

dang I forgot how wrecked this site was after that loss :lol

of course El Che was the voice of reason:


You allowed the homerism to take over your generally good reasoning. Had you looked at both teams neutrally, you would have seen OKC big 3 are much better, younger, hungrier than Spurs big 3. You would have seen OKC frontline is more built for a championship. Spurs frontline of Bonner/Tiago/Blair, hello???

no way in hell this defeat is as bad as 04, 06. Even the 11 defeat was worse than this one. This one was too obvious.


disagree, we all thought window was closed long ago.

Suns sweep was one time everyone thought we were done.

last year same thing.

anything could happen next year. this is not an issue.

[Budkin]

Nice Che! That shit was painful and I never thought we'd make it back.

[Bobby Peru]

"this one hurts"??? if this hurt what Lebron is about to do to your team will make the OKC beating seem like a night at pleasure palace

bless these little emo spursfans bless em