jsgtaw
06-24-2005, 02:36 PM
I invite every Spur’s fan, if you have a few moments, to take a trip down memory lane. Enjoy!!!
1998-99 Championship Season
Final Standings: 37-13
San Antonio was the favorite to win it all in this strike-shortened season. After starting 6-8, they went on a tear, finishing out the season by winning 31 out of their last 36 games. They continued their dominant play all the way to the NBA title.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 3 T-Wolves – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 99, T-Wolves 86
Game 2 – T-Wolves 80, Spurs 71
Game 3 – Spurs 85, T-Wolves 71
Game 4 – Spurs 92, T-Wolves 85
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Lakers – 0
Game 1 – Spurs 87, Lakers 81
Game 2 – Spurs 79, Lakers 76
Game 3 – Spurs 103, Lakers 91
Game 4 – Spurs 118, Lakers 107
(Remember Jaren Jackson’s late game heroics in games 3 & 4? He absolutely lit up the Lakers in those games. Tim Duncan outplayed Shaquille O’Neal in this series. He averaged 29.0 ppg while O’Neal averaged 23.8. This was the beginning of the Spurs/Lakers playoff rivalry over the next several years.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Blazers – 0
Game 1 – Spurs 80, Blazers 76
Game 2 – Spurs 86, Blazers 85
Game 3 – Spurs 85, Blazers 63
Game 4 – Spurs 94, Blazers 80
(I’ll never forget Sean Elliott tip-toeing the sideline at the end of game two and launching that three-pointer that won the game and took Portland’s hearts away. Elliott’s performance this entire game was amazing as he hit 6 out of 7 three point attempts. After this game, San Antonio simply dominated this series. That finish is easily a top – ten playoff moment of all time.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Knicks – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 89, Knicks 77
Game 2 – Spurs 80, Knicks 67
Game 3 – Knicks 89, Spurs 81
Game 4 – Spurs 96, Knicks 89
Game 5 – Spurs 78, Knicks 77
(San Antonio completed their dominance in this year’s playoffs by closing out the Knicks in five games. San Antonio went 15-2 during the playoffs, and, at one point, won 12 straight games. Avery Johnson hit the game-winning bucket in game five. I remember the commentators saying that the Knicks would let him shoot from the outside because his jumper was suspect. Then he drained that 19-footer with only a few seconds to play. Tim Duncan earned MVP honors for the first time. He completely dominated the Knicks, averaging 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.)
2002-03 Championship Season
Final Standings: 60-22
The Spurs were the favorite to win it all going into the 2003 playoffs. Although, the road to the championship still went through Los Angeles. The Spurs had lost to the Lakers in the playoffs for three years straight, and they would once again meet them in the Western Conference Semifinals. San Antonio rose to the occasion and knocked off the defending champs en route to their second championship.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 4 Suns – 2
Game 1 – Suns 96, Spurs 95
Game 2 – Spurs 84, Suns 76
Game 3 – Spurs 99, Suns 86
Game 4 – Suns 86, Spurs 84
Game 5 – Spurs 94, Suns 82
Game 6 – Spurs 87, Suns 85
(Stephon Marbury made an unbelievable shot at the buzzer of game 1 to give the Suns a 1-0 lead. The Spurs, however, with their experience and poise, were able to win 4 out of the next 5 games to send Phoenix home. A game one loss on their home floor with everyone expecting a victory? Sound familiar?)
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Lakers – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 87, Lakers 82
Game 2 – Spurs 114, Lakers 95
Game 3 – Lakers 110, Spurs 95
Game 4 – Lakers 99, Spurs 95
Game 5 – Spurs 96, Lakers 94
Game 6 – Spurs 110, Lakers 82
(San Antonio, ready to put the memories of the three previous seasons behind them, jumped out to a quick 2-0 series lead. But the Lakers clawed back to tie the series at 2-2. In game 5, San Antonio built a seemingly insurmountable lead in the second half, but the Lakers came roaring back and had a chance to win at the end of regulation. Robert Horry’s three-pointer rattled in and out, and the Spurs survived to take a 3-2 series lead. Just to prove that this was their year, the Spurs blew the Lakers out in game 6 in Los Angeles. The Lakers would not be playing in the NBA finals for the first time in three years.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Mavericks – 2
Game 1 – Mavs 113, Spurs 110
Game 2 – Spurs 119, Mavs 106
Game 3 – Spurs 96, Mavs 83
Game 4 – Spurs 102, Mavs 95
Game 5 – Mavs 103, Spurs 91
Game 6 – Spurs 90, Mavs 78
(The Mavs were a talented team. They shared the best regular season record with the Spurs at 60-22. The Spurs looked like they were going to take this series easily as they built a 3-1 lead going into game 5 in San Antonio. But the Mavericks prevailed, forcing a game 6. Who can forget the fourth quarter of game six? It looked like Dallas was going to force a game 7 when they held a 69-56 lead going into the fourth quarter. But Steve Kerr came off the bench to hit 3 three-pointers, and San Antonio outscored Dallas 34-9 in the quarter to give them a 90-78 victory. The Spurs were headed back to the NBA Finals.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Nets – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 101, Nets 89
Game 2 – Nets 87, Spurs 85
Game 3 – Spurs 84, Nets 79
Game 4 – Nets 77, Spurs 76
Game 5 – Spurs 93, Nets 83
Game 6 – Spurs 88, Nets 77
(The Nets were making their second straight trip to the Finals after steamrolling through the Eastern Conference, sweeping both the Celtics and the Pistons in the semis and conference finals. However, they ran straight into the Spurs who were hungry for their second NBA title. Tim Duncan earned MVP honors for the second time in his career in leading the Spurs to a 4-2 series win. This series had plenty of highlights. Tony Parker, in his second year, outplayed the veteran Jason Kidd during the first half of the series. Manu Ginobili gave everyone a glimpse of things to come. Steve Kerr entered the fourth quarter to deliver a couple of crushing blows to the Nets in game five. He would retire at season’s end. Tim Duncan was tremendous, especially in game six, when he almost recorded a quadruple-double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 blocks). His line for the series was: 24.2 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and a record 5.3 blocks. The biggest highlight, though, was “The Admiral” David Robinson winning a championship to put an end to his stellar career. He had announced that he would retire at the end of the season, and he had the best possible send-off that a player could dream of.)
2004-05 Championship Season
Final Standings: 59-23
After suffering a devastating loss to the Lakers in the semifinals of the 2004 playoffs, San Antonio started off the season looking like the favorites to win it all. They dominated the NBA through most of the season until Tim Duncan sat out a number of games with an ankle injury. The Spurs staggered through the rest of the season, leaving people in doubt as to whether they would be able to put together a championship run. But the Spurs’ poise, experience, and teamwork would carry them to their third NBA title in seven years, leaving them on the verge of becoming a dynasty.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 4 Nuggets – 1
Game 1 – Nuggets 93, Spurs 87
Game 2 – Spurs 104, Nuggets 76
Game 3 – Spurs 86, Nuggets 78
Game 4 – Spurs 126, Nuggets 115
Game 5 – Spurs 99, Nuggets 89
(The Spurs left many people in doubt after opening the series with a loss on their home court to the surging Denver Nuggets. The Spurs had struggled ever since Duncan went down with an ankle injury late in the season. Duncan had returned, but was not 100%. Many people were looking for a first-round upset. The Spurs responded with a vengeance in game 2 by blowing out the Nuggets, and then reclaiming home-court advantage with a win in game three. Duncan responded to those wondering about his injury with several stellar performances against the Nuggets, including a 39-point, 14-rebound performance in game four. Ginobili was the hero in game 3 as he scored 32 points. Closing the Nuggets out in five on their home-court, the Spurs showed that, although they had struggled, they were still the team to beat.)
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Sonics – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 103, Sonics 81
Game 2 – Spurs 108, Sonics 91
Game 3 – Sonics 92, Spurs 91
Game 4 – Sonics 101, Spurs 89
Game 5 – Spurs 103, Sonics 90
Game 6 – Spurs 98, Sonics 96
(San Antonio finished off a tough Sonics team in six games. After winning the first two games easily on their home-court, the Spurs dropped the next two in Seattle, including a 101-89 loss that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. Would the Spurs have what it takes to finish off the Sonics? Ginobili responded with a 39-point performance in game five to lead the Spurs to a 3-2 series lead. In game six, Duncan struggled to make a basket through the first three quarters, but scored 12 points in the final quarter including the game winning basket on an assist from Ginobili with less than a second to play. Duncan only shot 6-21 from the floor, but he hit 14 of his 17 free throw attempts to finish the game with 26 points. He re-injured his ankle early in the fourth quarter, but displayed guts, heart, and determination as he led the Spurs to victory.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Suns – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 121, Suns 114
Game 2 – Spurs 111, Suns 108
Game 3 – Spurs 102, Suns 92
Game 4 – Suns 111, Spurs 106
Game 5 – Spurs 101, Suns 95
(The Suns were the biggest turnaround team in the NBA in 2004-05. After they won a mere 29 games in 2003-04, the Suns exploded onto the scene with their high-scoring attack, winning 62 games, sporting the best record in the league, and earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also had the league MVP in Steve Nash. This series would be a clash of two different styles of basketball. The Spurs were a defensive-minded bunch that allowed the fewest ppg in the league. The Spurs took advantage of the Suns’ lack of defense, scoring over 100 points in every game of the series. They jumped out to a 2-0 series lead by overcoming deficits in the fourth quarter twice. Having lost the first two games on their home-court, the Suns faced a must win situation in game three in San Antonio. The Spurs turned up the defensive pressure, though, holding the Suns to well below their season average in points while claiming an insurmountable 3-0 series lead. The Suns showed some resolve by winning game four, but that victory only delayed the inevitable. The Spurs closed out the series in Phoenix by winning game five in another stellar defensive effort. They earned an 8-day rest while waiting for the winner of the Pistons-Heat series. This would be San Antonio’s 3rd trip to the Finals in 7 years, and their 2nd in 3 years.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Pistons – 3
Game 1 – Spurs 84, Pistons 69
Game 2 – Spurs 97, Pistons 76
Game 3 – Pistons 96, Spurs 79
Game 4 – Pistons 102, Spurs 71
Game 5 – Spurs 96, Pistons 95
Game 6 – Pistons 95, Spurs 86
Game 7 – Spurs 81, Pistons 74
(In their most grueling, hardest-fought NBA title yet, the Spurs wrestled away the championship in a thrilling seven game series that was decided in the last quarter of the final game of the season. Both of these teams had won the last two NBA titles. They were also the top two defensive clubs in the league. San Antonio overcame early struggles in game 1 to earn a convincing 15-point victory. The Spurs top three (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker) combined to score 65 of the Spurs 84 points to give them a 1-0 advantage. Facing a “must-win” game two in San Antonio, the Spurs responded to the pressure by dominating the game from start to finish en route to a 97-76 win. Ginobili poured in 27 points including a 4-5 performance from three-point range. Bowen also hit four three-pointers as the Spurs connected on nearly half of their three-point attempts. The series would now go back to Detroit, but many people doubted as to whether they would make it back to San Antonio. Detroit not only showed the world why they were the defending champs, but they did it in convincing fashion by blowing the Spurs out in games 3 & 4. The series was tied 2-2 with the pivotal game five in Detroit. Critics were all over Duncan for his performances in games 3 & 4, so he responded by scoring 26 points and grabbing 19 boards. But it was Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry who grabbed the spotlight when he hit a game winning three-pointer with just over six seconds left to give the Spurs the victory and a 3-2 series edge. With their backs against the wall once again, the Pistons responded in San Antonio by winning game six, forcing the Spurs into a winner-take-all, game seven showdown. Duncan again drew criticism, as he failed to carry the Spurs down the stretch. His heart was not only criticized, but his legacy was in question as well (why? I have no idea). The rest is history. Duncan rebounded in the second half of game seven after struggling in the first half. After the Spurs went down by 9 points in the third quarter, Duncan stepped up. He scored 25 points, grabbed 11 boards, and dished out assists as the Spurs took control of the game down the stretch to win their third title in seven years.)
I hope you all enjoyed this trip down the Spurs’ memory lane. Most of this is recent history, of course, but it was fun to look back at the previous championships. I think that this might be the sweetest of the three championships, what with all the adversity and criticism that the team went through as well as the individual players. Duncan has cemented his spot in NBA greatness. Nobody can question his heart anymore. He played for nearly two months on an ankle injury that is still not completely healed, and he led his team to a championship.
I enjoyed seeing the growth of the team this year as Parker, and especially Ginobili came into their own and established themselves as stars in this league. Bowen, after his consistent play, has established himself as the premier defensive player in the league. Horry, although he may not be a hall of famer, is one of the best clutch players of all time.
No one on this team would claim or care about individual accolades, though. That’s what makes this team so great, and what also makes the future look so bright.
Is a dynasty on the way?
1998-99 Championship Season
Final Standings: 37-13
San Antonio was the favorite to win it all in this strike-shortened season. After starting 6-8, they went on a tear, finishing out the season by winning 31 out of their last 36 games. They continued their dominant play all the way to the NBA title.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 3 T-Wolves – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 99, T-Wolves 86
Game 2 – T-Wolves 80, Spurs 71
Game 3 – Spurs 85, T-Wolves 71
Game 4 – Spurs 92, T-Wolves 85
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Lakers – 0
Game 1 – Spurs 87, Lakers 81
Game 2 – Spurs 79, Lakers 76
Game 3 – Spurs 103, Lakers 91
Game 4 – Spurs 118, Lakers 107
(Remember Jaren Jackson’s late game heroics in games 3 & 4? He absolutely lit up the Lakers in those games. Tim Duncan outplayed Shaquille O’Neal in this series. He averaged 29.0 ppg while O’Neal averaged 23.8. This was the beginning of the Spurs/Lakers playoff rivalry over the next several years.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Blazers – 0
Game 1 – Spurs 80, Blazers 76
Game 2 – Spurs 86, Blazers 85
Game 3 – Spurs 85, Blazers 63
Game 4 – Spurs 94, Blazers 80
(I’ll never forget Sean Elliott tip-toeing the sideline at the end of game two and launching that three-pointer that won the game and took Portland’s hearts away. Elliott’s performance this entire game was amazing as he hit 6 out of 7 three point attempts. After this game, San Antonio simply dominated this series. That finish is easily a top – ten playoff moment of all time.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Knicks – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 89, Knicks 77
Game 2 – Spurs 80, Knicks 67
Game 3 – Knicks 89, Spurs 81
Game 4 – Spurs 96, Knicks 89
Game 5 – Spurs 78, Knicks 77
(San Antonio completed their dominance in this year’s playoffs by closing out the Knicks in five games. San Antonio went 15-2 during the playoffs, and, at one point, won 12 straight games. Avery Johnson hit the game-winning bucket in game five. I remember the commentators saying that the Knicks would let him shoot from the outside because his jumper was suspect. Then he drained that 19-footer with only a few seconds to play. Tim Duncan earned MVP honors for the first time. He completely dominated the Knicks, averaging 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.)
2002-03 Championship Season
Final Standings: 60-22
The Spurs were the favorite to win it all going into the 2003 playoffs. Although, the road to the championship still went through Los Angeles. The Spurs had lost to the Lakers in the playoffs for three years straight, and they would once again meet them in the Western Conference Semifinals. San Antonio rose to the occasion and knocked off the defending champs en route to their second championship.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 4 Suns – 2
Game 1 – Suns 96, Spurs 95
Game 2 – Spurs 84, Suns 76
Game 3 – Spurs 99, Suns 86
Game 4 – Suns 86, Spurs 84
Game 5 – Spurs 94, Suns 82
Game 6 – Spurs 87, Suns 85
(Stephon Marbury made an unbelievable shot at the buzzer of game 1 to give the Suns a 1-0 lead. The Spurs, however, with their experience and poise, were able to win 4 out of the next 5 games to send Phoenix home. A game one loss on their home floor with everyone expecting a victory? Sound familiar?)
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Lakers – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 87, Lakers 82
Game 2 – Spurs 114, Lakers 95
Game 3 – Lakers 110, Spurs 95
Game 4 – Lakers 99, Spurs 95
Game 5 – Spurs 96, Lakers 94
Game 6 – Spurs 110, Lakers 82
(San Antonio, ready to put the memories of the three previous seasons behind them, jumped out to a quick 2-0 series lead. But the Lakers clawed back to tie the series at 2-2. In game 5, San Antonio built a seemingly insurmountable lead in the second half, but the Lakers came roaring back and had a chance to win at the end of regulation. Robert Horry’s three-pointer rattled in and out, and the Spurs survived to take a 3-2 series lead. Just to prove that this was their year, the Spurs blew the Lakers out in game 6 in Los Angeles. The Lakers would not be playing in the NBA finals for the first time in three years.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Mavericks – 2
Game 1 – Mavs 113, Spurs 110
Game 2 – Spurs 119, Mavs 106
Game 3 – Spurs 96, Mavs 83
Game 4 – Spurs 102, Mavs 95
Game 5 – Mavs 103, Spurs 91
Game 6 – Spurs 90, Mavs 78
(The Mavs were a talented team. They shared the best regular season record with the Spurs at 60-22. The Spurs looked like they were going to take this series easily as they built a 3-1 lead going into game 5 in San Antonio. But the Mavericks prevailed, forcing a game 6. Who can forget the fourth quarter of game six? It looked like Dallas was going to force a game 7 when they held a 69-56 lead going into the fourth quarter. But Steve Kerr came off the bench to hit 3 three-pointers, and San Antonio outscored Dallas 34-9 in the quarter to give them a 90-78 victory. The Spurs were headed back to the NBA Finals.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Nets – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 101, Nets 89
Game 2 – Nets 87, Spurs 85
Game 3 – Spurs 84, Nets 79
Game 4 – Nets 77, Spurs 76
Game 5 – Spurs 93, Nets 83
Game 6 – Spurs 88, Nets 77
(The Nets were making their second straight trip to the Finals after steamrolling through the Eastern Conference, sweeping both the Celtics and the Pistons in the semis and conference finals. However, they ran straight into the Spurs who were hungry for their second NBA title. Tim Duncan earned MVP honors for the second time in his career in leading the Spurs to a 4-2 series win. This series had plenty of highlights. Tony Parker, in his second year, outplayed the veteran Jason Kidd during the first half of the series. Manu Ginobili gave everyone a glimpse of things to come. Steve Kerr entered the fourth quarter to deliver a couple of crushing blows to the Nets in game five. He would retire at season’s end. Tim Duncan was tremendous, especially in game six, when he almost recorded a quadruple-double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 blocks). His line for the series was: 24.2 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and a record 5.3 blocks. The biggest highlight, though, was “The Admiral” David Robinson winning a championship to put an end to his stellar career. He had announced that he would retire at the end of the season, and he had the best possible send-off that a player could dream of.)
2004-05 Championship Season
Final Standings: 59-23
After suffering a devastating loss to the Lakers in the semifinals of the 2004 playoffs, San Antonio started off the season looking like the favorites to win it all. They dominated the NBA through most of the season until Tim Duncan sat out a number of games with an ankle injury. The Spurs staggered through the rest of the season, leaving people in doubt as to whether they would be able to put together a championship run. But the Spurs’ poise, experience, and teamwork would carry them to their third NBA title in seven years, leaving them on the verge of becoming a dynasty.
Western Conference 1st Round
Spurs – 4 Nuggets – 1
Game 1 – Nuggets 93, Spurs 87
Game 2 – Spurs 104, Nuggets 76
Game 3 – Spurs 86, Nuggets 78
Game 4 – Spurs 126, Nuggets 115
Game 5 – Spurs 99, Nuggets 89
(The Spurs left many people in doubt after opening the series with a loss on their home court to the surging Denver Nuggets. The Spurs had struggled ever since Duncan went down with an ankle injury late in the season. Duncan had returned, but was not 100%. Many people were looking for a first-round upset. The Spurs responded with a vengeance in game 2 by blowing out the Nuggets, and then reclaiming home-court advantage with a win in game three. Duncan responded to those wondering about his injury with several stellar performances against the Nuggets, including a 39-point, 14-rebound performance in game four. Ginobili was the hero in game 3 as he scored 32 points. Closing the Nuggets out in five on their home-court, the Spurs showed that, although they had struggled, they were still the team to beat.)
Western Conference Semifinals
Spurs – 4 Sonics – 2
Game 1 – Spurs 103, Sonics 81
Game 2 – Spurs 108, Sonics 91
Game 3 – Sonics 92, Spurs 91
Game 4 – Sonics 101, Spurs 89
Game 5 – Spurs 103, Sonics 90
Game 6 – Spurs 98, Sonics 96
(San Antonio finished off a tough Sonics team in six games. After winning the first two games easily on their home-court, the Spurs dropped the next two in Seattle, including a 101-89 loss that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. Would the Spurs have what it takes to finish off the Sonics? Ginobili responded with a 39-point performance in game five to lead the Spurs to a 3-2 series lead. In game six, Duncan struggled to make a basket through the first three quarters, but scored 12 points in the final quarter including the game winning basket on an assist from Ginobili with less than a second to play. Duncan only shot 6-21 from the floor, but he hit 14 of his 17 free throw attempts to finish the game with 26 points. He re-injured his ankle early in the fourth quarter, but displayed guts, heart, and determination as he led the Spurs to victory.)
Western Conference Finals
Spurs – 4 Suns – 1
Game 1 – Spurs 121, Suns 114
Game 2 – Spurs 111, Suns 108
Game 3 – Spurs 102, Suns 92
Game 4 – Suns 111, Spurs 106
Game 5 – Spurs 101, Suns 95
(The Suns were the biggest turnaround team in the NBA in 2004-05. After they won a mere 29 games in 2003-04, the Suns exploded onto the scene with their high-scoring attack, winning 62 games, sporting the best record in the league, and earning home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also had the league MVP in Steve Nash. This series would be a clash of two different styles of basketball. The Spurs were a defensive-minded bunch that allowed the fewest ppg in the league. The Spurs took advantage of the Suns’ lack of defense, scoring over 100 points in every game of the series. They jumped out to a 2-0 series lead by overcoming deficits in the fourth quarter twice. Having lost the first two games on their home-court, the Suns faced a must win situation in game three in San Antonio. The Spurs turned up the defensive pressure, though, holding the Suns to well below their season average in points while claiming an insurmountable 3-0 series lead. The Suns showed some resolve by winning game four, but that victory only delayed the inevitable. The Spurs closed out the series in Phoenix by winning game five in another stellar defensive effort. They earned an 8-day rest while waiting for the winner of the Pistons-Heat series. This would be San Antonio’s 3rd trip to the Finals in 7 years, and their 2nd in 3 years.)
NBA Finals
Spurs – 4 Pistons – 3
Game 1 – Spurs 84, Pistons 69
Game 2 – Spurs 97, Pistons 76
Game 3 – Pistons 96, Spurs 79
Game 4 – Pistons 102, Spurs 71
Game 5 – Spurs 96, Pistons 95
Game 6 – Pistons 95, Spurs 86
Game 7 – Spurs 81, Pistons 74
(In their most grueling, hardest-fought NBA title yet, the Spurs wrestled away the championship in a thrilling seven game series that was decided in the last quarter of the final game of the season. Both of these teams had won the last two NBA titles. They were also the top two defensive clubs in the league. San Antonio overcame early struggles in game 1 to earn a convincing 15-point victory. The Spurs top three (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker) combined to score 65 of the Spurs 84 points to give them a 1-0 advantage. Facing a “must-win” game two in San Antonio, the Spurs responded to the pressure by dominating the game from start to finish en route to a 97-76 win. Ginobili poured in 27 points including a 4-5 performance from three-point range. Bowen also hit four three-pointers as the Spurs connected on nearly half of their three-point attempts. The series would now go back to Detroit, but many people doubted as to whether they would make it back to San Antonio. Detroit not only showed the world why they were the defending champs, but they did it in convincing fashion by blowing the Spurs out in games 3 & 4. The series was tied 2-2 with the pivotal game five in Detroit. Critics were all over Duncan for his performances in games 3 & 4, so he responded by scoring 26 points and grabbing 19 boards. But it was Robert “Big Shot Bob” Horry who grabbed the spotlight when he hit a game winning three-pointer with just over six seconds left to give the Spurs the victory and a 3-2 series edge. With their backs against the wall once again, the Pistons responded in San Antonio by winning game six, forcing the Spurs into a winner-take-all, game seven showdown. Duncan again drew criticism, as he failed to carry the Spurs down the stretch. His heart was not only criticized, but his legacy was in question as well (why? I have no idea). The rest is history. Duncan rebounded in the second half of game seven after struggling in the first half. After the Spurs went down by 9 points in the third quarter, Duncan stepped up. He scored 25 points, grabbed 11 boards, and dished out assists as the Spurs took control of the game down the stretch to win their third title in seven years.)
I hope you all enjoyed this trip down the Spurs’ memory lane. Most of this is recent history, of course, but it was fun to look back at the previous championships. I think that this might be the sweetest of the three championships, what with all the adversity and criticism that the team went through as well as the individual players. Duncan has cemented his spot in NBA greatness. Nobody can question his heart anymore. He played for nearly two months on an ankle injury that is still not completely healed, and he led his team to a championship.
I enjoyed seeing the growth of the team this year as Parker, and especially Ginobili came into their own and established themselves as stars in this league. Bowen, after his consistent play, has established himself as the premier defensive player in the league. Horry, although he may not be a hall of famer, is one of the best clutch players of all time.
No one on this team would claim or care about individual accolades, though. That’s what makes this team so great, and what also makes the future look so bright.
Is a dynasty on the way?