2012: A Great Year for the San Antonio Spurs

[timvp]

Yes, I know a lot of us are championship-or-bust fans nowadays, but I for one think 2012 was a fantastic year for the San Antonio Spurs. A championship would have been so amazing but, regardless, it was a great, great year.

In 2012, the Spurs were 82-27 counting the playoffs. That .752 winning percentage is better than any previous year in the Tim Duncan Era. Yes, the most winningest year of Duncan's career -- even factoring in playoff games.

2012: .752
2011: .633
2010: .663
2009: .628
2008: .634
2007: .720
2006: .726
2005: .705
2004: .725
2003: .745
2002: .625
2001: .720
2000: .612
1999: .745
1998: .677
1997: .621

Perhaps even important are the individual storylines:

Tim Duncan had an outstanding year. He probably played his best year since 2007. At his age, it's jawdropping and has been a joy to watch.

Tony Parker had a mini-slump in his career but he too has rebounded and was awesome in 2012. Easily the best year of his basketball life, IMO.

Manu Ginobili had one of his best statistical campaigns last season (probably the best on a per-minute basis), was a monster in the Olympics and is now playing great ball again in the final weeks of 2012.

Kawhi Leonard was exceedingly fun to watch on the basketball court. His development has been great since the opening weeks of last season.

The Spurs traded away He Who Shall Not Be Named. As an added bonus, the prodigal son came back home.

Tiago Splitter has lived up to his promise and appears to be getting better and better.

Danny Green came out of nowhere and now looks like a legit starter at shooting guard.

Pop took home his second Coach of the Year trophy.

... and more.



Really damn fun year. I also think it was a fun, entertaining and educational year on SpursTalk. Thanks and HNY.

[Leetonidas]

:tu

[timtonymanu]

:tu

Also worth noting, Pop finally saw the light and took Matt Bonner out of the rotation. *

* - Still a chance that changes though.

But yes, it was a great year as a Spurs fan (backdoor sweep withstanding). I'm pretty sure majority of us didn't expect the Spurs to make the run they did last year. Hopefully 2013 is even better.

[Paranoid Pop]

Agreed, it was a great year even if bittersweet, happy new year to all the regulars and thanks timvp!

[Brazil]

:tu

[Libri]

:flag:

[Spursfanfromafar]

Yes. Sweet memories.

I hope the icing on the cake is delivered in 2013!

HNY.

[racm]

HNY and GSG! :flag:

Seriously, this has been a great year considering the past two seasons - getting swept by the Suns then Duncan looking every bit 35 against Randolph and Gasol.

[DapDaGenius]

:tu

Those butts...:D

EDIT: Oh and this is good news. Thanks Timvp

[spurraider21]

2012 was a great one

happy new year all

[Danny.Zhu]

championship or bust tbh...

[Darkwaters]

The Spurs traded away He Who Shall Not Be Named.



It's cool, you don't have to say his name, we all know who you're talking about.




http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Lordvoldemort.jpg

[Bruno]

Happy new year to all Spurstalker.

Thanks to timvp for all the time and efforts he spend to bring quality content to the forum.

[bigfan]

Yeppers, I agree 100%. Now lets do some championship stuff this year!

[Trill Clinton]

I think Tim's resurgence was the highlight of 2012.

I thought he was done before the season started. Last year and this year he's looked amazing.

[Rummpd]

Mr timvp:

Thanks for your great writing and grades ect over the year.

Not a championship or bust guy but given a fair shake from the officials this team [ unlike last years total screw job by the zebras vs the Thunder] should get again to the WCF and could well advance to the finals at least - the West has right now three very strong teams + the Grizzlies and the Lakers (especially, the enigma of their start with all that talent) could really make it interesting. The key is Pop needs to stick with current 5 starters and the "twin towers lineup" unless he switches out Manu for Green at some point. 13 would be the best ever if Stern has to hand Pop the trophy!

[Cane]

Stern getting butthurt was also pretty great

[JRHernandez88]

Was a great season last year!! I REALLY did not see it going the way it went at all, it really just unfolded beautifully. It's like once we traded that guy things turned around. Last year we made a great run & it sucks we didn't make it to the finals but here's to a exciting new year in the Tim Duncan Era! & yes in 2013 we're STILL contenders :toast

[ace3g]

Manu Ginobili ‏@manuginobili (https://twitter.com/manuginobili) In 2012 with the Spurs we won 81 games of 109 played (74.3%) in 220 days. This year I just want to win the last one in June! #gospursgo (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gospursgo&src=hash)

[Fabbs]

20 straight up 2-0 WCFs vs OKC looking at Legit Championship #5 and the style of team ball the 2012 Spurs were playing was paradise.

Having that bubble Popped/ref rigged was not great.

[phxspurfan]

gg Spurs. I'm a fan for life.

[EVAY]

HNY to you and Kori, Timvp.

I totally agree that 2012 was an awesome year for the Spurs. Anytime a team can get as far as the Conference Finals is a successful year, imo. Look at how few teams get that far in a decade, even. Disappointment at not getting past the WCF is real, but it does not take away from the fact that our team gave us a TON of great games and lots of fun during this past year.

Hardly anyone on this forum or in the NBA in general believed at the beginning of last season that the Spurs had a chance to go as far as they did. Again this year, they are given little or no chance of getting even that far. And again this year they are AT LEAST competitive if not dominant.

I thank the team for their effort and for having had such a great year.

[timvp]

Manu Ginobili ‏@manuginobili (https://twitter.com/manuginobili) In 2012 with the Spurs we won 81 games of 109 played (74.3%) in 220 days. This year I just want to win the last one in June! #gospursgo (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gospursgo&src=hash)

It's actually 82 out of 109. Buck Harvey had a different number (82 out of 105). I know Manu is the math expert but ....

25-8 this year
10-4 last year in the playoffs
47-15 last year after Jan. 1
------
82-27

Maybe I'm missing something, tbh.

[therealtruth]

20 straight up 2-0 WCFs vs OKC looking at Legit Championship #5 and the style of team ball the 2012 Spurs were playing was paradise.

Having that bubble Popped/ref rigged was not great.

Pop said they overachieved and I think that was the problem of relying on Danny Green as a starter.

[Pauleta14]

Happy New Year to all of you!

A special thanks to timvp, keep up the great work!!!

[TDMVPDPOY]

pop = arrogant coach

6 years of utter bullshit midget small ball campaigns, he continues to play this shit trying to prove someshit when it is proven u cant win with midget basketball

the light at the end of the tunnel, i dont give a shit if he starts playin twin tower lineups, its fkn late and wasted duncans last 6 years coat riding him to nothing

[Fabbs]

Pop said they overachieved
It's that kind of defeatist lower the bar mentality that in part has cost the Spurs 2008 -
I sure hope it's not another D'Antoni Suns postseason ending.

[Old School 44]

Yes...incredible year! Watching the Dallas game, reminded me how consistently good the Spurs have been over the years compared to other teams. People talk about teams going through cycles of winning and losing. The Spurs, over the course of their existence, only have had to experience this really only once, and it wasn't even that long. Look at Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Portland, Utah, Boston, Chicago, Miami...great seasons/playoff runs in recent history (past 15-20 years), but not nearly as consistent. The only ones close, have been the Lakers.

Appreciate the Spurs...hopefully we'll have an even better year! :lobt2:

[Strategic]

2010 was indeed a great year for me to be a Spurs fan. I've followed the NBA for 45 plus years and the Spurs are the dignity of the game. Thanks to timvp and Bruno for the thought provoking posts. Happy New Year!!!



:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:.......................... ................:lobt2::whine

[temujin]

Great year indeed, with textbook offensive basketball played in April and May, and in stretches in December.

Happy New Year to everybody.
Except to Bill Kennedy, Joey Crawford and their boss.