BS Report: Finals and Spurs Offseason

[Trimble87]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=9460486

[Trimble87]

For some reason my iPad wont let me type after the link, so adding more in a reply...

Simmons and Zach Lowe go over our offseason (briefly) and then rehash the Finals. Simmons gives the Spurs a lot of respect imo

Skip to 56 minutes.

Warning: they go over the losses in detail. If you do not want to relive game 6 and 7 do not listen.

[crc21209]

Simmons said he's still tramautized and thinks about Game 6, and he isn't even a freaking Spurs fan. Fuck...:depressed

[therealtruth]

Simmons made a good point about using Kawhi more when we couldn't use TP or Manu.

[kobyz]

Horror, it's the only word to describe game 6, nahh even that not enough strong word to match... there is no single horror movie who can come close in his film and script to the story of game 6... it was the most painfull and devastating thing god could ever invented... and belive it or not it's not only somthing that i would never recover from, never get over of, also with each day pass i'm understand more and more how much terrible this thing is, i'm only getting worst and more hurt with each day,,, i'm truly in situation that i don't know how i could and should carry on living with that feeling...

[mikec]

not going to go anywhere near that podcast. don't need to relive that nightmare, it's too soon. in fact, i don't think there will ever not be a "too soon"

[rascal]

Horror, it's the only word to describe game 6, nahh even that not enough strong word to match... there is no single horror movie who can come close in his film and script to the story of game 6... it was the most painfull and devastating thing god could ever invented... and belive it or not it's not only somthing that i would never recover from, never get over of, also with each day pass i'm understand more and more how much terrible this thing is, i'm only getting worst and more hurt with each day,,, i'm truly in situation that i don't know how i could and should carry on living with that feeling...

It is only a game, do not take it so seriously.

[Seventyniner]

It's just logic vs emotion here. Logically, the season the Spurs just had was the best possible outcome short of winning a title. Emotionally it was wrenching to be so close.

People like to act like they would have felt better if the Spurs had been swept in the Finals. Really?

[Halberto]

You guys need to snap out of it. Be proud of your team and stop being such babies.

[Keepin' it real]

It's just logic vs emotion here. Logically, the season the Spurs just had was the best possible outcome short of winning a title. Emotionally it was wrenching to be so close.

People like to act like they would have felt better if the Spurs had been swept in the Finals. Really?

Psychology's a bitch, ain't it?

[rjv]

lot of therapy needed here

[elec99]

People like to act like they would have felt better if the Spurs had been swept in the Finals. Really?

There's a big difference between no chance of winning and being up and letting it slip away.

For example, being up 2-0 against okc and losing 4 straight = okc clearly the better team.

and

being up 5 or so, 28 secs left, and just need to rebound and play the fouling game.

Yes its traumatizing.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Manu said it best, had the Spurs lost Games 6 & 7 by 20+ points, it would have been a much easier pill to swallow as oppose to having the biggest choke in NBA Finals history.

[Budkin]

Simmons lived through the Red Sox game 6 and it was eerily similar.

[HarlemHeat37]

Simmons made a good point about using Kawhi more when we couldn't use TP or Manu.

Um, a lot of us said this, I repeated it every page in the game threads, tbh:lol..

Parker and Pop's refusal to go to Leonard when Lebron was guarding Tony was pathetic, tbh..

[Juggity]

Manu said it best, had the Spurs lost Games 6 & 7 by 20+ points, it would have been a much easier pill to swallow as oppose to having the biggest choke in NBA Finals history.

The "biggest choke" is being swept. Taking one of the greatest teams of all time to seven games is not a choke. It's an even matchup.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

The "biggest choke" is being swept. Taking one of the greatest teams of all time to seven games is not a choke. It's an even matchup.
They're not one of the greatest tea of all time...

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The "biggest choke" is being swept. Taking one of the greatest teams of all time to seven games is not a choke. It's an even matchup.

Having a 98% chance to win a title with the trophy being rolled out is an EPIC choke. I can't think of a single sporting event in recent history where a trophy was being brought out and the team gave the game away. Thousands of Heat fans had left the game thinking the series was over and NBA TV was even running championship commercials.

It was a choke and it sucked. No way to sugarcoat it.

[buujness]

Horror, it's the only word to describe game 6, nahh even that not enough strong word to match... there is no single horror movie who can come close in his film and script to the story of game 6... it was the most painfull and devastating thing god could ever invented... and belive it or not it's not only somthing that i would never recover from, never get over of, also with each day pass i'm understand more and more how much terrible this thing is, i'm only getting worst and more hurt with each day,,, i'm truly in situation that i don't know how i could and should carry on living with that feeling...

Dude, as someone who's gone through this twice (2011 WS with the Rangers), I can tell you that everything is ok. Go have some fun; this'll become a simple memory before you know it.

[Sean Cagney]

Manu said it best, had the Spurs lost Games 6 & 7 by 20+ points, it would have been a much easier pill to swallow as oppose to having the biggest choke in NBA Finals history.

Of course the biggest CHOKE would have to happen to our team as well lol. No other team has .4 on them or some 13 in 35 crap, as lucky as we have been as fans and enjoyed great runs they have the oddest most shake your head losses of any team that I have seen in recent memory! I know the Kings with the Horry shot and Portland has to sting worse though since they never won it all, so we fans are still blessed in knowing they win every year to get that far to have these losses as opposed to being in the lottery every year or falling off after the painful loss and never winning a title.

Spurs have had longevity, if you are that good this long something bad is going to happen here and there, period.

Having a 98% chance to win a title with the trophy being rolled out is an EPIC choke. I can't think of a single sporting event in recent history where a trophy was being brought out and the team gave the game away. Thousands of Heat fans had left the game thinking the series was over and NBA TV was even running championship commercials.

It was a choke and it sucked. No way to sugarcoat it.
A choke would to me be turning it over or doing dumb stuff! Some crazy off the wall crap happened two times and every set of events went right for the other team in 28 seconds, yes it was a choke if you think of it that way, but honestly it was some crazy luck too on that shot from Ray and other events that lead to it. Play the small lineup again and be up 5 with 28 seconds left you win 9 times out of ten, no other way to say it but that one time you lose had to be the one they did.

[crc21209]

Manu said it best, had the Spurs lost Games 6 & 7 by 20+ points, it would have been a much easier pill to swallow as oppose to having the biggest choke in NBA Finals history.

The Spurs werent even supposed to be in the Finals, according to "experts." They were a huge underdog. If Miami lost the series it would've been considered a choke...

[SpursRock20]

The Spurs werent even supposed to be in the Finals, according to "experts." They were a huge underdog. If Miami lost the series it would've been considered a choke...

Experts don't know shit. Spurs were 12-2 in the Western Conference Playoffs. They deserved to be there. Yeah, Heat were the favorites but they weren't overwhelmingly favored.

[Juggity]

Having a 98% chance to win a title with the trophy being rolled out is an EPIC choke. I can't think of a single sporting event in recent history where a trophy was being brought out and the team gave the game away. Thousands of Heat fans had left the game thinking the series was over and NBA TV was even running championship commercials.

It was a choke and it sucked. No way to sugarcoat it.

I just fundamentally disagree with that definition of choke. The Heat wanted to win game 6; they took it. The spurs didn't passively surrender it — there were many moments of clutch in the last few minutes for BOTH teams. The Parker layup comes to mind.

Unfortunately, Lebron and Ray Allen were able to hit tough, tough shots.

[therealtruth]

Of course the biggest CHOKE would have to happen to our team as well lol. No other team has .4 on them or some 13 in 35 crap, as lucky as we have been as fans and enjoyed great runs they have the oddest most shake your head losses of any team that I have seen in recent memory! I know the Kings with the Horry shot and Portland has to sting worse though since they never won it all, so we fans are still blessed in knowing they win every year to get that far to have these losses as opposed to being in the lottery every year or falling off after the painful loss and never winning a title.

Spurs have had longevity, if you are that good this long something bad is going to happen here and there, period.

A choke would to me be turning it over or doing dumb stuff! Some crazy off the wall crap happened two times and every set of events went right for the other team in 28 seconds, yes it was a choke if you think of it that way, but honestly it was some crazy luck too on that shot from Ray and other events that lead to it. Play the small lineup again and be up 5 with 28 seconds left you win 9 times out of ten, no other way to say it but that one time you lose had to be the one they did.

To me that's another reason why PJ's better than Pop. He's much better at winning the close games where luck can go against you. In fact it seems the luck always seems to favor him. There's no way PJ is losing a championship up 5 with 28 sec left.

[therealtruth]

I just fundamentally disagree with that definition of choke. The Heat wanted to win game 6; they took it. The spurs didn't passively surrender it — there were many moments of clutch in the last few minutes for BOTH teams. The Parker layup comes to mind.

Unfortunately, Lebron and Ray Allen were able to hit tough, tough shots.

Pop spotted the Heat with some pretty bad lineups at the at the start of the 4th.

[Budkin]

The "biggest choke" is being swept. Taking one of the greatest teams of all time to seven games is not a choke. It's an even matchup.

BS, there is no denying it was a choke of epic proportions. The game was pretty much in the bag. Missing two huge free throws is choking in the spotlight, and failing to box out or guard the 3 in just inexcusable when the title is on the line. We had every percentage in our favor, Winning game 1, 3, 5, and being up 5 with 28 seconds left. The trophy being wheeled out, fans leaving. Shit was over and we gave it away. Getting swept is not choking, it's the better team winning. The Heat were not the better team.

[mosdef17]

Ray Allen hit a miracle shot, one of the greatest the league has and will ever see. That invidual act should void the idea of the Spurs choking. The fact is, the NBA may never see a shot like that again. If that's a choke, then the Fisher .04 was us choking too...

[Amuseddaysleeper]

BS, there is no denying it was a choke of epic proportions. The game was pretty much in the bag. Missing two huge free throws is choking in the spotlight, and failing to box out or guard the 3 in just inexcusable when the title is on the line. We had every percentage in our favor, Winning game 1, 3, 5, and being up 5 with 28 seconds left. The trophy being wheeled out, fans leaving. Shit was over and we gave it away. Getting swept is not choking, it's the better team winning. The Heat were not the better team.

Bingo

[Juggity]

BS, there is no denying it was a choke of epic proportions. The game was pretty much in the bag. Missing two huge free throws is choking in the spotlight, and failing to box out or guard the 3 in just inexcusable when the title is on the line. We had every percentage in our favor, Winning game 1, 3, 5, and being up 5 with 28 seconds left. The trophy being wheeled out, fans leaving. Shit was over and we gave it away. Getting swept is not choking, it's the better team winning. The Heat were not the better team.

I'll say to you what I said to amused:

I fundamentally disagree with that definition of choke. The Heat wanted to win game 6; they took it. The spurs didn't passively surrender it — there were many moments of clutch in the last few minutes for BOTH teams. The Parker layup comes to mind.

Unfortunately, Lebron and Ray Allen were able to hit tough, tough shots.

To make it to the finals and fail to win ANY game is the definition of choke. To come a hair's breadth from winning it all is not a choke.

[Budkin]

I'll way to you what I said to amused:

I fundamentally disagree with that definition of choke. The Heat wanted to win game 6; they took it. The spurs didn't passively surrender it — there were many moments of clutch in the last few minutes for BOTH teams. The Parker layup comes to mind.

Unfortunately, Lebron and Ray Allen were able to hit tough, tough shots.

To make it to the finals and fail to win ANY game is the definition of choke. To come a hair's breadth from winning it all is not a choke.

A hair's breadth implies that we were almost there and just couldn't get over that final hurdle. What makes it a choke is that we were already over the hurdle, then fell backwards and knocked it over. Either way it hurts bad. Bad.

[Juggity]

A hair's breadth implies that we were almost there and just couldn't get over that final hurdle. What makes it a choke is that we were already over the hurdle, then fell backwards and knocked it over. Either way it hurts bad. Bad.

Being a hair's breadth away means different things, I think, when facing different teams. Against the Heat, a team loaded with 3 point talent (not to mention Lebron James), I'd argue the spurs' lead was never as secure at it seemed. Being up however many points the spurs were up at 30 seconds (5 points?) was an inconsequential lead in that given situation against that given team.

Obviously, mistakes were made. I'm not saying they weren't. But there's a big difference between giving up a huge lead (like Golden State did game 1 WCSF vs. the spurs) and giving up 5 points in a desperate late game situation to easily one of the greatest teams the Spurs have ever faced.

[ViceCity84]

Simmons lived through the Red Sox game 6 and it was eerily similar.

I was at that game Saturday night Shea Stadium.

[Sean Cagney]

I was at that game Saturday night Shea Stadium.
Aaron Boone homerun game? If so I saw that on TV.

[Budkin]

I was at that game Saturday night Shea Stadium.

No way! I was a young Mets fan watching on TV and going nuts. So much better to be on the other side.

[Budkin]

Aaron Boone homerun game? If so I saw that on TV.

No the Bill Buckner game in the 86 World Series.

[Keepin' it real]

I think a team has to have a lot more than a five point lead to qualify for a choke. It was simply a crazy, historic, see-saw finish.

From an individual perspective, the closest thing to a choke was LeBron, with two bad turnovers and a horrible 3 pt shot in the final minute of regulation ... the fear/disbelief was written all over his face. Still makes me ill the Heat found a way to win.

[Sean Cagney]

No the Bill Buckner game in the 86 World Series.

Ohhhhhhhh 86! Yeah that game. I remember a Boone HR too to end a series against Boston in extra Innings, added to the failures of Boston Red Sox and to their heated rival. Luckily they got them back a year later after 3-0 deficit.
I think a team has to have a lot more than a five point lead to qualify for a choke. It was simply a crazy, historic, see-saw finish.

From an individual perspective, the closest thing to a choke was LeBron, with two bad turnovers and a horrible 3 pt shot in the final minute of regulation ... the fear/disbelief was written all over his face. Still makes me ill the Heat found a way to win.

Yep, he knew he messed up and was giving up the game, but still he got a three to fall after a bad attempt and they were down two. Kawhi missed that FT and left the window open for that three to tie and they hit.

[T Park]

Having a 98% chance to win a title with the trophy being rolled out is an EPIC choke. I can't think of a single sporting event in recent history where a trophy was being brought out and the team gave the game away. Thousands of Heat fans had left the game thinking the series was over and NBA TV was even running championship commercials.

It was a choke and it sucked. No way to sugarcoat it.


Rangers 2011 WS. Gigantically similar.

[Ron Swanson]

Rangers 2011 WS. Gigantically similar.

Ugh. Don't remind me of Game 6 of that WS.

[mudyez]

Good talk and if someone again accuses Bill of beeing a Spurs hater, it's only one of the things (alongside him praising the Spurs on our '12 run, the Tim Duncan story and so on) to proof otherwise. (Actually I'm not sure if you could make a good case that the Spurs are his second favorte team....if only because of the Lakers rivalry and the fact, that the Clippers are still stupid.)

"The Spurs fans should be proud of their team" PERIOD

[kobyz]

It is only a game, do not take it so seriously.

I wish man, I wish i could, but this thing was everything or nothing for me, I put all of me, all my happiness, all my life, all my will, all everything depend on this... This disappointment, the way we lost it and what it mean about the duncan era, it just burned me and my soul totally, and I speaking as someone who went through lot of life pain, someone who went through quite a rough and miserable life, but that also what make it harder, cause through all that road in the playoff I thought and felt more and more that here is coming my compensation for my life, that all the bad i go through were preparation for this moment to be the biggest bliss, the ultimate joy, somthing who will bring to me an eternity tranquility... But than it made clear that it was all made up to abuse me only further and much more in cruel manner, that I'm the most cursed person in the world, to lose title game like that is only could be by curse, it's not reasonable what happened...

[Keepin' it real]

At 67 minutes in, Simmons said in the timeout after Tim missed the bunny in game 7, he was hunched over at half court with his hands on his knees for several seconds. Is there any video of that? My therapist says I need to watch it for closure.

[Sean Cagney]

I wish man, I wish i could, but this thing was everything or nothing for me, I put all of me, all my happiness, all my life, all my will, all everything depend on this... This disappointment, the way we lost it and what it mean about the duncan era, it just burned me and my soul totally, and I speaking as someone who went through lot of life pain, someone who went through quite a rough and miserable life, but that also what make it harder, cause through all that road in the playoff I thought and felt more and more that here is coming my compensation for my life, that all the bad i go through were preparation for this moment to be the biggest bliss, the ultimate joy, somthing who will bring to me an eternity tranquility... But than it made clear that it was all made up to abuse me only further and much more in cruel manner, that I'm the most cursed person in the world, to lose title game like that is only could be by curse, it's not reasonable what happened...

You need someting else in life if you rely on a game for your hapiness, just saying. You sound like a very depressed person.

BTW you act like you were in the game or lost it as well? You were not there or part of the team sir, we are fans who sit at home and have no control on the outcome! You would not get a ring nor would I if they won. Were you not around for our other titles? Did those not change your life and make you in blyss for years! One loss won't take away that there, think of titles they won :lobt2:

[UZER]

I wish man, I wish i could, but this thing was everything or nothing for me, I put all of me, all my happiness, all my life, all my will, all everything depend on this... This disappointment, the way we lost it and what it mean about the duncan era, it just burned me and my soul totally, and I speaking as someone who went through lot of life pain, someone who went through quite a rough and miserable life, but that also what make it harder, cause through all that road in the playoff I thought and felt more and more that here is coming my compensation for my life, that all the bad i go through were preparation for this moment to be the biggest bliss, the ultimate joy, somthing who will bring to me an eternity tranquility... But than it made clear that it was all made up to abuse me only further and much more in cruel manner, that I'm the most cursed person in the world, to lose title game like that is only could be by curse, it's not reasonable what happened...

You trollin dawg.

[kobyz]

You need someting else in life if you rely on a game for your hapiness, just saying. You sound like a very depressed person.

BTW you act like you were in the game or lost it as well? You were not there or part of the team sir, we are fans who sit at home and have no control on the outcome! You would not get a ring nor would I if they won. Were you not around for our other titles? Did those not change your life and make you in blyss for years! One loss won't take away that there, think of titles they won :lobt2:

it also catch me as somewhat surprise how much this specific title was important for me... i don't totally know how it go to be that important to me, even more than to the players and all spurs staff, but i'm gigantic Spurs fan and the biggest and most pure Duncan fan, my connaction to the team and especially to Tim can not be describe in words, it's like mystic and supernatural connaction what attracted me to Spurs and especially to Tim Dunacn way back in 99 playoff, when i was 13yo and even didn't be into bb almost at all, but somthing in Timmy catch me and it somthing that glamorise me on other level... since than it was a long journey... that finals were so important and had the biggest meaning, Spurs finally coming back to the finals after long time against all odds, likely the last chance for Timmy for fifth ring, it should have happened, it ment to happened, it was in our hands, i was on the verge to feel the biggest happiness and joy any man can ever feel, it would have bring to me a unique tranquility for eternity, i would have been in heaven, thats the deal, it maybe look out of perspective but no feeling in the world could match and came close to that excitement i could have felt... instead we lost in a way that exist only in curses, and now it's hard for me to carry on in life knowing and feeling what could have been, what i miss and how amazing i could have feel forever, it's hard to return to regular life after you touch and smell heaven but didn't enter and you will not have another chance to enter...

i also feel that i might personally caused that finals lost because i didn't complete some superstition routine i had and fucked it up.

[kobyz]

You trollin dawg.

you be ashame

[SnakeBoy]

i also feel that i might personally caused that finals lost because i didn't complete some superstition routine i had and fucked it up.

It probably is your fault.

[phxspurfan]

Wow, this was a really saddening account. The way he described the trophy sitting on the sidelines and the ropes going up to set up the ceremony in game 6...just shoot me

[phxspurfan]

Love how he talks up the Spurs character and recognizes that the team was old but really gritty.

[ViceCity84]

No way! I was a young Mets fan watching on TV and going nuts. So much better to be on the other side.

I was young Mets fan going nuts.I was there with my father,uncle and my dads friend.
My mother rooted for Redsox and had a ticket for game 7 and didn''t go.I guess she saw the writing on the wall.
I was at game 7 too.:toast

[Budkin]

I was young Mets fan going nuts.I was there with my father,uncle and my dads friend.
My mother rooted for Redsox and had a ticket for game 7 and didn''t go.I guess she saw the writing on the wall.
I was at game 7 too.:toast

Damn I'm so jealous! Must have been awesome!

[SenorSpur]

BS, there is no denying it was a choke of epic proportions. The game was pretty much in the bag. Missing two huge free throws is choking in the spotlight, and failing to box out or guard the 3 in just inexcusable when the title is on the line. We had every percentage in our favor, Winning game 1, 3, 5, and being up 5 with 28 seconds left. The trophy being wheeled out, fans leaving. Shit was over and we gave it away. Getting swept is not choking, it's the better team winning. The Heat were not the better team.

Double bingo! :tu

There's simply no other explanation and no other way to describe it. If it were some other NBA team, we'd all be saying the same thing. Just because it was the Spurs doesn't mean they get a pass or that we should soften our description. The Spurs, in a fashion uncharacteristic of any previous Spurs teams, choked that title away and gift-wrapped it to Miami. It was truly the damnest thing I've see in my years of watching sports.

Now all of us Spurs fans can empathize with how Texas Ranger fans must have felt when their team choked away a title, in similar fashion, with one out away in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.

[SenorSpur]

The "biggest choke" is being swept. Taking one of the greatest teams of all time to seven games is not a choke. It's an even matchup.

A team getting swept isn't a choke. It simply means that one team was superiorly better than the team getting swept. That wasn't the case here. The Spurs proved they were the better team, they just didn't close the deal. They choked the victory away in the final 28 seconds by mistakes on both ends.

[SenorSpur]

Ray Allen hit a miracle shot, one of the greatest the league has and will ever see. That invidual act should void the idea of the Spurs choking. The fact is, the NBA may never see a shot like that again. If that's a choke, then the Fisher .04 was us choking too...

And Allen would never had had the opportunity if the Spurs would've secured the rebound and not given the Heat yet another second chance. Allen would've likely never gotten the chance if the pompous head coach wouldn't have outsmarted himself by sitting the team's leading rebounder and best player in the final 28 seconds. Missing FT, not securing rebounds. Take your pick - this team choked away a title.

[SenorSpur]

Rangers 2011 WS. Gigantically similar.

That's what I'm talking about.

It was the second thing I thought about after that loss. I won't talk about the first.

[therealtruth]

And Allen would never had had the opportunity if the Spurs would've secured the rebound and not given the Heat yet another second chance. Allen would've likely never gotten the chance if the pompous head coach wouldn't have outsmarted himself by sitting the team's leading rebounder and best player in the final 28 seconds. Missing FT, not securing rebounds. Take your pick - this team choked away a title.

It's the kind of moves a coach with no accountability can get away with. There's no way any other coach thinks of leaving TD off the floor. Players are the ones that win the games not coaches or strategies. Coaching is about putting your players in the best position to do that.

[Juggity]

A team getting swept isn't a choke. It simply means that one team was superiorly better than the team getting swept. That wasn't the case here. The Spurs proved they were the better team, they just didn't close the deal. They choked the victory away in the final 28 seconds by mistakes on both ends.

I would say getting the finals and getting swept is "choking" on the biggest stage. Being unable to maintain momentum when it matters most.