12-14 Spurs the best execution in the history of NBA

[hitmantb]

I think Pop took his coaching and systematic basketball to a whole new level after the 11 upset by Memphis and team marked for death by every analyst.

Not a single dominant player like prime Duncan, no all-star except Parker who only made it because of injury by another all-star. Pure execution on both side of the floor, everyone playing their role perfectly within the limit of their individual capabilities and cover for each other. Truly a team that is bigger than the sum of individual parts, a team that has no business leading the NBA with their talent level, but they do it anyway. The closest thing would be the Pistons team that won a title and went to the finals, but even that team had 4 tier-2 all-stars? They also had the most dominant interior defense since Robinson/Duncan in Wallace brothers. Their offense was also atrocious compared to this Spurs team.

No matter what happens, we love this team! The problem with Pop's system is Parker is the critical trigger and LeBron or some other long/athletic defense on him all game long will shut him down and break the system (see 04 vs Lakers, 12 vs Thunder and 13 vs Heat). Once exposed to 1v1 play, Spurs is very very vulnerable to players who can take over the game all by himself. Game 6 was the most painful moment of my entire life watching sports. I love everything Duncan stands for. The diet and work out Duncan puts in to play at this age is simply incredible. But his luck (and yes Spurs had tremendous luck not just from Thunder injury but also Danny Green shooting) ran out at the end.

I really hope god rewards Duncan his fifth championship with Westbrook injury once again opens the door for the Spurs. Whether the Spurs can beat full power Thunder or not, they need to conserve their energy to be able to fight LeBron and company in the finals and the less games they play to get there, the better. Whether they do it or not, I will support this team until Duncan retires! I probably won't watch NBA again after.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

I was expecting some derived, advanced stat that proved (or provided strong evidence for) the topic title when I entered this thread, tbh.

[313]

I was expecting some derived, advanced stat that proved (or provided strong evidence for) the topic title when I entered this thread, tbh.

Leaving disappointed?

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Leaving disappointed?

Just slightly underwhelmed. To me "rah rah go spurs go" topics are kind of a given. I'm sure we all are marveled by this team on a daily basis.

[Horry Hipcheck]

The real test of this franchise's staying power will come when Duncan and Ginobili are gone.

[Horry Hipcheck]

I really hope god rewards Duncan his fifth championship with Westbrook injury once again opens the door for the Spurs. Whether the Spurs can beat full power Thunder or not, they need to conserve their energy to be able to fight LeBron and company in the finals and the less games they play to get there, the better. Whether they do it or not, I will support this team until Duncan retires! I probably won't watch NBA again after.

Nice sentiment but god has no interest in the rewards of a single basketball player. Also, I personally prefer Westbrook to be playing for OKC. He has yet to learn how not to crank up 20+ shots a game and frequently costs that team on offense. He's a dangerous scorer, but he slows OKC down a lot.

[Arcadian]

I was expecting some derived, advanced stat that proved (or provided strong evidence for) the topic title when I entered this thread, tbh.

:lol You just had to shoot down the joy of the OP

[ElNono]

It is something to behold... except that Sacramento game which we all probably forgot about already, tbh...

For advanced stats, just look at PER... except for Daye which is an aberration due to small sample size (86.3), we have 8(!) players posting an above average PER, a clear indicator of the system proving easy shots and playing to the personnel strengths. I can't think of another team in the NBA with such a complete and balanced efficiency.

[therealtruth]

The Memphis upset didn't have to happen if Pop had started playing Tiago sooner.

[HI-FI]

It is something to behold... except that Sacramento game which we all probably forgot about already, tbh...

For advanced stats, just look at PER... except for Daye which is an aberration due to small sample size (86.3), we have 8(!) players posting an above average PER, a clear indicator of the system proving easy shots and playing to the personnel strengths. I can't think of another team in the NBA with such a complete and balanced efficiency.
true that. It's hard to watch other teams, even contenders at times, because you can see the energy and feel for the game just plummets. It's like a shitty, street substitute of something purer. I've pretty much only watched Spurs re-runs on LeaguePass.:lol

I didn't expect Spurs to win tonight, but it shows how good this team can be, just wears teams down when Pop keeps sending wave after wave, on both ends. It's good shit imo.

[ego]

no all-star except Parker who only made it because of injury by another all-star..

You are right about a lot of things but here you are wrong. Coaches and NBA's players give TP in the top 3


Once exposed to 1v1 play, Spurs is very very vulnerable to players who can take over the game all by himself. Game 6 was the most painful moment of my entire life watching sports.
?
Spurs played a game 6 because they won the game 1 and perhaps you forgot the main fact of this game :

Tony Parker made a bank shot with 5.2 seconds left to help the San Antonio Spurs hold off the Miami Heat and capture a 92-88 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday.

It was a 1v1 play and Lebron tried to guard TP !


Westbrook injury once again opens the door for the Spurs.

You are wrong again. Firstly TP is a better guard than Westbrook and to be more specific TP fits very well Spurs's system. I'm not sure Westbrook is as important for the Thunder.

You need some luck to get a title and I think that the Spurs with a little luck can win this year. The spurs have some weakness : age, athletics but they have a system and a good cohesion. It is very interesting to see how far they will go !

[poeticism707]

true that. It's hard to watch other teams, even contenders at times, because you can see the energy and feel for the game just plummets. It's like a shitty, street substitute of something purer. I've pretty much only watched Spurs re-runs on LeaguePass.:lol

I didn't expect Spurs to win tonight, but it shows how good this team can be, just wears teams down when Pop keeps sending wave after wave, on both ends. It's good shit imo.

This.

Spurs basketball is a thing of beauty. It is so far advanced, it trancends the game, and approacheds the realm of art.

If the Spurs are fairly officiated in the Playoffs and Finals, they can beat anyone.

If they stay healthy, they can beat anyone.

Kudos to Pop, and Duncan, for otherwordly greatness.

Just don't outsmart yourself again, Pop.

[Embedded]

I guess that's what is so compelling about the Spurs. We don't really have a player that can dominate one-on-one. We have no choice but to play team basketball. We have great players, but not athletic monsters.

[ElNono]

true that. It's hard to watch other teams, even contenders at times, because you can see the energy and feel for the game just plummets.

Just say it: the whistle-fest that's OKC and Houston games is borderline unwatchable. Especially the last 2-3 mins of the game where pressure mounts and pizzaface pulls a ripthrough. :lol

[heyheymymy]

i thought the op was a good write up and decent enough content to warrant it's own thread.

seems like this season, the spurs are in the best position they've been in since age first became an issue to mask those shortcomings in the youth and athleticism depts.

[james evans]

The real test of this franchise's staying power will come when Duncan and Ginobili are gone.
ginobli's already gone.

[Diego20]

ginobli's already gone.

:lol:lol

Still the third best Spurs player.

[Joseph Kony]

It's impressive how unselfish the team is. Watching them play you can tell they're all about the team's success and they always look to find the easiest shot for their teammates even if they often pass up on good looks for themselves. :cry so fucking classy :cry

[Joseph Kony]

You are wrong again. Firstly TP is a better guard than Westbrook and to be more specific TP fits very well Spurs's system. I'm not sure Westbrook is as important for the Thunder.

You need some luck to get a title and I think that the Spurs with a little luck can win this year. The spurs have some weakness : age, athletics but they have a system and a good cohesion. It is very interesting to see how far they will go !
I'm a huge Parker homer but I'll have to disagree. Westbrook is a monster, and if he had the patience and decision making that Parker has gained over his tenure right now for OKC, he would be far and away the best PG in the NBA. He's just a dumbass sometimes which holds him and his team back slightly

[Diego20]

You are right about a lot of things but here you are wrong. Coaches and NBA's players give TP in the top 3

Spurs played a game 6 because they won the game 1 and perhaps you forgot the main fact of this game :

It was a 1v1 play and Lebron tried to guard TP !



You are wrong again. Firstly TP is a better guard than Westbrook and to be more specific TP fits very well Spurs's system. I'm not sure Westbrook is as important for the Thunder.

You need some luck to get a title and I think that the Spurs with a little luck can win this year. The spurs have some weakness : age, athletics but they have a system and a good cohesion. It is very interesting to see how far they will go !

Hey calm down we all got that you are a TP sucker..

[Horry Hipcheck]

Let go of the 2013 Finals, man. Manu's been solid this season. His shooting percentages and ppg are up from last season, his assists and turnovers have stayed roughly the same, all on slightly fewer minutes. People don't throw around Sixth Man of the Year possibilities for nothing.

[dg7md]

It does suck that arguably our best teams faltered to lesser teams and we have no title to show for it, not even one (not counting ones before our recent offensive game focus). Nobody would ever argue that the Heat were better than us in the Finals last year, nor was OKC the year before. You can see that even "Spur hater" media guys say crazy events spiraled out of control that caused us to lose the Finals last year, something we're all a little used to by now. We just Spurred it and faltered in the waining minutes of crucial games, I really just think we need ONE title during this to validate our legacy in these late Spur surges with our aging 3-man core.