Article on Spurs rise to glory after 2013 heartbreak

[21209]

Nice article on ESPN about the Spurs mindset following the 2013 NBA Finals and how it led to the most incredible 3 games of team basketball that we witnessed:

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/page/PresentsSpursHeat/how-spurs-2014-finals-performance-changed-nba-forever

[BillMc]

It's a really good read. Thanks for posting. :bobo Man those last 3 games against the Heat were perfection. I know its living in the past, but I could go watch those games (and Game 6 against OKC) right now.

[K...]

Summertime! Is that the first time that term has been reported? That an 0.5. Also,I wonder if she had an inside source?

[manufan10]

Wow, that was a great piece. :bobo

[Sean Cagney]

It's a really good read. Thanks for posting. :bobo Man those last 3 games against the Heat were perfection. I know its living in the past, but I could go watch those games (and Game 6 against OKC) right now.

It is the past but hell it's not like some fan still talking about their team in the 70's or 80's, just happened last year so it's still fresh on our minds. I wish they could have done it again this year but that run was indeed something special.

[FromWayDowntown]

It's a reminder of at least a couple of things:

1. getting to the point of playing the way the Spurs did in the 2014 Finals is extraordinarily difficult and virtually impossible to repeat. Arguably, it took that kind of perfection -- playing at a truly historically great level that few teams have ever matched -- to win #5.

2. the sheer motivation that carried the Spurs through 2013-14 was like a lightning strike. It took a perfect storm of events to create the impetus for that sort of laser focus and even then, it took the good fortune of fairly good health and some breaks from other teams (Blair's ejection in Dallas, Ibaka's injury and diminished play in Games 5 and 6) to even get to the point of putting that to use to get back what they lost in 2013.

Ultimately, I think we should embrace 2014 as something that was incredibly special and will be eternally memorable for those who saw it, rather than trying to use it as some model for expectations in later years. Coming as close as they did in 2013 was surprising to me; clawing back to reclaim the crown in 2014 was awesome to watch. Saying that anything that doesn't match that is a failure seems to both diminish what 2014 was and create a wholly unreasonable level of expectation that can never really be met again.

The Spurs may win another title before this run is over -- I certainly hope they do -- but I don't think even that would be as incredible as 2014 was.

[sammy]

Awesome article! If not for the injuries to Parker & Splitter, we could be repeating as champs! Most beautiful basketball played I've ever seen!

[wildbill2u]

My son bought us tickets for the final game. I've been a Spurs fan since the inception and was a season ticket holder for much of the time up to 1999. I believe this game was the absolute apex of my years as a Spurs fan. I can't imagine anything being any better.

[spurs10]

My son bought us tickets for the final game. I've been a Spurs fan since the inception and was a season ticket holder for much of the time up to 1999. I believe this game was the absolute apex of my years as a Spurs fan. I can't imagine anything being any better. Great kid! I bought tickets for cost from a Spurs upper echelion friend....it was surreal and fantastic!

[crc21209]

Great great article. Jackie MacMullan wrote a hell of a piece :tu

[Budkin]

Damn is it dusty in here? :cry

[Dex]

Fantastic read. Rekindles the emotion of last Finals and really illustrates just how spectacular 5 was.

I've never, ever felt the type of emotion about sports that I did after 6 happened. I felt like someone had just run over my goddamn dog. I don't think even a repeat would have been as sweet as the vengeance against the Heat was.

[ElNono]

That was a special team on a mission... those last 3 games were beauty in motion, tbh

[spurs10]

Damn is it dusty in here? :cry That's my only complaint....the writer continued to slice those damn onions apparently...or perhaps it was a bit dusty.

[InRareForm]

brb i am going to cry

[SpurPadre]

Great article. As I said in other thread that referenced this article, I have full 100% confidence that last year's Spurs would destroy this year's Warriors and crippled Cavs team. Even a healthy Cavs team would lose in 6 or 7 games to them.

[wildbill2u]

Great kid! I bought tickets for cost from a Spurs upper echelion friend....it was surreal and fantastic!

He paid $860 apiece for them and said it was to repay me for taking him to all the games when he was a kid. Father and son at the greatest game the Spurs ever played. It doesn't get any better than that.

[pookenstein]

Awesome Piece. Fitting that Duncan set the tone drawing that #16 on the board...

If I hadn't watched the 2014 Finals two weeks ago, I'd start today.

[BillMc]

It is the past but hell it's not like some fan still talking about their team in the 70's or 80's, just happened last year so it's still fresh on our minds. I wish they could have done it again this year but that run was indeed something special.

Well said!:toast

[hooperflash]

This makes me laugh :lol
608558675112808448

[Uriel]

This is the most beautiful thing I've ever read. :cry