lilmads
10-16-2005, 10:20 AM
New-look Heat and Spurs atop NBA
Published Sunday, October 16, 2005
by Hannon Deutsch
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=13017&category=Sports%20News
The buzzword this off-season in the NBA was “deal.”
Even though the San Antonio Spurs won their third NBA title since 1999, they still went out and added players to a fundamentally sound squad. The Spurs already had three scoring options in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Factor in new additions Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel with proven veterans like Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry and the matchup challenges get even tougher. And consider this when thinking about their chances to repeat: the Spurs have enjoyed the best winning percentage out of any team in the four major sports since Duncan was drafted in 1997.
Spurs coach Greg Popovich chose to be more diplomatic in his approach.
“I don’t know who’s going to be in the Finals,” he said, “but Miami is just as good a team as we are. “There are six or seven teams that can be there at the end.”
Don’t simply assume Miami is the clear-cut favorite in the East and the six other teams Popovich was referencing are in the West. Detroit, Indiana and a much-improved Cleveland team equally deserve to be mentioned alongside Miami.
But Miami was within two minutes of reaching the NBA Finals and they went out and secured proven talent to complement O’Neal and Wade, so doesn’t that give them the edge in the East?
Ask that question again eight months from now.
Just like O’Neal, Duncan commands as much attention and respect on the court. Same goes for when both provide analysis off it.
Duncan said attitude and team chemistry matter most for a team to establish that championship pedigree, not necessarily off-season moves.
“There is too much made of making changes and acclimating new guys,” the 2-time Finals MVP said. “It’s all about chemistry. You can add all the talent you want to. Off-season moves are great, but it’s all about what you do in the regular season.”
So what about the talent the Spurs added?
“It helps with the attitude they brought to the table,” Duncan explained. “They understand the type of basketball we play and they are willing and want to fit into that kind of team. That’s the best part about it.”
Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Jason Williams and James Posey — players accustomed to logging extensive minutes as starters — will be asked to do the same for the Heat. If those three sacrifice for the greater good of the team then Heat President Pat Riley will be commended for pulling the trigger.
Forget about the ego question and how coach Stan Van Gundy will handle that. There is no question who the leader of the team is.
But who is the variable?
“There are no surprises there,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “Antoine will be the key. Posey is going to be very important for them too, defensively. It’s hard to chose one, but I think Walker is the difference.”
Walker, who came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points in Miami’s 103-101 victory over San Antonio Monday night, understands his new role. How he will be used in certain situations is not as clear this soon.
“Right now coach is trying to find different combinations that work on the floor, so it’s hard to say how that’s going to work,” Walker said. “With the depth that we have it will relieve some of the pressure of Shaq and Wade.”
“Now it’s really a matter of everybody getting with the system,” Van Gundy said. “It will take some time to be quite honest.”
Last season, Miami ranked fourth in the NBA in points scored and eight in points allowed. There’s no question O’Neal will average another double-double (22.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg), increasing his NBA-record to 14 consecutive seasons.
O’Neal is the main reason why the Heat’s jump in field goal percentage from .425 in ‘03-04 to .486 last season represented the largest increase in NBA history. And with Wade penetrating to the basket it was no wonder Damon Jones set a franchise record for three-point field goals in a season (225).
Keeping Wade and O’Neal fresh for a playoff run - and a meeting with the Spurs in the Finals — is as imperative as keeping them healthy.
“We have depth no matter how many minutes I play,” Wade said.
“They have darn good depth also. Maybe if everything works out the way it should with no major injuries it could be possible.”
Published Sunday, October 16, 2005
by Hannon Deutsch
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=13017&category=Sports%20News
The buzzword this off-season in the NBA was “deal.”
Even though the San Antonio Spurs won their third NBA title since 1999, they still went out and added players to a fundamentally sound squad. The Spurs already had three scoring options in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Factor in new additions Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel with proven veterans like Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry and the matchup challenges get even tougher. And consider this when thinking about their chances to repeat: the Spurs have enjoyed the best winning percentage out of any team in the four major sports since Duncan was drafted in 1997.
Spurs coach Greg Popovich chose to be more diplomatic in his approach.
“I don’t know who’s going to be in the Finals,” he said, “but Miami is just as good a team as we are. “There are six or seven teams that can be there at the end.”
Don’t simply assume Miami is the clear-cut favorite in the East and the six other teams Popovich was referencing are in the West. Detroit, Indiana and a much-improved Cleveland team equally deserve to be mentioned alongside Miami.
But Miami was within two minutes of reaching the NBA Finals and they went out and secured proven talent to complement O’Neal and Wade, so doesn’t that give them the edge in the East?
Ask that question again eight months from now.
Just like O’Neal, Duncan commands as much attention and respect on the court. Same goes for when both provide analysis off it.
Duncan said attitude and team chemistry matter most for a team to establish that championship pedigree, not necessarily off-season moves.
“There is too much made of making changes and acclimating new guys,” the 2-time Finals MVP said. “It’s all about chemistry. You can add all the talent you want to. Off-season moves are great, but it’s all about what you do in the regular season.”
So what about the talent the Spurs added?
“It helps with the attitude they brought to the table,” Duncan explained. “They understand the type of basketball we play and they are willing and want to fit into that kind of team. That’s the best part about it.”
Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Jason Williams and James Posey — players accustomed to logging extensive minutes as starters — will be asked to do the same for the Heat. If those three sacrifice for the greater good of the team then Heat President Pat Riley will be commended for pulling the trigger.
Forget about the ego question and how coach Stan Van Gundy will handle that. There is no question who the leader of the team is.
But who is the variable?
“There are no surprises there,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “Antoine will be the key. Posey is going to be very important for them too, defensively. It’s hard to chose one, but I think Walker is the difference.”
Walker, who came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points in Miami’s 103-101 victory over San Antonio Monday night, understands his new role. How he will be used in certain situations is not as clear this soon.
“Right now coach is trying to find different combinations that work on the floor, so it’s hard to say how that’s going to work,” Walker said. “With the depth that we have it will relieve some of the pressure of Shaq and Wade.”
“Now it’s really a matter of everybody getting with the system,” Van Gundy said. “It will take some time to be quite honest.”
Last season, Miami ranked fourth in the NBA in points scored and eight in points allowed. There’s no question O’Neal will average another double-double (22.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg), increasing his NBA-record to 14 consecutive seasons.
O’Neal is the main reason why the Heat’s jump in field goal percentage from .425 in ‘03-04 to .486 last season represented the largest increase in NBA history. And with Wade penetrating to the basket it was no wonder Damon Jones set a franchise record for three-point field goals in a season (225).
Keeping Wade and O’Neal fresh for a playoff run - and a meeting with the Spurs in the Finals — is as imperative as keeping them healthy.
“We have depth no matter how many minutes I play,” Wade said.
“They have darn good depth also. Maybe if everything works out the way it should with no major injuries it could be possible.”