lilmads
10-18-2005, 10:36 AM
Rimban: Building a dynasty
By Erwin Rimban
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/10/18/oped/erwin.rimban.html
THE 2005-2006 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States is just around the corner. This season promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in the history of basketball. A combination of tested veterans and fresh newcomers will light up the league like never before.
I used to be a sportswriter in Manila and I miss writing about my favorite teams and players in the NBA. So, let me take a break from our usual wisdom writings and feature players and teams from the world of basketball. Wisdom may be found in even the most unusual of dimensions. And the world of basketball can offer us gems of wisdom, too.
This season, all eyes will be on the San Antonio Spurs. The defending champions are eyeing a repeat performance, something they haven't been able to do. It is not easy repeating as champions in the NBA. The competition is so intense, year in and year out. But the greatest teams in world basketball history have been able to do just that. Examples of legendary teams, which have repeated are the Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan, the Detroit Pistons of Isaiah Thomas and the Los Angeles Lakers of Shaquille O'Neal.
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs is now considered to be the greatest power forward in the history of the game. He is at par with the greatest cagers in history. Like Wilt Chamberlain, possibly the greatest player of all time. Like Larry Bird, the greatest passing forward of all time. And like Oscar Robertson, the greatest all-around playmaker of all time. You can even mention that Duncan is in the same league with some of the greatest winners of all time, too.
Mention winning and the name that immediately comes to mind is Bill Russell, the greatest defensive player of all time, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons! Amazing, isn't it? Another name is of course, Michael Jordan, with his six championships. He is generally considered the greatest off-guard of all time. And of course, the awesome Shaquille O'Neal, the most unstoppable low post presence in basketball today. So Duncan is chasing history and in pretty good company. Win back to back, Tim, and your legacy is secure!
But Duncan is not alone this time. And you can make a case that this is indeed, the most powerful and the most talented Spurs team ever! His primary sidekick is Manu Ginobili, the talented slasher with a level of creativity not seen since the days of Jordan himself. Ginobili's fire and ability to improvise works wonders for the Spurs, the offense of which was so predictable in the old days of the Admiral David Robinson. Back then, it was just a two-man combo with Robinson and Duncan wreaking havoc both offensively and defensively. Now, the Spurs offense is much more varied and creative. Combined with pressure defense, a Spurs' trademark, balanced offense will reap untold dividends. Ginobili is the element of creativity in the Spurs offensive system. He is the fifth element, so to speak.
The backup of Ginobili at the off guard rotation is former all-star Michael Finley, acquired by the Spurs this season from the Dallas Mavericks. This makes their off guard position definitely the deepest in the league. The only problem now is to create playing time for both players, a situation, which cerebral coach Gregg Popovich can surely apply his thinking skills. So, Duncan, Ginobili and Finley constitute the offensive triangle of the Spurs. And they are a potent lot. So much on depends on Duncan though. He must add additional elements to his game something, which the greatest players of all time have demonstrated. Jordan continuously added new elements to his game, year in and year out. Duncan must emulate Jordan. And ditto for Ginobili too.
The playmaking triangle of the Spurs will feature Tony Parker, Nick van Exel and Beno Udrih. Parker is young and talented, but sometimes erratic. And being inconsistent is dangerous in playoff situations when the game, and a series, is on the line. You could observe that Parker had difficulty containing the Detroit playmakers in the last finals battle. So here comes Nick Van Exel, a solid veteran who hungers for a championship. Exel can come in when Parker has an off-night and the Spurs floor generalship should remain at a steady pace considering the talent and experience of Nick. He can also drill in trifectas when the game is on the line. What a luxury for the Spurs to have two quality playmakers this time around. Udrih must learn from those two court generals. He has a season to do just that.
The power triangle for the Spurs is also potent at the frontline. Joining Duncan will be starting center Nazr Mohamed and Argentinian big man Fabricio Oberto.
All the new acquisitions of the Spurs this season are awesome talents: Finley, Van Exel and Oberto. But I feel that the integration of Oberto into the Spurs line-up will have subtle but important repercussions. Why? Because quality big men in the NBA determines playoff success in many ways. Remember that the Spurs could meet either the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons or the Indiana Pacers in next year's NBA Finals. And these three teams feature awesome big men as well.
In fact, the Spurs were hard pressed in the battle against Detroit because the Pistons had an awesome frontline rotation. So Mohamed and Oberto are critical components in the Spurs frontline. They must be healthy come playoff time.
It is now up to cerebral coach Gregg Popovich to work wonders for this team, merge them into a unified whole and make them battle-ready come playoff time.
The Spurs have all the components to make it again to the NBA Finals in successive seasons. This is the most powerful Spurs team ever. Will it be the greatest too? We shall soon find out. My email is [email protected].
By Erwin Rimban
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/10/18/oped/erwin.rimban.html
THE 2005-2006 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States is just around the corner. This season promises to be one of the most exciting seasons in the history of basketball. A combination of tested veterans and fresh newcomers will light up the league like never before.
I used to be a sportswriter in Manila and I miss writing about my favorite teams and players in the NBA. So, let me take a break from our usual wisdom writings and feature players and teams from the world of basketball. Wisdom may be found in even the most unusual of dimensions. And the world of basketball can offer us gems of wisdom, too.
This season, all eyes will be on the San Antonio Spurs. The defending champions are eyeing a repeat performance, something they haven't been able to do. It is not easy repeating as champions in the NBA. The competition is so intense, year in and year out. But the greatest teams in world basketball history have been able to do just that. Examples of legendary teams, which have repeated are the Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan, the Detroit Pistons of Isaiah Thomas and the Los Angeles Lakers of Shaquille O'Neal.
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs is now considered to be the greatest power forward in the history of the game. He is at par with the greatest cagers in history. Like Wilt Chamberlain, possibly the greatest player of all time. Like Larry Bird, the greatest passing forward of all time. And like Oscar Robertson, the greatest all-around playmaker of all time. You can even mention that Duncan is in the same league with some of the greatest winners of all time, too.
Mention winning and the name that immediately comes to mind is Bill Russell, the greatest defensive player of all time, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons! Amazing, isn't it? Another name is of course, Michael Jordan, with his six championships. He is generally considered the greatest off-guard of all time. And of course, the awesome Shaquille O'Neal, the most unstoppable low post presence in basketball today. So Duncan is chasing history and in pretty good company. Win back to back, Tim, and your legacy is secure!
But Duncan is not alone this time. And you can make a case that this is indeed, the most powerful and the most talented Spurs team ever! His primary sidekick is Manu Ginobili, the talented slasher with a level of creativity not seen since the days of Jordan himself. Ginobili's fire and ability to improvise works wonders for the Spurs, the offense of which was so predictable in the old days of the Admiral David Robinson. Back then, it was just a two-man combo with Robinson and Duncan wreaking havoc both offensively and defensively. Now, the Spurs offense is much more varied and creative. Combined with pressure defense, a Spurs' trademark, balanced offense will reap untold dividends. Ginobili is the element of creativity in the Spurs offensive system. He is the fifth element, so to speak.
The backup of Ginobili at the off guard rotation is former all-star Michael Finley, acquired by the Spurs this season from the Dallas Mavericks. This makes their off guard position definitely the deepest in the league. The only problem now is to create playing time for both players, a situation, which cerebral coach Gregg Popovich can surely apply his thinking skills. So, Duncan, Ginobili and Finley constitute the offensive triangle of the Spurs. And they are a potent lot. So much on depends on Duncan though. He must add additional elements to his game something, which the greatest players of all time have demonstrated. Jordan continuously added new elements to his game, year in and year out. Duncan must emulate Jordan. And ditto for Ginobili too.
The playmaking triangle of the Spurs will feature Tony Parker, Nick van Exel and Beno Udrih. Parker is young and talented, but sometimes erratic. And being inconsistent is dangerous in playoff situations when the game, and a series, is on the line. You could observe that Parker had difficulty containing the Detroit playmakers in the last finals battle. So here comes Nick Van Exel, a solid veteran who hungers for a championship. Exel can come in when Parker has an off-night and the Spurs floor generalship should remain at a steady pace considering the talent and experience of Nick. He can also drill in trifectas when the game is on the line. What a luxury for the Spurs to have two quality playmakers this time around. Udrih must learn from those two court generals. He has a season to do just that.
The power triangle for the Spurs is also potent at the frontline. Joining Duncan will be starting center Nazr Mohamed and Argentinian big man Fabricio Oberto.
All the new acquisitions of the Spurs this season are awesome talents: Finley, Van Exel and Oberto. But I feel that the integration of Oberto into the Spurs line-up will have subtle but important repercussions. Why? Because quality big men in the NBA determines playoff success in many ways. Remember that the Spurs could meet either the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons or the Indiana Pacers in next year's NBA Finals. And these three teams feature awesome big men as well.
In fact, the Spurs were hard pressed in the battle against Detroit because the Pistons had an awesome frontline rotation. So Mohamed and Oberto are critical components in the Spurs frontline. They must be healthy come playoff time.
It is now up to cerebral coach Gregg Popovich to work wonders for this team, merge them into a unified whole and make them battle-ready come playoff time.
The Spurs have all the components to make it again to the NBA Finals in successive seasons. This is the most powerful Spurs team ever. Will it be the greatest too? We shall soon find out. My email is [email protected].