regio
01-17-2007, 02:25 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/01/17/spurs/index.html
CHICAGO -- As a veteran of 15 seasons -- and the proud holder of six championship rings -- Spurs forward Robert Horry knows a little about what it takes to win a title.
So it's worth noting that Big Shot Rob still likes his team's chances to win the NBA crown even if the Mavs and Suns seem to be getting all the hype.
"People are gonna talk about them because they have flash," Horry said. "We have no flash. They like guys who go up and down [the court]. They got 16 guys who can put it on floor, shoot threes and stuff. They got the high-flying dunkers in Phoenix. They got stuff that makes quote-unquote papers sell. We don't have that. We don't have guys who dunk a lot. We don't have nobody with flash. We just get the job done."
Spurs fans can only hope Horry's confidence is based on an honest evaluation of the situation -- and not just team spirit.
For as the season nears the midpoint, it's fair to wonder if San Antonio has what it takes right now to beat out Dallas, Phoenix and all the other charging horses in the Western Conference.
The Spurs just have not looked like a dominant team most of this season. They already have lost six games at home, including two to Dallas and one to Houston. Their once-feared defense has ranked near the middle of the pack in field goal percentage allowed for much of the season, with coach Gregg Popovich even calling them his worst unit in six or eight years. Most of all, they have appeared a step slow.
Though the Spurs have won four of five heading into Wednesday night's showdown against the Lakers, and the defense has tightened up of late, they still have been too "up and down" in the words of Tim Duncan.
On Monday, the Spurs allowed Bulls youngsters Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng to drive-and-kick their way to 49.4 percent shooting en route to a 99-87 victory. At the other end, San Antonio was unable to take advantage of a Chicago team minus defensive aces Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon. The Spurs wound up shooting just 39.5 percent, hitting just 6-of-23 three-pointers, en route to their sixth loss in 13 games.
On at least three possessions, Bulls rookie forward Tyrus Thomas stunned the Spurs by seemingly coming out of nowhere to block shots. Twice he crammed home a spectacular putback, including one right before the halftime horn in which he seemed to go from one side of the lane to the other in a split second.
"He's a heck of an athlete," Duncan marveled.
It's exactly that kind of athletic presence that the Spurs lack this season, and why many around the league feel they need to make a move if they hope to challenge for a fourth championship in nine years. They reportedly have talked to the Clippers about Corey Maggette, but L.A. wants more in return than Brent Barry and Beno Udrih. Other players who could help the Spurs and might be available include the Rockets' Bonzi Wells and the Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko. But neither Houston nor Utah is likely to want to help a fellow West rival, and in Kirilenko's case at least, the Spurs don't appear to have the right players to make a deal add up under salary cap rules.
For now, Maggette seems to be their best option. The 6-foot-6 slasher would give San Antonio a wing scorer and somebody to match up with Dallas' Josh Howard. He also gets to the foul line and makes his free throws. The question is whether Maggette be willing to play defense and share the ball with Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
While not addressing the Maggette rumors directly, Horry said the Spurs would welcome a trade if the player was the right fit.
"If he meshes with the team," he said. "You always welcome new talent if he can help you out. But don't bring in somebody just because they're young. If they don't know how to play game, they're not going to help."
Popovich surely agrees, which might be why he is playing it cool right now in regard to personnel moves. While word around the NBA is that the Spurs are looking for help, the coach continues to preach patience. He notes that he is still trying to find the right combinations, especially with injuries to Francisco Elson (shoulder) and Matt Bonner (knee), and that the goal is to be playing at peak level in March and April.
He also notes that if San Antonio hadn't suffered that Game 7 overtime loss to the Mavs in the conference finals a year ago, nobody would be doubting the Spurs right now.
"We gave that game away," Popovich said. "If [Ginobili's foul at the end of regulation] hadn't been committed, and we win the game, everybody would have talked about how beautifully those experienced Spurs players executed. But we lost, so it must be [that] we're getting old."
While Popovich makes a good point about media and fan overreaction, the fact is the Spurs are relying on aging veterans like Horry, Michael Finley and Brent Barry. Meanwhile, the NBA continues to become a faster game with more teams using small lineups. Rules changes have made it increasingly difficult for clubs like the Spurs to slow the tempo into a half-court game and take advantage of a dominant low-post scorer. San Antonio has tried to adjust this season, bringing in Elson and Bonner, but it might not be enough.
It would be foolish to count out Duncan and the Spurs just yet. But it sure seems as if San Antonio could use a big shot of athleticism and, yes, maybe even some flash. Even if Big Shot Rob says otherwise.
CHICAGO -- As a veteran of 15 seasons -- and the proud holder of six championship rings -- Spurs forward Robert Horry knows a little about what it takes to win a title.
So it's worth noting that Big Shot Rob still likes his team's chances to win the NBA crown even if the Mavs and Suns seem to be getting all the hype.
"People are gonna talk about them because they have flash," Horry said. "We have no flash. They like guys who go up and down [the court]. They got 16 guys who can put it on floor, shoot threes and stuff. They got the high-flying dunkers in Phoenix. They got stuff that makes quote-unquote papers sell. We don't have that. We don't have guys who dunk a lot. We don't have nobody with flash. We just get the job done."
Spurs fans can only hope Horry's confidence is based on an honest evaluation of the situation -- and not just team spirit.
For as the season nears the midpoint, it's fair to wonder if San Antonio has what it takes right now to beat out Dallas, Phoenix and all the other charging horses in the Western Conference.
The Spurs just have not looked like a dominant team most of this season. They already have lost six games at home, including two to Dallas and one to Houston. Their once-feared defense has ranked near the middle of the pack in field goal percentage allowed for much of the season, with coach Gregg Popovich even calling them his worst unit in six or eight years. Most of all, they have appeared a step slow.
Though the Spurs have won four of five heading into Wednesday night's showdown against the Lakers, and the defense has tightened up of late, they still have been too "up and down" in the words of Tim Duncan.
On Monday, the Spurs allowed Bulls youngsters Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng to drive-and-kick their way to 49.4 percent shooting en route to a 99-87 victory. At the other end, San Antonio was unable to take advantage of a Chicago team minus defensive aces Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon. The Spurs wound up shooting just 39.5 percent, hitting just 6-of-23 three-pointers, en route to their sixth loss in 13 games.
On at least three possessions, Bulls rookie forward Tyrus Thomas stunned the Spurs by seemingly coming out of nowhere to block shots. Twice he crammed home a spectacular putback, including one right before the halftime horn in which he seemed to go from one side of the lane to the other in a split second.
"He's a heck of an athlete," Duncan marveled.
It's exactly that kind of athletic presence that the Spurs lack this season, and why many around the league feel they need to make a move if they hope to challenge for a fourth championship in nine years. They reportedly have talked to the Clippers about Corey Maggette, but L.A. wants more in return than Brent Barry and Beno Udrih. Other players who could help the Spurs and might be available include the Rockets' Bonzi Wells and the Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko. But neither Houston nor Utah is likely to want to help a fellow West rival, and in Kirilenko's case at least, the Spurs don't appear to have the right players to make a deal add up under salary cap rules.
For now, Maggette seems to be their best option. The 6-foot-6 slasher would give San Antonio a wing scorer and somebody to match up with Dallas' Josh Howard. He also gets to the foul line and makes his free throws. The question is whether Maggette be willing to play defense and share the ball with Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
While not addressing the Maggette rumors directly, Horry said the Spurs would welcome a trade if the player was the right fit.
"If he meshes with the team," he said. "You always welcome new talent if he can help you out. But don't bring in somebody just because they're young. If they don't know how to play game, they're not going to help."
Popovich surely agrees, which might be why he is playing it cool right now in regard to personnel moves. While word around the NBA is that the Spurs are looking for help, the coach continues to preach patience. He notes that he is still trying to find the right combinations, especially with injuries to Francisco Elson (shoulder) and Matt Bonner (knee), and that the goal is to be playing at peak level in March and April.
He also notes that if San Antonio hadn't suffered that Game 7 overtime loss to the Mavs in the conference finals a year ago, nobody would be doubting the Spurs right now.
"We gave that game away," Popovich said. "If [Ginobili's foul at the end of regulation] hadn't been committed, and we win the game, everybody would have talked about how beautifully those experienced Spurs players executed. But we lost, so it must be [that] we're getting old."
While Popovich makes a good point about media and fan overreaction, the fact is the Spurs are relying on aging veterans like Horry, Michael Finley and Brent Barry. Meanwhile, the NBA continues to become a faster game with more teams using small lineups. Rules changes have made it increasingly difficult for clubs like the Spurs to slow the tempo into a half-court game and take advantage of a dominant low-post scorer. San Antonio has tried to adjust this season, bringing in Elson and Bonner, but it might not be enough.
It would be foolish to count out Duncan and the Spurs just yet. But it sure seems as if San Antonio could use a big shot of athleticism and, yes, maybe even some flash. Even if Big Shot Rob says otherwise.