Rummpd
05-20-2007, 08:19 AM
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Rummpd/84672
Spurs do have talent so give them the respect!
May 20, 2007 09:00 AM
Filed under:NBA SanAntonioSpurs
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The complaining Suns fans and much of the national media still harbor the illusion that the Suns were the better or worse, the more talented team.
The fact is that the Spurs have consistently outplayed the Suns the last few years and in decisive and close out games it has always been the Spurs, as well it was, and as well it should be.
Why? Because when all is said and done, the Spurs vastly under-appreciated true talent and grit won out (and of the remaining teams, Detroit has the most similar talent, and also, the only other ring in the hands of most of its players) again over the over-hyped Suns, and it was the Spurs true talents that did so!
What is talent?
The Suns like a lot of teams in the NBA have talent, if one only measures running and pure athletic ability, and in there case, also can shoot the ball.
But don't forget the talents of a team like the Spurs, begins with the rarest of commmodities, in this league, i.e., fundemental great play on both sides of the ball. This starts with Tim Duncan, the true MVP of the league as he is showing in the playoffs again. In Duncan's case it is the ability to spot the open man, to block shots and dominate the paint (almost Russel like in the decisive game vs. the Suns with 9 blocks), and to score at will when really needed to.
Or is it the raw verve and big shot ability of Manu Ginobili (also an under-rated defender), or of Bowen who quietly is near the top of 3 point shooting percentage each year besides being a great defender, or the ability of a savy Oberto to tip balls back, ala, volleyball style frustrating "more athletic" big men time and time again?
Or in evaluating the talent that keeps on winning is it the raw speed to the hole and shiftiness of one Tony Parker? Speaking of Parker, he is only 25 but when it counted he outplayed MVP candidate Steve Nash again in a series. Moreover, his defense in the previous series on Allen Iverson shows that he is increasingly talented on that side of the ball too, while the vaunted Steve Nash cannot guard anyone.
Don't also forget in evaluating teams the need to have skilled veteran talents like Michael Finley, who believe me, still has a lot in the tank athletically and skill wise. The casual fan of the NBA may also forget that the Spurs have a rare type of player in the league who has won a slam dunk championship leaping from the foul line, yet, can still reign in threes, ala, Mr. Brent Barry. Finally, they also have the very rarest type of clutch big shot performer and savy interior veteran defender that other teams do not have in Robert Horry.
Talents come in many fashions and styles, and while many favor those that can jump explosively or run as their major talents, there are many other talents that seemingly consistently lead to winning beyond the flashiness of many over-hyped other types of talents.
Some team, reflecting their coaches, also just seem to have the ability to stay cool in the clutch, to come back after big losses, to be resilient, to not complain about lost players or lost opportunities, but just to re-load and move on. That is the Spurs, knock em down one game, series, or even year, and they will be back. That true resiliency and mental toughness is a special talent!
Give the Spurs their due, they have proven over time to be the most dominating team in the last 10 years* in the NBA, and they have not done it "on smoke and mirrors", but rather on deep, sustainable and substantial talents, that many seemingly cannot appreciate.
It is their loss! Remember that a guy named Larry Bird, could not jump high, or run fast, and had some holes in athletic ability. Yes, he was Duncan like in many ways, and yet they are the two best forwards to ever play the game (do not mention Karl Malone or other non-championship winners in the same breadth with these two).
Or a guy named Bill Russell faced up yearly vs. the man child of Chamberlain (still the most purely talented and athletic NBA player ever) and other Lakers greats. Yet, like the Spurs, the Celtics won and won and won.
So have the Spurs and they most likely will continue to do so, due to their unappreciated talents, individually and collectively.
Watch them, admire them, and learn about true talent and teamwork. Someday you can tell your children that you saw not only the best powerforward ever in Tim Duncan play; but also, one of the top five teams of all time, the under-appreciated, talented and mentally tough San Antonio Spurs!
*The Lakers a few years ago were as dominating, and for three years more dominating than the Spurs, but it was the Spurs who started and stopped their three year run of championships and overall the Spurs have a better winning percentage in both the regular season and the post-season, and in fact, Duncan's winning percentage since joining the Spurs is the highest ever for a professional athlete in many, many decades. (An original story on this fact was by Sam Smith in the Chicago Tribune awhile back.)
Spurs do have talent so give them the respect!
May 20, 2007 09:00 AM
Filed under:NBA SanAntonioSpurs
1 view
edit
The complaining Suns fans and much of the national media still harbor the illusion that the Suns were the better or worse, the more talented team.
The fact is that the Spurs have consistently outplayed the Suns the last few years and in decisive and close out games it has always been the Spurs, as well it was, and as well it should be.
Why? Because when all is said and done, the Spurs vastly under-appreciated true talent and grit won out (and of the remaining teams, Detroit has the most similar talent, and also, the only other ring in the hands of most of its players) again over the over-hyped Suns, and it was the Spurs true talents that did so!
What is talent?
The Suns like a lot of teams in the NBA have talent, if one only measures running and pure athletic ability, and in there case, also can shoot the ball.
But don't forget the talents of a team like the Spurs, begins with the rarest of commmodities, in this league, i.e., fundemental great play on both sides of the ball. This starts with Tim Duncan, the true MVP of the league as he is showing in the playoffs again. In Duncan's case it is the ability to spot the open man, to block shots and dominate the paint (almost Russel like in the decisive game vs. the Suns with 9 blocks), and to score at will when really needed to.
Or is it the raw verve and big shot ability of Manu Ginobili (also an under-rated defender), or of Bowen who quietly is near the top of 3 point shooting percentage each year besides being a great defender, or the ability of a savy Oberto to tip balls back, ala, volleyball style frustrating "more athletic" big men time and time again?
Or in evaluating the talent that keeps on winning is it the raw speed to the hole and shiftiness of one Tony Parker? Speaking of Parker, he is only 25 but when it counted he outplayed MVP candidate Steve Nash again in a series. Moreover, his defense in the previous series on Allen Iverson shows that he is increasingly talented on that side of the ball too, while the vaunted Steve Nash cannot guard anyone.
Don't also forget in evaluating teams the need to have skilled veteran talents like Michael Finley, who believe me, still has a lot in the tank athletically and skill wise. The casual fan of the NBA may also forget that the Spurs have a rare type of player in the league who has won a slam dunk championship leaping from the foul line, yet, can still reign in threes, ala, Mr. Brent Barry. Finally, they also have the very rarest type of clutch big shot performer and savy interior veteran defender that other teams do not have in Robert Horry.
Talents come in many fashions and styles, and while many favor those that can jump explosively or run as their major talents, there are many other talents that seemingly consistently lead to winning beyond the flashiness of many over-hyped other types of talents.
Some team, reflecting their coaches, also just seem to have the ability to stay cool in the clutch, to come back after big losses, to be resilient, to not complain about lost players or lost opportunities, but just to re-load and move on. That is the Spurs, knock em down one game, series, or even year, and they will be back. That true resiliency and mental toughness is a special talent!
Give the Spurs their due, they have proven over time to be the most dominating team in the last 10 years* in the NBA, and they have not done it "on smoke and mirrors", but rather on deep, sustainable and substantial talents, that many seemingly cannot appreciate.
It is their loss! Remember that a guy named Larry Bird, could not jump high, or run fast, and had some holes in athletic ability. Yes, he was Duncan like in many ways, and yet they are the two best forwards to ever play the game (do not mention Karl Malone or other non-championship winners in the same breadth with these two).
Or a guy named Bill Russell faced up yearly vs. the man child of Chamberlain (still the most purely talented and athletic NBA player ever) and other Lakers greats. Yet, like the Spurs, the Celtics won and won and won.
So have the Spurs and they most likely will continue to do so, due to their unappreciated talents, individually and collectively.
Watch them, admire them, and learn about true talent and teamwork. Someday you can tell your children that you saw not only the best powerforward ever in Tim Duncan play; but also, one of the top five teams of all time, the under-appreciated, talented and mentally tough San Antonio Spurs!
*The Lakers a few years ago were as dominating, and for three years more dominating than the Spurs, but it was the Spurs who started and stopped their three year run of championships and overall the Spurs have a better winning percentage in both the regular season and the post-season, and in fact, Duncan's winning percentage since joining the Spurs is the highest ever for a professional athlete in many, many decades. (An original story on this fact was by Sam Smith in the Chicago Tribune awhile back.)