CubanMustGo
06-03-2007, 05:18 PM
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursmoment/
June 03, 2007
Spurs embrace 'bad boy role
It's an obvious storyline for the NBA Finals: The fresh-faced Cavaliers and their megastar leader, LeBron James, against the been-there-done-that, heavily favored Spurs and their stoic, hall-of-fame bound forward Tim Duncan.
Duncan doesn't have a problem with it. In fact, he's embracing the Spurs' new role as "bad boys."
"We are the bad boys, which is fun," Duncan said after practice Sunday. "I enjoy being the bad boys. We are going to try to change our name or get a nickname or something for our team. It's a different role for us. We are usually the underdogs. We are usually the ones kind of fighting out of a hole. That's a little bit on their shoulders now."
While acknowledging having James in the Finals will be good for the NBA and television ratings for the Finals, Duncan knows the matchup will push the Spurs out of the spotlight.
"It's great (for the NBA). I'm just hoping every once in a while, they'll throw the Spurs in there between LeBron highlights. That would be nice," Duncan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Duncan isn't the only Spur embracing the bad boy role.
"We have been the bad boys since the second round (against Phoenix)," Tony Parker said. "It's not going to change. We are not vanilla anymore. We are the bad boys."
Like Duncan, Parker recognizes that the league benefits from having James in the Finals and that fans outside of South Texas will be rooting for him.
"Everybody likes new stuff," Parker said. " It's LeBron James' first Finals, so obviously a lot of people are going to root for him. That's fine. But they still have to try to beat us.
"The league has made a big push on LeBron James. It's great for the league. I think a lot more people are going to watch the NBA Finals now."
With their opponent determined, the Spurs kicked it up a notch. Coach Gregg Popovich put the club through a spirited two-hour workout that included a scrimmage.
Another storyline for the best-of-seven series will be the large contingent of former Spurs employees in the Cavaliers organization.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown is a former Spurs assistant. The Cavs' GM is Danny Ferry, a former Spurs player and assistant general manager. Ferry's assistant GM is Lance Blanks, the former Spurs director of player personnel. One of Brown's assistants is Hank Egan, formerly Popovich's right-hand man and the Spurs "defensive coordinator."
"I'm thrilled for Mike and his staff," Popovich said. "They've done a great job in a short period of time. It's going to be a great series."
"But the bottom line is they are the Cleveland Cavaliers. They don't want to hear about the San Antonio Spurs. They are sick of the San Antonio Spurs. They are the Cavaliers and we are going to go compete. It's the Spurs versus the Cavs, and we'll see what happens. All the other stuff you guys will write about, we aren't that interested in."
June 03, 2007
Spurs embrace 'bad boy role
It's an obvious storyline for the NBA Finals: The fresh-faced Cavaliers and their megastar leader, LeBron James, against the been-there-done-that, heavily favored Spurs and their stoic, hall-of-fame bound forward Tim Duncan.
Duncan doesn't have a problem with it. In fact, he's embracing the Spurs' new role as "bad boys."
"We are the bad boys, which is fun," Duncan said after practice Sunday. "I enjoy being the bad boys. We are going to try to change our name or get a nickname or something for our team. It's a different role for us. We are usually the underdogs. We are usually the ones kind of fighting out of a hole. That's a little bit on their shoulders now."
While acknowledging having James in the Finals will be good for the NBA and television ratings for the Finals, Duncan knows the matchup will push the Spurs out of the spotlight.
"It's great (for the NBA). I'm just hoping every once in a while, they'll throw the Spurs in there between LeBron highlights. That would be nice," Duncan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Duncan isn't the only Spur embracing the bad boy role.
"We have been the bad boys since the second round (against Phoenix)," Tony Parker said. "It's not going to change. We are not vanilla anymore. We are the bad boys."
Like Duncan, Parker recognizes that the league benefits from having James in the Finals and that fans outside of South Texas will be rooting for him.
"Everybody likes new stuff," Parker said. " It's LeBron James' first Finals, so obviously a lot of people are going to root for him. That's fine. But they still have to try to beat us.
"The league has made a big push on LeBron James. It's great for the league. I think a lot more people are going to watch the NBA Finals now."
With their opponent determined, the Spurs kicked it up a notch. Coach Gregg Popovich put the club through a spirited two-hour workout that included a scrimmage.
Another storyline for the best-of-seven series will be the large contingent of former Spurs employees in the Cavaliers organization.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown is a former Spurs assistant. The Cavs' GM is Danny Ferry, a former Spurs player and assistant general manager. Ferry's assistant GM is Lance Blanks, the former Spurs director of player personnel. One of Brown's assistants is Hank Egan, formerly Popovich's right-hand man and the Spurs "defensive coordinator."
"I'm thrilled for Mike and his staff," Popovich said. "They've done a great job in a short period of time. It's going to be a great series."
"But the bottom line is they are the Cleveland Cavaliers. They don't want to hear about the San Antonio Spurs. They are sick of the San Antonio Spurs. They are the Cavaliers and we are going to go compete. It's the Spurs versus the Cavs, and we'll see what happens. All the other stuff you guys will write about, we aren't that interested in."