duncan228
06-07-2007, 03:25 PM
Still passing time! Didn't see it posted.
SI.com's Marty Burns five reasons why the Spurs will win.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/06/07/spurs.reasons/index.html
Strictly business
Spurs too seasoned, well-coached to be upset victims
SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan swears his team isn't drawing any extra motivation from all the attention being showered on LeBron James heading into the NBA Finals.
"We're not worried about who gets the hype or what gets hype," the Spurs' forward said. "We're about winning four games."
Duncan's no-nonsense approach sets the tone for his club and is part of the reason why it has won three titles in the past eight years. The Spurs just take care of business. They don't lose focus or get turned sideways because of outside factors.
The Spurs might have started the season slowly, but they were the NBA's best team after the All-Star break. They then dispatched the Nuggets, Suns and Jazz to reach the championship round. They are on a quest, and they are not going to let an offensively challenged Cavs outfit -- even one led by the magnificent James -- keep them from their holy grail.
Here are five reasons why the Spurs will win:
1. The Spurs have a superstar, too.
Given all the hype over LeBron, it's easy to forget the Spurs have a pretty good leader of their own. Duncan is only a three-time Finals MVP and arguably the greatest power forward of all time. He might not be as explosive as James, but he influences the game in so many ways.
Duncan's presence won't be just on the offensive end either. Every time LeBron posts up or blows past Bruce Bowen on his way to the basket, he's going to see the 7-foot Sphinx there waiting for him. Duncan will have to be careful not to pick up fouls on LeBron's drives, but he won't let anything throw him off his game.
"He's got a sense of poise and pace about him where he never looks rattled," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "It's scary because whether they're up 20 or down 20, you don't think they're ever out of the game because he's just steady. He's going to keep coming, keep coming, keep coming. That, and his intelligence is off the charts."
2. The Spurs have been here before.
Yes, experience can be overrated. NBA history is littered with young teams that vanquished proven former champions. Three years ago the Pistons didn't have nearly as much experience as the Lakers, yet they sent the Shaq/Kobe/Karl Malone/Gary Payton squad packing in five games.
In this case, however, San Antonio is not some old broken-down team nursing injuries or fractured by in-house feuding. The Spurs are healthy. They are well-focused. They might be a little old and a step slow at certain positions, but they are still fast enough.
San Antonio's roster features seven players who have won championship rings. Duncan, Bowen, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each have at least two. Robert Horry has six. The Cavs have only ony player with Finals experience: backup point guard Eric Snow.
"It helps with adverse situations," Bowen said of his team's experience. "You almost know that you can't get too high or too low. ... You just have to move on to the next play."
That's what the Spurs do. They just keep moving on and playing, and eventually it wears down their opponents.
3. LeBron won't be allowed to beat the Spurs all by himself.
James is an unstoppable player who can explode for 40 points on any given night, but the Spurs don't really care as long as the other Cavs don't get involved. San Antonio's philosophy has always been to play its system and not get caught up in changing defenses to stop one guy.
The Spurs will stay disciplined in their team concept. They will get back in transition. They will not leave shooters open to go double-team. In other words, they will not do what the Pistons did while letting the Cavs get open looks.
"LeBron is still going to score 20 or 25," Parker said. "We have to stop the other guys. We can't let Larry Hughes or [Daniel] Gibson or Zydrunas Ilgauskas score 30 points like Gibson did against Detroit in Game 6 because that's when you're in trouble."
4. Manu Ginobili is something wild. :lol
At Wednesday's media session, Michael Finley was asked if teammate Ginobili was a wild card for the Spurs.
"I wouldn't see him as a wild card," Finley said. "I mean, he's a wild player, but I wouldn't see him as a wild card because he's an All-Star in my eyes."
Ginobili is, indeed, unorthodox with his herky-jerky style. But the 6-6 lefty from Argentina is, as Finley noted, a former All-Star who can put it on the floor or knock down shots from outside. Two years ago Ginobili tore up the Pistons to help the Spurs win the title. He arguably should have won the Finals MVP award that went to Duncan. Ginobili, who seems to be getting better as the playoffs go on, will be huge in this series as well.
5. Gregg Popovich is the master; Mike Brown is the pupil.
Brown and his staff have done a solid job getting the Cavs to the Finals. Most experts figured Cleveland was at least another year away. But Brown, 37, has never been in the lead chair for the Finals, when the adjustments must be made on the fly and head games come into play. Mavs coach Avery Johnson's lack of experience came into question in last year's Finals when he abruptly switched hotels in Miami after Game 3 and then suffered a confusing timeout snafu at the end of another game. It happens to young coaches.
Making his fourth Finals appearance in 11 seasons, Popovich already has seen it all. He and his staff just seem to know which buttons to push to get the Spurs going. One example: In 2003 the Spurs were struggling to score against the Mavs in the conference finals when Popovich turned to seldom-used reserve Steve Kerr. The then 37-year-old three-point specialist came off the bench and instantly started burying threes to goose the offense and provide the floor spacing the Spurs needed.
If LeBron and the Cavs find something that works, Popovich will more than likely find an answer. And if that doesn't work, he can always throw the ball to Duncan.
SI.com's Marty Burns five reasons why the Spurs will win.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/06/07/spurs.reasons/index.html
Strictly business
Spurs too seasoned, well-coached to be upset victims
SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan swears his team isn't drawing any extra motivation from all the attention being showered on LeBron James heading into the NBA Finals.
"We're not worried about who gets the hype or what gets hype," the Spurs' forward said. "We're about winning four games."
Duncan's no-nonsense approach sets the tone for his club and is part of the reason why it has won three titles in the past eight years. The Spurs just take care of business. They don't lose focus or get turned sideways because of outside factors.
The Spurs might have started the season slowly, but they were the NBA's best team after the All-Star break. They then dispatched the Nuggets, Suns and Jazz to reach the championship round. They are on a quest, and they are not going to let an offensively challenged Cavs outfit -- even one led by the magnificent James -- keep them from their holy grail.
Here are five reasons why the Spurs will win:
1. The Spurs have a superstar, too.
Given all the hype over LeBron, it's easy to forget the Spurs have a pretty good leader of their own. Duncan is only a three-time Finals MVP and arguably the greatest power forward of all time. He might not be as explosive as James, but he influences the game in so many ways.
Duncan's presence won't be just on the offensive end either. Every time LeBron posts up or blows past Bruce Bowen on his way to the basket, he's going to see the 7-foot Sphinx there waiting for him. Duncan will have to be careful not to pick up fouls on LeBron's drives, but he won't let anything throw him off his game.
"He's got a sense of poise and pace about him where he never looks rattled," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "It's scary because whether they're up 20 or down 20, you don't think they're ever out of the game because he's just steady. He's going to keep coming, keep coming, keep coming. That, and his intelligence is off the charts."
2. The Spurs have been here before.
Yes, experience can be overrated. NBA history is littered with young teams that vanquished proven former champions. Three years ago the Pistons didn't have nearly as much experience as the Lakers, yet they sent the Shaq/Kobe/Karl Malone/Gary Payton squad packing in five games.
In this case, however, San Antonio is not some old broken-down team nursing injuries or fractured by in-house feuding. The Spurs are healthy. They are well-focused. They might be a little old and a step slow at certain positions, but they are still fast enough.
San Antonio's roster features seven players who have won championship rings. Duncan, Bowen, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each have at least two. Robert Horry has six. The Cavs have only ony player with Finals experience: backup point guard Eric Snow.
"It helps with adverse situations," Bowen said of his team's experience. "You almost know that you can't get too high or too low. ... You just have to move on to the next play."
That's what the Spurs do. They just keep moving on and playing, and eventually it wears down their opponents.
3. LeBron won't be allowed to beat the Spurs all by himself.
James is an unstoppable player who can explode for 40 points on any given night, but the Spurs don't really care as long as the other Cavs don't get involved. San Antonio's philosophy has always been to play its system and not get caught up in changing defenses to stop one guy.
The Spurs will stay disciplined in their team concept. They will get back in transition. They will not leave shooters open to go double-team. In other words, they will not do what the Pistons did while letting the Cavs get open looks.
"LeBron is still going to score 20 or 25," Parker said. "We have to stop the other guys. We can't let Larry Hughes or [Daniel] Gibson or Zydrunas Ilgauskas score 30 points like Gibson did against Detroit in Game 6 because that's when you're in trouble."
4. Manu Ginobili is something wild. :lol
At Wednesday's media session, Michael Finley was asked if teammate Ginobili was a wild card for the Spurs.
"I wouldn't see him as a wild card," Finley said. "I mean, he's a wild player, but I wouldn't see him as a wild card because he's an All-Star in my eyes."
Ginobili is, indeed, unorthodox with his herky-jerky style. But the 6-6 lefty from Argentina is, as Finley noted, a former All-Star who can put it on the floor or knock down shots from outside. Two years ago Ginobili tore up the Pistons to help the Spurs win the title. He arguably should have won the Finals MVP award that went to Duncan. Ginobili, who seems to be getting better as the playoffs go on, will be huge in this series as well.
5. Gregg Popovich is the master; Mike Brown is the pupil.
Brown and his staff have done a solid job getting the Cavs to the Finals. Most experts figured Cleveland was at least another year away. But Brown, 37, has never been in the lead chair for the Finals, when the adjustments must be made on the fly and head games come into play. Mavs coach Avery Johnson's lack of experience came into question in last year's Finals when he abruptly switched hotels in Miami after Game 3 and then suffered a confusing timeout snafu at the end of another game. It happens to young coaches.
Making his fourth Finals appearance in 11 seasons, Popovich already has seen it all. He and his staff just seem to know which buttons to push to get the Spurs going. One example: In 2003 the Spurs were struggling to score against the Mavs in the conference finals when Popovich turned to seldom-used reserve Steve Kerr. The then 37-year-old three-point specialist came off the bench and instantly started burying threes to goose the offense and provide the floor spacing the Spurs needed.
If LeBron and the Cavs find something that works, Popovich will more than likely find an answer. And if that doesn't work, he can always throw the ball to Duncan.