Now, that 2007 Spurs won, are they the best version of the Spurs?

[Mavs<Spurs]

This was brought up before, but each time the answer was : "Let's see if this team wins a title like the others. "

Well, this edition of the Spurs won the title. Is this the best of the Spurs championship teams?

I think that it is.

I rank them :

1) 2007 Spurs
2) 1999 Spurs
3) 2003 Spurs
4) 2005 Spurs

I'll post more about why this is my opinion later.

But for now: I'll say that

2007 Spurs had fantastic defense and 3 dangerous offensive players all playing at the top of their game. The combination of inside scoring threat with Timmy and the penetration of Tony and Manu and the outside shooting of Manu was lethal.
Then, look at the teams that they beat and the way that they dispatched teams. They were so much better that they regularly got huge leads. It was only boredom that let the other teams into the game, but the Spurs were far superior.

(2) Tim and David were both in great health and both were still young enough to dominate. Their interior defense was the best or one of the best defensive frontlines that this league has ever seen.
Mario and Sean Elliot made this a tough team.

(3) Tim was incredible, but he had an unpredictable supporting cast and David was hurt so much by his back and age that he could not consistently be the second scorer. But Action Jackson got hot and Steve Kerr came up big.

(4) Great defensive team in 05, but Tony's j was not good. Manu was huge.
Two bad games in Detroit.


How do you rank them?
How do you justify your ranking?

:fro

[ArgSpursFan]

oh no,the 2005 can´t be in 4rd place,that team defeted the Pistons in the finals,no way :nope

1-2007 & 2005
2-2003
3-1999

[Fabbs]

Cavs were pathetic, hard to say.

[Athenea]

2007 Coz Tony has fully developed (defense included) and our Trifecta is finally on the same page. Plus Bruce was a super-beast, Pop was at his best in this last series, and we sort of cover the C spot w/Obby. The bench started shaky this POffs but grew a pair in some very important games (i.e. Cavs 3rd game).

[Marcus Bryant]

In terms of offensive and defensive execution, I would have to say yes. This was a dominant defensive team that did not rely on shotblocking to a great extent, unlike the other title teams. The Spurs were top 4 in the NBA in a host of offensive and defensive categories this season. In terms of talent, I think the '03 team was the best and of course that one went through the Kobe/Shaq/Jackson Lakers.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

I think they are the 2nd best:


-Duncan hasn't been this good/healthy since 03
-Parker has never been better
-Manu was in 2005 form
-Defense was just as good as ever in the playoffs


but in 2003 we had D Rob and SJax and Speedy along with Manu and Tony

[SAGambler]

I think the 2007 team may be the best the Spurs have ever had.

Not only did they have the stifleing defense, but what made this team so special the the different ways they could play.

They could run and gun with the best of em if that's what was required. Or they could get down and dirty, and win low scoring affairs.

One would be hard pressed to point to any other team in the league that has that ability.

That's what I think makes this team so special and makes them the most complete team of alltime.

[ArgSpursFan]

I think the 2007 team may be the best the Spurs have ever had.

Not only did they have the stifleing defense, but what made this team so special the the different ways they could play.

They could run and gun with the best of em if that's what was required. Or they could get down and dirty, and win low scoring affairs.
One would be hard pressed to point to any other team in the league that has that ability.

That's what I think makes this team so special and makes them the most complete team of alltime.

go back to the 05 playoffs,they did exacly the same.
the beated Denver with low scoring games,and they ran and guned against Phoenix and beated them too.

[MadDog73]

I think they are the 2nd best:


-Duncan hasn't been this good/healthy since 03
-Parker has never been better
-Manu was in 2005 form
-Defense was just as good as ever in the playoffs


but in 2003 we had D Rob and SJax and Speedy along with Manu and Tony

I love the 2003 team, but Horry > Jackson; and now we have Finley, Barry, Oberto - not to mention that Parker has improved so much that we didn't need a point guard like Speedy to go 16-3 in the Playoffs.

Of course, getting by the Lakers was huge, but does anyone doubt this 2007 team could have beat that 2003 Laker team?

[MadDog73]

Cavs were pathetic, hard to say.


Were the Cavs pathetic, or the Spurs just that good.

We made the Nuggets and Jazz look pretty bad, too.,

[Creation88]

i have to go with 2007.

offensive weapons and the best DEFENSE this league has seen in a loooooong time. we could literally clamp that sucker down and suffocate offenses.

[BUMP]

im not a Spurs fan, but i just loved the 99 team. im not sure if they were the best or not but they were my favorite out of all four. classic hard nosed defense.

[mathbzh]

2007 and 1999 at #1 two great teams

[CosmicCowboy]

I agree with David Robinson that the 2007 team was the best.

[MadDog73]

There's an insider report with the 2007 teams as the best Spurs team, and right behind the 1992 Bulls.

Anyone got access to Insider?

[florige]

Were the Cavs pathetic, or the Spurs just that good.

We made the Nuggets and Jazz look pretty bad, too.,


Yeah, I said the same thing. I would had probably bet money that the Nuggets series would had went AT LEAST 6 games. I was surprised we disposed if them in 5.

[gaKNOW!blee]

I actually think 2003 was the best team.


took down the "dynasty" Lakers, clinched all 3 western conference rounds on the road. Still had D-Rob, TD was MVP, Manu bursted on to the scene, TP was TP, they had S-Jax who was at times unstoppable.


plus we were actuall the #1 seed that year, and it was the most satisfying, considering we took down our 3 biggest present day rivals, Suns, Lakers, and then Mavs.

[florige]

I actually think 2003 was the best team.


took down the "dynasty" Lakers, clinched all 3 western conference rounds on the road. Still had D-Rob, TD was MVP, Manu bursted on to the scene, TP was TP, they had S-Jax who was at times unstoppable.


plus we were actuall the #1 seed that year, and it was the most satisfying, considering we took down our 3 biggest present day rivals, Suns, Lakers, and then Mavs.


Parker's jumper was nowhere near as lethal then as it is now though.

[lebomb]

2007-Sweep (even though Cavs were lucky to be there)
1999-Dominated the playoffs
2005-Detroit was tough
2003-Nets were OK.....but we did give them 2

[gaKNOW!blee]

true, I just think having D-Rob and S-Jax puts that team over this team.

If we wouldve beaten the Mavericks, and then the Pistons this year, I would rank 2007 the best all time, I just dont think the road was that hard.

[Mavs<Spurs]

We won 9 of our last 10 playoff games. That is impressive coming from the Western Conference.
We didn't lose 2 games in a row at any point.

Obviously, 05 Pistons >>>>> 07 Cavs > ??????? 07 Pistons.

Otherwise, harder teams to beat.

For, 07 Suns slightly better than 05 Suns, imo.
07 Nuggets slightly better than 05 Nuggets
07 Utah = ? 05 Seattle (or maybe better)

I would expect that this version of the Spurs team would have beaten that version of the Pistons team in 5 or 6 primarily because of Parker's improvement, especially his outside jumpshot.

[florige]

true, I just think having D-Rob and S-Jax puts that team over this team.

If we wouldve beaten the Mavericks, and then the Pistons this year, I would rank 2007 the best all time, I just dont think the road was that hard.


Our toughest challenge this year IMO was Phx and Denver. Those were the two teams that really worried me the most. I see your point with D-Rob though. We had a tough playoff run that year until we obliterated NJ in the Finals. Jacko was shaky with me until the Finals that year. I guess he saved his best for Jersey that year.

[DDS4]

Defense: 1999 (DRob and TD controlling the paint was my favorite thing to watch)

Offense: 2005 (Can run and gun with the Nuggs, Sonics, Suns or slow it down with the Pistons)

Duncan at his best: 2003
Manu at his best: 2005
Tony at his best: 2007

[Mavs<Spurs]

Defense: 1999 (DRob and TD controlling the paint was my favorite thing to watch)

Offense: 2005 (Can run and gun with the Nuggs, Sonics, Suns or slow it down with the Pistons)

Duncan at his best: 2003
Manu at his best: 2005
Tony at his best: 2007


pattern here?
age?

[gaKNOW!blee]

pattern here?
age?



2009= Beno at his best?? :clap

[Davidicus]

Id have to say 2007 is best for these reasons: Tim, tony, and many were all fully developed and playing like 3 all-stars (hey gino had 20-something points last night), bruce was absolutely amazing, we finally had a good smart filler in oberto, and our bench was great with fin, horry, barry, elson, etc. It seemed like we finally pulled all our pieces together right before we keel over and die of old age....(2008 here we come)

[anakha]

2009= Beno at his best?? :clap

God forbid. :lol

[Switchman]

I cannot answer this question.

They would have had to played the Mavericks in the WCF. And would have had to played a good team in the finals.

[JMarkJohns]

I thought 2004-05 was. This teams wasn't tested near as much as that team. I understand the 04-05 team wasn't healthy for much, if not all of their run, but that only makes their accomplishment that much more impressive. Beating a defending champion in seven games of the Finals is much more impressive than sweeping the green/not very good Cavaliers.

This team was able to play a little better, but that team beat at least equal Western Conference teams, if not maybe a bit better, and defeated a much better Eastern foe.

Therefore I, as an impartial Suns fan, say that 04-05 was the best overall team, despite not being able to play up to their highest potential.