Kori Ellis
12-07-2004, 03:42 AM
http://www.nypost.com/sports/32571.htm
December 7, 2004 --
LOST in the reams of replays of players running into the stands are the San Antonio Spurs running away in the standings. Lookity, lookity, NBA holiday shoppers, the Alamo Alliance entered last night's game at Chicago owning seven consecutive wins and a franchise-best start 15-3.
The most recent conquest was Saturday night's 21-point barbecue of the Bucks . . . in Milwaukee . . . shooting 57 percent . . . playing a fourth game in five nights.
(The Buckling Unders, relying way too much on Michael Redd's offense and conceptionally defective at the defensive end, have dropped nine of 10, but that's a sad-sack story for some other semester.)
San Antonio is not just beating opponents; it's beating 'em up so badly dental records aren't even helpful in recognizing them. During this run they've dominated by an average of 19.4 points, including a pair (Utah and Philly, both at home) of 33-point pastings.
Long regarded as stylish squatters in the upper echelon of league defense, the Spurs began the week ranking first in fewest points allowed (84.6 ppg) and opponents' field goal percentage (40.8. Oh, yes. For his part, the nauseatingly nimble Tim Duncan is averaging 22.1 (ninth in league scoring) and 12.8 boards, second to Kevin Garnett.
Had just about any other assemblage been this assertive this season — both Phoenix and Sacramento entered this week having won 10-of-11 — the phrase "peaking way too soon" would be the operative phrase. Yet, when you have two rings at your disposal (even J-Lo takes notice) and the planet's pluperfect player as your centerpiece, there is no such thing as a poorly timed pillage.
"Professionalism," is how Gregg Popovich describes his ensemble, three games up on Dallas in the spanking-new Southwest Division.
How special are the Spurs? So special, Rafer (Madness) Alston says he can see himself fitting in snugly.
December 7, 2004 --
LOST in the reams of replays of players running into the stands are the San Antonio Spurs running away in the standings. Lookity, lookity, NBA holiday shoppers, the Alamo Alliance entered last night's game at Chicago owning seven consecutive wins and a franchise-best start 15-3.
The most recent conquest was Saturday night's 21-point barbecue of the Bucks . . . in Milwaukee . . . shooting 57 percent . . . playing a fourth game in five nights.
(The Buckling Unders, relying way too much on Michael Redd's offense and conceptionally defective at the defensive end, have dropped nine of 10, but that's a sad-sack story for some other semester.)
San Antonio is not just beating opponents; it's beating 'em up so badly dental records aren't even helpful in recognizing them. During this run they've dominated by an average of 19.4 points, including a pair (Utah and Philly, both at home) of 33-point pastings.
Long regarded as stylish squatters in the upper echelon of league defense, the Spurs began the week ranking first in fewest points allowed (84.6 ppg) and opponents' field goal percentage (40.8. Oh, yes. For his part, the nauseatingly nimble Tim Duncan is averaging 22.1 (ninth in league scoring) and 12.8 boards, second to Kevin Garnett.
Had just about any other assemblage been this assertive this season — both Phoenix and Sacramento entered this week having won 10-of-11 — the phrase "peaking way too soon" would be the operative phrase. Yet, when you have two rings at your disposal (even J-Lo takes notice) and the planet's pluperfect player as your centerpiece, there is no such thing as a poorly timed pillage.
"Professionalism," is how Gregg Popovich describes his ensemble, three games up on Dallas in the spanking-new Southwest Division.
How special are the Spurs? So special, Rafer (Madness) Alston says he can see himself fitting in snugly.