RobinsontoDuncan
12-10-2004, 07:51 AM
The NBA's team to beat
by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
December 9, 2004
HOUSTON – On Wednesday in San Antonio, the Seattle SuperSonics ran and shot their way past the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season. On Thursday in Houston, Tracy McGrady put on an incredible show, scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds to lead the Houston Rockets to an amazing comeback victory over the Spurs.
Two nights, two bad losses. Gregg Popovich is furious, Tim Duncan is embarrassed and the Spurs fans can't believe it.
Well, they all can relax. Despite the bad spell, San Antonio once again has a great team, and at the one-quarter mark of the season, the Spurs are the favorites to win the NBA championship.
With apologies to Seattle and the Phoenix Suns, who have a better record than San Antonio thus far, the Spurs have the best chance to win the title this season because they're battle-tested, they're deep, they defend, they've won before and they have Duncan.
San Antonio has two titles in the past six seasons, but this probably is the best team Popovich has had. Duncan is his usual self, controlling games with his low-post offense, passing and shot blocking. It's his supporting cast, however, that makes this team so strong.
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Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker form a speedy, attacking backcourt that has energized the Spurs' offense. Several years ago, San Antonio walked the ball up the floor, but with these two guys leading the break, the Spurs entered Thursday's game seventh in the league in fast-break points. They also were sixth in field-goal percentage and fifth in points in the paint. The Spurs are attacking the rim and taking advantage of their guards' speed and Duncan's ability to get great position around the basket.
Popovich has nine players back from last season's squad. Together, they possess what he likes to call "corporate knowledge." They understand the system, play well together and have matured into a tough-minded group. Each player understands his role with the team and pulls for everyone else. The Spurs are a coach's dream.
Their depth is a luxury and somewhat unexpected, too. Rookie Beno Udrih has been so good manning the backup point guard spot that Popovich calls him a "poor man's John Stockton." Third-year guard Devin Brown has been terrific, shooting and defending with confidence, and he has replaced the struggling Brent Barry in the rotation. Malik Rose, who spent much of last season in Popovich's dog house, is back in the lineup and the team's best big perimeter defender, often drawing assignments like Dirk Nowitzki and Lamar Odom.
The Spurs, according to Popovich, are fine as long as they remember "who they are."
"As long as we remember that we win games with defense, we're fine," he said. "We're not Dallas or Phoenix. We don't shoot it real well. But if we defend we're pretty good."
Come playoff time, teams will have to score enough to win four games and knock out the Spurs. Defense wins championships, as Detroit proved once again last season. With the Lakers broken up and Shaq in Miami, this looks like it could be another championship season for San Antonio.
by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
December 9, 2004
HOUSTON – On Wednesday in San Antonio, the Seattle SuperSonics ran and shot their way past the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season. On Thursday in Houston, Tracy McGrady put on an incredible show, scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds to lead the Houston Rockets to an amazing comeback victory over the Spurs.
Two nights, two bad losses. Gregg Popovich is furious, Tim Duncan is embarrassed and the Spurs fans can't believe it.
Well, they all can relax. Despite the bad spell, San Antonio once again has a great team, and at the one-quarter mark of the season, the Spurs are the favorites to win the NBA championship.
With apologies to Seattle and the Phoenix Suns, who have a better record than San Antonio thus far, the Spurs have the best chance to win the title this season because they're battle-tested, they're deep, they defend, they've won before and they have Duncan.
San Antonio has two titles in the past six seasons, but this probably is the best team Popovich has had. Duncan is his usual self, controlling games with his low-post offense, passing and shot blocking. It's his supporting cast, however, that makes this team so strong.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker form a speedy, attacking backcourt that has energized the Spurs' offense. Several years ago, San Antonio walked the ball up the floor, but with these two guys leading the break, the Spurs entered Thursday's game seventh in the league in fast-break points. They also were sixth in field-goal percentage and fifth in points in the paint. The Spurs are attacking the rim and taking advantage of their guards' speed and Duncan's ability to get great position around the basket.
Popovich has nine players back from last season's squad. Together, they possess what he likes to call "corporate knowledge." They understand the system, play well together and have matured into a tough-minded group. Each player understands his role with the team and pulls for everyone else. The Spurs are a coach's dream.
Their depth is a luxury and somewhat unexpected, too. Rookie Beno Udrih has been so good manning the backup point guard spot that Popovich calls him a "poor man's John Stockton." Third-year guard Devin Brown has been terrific, shooting and defending with confidence, and he has replaced the struggling Brent Barry in the rotation. Malik Rose, who spent much of last season in Popovich's dog house, is back in the lineup and the team's best big perimeter defender, often drawing assignments like Dirk Nowitzki and Lamar Odom.
The Spurs, according to Popovich, are fine as long as they remember "who they are."
"As long as we remember that we win games with defense, we're fine," he said. "We're not Dallas or Phoenix. We don't shoot it real well. But if we defend we're pretty good."
Come playoff time, teams will have to score enough to win four games and knock out the Spurs. Defense wins championships, as Detroit proved once again last season. With the Lakers broken up and Shaq in Miami, this looks like it could be another championship season for San Antonio.