biba
10-26-2007, 03:01 PM
Spurs preview: Pop's bunch has to be favorite to win title
Oct. 25, 2007 By Tony Mejia
CBSSports.com Staff Writer
Just before the All-Star break last season, everyone was wondering what was wrong with the Spurs. Miami had just beaten them by 15 points, handing them their fourth loss in five games.
San Antonio, by its standards, had fallen to a pedestrian 33-18. Gregg Popovich wasn't pleased. That was the low point of another championship season. Then things just clicked, 13 consecutive wins followed and you know the rest of the story.
If Finals MVP Tony Parker stays healthy, the Spurs will be in good shape. (AP)
So, please, if the Spurs find themselves struggling around February again, let's not write them off as old and finished. Don't talk about their inability to win in even number seasons. It was funny to see Popovich sand-bagging by referencing that just before training camp.
"If it doesn't happen there will be no suicides on my watch. But you know, you have goals and you reach those goals and there are new goals and you reach those goals and somebody comes up with something else," Popovich said. "And we're going to try, but it's an even year, so it's tough for us."
Teams like the Spurs don't honestly believe in jinxes. They won't suddenly lose their motivation. Don't wonder if, having brought nearly everyone back from last season's run, they've gotten complacent.
San Antonio already has its rallying cry: Repeat or bust. The gauntlet was thrown down by point guard Tony Parker last June when asked if his franchise was a dynasty or not. The 2007 Finals MVP said he didn't feel his team would truly fall into that category until they won consecutive titles. How's that for leadership?
Besides, it's not like you can loaf while playing for Popovich unless you're Robert Horry, since those two seem to have some kind of understanding. If you don't play defense, he'll burn a hole in your skull with one of his infamous glares and you'll be sitting right next to him on the bench. That's how he rolls.
Dallas and Houston will make for stiff competition in the strongest division in basketball, so a Southwest Division title is nowhere near guaranteed, but the Spurs managed to do just fine despite finishing nine games behind the Mavericks last season.
Another factor that plays in San Antonio's favor is the uncertainty that lies in the future of veterans like Horry, Brent Barry and Michael Finley. If they're going out, all want to go out on top.
Last season, a popular rallying cry in the Spurs locker room was to get a title for guys like Finley, Matt Bonner and Argentinean import Fabricio Oberto. This year, there are fewer new guys, but they can always rely on the win one for Ime Udoka card. He's come on board to polish his stopper skills under the tutelage of Bruce Bowen and should be very effective.
In all seriousness, it's more fun to win than lose. San Antonio plays a brand of defense that Denver head coach George Karl has called the best the NBA has seen in the past 30 years, so that alone will always make them a factor. Provided Tim Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili stay healthy, they'll be there in the end.
A fifth championship in 10 years is the ultimate prize. As we break preseason and get the ball rolling, the Spurs have to be considered the favorite to do just that.
San Antonio Spurs
Power Ranking Rank:1st
Projected Record: 59-23, 1st Southwest
Best case scenario: Basketball fans grow to embrace San Antonio's style after watching it work its magic again. The Spurs gain the reverence they deserve and the dynasty talk no longer becomes a question, but a fact. Of course, if they're hanging another banner this time next season, they still won't care whether you like them or not.
Worst case scenario: Tim Duncan or Tony Parker goes down. The Spurs are too thin at their positions to adequately replace those two, which would be difficult for anyone given their unique talents.
X-factor: Ime Udoka will fit right in with his relentless defense and help keep the Spurs older perimeter players fresh by taking some of those regular season bullets.
Early season schedule: The defending champs get the honor of playing the first game of the season, welcoming Portland in a game the league initially put together to help unveil Greg Oden. San Antonio visits Memphis the following night and will be the only team to enter November with two games under its belt.
Oct. 25, 2007 By Tony Mejia
CBSSports.com Staff Writer
Just before the All-Star break last season, everyone was wondering what was wrong with the Spurs. Miami had just beaten them by 15 points, handing them their fourth loss in five games.
San Antonio, by its standards, had fallen to a pedestrian 33-18. Gregg Popovich wasn't pleased. That was the low point of another championship season. Then things just clicked, 13 consecutive wins followed and you know the rest of the story.
If Finals MVP Tony Parker stays healthy, the Spurs will be in good shape. (AP)
So, please, if the Spurs find themselves struggling around February again, let's not write them off as old and finished. Don't talk about their inability to win in even number seasons. It was funny to see Popovich sand-bagging by referencing that just before training camp.
"If it doesn't happen there will be no suicides on my watch. But you know, you have goals and you reach those goals and there are new goals and you reach those goals and somebody comes up with something else," Popovich said. "And we're going to try, but it's an even year, so it's tough for us."
Teams like the Spurs don't honestly believe in jinxes. They won't suddenly lose their motivation. Don't wonder if, having brought nearly everyone back from last season's run, they've gotten complacent.
San Antonio already has its rallying cry: Repeat or bust. The gauntlet was thrown down by point guard Tony Parker last June when asked if his franchise was a dynasty or not. The 2007 Finals MVP said he didn't feel his team would truly fall into that category until they won consecutive titles. How's that for leadership?
Besides, it's not like you can loaf while playing for Popovich unless you're Robert Horry, since those two seem to have some kind of understanding. If you don't play defense, he'll burn a hole in your skull with one of his infamous glares and you'll be sitting right next to him on the bench. That's how he rolls.
Dallas and Houston will make for stiff competition in the strongest division in basketball, so a Southwest Division title is nowhere near guaranteed, but the Spurs managed to do just fine despite finishing nine games behind the Mavericks last season.
Another factor that plays in San Antonio's favor is the uncertainty that lies in the future of veterans like Horry, Brent Barry and Michael Finley. If they're going out, all want to go out on top.
Last season, a popular rallying cry in the Spurs locker room was to get a title for guys like Finley, Matt Bonner and Argentinean import Fabricio Oberto. This year, there are fewer new guys, but they can always rely on the win one for Ime Udoka card. He's come on board to polish his stopper skills under the tutelage of Bruce Bowen and should be very effective.
In all seriousness, it's more fun to win than lose. San Antonio plays a brand of defense that Denver head coach George Karl has called the best the NBA has seen in the past 30 years, so that alone will always make them a factor. Provided Tim Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili stay healthy, they'll be there in the end.
A fifth championship in 10 years is the ultimate prize. As we break preseason and get the ball rolling, the Spurs have to be considered the favorite to do just that.
San Antonio Spurs
Power Ranking Rank:1st
Projected Record: 59-23, 1st Southwest
Best case scenario: Basketball fans grow to embrace San Antonio's style after watching it work its magic again. The Spurs gain the reverence they deserve and the dynasty talk no longer becomes a question, but a fact. Of course, if they're hanging another banner this time next season, they still won't care whether you like them or not.
Worst case scenario: Tim Duncan or Tony Parker goes down. The Spurs are too thin at their positions to adequately replace those two, which would be difficult for anyone given their unique talents.
X-factor: Ime Udoka will fit right in with his relentless defense and help keep the Spurs older perimeter players fresh by taking some of those regular season bullets.
Early season schedule: The defending champs get the honor of playing the first game of the season, welcoming Portland in a game the league initially put together to help unveil Greg Oden. San Antonio visits Memphis the following night and will be the only team to enter November with two games under its belt.