http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/17111271.html
Jerry Zgoda's Sunday Insider:
Spurs steady, and ready
Other contenders make splashy moves on and off the court to keep up with boring but brilliant San Antonio.
By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune
NBA Commissioner David Stern grows an inch or two taller when conversation turns toward a dizzying Western Conference playoff race destined to produce springtime thrills and robust television ratings.
In a season that began with NBA referee Tim Donaghy's infamy and included the Seattle Sonics scheduling everything but the movers for their transfer to Oklahoma City, the commissioner is thrilled about the topic.
"We're actually talking about basketball,'' he said.
You can blame the San Antonio Spurs for that.
Champions four times in the past nine years, 50-game winners for nine consecutive seasons now, the Spurs seemingly inspired a frantic arms race before last month's trading deadline that featured Pau Gasol, Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Kidd, among others, changing teams just to keep up with the Ginobilis.
"That's flattering," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But I'm not sure how much truth there is to it."
So gifted and so dull at the same time, the Spurs strangely enough are both a favorite and an afterthought in a looming conference playdown where the Lakers and the Suns and maybe even the Golden State Warriors will bring the sizzle and the Spurs will provide the steak.
"Definitely, the Lakers right now are playing the best basketball, but you know what?" Wolves guard Marko Jaric said. "Every year there a couple of teams -- Detroit, San Antonio -- nobody talks about and they always seem to get to the finals or the conference finals."
A recent segment on an ESPN Radio program asked this question: Why are the Spurs so boring? There was no consensus. Some theories: They've taken on the personality of superstar Tim Duncan, who is so fundamentally sound and so unexpressive. They have too much character and no characters. They're just so darn good defensively, and who pays to watch defense?
"They never change their stuff for anybody," said Sacramento guard Beno Udrih, a former Spur. "They stick with their principles and it works. Poppy's been there for 10 years. It works for them for 10 years, I think."
Nearly every season except maybe for this one, the Spurs increasingly have paced themselves until the All-Star break, then revved their turbines. This season, their current six-game winning streak was preceded by a four-game losing streak.
"They don't show the determination like they used to, but they are one of the playoff teams I would not trust," Jaric said. "They have a good foundation. They have good coaching. They are just solid."
And they are the defending champs, with their triumvirate of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker together for the past five seasons.
"They've been through all this many, many times," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "Not once, not some of them. They all have. They know what's ahead and what's in store for them."
Only the Lakers from 1979-91 and the Celtics from 1979-88 have had more consecutive 50-victory seasons.
"I just think there's absolutely no subs ute for understanding truly what it takes to win conference finals and NBA finals, in Games 6 and 7s," Wolves VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale said. "Five guys tied together, four or five guys coming off the bench every bit tied together as your starting five. There's a whole cohesiveness that's pretty cool to be around if you've ever been around it. I would say that's why they win more than anything else.
"And Pop is the best coach in the league and never has gotten the credit he deserves. He has the unique ability to demand a great, great deal and yet have that human touch where they'll play for him and there's not a revolt."
I know we have some games before playoff time but..
When Jurrasic Park first came out, remember that moment you heard a thump in the distance of the T-Rex? Or when there's a rare silence in the middle of a storm? I feel that right now. Unlike other years I have felt all BLAME IN YO FACE HUR WE COME now I feel like, we are about to pull something really dark and go for the necks on the way to a repeat.
Nice article.
'Poppy'?
Wake me up when they beat a good team ass kisser!
pretty cool reference/metaphor... I hope the Spurs have something in store for the rest of the league come playoffs and they just obliterate everyone.
(and what if Manu's regular season is just a preamble? ..
)
"They never change their stuff for anybody," said Sacramento guard Beno Udrih, a former Spur. "They stick with their principles and it works. Poppy's been there for 10 years. It works for them for 10 years, I think."
Chopper, I love your picnic table spur.
There is no doubt in my mind that Manu will win Finals MVP before he retires.(
Did Beno just call Pop, "Poppy"??? OR maybe that's a misprint?
^^ me either SC. He has done everything else right? Odds are in favor.
Jerry Zgoda's Sunday Insider: Spurs steady, and ready
Delcia Lopez, Associated Press
San Antonio has taken on the personality of Tim Duncan: unexpressive but fundamentally sound.
Other contenders make splashy moves on and off the court to keep up with boring but brilliant San Antonio.
By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune
Last update: March 29, 2008 - 9:59 PM
• A quiet week, but one that took the Wolves through a formidable two-game Texas trip. They knocked a 10-point, third-quarter deficit down to a basket twice early in the fourth quarter Wednesday, but suc bed to Tracy McGrady and Houston 97-86 anyway. Friday, they cut a 20-point deficit to three, only to lose to Manu Ginobili and San Antonio 99-84.
STAR TRIBUNE'S STAR OF THE WEEK: Al Jefferson, forward
• Yes, it's big Al again this week, but not for his scoring and rebounding, but rather his shot blocking (his five in Wednesday's loss at Houston tied a career high) and playmaking. Go figure.
NBA Commissioner David Stern grows an inch or two taller when conversation turns toward a dizzying Western Conference playoff race destined to produce springtime thrills and robust television ratings.
In a season that began with NBA referee Tim Donaghy's infamy and included the Seattle Sonics scheduling everything but the movers for their transfer to Oklahoma City, the commissioner is thrilled about the topic.
"We're actually talking about basketball,'' he said.
You can blame the San Antonio Spurs for that.
Champions four times in the past nine years, 50-game winners for nine consecutive seasons now, the Spurs seemingly inspired a frantic arms race before last month's trading deadline that featured Pau Gasol, Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Kidd, among others, changing teams just to keep up with the Ginobilis.
"That's flattering," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But I'm not sure how much truth there is to it."
So gifted and so dull at the same time, the Spurs strangely enough are both a favorite and an afterthought in a looming conference playdown where the Lakers and the Suns and maybe even the Golden State Warriors will bring the sizzle and the Spurs will provide the steak.
"Definitely, the Lakers right now are playing the best basketball, but you know what?" Wolves guard Marko Jaric said. "Every year there a couple of teams -- Detroit, San Antonio -- nobody talks about and they always seem to get to the finals or the conference finals."
A recent segment on an ESPN Radio program asked this question: Why are the Spurs so boring? There was no consensus. Some theories: They've taken on the personality of superstar Tim Duncan, who is so fundamentally sound and so unexpressive. They have too much character and no characters. They're just so darn good defensively, and who pays to watch defense?
"They never change their stuff for anybody," said Sacramento guard Beno Udrih, a former Spur. "They stick with their principles and it works. Poppy's been there for 10 years. It works for them for 10 years, I think."
Nearly every season except maybe for this one, the Spurs increasingly have paced themselves until the All-Star break, then revved their turbines. This season, their current six-game winning streak was preceded by a four-game losing streak.
"They don't show the determination like they used to, but they are one of the playoff teams I would not trust," Jaric said. "They have a good foundation. They have good coaching. They are just solid."
And they are the defending champs, with their triumvirate of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker together for the past five seasons.
"They've been through all this many, many times," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "Not once, not some of them. They all have. They know what's ahead and what's in store for them."
Only the Lakers from 1979-91 and the Celtics from 1979-88 have had more consecutive 50-victory seasons.
"I just think there's absolutely no subs ute for understanding truly what it takes to win conference finals and NBA finals, in Games 6 and 7s," Wolves VP of basketball operations Kevin McHale said. "Five guys tied together, four or five guys coming off the bench every bit tied together as your starting five. There's a whole cohesiveness that's pretty cool to be around if you've ever been around it. I would say that's why they win more than anything else.
"And Pop is the best coach in the league and never has gotten the credit he deserves. He has the unique ability to demand a great, great deal and yet have that human touch where they'll play for him and there's not a revolt."
I've said before, and I'll continue to say that as great as Duncan is, without Pop the Spurs don't have four championships.
"And Pop is the best coach in the league and never has gotten the credit he deserves. He has the unique ability to demand a great, great deal and yet have that human touch where they'll play for him and there's not a revolt."
Beno has eaten too many poppy seeds
Great read I have the Spurs coming out of the West hands down.
*inserts into Beno translater*
Small wonder the Spurs paid someone to take his Slovene ass off their hands.
Chopper, I love your picnic table spur.
Hey!!!
Carpe Jugulum?
Calling Pop "Poppy" is as good a reason to end up in the doghouse as any.
Chopper, I love your picnic table spur.
I hadn't noticed that. Thanks for pointing it out!
spurs will win back to back NBA les for the first time. There i said it
Nuggets-Spurs 1st round is just what the Spurs need. They need the Nuggets to light a fire under them and then they will roll and think every other series is a cakewalk
Spurs-Nuggets 1st rd = championship for the Spurs (see 2005 & 2007)
The recipe is very simple and proven:spurs will win back to back NBA les for the first time. There i said it
Nuggets-Spurs 1st round is just what the Spurs need. They need the Nuggets to light a fire under them and then they will roll and think every other series is a cakewalk
Spurs-Nuggets 1st rd = championship for the Spurs (see 2005 & 2007)
- The Spurs have to play the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
- They must lose the first game.
- I have to be in the AT&T when it happens.
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