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Tim Duncan goes all season without scoring 40 points, and then goes for 40 and 15 in the playoff opener. How do you explain that one, Tim? "I don't know, dumb luck," he says. OK, sure.
OPINION
By Stan McNeal
updated 59 minutes ago
The Spurs are laughing at us. Not out loud, mind you. They are too smart for that. But they are feeling mighty fine on the inside, thank you very much. Just don't expect them to show it. That's part of their secret.
After they finished off the Suns Tuesday night — did you ever really think the Suns were going to win that game? — Gregg Popovich responded with typical sarcasm. "It's good to know the playoffs are over," he said. "We don't have to play anyone else, do we?" In two sentences, Popovich downplayed the significance of his team's impressive performance by pointing out it still has three rounds to go.
Don't let the Spurs' No. 3 finish in the regular season fool you. This is the best team in the league, and it's not close. They may have teased us for 82 games, letting us think that the pack was catching up. Don't count on it. The Spurs understand the difference between the regular season and the playoffs better than anyone. Tim Duncan goes all season without scoring 40 points, and then goes for 40 and 15 in the playoff opener. How do you explain that one, Tim? "I don't know, dumb luck," he says. OK, sure.
The Spurs have set the bar so high that they created a frenzy of blockbuster trades in February, with only the Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol still having a chance of paying off. What's funny about that frenzy: The Spurs quietly (do they know any other way?) made perhaps the second-best move by trading for Kurt Thomas. The deal didn't make any headlines outside of San Antonio, but Thomas sure paid off against the Suns. Even more insulting to Phoenix: Thomas was on the other side last summer, banging against Tim Duncan. Then the Suns traded him for financial reasons, only to admit that mistake by spending way more to get Shaquille O'Neal.
People gripe that the Spurs are boring but the only place they're boring is in front of reporters, and that's by design. On the court, the Spurs are a finely tuned machine that plays as efficiently as any team ever. They are built around the best threesome in the league, they have one of the top two coaches and they have every role covered. Need a 3-point shooter? Well, there's Michael Finley and Brent Barry. Need a big man 3-point shooter? Robert Horry and Matt Bonner are sitting there waiting. How about a physical inside presence? Thomas, get in there. Capable backup at the point? Well, Manu Ginobili can slide to that position or they can bring in Jacque Vaughn. Remember when such a big deal was made of where Damon Stoudamire would end up? San Antonio got him and he can't even get minutes. Need an athletic 3? Ime Udoka is on the way.
I wonder what the Spurs really thought when the Suns acquired Shaq. They heard all about how he would make the Suns better equipped to beat the Spurs, and the Suns showed as much in the regular season. Then the Spurs eliminate them 4-1 and a report -- from a very reliable source -- comes out that Mike D'Antoni is out as head coach. How dumb: Lets' get rid of one of the best coaches in the league because we lost to the Spurs. Getting rid of D'Antoni ensures Phoenix of one thing: The Suns will not be any closer to the Spurs this time next year. The Suns will not find a replacement who's better than D'Antoni. And the Spurs can take satisfaction knowing a team that actually was closing the gap last year now is losing ground.
The Mavs are not much different than the Suns. They knew they weren't going to beat the Spurs with what they had. They took a chance -- a very costly one --- on Jason Kidd. The Mavs won't even get a chance at the Spurs because they've already been bounced in embarrassing fashion by the Hornets. Now Mark Cuban will be expected to blow things up and somehow put together a team that can beat the Spurs. Well, good luck.
At least the Spurs' next victim, the Hornets, won't have to worry about radical makeovers after they come up short. This is a young team with its window just opening. They will learn valuable lessons from the Spurs. They just won't beat them.
You saw how Tony Parker went off against the Suns. Because Steve Nash couldn't defend him, the Suns basically had no chance. Well, the Hornets have Chris Paul, and he can stick with Parker. You know what that means? Ginobili will be the man in this series. Who's going to defend him? Mo Peterson?
The Spurs have such an answer for every opponent. And, of course, they also have Duncan. All he has been is the best big man in the game over the past 10 years.
I don't blame the Suns or the Mavericks or any team for making their big deals. They have to take chances to have a chance against the Spurs. I just don't think they should be all that disappointed when they fall short.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24391177/
Tim Duncan goes all season without scoring 40 points, and then goes for 40 and 15 in the playoff opener. How do you explain that one, Tim? "I don't know, dumb luck," he says. OK, sure.
get some rest gino...this next round is yours
The same can not be said for the Spurs' opponents...
This guy breaks it down very well. Popovich is quite possibly one of the best strategists to ever coach basketball, in my opinion.
Great article.
WOW....i would shake this guys hand if he was here in front of me....finally somebody acknowledges the spurs won instead of the suns losing....
Nice article. I would add this:
they have every role covered. Need a 3-point shooter? Well, there's Michael Finley and Brent Barry. Need a big man 3-point shooter? Robert Horry and Matt Bonner are sitting there waiting. How about a physical inside presence? Thomas, get in there. Capable backup at the point? Well, Manu Ginobili can slide to that position or they can bring in Jacque Vaughn. Remember when such a big deal was made of where Damon Stoudamire would end up? San Antonio got him and he can't even get minutes. Need a lockdown perimeter defender who can shut down everyone from Peja to Kobe? Meet Bruce Bowen. Need an athletic 3? Ime Udoka is on the way.
Well written. Thanks for the post!
In all my homerish approach to this article I can't help but embrace it - well said. The experts outside need to keep the league and playoffs interesting so the hype will go on and only be done with after the Spurs win it all one more time.
At least until the next season starts.
Two thumbs up here!
Jeff Van Gundy to the Suns.
Make em play Riley style grindout ball.
Damn I hope the Spurs don't read this. They don't come out with a lot of effort when everyone's publicly heaping praise upon them.
from a very reliable source -- comes out that Mike D'Antoni is out as head coach.
gr8 thread and better article! there are some juicy analysis on it!
Really good article!
Though I wouldn't necessarily agree with is reference to Udoka as an athletic 3.
Finally, someone who actually knows a good team when they see one.
SportingNews.com has always like the Spurs. It's the nerd in them.Finally, someone who actually knows a good team when they see one.
Ime Udoka is athletic? Lol
But anyway, I love the Spurs' humility and professionalism - this team should be the role model for everybody. It all starts with Pop and Timmy.
a pity that SportingNews has been squashed into nothing with the arrival of ESPN.
- Mars
Good read. I agree that Chris Paul does well against TP at both ends of the floor. Gino should be very good in this series except I think Gino is hurt. A groin injury can be really tough to play through. He definitely looked slowed by that leg on Tuesday night. We'll hope for the best. Tim will be playoff Tim.
You're right that Ginobili was hurting on tuesday and had no lift. He can however still be effective by penetrating and kicking it out for open shots. The hornets don't close out well on shooters and Fin, Barry, Ime and Bruce will get enough touches to get in rythm.
Good read...
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