This is a good reminder of how hard it is to win a championship ... much less four championships. Not only do you need a great team, you need to avoid running into a team that is on fire that shoots like 80% on buzzer beating three-pointers for the entire series. You also need to avoid broken noses, shoulder-jarring fouls and unexplainable free throw woes.
This year's loss isn't too painful considering the Spurs weren't going to beat the Lakers and whoever came out of the East. It just wasn't going to happen. This team was running on fumes after having to play all out since March just to ensure a place in the playoffs ... without the benefit of decent depth.
That said, I am disappointed with the sweep. Give the Suns credit but these teams were too close in talent to justify a sweep. In my humble opinion, the series was lost in Game 1 after the Spurs couldn't sustain their numerous runs and instead handed the contest to the Suns. That allowed Phoenix to get confidence and proceed to live up to their explosive potential.
Going into this season, I had a lot of hope for these Spurs. The offseason went perfect. Everything seemed to be in line for a solid run in the playoffs. I can't really say I'm proud of what they accomplished based on preseason expectations, although I am proud that they recovered from the midseason mediocrity that made getting out of the first round look like a longshot.
Thankfully, I fully believe the window is open for at least another season. Tim Duncan is still one of the best at his position. Manu Ginobili appears to be recovered from his leg injuries and has returned to s om. Tony Parker has to have better luck next season when it comes to injuries. The youngsters, namely George Hill, DeJuan Blair and hopefully Tiago Splitter, should give the Spurs the horses they need to improve upon what we saw this season.
I'll remember this year as the season the Spurs needed to begin their transition away from being able to rely on Bruce Bowen. History won't remember Bowen as an all-time great but there's no doubt that the last three championships relied on a unique formula that included the best perimeter defender in the game who could spread the court on the other end with his three-point shot. Even though Richard Jefferson was an improvement on paper, his skillset is so different that it made it nearly impossible to transition in one season.
Getting number five is going to be difficult. Chances are it won't happen. The Big 3 probably has too many miles on their tires. The young players probably won't be able to develop quickly enough. But I have hope. I like the team's character. I believe that winning is everyone's main goal. With a few offseason moves and better luck next year at this time, things could be much different ... for the fifth time.
Thanks to the Spurs and Spurs fans for another entertaining season. Stay thirsty.
Agreed the team had zero luck all year. There were no wins were u could say that was luck or just a special night. The bench needs more firepower and just an overall defensive jolt. Hopefully splitter comes and a damn good starting forward or two guard can be found in the draft...
we need better wing players
nice post !
We will be there next season, the big 3 will continue together for a couple of last runs.
Go spurs Go
I think the series took a turn for the worse when Dudley went off on us in the 2nd quarter of Game 2 and singlehandedly kept Phoenix is the game when they were down by double digits....that's when it appeared the old psychological advantage the Spurs had over the Suns was not going to rear it's head this series.
I agree that winning a championship isn't easy, and there are many things that have to go right to make that happen..... , we need Manu to go insane to get to the point we got to. Hopefully we keep building on the young core to take the pressure off the Big 3 and get a few pieces with those intangibles that can carry you in the clutch...also hope that whoever comes back adds another dimension to their game in the offseason.
Looking forward to the offseason.
It could be worse....there are a bunch of fanbases who would be happy just to make the playoffs once in a while. Getting swept sucks but it beats not being there at all.
.
Has Manu returned to S om or did he simply prove that he can provide periods of spectacular play but then his legs catch up to him? I'm not sure, but hopefully next year will prove you right.
Stay thirsty my friend
Agreed on that it's tough to win a championship - so many things must to come together. From injuries to being hot at the right time. To have guys step up. To have good matchups in the playoffs.
It is also a reminder of all the extra good luck it took for the Spurs to win their last le. I still contend that it was the fool's gold that set up the disappointments of the past 3 seasons.
Our bench consisted of Manu Ginobili, then Tony Parker. Tough to win when tha's all you have.
Hopefully, they'll get a little bit lucky this offseason and find all those missing pieces.
I agree, the uphill climb to the Finals looked really daunting after the Mavs series and when you think about giving another 6-7 games to beat the Suns...one has to wonder what is left for the Lakers or Cavs/Magic. A Championship run is a huge accomplishment and takes a deep team to make it through all 16 wins.
So yea, it's a good reminder of how much the Spurs have accomplished and what it takes to get back on top.
How can a championship be fools gold?
Amen to this. Bowen's ability to lock down the best player on the other team made it easy to dominate 4th quarters, something the Spurs did not do in any game this series.
I am very worried about Manu. He is certainly capable of being dominant in spurts, but I am not sure if it can be a sustained thing. Same with Tim.
I really think if RJ opted out (which is not happening), the Spurs could get worse on paper, but better on court if they got a defensive minded 3 who could actually shoot. Even if he does not opt out, if they can find that player (Bell?), they can move RJ to the bench with Manu which worked out very well and start TP and Hill all year.
Spurs definitely need to stay healthy and set rotations earlier.
just one thing I am really confused about...
trying to build---or rebuild a team is an arduous process and in the last few years--matchups are what it is all about...
so where do you go???
small with deadly shooters like the suns?
long--long front line like the lakers?
...and when you do decide which way to go...
it is like shooting at a moving target because by the time you put together a team that you believe can matchup with the best teams---
you end up facing a team in the playoffs that is a nightmare matchup for you
the spurs appeared to finally match-up well against the lakers---by having TD & Dice defending---and maybe putting bonner on artest and RJ on odumb---
but the spurs run into phoenix....
so where do you go---how will the spurs front office try to revamp this time???
...and to look back a little---the spurs finally figured out the mavs---only to run into another matchup nightmare...
really hard to figure...
You are a terrible poster sometimes.
Well said timvp!!!!!!!!!!
And yea - nothing was going spurs way during this series.
No bench, no hustle, hesitation, not having weapon we always had against suns, zero 3-point threat
ohh well at least i do not have to worry about not being able to see the second half of the game 5 that was scheduled @4:30am
And now maybe I will get some decent sleep to survive this next tough week for me.
thanks guys
Spurs thought the team was better constructed than it was and that off-season made no real moves to improve the team. Instead they re-signed Bonner and traded Scola away. They also traded Beno for nothing.
I don't think it matters.
I think for The Fifth Reign we need a deep quality athletic bench. And if we have that, we can seriously give Ginobili the Robert Horry treatment and just pussy foot with him all season then have him be Super Manu for the playoffs.
As long as we know he can be that guy for a 20-30 game period, that is an awesome weapon to have on your team, and I'm damn glad he's with us.
We're going to find out. I'm assuming he's going back to the bench.
It didn't include Rasho. Please try to keep up with her various hatreds.
How can a championship be fools gold?
I always appreciate your post-game reads. I have debated to even say anything, as I understand posting tendencies in defeat. It's disappointing and most times your soften the blow of the defeat through certain phrases, but...
I'm gonna have to disagree with the underlined portion. With all the turnovers, I can see why you used "handed", but in reality, the defensive techniques the Suns employed worked, and flustered the Spurs. They were employed at random, so the Spurs couldn't expect what was coming, and I think that contributed to the rushed/uncrisp nature of play that led to many turnovers. The Suns played their asses off, and took back leads. Much of the time, it was the second unit.
I'm not here to rub it in. I'm not. Just gotta call it like I see it.
Manu proved he can still be a dominant force for a huge chunk of games. More than enough for the playoffs.
He used his juice up too early. And we have a conflagration of factors when you consider the instant-drop-off after the nose injury. Who knows what his performance would have been without the nose injury? It's an excuse but a valid one.
If he can be a guy that can tear it up for a 20-30 game stretch, we need a bench regardless, and we can just Robert Horry him. The RoHo strategy worked for two offseasons it can work again.
Sure glad they didn't bring back Hedo though, otherwise they might not have won 2 more. The Magic sure do look better with Jameer in their instead of him.
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