Honestly, Green/Leonard were the real reason Spurs were relevant since 2012

[MannyIsGod]

And actually, if you want to really go to two people who were the reason the Spurs were relevant in that era, its Pop and RC. Danny Green was a ing castoff and they gave him multiple chances and helped him develop into a damn good 2. Do you remember all of those people claiming Kawhi would be a top 3 player in the NBA and that he would shut down Lebron in the finals one day on draft night? Yeah me either. People here love to about PATFO and their mistakes but the truth is that they have a damn amazing track record of developing players that are prime contributors to le runs that no one else was able to. Yeah, Kawhi and Green have talent, but so do most of the people who come into the NBA but very few if any other front offices have the development track record the Spurs do.

[baseline bum]

There was that guy Parker who was #5 in MVP voting in 2012 and #6 in 2013

[baseline bum]

And actually, if you want to really go to two people who were the reason the Spurs were relevant in that era, its Pop and RC. Danny Green was a ing castoff and they gave him multiple chances and helped him develop into a damn good 2. Do you remember all of those people claiming Kawhi would be a top 3 player in the NBA and that he would shut down Lebron in the finals one day on draft night? Yeah me either. People here love to about PATFO and their mistakes but the truth is that they have a damn amazing track record of developing players that are prime contributors to le runs that no one else was able to. Yeah, Kawhi and Green have talent, but so do most of the people who come into the NBA but very few if any other front offices have the development track record the Spurs do.

[Mikeanaro]

those clowns, Green was crap here.

[Chinook]

There was that guy Parker who was #5 in MVP voting in 2012 and #6 in 2013

I think Tony is way underrated. Dude was more of an offensive fulcrum than any perimeter player the Spurs have ever had. He was rather young back then too, so he wasn't going through the same regression that Tim was going through. Dude was essentially this year's DeRozan. But I also think he benefited from playing next to an elite guard defender who could take the bulk of the work checking top PGs and who fit with his style really well on offense. I wish someone had made a clip of Tony-to-Danny assists from that time period. Tony would through no-look passes to empty spots and hit Green just as he slid to the spot. Just amazing chemistry.

2012-2014 was a really special run, and I would bet that 20-plus teams have never experienced anything like it. It sucks that people are so keen to recast that era in controversy and disdain. It was really fun being a Spurs fan back then.

[RC_Drunkford]

I think Tony is way underrated. Dude was more of an offensive fulcrum than any perimeter player the Spurs have ever had. He was rather young back then too, so he wasn't going through the same regression that Tim was going through. Dude was essentially this year's DeRozan. But I also think he benefited from playing next to an elite guard defender who could take the bulk of the work checking top PGs and who fit with his style really well on offense. I wish someone had made a clip of Tony-to-Danny assists from that time period. Tony would through no-look passes to empty spots and hit Green just as he slid to the spot. Just amazing chemistry.

2012-2014 was a really special run, and I would bet that 20-plus teams have never experienced anything like it. It sucks that people are so keen to recast that era in controversy and disdain. It was really fun being a Spurs fan back then.

that team was one of the best teams in NBA history

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Amazing how you omitted a guy by the name of Tim Duncan who had a resurgence from 2012-2015.

Manu...Parker...Diaw...Splitter. A pretty deep team. There were a few contributors to that success.

But it's true that the Spurs championship teams always seem to have that lockdown defender. '99 was by committee, but '03, '05 and '07 it was Bruce. '14 it was Leonard. I was interested to see if Murray could pick up that mantle. Too bad we'll have to wait for next year.

[TDMVPDPOY]

you remove green and kawhi, who did the spurs had playing the perimeter b4 they got there? and where or what did the spurs achieve in the playoffs between 08-2012? pretender team....

spurs were always looking for the bowen replacement, they found him and fkn mismanage him...
-actually even green couldve been a bowen replacement,
-simmons a late bloomer would just need to develop a 3pt jumpshot couldve been a bowen replacement,
-but we got rid of all 3 players...fck that...
-anderson showed signs of being a legit defender, but never gave him the chance cause pop was busy taking him out of games when he stuff up a play...

[RC_Drunkford]

you remove green and kawhi, who did the spurs had playing the perimeter b4 they got there? and where or what did the spurs achieve in the playoffs between 08-2012? pretender team....

spurs were always looking for the bowen replacement, they found him and fkn mismanage him...
-actually even green couldve been a bowen replacement,
-simmons a late bloomer would just need to develop a 3pt jumpshot couldve been a bowen replacement,
-but we got rid of all 3 players...fck that...
-anderson showed signs of being a legit defender, but never gave him the chance cause pop was busy taking him out of games when he stuff up a play...

Simmons was more like the (40-year old) Manu replacement. SG off the bench that can defend, handle the ball, run pick & rolls and get to the rim with ease. And besides that make a lot of spectacular Top 10 worthy plays which would keep the arena full.
Anderson wasn't worth a damn thing cause he was scared to shoot when he actually has a nice mid-range game.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I think Tony is way underrated. Dude was more of an offensive fulcrum than any perimeter player the Spurs have ever had. He was rather young back then too, so he wasn't going through the same regression that Tim was going through. Dude was essentially this year's DeRozan. But I also think he benefited from playing next to an elite guard defender who could take the bulk of the work checking top PGs and who fit with his style really well on offense. I wish someone had made a clip of Tony-to-Danny assists from that time period. Tony would through no-look passes to empty spots and hit Green just as he slid to the spot. Just amazing chemistry.

2012-2014 was a really special run, and I would bet that 20-plus teams have never experienced anything like it. It sucks that people are so keen to recast that era in controversy and disdain. It was really fun being a Spurs fan back then.

2012 and 2013 ended in massive heartbreak though.

But yes, those teams were fun to watch.

[Ice009]

Keep in mind, Pop never gave Leonard free reign on offense until finals game 3. There is a reason Leonard's first statement to Pop after winning it all was "THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME, OH MY GOD". For all the injury drama we know of, think about how much politics Leonard had to deal with to "earn his shots" versus the veterans, up until that point.

And as much as we all remembered Tim's heroic/unexpected post-ups against Thunder in OT, it was Leonard's ridiculous mid-air steal on Westbrook that sealed the game.

When Pop finally allowed Leonard to be Spurs #1 option, he delivered on the biggest stage against best player in the league at the time playing the same position. We are not talking about Andre Iguodala "doing good" vs LeBron. We are talking about tying LeBron on the overall stat sheet three straight games, in a tied play-off series.

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

[venitian navigator]

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

I think the same. A sprain is a sprain, you play through it if it happens you are in the WCF...nothing was broken...see what Isaiah Thomas (of old) did with a severe anckle sprain...against the Boston Celtics...

[skin27]

Agree on this one..kawhi and green are the missing piece for a championship after Bowen decline..

[ceperez]

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

This should end all discussion about the real value of Kawhi. He missed free throws in 2013 that could have won it all. He didn't show up in 2015 and 2016.

[RC_Drunkford]

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

It's a known fact that Kawhi doesn't play when he feels the slightest bit of pain. He doesn't play unless he's 100% and doesn't want to play through nags. I also thought a tweaked ankle doesn't hold you out for an entire playoff series.

[BlackAndWhite]

Shutdown by Matt Barnes. Tbh there were a couple of other factors that stopped the spurs including the injury of splitter and parker.

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

[Fusternino]

I honestly thought in 2017 Kawhi being shut down against both Rockets and Dubs was mostly Pop's decision.

[dontouchmebwo]

Don't be stupid. Tim was the Spurs' best overall player in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 playoffs.

Where was Kawhi in the 2015 playoffs? He ing choked hard the last 3 games of the series and Tim had to crank it up again against 2 of the most athletic bigs in the NBA.

Where the was Kawhi in the 2016 playoffs? He disappeared in crunch time of those OKC games too. The last game of the series Tim gave it everything he had left, Kawhi sure as didn't. He folded against Andre Roberson

2017 is the only year where I thought Kawhi (as the number 1 option) had it mentally, where I thought "he's got it," well, that was until he got injured. Right now I question whether or not he ed out after that injury because Tim, Manu and Tony would have played if they could have. No way they would have sat out the whole series. At the time I thought it was a legit injury, but after what he did last year, I don't know anymore. Some people have said that he could played played but he decided to shut himself down. I am actually thinking that could be true after the he pulled last season.

dude Spurs lost in 2015 because Duncan got destroyed by bigs just like he did the very next year against OKC's bigs. Their guards also had a field day picking TD apart on pick and rolls

Griffin put up 24, 7 assist, 13 boards nearly averaged a trip dub.
Jordan put up 13 & 13 on 71% shooting.

It's easy to say he was the best player on the court when you ignore player match ups, that's stupid. Last time Duncan was matching up with 1st and 3rd options was years and years ago

[Chinook]

Spurs lost in 2015 because Splitter had what ended up being a career-ending injury. Had he been healthy, the Spurs probably win the le that year.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Shutdown by Matt Barnes. Tbh there were a couple of other factors that stopped the spurs including the injury of splitter and parker.

shut down or was it parker going hero ball dont want to pass it to anyone, to remind everyone its still his team after his crap empty stat padding scrub minutes in the finals against the bench trying to s teal another fmvp? wasnt he planking/lying on the floor against a injured 1 leg cp3 for that series?....thinkn he can take advantage of that injury mismatch, lol what a joke ass of a player...

[TDMVPDPOY]

2012 and 2013 ended in massive heartbreak though.

But yes, those teams were fun to watch.

enrique era 08-13 was crap to watch a ballhog pg going hero mode
dont forget patfo wasting all those draft picks looking for that backup pg (all became draft busts or nowhere in the league)
then bowen was on his last legs, they were wasting picks on that bowen replacement (like above, all draft busts or signing the wrong players RJ)
then u had the bigs situation till splitter decided to come over... (mcdyness, gooden, curry, blair, missing another kent forgot his name with that ugly laugh)
those years was disgusting with how patfo surrounded duncan with utter ...

[ceperez]

enrique era 08-13 was crap to watch a ballhog pg going hero mode
dont forget patfo wasting all those draft picks looking for that backup pg (all became draft busts or nowhere in the league)
then bowen was on his last legs, they were wasting picks on that bowen replacement (like above, all draft busts or signing the wrong players RJ)
then u had the bigs situation till splitter decided to come over... (mcdyness, gooden, curry, blair, missing another kent forgot his name with that ugly laugh)
those years was disgusting with how patfo surrounded duncan with utter ...

Man... it's like the Spurs have been the worse team in this league for the past 20 years!

[TD 21]

Spurs lost in 2015 because Splitter had what ended up being a career-ending injury. Had he been healthy, the Spurs probably win the le that year.

Splitter, a role player who topped out as a mid 20 mpg player, was never going to be the difference between winning a championship or not.

I don't know why so many complicate '15: It was ulative fatigue that got them. They were mentally and physically exhausted from 3 straight deep runs. Runs that started when Duncan and Ginobili were already old and ended when Parker, Diaw and Bonner had become old.

I've seen it so many times: '03 and '11 Lakers, '08 and '15 Spurs, '12 Celtics, '14 Heat. Had they not broken up, it was coming for the '99 Bulls and there were signs last year that it's coming for the '19 or '20 Warriors.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

enrique era 08-13 was crap to watch a ballhog pg going hero mode
dont forget patfo wasting all those draft picks looking for that backup pg (all became draft busts or nowhere in the league)
then bowen was on his last legs, they were wasting picks on that bowen replacement (like above, all draft busts or signing the wrong players RJ)
then u had the bigs situation till splitter decided to come over... (mcdyness, gooden, curry, blair, missing another kent forgot his name with that ugly laugh)
those years was disgusting with how patfo surrounded duncan with utter ...

The turd towers! Blair and Bonner

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Spurs lost in 2015 because Splitter had what ended up being a career-ending injury. Had he been healthy, the Spurs probably win the le that year.

They lost because Pop coached the poorest series of his career and thought that going TP over Mills was a great idea. He even had to apologize to the rest of the team for that after Game 7.