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The 1999 Spurs did have a 12 game win streak (including a sweep over the Lakers) after starting the playoffs 1-1 . Finished 15-2.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...999_games.html
yeah, i'd take TD in '99 as well. Duncan was unblievable in the '99 Finals. he was hitting everything, and Kurt Thomas at the time was an elite post-defender. Kurt was ALL over him when he was defending him, but TD was just unstoppable.
he wasn't as good out of the double in '99, but he may have been at his best from scoring standpoint that season out of any other season.
The 1999 Spurs did have a 12 game win streak (including a sweep over the Lakers) after starting the playoffs 1-1 . Finished 15-2.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...999_games.html
'99 Duncan was a beast in the low post but wasn't nearly as good out of the double team, '03 Duncan was just a much better all around player that could still beast in the post. Robinson was surely better in '99 but wasn't a slouch in '03. The '99 bench was far superior than the '05 bench simply because Pop couldn't really play most of those guys or wouldn't. Barry struggled in his first season ('05) and Udrih would have been creamed by the '99 Spurs, just as he couldn't against the '05 Piston but IMO the '99 Spurs were far better than any of those Piston teams, with a fired up Jaren Jackson, Jerome Kersey, Steve Kerr etc, but the '03 team was just getting better and better as the season went on and had more weapons. They did however turn the ball over too much and would have destroyed Tony Parker, as far as Manu, he torched the Lakers and helped get Shaq in foul trouble by consistently attacking the rim even as a limited minute playing rookie who was just getting into the rotation, teams didn't know how to defend him or what he was going to do. '99 and '03 are my favorites but heck I love them all.
They swept Portland and LA that season, lost one to the Knicks and I believe Minnesota was the other team they dropped a game too game.
Yep, game 2 against the Wolves and game 3 at NY
epic fail
Nope; the 89 Lakers and 91 Lakers were next with 11 straight wins. The 99 Spurs have the record for most consecutive wins in the playoffs.
My favorite all time le team has to be the '99 Spurs for so many reasons, but the primary reason was their defense. I was young and still learning the game (and hadn't bought into the Jordan hype in the mid-90s), and watching the rotations and the trust that that team had was unbelievable. They just refused to lose--they made me believe in the franchise. I mean, just think about it: Robinson, Duncan, Sean, Avery, Mario, Malik, even Will Perdue. Some of my favorite memories were just the looks of pure exasperation on the faces of opponents when the Spurs denied them from scoring time and again. I didn't even realize how many times that squad held opponents under 90 points in the playoffs. I don't care who you stack 'em up against, that's just unreal, suffocating D. Sweeping LA out of the Forum? Blanking a VERY scary Portland team? I remember being almost surprised when SA dropped Game 3 in NY--they just gave you the feeling that they couldn't lose during that playoff run.
On the other hand, I believe the BEST of the Spurs le teams has to be the '05 squad. They stood up to the stiffest compe ion of any of the Spurs' le teams and came away victorious. They took the hottest team after the all-star break in Denver and ripped off 4 straight wins after taking their best punch in game 1. They outdueled a Ray Allen-led Sonics team that was looking for blood. Then they blew everyone's minds and beat the Suns at their own run n' gun game. Then, the Finals. Oh, what a series. They faced a team that wasn't just hot ('99 Knicks) or maybe just happy to be there again ('03 Nets). They were going toe-to-toe with the defending NBA champions, who were fully healthy and had everything to play for. From the masterpieces in Games 1 and 2, to the heroics in Game 5, all the way to a heart-stopping 4th quarter of Game 7, that series and playoff run simply had it all.
Not to take anything from the '03 or '07 squads, but I honestly believe the '03 team surprised even themselves with how well they meshed down the stretch. Think about it: an unproven Tony Parker, a rookie wildcard in Ginobili, a loose cannon in Jackson, an aging Robinson on the brink of retirement, and though 2-time MVP Tim Duncan was always a respected threat, he's being backed up by........Kevin Willis? By the time the league knew how dangerous this team was in the postseason, it was already too late. As for the '07 squad, they were the beneficiaries of the Warriors taking down the Mavs. No doubt in my mind that the Mavs were the Spurs' superior that year, but SA was good enough to step through that open door.
My rankings:
1.) 2005 Spurs
2.) 1999 Spurs
3.) 2003 Spurs
4.) 2007 Spurs
This thread is over.
How the does hollinger put 2007 Spurs above the 2005 and 2003 Spurs? He must be basing this on relative compe ion in that given year or something. Because 2003 and 2005 >>>> 2007. We know this. Each and every one of us on this forum is now dumber for having read this list.
I award Hollinger no points....and may god have mercy on his soul.
How can he possibly have the 83 Sixers that low? That team should probably be in the top 3.
07 Spurs ranked higher than both 05 and 03 Spurs? Come on Hollinger. You can do better than that. At least I hope so.
oh yeah! that was in 2000. I was in middle school in 99. i forgot.
99 team was on a mission from God, so to speak. Only lost twice in the whole playoffs. 2003 lost twice in every single round. 2007 wouldn't have beaten Dallas. 2005 had super Manu but they still weren't as determined as 99. 99 just wanted it more than everybody else in the whole league.
Did anyone notice the 09 Lakers being 9th? lol
2010 Lakers > 99* Spurs
The Lakers currently are sitting at about -100+ free throw disparity in the playoffs. That has to be some of kind of record for a champion.
07 spurs would be epic had the spurs face better eastern finals team
lebron was just weak sauce for the taking
Uh...nope...the '99 Spurs were the best defensive team ever in the playoffs, hands down...they would've repeated, too, had Duncan not been injured...NFW the current Laker squad, even as good as they are, would take 4 of 7 from the 1999 Spurs...N-F-W.
Yup...the 2007 Finals was all too easy.
There was something metaphysical about the 99 team. They had a will to win that you could feel from the stands or through the TV screen when it clicked in. It didn't matter if they were behind in the last quarter or not, all of a sudden you'd see them tighten up and simply start to take the other team apart. You KNEW they were going to win.
The hair on the back of my neck still rises up when I think about watching them do that. It was awesome.
Mario Elie trying to defend KobeAt least the Lakers can match 99*'s size.
99* isn't repeating and they aren't beating the 2001 or 2010 Lakers.
Link?Mario Elie trying to defend Kobe
99* isn't repeating and they aren't beating the 2001 or 2010 Lakers.
I doubt they would have gotten through Portland, but I think they'd have taken LA in 2000.
And that's about it. Duncan is in his prime then and D Rob was still at all star level. Putting Gasol, Bynum and Odom on the court with those two in 99 gets you arrested for child abuse.Mario Elie trying to defend Kobe
99* isn't repeating and they aren't beating the 2001 or 2010 Lakers.
And I've gotta agree, the Spurs repeat in 2000 if Duncan isn't injured.
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