The San Antonio Spurs' Legacy Is On The Line

[ALVAREZ6]

the media, they can suck my , who gives a about what they have to say.

[FreshPrince22]

Wow, you guys take 1 game way too hard. I don't care what any media-hype machine says after this game, both teams are great. Losing 1 game does not make a Great team crap all of a sudden. You have to have some luck on your side when it comes down to a 7th game. Because, generally, when there is a 7th game the teams are very evenly matched, and I feel that is the case here. If my team loses I will still look back on this being a great season watching a great team. I would expect you guys to do the same. I don't see why you guys are talking about "What changes do we make if we lose game 7?" You're in game 7 of the Finals clearly you've got a great team as it is! I would imagine any changes would be minor. Plus you have to figure that Parker and Ginobili are only going to improve, so that already makes your team better than it is this year.
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Ocean View Condo

[spurster]

Even if the Spurs lose, they still have won two more les than great players such as Malone, Stockton, Barkley, Reggie, and Ewing. Two more les than most other NBA teams.

[Solid D]

Bring it!!!

[Solid D]

Pump it up!!!

[AI-square]

Lighten up, guys. Whether the Spurs win or lose Game 7 will not change the fact that they have been a very strong team this year and they have won two NBA les in recent history (who'd bet against more to come?).

Game 7 should be a heck of a game, so just support your Spurs.

[Solid D]

Confident leadership!!!

[Solid D]

It's not a loose ball...it's your ball Tim!!!

[Solid D]

NOT IN OUR HOUSE!!!

[bonesinaz]

History will focus on the championships the Spurs won.

The focus of the media will be on the winner of this finals, it always is. Next year there will be a clean slate. And that is the great thing about basketball. For the winners there is glory and a chance at more les, for the losers there is always 'next year'.

The sole purpose of the sports writers/pundits is to get readers/listeners/viewers. They will say or write just about anything to this end. To illustrate this I will remind everyone here that during this series ABC had a pop up on the screen when TD was shooting FTs. It stated that TD is afraid of sharks. It had to be one of the most idiotic things I had seen in all my 35+ years of watching Bball. Now I know that ABC is trying to let the kiddies get to know the players, but come on.

Who isn't afraid of sharks??

[caspian]

It is the way it should be. Apart from the Horry miracle shot the series should be over. Up 2-0 on LA lost, up 2-0 on Det, but have a chance to redeem themselves. Not only would they blow a 2-0 lead but lose two at home in games 6&7, which no team has ever done.

"Miracle shot"?...he's been doing that forever. And the Spurs wanted him on the team for that very reason...cuz he's good at that! His amazing shot isn't any more lucky than any of the Piston's amazing shots in G5 or G6.

It's like me saying "if it weren't for the Pistons talent, the series would be over right now." Good grief...

[Solid D]

Unleash the Fury!!!

[bonesinaz]

No.

I do see Tim Duncan taking flack. The wilting dominant player. The best PF in the game who also gripped under pressure. The same type of effect David Robinson's playoff record had on the minds of the naysayers until "Tim Duncan arrived" and helped him win a championship...something he couldn't do without Tim Duncan.

In today's sports-crazed, sports-talk society it's either Yes or No, Black or White, Weak or Strong, soft or tough, winner or loser, wins all glory or lost all respect...no in between....

Until the next thing happens to distract them.

The Spurs have won more championships than 90% of the teams in the NBA. A third championship makes them a three-time winner but there will always be another attention-getter around the corner. What have you done for me lately?

We love our Spurs, win or lose we love them...but if it's up to us as fans to provide the extra edge to WIN, then let's do this with all our guts!!!

I know I'll be on the floor diving for every loose ball and screaming at every Piston as they go by "miss it", "psyche!!!", and "look out for the bicycle" when they are near the sideline.

Let's do this!

Solid-
I just read this, great post and I agree.

[MannyIsGod]

Will it help define the legacy of this team? Absolutely!

But think about it for one second. What playoff series doesn't? Champions are champions because they are able to overcome everything to achieve the le of the best team. If the Spurs can't win tomorrow they don't deserve that le and thats about as black and white as it comes.

There is nothing to be said about the Spurs being judged unfairly. If they cannot win, they don't deserve to be considred anything other than bookends for the Bulls, Lakers and Detroit dominance. Of course to fans merely expect perfection for their team, that is unfathomable and unfair. Yet, when put into persepctive that is far greater than what most of the teams in the NBA have ever achieve or ever will. Our Spurs team is one of a team, and regardless of a win or a loss tomorrow that is something that will stand as is.

One thing that bothers me is what people like Nikos are saying. Detroit is NOT an inferior team. There is a reason this series has gone 7 games and it is not due to Detroit getting lucky or an inability of the Spurs to do what they want to do. Detroit has a lot to do with the difficulties the Spurs have faced and this is by far the best team the Spurs have ever faced in the finals. They truely are a champion. I realize that Spurs fans expect great things from their team, but you must give credit to the concept Detroit employes and the execution they bring to each and every game.

Tomorrow is defining, no doubt. I am incredibly eager to see whether or not our Spurs can step up to the task. Will Duncan be one of the best ever? Can Manu continue his olympic success in the Finals? Or is Detroit really a better team?

The best team wins a seven game series, and this is an example of a great matchup needing every last second to decide who the best team is.

[atlfan25]

I feel confident the Spurs will show their true colors tomorrow, that they are champions. Spurs ARE THE BEST TEAM IN BASKETBALL, and all will see that shown tomorrow. Believe dat.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Will it help define the legacy of this team? Absolutely!

But think about it for one second. What playoff series doesn't? Champions are champions because they are able to overcome everything to achieve the le of the best team. If the Spurs can't win tomorrow they don't deserve that le and thats about as black and white as it comes.

There is nothing to be said about the Spurs being judged unfairly. If they cannot win, they don't deserve to be considred anything other than bookends for the Bulls, Lakers and Detroit dominance. Of course to fans merely expect perfection for their team, that is unfathomable and unfair. Yet, when put into persepctive that is far greater than what most of the teams in the NBA have ever achieve or ever will. Our Spurs team is one of a team, and regardless of a win or a loss tomorrow that is something that will stand as is.

One thing that bothers me is what people like Nikos are saying. Detroit is NOT an inferior team. There is a reason this series has gone 7 games and it is not due to Detroit getting lucky or an inability of the Spurs to do what they want to do. Detroit has a lot to do with the difficulties the Spurs have faced and this is by far the best team the Spurs have ever faced in the finals. They truely are a champion. I realize that Spurs fans expect great things from their team, but you must give credit to the concept Detroit employes and the execution they bring to each and every game.

Tomorrow is defining, no doubt. I am incredibly eager to see whether or not our Spurs can step up to the task. Will Duncan be one of the best ever? Can Manu continue his olympic success in the Finals? Or is Detroit really a better team?

The best team wins a seven game series, and this is an example of a great matchup needing every last second to decide who the best team is.

Solid post. There is no doubt the better team always wins in a seven game series. If the Pistons lose, how long do you think we'll be haunted by the Horry 3?

[Solid D]

No Doubt!!!

[phyzeeks]

o Spurs FANS:

Legacy is such a strong word but appropriate. Win and be labeled great lose and be labeled good but underachieving. If Detroit wins, it won't be because the Spurs totally choked. It will be because the Pistons will have put the greatest 6 game finals stretch of games ever seen. Partially accredited to Coach Brown and and the rest towards the team believing in him and each other.

I hate to say this about a Spurs loss, but I really think we are not going to see the Spurs in the Finals again for some time. All of Tims injuries are starting to mount just like they did for David. He has no lift and no strength to take on the younger stars. Amare proved that. This is his last moment of Fame.

Detroit can lose this game and say we will be back next year but the Spurs lose this game and they will be the first to lose after going up 2-0 and the first to lose 2 at home, the last two. I'm sorry, but their heart would be in question by the national media and sports fans, and that GOES FOR POP TOO!

WIN AND THE SPURS ARE ONE OF THE GREATS! But i hope they go out and play to win 1 basketball game, not to be great in the eyes of the NBA or the nation. They are professional and they know how to play. I sure hope and I do believe they will win 1 basketball game Thursday and bring home a trophy.

Spurs 95 Pistons 94
Duncan - 30
Parker - 20
Manu - 20
5 Downtown missles
10 points from all other Spurs,
7 or fewer turnovers,
and all the heart in the world.

Win one for Malik, he played a huge part in getting the home court advantage. The spurs played best with him earlier this season, lest we forget.

[ducks]

Solid D You Need To Start A No Limit Rally Thread!

[Phenomanul]

Can David Robinson play for one last stand????

[blaze89]

1999 should have eliminated the soft label, but a 2001 sweep in the Conference Finals, somehow brought it back. It took 4 years, since the first le, to erase the asterisk* talk but it took a 4 game losing streak in the following season, in the playoffs no less, to question the Spurs mental toughness.

This game 7 win will mean more than just a championship for either team, it will establish a strong reputation. For the Pistons, I'm certain they will be regarded as one of the best teams in the new decade, definitely the most resilient and mentally tough team. A Spurs victory will bring 3 les in 7 years.

A Pistons loss will probably do nothing, they really have nothing to lose, except a championship but will probably gain loads of respect. A Spurs loss and this team will be remembered in history as "the first" and more questons about their mental toughness.

Just my opinion though.

[Nikos]

One thing that bothers me is what people like Nikos are saying. Detroit is NOT an inferior team. There is a reason this series has gone 7 games and it is not due to Detroit getting lucky or an inability of the Spurs to do what they want to do. Detroit has a lot to do with the difficulties the Spurs have faced and this is by far the best team the Spurs have ever faced in the finals. They truely are a champion. I realize that Spurs fans expect great things from their team, but you must give credit to the concept Detroit employes and the execution they bring to each and every game.

Your en led to your opinion, but I see it all over other message boards by knowledgeble posters who feel the Spurs are SUPPOSED to win this series, but due to being mentally fragile may not.

Let's be serious now. The 82 games in the regular season do mean something. The Pistons did OK in the East, and the Spurs did pretty well this season given Duncan being out 16 games. The Spurs ranked much superior to the Pistons on offense, and were even ranked higher statistically on defense. The Spurs have a player in Duncan who is much better than Ben, Sheed, Billups or whoever the Pistons have ever had in their entire franchise history, let alone now. And yet Duncan still isn't making the impact he should.

You can chose to say Detroit is the better team, but I will only agree with that from a mental standpoint. There is no way a team like the Spurs who have arguably the best player in the game, and a team that has won nearly 60 games in a tough conference should be giving up another 2-0 lead in the playoffs, where historically teams just do not do that.

The Spurs have been notably mentally weak in 2001 and 2004. Time will tell if these Spurs are different. But I just happen to think Detroit is overrated when you factor what they have done this entire season 100 games+.

Even if Detroit wins it I will feel the same way. Giving up a 2-0 lead for 2 straight years is flat out choking regardless of the quality of opponent.

Spurs need to win this Game 7 to avoid embrassment and a putting a severe stain on the franchise. And to validate what they have been doing all season, playing good ball on BOTH sides of the court.

[Solid D]

No Doubt!!!

No Doubt...."Spurs in 7".

[Spurminator]

Whew... We barely avoided the wrath of sports media hacks. Now I can sleep.

'em.

[Solid D]

Before or After, Legacy is simple. Unselfish, Teamwork, Defense, Winners!!!