which year was the best chance to repeat?

[SAGambler]

I certainly like our chances for an 08 repeat.

If Tony does anything to add to his game over the summer, he is going to be an absolute monster on the floor.

I think we do need to get a better backup PG than Vaughn. Although, I can't really fault him for anything he did terribly wrong, he still just scares me less when he's controlling the ball out there.

Tim, as long as he stays healthy, should have another monstrous post season left in him.

I look for the team to win about 57 games during RS, and do it while not wearing out the starting five, so they are relatively fresh and healthy come playoff time. We could well end up being 3 seed again in the West and possibly have to go through the same teams to get to the finals.

But the Spurs will still be the Champs until someone takes it from them. And I look for them to be focused on a repeat. That's about the only thing missing from a decade of great basketballl for them. And I think they want to see it happen prior to Duncan hanging it up.

[SpursDynasty]

Weren't the Lakers 67-15 in 1999-2000? No way we could've beat them, because teams who win 67 games win championships! Well, at least LA did in 2000. Can't say the same about other 67 win teams.

2004 was a rob. Late clock start.

2006 was also a rob. Duncan fouled out for getting stepped on. Also Manu messed up at the end there, but who cares, we got the trophy back.

2008 is wide open. Dallas and Phoenix have proven to be non-championship contenders. How many years have we seen Dirk putting up points, shooting a high percentage and Dallas with a bunch of free throws? Or Nash running and gunning with the assists and Stoudemire dunking repeatedly? All that hasn't amounted to anything but a Spurs championship. Unless we see something drastically new next season, the championship is the Spurs' to win.

[spursreport]

if we find a way to stop Dirk, that's gonna be a repeat in 2008

Put Dirk on his ass anytime he drives to the hoops. Dont give him any space to breath or any comfort zone. If you do that, Dirk becomes a scared streaky jump shooter who will refuse to want the ball late in games.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

2008

The "Big 3" have really become the Big 3. We used to rely on Tim throughout games and Manu in spurts, but now Manu, Tony and Tim can all take over a contest. Teams used to focus on Tim and make someone else beat them which is no longer an option. The Spurs are built for playoff basketball and 2008 will be their best chance at a repeat.

The West is so amazingly strong though that a repeat will once again be tough. Teams need a lot of breaks to win it all and even-numbered years have not been kind to my Spurs in that regard.

[ancestron]

last year we had a good chance. Setting a franchise best regular season record at 63-19, winning the division. I think the quick turnaround from the Sacramento series, which should have been won 4-1, to Dallas was rough, and once they beat Dallas in the first game they let their guard down mentally. Also Joey Crawford played a huge role in determining the outcome of that series when he fouled duncan out in game 3 i think it was. it was clearly an offensive foul on Dirk. I dont remember the final score to that game but i know it wasnt by more than a couple points. Also Dallas was playing out of their minds that series, and still the Spurs pushed them to 7 games, and took a 3 point lead with 30 seconds left after being down 20. arrrggghhhh....
in my mind the Spurs won that series.
There is the argument that Tim and Manu were hurt and wouldn't have won the Finals even if they had gotten past Phoenix, which they probably would have, but I think if the Spurs had pulled that Dallas series out after being down 3-1, it was all downhill from there.
They have a great chance to repeat in 2008, barring any miraculous tragedy that seems to happen to the Spurs in even numbered years. They look very confident and fully aware of their abilities and strengths now. They have evolved from all the past mistakes and successes. They were playing phenomenal basketball ever since the All Star break, and I think they really have it set in their minds that they want to repeat this time.

[sanman53]

I'd say 2006. That game 7 against Dallas was a lot of fun. However, when they went into overtime, I knew it was over. Games 2-6 sucked in that series. After the series was over, it was obvious Timmy was going to carry us to all the way this year.

If Timmy comes into this season injury free (stays that way all season and playoffs), and has the burning desire to repeat, 08 is our best chance of repeating. IMO, it all rests on Timmy.