Is this one of the hardest moments a Spursfan had to go through?

[Spurs Brazil]

i thought we would get farther, but the writing was on the wall... It's always tough, but '04 and '06 i thought we had a much better shot, so the disappointment was bigger.

+1

[SpursDynasty]

I've followed the Spurs since 95. I remember once watching Robinson get worked up by Olajuwon after that incredible regular season as MVP, and that sucked.

I remember losing to the Suns back in 2000 without TD, that sucked.

I remember losing to the Lakers two years in a row (2001-2002) in what felt like a seemingly inevitable mountain to climb, that sucked.

I remember the .4 second shot, that ing sucked.

I remember the Ginobili foul, that ing sucked.

I remember the 08 playoffs, were Manu played on one ankle, that really really sucked.

I remember the 09 playoffs, were TP and Duncan were the only contributors to a team with a roster, that sucked.

I remember the 10 playoffs, when we were swept, I still have no words for that tbh.








And now this, 2011 playoffs; first round, getting knocked off by the Grizzlies.












In light of winning four championships, what do you think is the worst moment in Spur playoff history?


IMO, it has to be this year.

We had a dominant regular season, winning 61 games. Looked primed for a deep playoff run until the latter part of the regular season began to show signs that this Spurs team would have to face some adversity to win number 5.


All in all, this is a really disappointing season. More disappointing then the rest.




Here's to a great run, but a bitter end.

There have been many disappointing moments in the last decade, but in my opinion, 2001 and 2002 losses against the Lakers were the hardest moments to take, simply because those Laker teams that beat us when on to win the championship.

When a team eliminates you and then goes on to get eliminated themselves, it softens the blow.

2004-the 0.4 shot-Spurs were legit le contenders. Lakers beat us but were exposed in the Finals as lucky and fake.

2006-Manu's foul on Dirk and uncalled Dirk on Duncan foul at the end of regulation-Spurs again were legit le contenders. Again, Dallas beat us, but were exposed in the Finals as lucky and fake.

2008-I think letting Game 1 vs. the Lakers slip away, and letting Game 5 slip away, were hard to take, yet again, the Spurs were legit le contenders here. But, eliminated by Boston in the Finals, softened the blow. The Lakers were not real contenders this year by any stretch.

2009 was just a plain horrible year. So not too disappointing to lose the first round considering the roster we had.

2010-we got swept by Phoenix, but what ever happened to that team? Oh yeah, nothing. Didn't some no-name make highlights and 15 minutes of fame for having a big fourth quarter? Again, not too disappointing to take.

2011-eliminated by Memphis but not too disappointing, despite the majority of fans thinking this is the end of an era. The Spurs played hard and very close for 5 out of the 6 games, and if not for Battier three in one game, a Randolph three in another, and careless turnovers in Game 6, the Spurs would be playing OKC. We all know Memphis has no shot whatsoever at the championship, so again, nothing too disappointing.

As I stated, the hardest moments to go through for Spurs fans, without a doubt, 2001 and 2002 when the Lakers dominated us in the playoffs. But of course, we still put that behind us with preventing their 4-peat in 2003 and making Kobe and Derek Fisher cry. Oh, and since that time in May 2003, the Spurs have won 3 championships, and the post-Shaq Lakers, only two. We're still ahead of them even 8 years later.

So in conclusion, I'm content.

[DMC]

I didn't say that it was one of the best chances, but imo this was one of the last best chances until the starters ran into health problems. And that doesn't mean it was a great chance either but securing HCA is one of an improvement over last year's finish and it looked like they were finally going to finish healthy as well.

The Spurs lack of size and athleticism are imo the biggest weaknesses beyond health and age; they don't have a real back up SF, rely on small 3 guard lineups, and Blair/Bonner just won't cut it especially together on the court.

I guess I thought that "last best" meant "best".

The injuries late played a larger role than people are allowing for, but those happen. This team is only a compe ive at the very top of their game, they have no room for error.

[WildcardManu]

I still say if we had a long athletic 3 and a taller version of Blair, things would have turned out differently.

[TDfan2007]

2006 was the worst...by far. That Spurs team was incredible and would have easily killed Phoenix and Miami in the proceeding rounds. We would have finally had our repeat.

This year's loss I can accept more because this team was going nowhere championship-wise. If we somehow got by Memphis, OKC would have manhandled us in 5 games at best. Timmy was hurt, Manu was hurt, and our role players suck under pressure. Not a good combination.

[Chomag]

It's the wort for me to take becuase it solidifies for me that we are at the end.

[Obstructed_View]

I still say if we had a long athletic 3 and a taller version of Blair, things would have turned out differently.

All they needed was their best player in game 1.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Part of me will never forgive you for blaming 2006 on Manu. The fact that they had a 6'6" guard trying to make a defensive play on a 7'1" power forward at the rim at the end of a game 7 should be self-explanatory.

I don't blame Manu for anything - we all make mistakes - but aren't you forgetting that we were up 3 and there was no need for defensive play anywhere but outside the 3pt line?

[Obstructed_View]

I don't blame Manu for anything - we all make mistakes - but aren't you forgetting that we were up 3 and there was no need for defensive play anywhere but outside the 3pt line?

If you don't blame Manu for anything, then perhaps you shouldn't say things like "I'll never forgive him for that series".

And no, I remember that game. Manu had just hit a three from the side. My point is the more important one: all three centers sat on the bench. That game wasn't about Manu making one foul, because the Spurs should have been preparing for the Suns after about five games with their full roster.

[NickiRasgo]

Yeah. It hurts.

[bighappy]

this sucks, but we had to many holes. i didnt think we would make it to finales. it sucks but for me its not like are playoffs lose to portland Daves rookie year or when golden state kick are ass . that loses to houston in 95, losing to the lakers any losts to the lakers and dallas sucks ass.

[Flex9050]

First- 0.4, without a doubt.
Second- Manu fouls Dirk.
Third- '95 Rockets series.

[Leetonidas]

Most of us knew we weren't going to win the le with our gimmick offense, only those who were delusional or in denial thought we had a realistic shot at winning the le.

This isn't the worst moment, not by a long shot. Ginobili's foul is easily the worst of preventable downfalls because there is no doubt in my mind if that foul hadn't taken place, the Spurs assrape the Heat in 5 games.

[clambake]

very touching obituary.

[VBM]

The Spurs/Rockets series will always be the worst. David Robinson's legacy will unfortunately be intertwined with Hakeem taking him to the woodshed. While other bigs (namely Shaq) suffered the same fate, Shaq redeemed himself by spearheading 3 les with the Lakers. By the time Robinson won his first ship in 99, Duncan was the main man.

[LavaLamp]

Sadly, there will not be a next season: http://bit.ly/lrWN2i The Bible reveals that May 21, 2011 is Judgment Day.

[Silver&Black Warrior]

This franchise has become a pretty significant staple in my family. There is nothing that can happen to this team that can make my opinion of them change. They are MY team of choice, and noone is going to make me think differently. They can never win another championship or be the worst team in the league until I die, but I will still be buried in a silver and black coffin with my championship dvd's.

AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

This will easily be known as one of the worst but it's not the absoulte worst compared to some like the Manu foul on Dirk.

[cornbread]

For me it's not even in the same conversation as the worst moments because I had managed expectations for this Munchkinland/Suns inspired team.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs/Rockets series will always be the worst. David Robinson's legacy will unfortunately be intertwined with Hakeem taking him to the woodshed. While other bigs (namely Shaq) suffered the same fate, Shaq redeemed himself by spearheading 3 les with the Lakers. By the time Robinson won his first ship in 99, Duncan was the main man.

Meh. Rockets had way more talent and could double and triple team Robinson, and his numbers were still amazing. He has nothing to be ashamed of. Other than that one series, David owned Hakeem over their careers.

[phxspurfan]

Meh. Rockets had way more talent and could double and triple team Robinson, and his numbers were still amazing. He has nothing to be ashamed of. Other than that one series, David owned Hakeem over their careers.

But Hakeem was the better overall player than DRob. The championships speak for themselves. ::stirpot

I know, I was a Knick fan and watched him dominate our best team in '94.

[davethedope]

All they needed was their best player in game 1.

Totally agree. You fans can't see the forest for the trees. Sure
you had a bad match up, but had you had Manu in game one, won,
I'm sure you could've closed out a 7th game. No shame in that. And
playing OKC in the semis might have turned out well etc.

It's little things which make all the difference. Think of it like
this, Green Bay Packers wouldn't have won the Super Bowl this
year if the Giants had placed one punt at the end of the game in the
right place.

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

i was born into a spurs family so as young as i remember late 80's yea this is very hard and sad because of the potential and the frustration from knowing we could have done so much better with what we had to work with.

in fact i think 50% of the nba coaching staff as a whole, would have done better in the playoffs with this team. coaching was a major fail and will only continue unless 99% of sanantonio wakes up and realizes this is no the same POP. i would say its pretty bad as a spurs fan...

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

Its tough when you follow each game so closely and dissect everything to the point where you think you understand it, then things change and you cannot explain it.

This year is not so bad, probably because I have other things going on in my life that take priority, and I have put games in general into perspective. I was a sports nut for quite some time and very compe ive in whatever I did, but as I grew older and my kids grew up, I started seeing things differently. These days I am happy with a decent match up, some wings and a cold one. We win, that's great, I get some yelling and fist pumping in and go on a week high. We lose, I feel it for a few days and finally I move on. In the past, I was a bas to get along with for weeks after a loss.

i respect this honest post
and i feel like im going through the same process slowly lol

[ynh]

You guys definitly got some bad breaks.. but it did come close to evening out.. the manu foul and the fisher shot were bad breaks.. but the double off of horry by sheed was a good break. evens out. That is part of basketball.. when two teams are close it is a good or bad break the decides the series.

BTW.. in responce to something on the first page.. If you actually cried for three days after the spurs got eliminated one year you either have really deep issues or you are being far too dramatic in the way you are stating that you are a fan.

I've been a die hard Piston and Wings fan all my life.. and, although it sucked, I sure as wasn't crying when the Devils, Spurs, or Penguins beat us in the finals.