This One Hurts

[temujin]

1979 getting robbed after being up 3-1 on the Washington Bullets.

Spurs leading by dbl-digits in landover maryland and then the lights go out--literally the ing lights in the building go out. Game Delay.

Later Spurs still up by 6 or 8 points ...3 to 4 OFFENSIVE fouls in a row!

ABA teams were not supposed to beat original NBA teams...ABA teams were not really welcomed by NBA teams and the league did not want to be embarrassed. NBA teams and officials had claimed that the ABA was inferior and the talent was not equal-yet here were the Spurs about to embarrass one of the NBA's best.

I still remember the asshole refs name: Jake mutha in' Odonnell...I wanted to kill him.
Pretty painful to a youngster.

Gervin,Silas,Kenon,Paultz,Olberding,Bristow....I loved those guys.

2006 sucked too.

Glad someone brought this one up.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Yeah, that's the best argument for 2006. That team should have won it. Everything about it screamed NBA champion.

Nothing about the 2012 screamed NBA champion other than they were really, really damn good for a while. But:

-Teams built around a point guard who passes as much as Parker haven't won in a long, long time.

-Championship teams don't have rookies in the starting lineup.

-The Spurs didn't have a top ten talent in the league. Parker was damn good this year but no one would say he's a transcendent talent. He just played his azz off and is really, really good. You can't compare him to a physical beast like Durant or LeBron though.

-As much as we wanted to fuzzy the math throughout the year, the defense was average.

-Championship teams don't rely on a ten-man rotation.

-At 36, Duncan was old to be carrying the amount of load the Spurs needed him to carry.

-Championship teams usually don't rely on midseason additions as much as these Spurs did.

-Ginobili was still pretty damn good but his pedestrian plus/minus numbers throughout the playoffs indicate he's fallen from his perch.

-Kawhi, Green, Neal, Splitter ... that's 40% of your rotation with two or less years of experience.












All that said, now thinking how great it would have been for this team to defy the odds and win the championship, it hurts to have gotten so close.

Exactly. With all the improbabilities against them, it seemed like something magical/surreal was happening that transcended logic. Everything seemed storybook. Jackson, the prodigal son, returning home. There was a poetic sense of closure to this that meant the Spurs would go out champions and be respected for the dynasty they were. It was overkill but the media were fawning over the Spurs. Yeah, who cares what the media thinks because they've put asterix on our other les, but this season was beginning to seem special.

And to fizzle out like this...it's sort of the last funeral for the team that wouldn't die. Now, the only footnote is our 20 game winning streak. The narrative has shifted to the young upstart Thunder.

Ugh. A bitter pill.

I know the Thunder were the better team, but the Spurs haven beaten better teams all the time.

Still proud of their fight, at least those who showed up. But damn...

[IwantSomeNsty]

what hurts is OKC given series by refs

[SenorSpur]

Wow. This is a really interesting question.

2004 - that series versus the Fakers, and all championship aspirations that came with it, ended with an abrupt assassin's bullet. Fisher's 0.4 shot was like a fatal gunshot wound to the head. It was swift, sudden and unexpected. In the wake, the patient, in this case the Spurs le hopes, slowly bled to death in the aftermath. IMHO, Fisher's devastating dagger shot mentally killed the Spurs and cost them a shot at the Pistons for the 2004 championship.

2006 - that WCSF series versus the Mavs was a heavyweight match. Back and forth. Truly one of the best playoff series I've ever witnessed. Coming into that epic Game #7 at home, I just knew the Spurs had that game and the series. Even right down to the end, when the Spurs were up by 3 with several seconds left. I kept thinking, "we got this. We got this." Then the shocking heartbreak that came with that inexplicable Manu foul on Dirk, that gave him the "and-1" to tie the game and send it into overtime - where the Spurs eventually lost. To this day, I still don't know what Manu was thinking? To me, that single play cost the Spurs a certain berth in the WCF and a championship. It was a devastating example of having a defeat snatched from jaws of victory.

2012 - After going up 2-0, an almost certain upcoming berth in the NBA Finals and the taste of another championship was on my lips. I got so caught up in how this team was playing that I even began thinking the Spurs could sweep the Thunder. I foolishly expected a young team to fold. Unfortunately, they did not. I guess for me, after Game 5, I began to see the hand-writing on the wall. I didn't allow myself to buy into the Spurs being able to turn back the hands of time and go into OKC and produce a win.

I can honestly say that 2004 & 2006 were more devastating. However, at least I had the certainty of knowing that the Spurs, with the championship-level core, would still be in contention for years to come. Unfortunately, that isn't the case now.

This most recent series loss, while the end didn't come as quick as the others, the devastation is no less painful. It was like slow death over the last four games of the series. Now, as I write this post, I'm realizing that this incarnation of the Spurs, as currently constructed, will likely never be this close again in the Duncan era. This was their best shot - and possibly last - shot. Knowing that this team had a chance to do something so unexpected and couldn't seal the deal is depressing. So much for the elusive even-year championship. Then again, I never expected them to be in this position in the first place.

[baseline bum]

I can't look at this loss negatively. Coming into this season I thought the team was done and should probably be blown up. I never figured they'd make it through a season, and yet, here they were in the WCF with a legit chance to win it all. They were way better than I could have ever expected, and on top of that they brought back my favorite role player of all time. The execution was incredible to watch, but they just ran into a dynasty whose time is now. I can't be down because they really weren't supposed to be here.

Now a real punch in the gut was 1995, when a prime DRob got destroyed, when a prime Rodman decided to say the team, when a prime Elliott missed critical free throws, when they evened the series with two tough road wins only for Rodman to be a in practice leading up to game 5, and so on.

[itsamanuthree]

It hurts this bad because this was the last chance.

Definitely. This was probably the end of the ride, will the boys give it another shot? Probably, but chances are very slim. What really hurts is the feeling that it wan't enough, that it should have been more.

[michaelwcho]

There is a big time player who could possibly be had, one of the greatest PGs of all time. Nash. Lure him to SA and we would cruise through the regular season and break scoring records. Trade TP for Marcus Camby and you'd get great D and boards. Between TD and MC, you could clean up the mess Nash makes on D. The Spurs would set records for 3 pointers and assisted baskets. Nash is money from outside, so spacing would be improved. Wouldn't necessarily be championship favs, but we'd be back and have another shot at it. Call it the moneyball team.

It hurts for me because TD is older. Back in 2004 or 2006 that hurt too but you know they were still in their prime. Watching Tim play as hard as he can with a brace and still kicking ass but knowing he's 36, hurts. The Admiral was lucky that Tim was here so he could retire with a swan song championship. Tim doesn't have that. If big time free agents never came here they definitely won't come now.

My hopes got high after the way they played this year and the first two series and first two games of the WCF. But After last years exit, knowing the inadequate size of our bigs and losing TJ Ford there was still a sense of skepticism in the back of ny mind.

Maybe the Tim will take a low contract and there could be a restructuring of a couple of others. And then MAYBE they could lure another big time player. Who knows? Not likely.

[SpursDynasty85]

2004 and 2006 were tough. Its really hard to think about. This one wasn't that bad, just because, I know Thunder deserved it, and Spurs overachieved all year long and gave us one of an entertaining season.

I would still rank 2006 the toughest, just because, Dallas fan's are so annoying, and to know the Spurs would not have squandered the finals to the Heat.

[Keepin' it real]

This one didn't hurt as much as other painful losses because as soon as I saw the writing on the wall (the glaring similarities between 2012 and 2004), I knew what was coming, so I detached myself emotionally. I usually scream and cuss like a mother in games as close and critical as game 6. But last night, I didn't make a sound. I already knew what was coming.

[phxspurfan]

For me this is nowhere close. The crappiest feelings were in these years, in order:

2001 (I think this was the year of the DA injury)
2002 (the year DRob was bullied by Shaq in the playoffs and Spurs got swept really badly)
2008 (We had it in the 3rd qtr of some game and I think Pop took Bowen out against the Lakers and it all went downhill...?)
2004 bull
2006 Manu foul on Dirk
2012 w/e...Spurs are old now, Thunder are playing out of their friggin minds and deserve to win it all.

But I'll be happy if the Celtics play defense (something we never did) and win it all.

[phxspurfan]

OTOH, the glory of 2003, 2005, 2007 will stay with me forever. 1999 I was still a Heat fan TBH. The 200s championships outweigh all negatives in my mind. Thanks for the memories Tim, Tony, Manu and Bruce!

[DeadlyDynasty]

OTOH, the glory of 2003, 2005, 2007 will stay with me forever. 1999 I was still a Heat fan TBH. The 200s championships outweigh all negatives in my mind. Thanks for the memories Tim, Tony, Manu and Bruce!

Nobody recognizes 1999 anyways so it's all good, b

[jjktkk]

This one hurt the least, because I didn't think the Spurs would get this far. And also the way the Thunder beat us. IMO, OKC proved, without a doubt, to be the better team. DROB's rookie year was painful for me, because of Strickland's boneheaded pass in game 7 of the WC finals against the Blazers. I thought that Spurs squad was going to compete for championships for several years.

[DDS4]

I think the 2012 can summed up as a "pleasant surprise" season. Only the hardcore, slightly delusional Spurs fan would have predicted a NBA Finals berth before the season started. Most of us were pretty down on them after they got knocked out by Memphis in the 1st round last year.

The chances of Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan being all healthy next year is pretty slim but it's the supporting cast (players 6-10) that I'm worried about.

2006 still sticks out to me as the one that got away. However, the way Wade got going in the Finals (with some help), it could have been the Spurs first NBA Finals loss.

[pad300]

I wasn't watching for 1979, so that doesn't hurt.

06 was horrid, double punch, both it being the Mavs and the refs screw job (just look at the play after Manu's foul on Dirk. Manu drives the lane, gets fouled about 3 times without getting a call and gets the shot up. Duncan goes up for the the put-back, and gets repeatedly fouled as well. No calls. You can't say let em play at one end and call fouls at the other. Dirk has admitted in interviews "I fouled the out of him..." (him being TD)).

08 was another screw job - how many times does the league issue an apology about the reffing? That's only one I can think of... But I wasn't really expecting us to win that series anyway, so it's less painful.

Same with the .04 shot, yeah, we got screwed, but it was a series that the Lakers had a good shot at winning anyways, and there was always next year.

This year though, it may just hurt the most. To watch what may be Duncan's last great run sacrificed on the altar of Dave Stern's ing marketing plan. In an absolutely blatant fashion. They had already pushed the knife in hard in games 4 and 5, but to just blatantly screw TD's last run like that. Man if someone shot Dave Stern tomorrow, I'd raise a glass and the toast the shooter.

So yeah, my personal order of pain is
2006
2012
2004
2008

[Juggity]

Nobody recognizes 1999 anyways so it's all good, b

Only Phil Jackson & lakerfans, who got their asses handed to them in '99

[DeadlyDynasty]

Only Phil Jackson & lakerfans, who got their asses handed to them in '99

Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

[Juggity]

Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

Quote comes from him

Must have been big market butthurt syndrome.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Why does everyone think the Spurs have 0 chance next year? We have been writing the Spurs eulogy every year since 2008.

Shore up the frontline with an additional shot blocker and the Spurs will be right back in the thick of it.

I don't get why this has to be their last chance when next year's team can be just as good with some tweaks.

[BUMP]

2006 still sticks out to me as the one that got away. However, the way Wade got going in the Finals (with some help), it could have been the Spurs first NBA Finals loss.

nah i think the Spurs beat Miami easily that year. They had a Bowen and we didn't. Plus we struggled against power guards during that era (Golden State the next season) since they would get in the paint at will. The Spurs also were a more mentally tough team.

Phil Jackson wasn't coaching that season, you dumbass

[Basketball Power]

Does t come close to 04 or 06

[DeadlyDynasty]

Why does everyone think the Spurs have 0 chance next year? We have been writing the Spurs eulogy every year since 2008.

Shore up the frontline with an additional shot blocker and the Spurs will be right back in the thick of it.

I don't get why this has to be their last chance when next year's team can be just as good with some tweaks.

It's a superstar's league. Those who have them, win.

[senorglory]

Actually, since we're on the topic of butthurt, I was pretty pissed last year. An ankle injury to Duncan at the end of regular season then a broken arm to Manu in the last minute of the last game? Damn. Punk assed Grizzlies? Damn, damn, damn.

I know I'm one of the few here who liked our guys last season, but I was looking forward to a good run.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Quote comes from him

Yeah, he trolled the out of Spurfan...and it's still evident 13 years later as evidenced by your post.


Nice backpedaling, though.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

It's a superstar's league. Those who have them, win.

Give Kawhi Leonard another couple years