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Or get a team.Paul Silas, if he can bring in assistants who specialize in Xs and Os.
will become all the rage acc. to Rosen
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3715520
Spoofing the Spurs will become all the rage
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Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 6 days ago
Whenever an NBA team establishes a legitimate (or interrupted) dynasty, or even wins consecutive championships, the rest of the league usually tries to duplicate its successful game plan.
Analysis...
That's why, even as far back as the pre-shot-clock domination of the Minneapolis Lakers, teams were desperately trying to draft George Mikan-esque players
The next dynasty was the NBA's most durable — the Russellian Celtics. Here again, the also-rans tried to draft quick-footed, shot-blocking, rebounding big men — but to no avail.
Next up were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and the Showtime Lakers — a rare once-in-a-lifetime combination that was clearly beyond replication. But when the Detroit Pistons were the toughest Bad Boys in the neighborhood, antagonistic defense became the ideal. The subsequent thuggeries of Pat Riley's Knicks ultimately led to the creation and enforcement of the flagrant foul.
The success of M.J. and the Jordanaires likewise inspired imitators: From the Quinn Buckner-coached Mavericks, to Jim Cleamons' stint in Dallas and Mike Fratello with the Cavaliers.
The most recent Lakers' triple crown featured the often reluctant but mostly successful triangulation of Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jackson. This was another parley that couldn't be duplicated.
Now, with three les in seven seasons, we have the sporadic reign of the Spurs. What might we expect San Antonio's immediate legacy to be?
Tim Duncan is another one-of-a-kind player. As is Robert Horry. Bruce Bowen was rescued from the trash heap — and there surely are other defensive specialists with afflicted jump shots to be found. (Actually, Bowen is proof that stand-still shooting is an easily learned skill.) Nazr Mohammed is a barely competent journeyman. Brent Barry's game is also easily twinned (if not brothered). Jet-footed, but reckless point guards like Tony Parker already abound throughout the league — Jason Williams, Maurice Williams, Antonio Daniels, Keyon Dooling, Marquis Daniels, Marcus Banks, Andre Barrett and Royal Ivey — but the trick is to domesticate them. And you can bet that drafting Argentinean wingmen will soon be a high priority.
So, if the core players — T.D., Horry, and Manu Ginobili — are virtually irreplaceable, other championship hopefuls will try to copy the Spurs' game plan that was based on quickness, versatility and defense.
Phoenix, of course, has a leg up on the first category. But the Suns sorely lack a concerted half-court offense and can only play at full speed — plus their defense is a disaster.
As for other teams, Shaq puts the brakes on Miami's overall quickness. Denver, Dallas, and Sacramento are defensively challenged. Houston's overly predictable offense revolves exclusively around T-Mac and Yao. Indiana is slow. New Jersey can't play station-to-station basketball.
Indeed, the closest approximation to the Spurs' modus operandi is the Detroit Pistons. Though not as fleet, the Pistons are stronger, just as versatile, and play even better defense.
The X-factor, then, is the coach. A knowledgeable one who can demand and receive the respect of his players is absolutely essential to hold the whole thing together.
Don't believe the back-slapping "We love Larry" quotes coming out of Detroit. With another outing of his habitual wanderlust, Larry Brown forfeited his players' trust and inevitably their respect.
A high degree of expertise and a background of coaching winners is essential for a coach to inspire his players to play the right way.
Which of the NBA's coaches have, or can develop, the same kind of tough-love at ude that has worked so well for Gregg Popovich?
Phil Jackson, provided he can bring Kobe to his senses. Jerry Sloan. Rick Carlisle. Nate McMillan. George Karl, if he can learn to check his ego at the door. Paul Silas, if he can bring in assistants who specialize in Xs and Os. Bernie Bickerstaff, if he can survive long enough for the Bobcats to become legitimate contenders. Scott Skiles, if he can take his foot off the accelerator. Eddie Jordan. Lawrence Frank. Mike D'Antoni, if he can keep an open mind.
Speed. Flexibility. Defense. Star-quality players in the pivot and on the wing. And a mature, yet passionate coach who values role players.
This is San Antonio's recipe for continued success. Let's see how many le-hungry teams will try to mix together similar ingredients.
Or get a team.Paul Silas, if he can bring in assistants who specialize in Xs and Os.
And you can bet that drafting Argentinean wingmen will soon be a high priority.
Game plan-quickness, versatility and defense.damn, Rosen has announced the Spurs' formula for success too much for others to clone, don't you think so?.....The X-factor, then, is the coach. A knowledgeable one who can demand and receive the respect of his players is absolutely essential to hold the whole thing together.
did he really just compare tony parker to those crappy ass point guards?
Royal Ivey???
Marquis Daniels (as a point guard)???
Wow.
Parker offense was horrrible in the finals but he has become incredibly under rated very quickly.
That's a myth of exagerated proportions. Sure, Tony had bad stretches in the Finals, but who didn't?
Did anyone note this post from timvp today?
On the road in the Finals, Parker averaged 15.7 points on 48% shooting from the field. Duncan averaged 18.7 on 37% from the field. Manu averaged 11.3 points on 35% shooting.
Yeah..Tony's shooting percentage wasnt horrible because when he was open...he shot well at times.
If there was defensive pressure...he would turn it over before he ever got a shot up.
He wasnt the worst person on the court in the finals...but he was pretty damn close at times.
Still...he is young and keeps improving. I still believe he will get over the post game 2 vanishing act that he has had since coming here.
Dude, did you watch him in game 3. He did everything he could to keep us in it.
Parker chasing Billups around the court has affected his number of attemps to shoot and maybe tired him a bit. There was obviously A MISMATCH in that area. Billups, his "assignment" and counterpart is a lot bigger than Parker.
Other than that I beg to disagree that Parker played horribly in the finals.
who are these Knicks players he's referring to?The subsequent thuggeries of Pat Riley's Knicks ultimately led to the creation and enforcement of the flagrant foul.
Hey, he left off Bavetta here. Where would the Lakers have been without him? Not winning 3 championships in a row, for one.The most recent Lakers' triple crown featured the often reluctant but mostly successful triangulation of Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jackson. This was another parley that couldn't be duplicated.
Horry is a core player?!?
Not to take anything away from one of the finals best performances, but I'd not put him on the list of Spurs core players.
That's like saying that Gene Larkin and Randy Bush were at the core of the Minnesota Twins' 1991 and 1987 World Series winning teams. Big contributions were made by both during their respective runs, but the core of both teams was Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett.
The core of the Spurs is Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.
Keep that core together and keep signing talented, second-tier role players and we've the recipe for continued wins.
tp was not the worse player on the court
pop had to go to tp because brent and beno could not handle the pressure on the ball and kepted turning the ball over
Good question -- I think Macmillan has the best chance of reaching the rarified air of player relations that Pop seems to have achieved as long as he doesn't take the Portland job. Bickerstaff really seems to be doing things right this time around, which continues to surprise me. Skiles need to learn the love part of tough love. Jordan is doing very well with what he has to work with.Which of the NBA's coaches have, or can develop, the same kind of tough-love at ude that has worked so well for Gregg Popovich?
Phil Jackson, provided he can bring Kobe to his senses. Jerry Sloan. Rick Carlisle. Nate McMillan. George Karl, if he can learn to check his ego at the door. Paul Silas, if he can bring in assistants who specialize in Xs and Os. Bernie Bickerstaff, if he can survive long enough for the Bobcats to become legitimate contenders. Scott Skiles, if he can take his foot off the accelerator. Eddie Jordan. Lawrence Frank. Mike D'Antoni, if he can keep an open mind.
Rosen isn't quite right, but Horry was hardly Gene Larkin. More Like Jack Morris in '91. A latecomer and not really part of the core, but utterly indispensible to winning the le.
1998 Beaten 4-1 by a superior Jazz team, Duncan injured
1999 Won le (in spite of the refs and Stern, right?)
2000 Duncan injured
2001 Swept by a far superior Lakers team, Anderson injured
2002 Beaten 4-1 by a superi or Lakers team, Robinson injured
2003 Won le
2004 0.52* kills the Spurs... this is the only one you have an argument on
2005 Won le
I agree w/ you baseline. The spurs got screwed in 04 and not just the .4. Most of the time when the spurs lost it was because of injury problems which also happened to ind, mia, and sea this season.
THE SPURS ARE THE ULTIMATE TEAM
Tony wasn't horrible in the Finals. Give me a damn break. He was going up against the damn Detroit Pistons! Get f-ing real, people!
I'm not sure if this is what I love or hate about the game. In order to win the championship, you must have an incredible ammount of factors go your way.Most of the time when the spurs lost it was because of injury problems which also happened to ind, mia, and sea this season.
If Duncan hadn't gotten injured during the season, would the Spurs have learned to live without him? Would the Spurs have been able to turn back-to-back double-overtime wins into such a symbolic moment?
If Rasho hadn't hurt his ankles, would Nazr have ever gotten the chance? Would Nazr have gotten the minutes, and the experience, requried to be the x-factor he was against Denver? Wouldn't Rasho have faltered against the likes of Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby?
If Radmanovich hadn't hurt his ankle, would the Sonics have beaten the Spurs? And even if they didn't, would the series have been as short? How well would the Spurs have kept up with the Suns after playing a 6 or 7 game series?
If Johnson hadn't gotten injured in Dallas, would the Suns have beaten the Spurs? When he came back, the Suns won. Could he have helped their chances? And again, even if the Suns didn't win, the series would have been longer, and the Spurs wouldn't have had the crucial week of rest.
If Dwyane didn't hurt his rib, wouldn't the heat have beaten the Pistons? And wouldn't Dwyane and Shaq elevate their games even more in the Finals? If the Spurs barely beat the Pistons in 7, and the Heat could have beaten the Heat in 6, then would Miami be the NBA Champs?
The NBA Champs aren't necessarily the best team, they are the luckiest. They are the chosen ones. They are the calm during the playoff storm. And in 1999, 2003, and 2005, they were the San Antonio Spurs. But if Duncan hadn't gotten hurt in 1998 and 200, wouldn't the Spurs have taken it all? And wouldn't "dynasty" be a bit more appropriate?
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