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I think it's pretty safe to say that the Spurs scare the pants off of fans of the likely EC contenders. IMHO, none of these teams will match up well against SA's talent.
Spurs don't frighten anyone
But because of champs' lack of ego and swagger, be afraid, be very afraid
02:27 AM CST on Wednesday, November 2, 2005
SAN ANTONIO – The appropriate act on the night San Antonio received its championship rings would be to talk about how it is admired and respected around the league.
But as I sat courtside Tuesday at the SBC Center in an exquisite jacket accented by a bold, yet tasteful tie – an ensemble that put commissioner David Stern's business casual mandate to shame – I was struck by what the Spurs are not.
Feared.
You might argue that three les in seven years suggest otherwise. And San Antonio is favored to add to its collection.
The team that beat Denver, 102-91, to open the 2005-06 season is a confident one. But it doesn't possess the swagger Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had during their championship run. It doesn't evoke the dread that the Los Angeles Lakers did during their Purple Reign.
"We know we didn't kick anybody's butt last year," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We know we were the last team standing and deserved to win a championship, but there were probably six or seven teams in the league that were in that same category. We know that. That is what is going to keep us grounded.
"We haven't reached some mythical, rarefied level where everyone is afraid of us and can't touch us."
In these NBA days of no sunglasses inside – except for Jack Nicholson – and anti-bling, the Spurs are the anti-champion. When Tim Duncan spoke to the sellout crowd Tuesday night after the team collected its rings, he said the Spurs hoped to bring another championship to the city.
That's right, hoped. There was no guarantee of a repeat, no declaration of dominance.
Remember Popovich's Air Force Academy background. He understands the importance of driving a team into the dirt to build it back up. He believes a key to success is to get over yourself.
Duncan and just about everyone else on the Spurs has the same temperament. San Antonio's mantra – and we're not kidding here – is to be boring as .
They do a good job of it.
"I think everybody is pretty secure in their own skin," Popovich said. "I think they're more concerned about just playing the game. Bravado doesn't enter into it, or trying to manufacture a swagger. We just are who we are."
San Antonio doesn't win by imposing its will. The Spurs take a come-as-you-are approach.
Phoenix wants to get out and run to try and beat San Antonio in the Western Conference finals? Fine. The Spurs run.
Detroit's best chance to win the Finals is to go with the bump-and-grind. No problem. San Antonio returns to its methodical, half-court roots.
The Spurs don't overpower teams. They adapt. That's why San Antonio is respected rather than feared.
All of that said, this San Antonio team is better equipped to defend its le than the last two versions. It's certainly deeper, as former Maverick Michael Finley showed when he came off the bench to score 11 of his 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Denver coach George Karl missed Tuesday's opener to serve a two-game suspension. But he was with the Nuggets earlier in the day and talked about how the Spurs are incredibly difficult to crack.
"San Antonio is not going away," Karl said. "Tim Duncan is not going away. Manu Ginobili is not going away. Tony Parker is not going to get worse. These guys are only going to get better and only going to get stronger."
Duncan and Ginobili are under contract for the next five seasons. Parker is wrapped up for the next six.
The Spurs, in the words of Karl, aren't unbeatable.
That doesn't mean they won't win it again.
"It may happen," Popovich said. "It may not happen. But if it doesn't happen, it will be because another team was better, not because we didn't play hard."
Or because the Spurs thought too much of themselves.
I think it's pretty safe to say that the Spurs scare the pants off of fans of the likely EC contenders. IMHO, none of these teams will match up well against SA's talent.
I'd rather be loved than feared
If the Spurs win the championship, who cares if they are feared? Man, the slings and arrows this year are really ing lame.
the only reason the Bulls and Lakers were feared is because everyone feared that $tern would give those two teams all the calls like he did every dam year
The Spurs kill them with kindness. It doesn't matter if they are feared or not, the end result is still the same....
Yep. It's no fun to know going in that your team won't be allowed to win.
They are not feared like those bulls teams, who cares about that crap. Duncan saying he hoped they would win it again, what do you want him to do guarantee another le Jordan never did that. Why is the media always so hard on Timmy and the Spurs. I am convinced if Timmy was a Laker or had gone to Boston like he was supposed to they would be kissing his ass because it is a big market.
The Spurs have that one quality all championship teams have. The opponent knows exactly what the Spurs are going to do each game....but still can't stop them.
There is something to be said for positive self-expectancy.
boring as , WTF, it's called playing team basketball, and relying on fundamentals on defense and offense, since when has that been boring. Damn.
WHere is this from? Link?
WTF... Im sending Timmy the Sarge after that writer...
I think the fact that we aren't feared and yet we still win pisses them off even more.
And is their mantra really to be boring as ?
Heck, 77% of the GM's aren't picking the Spurs to repeat because they like Timmy's new hairdo. There is fear there. And respect. I was watching NBA TV yesterday and the anchor was interviewing a GM (can't remember which one) and he was asked about San Antonio. The GM said, "San Antonio is a problem everyone has." There's a reason every team will be bringing their "A" game when they play the Spurs.
The Spurs don't act like kind of Champions most people expect... no big speeches or thumping the chest or stuff like that. Most people don't get it. But Spurs fans do.... it's CIA Pop.
As Wiley Coyote would say..... C-I-A Pop.... SUPER GENIUS!
its from dallasnews.com however, you do need to register on there with an e-mail address
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....1c9fbefd.html
They don't have to frighten anyone...they just have to beat them.
Trashbag James wasn't afraid, either. Look what that got him.
So what? Everybody feared the Pistons last year. Look what it got them. Everyone (including the Pistons) feared the Lakers the year before. Look what that got the Lakers. Fear of the champs is not necessary. Just play ball.
Duh, Spurs are not delusional. They could lose, but if they play hard, they'll be very hard to beat.
Who feared the Pistons last year? Everybody and their mama were picking the Spurs to win it all even at the beginning of the season.
Teams like Atlanta and Charlotte beat the Pistons in the regular season last year.
None of the other top teams in the East, Indiana, New Jersey, and Miami, played, acted, or talked scared of the Pistons.
In fact, Spurs fans can complain about not getting the proper respect, but last year's Pistons were the least respected defending NBA champions in quite a long time.
And, as to the "look what it got them" comment ... don't make it sound like the Pistons were just rolled over. They still made it to game 7 of the NBA finals. It's not like everyone "supposedly" feared them and then they got swept in the first round of the playoffs.
1. There is no "likely" EC Contender. Indiana, Miami, and Detroit all have about the same chance of being "THAT" EC contender.
2. Pacers fans might be scared of the "big, bad" Spurs. The Pistons and their fans aren't. Respect the Spurs? Absolutely. Fear them? Nah ...
I doubt anyone is "scared" of anyone else in the NBA. I think there is a recognition of the higher talent level of the Spurs but fear is the wrong word. Respect all, Fear none.
who gives a article
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