Sorry if someone already posted this, I didn't see it in the list
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5632492
Why I won't miss the Spurs
Elliott Kalb / Special to FOXSports.com
The San Antonio Spurs, the dullest team in professional sports, has mercifully been eliminated before the Conference finals.
It's not that I don't like the Spurs. I do. It's not that I don't appreciate the Spurs place in history as one of the top team of all time. I do. The fact is, however, that I'm tired of them. They weren't exciting to watch and fun to read about when they were fresh and new to the scene.
I'm glad the most boring coach and boring owner and boring fans and the most boring superstar got bounced. Everyone else in the NBA gets it. The Phoenix Suns advanced to the Conference finals, in large part because they signed malcontent Tim Thomas, who made it clear with his lackadaisical play in Chicago that he wanted out. The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the Conference finals, nearly blowing a golden opportunity when Jason Terry was suspended for throwing a punch at the Spurs Michael Finley in the closing seconds of Game 5 of their playoff series. Now, that's exciting! It's unlikely the suspension ruffled Dallas owner Mark Cuban. The NBA fined Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $200,000 for going onto the court after Game 1 of Dallas' series against the Spurs and criticizing league officials on his blog. Following a Game 6 loss, Cuban apparently cursed Spurs' forward Bruce Bowen.
The San Antonio chairman and CEO is someone named Peter Holt. Could you pick him out of a lineup? Where's his "Trump-like" reality show? How come he doesn't curse players, rip the referees, and take on the commissioner? The San Antonio head coach is Gregg Popovich. He's no Zen-Master. He was never considered for leading man roles in Hollywood, like Miami head coach Pat Riley.
There isn't a knucklehead in the Spurs organization. When Phil Jackson made sarcastic remarks belittling the Spurs' first championship in 1999, Popovich didn't publicly retaliate. San Antonio assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo has had many forums to denounce Latrell Sprewell, who physically attacked Carlesimo late in 1997, when both were with the Warriors. Instead, P.J. has only taken the high road. Which seems to be the only road in and out of San Antonio.
After the crushing defeat that eliminated his team, San Antonio coach Popovich said that the Mavericks deserved to go on. "They obviously deserve to move on. It's a disappointing loss for us. It's impressive what Dallas has done. I wish them the best." Where was the finger-pointing? Where was the frustration and outrage at the media?
Let's move this Spurs team, and put them in New York. New York fans and media would have plenty to say about the end to the Spurs' season. First, Manu Ginobili made a crucial foul on Dirk Nowitzki, allowing a late three-point play that forced overtime. Second, superstar Tim Duncan let someone named DeSagana Diop have the better of him in overtime. Third, Popovich relied so heavily on the starters that they had nothing left in the extra session. Fourth, the calling card of the Spurs their defense let them down. Tony Parker said he couldn't remember the Spurs having a worse half of defense than they had in the first half of Game 7. The San Antonio bench players combined to hit one basket in six attempts. Did Robert Horry have one more big shot left in him? We'll never know. Is Spurs center Rasho Nesterovic living in a different city, in the witness protection program? Rasho, after starting 121 games for Popovich the last two seasons, didn't get off the bench in five of the seven games against the Mavericks. In the 12 minutes that he did play in the series, he did not dare attempt a shot. Will anyone in the Spurs' organization second-guess Popovich's decision to play small lineups against the Mavs?
Tim Duncan is a great player. But the Western Conference finals will be a whole lot more interesting without him. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Avery Johnson, who is a young, head coach that played for Popovich, is exciting. He's exciting to listen to. He's exciting to watch. He hit a game-winning shot to win the 1999 NBA Finals. As a head coach, he wasn't afraid to use his bench. He wasn't afraid to change his lineup. He has made Dirk Nowitzki play closer to the basket, eliminating many of his 3-point attempts from years past.
The NBA Finals has never been won by the Mavericks or the Suns or the Heat.
The Finals have had either the Spurs or Lakers representing the Western Conference for seven straight years. The Lakers always had their share of gossip and turmoil and tumult. The Spurs were just boring. There's only so much I can read about the power forward's free throw shooting or the point guard's girlfriend.
There is excitement all around in the Western Conference finals. It is a Suns player, Shawn Marion, who has the nickname "The Matrix." It is the Suns who are trying to advance to the finals without their superstar Amare Stoudemire. Will MVP Steve Nash outshine his former teammate Nowtizki? Will Avery Johnson continue to get mileage out of guard Devin Harris? Will Harris be too quick for Nash?
And finally, which Suns player will be cursed out by Dallas owner Cuban? The Spurs may be every bit as good as the Pistons, Heat, Suns, and Mavs. They are not as exciting. They are duller. They are the I-Dulls of America. Don't expect to hear too much out of San Antonio until next year's playoffs.
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