The NBA's team to beat
by Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
December 9, 2004
HOUSTON – On Wednesday in San Antonio, the Seattle SuperSonics ran and shot their way past the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season. On Thursday in Houston, Tracy McGrady put on an incredible show, scoring 13 points in the final 35 seconds to lead the Houston Rockets to an amazing comeback victory over the Spurs.
Two nights, two bad losses. Gregg Popovich is furious, Tim Duncan is embarrassed and the Spurs fans can't believe it.
Well, they all can relax. Despite the bad spell, San Antonio once again has a great team, and at the one-quarter mark of the season, the Spurs are the favorites to win the NBA championship.
With apologies to Seattle and the Phoenix Suns, who have a better record than San Antonio thus far, the Spurs have the best chance to win the le this season because they're battle-tested, they're deep, they defend, they've won before and they have Duncan.
San Antonio has two les in the past six seasons, but this probably is the best team Popovich has had. Duncan is his usual self, controlling games with his low-post offense, passing and shot blocking. It's his supporting cast, however, that makes this team so strong.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker form a speedy, attacking backcourt that has energized the Spurs' offense. Several years ago, San Antonio walked the ball up the floor, but with these two guys leading the break, the Spurs entered Thursday's game seventh in the league in fast-break points. They also were sixth in field-goal percentage and fifth in points in the paint. The Spurs are attacking the rim and taking advantage of their guards' speed and Duncan's ability to get great position around the basket.
Popovich has nine players back from last season's squad. Together, they possess what he likes to call "corporate knowledge." They understand the system, play well together and have matured into a tough-minded group. Each player understands his role with the team and pulls for everyone else. The Spurs are a coach's dream.
Their depth is a luxury and somewhat unexpected, too. Rookie Beno Udrih has been so good manning the backup point guard spot that Popovich calls him a "poor man's John Stockton." Third-year guard Devin Brown has been terrific, shooting and defending with confidence, and he has replaced the struggling Brent Barry in the rotation. Malik Rose, who spent much of last season in Popovich's dog house, is back in the lineup and the team's best big perimeter defender, often drawing assignments like Dirk Nowitzki and Lamar Odom.
The Spurs, according to Popovich, are fine as long as they remember "who they are."
"As long as we remember that we win games with defense, we're fine," he said. "We're not Dallas or Phoenix. We don't shoot it real well. But if we defend we're pretty good."
Come playoff time, teams will have to score enough to win four games and knock out the Spurs. Defense wins championships, as Detroit proved once again last season. With the Lakers broken up and Shaq in Miami, this looks like it could be another championship season for San Antonio.
and this quote coming from a guy that owns a piece of the Suns...With apologies to Seattle and the Phoenix Suns, who have a better record than San Antonio thus far, the Spurs have the best chance to win the le this season because they're battle-tested, they're deep, they defend, they've won before and they have Duncan.
"Phoenix Suns, who have a better record than San Antonio thus far"
And, this very week, just like SEA, in a B2B, home/away, PHX played it very tough in the 4th to win both games, starting and finishing dramatic come-from-WAY-behind runs to win (just like the Spurs did in Games 6 vs DAL WCF 03 and vs NJ Finals 03).
Absolutely championship ball by SEA and PHX. In same week, Spurs play ty and lose their own B2B, absolutely first-round exit stuff. Come on, Spurs!!!!
les arent won before christmas
Kerr does not own any part of the Suns, the deal fell through.
oops...my bad
You sure about this?.... I thought this is why he was pushing to get Ginobili during the offseason before coming to terms with Nash...
Kerr does own part of the Suns. Elliott, who originally was buying in, does not.
Compare this start with the championship starts boutons.
"Compare this start with the championship starts boutonns"
This is best start in franchise history, so it's imcomparable.
Does SPAM this hot-start year mean Spurs Puke After March?
These two games crappy games show me the hot-start was a BS mirage. They still have a long way to go, but that wasn't supposed to be the case with 9 players, all 5 starters, returning. Jeez, this was a loss to fricking basket case HOU.
Kori, are you sure? I read that both Sean and Kerr were shot down.
It's also mentioned in this article, which is dated Dec 8th.
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_041208.html
So as far as I know, he's minority owner.
Kerr didnt have to put any money up to get his minority share.
The buyer gave him an "override" so to speak.
A piece of the team for helping facilitate the deal.
Its also a lure or anchor whichever way you want to look at it, to eventually get him to be the GM.
I understand Kerr combined with two others to contribute $10 million and form one of the minority investor units. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I read several times when the deal was being made.
I would like to see Kerr as part of the Spurs organization instead of being with the Suns.
i would also prefer him buying into this franchise, it is quite clear he still is a little patrial towrds it
"With the Lakers broken up and Shaq in Miami, this looks like it could be another championship season for San Antonio."
Sick of this BS line - the Spurs wasted the Lakers two years ago and it took an absolute fluke to lead to eventual loss last year.
Spurs should have been favored over Lakers already period.
MadDoc
Shhh!!! LakerGod might read this one...
Me too
why is he part of the Suns....
Okay, I don't get this (not especially directed at you Marc-, I mean, vk).
When the Spurs were 16-3, some were saying it was proof positive that they were one of the best teams of all time.
Now they're 16-5, and the exact same people are saying " les aren't won in December".
A little consistency, please.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
