Great article at Hardwood Paroxysm about the potential fear all teams should feel for the Spurs.
As for me, I don’t know how to feel. It seems that that story line has been written for years about the Spurs. And for the first 8 years of this decade, it seemed to be true. But is it still? The intention is still true in the way that Pop runs the team, in that he views the regular season as a training ground for the post-season. But when was the last time we coiled and sprung? Our championship run of 2007? When was the last time we clearly outplayed and outexecuted a team that was considered elite? It seems like the theme over the last two years has been that we beat the teams we should (for the most part), compete hard most every night, but never get the big win, the signature win. We haven’t put together any impressive winning streaks in a while, and we haven’t been completely dominant on either side of the ball.
It’s all kind of depressing. Are we the proud lion in Autumn? Are we facing a slow slide into mediocrity? Will we one day wake up and find our team to be a .500 team fighting for the 8th seed and the chance to get knocked off by the Lakers or the Blazers or the Thunder?
I don’t necessarily believe any of this to be true, but I have to wonder. I do know this: last night, because of a NBA League Pass fuck up (don’t even get me started), I ended up watching a big chunk of the Rockets against the Cavs. The Rockets were just handling them, out-executing, out-hustling, out-everything the Cavs, and they were completely stifling LeBron. The Rockets are scrappy and they play hard, but they have a deficiency of overwhelming talent on their team, and they should not completely beat down the Rockets. But, as we all know, those games happen in the NBA.
But as I was watching the game, I realized that I can’t conceive of the Spurs doing that to the Cavs. I can’t imagine us beating a team that is better than us right now and having “one of those nights”. Sure, we can beat the Rockets (and the Kings, and the Wizards, and the Warriors); but not the Cavs, or the Lakers, or the Nuggets. But the difference is that the Rockets can beat the Cavs or the Lakers, even though they might lose to the Warriors or the Kings. They have a chance at greatness, even if they’re not.
Us…we’re just stuck in mediocrity.
Firstly, a win is still a win that is all good news for the Spurs to revive their chances in the Western Conference. They will need to carry on this momentum when their embark on their three game road trip and for me, it is only by then we will know have they really reach their zenith peak with this new line up.
While both RJ and Antonio McDYESS did their part from the starting line up, the true strength came from the bench with Manu GINOBILI leading their way. Tony PARKER was worrying sign at times considering the number of turnovers he committed.
Luckily the despite the many times they gave the ball away, Spurs manage to keep their heads focus to grab another victory.
As a for Manu on a personal note, I do appreciate your thoughts on being the best player today (my post on him is out, as always your though is welcomed).
But clearly he was all black and white based on his performance from each half. While he was spectacular in the first two quarter, I couldn’t believe that he only manage to make just ONE shot for the next two period.
Well deep down we all know he can do better. Maybe the Cats decided to pay some extra attention after realizing the damage he was doing on them earlier.
Hopefully this same momentum that the Spurs are enjoying, Manu will too keep it up for the next few games and only then we will know the good old guy is back for good.
A win is a win, agreed.
Although I still understand the main post, that when you play an elite team you no longer feel like the Spurs of old. Perhaps that will change soon.
If everyone gets to their 2007 forms, the big three, then this may be the best Spurs team I've ever seen. They have that potential.