(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs fell down hard last season, losing to the Dallas Mavericks 4-1, in the Western Conference play-offs. It was San Antonio's earliest exit since 2000. For Tim Duncan, it was the first time in his career he couldn't lead the Spurs past the first round.
It was ugly last year for the Spurs, coming into the playoffs as the third seed. They were taken down by Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks.
Many ESPN Analysts proclaimed that the Spurs were a Dynasty after winning their fourth title since 1999 in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. Since then, the Spurs haven't returned to the NBA Finals, losing 4-1 to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in 2008, and getting knocked out of the first round by the Mavs in 2009.
Which brings up the question:
Are the San Antonio Spurs a dynasty?
Well let's have a look at the Spurs Owner, Coach, GM, and Players who will try to bring in that fifth ring for the Spurs.
Owner: Peter Holt
Review: Holt spent two years in the Army, including one in Vietnam. He ended his military duty as a Sergeant with a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars for Valor, as well as a Purple Heart for wounds received.
In 1983, Holt rejoined his father (A Caterpillar Dealership Owner) in Holt Companies in 1983. As president and CEO, Holt implemented a strategy to diversify the company’s markets, taking it from one of the smallest Caterpillar Dealerships to the biggest one in the country today.
In 1993, when he invested in the the Spurs, his desire was to keep the team in San Antonio to help the community and vice-versa. He has owned the Spurs all the way up to today, leading them to four NBA Titles.
GM: R.C Buford
Review: Buford started out as Assistant Coach of the Spurs, He spent four seasons as an assistant with the Spurs, including the 1989-'90 and 1990-'91 seasons when the team captured back-to-back Midwest Division Titles.
In 1992, he moved to the Clippers, becoming the No. 1 assistant for Larry Brown with the Clippers. He spent one year with the Clippers before moving to the University of Florida before the 1993-'94 season.
In 1994, Gregg Popovich (Now Head Coach of the Spurs) hired Buford as Spurs' Head Scout. Then, in 1997, Buford was named the Spurs' Director of Scouting, and two years later was promoted to the position of Vice President/Assistant General Manager. In 2002 Buford was promoted to General Manager of the Spurs, and has been GM since.
The Good: Buford made a trade a couple months ago that sent Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen, and Fabricio Oberto to the Milwaukee Bucks for Richard Jefferson. It is a great move for the Spurs because Jefferson is a competitive player, who is a runner and a slasher on the court. He moves very well without the ball, and is excellent transition.
He should help put more points on the board for the Spurs, which addresses the lack of ofensive firepower that really hurt them last year.
Although Buford did not draft Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Buford took two of the players from what is now the Spurs Big Three. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were both drafted and signed by Bruford. Parker 28th overall and Ginobili 57th overall.
The Bad: There has hardly been any bad transactions Buford has made, but there is one that he regrets. Traded center Jackie Butler and the draft rights to Luis Scola to the Houston Rockets for guard Vassilis Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round pick (Nando de Colo), and future considerations on July 12, 2007.
All-In-All: Buford has been great for the Spurs, he has won three NBA Title, four Division Titles, and in seven seasons has made the Playoffs all seven times.
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Review: Popovich graduated from Air Force Academy in 1970. He played basketball for four seasons at the Academy and in his senior year, he was team captain and led the team in scoring.
Popovich then served a required five years in the U.S Air Force, touring Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union with the U.S Armed Forces Basketball Team. In 1972 he was selected captain of the team which won the Amateur Athletic Union
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