The saying goes that death and taxes are the only certainties in life.
I'd say the San Antonio Spurs making the playoffs is a close third. Love 'em or hate 'em, you absolutely MUST respect the Spurs franchise. In this day and age of egomaniac athletes and teams, the Spurs seem to be stuck in the gentlemanly old days of winning graciously.
In recent memory, the only time a Spurs player has made headlines during the off season was just over a year ago when Tony Parker wed Hollywood sizzler, Eva Longoria.
It wasn't enough that Tony had just been named as NBA Finals MVP after his team had won the NBA championship, he then went and rubbed every red-blooded man's nose in it even further by taking the hottest chick in the world off the market.
Geez Tony, leave something for the rest of us will ya !
But maybe, just maybe, the Spurs best days have just slipped past.
When the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated San Antonio from last seasons playoffs, it ended the Spurs quest to win back-to-back NBA championships. Despite winning the title in four of the last nine seasons, they have never been able to replicate their success in consecutive seasons.
The Spurs have been the league’s most dominant and consistent franchise over the last decade. They have been to the finals four times, winning it on each trip (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007). They have advanced to the Western Conference Finals on three other occasions (2001, 2006 and 2008), giving them seven appearances in the last 10 years. The three years that they didn’t make it that far, they at the very least qualified for the playoffs (2000, 2002 and 2004), a record any franchise would be proud of.
Yet, while Spurs fans have had lots to celebrate over the last decade, there is evidence to suggest that the sun might be setting on what’s been a golden era in southern Texas.
Firstly, they are aging. Of their core, Tim Duncan is 32-years-old, Manu Ginobili is 31, Bruce Bowen is 37 and Michael Finley is 35. The only good news on that front is that Tony Parker is only 26.
Head Coach Gregg Popovich refused to use age as an excuse for his team’s demise in the playoffs, but even he must realize that his team will require an injection of youth if they want to continue to challenge for the NBA crown.
The Western Conference was by far the deeper and stronger of the two conferences last year and it figures to get even tougher this season. Teams like the Portland Trailblazers, New Orleans Hornets, and Utah Jazz (among others) have promising young teams, and the Spurs will struggle to keep pace with their current roster.
The only problem San Antonio’s continued success has given them over the last decade, is that they have never been able to rely on a high draft pick to keep their roster strong. Instead, they have been forced to do their homework on lesser-known players and to trust their very reliable scouting staff.
11 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Don Wayne 9 months ago
Blazer fan here. The Spurs are definitely still a power. To suggest that they are done is ridiculous. Their core three are 32, 31 and 26...definitely not too old to make a difference. And they are class. Love the Spurs.
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The Daily Hurt 9 months ago
Hey Don,
You either didn't read the article fully, or simply didn't understand it.
Why is it ridiculous to suggest that their era of dominance is coming to an end ? No team keeps winning forever.
Thanks,
The Daily Hurt
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Shan 9 months ago
The Spurs are still the model franchise. I like how you pointed out the very tactical and brilliant job their managers and scouting crew get done, they create role players. Much like the Jazz organzation they are both very resouceful and they have to be because they rarely get any picks..
awesome article!! Maybe the Jazz will win in San Antonio this year!!!!
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Tony H. 9 months ago
While it's possible that "L.A. beat up a weary opponent" it's probable that the Spurs were simply beaten by a better team.
And let's leave out the "Dynasty" talk. Dynasties aren't shown the playoff door four times in 6 years by one franchise, including a four game sweep in which the so called dynasty had home court advantage. And a dynasty certainly doesn't allow another franchise to win 3 Championships in a row during their so called era of dominance.
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The Daily Hurt 9 months ago
Hey Tony,
You're a harsh man to deny San Antonio a "dynasty" despite winning the NBA title four times in nine years.
Thanks
The Daily Hurt
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The Daily Hurt 9 months ago
Hey Tony,
You're a harsh man to deny San Antonio a "dynasty" despite winning the NBA title four times in nine years.
Thanks
The Daily Hurt
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Eric Christenson 9 months ago
Hearing the Spurs called a "dynasty" makes me shudder. 4 Championships out of 9 years is hardly considered a "dynasty". 44% win average in the post season over 9 years is hardly something to brag about.
Where are we going to draw the line when it comes to proclaiming teams "dynasties"? San Antonio hasn't even won consecutive championships.
The most recent NBA dynasty is when the Bulls won 6 of 8 championships.
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Nick Nasiri 9 months ago
this is a kings fan, the spurs are defentinly not done remember they still have popovich, duncan, parker, ginobili
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Marcel Mansour 8 months ago
I truly think the Spurs are finished and will no longer be a championship contender. The Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, Rockets and even the Blazers are all better than the Spurs in the west. Duncan is still great, but he is a step slower than he was a few years ago, Ginobli is getting up there in age also and his body is starting to break down. Also, the rest of the team besides Tony Parker are average and too old and slow.
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The Daily Hurt 8 months ago
You're jumping the gun a bit there Marcel. We shouldn't write the Spurs off just yet, but certainly they aren't as fearsome as they once were. One thing is for sure though, you can scratch Houston off that list of teams that are better than the Spurs, they will struggle this year to even make the playoffs.
Thanks,
The Daily Hurt
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Don Wayne 8 months ago
I believe I fully understood your article. Your response was extremely patronizing. Perhaps you didn't understand my post. You questioned their ability to challenge for a championship. I claimed that to make such an assertion was ridiculous. The average age of their "big 3" is under 30 years old. They are not done with their ability to win it all. We can look at good teams throughout the history of the NBA with players who have crossed the 30 plateau and have still been very, very good. Heck, Kareem was 38 when he won the championship MVP. Jordan did it when he was 35.
I never said anything about winning forever, now did I? What I said was "The Spurs are definitely still a power." How is that possibly interpreted as "winning forever"?
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The Daily Hurt 8 months ago
Hey Don,
I still don't think you understand my article fully. What I'm saying is that the Spurs are perhaps a declining power. That's not a ridiculous assertion to make. I fully acknowledge that San Antonio will be in the playoffs and a tough matchup for any team, but they probably won't be as intimidating as they have been in years gone by ?
I don't get your point about the average age of the Big 3 being a factor. Does it help Tim Duncan that he's 32 because Tony Parker is only 26 ? Of course it doesn't.
Thanks,
The Daily Hurt
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