Its so incredibly popular among "hard core" basketball media to go on about the failings of the Spurs. All too often the focus is on Tim Duncan, and how what he does impacts everything else. But, in case the blindingly obvious was missed by Mr. Pierce, the Spurs are way more than the sum of Tim Duncan and those who are in orbit around him. They are a truely a team, the way Cleveland or any other franchise with a superstar can only hope to dream of being. You could take any of the superstars from any of the other teams, surround them with "role players" and they'd look the same, act the same and turn in the same kind of performance.

What is it about passing, working the opponents mistakes, solid defense, bench scoring and other fundamentals of team play that is so repulsive? During the Spurs/Suns series and the Spurs/Jazz series I heard over and over again the announcers talking about how disappointed players like Ginobli and Oberto must have been when they joined the Spurs organization. Having been stars on their old teams in Europe, they were "relegated" to the status of "role players" on the Spurs. And then those same announcers just couldn't understand why in interviews no one on the Spurs seems to complain about this. Its because, on the Spurs, everyone has a role to play. Its a TEAM, for crying out loud. You know, one of those organizations where the output is greater than the sum of of its parts.

I guess that since the Spurs continually deprive "the network of a thunderous dunk and Stuart Scott of a full-body orgasm" Mr. Pierce feels left out as well.

Well, go ahead, feel deprived because the Spurs are a team, without a dominant superstar. Its "just" a bunch of high level athletes who play together very well. And the Spurs continually show why team play, tactics (something SORELY missing from the play of Cleveland) and mental focus will win out over superstars and sheer physicality.

Hats off to the Spurs management for assembling a cadre of players who understand the value of team play. And hats off to the Spurs players for playing as a team, not just a collection of players.

And I predict Spurs in 5.

Mr. Oso,

I think you'll enjoy a piece we're running later this week on the secret to the Spurs' continued success. And no, it's not going to be about Bruce Bowen's groin-kicking technique.

--JL

I agree. "muscular Christianity" ??? WTF ?

i did not cherish the violent techniques used by Bowen but hey, every good BB player will take that the refs will give him. its the NBA job to keep the game honest and flowing , and they are not doing a great job.

safe bet - SA. risky, maybe wishful, who knows?

Everyone else hates the Spurs. And it's not because they are a team. It' s because in a world of entertaining spectacle, the Spurs are so willing to show off an efficiency and perfection that is almost inhuman, machine like. People do not like to watch machines play. They can not relate!

I'm convinced that people who complain about how businesslike, boring, etc., the Spurs are don't actually watch the Spurs. Sure, off the court they're hardly flamboyant, but did anyone actually pay attention to how beautifully they dismantled Utah, especially in the first two games? Fast breaks, touch passes, layups - it was a clinic in good basketball. I guess that's not entertaining.

This article lost me at the first sentence. I'd much rather watch the Spurs than the Cavs. Cheering for Cleveland involves suffering through a brutal, stagnant offence and hoping for that one game in every four or so when LeBron does something spectacular.

Chad:

I'm convinced that people who complain about how businesslike, boring, etc., the Spurs are don't actually watch the Spurs. Sure, off the court they're hardly flamboyant, but did anyone actually pay attention to how beautifully they dismantled Utah, especially in the first two games? Fast breaks, touch passes, layups - it was a clinic in good basketball. I guess that's not entertaining.

Chad,

Quite right, quite right. I was starting to wonder a couple of times during the past couple of series if the halftime announcers were watching the same game I was. How can Tony Parker slashing to the rim on a fast break not be entertaining? Or on the next possession he'll faint the slash to the rim, collapse the defense and hit [Ginobli/Barry/Finley] on the perimiter for a three pointer? And then the whole team will get right back on defense and styme every move the opponent can come up with. My vote for most underappreciated member of the team: Oberto. He rebounds, he posts, he shoots free throws, he blocks, he assists - whatever the team needs that night, he steps up with.

Is the the lack of slam dunks (the most showboarding and anti-team effort move ever invented) by the Spurs every other possession? Seriously! Its the only thing I can think of. They're better passers, runners and communicators than any other team out there, they just don't slam dunk on a regular basis.

Loved the article on the Spurs GM: <link>

i watched the Alf rerun because i didn't know how it would turn out. also because this is not a sport. this is a popularity contest between about 5 guys- a couple of whom still play. you're really at the soul of this thing if you have a panel of jewish guys judge them doing dunks and acting in psa's with kids to win a marketing contract. the bench-clearing brawl is over. now for the arena-clearing game...