Sidebar

What We and Everybody Else Can Learn From the San Antonio Spurs

B1GTide

B1GTide

TideFans Legend
Apr 13, 2012
45,589
47,166
187
CajunCrimson said:
The late 80s and early 90s, was when the NBA was at its prime, all because of one guy....
Click to expand...
Agreed - and the Knicks teams of that era were so tough defensively that the Bulls were beat up going into the finals every year.

I don't care for the NBA now, but I loved it then - watched as much as I could as a young man trying to start a family and career. Basketball was a team sport, and defense was a priority. Today's game is all about "me", and I can't stomach it.
 
B1GTide

B1GTide

TideFans Legend
Apr 13, 2012
45,589
47,166
187
TexasBama said:
He never beat Olajuwon
Click to expand...
They never faced one another in the playoffs. Two great players - among the best of that era. Amazing that it never happened.

During the regular season, Hakeem had the edge 12-9 against Jordan teams (looked it up). Doesn'ts't mean that he was a better player or that his teams would have won in the playoffs. Jordan was a demon in the playoffs, offensively and defensively. Jordan's game elevated in the playoffs.
 
TexasBama

TexasBama

TideFans Legend
Jan 15, 2000
25,987
29,381
287
66
Houston, Texas USA
B1GTide said:
They never faced one another in the playoffs. Two great players - among the best of that era. Amazing that it never happened.

During the regular season, Hakeem had the edge 12-9 against Jordan teams (looked it up). Doesn'ts't mean that he was a better player or that his teams would have won in the playoffs. Jordan was a demon in the playoffs, offensively and defensively. Jordan's game elevated in the playoffs.
Click to expand...
If you were old enough to see the 95 playoffs you saw Hakeem at his best.
 
B1GTide

B1GTide

TideFans Legend
Apr 13, 2012
45,589
47,166
187
TexasBama said:
If you were old enough to see the 95 playoffs you saw Hakeem at his best.
Click to expand...
Indeed - he made Shaq and David Robinson look like sheep - and they were both in their prime. Robinson was the league MVP that season. Hakeem was unstoppable.

But Jordan only played something like 18 games during that season. He was ready, but the Bulls (with Kukoc) had not yet adapted to the triangle offense with Jordan in it again. And their defense was weaker (brought in Rodman the next season to fix that). Also consider that Hakeem's defensive dominance in the paint would have been wasted against the Bulls. They had a center in form only - not in function. Hakeem was the perfect player to match up with Shaq, Robinson or Ewing - not so much for a team running the triangle.

I would have loved to see Jordan try to get in Clyde's head. He and Drexler seemed to have one of those crazy Jordan relationships. Not sure what would have happened in that finals, but Hakeem and Jordan would have put up their points. Would have been fun to watch.
 
TexasBama

TexasBama

TideFans Legend
Jan 15, 2000
25,987
29,381
287
66
Houston, Texas USA
B1GTide said:
Indeed - he made Shaq and David Robinson look like sheep - and they were both in their prime. Robinson was the league MVP that season. Hakeem was unstoppable.

But Jordan only played something like 18 games during that season. He was ready, but the Bulls (with Kukoc) had not yet adapted to the triangle offense with Jordan in it again. And their defense was weaker (brought in Rodman the next season to fix that). Also consider that Hakeem's defensive dominance in the paint would have been wasted against the Bulls. They had a center in form only - not in function. Hakeem was the perfect player to match up with Shaq, Robinson or Ewing - not so much for a team running the triangle.

I would have loved to see Jordan try to get in Clyde's head. He and Drexler seemed to have one of those crazy Jordan relationships. Not sure what would have happened in that finals, but Hakeem and Jordan would have put up their points. Would have been fun to watch.
Click to expand...
The 94 Rockets had Mad Max, who got in MJs head.
 
D

davefrat

Hall of Fame
Jun 4, 2002
5,273
4,143
282
Hopewell, VA
4Q Basket Case said:
We and the rest of the college football world can learn a lot from the San Antonio Spurs.

The rest of the world needs to know that the same things win today that always did. The offense du jour is just that -- the best way for an outmanned team to upset a better team. In my lifetime, the wishbone had it for a while. Then defenses adjusted. The finesse passing game had it, and defenses adjusted. The HUNH has it today, and defenses are adjusting.

Meanwhile, a fundamentally sound team that is unselfish and plays with unity and purpose can beat a more talented team [this is important] in a series, not just one game.

For the portion of the college football world not residing in Tuscaloosa or Palo Alto, this is bad news. The clock is ticking on the advantages gained by sleight of hand, and the best minds in the game are accelerating that time frame.

The lesson for the Alabama fanbase is that, after reaching the requisite level of physical ability, six inches -- the distance from one ear to the other -- is the deciding factor.

In 2010 and 2013, there was not much question that we had the most talented team in the country. But we later learned that for a lot of reasons, stemming primarily from attitude, the talent didn't lead to performance. We have only to look east about 300 miles for the best example. For more than a decade, UGA has under-achieved its talent level to the point of being the poster child. The difference between UGA and us is that we performed mentally a whole lot more often than they have. That, and we have a more fundamentally sound approach to the game.

For the college football world: enjoy it guys. This won't last.

For Alabama fans: A four-star talent who believes beats a five-star who spends half his time looking in the mirror. Every time.

We don't need to change philosophies or approaches. We might need to change some 'tudes. Even some highly talented ones.
Click to expand...
we need more foreign players?
 
T

TouchThatThang

All-SEC
Feb 8, 2014
1,161
0
0
B1GTide said:
Agreed - and the Knicks teams of that era were so tough defensively that the Bulls were beat up going into the finals every year.

I don't care for the NBA now, but I loved it then - watched as much as I could as a young man trying to start a family and career. Basketball was a team sport, and defense was a priority. Today's game is all about "me", and I can't stomach it.
Click to expand...
Watching the Bulls on TV was the preferred pastime of my childhood. There was something so innocent and simple about basketball in the 90's. Even the way the players moved was different, so much more fluent and not so guarded like it is today. It was all about watching the game, and not all the BS that came along with it. I agree basketball isn't the same today.
 
IGetBuckets

IGetBuckets

Suspended
Jan 13, 2014
368
0
0
1996 Sonics...

Vincent AskewG-FFebruary 28, 19666'5"210Memphis State
Frank BrickowskiF-CAugust 14, 19596'9"240Penn State
Sherell FordFAugust 26, 19726'7"210Illinois-Chicago
Hersey HawkinsGSeptember 29, 19666'3"190Bradley
Ervin JohnsonCDecember 21, 19676'11"245New Orleans
Shawn KempF-CNovember 26, 19696'10"230Trinity Valley CC (DNP)
Nate McMillanG-FAugust 3, 19646'5"195North Carolina State
Gary PaytonGJuly 23, 19686'4"180Oregon State
Sam PerkinsF-CJune 14, 19616'9"235North Carolina
Steve SchefflerC-FSeptember 3, 19676'9"250Purdue
Detlef SchrempfF-CJanuary 21, 19636'9"214Washington
Eric SnowGApril 24, 19736'3"190Michigan State
David WingateG-FDecember 15, 19636'5"185Georgetown

1997 Utah...

40Shandon AndersonSG6-6208December 31, 1973RUniversity of Georgia
55Antoine CarrPF6-9225July 23, 196112Wichita State University
10Howard EisleyPG6-2177December 4, 19722Boston College
44Greg FosterC6-11240October 3, 19686University of Texas at El Paso
14Jeff HornacekSG6-3190May 3, 196310Iowa State University
43Stephen HowardSF6-9225July 15, 19702DePaul University
31Adam KeefeC6-9230February 22, 19704Stanford University
32Karl MalonePF6-9250July 24, 196311Louisiana Tech University
34Chris MorrisSF6-8210January 20, 19668Auburn University
30Ruben NembhardSG6-3208February 20, 1972RWeber State University
00Greg OstertagC7-2280March 6, 19731University of Kansas
3Bryon RussellSF6-7225December 31, 19703California State University, Long Beach
12John StocktonPG6-1170March 26, 196212Gonzaga University
22Brooks ThompsonPG6-4193July 19, 19702Oklahoma State University
15Jamie WatsonSF6-7190February 23, 19722University of South Carolina




1998 Utah...

40Shandon AndersonSG6-6208December 31, 19731University of Georgia
55Antoine CarrPF6-9225July 23, 196113Wichita State University
45William CunninghamC6-11250March 25, 1974RTemple University
10Howard EisleyPG6-2177December 4, 19723Boston College
44Greg FosterC6-11240October 3, 19687University of Texas at El Paso
14Jeff HornacekSG6-3190May 3, 196311Iowa State University
25Troy HudsonPG6-1170March 13, 1976RSouthern Illinois University
31Adam KeefeC6-9230February 22, 19705Stanford University
32Karl MalonePF6-9250July 24, 196312Louisiana Tech University
34Chris MorrisSF6-8210January 20, 19669Auburn University
00Greg OstertagC7-2280March 6, 19732University of Kansas
3Bryon RussellSF6-7225December 31, 19704California State University, Long Beach
12John StocktonPG6-1170March 26, 196213Gonzaga University
11Jacque VaughnPG6-1190February 11, 1975RUniversity of Kansas
 
PaulD

PaulD

All-SEC
Dec 29, 2006
1,997
1,918
187
68
near Perry, Georgia, United States
I'm not an NBA fan at all, but I began to follow the Spurs during my years in San Antonio and kept it up when we moved to Georgia in the middle of their 1999 playoff run.

The Spurs moved from being a good team to a great team when they hired Coach Popovich. He brought a team emphasis which is unique in the NBA. Even the star players, first David Robinson and then Tim Duncan, are about the team first. They are also class individuals. Robinson retired a decade ago, still lives in San Antonio and gives back to the community all the team. Players have taken less money to stay with the Spurs than they might have gotten elsewhere. They bring up new players to replace those who do move on and, as you can see by the flag display after the game, draw international players to them. All their players seem to have character, rather than be characters.

I also noticed in the post-game celebration that Coach Pop stayed in the background and off the podium. He consistently says its about the players.

And I did hear them say that Miami's roster was older than SA's.
 
IGetBuckets

IGetBuckets

Suspended
Jan 13, 2014
368
0
0
As someone noted, MJ never faced Akeem in the Finals. In fact, I contend he never faced a real great or borderline great team in The Finals.

The Centers those Bulls faced include Vlade Divac and Sam Perkins, Kevin Duckworth of Portland, Oliver Miller and Mark West of Phoenix, Ervin Johnson of Seattle, and Greg Ostertag and Greg Foster of Utah. Those Bulls never faced a C with the offensive skills of an Akeem or Kareem, with good players around them.

I think the lesser parity of The West is illustrated by the fact Chicago faced 5 different teams in 6 Finals, and no one could ever push them to a game 7. This is not due to the bulls being an all time greatest type squad, but because the talent level had diminished from the golden, glory days of the 1980s.
 
B1GTide

B1GTide

TideFans Legend
Apr 13, 2012
45,589
47,166
187
IGetBuckets said:
As someone noted, MJ never faced Akeem in the Finals. In fact, I contend he never faced a real great or borderline great team in The Finals.

The Centers those Bulls faced include Vlade Divac and Sam Perkins, Kevin Duckworth of Portland, Oliver Miller and Mark West of Phoenix, Ervin Johnson of Seattle, and Greg Ostertag and Greg Foster of Utah. Those Bulls never faced a C with the offensive skills of an Akeem or Kareem, with good players around them.

I think the lesser parity of The West is illustrated by the fact Chicago faced 5 different teams in 6 Finals, and no one could ever push them to a game 7. This is not due to the bulls being an all time greatest type squad, but because the talent level had diminished from the golden, glory days of the 1980s.
Click to expand...
I am not sure why this point matters so much to you. During that era the East was far and away the best conference. Winning the East was like winning the SEC today. If you were good enough to win the East most seasons, you were good enough to beat anyone in the West. But it made the road to a championship HARDER, not easier. You had to get through the East to get to the championship game.
 
IGetBuckets

IGetBuckets

Suspended
Jan 13, 2014
368
0
0
B1GTide said:
I am not sure why this point matters so much to you. During that era the East was far and away the best conference. Winning the East was like winning the SEC today. If you were good enough to win the East most seasons, you were good enough to beat anyone in the West. But it made the road to a championship HARDER, not easier. You had to get through the East to get to the championship game.
Click to expand...
Explain why the East was so tough, The Pistons and Celts had fallen back. You giving that much credit to the Knicks, Heat and Bee Hivers?
 
A

Alasippi

Suspended
Aug 31, 2007
12,875
2
57
Ocean Springs, MS
BamaPokerplayer said:
Isaiah's Piston's would murder today's Spurs.
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure about that. The Spurs are a pretty complete team, and they would have said, "Bring it" when that old Piston's team thought they'd intimidate them. Those Piston's teams had an ok track record, but it doesn't even compare with the consistency of this Spurs team. They've been champions, or in contention, every year, for a long long time. sip
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Latest threads

TideFans.shop - NEW Stuff!

TideFans.shop - Get YOUR Bama Gear HERE!”></a> <br /> <!--/ END TideFans.shop & item link \--> <p style= Purchases made through our TideFans.shop and Amazon.com links may result in a commission being paid to TideFans.

Top Bottom