Kiss the Asterisk
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| “8. 1999 San Antonio Spurs Score: 268.2 | |||
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KEY FACTS Regular-season record: 37-13 Postseason record: 15-2 Avg. scoring margin: +8.1 Avg. scoring margin, playoffs: +7.2 Finals result: Beat New York, 4-1 |
LEADERS Scoring: Tim Duncan, 21.7 ppg Rebounds: Tim Duncan, 11.4 rpg Assists: Avery Johnson, 7.4 apg Coach: Gregg Popovich Finals MVP: Tim Duncan |
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A forgotten great team because of the lockout, the Spurs began the year 6-8 … and then went 46-7 the rest of the way, with nary a losing streak. An awesome defensive squad led by big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan, San Antonio’s 84.7 points allowed per game is far and away the least of any of these 60 squads. That 15-2 postseason mark ain’t too shabby either, including sweeps of the Blazers and Lakers. So stingy was the defense that only twice in 17 playoff games did San Antonio’s opponent muster 90 points.” *
Take a minute, and go ahead and read that again.
Allow it to soak in.
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Now, how can anybody, especially in light of the following 8 years, claim that the 1999 Spurs team should not be recognized. Did you see their 46-7 record after a slow start? Did you notice how few points they allowed per game (84.7)? What about the 15-2 playoff run? And they did not beat a bunch of schmucks either. That Spurs team toppled a loaded Portland Trail Blazers team. I mean, they broke the Blazers’ backs in that series too. They also swept the Lakers that season, which coincidentally led to the hiring of Phil Jackson and a Laker three-peat.
Let the record show that this was the first of three (potentially four) titles over a seven year span (potentially nine), and they destroyed the rest of the league that year.
As we descend upon the NBA Finals, I can’t help but think what might have been: Tony Dumas, Phoenix Suns. What a one hit wonder Dumas was. I can still remember him dunking on anyone and everyone before those Phoenix Suns ran into an angry Michael Jordan.
Food for thought: The Spurs, frequently referred to as the most boring/vanilla team in basketball, are actually the team that wants to push the pace in this series. That’s right, sports fans, the Spurs do not want to get caught up in the plodding, ugly-ball game that the Cleveland King James (have they officially changed the name of the team, yet?) want to offer up to the basketball gods.
If I were a betting man: I would take the Spurs in 5. Game 1 will belong to the Spurs, and it probably won’t be pretty. Cleveland will enjoy the moment too much, and get caught “watching the paint dry.” Game 2 will be a lot closer, but I still think that San Antonio will prevail. Game 3 probably belongs to Cleveland. They will have too much fan support on their side coming out of the gate in that game. Game 4 could go either way, but the Spurs are amazing at playing well after a loss. If they win Game 4, they will certainly win the closeout game in Game 5.
Future advice: Do not bet against San Antonio in a closeout game. You will probably want to take the over in that one as well. The Spurs have been exceptional at covering the over in this postseason. If you think the line is too high, do a little 4 point teaser parlay with the Spurs and the over. Of course, that is only if gambling is legal in the U.S. (or if you happen to be in Vegas for any of the games).
Darn you scheduling Gods: I live 5 hours from Cleveland, that’s all. A mere five hours. If you have made the 17-hour trek to San Antonio as many times as I have, you would realize that 5 hours is nothing. However, I must have done something to anger the scheduling Gods because the Finals started so late in the week that I was not provided an opportunity for a weekend voyage to the Cuyahoga River to watch a game. Bummer. I will survive in front of my 50″ flat. ‘Tis why I bought it my friends.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did: The Daunte Culpepper era in Miami was almost as entertaining as the Billy Donovan era in Orlando. For the record, the Dolphins passed on Brady Quinn (now of wedding dancer Village People fame) and are in the midst of trading Daunte Culpepper so they can bring in Trent Green and draft a speedy returner with a serious foot injury. He’s not over-the-hill yet, but he is certainly at the mountain’s peak. At least they will not have to worry about Green’s health issues like they did with Culpepper. Oh, that’s right, he took the nastiest shot to the head this league has seen since Steve Young. Doh!
