http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12126171p-12997009c.html
Ailene Voisin: It's obvious: Spurs a notch above the rest
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, January 24, 2005
On the heels of the departing rodeo, the Spurs arrived at Arco Arena on Sunday night and, apparently feeling right at home, proceeded to kick the local lads into an early submission. They ran around like they owned the place, slashing into the lane, stealing into the corners, rushing out near the wings. They took advantage of an aberration - the Kings taking an unscheduled night off - and refused to take their leave before offering a parting shot: See ya for that rematch Thursday in San Antonio.
No, there is only grim news to report.
These are the Spurs, alone again.
No matter how fast other players run or how many points they score, no team in the league can catch San Antonio, a squad that features the game's most complete player in Tim Duncan, and, as is becoming increasingly obvious, its most balanced roster/approach. Offense. Defense. Toss in special-teams play, too; intangibles certainly count for something.
All this chatter about the resurgence of the fast break and the frenetic emergence of the Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, among others, makes for great copy but foolish postseason projections. Rebounding still matters.
Defense still wins titles. And the Spurs? The beauty of these particular Spurs?
They're no longer basketball nerds in shorts and sneakers.
These guys are throwbacks with a caffeine kick.
"We used to be like a swamp that (bred) mosquitoes," said former Spurs star and current television analyst Sean Elliott. "Our offense was totally stagnant. We would dump the ball into the low post, and everybody would stand around and watch Tim (Duncan) and Dave (Robinson). Now we have people who cut, move, pass. We can score with anybody in the league, and defensively, we're better than everybody."
After Sunday night, after the way this highly anticipated duel disintegrated into a debacle, surely the Kings count among the believers. This was a spectacle seldom seen in these parts these past seven seasons. And, geez, having prepped for the encounter by pursuing his wine passion in the Napa Valley the previous afternoon, the least coach Gregg Popovich could have done was leave a case of his finest merlot for his counterparts; at least allow for a little pleasure to accompany the hangover.
Instead, the Kings have about 48 hours to reflect upon one of their worst performances in the Rick Adelman era, one in which the seemingly unimaginable occurred, when his club committed the following transgressions: Established a Sacramento-era low for assists (eight), eclipsing the old mark (nine) set in 1988; managed three assists through three periods, and none in the third; recorded zero assists by a starting backcourt of Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley; scored the fewest points at Arco since 2001; provided no answers to Peja Stojakovic's increasingly erratic productivity; offered no solution to the Spurs' offense or defense, in general the interior remaining as pliable as a worked-over piece of bubble gum.
"Same old problems," huffed Tony Massenburg, the former Kings journeyman who carried his grudge and his tough-guy act with him to San Antonio. "We really emphasize defense. If you don't defend, no matter who you are, you don't play."
True, but what makes these Spurs more intriguing and certainly more dangerous than at any time in the past is that though they indeed are deeper, more creative and versatile offensively, and still equally committed defensively, they remain a bit of a work in progress. We haven't even seen their best stuff yet. Brent Barry, the slick-shooting guard who teams lined up to sign during the offseason, is only now becoming comfortable. Rookie Beno Udrih is gaining confidence by the outing, stealing minutes from the competent Devin Brown. Rasho Nesterovic is sidelined with a sprained ankle, and old friend Robert Horry is out with a sore knee.
Of utmost significance is this: Duncan is starting to regain a lightness of being, a spriteness of game.
The two-time MVP - admittedly weary after two offseasons spent competing for the U.S. national team - had been feeling like a bit of a slug on occasion, less inclined to occupy the low post, seemingly content to rely on his bank shot. And this isn't the Tim Duncan who dominates in the blocks like few forwards of this past decade, or few forwards, perhaps, since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. "Pop (Popovich) is limiting my minutes, and that's helping," said Duncan, nodding, "and that's helping. I'm starting to feel a little rhythm, shooting a little better."
No, not an encouraging development for the rest of the league.
The Spurs are better than before, better than the rest.
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: It's obvious: Spurs a notch above the rest
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, January 24, 2005
On the heels of the departing rodeo, the Spurs arrived at Arco Arena on Sunday night and, apparently feeling right at home, proceeded to kick the local lads into an early submission. They ran around like they owned the place, slashing into the lane, stealing into the corners, rushing out near the wings. They took advantage of an aberration - the Kings taking an unscheduled night off - and refused to take their leave before offering a parting shot: See ya for that rematch Thursday in San Antonio.
No, there is only grim news to report.
These are the Spurs, alone again.
No matter how fast other players run or how many points they score, no team in the league can catch San Antonio, a squad that features the game's most complete player in Tim Duncan, and, as is becoming increasingly obvious, its most balanced roster/approach. Offense. Defense. Toss in special-teams play, too; intangibles certainly count for something.
All this chatter about the resurgence of the fast break and the frenetic emergence of the Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, among others, makes for great copy but foolish postseason projections. Rebounding still matters.
Defense still wins titles. And the Spurs? The beauty of these particular Spurs?
They're no longer basketball nerds in shorts and sneakers.
These guys are throwbacks with a caffeine kick.
"We used to be like a swamp that (bred) mosquitoes," said former Spurs star and current television analyst Sean Elliott. "Our offense was totally stagnant. We would dump the ball into the low post, and everybody would stand around and watch Tim (Duncan) and Dave (Robinson). Now we have people who cut, move, pass. We can score with anybody in the league, and defensively, we're better than everybody."
After Sunday night, after the way this highly anticipated duel disintegrated into a debacle, surely the Kings count among the believers. This was a spectacle seldom seen in these parts these past seven seasons. And, geez, having prepped for the encounter by pursuing his wine passion in the Napa Valley the previous afternoon, the least coach Gregg Popovich could have done was leave a case of his finest merlot for his counterparts; at least allow for a little pleasure to accompany the hangover.
Instead, the Kings have about 48 hours to reflect upon one of their worst performances in the Rick Adelman era, one in which the seemingly unimaginable occurred, when his club committed the following transgressions: Established a Sacramento-era low for assists (eight), eclipsing the old mark (nine) set in 1988; managed three assists through three periods, and none in the third; recorded zero assists by a starting backcourt of Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley; scored the fewest points at Arco since 2001; provided no answers to Peja Stojakovic's increasingly erratic productivity; offered no solution to the Spurs' offense or defense, in general the interior remaining as pliable as a worked-over piece of bubble gum.
"Same old problems," huffed Tony Massenburg, the former Kings journeyman who carried his grudge and his tough-guy act with him to San Antonio. "We really emphasize defense. If you don't defend, no matter who you are, you don't play."
True, but what makes these Spurs more intriguing and certainly more dangerous than at any time in the past is that though they indeed are deeper, more creative and versatile offensively, and still equally committed defensively, they remain a bit of a work in progress. We haven't even seen their best stuff yet. Brent Barry, the slick-shooting guard who teams lined up to sign during the offseason, is only now becoming comfortable. Rookie Beno Udrih is gaining confidence by the outing, stealing minutes from the competent Devin Brown. Rasho Nesterovic is sidelined with a sprained ankle, and old friend Robert Horry is out with a sore knee.
Of utmost significance is this: Duncan is starting to regain a lightness of being, a spriteness of game.
The two-time MVP - admittedly weary after two offseasons spent competing for the U.S. national team - had been feeling like a bit of a slug on occasion, less inclined to occupy the low post, seemingly content to rely on his bank shot. And this isn't the Tim Duncan who dominates in the blocks like few forwards of this past decade, or few forwards, perhaps, since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. "Pop (Popovich) is limiting my minutes, and that's helping," said Duncan, nodding, "and that's helping. I'm starting to feel a little rhythm, shooting a little better."
No, not an encouraging development for the rest of the league.
The Spurs are better than before, better than the rest.
Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
