Center of Attention

San Antonio Spurs fans are naturally some of the most discriminating in the league when it comes to expecting a certain level of play from the "5," after watching a specimen like David Robinson for 13 years. Robinson could do it all, and that includes being able to guard The Big Charlatan better than anyone ever has. I could use literally all of the space in which I am allowed to type to list The Admiral's achievements, accolades, awards and honors. Instead, I will simply quote Charles Barkley - "David Robinson (is) the most athletic center, EVER."

According to Hoopedia: "The center is relied upon at both ends of the floor. On offense, the center must be able to score inside (close to the basket), while on defense, he must block shots and rebound" (http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Center). Since Mr. Robinson retired in 2003, the Spurs have definitely had players who met this description.

In 2005, the Playoff rotation of Tim Duncan, Nazr Mohammed, and Robert Horry was the best to take the floor since the Twin Towers patrolled the paint together, but Robert Horry spoiled the Spurs and their fans just as much as Robinson had. San Antonio had now seen a center who could hit threes, especially clutch ones, rebound, block shots, draw charges, and get steals - and do so with an uncanny sense of timing that heralds comparisons to Jordan and Bird. Following 2005, Francisco Elson, Fabricio Oberto, and Kurt Thomas were fine players, but didn't seem to have any specialties.

Enter: Matt Bonner. With Horry slowly exiting the rotation and then the league, Bonner seemed like a logical step. He was the lesser of a few evils. None of the Spurs "big men" played the role of a traditional center, but Bonner's advantage was his three point shot. Maybe he could become the next Horry.... The problem, however, is that Bonner can be effective ONLY when shooting 3's, and, faced with no other options, Gregg Popovich told him that doing so was the only way to ensure playing time.

You've seen the first few games of the season, but think about them as you read the definition of a center again. Does Bonner do any of that consistently? The answer is no. Guards and Forwards are supposed to hit outside shots - and we have players who can. With Manu, RJ, Fin, Mason, and Hill we have three point shooters. Centers are supposed to rebound, block, and get put-backs, and the Spurs aren't short in that department either. Blair, McDyess, and Ratliff are all KICK ASS interior players, but one of them will see very few minutes because Bonner is INEFFECTIVE unless he starts, plays with Parker on the floor, and shoots a lot of 3's.

ANY of the Spurs big men should start, and play, instead of Bonner. McDyess can stretch the floor just enough for Duncan with his midrange game, Blair just tramples people to get rebounds, and if Theo Ratliff and Tim Duncan played together enough to develop good timing, they would block shots like David and Tim did in 1999 and 2003. What will the Spurs miss if Bonner is not on the floor? Nothing. By starting Bonner, Popovich is sacrificing defense for offense when he doesn't even have to, and we all know he is smart enough to know it. For the Spurs to return to the suffocating levels of defense with which they won championships, Bonner will have to go sit in his "Wicked Awesome Section" of the bench, and let the MEN play basketball. Somewhere, some day, there may be another Robert Horry, but it's not Matt Bonner. Not now.

The DRIVE for Five

The San Antonio Spurs lost to the LA because they were deeper, more experienced, more clutch, hungrier, and had better chemistry. The following Spurs season began with questions, uncertainty, and new players who had yet to learn Gregg Popovich's defensive schemes. As they had the season before, most of the media picked the Lakers to win and Spurs fans were left wondering just how much emotion to invest in a season that may end on the purple and yellow Staples center floor. In case you're wondering why this is written in the past tense - it's because I'm talking about October of 2002. Tim Duncan had completed a dominant series against LA, but lost in five games. Stephen Jackson sat on the bench with an injury, Antonio Daniels was on his way out of town, David Robinson announced he would retire after the next season, old players couldn't defend LA, and a rookie named Emanuel was coming to town.

One year later, tears would stream down the face of Derek Fisher as the Spurs finished LA with a 20+ point blowout in the Staples Center. I recall the '02-'03 season because many of the same questions are swirling around the NBA season preview shows today. Spurs fans have been more excited this summer than they have been in a while, but the question still remains. Can we beat the Lakers. A former Spur said it best on NBA TV last week: "Realistically...yes," and Brent Barry would know.

Between 2002 and 2003 we swapped a Terry Porter, Steve Smith, Danny Ferry, and Cherokee Parks lineup with one that featured Parker, Claxton, Stephen Jackson, and Kevin Willis. Older players who were a step slow defensively could not hit enough shots. I see no difference now. Instead of a 2008 lineup of Barry, Finley, Udoka, and Manu Ginobili's healthy left leg, we now have Mason, Richardson, Bogans, Hiarston, and Ginobili with Finley laying down cover-fire.

Simply put: not only can the Spurs beat LA, but it's realistic to think they will. Not to dwell on the past, but San Antonio could have won the series in 2008. Ginobili was not healthy, and Parker was inconsistent. If Manu is playing like himself, the Spurs are able to win as they did in Game 3 in '08. Ginobili's 30 point game was a blowout. It was also the only game Ginobili performed in the series. The Spurs lost to LA in 2008 because of rebounding and interior defense, and they have solved each of those problems. Blair, McDyess, Ratliff, and Mahinmi are tougher and more athletic than Thomas, Oberto, and Bonner.

As much as it pains me to say, the Spurs' hope rests on Tony Parker. In 2004, Parker ran circles around Gary Payton as the Spurs raced to A 2-0 series lead. Previously known for his defense, Payton watched from half court as Parker made layups. For some reason, Game 3 arrived, and so did Parker's love for the jump shot. Parker quit driving, and we all know how that series turned out. Parker and "Hedon't" Turkoglu are jsut as much to blame as Derek Fisher for the failed repeat attempt.

In 2008, the Spurs stormed to a 20 point lead in Game 1, in LA. Parker threw a fast breaking fiesta and dashed past Fisher and Farmar for three quarters. An avalanche of missed jumpers in the fourth allowed LA to mount an impressive comeback through momentum they would not relinquish that series. Had the Spurs won Game 1, the series would have been different.

With all other positions potentially canceling each other out, the Spurs own the point guard match-up (Bryan will have a slight edge on Jefferson even if his defense returns to '03 New Jersey levels & Manu will have a slight edge on Artest while the paint will be deadlocked). I know George Hill is up to the challenge, but can Parker stick with his strength even if it means abandoning the desire to make jumpers that he gained watching MJ win games growing up? Parker still has more potential than any PG in the league, and that's scary. If he can keep driving and leave the shooting to the shooters, then Brent Barry will prove correct: "the Spurs can go all the way."

DeJuan Blair - 'Nuff Said

Alright, I admittedly could not come up with a creative title for this blog entry, but i truthfully don't need one. The San Antonio Spurs made some impressive acquisitions this summer, but after the last four days I am most excited about DeJuan Blair. Some may say I should withhold judgment until he has at least played in a regular season NBA game, but there will be no difference. He plays like a MAN no matter what the stage.

Sure the preseason is the least exciting time of the year, but after an atypically long summer in San Antonio I was happy to see the Rockets visit last night, accompanied by Shane Battier in a Rockets blazer that made him look like a movie theater usher at first glace. I don't even remember the last preseason game the Spurs won because Pop doesn't care about winning preseason games. This time of year is usually like watching Popovich and his assistants play Jenga. Over the course of a game they stack different objects until the whole thing falls apart. They try different combinations and give unsigned players a chance to show what they can do.

Ian Mahinmi started the game for San Antonio, but Blair made his presence known after entering the game to a respectable ovation. With Blair on the court, the Spurs cut a 16 point lead down to one thanks to a flurry of putbacks, and-1's, and offensive boards from the rookie out of Pitt.

Now for the reason I enjoyed this game: It was the most impressive interior display by a player other than Tim Duncan since 2007 because of DeJuan Blair. Watching him play provided thoughts of Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, and Malik Rose as he was before a few poor franchising decisions.... Blair was brought to town for his rebounding abilities, and he certainly displayed those on Tuesday. His 16 points were second to George Hill, but his game-high 19 rebounds were staggering. Going up for boards he muscled opposing players out of his way like a 20 year old playing against his little brother. For the sake of comparison, Blair had as many offensive boards (8) as Houston's leading rebounder had total. When asked about the ferocity of Blair's game, Manu Ginobili responded: "If an arm had been close he would have broken a couple of them." This is the toughness the Spurs have been lacking. 'Nuff said.

God Bless Sporting News...Almost

Spurs fans, and Derek's and my loyal radio listeners, were treated to some news last week that those outside of South Texas may consider to be unexpected. As seen on www.spurs.com, the San Antonio Spurs were given the media credit they have deserved for years in the form of a few awards. Sporting News named the Spurs Team of the Decade, Gregg Popovich Coach of the Decade, and rightfully placed Tim Duncan on the All-Decade First Team. These selections are momentous and historical, but as usual, I still feel like the Spurs got robbed. Let's break it down...

Team of the Decade: Selecting the Spurs for this honor is simple to Bexar County residents, but I am surprised by it. I naturally assumed Sporting News would give this one to the LA Lakers. Don't get me wrong, I think the Spurs deserve it, but I am wholeheartedly shocked that I'm not alone in this assessment. The Spurs and Lakers have an equal number of titles in the last ten years, but not in this decade. However, the Spurs have a better winning percentage and have been true contenders every year of the decade, while the Lakers have not. 2005, 2006, and 2007 saw the Lakers as a good team, but no one's pick to win a title. No one gave them an honest shot until February of 2008 when a certain trade was made. The Spurs have been more consistent and stable, and if not for a knee injury in 2000, bad officiating call in 2004, and 146 bad officiating calls in 2006, the AT&T Center rafters would be even more crowded. Good call Sporting News.

Coach of the Decade: Again, I think I'm having heart palpitations as I write this paragraph. How could the media not pick Phil Jackson for this in the wake of a tenth title and conversations about him being the best coach of all time? Simple questions deserve simple answers: Gregg Popovich is the better coach. Robert Horry said it best when asked about playing for the two last year. "If Pop had the talent Phil had for his career, he would have more than 10 titles." Pop's family mentality and equal opportunity critiquing are far more conducive to winning than Phil's peace pipe favoritism. Yelling at superstar Tim Duncan and demanding his best earns the respect of any player in the Silver and Black - a far cry from giving John Paxson a copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Another good call Sporting News.

All Decade First Team: Nash and Bryant at guard, Duncan and James at forward, and the Big Charlatan at center. I have only one problem here: Kevin Garnett ahs played the entire decade and Lebron James has not. Plus I just don;t like Lebron James. Nice move putting Tim on here. You wouldn't want to leave the best power forward EVER off this list. Somewhere a tear rolls off Karl Malone's face and onto a John Deere radiator in the Louisiana heat.

Athlete of the Decade: "Kobe Bryant, Lakers SG, over Tim Duncan, Spurs PF" (spurs.com). Now this is the bias I was expecting to see. This is not only ridiculous, but an egregious error on the part of Sporting News. More MVP's, more Finals MVP's, better defense, and a more complete statistical package warrant Tim Duncan's award of this moniker. Sure, Kobe pours in the points and looks DAMN good in a courtroom sketch, but Duncan has done more over a longer period of time. Duncan has been an MVP candidate every year of the time period in question. Consistency is more valuable on the court than in from of a jury of one's peers. Sure Tim Duncan is not as technically athletic as #8 (or #24 [or docket #357]), but he historically controls the pace of a game better than Kobe, who began doing so over the last two seasons. Duncan's presence has afforded the Spurs the best winning percentage in professional sports over the past 11 years, and this award belongs to him. An NBA player hasn't been robbed like this since Antone Walker got jumped by Chicago thugs a few years ago, but Tim Duncan already knows how Harrah's Lake Tahoe feels. He is owed much, but it is not always given to him. He just keeps working, and just keeps winning. Good call Tim Duncan.

Smoking a Cuban

There is a small chance I may hate myself for writing this, but I found a way Peter Holt should copy Mark Cuban. Spurs fans know Peter Holt as being possibly the best owner in the NBA, and as the owner that brought Championship Basketball to San Antonio. Residents of cities like Phoenix, New Orleans, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, and Orlando may need to reference the following link: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/championship. Holt has traditionally been a hands-off owner who has allowed Gregg Popovich and RC Buford build a winning organization without interference. After years of keeping a close eye on the Spurs' payroll, Holt made an uncharacteristic move this summer in telling Pop and RC to get who they needed and send him the bill. Though the Spurs are in the luxury tax for the first time in recent memory, Holt says "we're ready to kick ass."

Now, I'm not saying Holt should start trashing other cities in a blog, insulting tourist attractions on a radio show, setting and breaking league records for fines, encouraging the taunting of a former player's family, or allegedly insulting a player's aging mother during an embarrassing playoff series. I'm not saying Holt should enter litigation against his head coach, or trade away an up-and-coming point guard for an aged one. I'm not saying Holt should believe $35,000,000 would be better spent on Erik Dampier than Steve Nash after proclaiming Nash's best days were behind him only to watch him ride two career years to two MVP awards. I'm not even saying Holt should dance with the stars or wear custom Spurs t-shirts better fitted for small children.

What I AM saying is based on an Express News story about Tony Parker this week. Parker, who has suffered various injuries playing for the French national team nearly every year, led his team past Germany with an enormous fourth quarter last week. Two items were notable about that game: 1) Parker scored 11 points in the final 2:30, and 2) German star and David Hasslhoff fan, Dirk Nowitzki, was nowhere to be found. The Express News reported the following: "Germany, which led at halftime 37-33, sorely missed Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. He led all scorers at the 2007 championships, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has refused to allow him to play in the tournament."

Simply astounding. Since Parker joined the Spurs in 2001, and Ginobili followed in 2002, each has heard Gregg Popovich plead against their playing for their national teams during the summer. Parker has tweaked, rolled, sprained, and fatigued his ankles severely during the past several summers, and Manu Ginobili is a completely different story. With deep playoff runs and Olympic trials, this may be Ginobili's first summer of rest since he joined the team. Nowitzki's absence from European competition won't equate to much because he is, after all, a Dallas Maverick. Being a Mav won't win a ring, but being a Mav with a stress fracture or severe fatigue during only the tenth game of the season is even worse.

Cuban has actually learned from the Spurs' mistakes, and Holt should do the same. By now we all know that Parker and Ginobili will not listen to Pop and actually rest and train for the Spurs season, but this story is not about Rick Carlisle asking Nowitzki not to play - it's about Cuban telling him he won't. If the Spurs are to make the best out of the Big Fundamental's final years, they need everyone else to be in top form. Holt has opened his pocketbook, but it's time for him to close the customs booth. Holt is paying Parker and Ginobili approximately $10,500,000 and $9,100,000 (respectively) to play basketball this year. For that kind of money, he should be able to get healthy, strong players when training camp starts. Where Pop's requests end, Holt's demands should begin. Holt and Cuban are still the ones signing their players checks. Holt may do so with more class, humility, and dignity, but that doesn't mean he can't protect his investment like Cuban does.

Mirage in the Desert

I have heard ignorant sports writers, even as recently as March of this year, continue to support Woody's Paige's sentiments that the Phoenix Suns were actually a better team in 2007 than the World Champion San Antonio Spurs. Even more ridiculous is blaming the suspensions of Amare "Rec Spec" Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for the Suns eventual loss in the series. At the time, many sports media figures labeled the "letter of the law" suspensions unfair, and wanted a rule change. No one seemed to focus on the fact that the Spurs bench stayed calm, collected, and sedentary while Stoudewhiner and Diaw ran over to the fray caused by Robert Horry and Steve Nash with clenched fists. If you asked the Suns teams of the 1990's why they didn't have a ring they would say to words: Michael Jordan. If we want to look at the facts, the teams of this decade should save time and answer that question with two other words: Bruce Bowen.

The 2006-2007 Phoenix Suns were a tremendous team that rode multiple 13+ game winning streaks to a 61-21 record, but as we all know, defense wins championships. More Specifically, Bruce Bowen wins Championships. There are several reasons why the Suns COULD NOT beat the Spurs in 2007. Many thought Gregg Popovich was playing chess while Mike D'Antoni was playing checkers. In reality, Pop was playing chess, Stratego, Battleship, and whipping three peoples' asses at Monopoly while D'Antoni was playing checkers. Besides the obvious fact that we had Tim Duncan and they didn't, we knew how to neutralize the Suns without appearing to do so. Their x-factor was always Shawn Marion, but the Spurs never seemed to let him have an impact, and Bowen could frustrate Nash at the right times.

The Spurs and Suns traded the first four games of the series, but Game 4 was when Robert Horry took a stand. What people fail to remember about the series is the storyline in Game 5. Without Stoudewhiner and Diaw, Phoenix ran San Antonio off the court in Phoenix, and went into halftime with a 15 to 17 point lead and a tied series. If Phoenix had been the better team, as Mr. Paige and others continue to assert, then they would have won that game and taken a 3-2 lead.

Championship teams are always capable of two things: 1) they can build a lead, sustain it, and closeout at home, and 2) they can make a comeback and win on the road. After a signature Pop speach at halftime, the Spurs began to tune out the hostile crowd and chip away. At the heart of this comeback was Bruce Bowen. Nash was out of his element, and the Suns offense ground to a halt. Though they were slowed, Phoenix managed to stay in the game until the score was tied at 81 with 43 seconds left when Bowen caught the ball in front of their bench (video available on my show page at http://blogtalkradio.com/init2winit). Nash closed out on Bowen as he released the 3 and the crowd went silent. Would a championship team let this happen?

Even down 3-2, the better team will win a seven game series. The Phoenix Suns did not. With Tim Duncan carrying the offense, Bowen put on a defensive clinic that virtually removed Nash from the game. Had the Suns been the better team, they would have forced a Game 7 and won it even after Bowen won Game 5. The better team does not allow 102.9 ppg. The better team does not make excuses. The better team leads the league by holding opponents to 90.1 ppg because the better team has an undrafted player who works on defensive drills while his opponents are watching hockey. The better team - has Bruce Bowen.

Bruce Bowen: How the West Was Won

Spurs fans will remember this week as well as any this off-season. Not only do we await David Robinson's well-deserved Hall of Fame induction next Friday, but also we remember Bruce Bowen, who announced his retirement yesterday. After twelve years in the NBA, and eight with the Spurs, Bowen has decided to retire "on his own terms," after being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, who subsequently bought-out his contract. Shaquille O'Neal took time out of his schedule of building a fort out of unused VHS copies of Kazaam to comment: "Tim Duncan owes him like I owe Derek Fisher." Not that Spurs fans should take advice from a former Burger King spokesman, but the Big Cuyahoga has a point. Bowen has meant as much as any player not named Duncan in the Spurs organization since he arrived.

True Spurs fans remember our 1999 Championship team as the best defensive team in NBA history. The hardened perimeter tandem of Sean Elliott and Mario "Junkyard Dog" Elie, and the interior dominance of David Robinson and Tim Duncan combined for a defense that allowed opponents to score 90 or more points only twice in the entire playoffs. But where would the Spurs go? Tim Duncan's injury in 2000 prevented a legitimate chance to defend the title. Mario Elie and Avery Johnson would depart, and though Sean Elliott returned from a kidney transplant, his knees did not.

After an utterly embarrassing sweep by the Lakers in 2001, the Spurs were missing the defensive stopper they used to have on the perimeter. Who could help contain Kobe Bryant? Enter: Bruce Bowen. The remarkable thing about Bowen is how much his defense improved each year. After a year with the team, Bowen was able to bother Kobe as well as anyone in the league. He would go on to have shut-down games against every scorer from Bryant to Zack Randolph. While his defense continued to mature, he began shooting corner 3's at a clip that earned him best percentage in the league before the 2003 season was over. Teams kept doubling Duncan, and Bowen kept making them pay. Combining both talents, he helped San Antonio finally get past LA in 2003. The series was a work of art for Bowen as he held Kobe in check for most of the series, including the crucial fourth quarter of a Game 6 closeout at Staples Center. What was not expected was Bowen's offensive explosion in Game 2 in which his seven 3's broke Sean Elliott's 1999 Playoff record.

There is no doubt Bruce Bowen played an enormous role in helping the Spurs get back to the NBA throne room. Almost anyone outside of San Antonio will probably say he was a dirty player, but he was not. Being the best perimeter defender in the league will undoubtedly annoy one's opponents, but Bowen can also be called something that Vince Quitter, Amare Stoudewhiner, Steve Gash, and Dirk Nonutski cannot - a Champion. In fact, Bowen's three rings are more than most franchises, including Houston, can call their own. Spurs fans saw Bowen shut down players in every position and hit big-time shots in the playoffs, and many feel his #12 deserves a place in the AT&T Center rafters. He helped bring us back, he helped us win, and his work ethic, defense, and humor will certainly be missed. San Antonio has a deep tradition of going out on one's own terms, and Bowen has picked the right time to retire. At 38 years old, let's just hope we don't see Bruce make a comeback with the Wizards in a couple years...