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.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, September 11, 2009
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.
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.
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