My thoughts on the current world of sports from football to basketball and everything in between.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
SportsSpeak73: The End of an Era!
SportsSpeak73: The End of an Era!: "Today is a sad day for NBA fans, for today we gather to lay to rest the San Antonio Spurs as a legitimate contender. It seems ironic that t..."
San Antonio Spurs: The End of an Era!
Today is a sad day for NBA fans, for today we gather to lay to rest the San Antonio Spurs as a legitimate contender. It seems ironic that the Spurs dominance officially began during a season affected by labor issues and appears to be ending with one.
Since the 1998-1999 NBA season, the Spurs have been the example to which other teams aspired to match. Since that season, the Spurs have 4 NBA titles with 6 Conference Finals appearances. There have been blunders of course, 1st round playoff exits to Phoenix (1999-2000) and Dallas (2008-2009)respectively, but the Spurs have never looked as woefully inept as they have against the Grizzlies in this years 1st round match up.
In years past, the thought that the consistently stellar Spurs would be decimated by a group of upstarts would have been met with intense ridicule. However, that appears to be the new order of the world following the the Grizzlies 18 point annihilation of Tim Duncan led Spurs in Game 4 of their series. Of the Spurs big three, only Ginobli is currently besting his career playoff average (18.0 ppg this series/16.3 ppg career) while Tony Parker (17.8 ppg/18.7 ppg career) and specifically Duncan (a paltry 12.8 ppg compared to a 22.8 career avg) have struggled against an average defensive team in the Grizzlies (18th in the NBA).
Once considered the consummate closers, the Spurs now seem slow, disjointed, and disinterested. Traits they have never displayed in their previous years. One can only help that this years performance is the exception, though I fear it will become the rule.
A rule, that signifies the end of an era.
Since the 1998-1999 NBA season, the Spurs have been the example to which other teams aspired to match. Since that season, the Spurs have 4 NBA titles with 6 Conference Finals appearances. There have been blunders of course, 1st round playoff exits to Phoenix (1999-2000) and Dallas (2008-2009)respectively, but the Spurs have never looked as woefully inept as they have against the Grizzlies in this years 1st round match up.
In years past, the thought that the consistently stellar Spurs would be decimated by a group of upstarts would have been met with intense ridicule. However, that appears to be the new order of the world following the the Grizzlies 18 point annihilation of Tim Duncan led Spurs in Game 4 of their series. Of the Spurs big three, only Ginobli is currently besting his career playoff average (18.0 ppg this series/16.3 ppg career) while Tony Parker (17.8 ppg/18.7 ppg career) and specifically Duncan (a paltry 12.8 ppg compared to a 22.8 career avg) have struggled against an average defensive team in the Grizzlies (18th in the NBA).
Once considered the consummate closers, the Spurs now seem slow, disjointed, and disinterested. Traits they have never displayed in their previous years. One can only help that this years performance is the exception, though I fear it will become the rule.
A rule, that signifies the end of an era.
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