Popovich, Duncan Enjoy Successful Partnership

TNT NBA fundamentals Rip Hamilton- Moving without the ball

KG Interview

Emotional interview with Kevin Garnett while he was with Minnesota. This guy wants to win more than anyone I've ever seen!!!!

Passing The Torch: Garnett Sits Down With Russell

Same Old Boring Champions

Alot of people over the last ten years have called the Spurs boring to watch. If you have watched Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili lately you know that is ridiculous. The Spurs don't play like alot of the fast paced Western Conference teams, but then again, alot of those teams don't win championships like the Spurs do (4 in the last 10 years). Facing a possible 3-0 series deficit last night, the defending champions played wonderfully to make it a 2-1 series. The unselfish play, the hustle, and the energy were fun to watch. The poise that this team has is as good as any. There isn't anything that seems to rattle them.

Here is some quotes and thoughts about the franchise with the highest winning percentage over the last 10 years than any team in all four professional sports (basketball, baseball, football, hockey)


Brent Barry on the Spurs “No character issues. Just professionalism, preparation. Everything people always say they want, it’s all happening right here.”

Bruce Bowen: “Textbook boring basketball, that’s what gets you the victories in this league.”

R.C. Buford, G.M. of the Spurs:
“We know what we are looking for (hard-working, high-character, team-oriented, coachable, unselfish players) and the important component of it is knowing what works for you and what doesn’t. There are NBA players who aren’t necessarily Spurs, and there are Spurs who may not fit someplace else.”

Boring Spurs:

1.) Duncan- Best footwork in the game, team player, deflects attention toward the team. When he had 40 points and 15 rebounds in Game 1 of the first round against the Suns, all he wanted to do was talk about his teammates

2.) Oberto- Great role player, great screener, hits the glass & runs the floor. Knows his limitations on offense and doesn't try to exceed them

3.) Ginobili- Energy, unselfish, drives it hard, though player. An all-star type player who accepts that fact that his coach believes the Spurs are better when he comes off the bench (he won the NBA 6th man award this year). You better believe that he is finishing the game though. He knows it doesn’t matter who starts, it’s who finishes. No ego with Ginobili, he knows his role, he accepts it, and he fulfills it night in and night out.

4.) Parker- Constant daily improvement from what was a very average point guard into an all star caliber player. He loves the hard instruction that Coach Popovich gives him on a daily basis. He does not back down from a challenge and puts his team on his back every night.

5.) Barry- All he wants to do is win, doesn’t worry about minutes. Was traded by the Spurs this year & then had the humility to come back to them as a free agent. (Was cut by the Sonics after being traded, NBA rules say that a player can not return to his former team until 30 days after he is traded). All he cares about is championships. Had an opportunity to sign with the Suns, he wanted to come back "because I know that Pop will be on my butt everyday."

6.) Bowen- All NBA defense, came from nowhere (undrafted out of college) to become a consummate team player. Guards the best player night in and night out. Knows his limitations on offense, doesn’t play out of control. Took him 5 years to figure master the corner three point shot. Now he is the best at it.

7.) Thomas- NBA veteran, just wants a championship. Professionalism & toughness sum him up. You know what you are getting out of him on a nightly basis.

8.) Coach Pop- Doesn’t take any bull from anyone, does it the right way. The reason the Spurs are who they are is because he yells at the best players (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker) more so than the others. The others respect this because the best players have the same accountability as the others. There are no free passes just because someone is a superstar. The 'Big 3' wouldn't want it any other way.

New Articles

A couple of great articles for you to take a look at. The first one is on Chris Lofton, who overcame cancer to have a stellar senior season while the time keeping it secret from the media.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=3376961

This next one is an article on Ray Allen, who has been an important addition to the Celtics run at banner #17

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/04/20/routine_excellence_is_allens_secret/