Something worth Fighting For

Samr<br>
SpursCentral.com<br>
March 16, 2005<br>
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Watching the game last night, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that I was about to witness an autopsy. Like some guy would soon appear wearing white, latex gloves and poke and prod at the Spurs hoping to find the cause of death. It’s obvious they’re dead. To see them flailing lifelessly throughout the better part of the second half, with nothing I could say or do to stop the inevitable, was as painful for me as it was for them. The season is not over- it is not even close. But there is something noticeably wrong with this team. They don’t have something worth fighting for.<br>
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Going into 1999, with Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Avery Johnson, Mario Ellie, Sean Elliot and a rag-tag cast of others, the Spurs knew they would be good. Or rather, they knew they would make the playoffs. Having been in the NBA since the its conception, the Spurs quickly developed themselves as one of the most consistently successful franchises in the league. But, despite countless playoffs, draft picks, and Hall of Famers, they were still in search of the one achievement which eluded them. An NBA championship.<br>
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After dropping one game to Minnesota in the first round, they blew past Portland with the help of Sean Elliot’s miracle three, and made quick work of the Lakers. It was San Antonio’s first trip to the Finals. While the team may not have been the best the Spurs have assembled, it did what no other team in franchise history had done: won an NBA Championship. <br>
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While they may have struggled at time, the motivation to be the first team to win it all helped carried them through. They wanted it. Bad.<br>
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Announcing his retirement before the 2003 season, the Spurs knew they had only one more year with David. And this wasn’t going to be the Michael Jordan-type retirement where he would come back a few years later to renew his marketability, no, David was going to be gone for good. The Spurs also knew they had one more chance to win Big Dave a title. What a perfect going away present.<br>
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Though they by no means steamrolled through the playoffs, taking each series in 6 games, the Spurs managed to overcome substantial 4th quarter deficits to beat out Dallas and New Jersey in the conference finals, and NBA finals respectively. The same kind of 4th quarter deficit they faced last night, in Seattle. It wasn’t Stephen Jackson, or Steve Kerr that won those games; it was the simple fact that the team had a reason to fight back. They had a reason to put it all on the line, and do anything they could to stay alive just one more game. <br>
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For Dave.<br>
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In game 4, watching the Spurs flounder around like a fish out of water, it was clear there was a problem. The Spurs never give up the middle. They never stop trying for the rebound. They are never intimidated, and scared to do so much as dare decrease the lead. The Spurs never stop fighting…. Right? <br>
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The Spurs appear as if they are entitled to their third championship. They appear as if they have no reason to keep plugging away, and winning at all costs- the staple of their teams in 1999 and 2003. Just because they have two rings does not mean they are a good team. Just because they have Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili does not mean they are a good team. Just because they have Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford does not mean they are a good team. Without the fighting spirit, they are nothing. They are another second round exit. Like they used to be.<br>
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On Tuesday night, the Spurs face Seattle for the crucial game 5. They are back in the SBC Center, where they are the best team in the league. But if they don’t go out there, crash the boards, and play like they want it, they will go back on the road. Facing elimination. The Spurs can take the next game if they want it. I have faith. They just need something worth fighting for. <br>
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How about for the good guys?<br>
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"NEVER underestimate the heart of a champion." -Rudy Tomjanovich</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p204.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=samr@sanantoniospurs62937>Samr</A> at: 5/16/05 9:21 pm<br></i>

Game 4 shows how basketball, like tennis, is a game of momentum. When you have it you must concentrate and exploit it. But when you lose it, you've gotta have a strategy to minimze the damage, the so-called snow ball effect. That's why Pop's game management was questioned. For example, the Spurs start the second half with a spark and tie it up, then he pulls Manu and re-inserts that lifeless, shaken Brent Barry. Instantaneously it goes from tie ballgame to almost double digit deficit. With a little over eight minutes left he pulls Duncan and Manu. I'm certain he knows more than we do, but still...<br>
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The Spurs are more talented and more experienced, and definitely should be more hungry. Not just the bad taste of last season's meltdown, but their own championship expectations should have them extremely perked up for tonight's game. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6171/GD.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p204.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=grandedavid>GrandeDavid</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/flags/usa.gif" BORDER=0> at: 5/17/05 8:57 am<br></i>

Pop pulled Manu & Tim because Pop quit. He gave up on his own team. I understand it was a big deficit, but what ever happen to not giving up till the clock reads 0:00. This also goes to the players too. Tim was the only one that showed up the other night. 30+ points wasted. Tony choked at his usual time of year in the play-offs. And he got a 60 million dollar contract for this? This is the FREAKIN PLAY-OFFS. Someone on TV mentioned well he didn't want to risk injury. Sh*t, these guys get payed hundreds of millions of dollars to play 48 minutes of basketball. Not to mention how much OVER-PAID coach Pop is for his "MANAGEMENT SKILLS". Hell, as soon he woke up and inserted Devin, Devin started making some shots. We had a chance, but his "management skills" decided to "GIVE UP"! <p></p><i></i>