Am I the only one who appreciates the Spurs more as you get older?

[EveryManALion]

Started watched basketball again back in 2006 after a 10 year hiatus from when I was a kid, I HATED the Spurs. Now as I have grown to appreciate the smaller aspects of the games beyond dunks and clutch 3 pointers, I actually love watching the Spurs play. Anyone else have this progression over the years?

[Kvnzhangyay]

I mean they used to be more iso-heavy

[90sgoat]

It's because you've seen all the dunks and the travels, I mean dribbles, so now you appreciate more the cerebral and simplistic fundamentals.

[brooks_thompson]

I've always appreciated them. With the '04 Pistons, Spurs brought me back around to the NBA post-Jordan. Crazy that 11-12 years ago tonight, I was still rooting for the old 3.

[L8krH8tr]

No I still hate Parker and ginosbleed

[LAZERUSS]

Pop...the GOAT NBA coach.

Only Wooden was a greater coach.

[Swaggin916]

Yea I definitely appreciate them a lot more as I get older... but I appreciate the game a lot more in general. I never played organized ball past age 11 so I didn't understand a lot of the nuances or the game and strategy. I couldn't stand the Spurs being a Lakers fan... nor anyone who wasn't the Lakers. I like the Spurs personality - the discipline, the matter of factness. It's an approach that is good for the long haul and hey what do you know they have been great for 2 decades.

[Prime_Shaq]

Only Spurs and Warriors have a beautiful offense.

[Goofsta Knicca]

Why Pop so serious?

[Da_Realist]

Only Spurs and Warriors have a beautiful offense.

Spurs offense is not even in the same league as the Warriors. Not nearly as potent or versatile. And they will be exposed if they expect Aldridge to carry them. Those perimeter guys will need to step up and hit those jumpshots to take pressure off of him because he's really not that good.

[Prime_Shaq]

Spurs offense is not even in the same league as the Warriors. Not nearly as potent or versatile. And they will be exposed if they expect Aldridge to carry them. Those perimeter guys will need to step up and hit those jumpshots to take pressure off of him because he's really not that good.
Yeah but Spurs ball movement are still a league ahead of other teams

[MJistheGOAT]

Me too, during all the 00s I hated Spurs, I root for Suns, Mavs, Grizz and even OKC in 2012 against them. I found them boring and with too few highlights

Since 2013 I got bored from chuckers and ISO basketball. Now I like advanced fundamentals and team play. So I appreciate Spurs and GSW.

[Kiddlovesnets]

The Spurs sure become more likeable with time passed. Back in the old days they were a boring defensive team, but now look at that amazing ball movement, its hard not to appreciate such feast unless you are a hater.

[DCL]

the whole team only cares about winning. no selfish asses. i guess it's easy to take orders when your coach is pop. so their offense is constantly evolving.

[Da_Realist]

Yeah but Spurs ball movement are still a league ahead of other teams

I'm looking at it from a "Can they win?" standpoint. Their offense doesn't seem like anything special right now. Don't know what everyone else is seeing. The Spurs seem to hope Aldridge comes up big but I think he will disappoint. He's soft and gets pushed off the block easily. He has no form or touch. And that's a big deal because the rest of the team is struggling to score. If they don'y start making jumpshots and take the pressure off Aldridge they will have no shot against Golden State.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I've always respected them and never got the "boring" moniker personally.

Then again, I've also been watching and playing basketball fanatically LONG before Duncan's era.

[90sgoat]

I'm looking at it from a "Can they win?" standpoint. Their offense doesn't seem like anything special right now. Don't know what everyone else is seeing. The Spurs seem to hope Aldridge comes up big but I think he will disappoint. He's soft and gets pushed off the block easily. He has no form or touch. And that's a big deal because the rest of the team is struggling to score. If they don'y start making jumpshots and take the pressure off Aldridge they will have no shot against Golden State.

Need to play Duncan more. He was close to DPOY. Don't sit him. Diaw needs to play more too.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

Need to play Duncan more. He was close to DPOY. Don't sit him. Diaw needs to play more too.

Couldn't agree more. I have a feeling Duncan is just playing possum, though, and will bring us home when we need him the most like in the 2014 WCF Game 6 OT. He'll probably snatch the FMVP when it's all said and done to retire with 6 rings, 4 FMVP and be forever enshrined in the top 5 of all time.

:bowdown:

[Draz]

They'll be missed. They're underappreciated

[rmt]

I'm looking at it from a "Can they win?" standpoint. Their offense doesn't seem like anything special right now. Don't know what everyone else is seeing. The Spurs seem to hope Aldridge comes up big but I think he will disappoint. He's soft and gets pushed off the block easily. He has no form or touch. And that's a big deal because the rest of the team is struggling to score. If they don'y start making jumpshots and take the pressure off Aldridge they will have no shot against Golden State.

The Spurs were the ones who showed off that beautiful spacing and passing in the 2014 Finals. Kerr has taken that concept and applied it with younger, more athletic players and MVP Curry. Pop knows that the Spurs cannot play that same game and beat GSW so his only option is to slow the game down, pound the ball in the post, use his 2 horses (LMA and Leonard) and control the pace of the game.

Sports go in cycles. Different tactics/styles counteract others. How can you say LMA has no form or touch - he has been awesome this series.

[Da_Realist]

The Spurs were the ones who showed off that beautiful spacing and passing in the 2014 Finals. Kerr has taken that concept and applied it with younger, more athletic players and MVP Curry. Pop knows that the Spurs cannot play that same game and beat GSW so his only option is to slow the game down, pound the ball in the post, use his 2 horses (LMA and Leonard) and control the pace of the game.

Sports go in cycles. Different tactics/styles counteract others. How can you say LMA has no form or touch - he has been awesome this series.

I agree with this, I just don't think LMA is that guy. I don't think he has the skill or the heart to dominate the paint enough to give SA a chance. He'd have to truly dominate on both ends for the strategy to work because GS will put points on the board. Think prime Duncan. I just don't think SA has enough as-is to beat GS 4 out of 7.

I may be wrong but Pop would really need to pull something out of his ass that we haven't seen because what we've seen so far from SA won't work against GS.

[Da_Realist]

For the record, I realize LMA has been beasting so far but GS is so much better and smarter than OKC it's not even worth the comparison. LMA may have a good game or two but that's it. He will need the others to really step up and make shots because if their strategy rest mainly on LMA dominating Green, Bogut and others enough to counter what GS will do on the other end, they will lose.

[dreamwarrior]

I appreciate them more now but am pissed about them losing in '13. Their weakness is they don't have one guy who can just take over and beast it out in the 4th to get a come from behind win or hold a small lead. They might have that now since Kawhi is 10x better than he was in '13 and now they have LMA as well.

[eliteballer]

Always respected the Spurs, even feared them at times. Never hated them.

You don't understand the beauty of the game if you hate them.

[rmt]

Always respected the Spurs, even feared them at times. Never hated them.

You don't understand the beauty of the game if you hate them.

It's not just the (previous) beautiful game - it's the discipline (especially on defense), the composure and unselfishness. All the players really reach their full potential - whatever level that is. I can see why West would leave $9 million? on the table to go there - I wouldn't though :oldlol:

[rmt]

I agree with this, I just don't think LMA is that guy. I don't think he has the skill or the heart to dominate the paint enough to give SA a chance. He'd have to truly dominate on both ends for the strategy to work because GS will put points on the board. Think prime Duncan. I just don't think SA has enough as-is to beat GS 4 out of 7.

I may be wrong but Pop would really need to pull something out of his ass that we haven't seen because what we've seen so far from SA won't work against GS.

Well, there certainly isn't any prime Duncan walking through the door or available anywhere in the league today. But you must realize that for the Spurs, getting a free agent like LMA has, well, just about never happened - all their talent since drafting Duncan has been developed. And with the improvement in Leonard, they have someone who is probably top 5 (although he's not consistent enough yet) - so you can see why they have hope. I'm not saying they have enough to beat GSW, but you never know. We'll see how Curry comes back.

[Legends66NBA7]

Always apperciated them. It's a franchise you look up too and you want your franchise to be just like them.

[jamal99]

Started watched basketball again back in 2006 after a 10 year hiatus from when I was a kid, I HATED the Spurs. Now as I have grown to appreciate the smaller aspects of the games beyond dunks and clutch 3 pointers, I actually love watching the Spurs play. Anyone else have this progression over the years?
I was about the same when I was younger, now I love Spurs.

[Da_Realist]

Well, there certainly isn't any prime Duncan walking through the door or available anywhere in the league today. But you must realize that for the Spurs, getting a free agent like LMA has, well, just about never happened - all their talent since drafting Duncan has been developed. And with the improvement in Leonard, they have someone who is probably top 5 (although he's not consistent enough yet) - so you can see why they have hope. I'm not saying they have enough to beat GSW, but you never know. We'll see how Curry comes back.

I'm actually pulling for you. I want to see an epic series between two contrasting teams. I just don't have real faith that LMA will be the guy he needs to be to make the series competitive. I really hope I'm wrong.

Everything I said is under the assumption that Curry comes back and GS doesn't skip a beat. Beating GS without Curry or while he's not 100% will prove nothing.

[ILLsmak]

Started watched basketball again back in 2006 after a 10 year hiatus from when I was a kid, I HATED the Spurs. Now as I have grown to appreciate the smaller aspects of the games beyond dunks and clutch 3 pointers, I actually love watching the Spurs play. Anyone else have this progression over the years?

They've changed, and yea they are more enjoyable now.

I never hated the Spurs, but they were an obstacle for Shaq led teams. I still remember TD draining that 3 vs the Suns... I was like noooooooooooooo. I knew it was gonna drop, funny how you get that feeling where it's just like damn that's going in.

Leonard... and I like Aldridge now, too. I didn't think he could go to the Spurs and be this good. Be interesting to see how he does in real money time tho.

The fast pace of the NBA suits the spurs personnel.

-Smak

[Da_Realist]

LMA had a good game...until the 4th quarter. I don't see "leader" in him. I don't see him getting personally offended that people are getting in the lane shooting layups. I see a nice guy with a jump shot that kinda goes with the flow. He could be a sidekick forever. He doesn't want Duncan's mantle. He just wants to play well enough that people won't criticize him after the game.

Nice guy but not someone you can depend on to win a championship. If he was a sidekick to Duncan, great. But Duncan needs someone to take over and assume the responsibilities he had for all those years. I don't think LMA really wants it.