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Time to Rebuild the San Antonio Spurs
The next season was a full season and the Spurs could not keep pace. Struggles in the regular season kept them from landing one of the top three spots. Because of this, the Spurs ended up drawing the fourth playoff spot. In the playoffs, they faced the Phoenix Suns led by Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd. They easily dethroned the Spurs.
As the Lakers would dominated and win NBA titles, the Spurs sat back and formulated a plot. Already featuring the big-man, Tim Duncan, they needed to provide him some help. Originally, the Spurs were led by David Robinson, but he was on the decline. Following the selection of Duncan with their first pick in the 1997 Draft, the team had shifted. Now, with Robinson making retirement plans, the Spurs needed to surround Duncan with talent. They would team him up with French basketball player, Tony Parker, and Argentinian Manu Ginobili.
In 2001, the new trio was formed, but Parker and Ginobili played off of the bench, as the Spurs began to gain ground on the Lakers. By the following season, a rivalry had been formed between the Spurs and the Lakers with the Lakers having an advantage. Following their run of three consecutive NBA titles, the Lakers had a season of injury. With Shaquille O'Neal out for most of the season, the Lakers could not compete with the Spurs. In the playoffs, the Lakers had the fourth seed, with the Spurs holding the top spot. For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs defeated the Lakers and they won their second championship. The 2002-2003 season was the emergence of the "Big Three" in San Antonio.
For the next five seasons, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker would dominate the Western Conference. They would go on to win the 2005 and 2007 NBA championships, but the next season, they would fall to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Following their playoff defeat, many expected the Spurs to return to form the following season. Like most seasons, San Antonio got off to a slow start and turned things around mid-season. However, they were too far behind to catch up. They would post the second-best record in the West, though. But, they were in a tie with the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets for the second-best record in the West.
In the end, Denver won the second seed and San Antonio was given third. Despite the weak regular season play, many expected the Spurs to easily defeat the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets to set up a rematch with the Lakers in the Conference Finals. Instead, Dallas got them from the jump and the Spurs fell in five games to the Mavs in the first round. In the offseason, San Antonio landed Richard Jefferson, a known scorer in the league and Antonio McDyess, a former star for the Nuggets. Many people expected these moves to make the Spurs into the class of the West. However, these moves have made the Spurs only a bit better. In a conference as stacked as the West, it does not matter for much because the Spurs are only going to finish with the sixth spot, at best.
Obviously, Tim Duncan is not the player that he was in 2005. Duncan has lost quite a few steps and the fact that he is still anchoring the Spurs has slowed them down. If the Spurs want to contend again, they need to be grooming DeJuan Blair to take over. If Blair is not what they are setting their sights on, then they need to look into trading Duncan this offseason. Out of the "Big Three," Duncan is the weakest link. After everything that he is done, it is sad to say, but it is true. Now that Ginobili and Parker are finally healthy, they need a big man that can run with them. Duncan is better in the half-court, but he is not as good as he was in the half court. Because of this, he may need to move on.
If the San Antonio Spurs ever want to contend the way that they used to, they are going to have to look past their longtime big man in Tim Duncan.
Time to Rebuild the San Antonio Spurs
Category : tony parkerThe next season was a full season and the Spurs could not keep pace. Struggles in the regular season kept them from landing one of the top three spots. Because of this, the Spurs ended up drawing the fourth playoff spot. In the playoffs, they faced the Phoenix Suns led by Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd. They easily dethroned the Spurs.
As the Lakers would dominated and win NBA titles, the Spurs sat back and formulated a plot. Already featuring the big-man, Tim Duncan, they needed to provide him some help. Originally, the Spurs were led by David Robinson, but he was on the decline. Following the selection of Duncan with their first pick in the 1997 Draft, the team had shifted. Now, with Robinson making retirement plans, the Spurs needed to surround Duncan with talent. They would team him up with French basketball player, Tony Parker, and Argentinian Manu Ginobili.
In 2001, the new trio was formed, but Parker and Ginobili played off of the bench, as the Spurs began to gain ground on the Lakers. By the following season, a rivalry had been formed between the Spurs and the Lakers with the Lakers having an advantage. Following their run of three consecutive NBA titles, the Lakers had a season of injury. With Shaquille O'Neal out for most of the season, the Lakers could not compete with the Spurs. In the playoffs, the Lakers had the fourth seed, with the Spurs holding the top spot. For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs defeated the Lakers and they won their second championship. The 2002-2003 season was the emergence of the "Big Three" in San Antonio.
For the next five seasons, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker would dominate the Western Conference. They would go on to win the 2005 and 2007 NBA championships, but the next season, they would fall to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Following their playoff defeat, many expected the Spurs to return to form the following season. Like most seasons, San Antonio got off to a slow start and turned things around mid-season. However, they were too far behind to catch up. They would post the second-best record in the West, though. But, they were in a tie with the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets for the second-best record in the West.
In the end, Denver won the second seed and San Antonio was given third. Despite the weak regular season play, many expected the Spurs to easily defeat the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets to set up a rematch with the Lakers in the Conference Finals. Instead, Dallas got them from the jump and the Spurs fell in five games to the Mavs in the first round. In the offseason, San Antonio landed Richard Jefferson, a known scorer in the league and Antonio McDyess, a former star for the Nuggets. Many people expected these moves to make the Spurs into the class of the West. However, these moves have made the Spurs only a bit better. In a conference as stacked as the West, it does not matter for much because the Spurs are only going to finish with the sixth spot, at best.
Obviously, Tim Duncan is not the player that he was in 2005. Duncan has lost quite a few steps and the fact that he is still anchoring the Spurs has slowed them down. If the Spurs want to contend again, they need to be grooming DeJuan Blair to take over. If Blair is not what they are setting their sights on, then they need to look into trading Duncan this offseason. Out of the "Big Three," Duncan is the weakest link. After everything that he is done, it is sad to say, but it is true. Now that Ginobili and Parker are finally healthy, they need a big man that can run with them. Duncan is better in the half-court, but he is not as good as he was in the half court. Because of this, he may need to move on.
If the San Antonio Spurs ever want to contend the way that they used to, they are going to have to look past their longtime big man in Tim Duncan."This Best Selling Tends to SELL OUT VERY FAST! If this is a MUST HAVE product, be sure to Order Now to avoid disappointment!"
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Best Reviews Battle Online Beyblade Amazon Product, Find and Compare Prices Online.The next season was a full season and the Spurs could not keep pace. Struggles in the regular season kept them from landing one of the top three spots. Because of this, the Spurs ended up drawing the fourth playoff spot. In the playoffs, they faced the Phoenix Suns led by Penny Hardaway and Jason Kidd. They easily dethroned the Spurs.
As the Lakers would dominated and win NBA titles, the Spurs sat back and formulated a plot. Already featuring the big-man, Tim Duncan, they needed to provide him some help. Originally, the Spurs were led by David Robinson, but he was on the decline. Following the selection of Duncan with their first pick in the 1997 Draft, the team had shifted. Now, with Robinson making retirement plans, the Spurs needed to surround Duncan with talent. They would team him up with French basketball player, Tony Parker, and Argentinian Manu Ginobili.
In 2001, the new trio was formed, but Parker and Ginobili played off of the bench, as the Spurs began to gain ground on the Lakers. By the following season, a rivalry had been formed between the Spurs and the Lakers with the Lakers having an advantage. Following their run of three consecutive NBA titles, the Lakers had a season of injury. With Shaquille O'Neal out for most of the season, the Lakers could not compete with the Spurs. In the playoffs, the Lakers had the fourth seed, with the Spurs holding the top spot. For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs defeated the Lakers and they won their second championship. The 2002-2003 season was the emergence of the "Big Three" in San Antonio.
For the next five seasons, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker would dominate the Western Conference. They would go on to win the 2005 and 2007 NBA championships, but the next season, they would fall to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Following their playoff defeat, many expected the Spurs to return to form the following season. Like most seasons, San Antonio got off to a slow start and turned things around mid-season. However, they were too far behind to catch up. They would post the second-best record in the West, though. But, they were in a tie with the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets for the second-best record in the West.
In the end, Denver won the second seed and San Antonio was given third. Despite the weak regular season play, many expected the Spurs to easily defeat the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets to set up a rematch with the Lakers in the Conference Finals. Instead, Dallas got them from the jump and the Spurs fell in five games to the Mavs in the first round. In the offseason, San Antonio landed Richard Jefferson, a known scorer in the league and Antonio McDyess, a former star for the Nuggets. Many people expected these moves to make the Spurs into the class of the West. However, these moves have made the Spurs only a bit better. In a conference as stacked as the West, it does not matter for much because the Spurs are only going to finish with the sixth spot, at best.
Obviously, Tim Duncan is not the player that he was in 2005. Duncan has lost quite a few steps and the fact that he is still anchoring the Spurs has slowed them down. If the Spurs want to contend again, they need to be grooming DeJuan Blair to take over. If Blair is not what they are setting their sights on, then they need to look into trading Duncan this offseason. Out of the "Big Three," Duncan is the weakest link. After everything that he is done, it is sad to say, but it is true. Now that Ginobili and Parker are finally healthy, they need a big man that can run with them. Duncan is better in the half-court, but he is not as good as he was in the half court. Because of this, he may need to move on.
If the San Antonio Spurs ever want to contend the way that they used to, they are going to have to look past their longtime big man in Tim Duncan.
Product Title : Time to Rebuild the San Antonio Spurs
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