May
11, 2013
This
will be what I will call a “blogamentary”. Essentially this will be an observation of the
semi-final series of the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors. Pictures
used come from google.com and cited here as exclusive rights of google.com and
used here for artistic purposes only.
by: Rey Andrade-Garza
San Antonio, TX
For two days leading to last night’s thumping of the San Antonio Spurs on that exciting little team from Cali-for-nia the stage of death was set. The noise of anticipation before the game at Oracle Arena was laid out as a perfect, ready- made coffin for the old guard of champions. That’s where they got it wrong. Parker’s 25 first half points were gutsy and for all of Tim Duncan’s 23 points at the age of 37, this was nothing new, not shocking but who finished the Spurs before they were finished? Certainly, not those who watch Spurs basketball in the Duncan era with 16 years of playoff contention. Yet, despite that it was hard to see through all the premature glitter of paper crowns and virtual champagne splashes the media created for the Cinderella Warriors. This is just the NBA’s latest love affair in the dubbing of the Splash Brothers Steph Curry and Klay Thompson-- is not new. This coronation by the media, who is hell bent on anyone, yes, anyone but the San Antonio’s Big Three of of Ginobili, Duncan or Parker, as premature winners. They might as well be called The Step Brothers. Even for all their boring crowns are past champions. These are the same champions who Mark Jackson finally called had four future hall of famers in Coach Popovich and the Big Three. Thanks for noticing. Why did it take this victory for the critics to finally not count out the Spurs who are not to be counted out? For years, the ESPN, NBA fans everywhere were perfectly okay with crowning King James before he even won his first title. Mark Jackson at last night’s press conference was finally shown that casting crowns with no banners was an oversight when he called the manifestation of the backcourt of Curry and Thompson the best in the history of the NBA. Finally admitting with the series 2-1 that he knew and I paraphrase that this would be a heavyweight fight and that he wasn’t taking the Spurs lightly. Not so fast Mr. Mark “We’re shocking some people!” Jackson. Aren't you the one who exuberantly clamored this exact oversight in a timeout during a key stretch in the second half of game 2? Or should we just forgive the oversight since you like to live in your fantasy hyperbole world? As I was watching the replay of the game today on NBA TV I kept looking at the decibel meter each time Curry or Thompson splashed a three yet, when Duncan shoved Andrew “Don’t call me Bogus!” Bogut checked him with a statement in the opening minutes of the game it was a clear message that the supposed, sleeping giants came to play. That's when I knew the fight in the Spurs was always there. I find it disheartening and damn right “disrespectful” as Stephen A. Smith would say to only acknowledge the greatness of the Spurs when these Step Brothers of the NBA, obviously prove yet again that they are a legitimate contender for the true crown. To know Popovich is to know he could care less what anybody says of his team and has little use for accolades, egos and unnecessary hype. Parker said as much at the press conference after the game when he was asked if he needed motivation to perform at an MVP caliber level. This is downright disrespectful to a real NBA finals MVP. Parker in line with Popovich’s said he is only motivated by what Popovich says and plays only for his team and the city of San Antonio. Does this team have to remind everyone four banners hang on the rafters of the AT&T Center and none of the Big Three are retired yet? As long as the Step Brothers step on the court you can rest assured the Spurs will not go down easy. If these accolades and resumes that the Big Three have compiled were part of a high glamour and trendy high market team like Chicago, NY, Miami or LA would anyone dare dispute or count them out? Someone needs to tell the analysts that only real champions in this series wear robes of silver and black. To be honest, I will take this opportunity to say that Popovich was robbed of a back to back Coach of the Year title. No disrespect to Denver Nuggets coach George Karl who is a fine coach but he is not in the same caliber as Gregg Popovich. Lest we forget what Popovich was able to do with this team this year and yes, the NBA and ESPN did because apparently Popovich wasn’t even in the top 3 in the voting. That is the true epitome of disrespect. The shunning of greatness is commonplace for the Spurs who every year all they do is win! In fact, this year, the organization celebrates 40 years of existence and in all that time they have only missed the playoffs 3 times! So, when the NBA analysts are forced to recognize greatness all they can ever say of the Spurs is they fly under the radar. No, they don’t, that’s just what they think they have to say because they obviously don’t watch Spurs basketball at all. They are too busy following the next sensation in the NBA and engaging in pointless dialogue of what the Lakers will do next year when the Spurs just finished sweeping them off the court! Shameful and disrespectful but if it were the other way around the endless dogging of the unpopular Spurs would be comical right? What Popovich did with his Big Three who missed 50 games collectively, but as team managed to win 50 games or more for a record 14 years running is the blueprint of how championships teams are built on paper on and off the court. Now that the Spurs reclaimed home court advantage and lead the series 2-1 can they finally, admit, for once they were wrong to count out the Spurs, yet again? Whether they get to the finals this year is yet to be seen but as long this team is led by Popovich and these battle tested Warriors of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili step on the court, these Step Brothers will ankle check the Curry’s and Thompson’s of the world with a splash of class and rarified championship fight.
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