“A
Grizzly Discovery: The Complimentary pieces are not so complimentary."
By:
Rey Andrade-Garza
San
Antonio, TX
One month or so away 6 years ago,
right about the time everyone was paying attention to how Lebron would ever
recover from a finals loss; the Spurs had just put the finishing touches to
their fourth title with a sweep of the Cavaliers. I mention sweep because the Spurs swept the
Lakers this year, the Jazz and Clippers last year and once again reminded
everyone in the world that like it or not this team isn’t content with the
numerous accolades they have accomplished.
Tony Parker at the press conference after their defeat of the Warriors
was quick to put perspective to how opportunities like returning to the NBA Finals don’t come that often. Not to disagree
but lost on all NBA analysts and maybe Tony is one careful oversight. The Spurs are returning the Western
Conference Finals on back to back years when the supposed window of opportunity
for this team came and went. Tim Duncan
played great in the first half, not the second.
Manu shot horribly yet his intangibles were finally put on high alert
with his 11 assists in the game and Tony playing over 40 minutes plus put in
some timely 3’s using his reserve tank but all of that is not the reason why
the Spurs are legitimate contenders to the title this year. The complimentary pieces of Tiago Splitter,
Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Gary Neal show why the Spurs returning the
conference title is no fluke. These are
just complimentary pieces that would have a starting role on any team. Kawhi doesn’t complement the Big Three; in
fact, Popovich moved him to a starting role because his value in both sides of
the floor has become instrumental in the pick and roll. On the defensive side
his long arms swat poor passes and corrals steal and is the first straight up
Bruce Bowen since Bruce Bowen. When it came to giving rest to the Big Three;
Leonard often got the same treatment.
Definitely, not complimentary; essential and equivalent in importance
and Leonard played like it all year. His
clutch three’s against the Warriors is no mistake nor is his growth this time
around in the playoffs. Tiago Splitter
is another Spurs who importance is not one of just complementary in
nature. It was evident in the semi-final
series versus the Lakers his size was missed against Pau Gasol and in crucial
period of game 4, 5 & 6 Andrew Bogut weakness and inability to defend
against his superb passing and rebounding was key to pivotal momentum swings
the Spurs needed. His sharp passing and finding the open man will expose flat
footed permanent paint tenants like Zach Randolph. I promise you the "Big Gazeebo" as I like to call him; will have more than his hands handle full with Splitter with a dash of maybe Aron Baynes for good measure. This will be the same Splitter
that if often dismissed by the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Jeff Van Gundy but
will be the post that neutralizes another Gasol this coming series. Danny Green
shot more 3’s this season than any other in Spur’s history but rather than
recognizing that the awe of Curry’s alluring arch was mesmerizing to most but
without Green’s 3’s this Spurs team wouldn’t stand a shot of retuning to the
conference finals. The real beauty that
wasn’t diagnosed by any analysts in any true detail was Green’s play on Steph
Curry. A close friend of mine posted a remark to Facebook post after one game
and affectionately called him Danny “Hold the Curry” Green. He didn’t just hold
the curry he didn’t let it anywhere near his plate. That was the real “Ankle
Gate 2013” of that series. Ankles I don’t think twist themselves but good
defense makes you change directions ankles aren’t used to turning. The only
true complimentary piece besides Dujaun Blair is Gary Neal. Neal has yet to
cement his mark in this Spurs playoff run but did show flashes of his offensive
prowess in Game 5 & 6 showed that if his shooting confidences improves Gary
could and is capable of going off Curry-like. The NBA has it wrong. The old guard of the Spurs isn’t taking a
back seat to the rise of the new Trail Blazers, Rockets or the newly dispatched
Warriors. The new guard of Spurs who continue to impress upon those
unfamiliar with Silver & Black basketball how these roles players are
anything but complimentary. See, it's not the Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili & Parker the Grizzlies should fear it should be the complimentary pieces who don't play like complimentary pieces. I know many will say that the Grizzlies beat the Spurs in 2011 but that wasn't the WCF nor is it 2011. Yes, the Grizzlies are gritty, so are the Spurs. Yes, they have a great defensive team, so too are the Spurs. Yes, they have a great coach but better than Popovich? Here is the real discovery no one talks about and the real difference this series: Memphis roles players: Tony Allen, Pondexter, Prince and even Conley are complementary players and beyond those roles; they can't be counted on. The Spurs bench is more like a second starting unit; not true for the Grizzlies. The last time these two teams faced each other the Spurs didn't have Kawhi and Splitter wasn't Splitter nor was Green, Green in fact he was very Green and wasn't even a role or complimentary piece in that playoff series that year. I feel that
NBA playoffs this year need a heavy dose of Spurs team basketball. They seem to compliment an otherwise
self-serving audience that is enamored with the “ohh’s and ahh’s” and when this
team arrives on the floor the decibel meters begin to flat line, the noise
diminishes, time stops and Spurs silence the critics with a deafening roar.
