The San Antonio Spurs start the 2012 Playoffs on Sunday at home against the Utah Jazz.
San Antonio will be the number 1 seed in the West which means Home court advantage; pretty awesome little feat.
But winning on the road is what separates the good teams from the contending teams. Do you remember the Spurs first 11 road games? I do, they had 3 wins and 8 losses! The media wondered what’s wrong with the Spurs and I am sure a lot of fans were saying the same thing? Since that horrible start, they went 19 wins and 3 losses on the road. Wow!
Can you believe that the Spurs now have 13 consecutive 50 win seasons? Wow! NBA record!
This season alone, the Spurs had winning streaks of 10 games, 11 games, and currently have a 10 game winning streak going into the Playoffs. Wow!
Okay, enough about stats.
I remember a lot of losing seasons for the Spurs in Hemisphere Arena in the late 80’s and I never imagined they would win 4 NBA Championships; 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007. Wow! Thank you Peter Holt, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich, and RC Buford.
Tim Duncan has been with team for all 4 Championships and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli have been with the team for 3 Championships. Tim, Tony, and Manu are the Spurs big 3 dudes!
Tim’s productivity is down this year, but he knows what it takes to win games and he isn’t bashful about it. I know there will be a Playoff game where we need Timmy to score a lot of points and he will do it.
Tony has been the Spurs MVP all season. He is best the point guard in the NBA; take that Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rando. He can get to the basket so easily with his speed. I don’t think is any player in the Playoffs who can defend him.
Manu is finally getting healthy and the Spurs need his energy and scoring for the Playoffs. Manu is my favorite player on the team; he does some amazing things on the court.
I am so glad the Spurs traded for Stephen Jackson. He was part of the Spurs 2003 Championship team. His energy will rub off on the rest of the team. He loves to take the big shot to quiet the opposing teams fans and he will take the big shot at home and make the AT&T Center explode!!! He also quite a finisher at the rim. Welcome back SJack!
Throw in Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Cory Joseph, and James Anderson and you have got a really deep bench. This group won the last 2 games on the road and they did it without Tim, Tony, and Manu. Wow!
I am really hoping for a long playoff run resulting in the Spurs 5th NBA Championship!
There are a few teams that could crash the Spurs celebration and they are:
WEST
Los Angeles Lakers – One word and that is KOBE! I can’t stand the Lakers, but Kobe is such an amazing player who can carry a team on his shoulders and take them a long way in the Playoffs. Trust me; I have seen him do this in the past.
Mike Brown, the Head Coach, was an assistant coach for the Spurs.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden can score at will and can each put up huge numbers. Plus, they have an experienced leader with rings in Derek Fisher. I was kinda hoping that the Spurs would pickup Fisher when he became available this season. Spurs fans, I know we all hate Fisher for what he did to us several years ago, but come on, don’t you think if we signed him, he would have fit in right away?
Sam Presti, the GM for the Thunder, was a Video Intern for the Spurs in 2000. Hey, I was also an Intern during that season for the Spurs! What if…? I don’t really remember meeting Sam, but I did know who he was.
EAST
Miami Heat – I am still mystified on how they were able to land LeBron James and Chris Bosh! LBJ should have stayed with the Cavs! And then he had to announce his decision on national TV; stupid. In addition to James and Bosh, the Heat have Dwayne Wade. Wow; 3 huge superstars! I know they will win a Championship together; possibly several!
Chicago Bulls – The Bulls have the best record in the East and they have had their 2011 MVP Derrick Rose in and out of the lineup all season. I really like Carlos Boozer and Rip Hamilton.
Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls Head Coach, was an assistant coach for the Spurs in the early 90’s.
Boston Celtics – Here is a nice tip for gamblers, don’t bet against Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. This trio won the Championship in 2008.
Doc Rivers, the Celtics Head Coach, played for the Spurs in the mid 90’s.
What do you think about the 2012 NBA Playoffs and the Spurs chances of winning number 5?