ChuckBuck wrote:Nalod wrote:playa2 wrote:3G4G wrote:Hersports85 wrote:Imagine if Indy would had kept Leonard ... I would've ranked them above Miami
Logically it probably wouldn't have worked because they Danny Granger/Paul George already there. They needed a point guard and they got George Hill. You can't play Granger/George/Leonard high rotation minutes...wouldn't worked as you wouldn't be maximizing your assets.
I think proves more so is the Spurs always have competent people in their organization to make those kind of decisions that leads to those moves being made.
If any organization should copied it's them and it's been this way for over decade. They are the model organization above all others.
Yea take away Robinson and Duncan and they would have been like everyone else. The character those two put on display made everybody else fall in line. No Duncan or Robinson and the culture wouldn't have changed in San Antonio. Coach Pop would not have lasted without those guys setting the tone to buy in.
Pop was an assistant under Larry Brown. Larry started this run!
Pop took it to another level.
Credit Peter Holt the owner for keeping it going.
Credit Duncan AND Pop TOGETHER.
Credit Phil Jax and Jordan. Credit Phil Jax and Kobe.
Jordan wins only with Jax. Kobe got his 5 with Jax.
Duncan WITH Pop.
Maybe Pop gets it down with others? Don't know.
Its done with a core and role players who step up. All great teams have that in common. We only look at highlights of Jordan and thnk every game he had was great. It was not always.
Circle around to Mooby, its why the star system does not always work. Last nite if not for Mike MIller Heat lose by 50!
Credit Spurs, not Heat failure last nite.
Spurs need to still win two more. It ain't over yet.
Actually Pop, RC Buford and Larry Brown were all shyt-canned by the old owner and Pop became an assistant under Don Nelson in Golden State in 1992. He then returned to be GM/VP of Operations for the Spurs under the current owner.
His first move, bringing Avery Johnson from GS to be point guard of the Spurs.
Bob Hill was the coach of the Spurs at the time, started 3-15, Pop axed his ass and took over, tanked the rest of the season, got the #1 pick in the draft.
The rest is history. Definitely alot of luck involved with the strategic tanking, but definitely alot of credit to Pop/Buford/Duncan for making it happen too.
Never underestimate the luck, or good fortune that comes with obtaining talent. But its never a given that success will follow!
There is so much in a team game that has to come together.
Hindsight makes it look easy but how many times has talent been squandered and never reached its potential?
Many fans think Phil Jax winning was a lock with Jordan, but the fact is Jordan needed Jax to reach that level as did Kobe. I Think for what ever reason this is whats missing from Lebrons world. Its what was missing in Wilts career as well.
There are far more near misses with great players than successes in the history of all pro sports.
Spurs have not been perfect and thier playoff run this year might have a lot to do with OKC not being as good as last year. Last season it was said Spurs can beat the heat but could not OKC and this was before the playoffs. Maybe we beat them as well, but you got to get thru other teams first.
Spurs were ready when the opportunity was there.
Spurs could have traded Duncan to another team to get another scorer with DRobinson! Instead they kept the pick and got it done!