The end of the Spurs as we know it.

The ship might have sailed on this topic, but my interest was sparked a little when I was browsing through ESPN and read an article quoting Spurs point guard Tony Parker, saying that his team were "no longer title contenders".

San Antonio had a flying start to the season, and by the turn of the new year, their record stood at 28-4.  At one point, it seemed like they would challenge the 72-win mark set by the 1995/96 Chicago Bulls.  They were balling hard on offense and defense, and no team could quite figure them out.  For a team that was often described as "aging", their game belied the description.

After the All-Star break, they stumbled through the remainder of the regular season, finishing with a 15-11 record; highlighted by a 6 game losing streak through March, in which they gave up an average of 108 points per game.  Somehow, they still managed to cling on to the #1 seed in the Western Conference.

In the first round of the playoffs, San Antonio were stunned by the Memphis Grizzlies; a team that had yet to win a playoff game, let alone an entire series.  Back in 2004, San Antonio (then defending champions) swept a Memphis team that was making its first playoff appearance.  Memphis came full circle, making the Spurs the 3rd top-seeded team to be eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs (1995 Seattle Supersonics and 2007 Dallas Mavericks are the other two).

Just going by what Tony Parker said, it seems like it will be a while before we can pair the words "San Antonio" and "Title Contender" in the same sentence.  They seemed to be on a tear before the age and injuries caught up with them.  This is now the third straight season since 2008 (when they were the defending champions) that San Antonio has failed to advance past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Since the end of the "Jordan Era", San Antonio and Los Angeles have dominated the Western Conference, combining to win 9 of the last 12 NBA titles; with either team featuring in 11 of the last 12 NBA finals, including 7 straight appearance from 1999 to 2005.  During this period, the Spurs and Lakers squared off 6 times, including 4 straight meetings between 2001-2004, with the Lakers holding a 4-2 advantage.

In the same period that San Antonio and Los Angeles emerged as the superpowers in the Western Conference, 9 different teams have represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  Out of the 9 teams, only 4 - New Jersey, Detroit, Miami and Boston - were able to make a second trip to the finals.

Will the Spurs still be a contender without Duncan (c)?

San Antonio's success has been a combination of stability at the head coaching position (Greg Popovich has been at the helm since 1996), and the presence of core players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili.  This has helped them out in free agency, attracting key veterans looking for one at least one last shot at a championship before calling it a career.

Players signing with title contenders is nothing new in the league.  With the Western conference dominating the scene in the last decade, San Antonio has proven to be one of two popular destinations (the other being Los Angeles) for veteran players willing to accept a lesser role on a team just to get a piece of the pie.

Steve Smith, Kevin Willis, Michael Finley and Brent Barry are just a few of the names that come to mind.  Smith and Willis were teammates in Atlanta, but were in their prime at a time when the Jordan-led Bulls were running the scene.  Finley starred in Dallas for several years, while Brent Barry bounced around with a few teams before landing in San Antonio.

Will McDyess & Jefferson be part of a rebuilding process?

In 2009, Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson (even though Jefferson was acquired via a trade) became just the latest wave of players to join the trend.  McDyess has re-invented himself as a dependable role player after injuries robbed of him of explosive ability.  Jefferson was a key player for the Nets during their successful years before being traded to Milwaukee and eventually to San Antonio.  Ironically, both McDyess (with Detroit, in 2005) and Jefferson (with New Jersey, in 2003) would have had a championship by now had it not been for the Spurs.  If you can't beat them, join them?

Tim Duncan, whose production has steadily been in decline, hasn't had a player that could complement him they way he complemented David Robinson.  To be fair, there haven't been that many "elite" big men in the mold of Duncan or "The Admiral" in recent drafts.  The lack of a dominant presence in the paint is one the main reasons the Memphis duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol were able to impose their will on the Spurs in the playoffs.

For the Spurs to become a title contender again, they'll need to make major moves either through trades or free agency, as Parker and Ginobili will only be able to carry them so far.  All good things come to an end eventually, and if this is it for the Spurs, it's been one great ride.

The team was never known for its flash, but rather for its fundamentally sound style of play.  At the end of the day, they got the job done and that is all that matters.

Mavericks weather late Thunder rally.

After a hard fought win in Game 2, the Thunder were slow to get off the blocks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, managing only 12 points in the first quarter.  By the time they had found some form of stability, Dallas had their lead padded up to 23 points.

Despite an "off-night" Durant still managed 24 pts

True to character, the Thunder rolled up their sleeves and went to work, outscoring Dallas 75-68 in the remainder of the game.  It may have been too little too late, but it was still a positive sign for the both the team and the fans, that you can never really count this group out.

Dallas was able to overcome a slow start from Dirk Nowitzki, with fellow starters Shawn Marion, DeShawn Stevenson, Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd all chipping in on offense.  Their execution on defense was also key; taking Durant out of the game early, leaving his teammates to do the heavy lifting.

Durant somehow managed to score 24 points, and Russell Westbrook led all scorers with 30 points.  After riding the bench for the entire 4th quarter in the previous game, Westbrook was the spark behind the Thunder's late rally, playing the only way he knows how; "full-tilt/ 0-100 in-the-blink-of-an-eye".  He continually attacked the basket, bringing the kind of aggression that had eluded the Thunder all game long.

Terry 13 pts & a late steal helped clinch the game.

They managed to cut the deficit to 8 points with just under 7 minutes left, but their poor shooting from beyond the arc (they shot 1-17) proved a hurdle too high to overcome.  Even when the game was within reach, they opted to attempt 3-pointers rather than continue to attack the basket; the approach that helped get them back in the game.

Another difference between these two teams was that Dallas kept going back to Nowitzki in crunch time, while OKC seemed to go away from Durant.  The Mavericks' persistence paid off, with Nowitzki making key jumpers down stretch helping buffer the lead.  Durant hardly touched the ball, save for a few throws and a basket.

In my opinion, I see Jason Terry as Dallas' unsung hero in their two wins so far.  After going crazy from the 3-point in a series clinching win that saw Dallas wreck Los Angeles, Terry continued from where he left off, sinking a dagger 3-pointer that all but ended OKC's spirited comeback in Game 1.  After going AWOL in Game 2, Terry was back to making plays; none bigger than a late steal off Westbrook that saw Dallas run out the clock.  There is no doubt that his involvement has and will be the key to success for the Mavericks.

In my previous article regarding this series, I stated that the less shots Nowitzki takes, the better for OKC.  Even though I was kind of wrong in Game 3, I still think that the Thunder should take the same approach on defense.  A much better start to the game won't hurt either.

Thunderous response!!

In the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, Dirk Nowitzki used the baseline to spin past Serge Ibaka and completed the move with an uncontested dunk; just the beginning of an "other-worldly" performance that saw him score 48 points on 12-15 shooting.  The eye-popping stat is that he did this without a single 3 point attempt, while also going 24-24 from the free-throw line; an NBA record for most free-throws attempted without a miss.

Kevin Durant saw Nowitzki's effort and raised him one, going for a power jam over Mavericks' center, Brendan Haywood (who just happens to stand 7 feet tall).  KD drew a foul on Haywood, and unfortunately a technical for "demonstration" or "taunting' or whatever they felt like calling.  Not that it mattered because the message was clear, the Thunder won't back down; not even to a team that put the hurt on the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

OKC's bench, which has been the backbone of their impressive playoff run this year, appeared on the scene just in time to help the Thunder steal home-court, and ride the wave of momentum into their next two meetings back in Oklahoma City.  In Monday's game, Dallas' bench, led by Jason Terry and J.J. Barea (24 & 21 points respectively), outscored their counterparts 53-22; including a late 3 pointer by Jason Terry to effectively end the game.  

Harden and his beard finished with 23 points

Led by the steady hand of Eric Maynor and mercurial James Harden, OKC returned the favor with a 50-29 advantage over Dallas' bench.  Barea and Terry combined for 19 points, with Terry going scoreless in the 4th quarter.  Harden, who starred in the 4th quarter, finished with 23 points (3rd among all scorers).  As always, it was up to Nick Collison to do the dirty work on the inside.  His superb defensive effort helped slow down Nowitzki, who finished with 29 points.  By the time Collison fouled out, the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.

With the game still competitive in the 4th quarter, it was hard to ignore the sight of Russell Westbrook sitting on the bench as his teammates kept on trucking.  Westbrook, who has often drawn the wrath of fans, seemed content with his "odd" situation; hi-fiving and chest bumping teammates during timeouts.  To coach Scott Brooks' credit, the players in the game were doing just fine; "if the car ain't broke, why fix it?"

After Westbrook went 3-15 from the field in game, Kevin Durant said he would be willing to bet his house that his teammate wouldn't have a similar effort.  Westbrook backed him up with an 18 point effort, going 7-15 from the field.  Looks like Durant will get to keep his house after all.

The Thunder's key to success in this series will be to try and get Nowitzki to involve the rest of his teammates.  The less shots Nowitzki takes, the better for everyone else.  They also have to make sure to match Dallas' bench, pound for pound; especially after seeing what they are capable of doing.

The first team to take a 3-1 lead will be the once advancing to the final, but that's easier said in a series that is capable of going the full 7 games.

Thunder (tied) up!!

Last Sunday, Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol walked into a Burger King.  Whatever combo they had, they must have been enjoying themselves.  Okay, so they weren't exactly in a Burger King, but considering how they played (they combined for 54 points and 23 rebounds), they might have as well been in one; they had it their way.


Combined with an outstanding defensive effort and a +11 margin in turnovers, the Memphis Grizzlies went on to stun an impressive Thunder team and silenced an thunderous crowd at the Oklahoma City Arena.  This is of course the first time that either franchise has advanced this far in the playoffs.  Okay, not quite the case for OKC, who did advance to the 2nd round back in 2005 when the franchise was located in Seattle.


After a 5 year hiatus, Memphis are back in the playoffs for just the 4th time in franchise history.  In 2004, the Grizzlies posted their first ever winning season and qualified for the playoffs, only to be swept 4-0 by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  The Grizzlies have come full circle, dismissing the Spurs in the first round and shaking up the second round.


Not trying to be outdone, the Thunder rebounded to even the series in the 2nd game.  The biggest difference of course came from the bench who scored 48 points, compared to 16 in their previous outing.  Other factors came into play; such as Memphis committing 16 turnovers (7 more than their first game) and the Thunder big men - Ibaka, Collison & Perkins - working tirelessly, limiting Randolph & Gasol to a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds.


Regardless of the team you support, it's always a worrying trend whenever your point guard takes the most shots in the team.  Westbrook, who is a viable scoring option besides Durant, has done just that.  While he's 2nd on the team in points scored, it's his shot selection that sometimes leaves a lot to be desired.  More often than not, he'll always take that hurried shot; damned if it goes in, damned if it doesn't.


He has the full-tilt, gunslinger approach and I can't tell you enough times just how glad I am that Eric Maynor is on the team.  Maynor's job of course is to "right the ship" whenever things seem to be getting out of hand.  He plays more like a traditional point guard; create plays for your teammates, take the shots when things break down.  It's always nice to have a good point guard, but a good back up point guard is an invaluable resource.


As the series switches to Memphis, the Thunder need to take the same approach as they did in game two.  Force turnovers, limit the points and paint.  Memphis isn't know for it's perimeter play and making them to have to step up will be the key to the Thunder not only winning the next game, but the entire series.

From Jazzy to Jersey.

As it turns out, New Jersey had another trick up its sleeve after all.  A day after failing to land Carmelo Anthony, it was announced that the Nets had acquired Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams in exchange for Devin Harris, Derek Favors, two first-round draft picks and cash.



Seriously, what's with the pose?

When it comes to NBA trades and all that good stuff, you kind of learn to expect the unexpected.  Carmelo to the Knicks was no secret.  While LeBron held us "captive" during his 1 hour special, the word had spread that he would indeed be "taking his talents" to South Beach.  By the time he announced his "decision", it was mere formality.

However, dealing Deron Williams to the Nets?  I did not see that coming.  Like I said, I "expect the unexpected", but I had no clue it would be going down, at least not like this.  It seems that there's someone out there who knows something that we don't.  How often do you hear of a team, in the midst of a playoff race, trade it's cornerstone player?  From what I understand, Williams' contract expires after this season, so you'd understand why the Jazz would not part ways with him and get nothing in return.

Trading him to the Nets though?  Even despite Carlos Boozer's departure in the off-season, Utah still remain a playoff contender with Williams on the team.  Without him on the team?  I'm not sure that I can explain it in twenty words or less.  Here goes.  Without Williams on the team, Utah will most likely go back to what they were before the "Stockton to Malone" era.  Okay, I'll admit it, so Utah had a decent run when Adrian Dantley was around, but they weren't turning heads like they did with Stockton and Malone.  I'll give Dantley his due, he helped put the franchise on the map following its relocation to Utah from New Orleans. 

Stockton-to-Malone; can't mention one without the other

Little was known about John Stockton when the Jazz drafted him out of Gonzaga in 1984.  Karl Malone who was drafted out of Louisiana Tech the following year, admitted on his own that he initially didn't even want to play for Utah (he was hoping to be drafted by Dallas) when they acquired him.  Together, they became one of the best "one-two" tandems the league has ever seen.  The lack of an NBA title does not diminish the impact they had on the league; blame that on Michael Jordan.

Following both Stockton and Malone's departure in 2003, Utah went through a rebuilding phase and it would be another three seasons before they would make the playoffs.  When Boozer and Williams teamed up (along with other key players, but that's not the point) and led the Jazz to the 2007 Conference finals, it felt like the reincarnation of Stockton and Malone; Boozer was emerging as a dominant post player, and Williams was beginning to earn a reputation as one of the better point guards (this in just his second season).  Together, they would lead Utah to the playoffs for 4 straight seasons, before Boozer joined the Bulls last July.

"Stockton-to-Malone" Part II, never really came to fruition

If you were to say that Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA, there might be little disagreement, if any at all.  Of course, you'll have your Rajon Rondo fans, Tony Parker fans and your Chris Paul fans; but all will agree that Williams is an elite point guard.  And like I said earlier, as long as he was around, Utah were a playoff contender.

However, trading him to the Nets still has me scratching my head a little (probably because it hurts less).  The Nets who had enjoyed some of their best seasons with Jason Kidd running show, fell on hard times after trading him to Dallas in 2008.  New Jersey went from "perennial playoff contender" to "cellar dwellers" following the transaction.

Having Williams on board, along with a move to Brooklyn should help the Nets attract potential free agents.  We already know that they won't be making the playoffs this season, so all eyes will be shifted toward the off-season.  They key to any success however, depends on whether they'll be able to sign Williams to a longterm contract.

Utah currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but this move coupled with Jerry Sloan's resignation a few weeks ago, signals that they are in rebuilding mode.  I don't see them making the playoffs, at least this season; but then again, what do I know.  I remember the Houston Rockets going on a 22 game win streak in 2008, after losing Yao Ming for the remainder of the season.  I also remember the same Rockets (sans McGrady, Mutombo and Yao Ming) pushing the L.A. Lakers to 7 games in 2009.

While I'm predicting that there may be some lean years ahead for Utah, I don't know exactly how better off New Jersey are with this trade.  We'll check back in a few years and see how things turned out.