End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

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End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:11 pm

After 22 straight years in the postseason, the offseason is starting early for the San Antonio Spurs. That's a hell of a run, especially since it's produced five championships, and they've been a legitimate contender in most of the other 17 seasons as well. ESPN posted this infographic which emphasises how long the Spurs have been one of the league's top teams.

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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Murat on Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:53 pm

They formed the most stable team in NBA history, if not the greatest. +20 years of existing as a threat for championship. Their last appearances in Playoffs were dull. Kawhi's departure ended this era.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:28 pm

The writing was definitely on the wall after Kawhi's departure, though they still felt relevant for a few years after their last championship.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Jeffx on Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:31 am

Murat wrote:They formed the most stable team in NBA history, if not the greatest. +20 years of existing as a threat for championship. Their last appearances in Playoffs were dull. Kawhi's departure ended this era.


They were fortunate in getting a HOF franchise player who allowed himself to be coached and bought into 'team', not 'I'. Good luck finding that again.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Fri Aug 21, 2020 3:56 am

That injury-plagued 1997 season definitely turned out to be a blessing. They also made the right moves throughout the years and established a winning culture, avoiding pretty much all semblance of drama until the situation with Kawhi Leonard a couple of years ago. We can't discount their luck, but other teams have been lucky in their own right, yet they haven't been able to follow it up with shrewd moves, nor been run as the same tight ship that the Spurs have.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Jeffx on Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:25 am

Franchises that win consistently like the Spurs, Patriots, Steelers, Yankees, etc., have similar things in common - stable, smart ownership that hires the right people (and leaves them alone), shrewd front offices that draft/scout/develop players well, a positive culture and ONE PHILOSOPHY throughout the entire organization - we're all about winning and nothing else. You come here, you get with the program and work your ass off. Popp was able to yell at his superstars, so you know the rest of the team had to get in line. Of course they won't win every year - they'll stumble once in a while, but the solid franchises quickly recover.

That's the complete opposite of the 20-year mess in NY. It's not about winning - it's about Dolan's yes-men trying to keep their cushy jobs.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Fri Aug 21, 2020 6:36 am

It's been a similar situation with the Bulls, and you can see how it's cost them as well. Their best coach in years was forced out, their reputation has made it impossible to sign marquee free agents, GarPax were more interested in hiring Yes Men than qualified personnel, and the culture was, by all accounts, toxic and terrible. They seem to be making some promising moves now, but it'll take some time to wash away the stink of all those years of GarPax. They had their moments, I have to give them that, but they did a lot of damage, too.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby mp3 on Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:35 pm

All things come to an end I guess but the Spurs are masters at quietly rebuilding or shall we say restacking.

I fully expect SA to offload either or both DD & LA, going into tank mode drafting the next star in 2021.

The question is will Pops remain for next season and onwards?
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:23 pm

I'd have thought he'd take the opportunity to bow out, but he seemed to indicate a willingness to stay on, much as Jerry Sloan did when the Jazz bottomed out and then bounced back. Respect either way; he's earned the right to give it a try with a young new core in rebuilding mode, or call it a day as the last man standing from the championship years, and no one can say that neither he nor the Spurs organisation gave it everything they could during his tenure.
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby mp3 on Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:44 am

It's funny if you remember back to when the spurs were really struggling and Pops was reportedly on the block but with David Robinson getting hurt and missing the season Pops career was saved by landing Duncan with the first pick.

Seems like so long ago 1997
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Re: End of an Era: Spurs miss Playoffs

Postby Andrew on Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:19 am

And at the same time, like it was only ten years ago. The last decade has really flown.
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