Spurs Continue To Prove Themselves

Published: 5^th Jan 12 9:56 pm

by Paul Troupe
Paul Troupe

RANT It!

Soobum Im-US PRESSWIRE

American culture is based on an impulse. An impulse to buy, sell, walk away, etc. American sports writers are just the same. We are too quick to judge, too quick to anoint, and don’t take time to really consider the facts. Many pre-season and early season predictions had quite a few different teams. One constant: San Antonio was not going to go far.

I’m here to say do not count them out. Yes, Dallas has been a mess. Yes, the Minnesota loss was not good. But the Spurs have dominated the Grizzlies and Clippers, and won last night against Golden State. Perhaps it was not their best performance, but that is what good teams do: find a way to win when it’s ugly.

This Manu Ginobili injury could be best thing for San Antonio. This will force the young role players to step up their game. Gary Neal, Daniel Green, TJ Ford, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, James Anderson, Cory Joseph, and Ike Diogu are going to get time. Some, more than others. But the experience and growth they develop now is what will carry San Antonio come playoff time.

I fully expect the Spurs to lose some ugly ones. Against Houston, the starters were out of the game in the fourth quarter. It is going to happen since this unit is old. But it is all part of Greg Popovich’s plan: keep the starters and the older guys healthy, develop the young talent, and unleash in the playoffs.

San Antonio’s Big 3 are under appreciated in my belief. They never had the star power of Kobe and Shaq, Lebron, D-Wade, and Chris Bosh, or Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rando, but they had was chemistry and every single person accepting their role and doing it to the best of their abilities. Each player did not let their ego get in the way of business.

San Antonio’s season is going to about a deep playoff run. So those ugly losses, don’t count too much into them. But do not count them out in making a run.