Are the Spurs winning this way one of the best things that could happen for basketball?

The reason "stars" are willing to "sacrifice" in dollars per season in the Spurs system is players might just get the same career income after taking the career into consideration.

Pop, by playing players less minutes, is able to lengthen players career. As a result, players could get the same overall career income with less money per season and more seasons played.

Think about Duncan, under Pop, he is 38 and can still play at least 1 or 2 more years at a high level. If he plays under any other coaches, he could be over- used, suffering serious injuries, and he could've be out of the league already.

 

Great thread and great read. Good for basketball but bad for jersey sales.

 

I'd say if the NBA is willing to sacrifice some star privileges, team basketball is more likely to flourish. If the stars don't get star aurora from referee's whistles for either fouls or violation of rules, they will realize they have to involve teammates more.

But NBA don't work that way. NBA is a star making machinery that sell stars for more money.

 

Spurs whine to the refs a lot too.

 

Popovich seems not interested in box scores and all data of the games. Players and the ball are his main concern, not the data generated by them.

 

Spurs do play Isolation from perimeter....happens all the time if Parker or Ginobbli is guarded by a mismatch or a lesser PG, because that would just be a smart move. I guess the difference with this recent Spurs is they hardly force isolations when it's not to their advantage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XnzBk4-32k

 

While the Spurs are winning in their "unique" way, all the talk seems to be about Lebron and Melo teaming up. So, if one of the best things that could happen for basketball is more focus on star-stacked teams, then perhaps the OP is correct.

 

A lot of Tony Parker's isolations are after movement so the defense hasn't had a chance to get set. There has already been some action to give him the advantage (coming off a curl, staggered pick and roll).

Almost all of Ginobili's isos are after switches on the pick and roll.

The Heat also run a decent amount of ISOs but usually there are things going on in the weak side.

The main thing that I want for the Rockets is to have some movement before the ball lands in Dwight or Harden's hand to finish the play. Just so that the defense is already moving and having to make decisions.

 

One thing for sure, the Spurs and the Heat are exact opposites in organizations. The Spurs are all about developing talent. The Heat are about only acquiring "proven" veterans.

 

the GOAT head coach? how old are u like 21?

 

i disagree, if the Spurs were not there. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili would be on other teams and those teams might be more successful

 

The best thing that could ever happen for basketball is if the Rockets win it all.

Then we'd get 2 more decades of Milk Hair.

 

The Spurs are playing old school unselfish basketball mixed with European basketball. Move, pass and space the floor. Almost nobody dribbles the ball for more than 5 seconds without making a play.

If Harden plays under Pops, his game would have to change or his selfish ass would get traded/benched.

 

Stars will always be what's talked about. But at the same time, two top euro coaches are possibly making moves into the NBA as well. If they bring the same type of team ball - and it works - then you might start seeing more changes. The Spurs are an exception right now, but if teams find they can duplicate it by looking outside the current system, it has the potential to especially help the teams that are eternal failures due to lack of free agent interest.

 

We can only hope. The NBA needs to redefine itself as more of a team game and less of a star fest.

 

It probably is great for basketball because the Spurs play the right way and have an organization and roster full of selfless people. But, the narrative that the Spurs are some David defeating the mighty Heat goliath is just wrong. As had been mentioned, the Spurs have a great coach but they also have legit stars. They're winning with stars AND team ball. This isn't Stars vs. Team ball because unfortunately we saw that in the eastern conference finals and it wasn't pretty.

 

Who would've thunk in 2014 playing unselfish basketball, focused on ball movement, tough D, and humility would lead to a championship..

 

maybe now Jeremy Lin can actually play pg again and focus on teamball instead of isoball. Although he probably wont be back again.

 

But while it increase NBA revenues? In the end, that is what the league cares for. The NBA found a golden ticket in marketing star players and is constantly trying to manufacture them. And ESPN and Nike and Addidas and Puma have an interest in that pie, too.

I am glad the Spurs won because they play team ball. Major props to Popovich for being a great coach. And more props to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli for being coachable. Hard for a coach to coach team ball if the primary players don't buy in.

 

You know what's not fair? Having a big three but not having to spend more than 30 million on the cap to have them all, which allows you to bolster your bench with players like Diaw and Belinelli and keep your other starters like Splitter.