depth matters. Spurs clearly have the extra step against the Heat, and it's because they're rested and their role players are bringing the energy. If we're able to acquire a 3rd star this summer, I hope we invest into guys like Llull and Papanikolaou.
Partly right. More than depth, coaching ABSOLUTELY matters in the post season. YOu can get by the regular season on talent alone but will be found out in the post season like the Rockets were because we have a lousy, incompetent, clueless, joke of a coach who is one of the 10 worst ever in the NBA in McHale. You need a good coach and the right system.
That seems to be the consensus among champs, it's about the team - the whole team and trusting your teammates etc. Role players become the what makes or breaks a finals series.
also, late game execution is not a coin flip, coaching really matters, chemistry is important to the team, you don't just go 3 stars....championship!
Coaching and Boris Diaw...its how they managed to beat OKC in OKC for a game 6, and then beat the Heat twice on their court...not to mention they destroyed the Blazers. Their only real challenge came from Dallas...who by the way has terrific coaching as well. PS. I think Spo has gotten so much better, but it takes a truly special coach to gather his team and will them to win after such a devastating/crushing game 6 loss...Sure Patty Mills and Danny Green are great shooters, but Coach Pop has installed a system of selfless basketball. It was awesome not to just see pick and roll bball, and isolation shots. And yes they do have a stud in Kawhi Leonard...nice to see the kid get a final mvp trophy...
Coaching really is a big part...remember how much we relied on ISO against Portland, and how Spurs had a solution on LMA, and we couldn't do anything about him... Coaching really matters! Talk about chemistry, why not talk about the age and energy...
I know it's been said over and over again but... ...the way Popovich ran the marathon of the regular season was absolutely masterful. He rested his starters so that they would have the energy and health needed for the post season. Also, he trusted his role players enough to give them larger responsibilities in the regular season that made them battle-tested for the playoffs. Sure, he gets a lot of criticism when he decides to pull his starters early, or in a few cases, give them a game off. But no one faults him when his strategy earns them a ring.
egoless basketball. not looking for personal stats, only the W. committed to defense. moving the ball. (wipes tear...)
yup. and a system that allows each guy to be a target so the defense doesn't know where the ball will go. and a coach that can, ya know, strategize.
Having star players that play for far below market value so that you can continue to add quality role players - is really the difference maker.
And Morey is right about winning convincingly and avoid close games. Whether we are talking about players or coaching, winning a title means you play well on both ends for 48 minutes so hopefully not every game comes down to the last shot. The Spurs won some close games, too, but you have to have a good number of blowout wins or you are just leaving things up to chance.
I think it's pointless to look to deeply into what makes up the Spurs. A lot of it has to do with the main personalities on the team and FO. They have some really high character guys with talent. Some luck was involved as well. I'm not sure you can really replicate such a mix again.
....lakers and heat won a lot of championships paid outrageous sums of money to their stars and won plenty in the last few yrs
