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| Friday, August 24 Users: Split vote on that championship season ESPN.com |
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When one uses the word "fluke" in speech it definitely gets people riled up. And that's just what happened when we used it in our Spurs Summer Spotlight. It wasn't just Spurs fans, it was also NBA fans who spoke out about our Spotlight.
In discussing the Summer Spotlight on the Spurs, we posed this question: Was the championship three season ago a fluke, or could the Spurs reach that goal again? Here are some of your responses:
Your Spurs Feedback I can't believe that there are people who think the championship was a fluke. This new dynasty with which the masses seem to be enamored with is much more likely to be a fluke than the Spurs. With all this hoopla thrown upon the Lakers over the last two years, it appears that people have forgotten that the Lakers have won their titles when the Spurs top scorers were injured. Do you think that the Lakers would have won anything if their first or second scorer was out? There has still been only one playoff series where both teams were healthy, and we all remember which team was swept then.
Shaun Sethna
The Spurs were indeed a fluke; the abbreviated season was not the marathon test all of the other champions had to take. Don't get me wrong, though: they might've won the whole banana had that been a regular regular season. It isn't their talent that is/was a fluke, but they need a point guard. Antonio Daniels/Terry Porter (though I love him) will not get it done. They die in the second round.
Jamie
No, the Spurs championship was definitely not a fluke three years ago. The twin tower combination along with the spare parts was definitely the best team in the league. The Lakers had raw talent but they weren't able to put the pieces together. Spurs were at the right place at the right time. However, calling the Spurs a potential dynasty would be a mistake. Even when they won the championship, they were an old team It is impossible for them to build on something that has already reached its potential. The Spurs will continue to be 50-60 game winners for three years just because Tim Duncan is there, but one man isn't gonna win you a ring.
Leslie
Let's see, no Phil Jackson, a shortened season (50 games), an embattled and squabbling Laker franchise, I'll say the Spurs championship season three years ago was a fluke. The asterisk Jackson put on the season was indeed a true and worthy statement. San Antonio fans may disagree, but let's see who the Spurs had to go through to finally win the championship. Chris Dudley and the Ewingless-Knicks. Even the Eastern Champions were not up to full strength (like that would have even mattered to the powerful Western conference juggernauts). The Spurs, in the end were just a transition team -- a shifting of gears from the Bulls powerhouse to the oncoming Laker dynasty of the future.
Gehaan DSouza
The Spurs' title certainly wasn't a fluke three years ago. They were the best team in the league that year. Emphasis on that year. Since their championship, the Spurs haven't improved much, if at all. Duncan, though one of the best in the league, hasn't upped his game tremendously since the title run, not like that of his rival Western superstars Shaq and Kobe. Robinson's older and even softer (if that's possible). Spurs should've cut bait when he started crying, when they could probably have still gotten something for him (see: Olajuwon). Steve Smith's a great pickup, but he's really old, too, and can only make a short-term impact. The problem there is the short-term involves going through a Laker team that is younger (at least superstar-wise), stronger, more aggressive, and better coached. The Spurs may still be the second-best team in the NBA, but it's a distant second. Only hope they have is that Shaq or Kobe goes down with an injury come playoff time. If that happens, they can win the championship. If not, they'll get pounded again by the Purple & Gold.
Todd M.
I don't think it was a fluke that they won that year. The Spurs were playing great team basketball, but somewhere along the road it seems that David Robinson lost his heart. He seemed scared of Shaq and just let him do anything he wanted. I think if they are going to regain that championship form that David Robinson must visit the land of Oz and get himself a new heart. They have the guns to do it and the addition of Steve Smith will help them.
Ulises Gonzalez
No, the Spurs championship season was not a fluke -- they've shown themselves to be one of the very best in the years since. But neither were the Spurs built to be a dynasty. They were already old when they won the championship, and they are even older now. And with the loss of Derek Anderson and their embarrassing surrender against the Lakers in the playoffs -- which brought back memories of all of those soft Spurs teams of the past -- the window is rapidly closing, and it may already be shut.
Eric Roberson
I am tired of everyone saying their title was a fluke. People act like the Spurs were the only team with a shortened season that year. If the Lakers would have won the title do you think Jackson would have questioned it? No. The Spurs have had some rough times since then. Last year the Lakers were in an unbelievable groove in the playoffs and even Jordan's Bulls would have been stomped by them. The year before that there was no way they were going anywhere without Duncan. I do question the amount of money given to Robinson. He is inconsistent and disappears more often in the playoffs (remember his MVP year). I know there is a shortage of centers but they could have moved Duncan there and looked for a power forward.
Michael
I really don't understand how people could question the Spurs championship year. They were by far the best team in the league, and dominated in the playoffs by sweeping Portland and LA, and then easily discarding the Knicks. The past two years the Spurs were missing key ingredients to their team due to injuries (Duncan two years ago, Anderson this past year). Does this fact taint LA's championship? Do the Spurs ever call the Lakers' championships a fluke? Obviously, LA was sore about getting swept, and needed to discredit the Spurs' title. The Spurs can definitely reach the NBA Finals again, but they need to do three things: stay healthy, get production from their role players, and play with more heart and emotion.
Mark O
Give me a break. If Duncan hadn't been injured two seasons ago, you are talking guaranteed back to back. And who knows what would have happened if Derek Anderson were healthy and Derek Fisher doesn't hit every ridiculous shot he takes. The Spurs are the paradigm example of chemistry and team unity. Duncan is a stud, Robinson is the best defensive center in the league (you have to have lateral movement Mr. Mutombo), and Steve Smith is an Olympian. They don't need to worry about Bowen's offense, as there will be plenty of that. Defense wins, and the Spurs are more disciplined than any. Shaq and Kobe are great, but have been beaten before, and can be beaten again. Last year they were the best team in the league until Derek Anderson got injured. Watch out for Tony Parker, the guy will be a force. I am not saying the Spurs will win it all, but I like their chances.
Jeremy
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