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| Tuesday, September 12 Updated: September 15, 2:34 PM ET Users: Spurs might be title-bound again ESPN.com |
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Two seasons ago, the San Antonio Spurs were champions. Last year, with Tim Duncan out of the lineup, the Spurs were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. So what should we expect out of the Spurs this season? ESPN.com users wrote in about the topic and our Team Offseason Spotlight. Here are some of the better e-mails we received on the Spurs. Enjoy, and check out our spotlight index page to read our breakdowns and your user comments on each NBA team.
I have been a Spurs fan ever since I moved to San Antonio, and I'd like to let all of you people out there know that this team does not revolve around Duncan. In fact, it still has a chance to make the playoffs without him. Avery Johnson is the most underrated guard in the game today. Sure, Tim and David Robinson get 20 points a night, but who dishes it them? Yep, you guessed it, the Little General, Avery Johnson. He can shoot (remember the game winning shots in the Finals versus the Knicks?), pass and plays average D. David has great game, can rebound, shoot and pass. Antonio Daniels can dunk like there is no tomorrow. And he is a great backup guard. So next time when you think of the Spurs as a team that revolves around a player, think about the Raptors or Wizards, not the Spurs. Thank you. Zach Fry Newport News, Va.
I think the Spurs have greatly improved themselves. While everyone is focused on the Lakers and Blazers, the Spurs will sneak up on some people to be the best in the league. I am a big-time Spurs fan, therefore, my opinion is very biased. Derek Anderson was a key addition and the re-signing of not only Duncan, but Daniels and Johnson also was huge for the team. Anderson gives the Spurs probably the best two-guard we have had since The Iceman. Staying healthy is always key to the success of any team and is a must for the Spurs to even have a strong playoff run. The West is very competitive and the teams are loaded with talent; so even a team with a bad record could beat you on any given night. The Spurs' management has done their job of improving the team, now the rest of the pieces are set to fall in place. Duncan for MVP in 2001. Tim Kane San Antonio, Texas
The hole is at the point. I have nothing against Avery Johnson, but Antonio Daniels is more athletic, quicker and can hit the three. What I would like to see happen is for Avery to start up to the All-Star break and then hand the reins to Daniels. Daniels and Anderson would be arguably the best backcourt in Spurs history.They are young with speed and can shoot the ball. Travis Crain San Antonio, Texas
Contrary to popular belief David Robinson has only missed three games in the past two seasons. His back has really not been a problem. Once again I believe people are writing off David Robinson before the season even starts. I do think the health of the team (especially Duncan and Anderson) is critical. The up and comer on the Spurs was also overlooked. Antonio Daniels has looked better each year and is primed to take over the starting role from Avery Johnson. Daniels could have a breakout season. In the end the Spurs will battle the Lakers and Blazers to represent the West. D Douglas San Antonio, Texas
You can't say "San Antone," as you did in your Spurs spotlight. It's like family. An example is being the loud aunt no one really likes to talk about. If she is in your family, you can talk about her. However, if you are not part of the family, you cannot. In fact you really shouldn't. When someone says "San Antone," it implies familiarity. Familiarity with the town, the people, the culture -- not just covering a sports event there. The question is do you have this familiarity to speak like this? Chris Austin, Texas
I don't believe that San Antonio was the best team during the shortened season. San Antonio was probably the third best team in the West behind Portland and Utah. Duncan was the best player during the final six weeks of the season in that he became unstoppable and the rest of the team climbed on his shoulders. Had the season not been cut short, an old team like the Jazz that played 16 games in 23 nights could have recovered and their experience would have taken over. Today, the Spurs are probably the fifth best team in the West behind the Lakers, Blazers, Jazz and maybe Phoenix or Minnesota. Kameron Thorne San Diego, Calif.
Saying the Spurs got no help in the draft is by far the worst understatement in the spotlight series. To get a player of Chris Carrawell's talent at the 41st pick is amazing. Nothing was expected of Carrawell his senior year, yet he led Duke all year long. He surprised everyone in college, and he'll do the same in the pros. Matt Ogren Fredericksburg, Va.
The Spurs are obvious contenders with the twin towers down low. However, the question mark to their team has been their guard play. The addition of Derek Anderson further solidifies their backcourt, but the defensive liability of Avery Johnson still remains. The Spurs are one solid player away, and their bench needs some major work. What they need is a scorer who can come off the bench and take the pressure off of Duncan, someone who can provide instant offense to a slow-moving halfcourt game. Jeffrey Sao Seattle, Wash.
First off, the Spurs are not in contention for the championship. The Lakers and Blazers are far too strong for the Spurs. The Spurs would not have stopped the Lakers in the second round, either. Are the Spurs deep? Didn't they win their championship in a shortened season? Weren't they ranked behind Utah last year? Yeah, Duncan was hurt but if they were so good they should've at least beat the Suns in the first round. They don't have much outside shooting and Robinson is one year older and slower. Lemuel West Covina, Calif.
I think that you guys are so caught up with the Lakers winning the title this year that you all forgot what a healthy Spurs team can do to those guys in La-La land. It's really only a two-team race this year, and it's not L.A. in that field of two. I think the real asterisk should go by the Lakers' title this year because they really lucked out by Phoenix beating an injury-riddled Spurs team. Juan Tremillo San Antonio, Texas
I have been a Spurs fan for 13 years already, and I have not seen a better starting lineup for the whole 13 years. I mean, just look at the lineup for yourself. The Lakers and Blazers lineups are not even close to having the defensive and offensive power that the Spurs have right now. Yes, I agree that the only way the Spurs are going to be successful this season is if they stay healthy for the entire time, but all I see in the future is another trophy being added to the first one. Trey Alexandria, La.
Not only can the Spurs win the championship next year, they can win it the next three years. As long as Duncan (who is the best all-around player in the league) has the supporting cast, the best the Zenmaster and Shaq can hope for is to not be swept in the Western finals. Most teams are lucky if they have one player who can take over a game without trying to score every point down the court. The spurs have two in Robinson and Duncan and both play the mental part of the game as well. The Spurs also have another thing that a lot of teams don't have. A coach who knows that defense is a key to winning consistently. All in all the future is very bright for the Spurs. Mike Zwetzig Black Hawk, S.D.
The Spurs' premature fall from grace in the first round of last season's playoffs was dampened somewhat by the re-signing of their main man, Tim Duncan, and the acquisition of Derek Anderson. But are these moves really enough to catapult San Antonio back as NBA champions? Eric Karabell is right in pointing out that this year's Spurs are better than the team that won in the '99 Finals but one has to keep in mind that the other top contenders (Portland, Utah, et al.) also made considerable acquisitions to bolster their own bids. I feel that San Antone is a dark horse for this year's campaign. If (and it's a big IF) they stay healthy, dominating lesser teams would be a sure thing, but they'll need everything they've got in their arsenal come playoff time against the super-deep Blazers and Phil Jackson's latest incarnation of the Lakers. Rhoel Fernandez San Diego, Calif.
What is your fascination with the Spurs? Re-signing Tim Duncan keeps them at par. Adding Derek Anderson counters the aging of Terry Porter and Avery Johnson. Robinson's back has another year of wear and tear on it. I think the Wolves will be the Midwest champions. The Wolves have youth and potential. Four out of the top six players in the Spurs rotation are over 30. Adam Duluth, Minn.
One thing not mentioned in this column is the loss of Mario Elie. Yes, his game was down from the level that he played during the title year, but he gave the team the self-confidence, mental toughness and take no bull attitude it lacked for seasons before. I don't know if the Spurs would have the same edge that they have now if Mario was never signed. This is the same guy who bounced the ball off Danny Ainge's face at the end of a playoff game because Danny hit a three in his face during garbage time and smiled the wrong way afterwards. Message to coach Popovich: bring back Mario and let Kerr sell tacos outside the Alamodome! Roger Dimbolock Ascutney, Vt.
I think it's sad to see the Spurs and their fans make excuses about not having Tim Duncan in the playoffs. Wake up. The asterisk guys lost to a Suns team without Jason Kidd (3 games), Tom Gugliotta and Rex Chapman. What the fans need to see is that Tim Duncan lacked the courage that we see so many superstars show by playing hurt to help your team. That's why Tim will never be a real superstar. He lacks the fire and heart. Yet the fans reward him by pretty much getting on their knees and begging him to come back. Now Tim, check out your team. An less-than-average point guard, an aging center, a small forward who's done, and a new acquisition from the almighty Clippers. The bench? A hard working yet undersized forward (Rose), an out-of-shape, erratic shooter (J. Jackson), a flashy yet lacking point guard (Daniels), and a fast (at least on a motorcycle) but unexperienced forward (S.Walker). Yeah, good choice Tim. Daniel San Antonio, Texas
Why is it that all of you "experts" seem to think the Spurs would've been lottery-bound in the upcoming season had Duncan left? I think that Duncan's a great player (top three in the league), but David Robinson led teams with much less talent than the current one minus Tim Duncan into at least the second round of the playoffs consistently. And before you say that he has declined since those heroics, go back and look at what he did in the Phoenix series amidst three defenders each time he even looked at the ball. He's still got it, as he proved in that series, and he could still take the Clippers (of last year) to the playoffs if he played for them. Jin Johnson Hawkins, Texas
If the Spurs stay healthy, there's no reason why they won't win it all. Teams find it very hard to defend both Duncan and Robinson in an entire series and the Blazers would likely be more of a threat with all their big men than the Lakers would. One more small forward type (Stacey Augmon? LaPhonso Ellis? Roderick Rhodes?) would be extremely helpful as would being able to trade Kerr, Jackson and maybe Rose. However, if Dave and Tim are both healthy during the playoffs, I reckon this team will be going for their second championship in three years! Nathan T Adelaide, South Australia
The Spurs are going to win the title in 2000-2001. That's it! It is forgotten that they were one of three out of 29 NBA teams to beat the Lakers more than once. Oops, I am sorry, they beat them three times!!! How can Laker fans explain that along with the Phil Jackson-less humiliating sweep in the 1999 playoffs. They play well together, unlike Portland, and the only team that can scare them is a healthy Phoenix. Portland and L.A. have done nothing really to help themselves, since Kemp and Davis may not accept their roles and the fake champs have done nothing for a real power forward.
Derek Anderson is one of the top young guards around. It's hard to deny that when healthy and in a good environment that he can't be one of the top five or six shooting guards in the game.
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