So it is that time of year again, the NBA Playoffs are upon us and while my first favorite squad, the Chicago Bulls, battle Lebron James and the Cavaliers in the second round in the Eastern Conference, my second fave team, the San Antonio Spurs have sadly been eliminated.
Even in defeat however, I can only echo past columns in this space in having nothing but praise for the Spurs. They were eliminated taking the younger and more athletic Los Angeles Clippers to a seventh game, almost taking out superstar Blake Griffin and company in the process.
Afterward, none of the older “big three” of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker would discuss retirement or next season, opting instead to have a ‘family’ party with the rest of the Spurs and coach Greg Popovich.
It was a bittersweet moment, mostly because even if the Spurs are able to bring back the core and make some additions, father time is breathing down the Spurs neck.
The main cast of players that brought multiple NBA championships to Texas starting way back in 1999 are getting older and older. Although they play a team style that allows even contributions from the whole roster and also have older players that play as if they are ten years younger (Read: Tim Duncan), the Spurs chances at hoisting another championship banner to the rafters of the AT&T Center is becoming thinner by the minute.
San Antonio’s team has made tremendous impact on the league, with Popovich’s assistant coaches being some of those pegged as future NBA head coaches and a reputation as one of the most well run franchises in all of sports.
Twenty Southwest Division titles, thirty-five NBA Playoff appearances and five NBA world championships since the Tim Duncan era started in 1999. All this while keeping a clean, hardworking and blue collar mentality, be it in defeat or triumph that feels just as much as home in Chicago as Texas.
It is a shame that the Texas NBA teams are so overlooked by sports fans in their home state, especially as they just had all three Texas based franchises in the Playoffs and have two recently championship winning teams over the last five years as well.
However it might not be over yet as said earlier in this article. For the last half decade NBA analysts and pundits have tried at the start of each season to count the San Antonio Spurs out and each time the Spurs prove that they have more left in the tank then teams with a much younger age rate.
In Texas football will always be king (and queen, prince and duke as well), however up in San Antonio it is still business as usual.
That business is winning championships and being a model NBA franchise. This team is one for the ages, and next year might be the last dance. Catch it while it is still here.
My first loyalty will always be to the Chicago Bulls but my second team, due to their amazing composure and determination to defy odds and the clock, will be the San Antonio Spurs.
