Regardless of the outcome of their NBA Finals matchup with the New Jersey Nets,
the the San Antonio Spurs enjoyed a truly magnificent 2002-03 season. But, for
all the deserving individual achievements they accumulated this season, the Spurs know an NBA
Championship would be the ultimate team accomplishment.
So how did the Spurs get
to this position, and what reasons do they have to think they can win the NBA
title this year? Let us explore...
Best Record in the League.
At 60-22, the Spurs tied the Dallas Mavericks for most wins in the regular season,
but the Spurs won the tie-breaker by having a better conference record. It was
the story of the hare and the tortoise. After Dallas got off to a 31-5 start,
the Spurs caught them at the end of the season by playing consistent, steady
basketball. The 2002-03 season marks the second time in franchise history that
the Spurs finished with 60 or more wins (1994-95, 62-20).
Coach of the Year.
Popovich |
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, who is the first Spurs coach in franchise history
to earn the Auerbach Trophy, received 281 points, including 40 first-place votes
from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and
Canada. Named the Spurs head coach on Dec. 10, 1996, Popovich has collected a
regular season-record of 339-185 (.646) in six seasons at the helm and is the
Spurs’ all-time leader in coaching victories. The Spurs also notched a league-best
18-2 record over their last 20 road games and secured the top seed in the Western
Conference playoffs.
"The only reason this has happened is because I have a staff that's pretty
incredible," said Popovich. "I'd be lost without them, very frankly. I have
a wonderful group of guys that I coach, and if those things didn't exist, I
wouldn't be standing here."
Most Valuable Player.
Duncan |
For the second straight year, Spurs forward Tim Duncan was named the league's
MVP, garnering 60 of the possible 119 first-place votes. It was the first time
since Michael Jordan in 1991 and 1992 that the same player has been MVP two consecutive
years. Duncan led the Spurs to the league's best record, 60-22, while averaging
23.3 points and career highs in rebounds (12.9), assists (3.9) and blocks (2.92).
Duncan was also named to his sixth consecutive All-NBA First Team. Duncan
is quite simply the most fundamentally sound and arguably the most intelligent
big man in the game.
"He's our heart and soul out there," Popovich said. "We ask him to do everything."
NBA All-Rookie Team.
Ginobili |
At 25, Manu Ginobili may not seem like the typical NBA rookie. He hasn't played
like one, either. The Argentina product was named the Italian League MVP in both
2000-01 and 2001-02, while being named to the Italian All-Star Game for three
straight seasons. He was the go-to guy for Virtus Bologna, which may explain the
ice-water running through his veins.
So it was not a surprise when Gino
was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. After watching his rim-bending, reverse
baseline jam over Mark Madsen in the Western Conference Semifinals, the only question
to the voters was, what do you mean
Second Team?
"Personally, I think I have learned a lot from the NBA environment, from the
playoffs, from Kobe and many others," Ginobili said. "I only hope we don’t get
too happy or too satisfied, since we are only half way from the team’s main
goal (of winning a NBA Championship)."
NBA All-Defensive Team.
Duncan |
Bowen |
As everyone has now heard repeatedly, defense wins championships. And the Spurs
are all about strong defense. Throughout the season
Spurs opponents have been frustrated and stymied by one of the stingiest defenses in recent
history. The Spurs tied with New Jersey for second best opponent
field goal percentage (.427), and were third in the league in points allowed (90.4).
Tim Duncan was named All-Defensive First Team for the fifth consecutive season,
while Bruce Bowen made the All-Defensive Second Team.
David Robinson's Last Season.
Robinson |
What better motivation could you have than the desire to send off David Robinson -- the man who has come to symbolize this team and this city -- with another Championship?
Robinson means so much to this franchise, this city, his teammates, and
these fans that it is almost impossible to quantify in words. His accomplishments
on the court pale in comparison to what he has done off it, and that's saying
quite a bit for someone who has been an NBA Champion, NBA MVP, NBA Scoring Leader,
NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and perennial NBA All-Star.
Robinson already has donated $9 million of his own money to create the independent
Carver Academy, serving primarily low-income African-American and Hispanic families
in San Antonio. Robinson also leads fundraising efforts for the school and is
chairman of Carver. Robinson has established a charitable foundation in his
name, which supports a number of local activities, including providing food
to organizations feeding the hungry and diapers and baby food for needy infants
and toddlers through area agencies, and has funded college scholarships for
numerous San Antonio students.
Robinson won the 2003 the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship award presented annually
by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The Kennedy Citizenship
award is the oldest citizenship and community service award in the NBA and is
named for the second commissioner of the NBA.
NBA Commissioner David Stern also presented Robinson with the NBA's newly designed
Community Assist Award bearing Robinson's name. "Not only is David Robinson
one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all-time, but he has proven, time and
time again, that he is one of the greatest community leaders in the history
of professional sports," said Stern. "The entire NBA Family thanks him for all
he has done for our game, for our fans and for our communities."
Teammates are the first to appreciate Robinson's accomplishments, and want
to send him off with a championship in his last season. "Right now," said Malik
Rose, "I'm playing for Kevin Willis, Steve Smith, Danny (Ferry) and David, of
course. Danny and David already have rings, but it's their last go-around. I
want to make it special for them."
Beating the Lakers.
The Spurs are the first team to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs this century.
Not only would the Spurs like to put their own championship bookends
on the Lakers' three consecutive titles, they'd also like to prove they can
win it during a full season. Remember the Asterisk? Ha. Remember the Alamo!
A Chance to Build.
The Spurs front office, led by General Manager R.C. Buford, deserves a lot of credit for putting together a high-caliber team, year-after-year, and doing it with millions of dollars to spare under the league's salary cap. With only five players under contract for next season (Malik Rose, Bruce Bowen, Steve Kerr, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker), the Spurs hope to capitalize in the off-season by signing another big-name free agent player. With Tim Duncan as the centerpiece, this team should have a bright future for years to come.
First Season in the SBC Center.
Can you think of a better way to start a dynasty than winning a championship
in the first year of this first-class facility?
