Spurs Playoff Notes and Notables

POST-SEASON REGULARS:
This is the fifth consecutive year San Antonio has made the playoffs … the Spurs have made the playoffs in 12 of the last 13 years, missing only the 1996-97 season in which David Robinson played only six games … in their NBA history, the Spurs have earned a playoff berth in 22 out of their 26 seasons as a member of the NBA … only the Lakers and Trail Blazers – each with 25 post-season-appearances – have made more trips to the playoffs during a 26-year span … the Spurs have an all-time NBA post-season record of 79-83 (.488)… at home, the Spurs are 50-29 (.633) in the playoffs and on the road, San Antonio has a 29-54 (.349) record.

FIRST ROUND NOTES:
As a member of the NBA's Western Conference, San Antonio has won seven of its 14 first round series ... as a member of the Eastern Conference, the Spurs had an 0-2 first round series record... the team won its first round series in 2001 (3-1 over Minnesota), 1999 (3-1 over Minnesota), 1998 (3-1 over Phoenix), 1996 (3-1 over Phoenix), 1995 (3-0 over Denver), 1993 (3-1 over Portland) and 1990 (3-0 over Denver)... San Antonio lost its first round series in 2000 (3-1 to Phoenix), 1994 (3-1 to Utah), 1992 (3-0) to Phoenix), 1991 (3-1 to Golden State), 1988 (3-0 to L.A. Lakers), 1986 (3-0 to L.A. Lakers) and 1985 (3-2 to Denver)... as a member of the Eastern Conference, it lost in the first round in 1980 (2-1 to Houston), and 1977 (2-0 to Boston).

GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START:
In their previous 14 first round series as a member of the Western Conference, the Spurs have won the first game of the series nine times and went on to win the series seven times... the two times it won the opening game but lost the series was in 1994 against Utah and 1991 against Golden State... San Antonio has lost the opening game five times and has never gone on to win a first round series when that happens.

SPURS OVER 60:
The Spurs have four players on their roster who have played in at least 60 post-season games under their belt… Terry Porter leads the Spurs by appearing in 114 playoff games with four NBA teams (Portland, Minnesota, Miami, San Antonio), David Robinson has played in 96, Mark Bryant has seen action in 69 playoff games with four teams (Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Dallas), and Steve Smith has played in 63 playoff games with three different clubs (Miami, Atlanta and Portland).

SIX PACK:
The Spurs have six players on their roster who have seen action in the playoffs in five or more seasons… Terry Porter is playing in his 16th post-season while David Robinson and Mark Bryant are playing in the playoffs for the 11th time… Steve Smith has played in nine post-seasons while Danny Ferry has seven postseasons under his belt… Malik Rose has played in the playoffs five previous times.

TIM AND DAVE:
The Spurs have now advanced to the postseason in 12 of David Robinson’s 13 seasons in San Antonio… the only season the Spurs failed to qualify for the playoffs with Robinson on the club was 1996-97, a season in which Robinson played only six games… even though the Spurs advanced to the 1991-92 post-season, Robinson did not play due to a torn ligament in his left hand… since the addition of Tim Duncan to start the 1997-98 season, the Spurs have reached the playoffs every year.

A WINNING TRADITION:
Since entering the NBA prior to the 1976-77 season, San Antonio has captured 10 Midwest Division titles and 12 NBA division titles… only the Los Angeles Lakers have won more NBA division titles (13) during that span… in addition to this season, the Spurs won the Midwest Division in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2001 and won the Central Division title in 1978 and 1979.

NEWEST SPURS NO STRANGERS TO POST-SEASON PLAY:
With the additions of Mark Bryant, Cherokee Parks and Bruce Bowen during the off-season, the Spurs acquired players who have had a taste of the playoffs before… Bryant has gone to the playoffs 10 times with four different teams and has seen action in 69 contests… Parks went to the playoffs twice (1997 and 1998) as a member of the Timberwolves and saw action in two games… the Spurs defensive stopper Bruce Bowen has also showed his stuff in the playoffs… Bowen has gone to the post-season twice as a member of the Miami Heat and has seen action in 13 games.

PORTER FROM BEHIND THE ARC:
Terry Porter has made 146 three-point field goals in the post-season, which is sixth among active players… Reggie Miller leads the group, and is also first all-time with 258 three-pointers made… Scottie Pippen (191), Dan Majerle (181), John Starks (176) and Robert Horry (165) are the other players with more three-pointers than Porter… on the all-time list, Porter ranks 9th in three-pointers made in the post-season.

PORTER IN THE PLAYOFFS:
Terry Porter is making his third appearance with the Spurs and has now reached the postseason in 16 of his 17 seasons in the NBA… among active players, only Utah’s John Stockton (18) and Karl Malone (17) have reached the playoffs more times… Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the most playoff appearances in NBA history with 18… Porter made 10 playoff trips with Portland, two with Minnesota and one with Miami in addition to his San Antonio experience… he has played in a total of 114 playoff games, and has been to the NBA Finals twice (1990 and 1992- both with Portland)… Porter holds the Finals record for the most FT made without a miss in a single game, hitting 15-of-15 in Game 2 at Detroit on 6/7/90.

ROBINSON’S POST-SEASON BLOCK PARTY:
Among active players, David Robinson is ranked third in blocked shots in the playoffs…the Admiral has amassed 278 blocks in the post-season, which ranks him behind Hakeem Olajuwon (468) and Patrick Ewing (299) on the active list… Robinson is currently sixth on the all-time playoff blocked shot list, but only needs three to pass Kevin McHale (281) … Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leads all players in post-season blocks with 476. TOP TEN:
Both David Robinson and Terry Porter rank in the top 10 among active players in total playoff points… in ten post-season appearances, Robinson has scored a total of 2,023 points, which is eighth among active NBA players… Porter has collected 1,795 points in 15 playoff appearances, which is 10th among active players.

DUNCAN’S DOMINANCE:
In his career, Duncan has played in 39 post-season games, and has scored in double figures in all but two games (he had five points on 6/4/99 at Portland and nine on 5/25/01 at the L.A. Lakers)… last season he collected 11 double-doubles in 13 playoff games… Duncan scored 20 or more nine times and 30 or more four times… he collected a 20/20 vs. Dallas on 5/7/01 when he scored 25 points and pulled down 22 boards and registered a 30/20 night on 5/14/01 against Dallas when he tossed in 32 points and collected 20 rebounds… in his career, Duncan has recorded 23 post-season double-doubles… he is averaging 23.0 ppg and 11.9 rpg in the post-season.

POP NEAR THE TOP:
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich has had his share of success in the post-season… Pop has a career playoff winning percentage of .628 (27-16) in his four post-season appearances… his .628 mark ranks him second among active coaches and fifth all-time… among active coaches Pop only trails Lakers Coach Phil Jackson who has a career playoff winning percentage of .738 (141-50).

HOT SHOT:
Steve Smith has been red-hot from behind the arc all year long and finished with the best percentage in the NBA from behind the three-point line… on the year Smith connected on 116 of 246 shots from behind the stripe and ended the year shooting .472 from three-point range… in the post-season over his career Smith has seen almost as much success… he is fifth among active players in playoff three-point field-goal percentage shooting .415 (118-284) from downtown… Smith trails only Ray Allen (.463), Allan Houston (.420), Eddie Jones (.419) and Derek Fisher (.417) on the active player list… he is also number 10 all-time in playoff three-point percentage.