At the end of the 2010 Spurs season, I remember having the most depressing conversation ever with a close friend about the future of the franchise.
There was nothing we could do. The Spurs were heavily over the cap. And there was no way to get under.
Then Richard Jefferson opted-out of his contract, leaving $15 million on the table. Generic 'know nothing' Spurs fan was ecstatic.
"Good, he was a waste of space anyway!"
But what those people didn't realize - he just handicapped San Antonio. They couldn't sign someone to replace him. His opting-out only took us out of the luxury tax. The Spurs were still over the cap. The only thing they could hope for is that Jefferson would sign a new contract extension at a cheaper price, allowing the Spurs to avoid the luxury tax.
He did.
With Jefferson in at 4-years and $40 million, the Spurs were sitting in prime financial position to bring over Spanish League MVP, and 2007 1st round draft pick, Tiago Splitter, who was supposed to be the answer to our frontcourt problems.
They did. (Thanks to the Mid-level exception.)
Then the Spurs resigned a 30-year old Matt Bonner to 4-years and $16 million contract. A move that I expressed my hate about over and over and over again. (I'd rather not get into it again...I don't want to be reminded that we're stuck with him for another 3-years.)
The Spurs still needed to find a backup shooting guard that could be a reliable three-point shooter and be a servicable perimeter defender. The Spurs drafted James Anderson out of Oklahoma State with the 20th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Just a guy that wouldn't make mistakes and spell Richard Jefferson/Manu Ginobili whenever he could.
And we already know about the Gary Neal story...
Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford were content on bringing this core back. The team that finished as the 7th seed in the Western Conference at 50-32...the team that completely dismantled the second seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round, only to get swept by the 3rd seed Phoenix Suns. A team they constantly use as their whipping toy. But they were no longer a problem as Amar'e Stoudemire
Trying To Find A Light
We were led to believe that Popovich did an amazing job of training Richard Jefferson in the summer. Working on his shot, his footwork, his defense. He was back to the RJ of old. But why did we believe that the additions of Neal, Splitter and Anderson translated into 11 more regular season wins? Neal was only run out on the court because of the Anderson injury to start the season. Splitter didn't see consistent floor time until after the All-Star Break, and that was only primarily thanks to injuries to Timmy and Antonio, plus DeJuan Blair's massive weight gain out of nowhere.
Anderson ended up being a non-factor and wasn't even on the Spurs playoff roster versus Memphis.
But the Spurs and the local media were trying to find any little bit of hope they could. Gary Neal's Summer League performance was no fluke (Neal shot 50% from beyond the arc in Vegas Summer League), and the Spurs signing an unproven rookie to a guaranteed contract was unheard of. Pop never likes playing rookies, so why the hell even sign the kid?
But they needed shooters. And Neal possessed that shooter mentality. Something they were severely lacking during last season (gives dirty look to Roger Mason Jr.)
The Turn Around That Left Everyone Shocked
Tim Duncan was already a shell of his former self. People were so easily fooled by his new training regimen, that made him lighter and quicker, to lessen the wear on his knee. And after recording a triple-double against the Warriors early on in the season, you could've sworn Tim Duncan found the fountain of youth.
Then they set a franchise record with 17 three-pointers in a 125-95 route of the Miami Heat. Something no one could've ever foreseen. The "old and boring" Spurs were atop of the NBA's standings...and only halfway through the season. And people kept saying they hadn't hit their peak. When they finally straighten out their defense, they would be nearly unstoppable.
This team. That front office staff. They did it again.
Only it was all an act.
Is It Dangerous To Hit A Speed Bump At Full Speed?
The media attributed the Spurs struggles toward the end of the season to injury. They managed to still secure the #1 seed in the West, almost beat the Lakers on the road with a lineup that included guys like Danny Green and Steve Novak, and nearly get the #1 overall seed to secure home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
Everyone had pegged the Spurs in the Finals. Even though the Lakers were still the favorite, San Antonio was just a sexy pick. No one wanted to count out this team (unless your name was Charles Barkley). A first round match up with Memphis? Rudy Gay was already out for the rest of the season and Shane Battier's defense was the only thing that would hold the Grizz in contention...this was going to be a laugher.
The Collapse
The local media took it upon themselves to talk about how the Grizzlies tanked their last couple of games to ensure they would draw the Spurs in the first round. So disrespectful! Like if Tim Duncan needed anymore motivation...I mean really, how dare they? The four time champs, led by arguably the greatest power forward in NBA history? What a bunch of fools!
And then it came in a flurry...one...
After another...
After another.
The Memphis Grizzlies had become only the second team in NBA history to be the 8th seed, knocking out the #1 seed. The only team ever to have suffered a similar embarrassing fate? The Dallas Mavericks.
San Antonio was now in the history books with a team that was synonymous with the word "choke".
O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen dominated All-Star Manu Ginobili.
Mike Conley and Greivis Vasquez repeatedly torched NBA Finals MVP, Tony Parker.
And what Zach Randolph did can be described as nothing less than "legendary".
These Spurs went from the best team in the NBA, to the same disappointing bunch that was ripped to shreds by the Phoenix Suns the year before. This team was supposed to be BETTER. Yet they only managed a total of two playoff wins, one of which was a prayer answered by the basketball Gods. (Again: see Neal, Gary.)
"They Are Who We Thought They Were!"
After the initial shock and anger passed, those words rang in my head. The word "disbelief" wasn't in my vocabulary when describing the way the Spurs ended their season.
I hoped for the best. The Spurs gave me way more than I expected. At least during the regular season. But don't fault me for my anger with this organization. I've never been an overconfident/cocky fan. Not for any of my teams...until this season. I believe in destiny. This team was destined to be champions. And in a span of six games, it all came crashing down.
I'm not angry at the fact that they let me down, I'm angry at the Spurs false advertising. You can put the most beautiful and expensive rims in the world on a Camry. It's still a fucking Camry! But a "new" Richard Jefferson, plus the additions of Gary Neal, James Anderson and Tiago Splitter weren't rims. They were like reupholstering your shitty stained interior. And that simply doesn't get the job done.
Not only did the surprising fast start doom the Spurs, but the transition to being more offensively focused instead of defensively minded wasn't the solution. You can't blame Popovich for not focusing on defense, because this team isn't defensive. The Spurs best interior defender is now Tiago Splitter. Tim Duncan has flashes every now and then, but not enough to consistently rely on him to shut down his opponent. Paired with an oft-injured, older, Manu Ginobili and you're just asking for trouble.
The Spurs original recipe for success, the one that led them to 4 championships, is still the best one...but some of the ingredients are expired. (Corny analogy alert).
The reason a team like San Antonio could've beat the Mavericks or the Lakers in the first round is because these teams know each other so well that anything can happen. But these younger and super athletic run-and-gun teams aren't afraid. And they're ushering in a new era to the NBA right before our eyes.
It wasn't supposed to end like this. But perfect endings are a thing of the past. And now, so are the San Antonio Spurs.
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