Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Babe Ruthless.
Every Wednesday on The Sports Fix on WNER 1410, Bleacher Fan and Sports Geek make an appearance with Matt McClusky to discuss our website and talk about hot topics in the world of sports. Two days ago they broke down this weekend’s NFL divisional playoff games. In the breakdowns, Sports Geek referered to the Atlanta Falcons as “solid,” “steady,” and “not spectacular.” Truth be told, it’s kind of hard to argue with those adjectives (Editor’s Note: Duh.). But in context, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
We segue to today’s NBA debate on the hottest NBA team. Now, who gets all the headlines in the NBA? That’s obvious. It’s the Lakers, the Celtics, the Heat, the Magic… blah blah blah. Yes, those teams have all the flash. The pizzazz… or as Sports Geek likes to say, “the flair.” But I challenge you, loyal readers, to take a look at the NBA standings. Which team currently has the best record in the NBA? Not Showtime! Not Beantown! Not South Beach! Not even the home of Disney World, where dreams come true! The best record belongs to a team that resides in the Alamo City!!! How exciting!!!
The San Antonio Spurs currently lead the league, rather comfortably, actually, with an overall record of 33-6. The team is bouncing back from a couple of seasons where, and there’s really no delicate way to put this, many observers believed the players looked old. This is despite the fact that they have won at least 50 games every FULL season (the shortened 1998-1999 season notwithstanding) since 1996-1997, which was pre-Tim Duncan. That’s pretty “solid” and “steady.”
This season the Spurs have been pretty spectacular as we near the halfway point of the season. They are on pace for close to 70 wins. That’s mid-1990’s Bulls territory!
Except, no one’s talking about.
I’d venture to say that the most we’ve heard out of the Spurs this season has revolved around the personal life of point guard Tony Parker. It’s unfortunate that we’ve been caught up in Twitter (see Lebron) and coach/player dispute (see Heat and Lakers) when all along we’ve had the same old steady Spurs.
And yes, it’s still the same old Spurs. Other teams really don’t want to play them. Tim Duncan, who surprisingly is averaging career lows in points, rebounds, and minutes, is still the same guy who needs one more ring to have a hand full, and will still use that backboard to bank a 12 footer. Manu Ginobili is leading the team in scoring as he is averaging a career high in minutes. Of course Parker is still there running the offense. Richard Jefferson brings experience and versatility to the forward position. And DeJuan Blair fills out the starting five. All five of these guys have started the first 39 games, and boy are they on some kind of roll.
I really like the Spurs bench, too. The team has ELEVEN guys on the bench that average at least ten minutes a game. That’s a weapon you know coach Gregg Popovich is glad to have, and hasn’t always had in years past. Some of these guys, like George Hill and Gary Neal, have youth on their side, so they can spell some of the aging veterans. It’s a solid mixture of experience and youth and it’s going to be really tough to beat the boys from the Alamo City. Who cares if maybe they are a little boring?
Posted by Loyal Homer 
