Let’s assume the Spurs close out the Cadavers before the weekend is over to claim their 4th NBA title in 8 years. Dynasty? Absolutely. One of the all-time teams? You betcha. Now let’s get specific. Assuming they win one more game in the next week or so, where does this Spurs team rank among the all-time great NBA teams??? Here’s Wally’s stab at the ranking:
1) Auerbach’s Celtics with Russell, Cousy, et al.
2) Chicago Bulls (6 titles in 8 years)
3) Magic’s Lakers of the 80’s (5 titles)
4) SPURS (’99-’07)
5) Bird’s Celtics of the 80’s
6) Minneapolis Lakers (5 in 6 years) with George Mikan
7) Shaq/Kobe Lakers (3-peat)
8) Chamberlain/West/Baylor Lakers (set records for Finals losses)
9) Bad Boy Pistons with Laimbeer, Thomas, Dumars, et al.
10) Rockets repeat with Hakeem Olajuwan
Up front apologies if I’ve missed a fine Rochester Royals or Syracuse Nationals run, but this is what immediately came to my mind. To refresh your memory, go to: https://www.nba.com/history/finals/champions.html.
San Antonio could very well pressure Magic’s Lakers for the #3 spot over the next couple of years if they manage to win one or two more. Duncan is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and Parker and Ginobili will probably get strong consideration before their careers are over. Naysayers are belittling their performance because the Cadavers haven’t mounted much of a fight, but don’t forget what an achievement it was for the Spurs to win the West when everyone expected Phoenix or Dallas to run away with it. This team plays great TEAM ball and often the heroics from game to game come from the likes of Bowen, Horry, Berry, Oberto, and Finlay. This is one of the best defensive teams ever!!! Bill Russell would be proud.
Let us know if you beg to differ on the Spurs or Wally’s overall rankings of the all-time NBA teams.
Wally
Casey is in agreement.
Is Duncan possibly the best power forward the game has seen?
Who would you rather have coach your team? Jackson? or Popovich?
Cleveland will not be the Cadavers for long.
I have to agree.. The Spurs were impressive their playoff run and Tim Duncan just continues to impress.
I was equally happy for Michael Finley is who I think is one of the good guys of the NBA and has had a solid career. It was good to see the joy in his face last night. His comment after game was great. He was given the game ball by his teammates and when asked what he was going to do with the ball his response was: “Not sure, but it will probably go in the bed with me between me and my wife.”
What I find about what is most impressive about the Spurs..is the fact that in this day of the NBA – One bad draft decision, one free agent decision can set a NBA team back 5-6 years. Bad personnel decisions can lock a team near the cap and guarantee mediocrity for years to come. The Spurs get contributions from top to bottom of their lineup and to me that is a testament to the front office and Popovich who not only puts them in the right spots to succeed, but has each one of them understanding their role.
On a sidenote, WEEI 850am – Boston sports radio – which you can get through the internet as well has the “Weener/Wheiner Line”.. Guys call in take shots at things going on around the sports world and the news world. A guy called in a left this message after watching the final episode of the Sopranos: ” If I wanted to watch a bunch of gangsters shooting and missing , I would have just stuck to watching a NBA game.”