I've been trying to figure this out myself...and the only thing I can figure is "chemistry", kinda like the '94 Rox. One great player, and a bunch of role players. Talent wise, the Spurs are about 6th or 7th in the West. Parker is average at best (see Kenny Smith), Rose is a Horry wanna be. Ginobili has potential, but was not consistent last year (Mad Max, maybe). The Sadmiral was pathetic last year (much worse than OT), and no one else on their roster is even decent enough to be mentioned. To me, this is a team on the verge of collapse (relatively). It would not suprise me to see them drop to a 6th or 7th seed, ala the '95 Rox.
It's a mixture. Great coach. Tim Duncan. Good role players. Chemistry. It isn't just one thing, it is a mixture of a lot of things that make them a very good basketball team.
Well, they have a pretty good Power Forward... Seriously, I totally underestimated Pop as a coach when he first hired himself. Now I think he's one of the better coaches in the league. He doesn't play guys based on their salary or expectation (see Steve Smith), he goes on performance only. Hopefully, JVG will do the same thing...
Primary reason is Tim Duncan. Thats almost all that really matters. Take him away, and the Spurs are competing with us for one of the last playoff spots, if that.
Defense - absolute unrelenting commitment to it. Does Bowen even PLAY (much less start) for any other playoff team? When you consistently hold your opponents to +-40% shooting, AND you have T.D. shooting +- 50% AND pulling down 13 boards, it doesn't take all that much more to put up a "W". Basically it's TD(25&13) + 40%against = .8W
Pops is definitely not a great coach. He didn't do crap when Robinson went down. He was lucky enough to get Duncan who will go down as the best PF to play the game while having Robinson who is a top 10 center of all time. Even with both of them, they still managed to get dominated by the Lakers until Shaq got fat and Kobe got injured. Pops is an average coach who just happens to be lucky enough to have the best player in the NBA.
Its obviously because they play Team Basketball. Their Team is lead by a Star who isnt a ball hog,he isnt afraid to pass the rock, he gets the other players involved in the Game!!!!
