The Spurs. And Jealousy.

[Monster]

It really is amazing Abe. Duncan and Pop have that Brady-Belichek thing. I don't think either would be the same without the other. But the Spurs have done it for 20 years. Unbelievable.

I disagree a bit here.

Tim Duncan was going to be an all-time great NBA player whether he played in SA with Popovich or Minnesota with Sidney Lowe and Kurt Rambis.

He was THAT good from the moment he entered the league. He was about as can't-miss as you can get.

I agree but on the other hand Duncan wouldn't be the same in that without Pop/Spurs that he probably wouldn't have all those championships etc. That's pretty significant in how he is viewed as a player by a lot of people.

[AbeVigodaLive]

It really is amazing Abe. Duncan and Pop have that Brady-Belichek thing. I don't think either would be the same without the other. But the Spurs have done it for 20 years. Unbelievable.

I disagree a bit here.

Tim Duncan was going to be an all-time great NBA player whether he played in SA with Popovich or Minnesota with Sidney Lowe and Kurt Rambis.

He was THAT good from the moment he entered the league. He was about as can't-miss as you can get.

I agree but on the other hand Duncan wouldn't be the same in that without Pop/Spurs that he probably wouldn't have all those championships etc. That's pretty significant in how he is viewed as a player by a lot of people.

Maybe. No real way to know. Personally, I think he was good enough to win titles anywhere (in his prime). Remember, he was winning most of those titles in a different era, before "Big 3s" became fashionable. I agree that he's not winning without Pop and Kawhi near the end.

2003:
- Tony Parker (20 years old... 2nd year)
- Stephen Jackson (no commentary needed)
- Bruce Bowen (made 7 shots in 6 games of Finals)
- David Robinson (37 years old... last year)

11 guys took shots in that Finals series... 6 of them shot below 39% including 4 of the top 5 for minutes played. Yet that team won 60 games and a title without going past 6 games in that entire playoff run.

[Monster]

It really is amazing Abe. Duncan and Pop have that Brady-Belichek thing. I don't think either would be the same without the other. But the Spurs have done it for 20 years. Unbelievable.

I disagree a bit here.

Tim Duncan was going to be an all-time great NBA player whether he played in SA with Popovich or Minnesota with Sidney Lowe and Kurt Rambis.

He was THAT good from the moment he entered the league. He was about as can't-miss as you can get.

I agree but on the other hand Duncan wouldn't be the same in that without Pop/Spurs that he probably wouldn't have all those championships etc. That's pretty significant in how he is viewed as a player by a lot of people.

Maybe. No real way to know. Personally, I think he was good enough to win titles anywhere (in his prime). Remember, he was winning most of those titles in a different era, before "Big 3s" became fashionable. I agree that he's not winning without Pop and Kawhi near the end.

2003:
- Tony Parker (20 years old... 2nd year)
- Stephen Jackson (no commentary needed)
- Bruce Bowen (made 7 shots in 6 games of Finals)
- David Robinson (37 years old... last year)

11 guys took shots in that Finals series... 6 of them shot below 39% including 4 of the top 5 for minutes played. Yet that team won 60 games and a title without going past 6 games in that entire playoff run.

Sure there is no way to know. It goes both ways. Does that team win with say Vinny Del Negro coaching it?