Kleeman's Last Word

A Dynasty for the Ages...Two Teams in Different Directions

It began in October and November, with my two teams in the hunt for a championship: The Houston Rockets for the franchise's third and the San Antonio Spurs for the team's fourth.
With Shane Battier adding his defensive hustle and three point shooting to the double threat of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, it was reasonable to expect the Rockets to triumph at least the first round. When Yao injured his right tibia in a Dec. 23 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and was forced to miss more than the next six weeks, the Rockets managed a respectable 20-12 record.
I was never convinced they could beat the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks in a 7-game series, as scoring and running the fastbreak were never strengths of the team to say the least.
Rafer Alston on a breakaway layup is like a Dennis Franz nude scene - no thank you, I'll pass.
There were flashes of a championship caliber squad, including a 124-74 dismantling of the confused Philedelphia 76ers. Indeed, on nights when the Rockets scored efficiently and defended like bloodhounds, they appeared unstoppable.
But as Mavs coach Avery Johnson can now tell you, you don't win a championship with one mighty regular season win, or even 67.

As the hype of the All-Star break faded, its ashes created a fork in the road to the Larry O' Brien trophy. The Spurs and the Rockets took the opposite paths.

Although they managed impressive wins and looked the part of fierce competitors with Yao back in the lineup, it was clear the Rockets were following the sign that said "pretenders."

They wrestled home court advantage in the first round from the Utah Jazz in perhaps the ugliest loss competition in recent memory. The Rockets played despicably for a period of two weeks, but luckily, the Jazz felt like playing even worse.
Their uninspired run was rewarded with an undeserved extra home game.
Turns out, having that game 7 at the Toyota Center wouldn't mean a thing.
And sure, beating Phoenix and New Orleans in high scoring games at season's end was a thrill, but it advertised nothing about the real Rockets.
The real Rockets would score only 67 points on the road, when they held the home team, fired up by a raucous crowd, to 81 points on 39 percent shooting.
Equipped with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams, plus a bench to speak of (sorry Luther and Juwan, but clanks don't count as production), the Jazz toppled the thirsty Rockets in game 7 more handily than the final score might indicate.
Tracy McGrady will return next season hoping to avoid his seventh first round ouster.

The Spurs on the other hand did what they always do when crunch time calls.
From Jacque Vaughn to Manu Ginobili, the entire roster figured it had better start winning and winning convincingly if it wanted to avoid a first round sweep.

And when their regular season efforts culminated, they would end up taking the same path as 2005, beating the Denver Nuggets in five games, winning the second round in six and winning the Western Conference Finals in six. You can thank the inexperienced Cavaliers for not allowing 2005 to completely rehash itself.
Sorry, LeBroom.

Though both emphasize a similar, gritty halfcourt style of play, the Rockets would likely have only managed one win against this spectacular Spurs squad in a playoff series (even though the season series tied).

As Tim Duncan said, "it's about the journey." No one part of that journey gets a basketball team to dance in June. It's a lesson this decade's Rockets and Mavericks have yet to learn.
The Spurs, meanwhile, understand that a championship means 16 wins, even if two of those have final scores uglier than the movie Ishtar.
The Spurs won in whatever way they were called to do so, whether it was scoring 116 points in a high speed game, or grinding out a 75 point win amid a plethora of bricks.
It takes a special team to make winning such an everyday standard and now that hallmark franchise has validated its dynasty with a fourth trophy.

I remember cussing wildly after a 114-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks (the most points the Spurs allowed in the last two regular seasons) and wondering if Gregg Popovich's declarations were true. Maybe this team was too "soft" to compete with the surefire contenders. Perhaps this was the worst of all the defensive Spur teams, with the stomach and will to win lost somewhere along the Riverwalk.

Then, the guys in silver and black performed their usual post All-Star break routine and shut me up. Elated, I watched every one of the 13 consecutive wins the Spurs posted in March. After slashing the Detroit Pistons to pieces at the Palace with a tough win, I knew this team had finally completed the actions two words required of them:

"Keep improving."

Well this Spurs team just improved itself to a fourth title in nine years and deservedly nudges itself into discussions of the all time greats - The Auerbach Celtics, the Showtime Lakers and Air Jordan's Bulls.
For every year they didn't win since Tim Duncan arrived, they came awful close.

A TRUE FAN IS REWARDED.

It's difficult to support two basketball teams as adamatly as I do. Tell a guy to watch 82 games times two and he'll tell you where the nearest mental health clinic is.
I, on the otherhand, took the challenge with open arms this year.

To say, I didn't take last year's second round loss to the Mavericks well, would be an understatement worth framing.
Until these playoffs, I still felt like a part of me had been raped. Like Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jet Terry would continue reappearing in my dreams, waving happily as they left the defending champions in the dust.

The Mavericks, of course, still own no trophies, but at least they have now earned my full respect.

Ask me about a game that transpired this year and I can likely regurgitate the final score. I watched these Spurs that closely.

I drove two roundtrips to see them play the Mavericks in San Antonio, only to be bitter when they lost both contests.

I cheered valiantly while in attendance at game 4 of the Phoenix Series, game 2 against the Jazz and in game 1 of the NBA Finals.

I have been a true fan of this team, not just a lazy schmo who decided turning on the Spurs in mid-April is slightly more enjoyable than watching the Astros discover new ways to lose.
While Wandy Rodriguez sweats out the bases loaded situation he just created for himself and the offensively challenged Astros, you decide to flip over to ABC because you just heard the Spurs might win another championship.

I was there all year long, with the Rockets and with the Spurs. I enjoyed the fruits of every victory, but loathed the pain of every loss. I overpaid Pluckers Wing Factory and Time Warner Cable so I could see my teams compete in games not locally televised.

I did it all in the name of love, because that's all I have for my teams.

And for all my cheerleading? I get another Spurs championship to celebrate. And believe me, I will party like it's 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Only true dynasties give loyal fans such an opportunity.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 10:15 PM