Could This Be The
Greatest Spurs Team Ever?
By David Shepard, OTSL Special
Contributor
Is this the greatest San Antonio Spurs team ever? If they were to win a championship this season, they would be just the fourth NBA franchise to win the title five times. When you examine the points per game differential, the 36-year old Tim Duncan's resurgence and their overall depth/balance, one could very well make an argument that this could be the greatest Spurs team ever assembled.
Spin 1: They are
winning and scoring more than they ever have
In all their runs for a title the Spurs have never gone 8-0 in their first 8 games. They have done that in this postseason. They have also through their first 8 games not allowed an opponent to score 100 points. They had not accomploshed that in their first 8 games in any of their championship runs either.
The Spurs are also averaging 102.5 points per game, that is more than any other year through their first 8 games in which they won the title. Their points per game disparity is +13.7 through their first 8 games. That is by far the greatest point per game differential they have had compared to any of their previous 4 NBA championships runs.
Championship Runs, First 8 Games
‘11-12* ‘06-07 ‘04-05 ’02-03 ‘99#
W-L 8-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 7-1
PPG 102.5 93.0 100.5 93.0 91.8
Opp PPG 88.8 86.0 89.4 86.0 84.6
*Haven't Won Championship
#Shortened lockout season
Spin 2: Tim Duncan Has Found the Fountain Of Youth
In all their runs for a title the Spurs have never gone 8-0 in their first 8 games. They have done that in this postseason. They have also through their first 8 games not allowed an opponent to score 100 points. They had not accomploshed that in their first 8 games in any of their championship runs either.
The Spurs are also averaging 102.5 points per game, that is more than any other year through their first 8 games in which they won the title. Their points per game disparity is +13.7 through their first 8 games. That is by far the greatest point per game differential they have had compared to any of their previous 4 NBA championships runs.
Championship Runs, First 8 Games
‘11-12* ‘06-07 ‘04-05 ’02-03 ‘99#
W-L 8-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 7-1
PPG 102.5 93.0 100.5 93.0 91.8
Opp PPG 88.8 86.0 89.4 86.0 84.6
*Haven't Won Championship
#Shortened lockout season
Spin 2: Tim Duncan Has Found the Fountain Of Youth
Given Duncan's caliber of
play this postseason he has found the fountain of youth. Duncan's postseason high last season
was 16 points. Duncan has played
in 8 postseason contests so far, in six games he has scored more than 16
points. Last playoffs Duncan
failed to convert on 50 percent of his field goal attempts in 4 out of 6
games. In 8 games during these
playoffs, he has converted on at least 50 percent of his field goal attempts
six different times. That is quite
the contrast from last season.
A Different Tim Duncan Last Two Postseasons
2011-12 2010-11
PPG 17.6 12.7
FG pct 54.0 47.8
FT pct 79.2 62.5
2011-12 2010-11
PPG 17.6 12.7
FG pct 54.0 47.8
FT pct 79.2 62.5
Spin 3: The Spurs
have more depth and balance than ever before
The Spurs, in any of their title runs, have never had 4 players shoot at least 50 percent from the field through their first 8 playoff games. In this postseason they have 5 players doing just that.
During their current postseason run they have six players that are averaging at least 8 points per game. They are so deep, that it includes two players off the bench. That is higher than any of their other 4 NBA championships through their first 8 games.
The Spurs, in any of their title runs, have never had 4 players shoot at least 50 percent from the field through their first 8 playoff games. In this postseason they have 5 players doing just that.
During their current postseason run they have six players that are averaging at least 8 points per game. They are so deep, that it includes two players off the bench. That is higher than any of their other 4 NBA championships through their first 8 games.
Spurs Championship Runs (Players With At Least 100 Minutes Played)
‘11-12* ‘06-07 ‘04-05 ‘02-03 1999#
Averaging 8 PPG 6 4 5 5 5
Shooting 50 pct 5 3 2 2 1
*Haven't Won Title Yet
#Shortened Lockout Season
When you add it all up a serious case could be made for this being the best Spurs team of all time. At worst, this could be the first Spurs team to win a championship in a even numbered year!
‘11-12* ‘06-07 ‘04-05 ‘02-03 1999#
Averaging 8 PPG 6 4 5 5 5
Shooting 50 pct 5 3 2 2 1
*Haven't Won Title Yet
#Shortened Lockout Season
When you add it all up a serious case could be made for this being the best Spurs team of all time. At worst, this could be the first Spurs team to win a championship in a even numbered year!
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