Horry (a role player) smashed into Steve Nash during their playoff series, getting a flagrant intentional foul call. When Stoudemire and Diaw (two major players) came off the bench (never getting more than 7 feet from their seats and never touching anyone), THEY were suspended for a game each. It was the difference in the series.
Bruce Bowen’s defensive practices have been suspect for many years. He’s “accidentally” stepped on too many ankles for it to be a coincidence...
Manu Ginobili flops more than Dick Fosbury...
As one writer put it: “Tony Parker, of course, doesn’t need our love – he has Eva Longoria. Seriously, how do you root for Tony Parker? You root for the guy to GET Eva Longoria, not after he’s already done it”. His (truly accidental) severe bloodying of Steven Nash’s nose at the crucial moment of a playoff game didn’t help things...
Tim Duncan still has my respect and my sympathy (tossed from a game for laughing)...
And the Spurs have had their success. I always turn against teams that become dynasties. (It’ll be interesting for me if my Colts become a mutliple Super Bowl over the next 5 or 6 years!)
If missing Stoudawhiner and Diaw for one game cost the Suns the series, does that mean those two guys weren’t playing during the other losses?
The Suns players, coaches, back office and fans should take a lesson from Lebron James’ very classy interview last night (where he said Bowen’s effort was incidental contact and didn’t affect his shot).
Lebron was 180 degress different than Stoudawhiner and Mike Brown 180 degrees different from d’Antoni (arguably the most damaging coach to his own team in the entire NBA).
Go Spurs Go!
True enough, and fairly described. However; one incident does not make him a thug.
Bruce Bowen’s defensive practices have been suspect
Vague suspicions do not make one a thug.
Manu Ginobili flops more than Dick Fosbury...
Bad acting is part of the game. In what part of the world does falling down constitute thuggish behavior?
Tony Parker, of course, doesn’t need our love...
Thug?!!! Really?!!
I always turn against teams that become dynasties
The nub of these "thug" allegations. The fact is that for many years now the Spurs have truly been the gentlemen of the NBA. They have behaved with such class, humbleness, and honor, every other team has been influenced by them.
Compared to 15 years ago, public scandals, emabarrassments, cross-dressing, pink hair, thuggish behavior, and vile trash-talking have all but disappeared from the NBA. This is owed entirely to the Spurs.
Thugs?!! Quite the opposite.