We all know the Spurs are labeled as boring now because no one talks about them until the end of the season. Manu, Parker and Leonard don't make the NBA or SportsCenter top plays when though they should in the regular season.

The sheep see the exciting teams as the ones ESPN tells them are exciting (for the most part). The outdated business model of propping up the big markets needs to go now that you can watch any game with league pass and follow each team worth Twitter/Facebook.

Will Parker be back next game ??

It always turns me off when they talk about market size and matchups as seeming to matter in the NBA for the playoffs/championship. For MLB or the NFL it doesn't matter but in the NBA it seems to be crucial. Is it really better to try and get a few rating points for a Finals than to keep the integrity of the game? Let the best teams win and don't give Star players special treatment and I think the NBA would be more popular than it is now.

I can't tell you how many people I know that have tuned out of the NBA for college basketball or away from the sport because they see preferential treatment in officiating. It's like they are so obsessed with getting dunks and "and 1's" because it will make a highlight then who cares? It's a very short sighted strategy that makes the NBA more like WWE or the Harlem Globetrotters at times. In other sports you like to see the underdog win but for whatever reason in the NBA the obsession seems to be about getting matchups with Star players and big markets.

I don't know how anyone could watch the Spurs and say they are boring. They are incredibly efficient offensively. They play great D and at times they almost look like a choreographed ballet with crisp passes and teamwork. If they were the New York Spurs or the LA Spurs they would be the most exciting and greatest team of all time.

I don't get what is interesting about having Star Player X dribble the ball on the top of the key and then go flailing through the lane to try and do some Superman shot, knowing that if they fail they will get bailed out with a foul call. That OKC/LAC game was also just pathetic with poor decisions all over the place and fundamentals that a HS team should be better than.

It seems like half the NBA thinks that a pick and roll and an alley oop is the extent of team basketball.

I love seeing the underdog win. Except when they are the underdog against the Spurs.

Which is often.

110

They are now the winningest playoff trio of all time.

They're the best. Around.

Ironically the Big 3 lost their first ever playoff game that they were all together. This was shocking at the time but ended up being harmless:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SLFtLqk2mQ

I remember that. Shocking, but hard to be mad at a play like that by Starbury. Then he went on to be one of the greatest players in NBA history. I think.

Wait, no, that wasn't him. He went on to get a big contract, get his girlfriend's lips tattooed on his neck and then played in China after having 4 teams give up on him.

winningest =/= best

I was at that Spurs-Suns game in 03. The Spurs played so lackadaisically. They deserved to lose.

Im going to be so sad when the trio + pop is gone

Best trio of all time though. Hard to argue.

Greatness!!

That was the last spurs playoff game I went to. Used to be common folks could afford tickets.

I do remember the mood in the SBC Center when that went in. Pretty shell-shocked.

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Tim Duncan become the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1972 to have 20+ pts, 10+ rebs, and 90%FG shooting.

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That is surprising.

TD continues to amaze and what can one say about the Big 3 other than "amazing." It has been a great ride with these guys!! Go Spurs Go!!

If Timmy plays a couple more years he could be #1 in games, double doubles, and blocks and be Top 3 in Rebounding and possibly scoring. Damn.

What's crazy is that Magic has been #1 in double-doubles and basically only played 12 seasons.

Magic is 11th with 190 playoff games. He played 14+ playoff games in 10 of his 12 seasons before retiring the first time.

A double-double in 157 of 190 games is ridiculous.

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Also, Duncan/Pop have lasted longer than MJ/PJ, so their consistency is more impressive. May not be 6, but it could be 5 before the duo is done.

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Wouldn't it be their longevity that's more impressive. If you're talking about consistency and Phil/MJ have more titles in less time, I'd think they consistently won more title with higher regularity than Timmy/Pop no?

"I remember thinking at the time that was the payment for Duncan's only slightly less impressive shot the play before."

I'd say Duncan's shot was MORE impressive, it just wasn't the last one.

If Fisher's shot doesn't go in, Duncan's shot goes down as one of the greatest shots of his career. I have a hard time putting any other above it.

[This message has been edited by Brian Earl Spilner (edited 6/12/2014 1:16p).]

The three from the right wing against Phoenix

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The three from the right wing against Phoenix

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A strong #2 if Fisher misses the shot. The pre-0.4 shot had an insane amount of difficulty. Sure Timmy never shoots 3's, but he shot this off one foot, as time expired, in Shaq's face, if I remember correctly.