michaeljohn

San Antonio Spurs: They are the defending champs, and that's worth something. However, their playoff history says otherwise. They have 4 championships in 9 years, 3 in 5 years, but have never repeated. To many people, this keeps them from dynasty status, they need to win back-to-back to claim that. Objectively, they won 2 titles in 5 yeras when they had David Robinson and Tim Duncan. They have won 2 titles in 4 years since the Admiral retired. Although they have the motivation to repeat, I just don't see them doing it, especially with all the power they need to go through in the west. If the playoff started today, they open hosting Phoenix, and if they win that, they face the winner of the Houston Dallas series, without homecourt against the Rockets. Win that, and face another grueling series from the survivor of the other 4 teams. Then the finals would match them up with Detroit or Boston most likely. This is one matchup that the east should prevail in. Detroit wants revenge for 2005, and Boston has had a great year and has the big three.

Another thing that hurts them is they more or less field the same team as last year, with the exception of Kurt Thomas who was brought in late for defense. Every year, champs tend to stand pat with their lineup and everyone else tries to adjust. I remember 1988. Lakers repeated, but not easily. They fielded the same lineup as the season before and even reduced Kurt Rambis' role, running a 7 man rotation. Every series went the maximum. They had to win 7 game series against Utah with the Mailman and Stockton, then Dallas. Detroit had 3-2 finals edge before succumbing. Sports Illustrated had a 3 page article on the finals, the last two devoted to the Pistons, touted as the team of the future. Indeed they did win the next two titles, stopped only by the Bulls, once Michael Jordan got some decent teammates in 1991....

Of course the playoffs don't start tomorrow, and as close as the standings are, who knows how things will end up for seeding. Both the Spurs and the Lakers face many tough games in the days ahead, and both could drop quickly in the standings.

As I said above, if they do win it all, this would be the year to do it because with all the great competition that would end all arguments about their place among the elite teams in NBA history. I just don't think they are a step above the pack, and the no-repeat jinx is a burden on them until, if ever, they lift it.

Still, the Spurs are someone no team wants to face early in the playoffs, and everyone hopes they don't end up in their bracket.

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