Over the last 20 years we've had several organizations stake their claim to dynasty status. The Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, and New England Patriots have all established themselves in that illustrious group. Only one team if its even possible became a dynasty quietly. And only one player in any sport became the greatest ever to play their position quietly. Even so that just what San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan accomplished, they climbed up to the rarest of air quietly.
Were half way through the season and once again the spotlight has been many places this season but it hasn't been seen in San Antonio. The most attention the Spurs have recieved was when David Stern fined the organization 250,000 because Gregg Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green prior to the team's nationally televised game in Miami. Other than that the national attention has been on the Thunder, Heat, Knicks, Clippers, and Lakers this season.
But here the Spurs are with an NBA best record of 36-11.Tim Duncan is turning back the clock posting a 24.93 PER across 30 MPG. Tony Parker just received Western Conference Player of the Week and is playing as well as any point guard in the league this season. Prior though talking heads gave more focus to the play of New York Knicks backup point Jason Kidd then to Parker's. Manu Ginobili has played in 39 of the Spurs 47 games this season and Popovich has kept him below 24 MPG as to protect his oft injured star's playoff effectiveness.
No coach or organization managers the rigors of an 82 game schedule like the Spurs. They have had 13 players appear in at least 30 games this season. With players such as Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, and Boris Diaw the Spurs boast the deepest team in the league. Yet the Clippers bench is the one that receives the national acclaim this season. This is the same Clippers team that got swept at the hands of the Spurs in the Western Conference Semis last year.
Everyone seems to forget the 20 game wining streak the Spurs carried into game three of the Western Conference Finals last year. Then the Thunder won 4 straight games that each came down to the waning seconds before being decided. The much larger Thabo Sefolosha being assigned to Parker prior to game three was the turning point in the series. It allowed the Thunder to curb Spurs potent offensive attack enough to prevail as Western champs. It just feels as if people have already made travel plans for LA and OKC for the Western Finals this year.
The Spurs have the best coach in the league in Gregg Popovich. There getting a Renaissance year from Tim Duncan. Tony Parker is have arguably his best year he has ever had. Ginobili has stayed healthy and effective this year with flashes of brilliance. No team has a deeper or more quality bench. You can go ahead and book those flight for LA and OKC. Write in the Thunder to repeat as Western champs with ink. But don't be surprised if you see Pop, Duncan, and the Spurs do a little more writing in the tale of quietest dynasty of the 21st century. Don't be surprised if you see the Spurs hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this June.
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