Thursday, August 28, 2014

ESPN: Spurs will Repeat as NBA Champions



Finally ESPN show some love for the Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs have just been tapped by an ESPN panel of over 200 experts to be next year's NBA Champions. The Spurs got 65 more votes (186) than the second-place Cavaliers (121). The top five were rounded out by the Thunder (115), Clippers (36) and Bulls (28). This is new for the Spurs fans, we're used to hear almost every year that the Spurs are done because their old. But after back to back final appearance (which they could have won both) and demolishing Miami in this year’s finals, we could not blame those experts for voting for the Spurs to win it all again.

Spurs had four chances to win back to back title, but they failed, the closest San Antonio has ever come to a repeat was a conference finals run in 2008 but again they loss to the Lakers. But if it wasn’t for Rey Allen’s 3’s in last year’s finals in game 6, we’re not having this conversion. But again the question still remains the same “can the Spurs win back to back titles?”

Given the fact that the Spurs big 3 is a year older,  specially Tim and Manu, I know that GPop will do everything to preserve those two come playoff time. With their kind of system that is not hard to accomplish. And I think the younger core of the Spurs will get better specially Kawhi. And with the addition of Mesina and Hammon, their system might get even better. My only concern is their health. Anything can happen in basketball we saw that in Paul George. But if (I pray) the Spurs will be healthy come playoff time that back to back title is within reach. Like Duncan said “we do it this time”.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Spurs Makes History Sign Hammon




Instead of getting top free agents in the market, the Spurs decided to strengthen their coaching staff; they add Ettore Messina to their staff. And if you think the Spurs are done, you're wrong. Recently they announced that they just hire Becky Hammon to become one of their assistant coaches. She became NBA’s first female assistant coach. Hammon will retire this month from WNBA (16th season) to join Spurs next season.

Hammon missed last season because of injury, Instead of not doing anything because of injury, She asked her coach Dan Hughes (Stars coach) if he can approach Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, to allow her to attend some practice with the Spurs. And that's when she impressed GPop.

"I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff," said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. "Having observed her working with our team this past season, I'm confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs."

The NBA may someday be the first major sport to embrace a female head coach, and Hammon’s hire is a significant step in that direction.