|
|
| |
| The arrival of Tim Duncan signaled a new heyday for the Spurs. |
Duncan turned out to be all that was advertised and much more. The seven footer averaged 21.1 points per game, ranking him 12th in the NBA, and 11.9 rebounds per game, ranking him 3rd in the league. He also led the NBA in double-doubles, with an impressive 57.
The Spurs finished the season at 56-26, and once again faced the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. After defeating the Suns behind the surprising dominance of point guard Avery Johnson, the Spurs fell once again to the Utah Jazz in the second round of the playoffs.
The 1999 NBA season was reduced to a 50 game season after the infamous NBA lockout. With the emergance of Rookie of the Year Tim Duncan, San Antonio fans had high hopes for their team, whos success rode on the backs of the 'Twin Towers' of Robinson and Duncan.
The Spurs new roster boasted the addition of veteran players in Mario Elie (who would eventually earn a starting roll at shooting guard), Steve Kerr and Jerome Kersey.
After a dismal start of 6-8 during the month of February many fans were calling for the axing of coach Popovich and the trading of David Robinson, who had sacrificed a great deal of his offensive output to Tim Duncan. These cries soon vanished though as the team finished the season with an impressive 31-5 run that would see them secure the leagues best record on the final game of the season with a win over the Golden State Warriors.
| |
| Avery Johnson was the Spurs leader in the backcourt. |
The Spurs then moved onto the Western Conference Finals deep Portland Trailblazers who were many peoples selection to win the Finals. After winning a close 80-76 game in the first game the Spurs looked to take a 2-0 lead to Portland.
Game two will be long remembered for Sean Elliott's 'Memorial Day Miracle'. Down by two points with nine seconds remaining Sean caught the inbounds pass while falling across the sideline, Elliott stood with his toes down and heels raised so as not to step out of bounds. After Stacy Augmon flew past him, and with Rasheed Wallace careering towards him Elliott drilled a 3-pointer from the corner, sending the Alamodome into pandemonium.
Elliott's shot seemed to take the life out of Portland, and even though they played well in the final two games of the series, the Spurs swept their way into the finals.
The moment that all Spurs fans had waited for, some as much as 26 years, had arrived. The Spurs opponent for the Finals was the surprising 8th seeded New York Knicks, who had knocked off Eastern Conference favorites Miami and Indiana on the way to making the Finals.
| |
| The Twin Towers celebrate the Spurs first ever NBA title. |
After New York lost two hard fought games in San Antonio the worlds media was again predicting another swept series for the Spurs.
To the Knicks credit they showed great character and determination to take the next game in their home town to take the series to 2-1. However, the Spurs defense and execution was just too much, and the Knicks dreams of a title fell short after a long jumpshot from Spurs point guard Avery Johnson and with Latrell Sprewell's desperation shot from under the backboard at the end of Game 5.
Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP, and his play announced to all that he was ready to take the mantle as the best big man in the world.
After years of dissapointments and near misses the Spurs had finally claimed their first NBA title and had shed their mantle as the most successfull NBA team never to win a title.
Article by Michael Bonner
