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SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- I've written about how the 1999 San Antonio Spurs reminded me of the 1995 team and how the team also had experience, which would lead them to the promised land. I've finally been able to put the two together; this team is very similar to the 1989 Detroit Pistons.
It's hard to believe but it true. Look at the make up of this team and then look at the roster of the Pistons that year. For the Pistons they had Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Vinny Johnson, John Sallye, Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn. Those guys were key to the back to back championship they won. Everyone knew their role. Now think about this team. A.J., Sean, Mario, Tim and David have a supporting cast of Antonio Daniels, Malik Rose, Jerome Kersey and Will Perdue.
With the series of the Lakers going 3-0 in favor of San Antonio, this team has been playing team basketball. Išve mentioned this before in other circles but if you don't play team ball in the playoffs, you will not go far. The Los Angeles Lakers are in that position right now. When Kobe Bryant is handling the ball dow the stretch, the Lakers lose. When Derrick Fisher handles the ball, they are in a position to win. One plays team ball (Fisher) and one doesn't (Bryant). The Spurs play team ball probably as good as anyone and if you have noticed, a different player has stepped up each time. Sure Tim gets his points but think about this, David Robinson helped us win game one. Malik Rose was key in game two. Jaren Jackson was key in game three. Who's next? Will Perdue?
One thing that has to be looked at is the fact that beyond the comparisons, this year's team believes in themselves. As you look at the teams that have won NBA championships, they all believed in each other. The Knicks of the 70s, the Lakers and Celtics of the 80s, the Pistons of 89-90 and the Chicago Bulls have all believed in themselves. Even when Houston won its two championships in 1994-95 believed in what Rudy Tomjonavich was preaching. Well now it's time for the Spurs to believe that same message and take their rightful place among great team-oriented teams. Should the Spurs end this series with the Lakers quickly (by winning today on Sunday or on Tuesday night), they would be ready for the next challenge; Utah or Portland.
Yet I can't help but compare the way this team has been playing. They have come back from being behind and have shown composure to win games that they needed to win. That's something that Detroit preached. The Bulls learned it from the Pistons and it looks like the Spurs have been watching MJ over the years as well. Experience coupled with the history lessons of the past just might be the main ingredient for this team to win it all.
Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor of the San Antonio Informer, a weekly newspaper in San Antonio. He has been covering the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA since 1993 and is a member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association.
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