If you're a fan of comedic genius, then you loved "Spaceballs." For me, it holds a special place in my heart because it was the first Mel Brooks movie I had ever seen. I laughed when I first saw it as a child, and I still laugh at it today as an adult. Rick Moranis was in his comedic apex, John Candy was, well John Candy, and even Eddie Murphy made a guest appearance.
During San Antonio's Game 7 win over New Orleans, I grew nostalgic for my old buddy. Not because the game was a laugh, but for one specific scene that seemed to intertwine with what I was watching on the court.
When Princess Vespa and company are in the desert sleeping, the Princess believes to hear her father, King Roland calling out to her. When she finally reaches her father, we find out it is actually Lord Helmet using the Schwartz. Princess Vespa falls into his arms as Lord Helmet yells out, "fooled you!"
The Spurs are Lord Helmet and we are all Princess Vespa. When the postseason brackets were set up, most had the Spurs pegged for a first round exit, or, at best, a Western Conference Finals exit. No one had them in the Finals.
Most felt the Spurs were a year older, a season slower. Against the Suns, the Spurs stole Game 1 after shocking defense down the stretch by the Suns. Then as they do every postseason, they shifted gears and burned the Suns.
Next came the Hornets.
After Games 1 and 2, once again we all assumed they were done. I mean, how could anyone, after getting blown-out in two consecutive games, come back?
We didn't realize this was the Spurs. San Antonio fought back to even the series and with their collective backs against the wall in Game 6, they won. Then in Game 7, they showed why they are the defending champs.
Playing in a locale that has been outright unruly to opponents in the postseason, the Spurs played the way they always play in the postseason. They got their opponent out of what they are comfortable doing, made them play Spurs basketball, hunkered down on defense, and won. It may just be coincidence, but it seems the mantra "Just Win, Baby" for another silver and black franchise may be more suited for this NBA team.
At the beginning of the year, with last year's playoffs still fresh in my mind, I picked the Spurs to win it all. Then, as I watched them falter in the regular season, as they seem to do every year, I swayed from that prediction and believed the Spurs would not repeat.
"Fooled you!"
Now, in the Western Conference Finals I see a young, inexperienced (compared to the Spurs) Lakers team, who will lose some of their cohesiveness because of the time off.
San Antonio has been there before. San Antonio has been the underdog before, and the Spurs have won before.
Outside of Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, who's been there for the Lakers? Here's a hint, I have the same amount of Finals experience as the rest of the Lakers.
For those of you who watched the Lakers impressively take Utah in six, it may be hard to believe anyone could down the top seed. If you looked closely though, you would see rarely did the Lakers come from behind, and when they did get behind, their whole game plan shifted. Kobe started to play more individually, trying to carry the team back into the game, shaking the confidence of the role players who have been so important to Los Angeles' success. The other parts started to diminish, and Los Angeles, at times, would not look like the top seed in the West.
As for San Antonio, this team has been together through everything and the core of this team has racked up three championships together. They know how to get back into a game (witness Game 1 against Phoenix). They know how to finish a team (witness first round series against Phoenix). And they know how to stave off elimination (New Orleans). In the playoffs, defense doesn't win championships, experience and chemistry do.
If the Spurs have taught us anything over the years, the regular season doesn't matter, and this year is no different. The Lakers and Spurs went 2-2 this season, but throw it out; the Lakers are the favorites, forget about it.
Here's your warning, the Spurs know how to do it in the postseason, and they'll show it one more time and deny Kobe a Hollywood ending.
Don't be fooled.
May 21, 2008
Marc James:
“When the postseason brackets were set up, most had the Spurs pegged for a first round exit, or, at best, a Western Conference Finals exit. No one had them in the Finals.”
What are you talking about? The Spurs are still the defending champs and I don’t know anyone who counted them out, despite slow starts. I think many had them in the Finals again, completely contrary to what you said…
May 21, 2008
Hoops Fan:
Yeah it was a real stretch to see the best team in basketball for the past decade to make it back to the conference finals. I’m also shocked to see the Pistons there, I just assumed their last 5 years were luck too.
May 21, 2008
Wailele Sallas:
First, if you look at the “experts” picks from the various national media outlets; ESPN, SI, Yahoo and TNT, over 60 percent took the Suns over the Spurs in the first round.
As for Hoops Fan, this is the furthest the Spurs have ever gotten in the playoffs when attempting to repeat, so it’s not like it was etched in stone. And this year in particular with how strong the West was, anyone could have made it to the Conference FInals, except maybe the Nuggets.