Spurs Finally Stars

You've heard this before.

"Greg Popovich is the best coach in the NBA."

"The Spurs are the best organization in basketball."

"The Spurs do it the right way."

The message is the same no matter what the superlative...The Spurs are consistency at its boring best.  No flash, no ego, just execution.

They won four quiet NBA championships in eight years, the last coming in 2007.  Everyone knows they're good, but outside of San Antonio, no one really cares.  We want drama and athleticism from our champions...not fundamentals and sportsmanship.

That's the blessing or curse of being the Spurs.  They are free to win, unencumbered by the daily scrutiny and scathing criticism that other champions face.  Even Tony Parker getting blasted in the eye by rapper shrapnel somehow flew under the radar.

So why do the Spurs suddenly seem star-studded in the Western Conference finals?

It's probably because they're playing the Memphis Grizzlies, a team without a true star.  They are tough, talented, well coached and play great defense, but lack a superstar.

In a lot of ways, the Memphis Grizzlies are the San Antonio Spurs.  They don't have a star near the proportions of Tim Duncan, Parker, or Manu Ginobili, but they like it that way.  Just like the Spurs, they focus on team, not individual greatness.

And like the Spurs, no one gets too excited to watch them play.

We will see some stars in this series.  There will be plenty of Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade on commercial breaks.  But on the floor, just a couple of teams playing the type of basketball that would make a Catholic League coach happy.  Fundamental basketball devoid of egos, chest-thumping, and unfortunately, intrigue.

In a league where even a 3 pointer is reason for a celebratory dance move, Memphis and San Antonio barely move the needle.  It's the basketball equivalent of green beans.  We know we should love to consume them because they're good for us, they just doesn't taste good enough to crave.

The Spurs should win this series.  Memphis no longer has the element of surprise as they did two years ago when they knocked the top seeded Spurs out of the playoffs.  Like the Spurs, the Grizzlies have flown under the radar and played free from scrutiny.  That's about to change.  The stakes are higher and the expectations are Finals or bust.  The difference is that San Antonio is used to those expectations, while Memphis has never faced the hot glow of the spotlight.

NBA conspiracy theorists must be scratching their heads over this series.  How did the NBA let two boring, small market teams into a conference finals series?  But, like most of the world, they probably aren't paying attention.

For those who don't care for star-studded casts in professional sports, let me ask you this...Are you more likely to watch the Finals if it is Lebron James, Wade, and Chris Bosh against Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli? Or, would you prefer Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, and Mike Conley against Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson?

I know which I choose.  While both series will be hard fought, the teams with stars (that's you San Antonio) should advance, setting up a thrilling Finals.