Road Glories, and a Question for Our Venerated Sysop Matthew

by schwazz on Nov 28, 2006 12:11 AM CST

[Editor's note: I am bumping this diary to the main page because it's well written and a great topic to discuss. What are your favorite playoff road memories?]

Since the Spurs are shaping up into the basketball gods of the road this year, a few words about clutch road performances...

Mr. Matthew Powell... You say you live in Seattle -- did you also live in Seattle when the Spurs came through in the 2005 playoffs? If so, did you attend game 6?

One of my most indelible memories from that championship run was from that game, on the last Spurs possession. We all know it-- tie game with ten seconds left, Manu dribbling at the top of the three point line. He drives down the lane, and the whole Sonic team (along with the rest of the world) assume that he's going to try to finish at the rim. Instead, he feeds Tim for a layup right as his defender sagged off to help. Jesus Shuttlesworth clangs his desperation three at the buzzer and the Spurs were off to the conference finals.

But it wasn't just the beauty and absolute clutchness of the play that made a mark on my mind. It was the fact that some unremembered schedule conflict forced me to tape the game. Naturally, I rewound and played over and over that sequence. Right after Tim sank the layup, I noticed that there was a white dude sitting along the baseline going absolutely apeshit with delight. I felt such a connection with the guy. He alone courtside in his business apparel, me alone in my living room at 2am six inches away from my TV screen, VCR remote in-hand. Neither of us had anyone handy to high-five, but what the crap did it matter?

It reminded me of my 2003 experience in Dallas. My dad was able to score Steve Smith's comp tickets to game 4 of the WCF. 12th row behind the baseline, insane newbie Mavs bandwagonners EVERYWHERE. Manu was still Pop's 2nd or 4rd guy off the bench, but he picked the fourth quarter of that game to decide that he wanted the world to know who he was. Steals, dunks, screams of "holy shit!" from my section... and tons of schadenfreude from yours truly. Anyway, it was the most clutch road playoff performance I'd ever seen from a Spur up to that point. (Steve Kerr would easily take that distinction away two games later.)

Anyway... the whole point of this diary: Was that you, Matthew, along the baseline in 2005, going apeshit?

And for the rest of ya'lls: What's your favorite clutch road playoff performance? Personally, I can't decide. It's either Steve Kerr killing the Mavs in game 6 in 2003, or it's Robert Horry waking up in the fourth quarter of game 5 of the 2005 finals.

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Road Glories, and a Question

I would have to say, as much as I love killing Dallas and Mark Cuban, Robert Horry's shot was greatest road memory for me. We were on the verge of being swept in those 3 games if he didn't make that improbable shot. To be honest after games 3 and 4 I didn't think the Spurs could be Pistons in Detroit. Thank god they did, because they lost game 6

And what annoys me to this day and this is no disrespect to the big fundamental but in no way should he have been named the Finals MVP. We all know it was Manu, and if he won it like he should have, it would have even solidified him more to the rest of league. We all know how good he is, but some people still doubt him (not Spurs fans, but some in the media); and that MVP trophy would be a nice way of saying "shut the hell up" Also, how many people receive finals mvp? Anyone can go to an all star game, but his name would forever be linked to the 2005 Championship, as the most valuable player in the best league on the biggest stage; so he was robbed! Barkley, Iverson, Malone, Kobe, Reggie Miller, Clyde Drexler, have never been finals MVP. Now can Manu do it again, yes, but the chances are less likely.
His name would be up there with: Duncan, Shaq, Jordan, Magic, Bird, Hakeem. So what has happened to him is bullshit!

by adam8065 on Nov 28, 2006 11:02 AM CST reply actions

Re: Road Glories, and a Question for Our Venerated

simple. since my memory is like a wet paper bag.

Any time we win on the road is favorite memory.

by dacat on Nov 28, 2006 11:21 AM CST reply actions

Re: Road Glories, and a Question

Game 5 at Detroit is the obvious answer, but a couple of other favorites for me were Game 6 in LA in 2003 and Game 5 at Phoenix in 2005.

What made both games special was that in both series, the other team was behind in the series, but seemed to have all the momentum, so the national media just took it as a given that the Spurs would lose the next road game and have to extend the series in San Antonio.

In '03, we split the first four games with the Lakers, the three-time champs, with the home team winning each game. In game 5 we built an early 25 point lead, but almost choked it all away and would've lost the game in epic fashion if Horry had hit a wide open three at the buzzer.

Because LA came almost all the way back and was one missed jumper from beating us three games in a row, everyone figured they'd take care of easily in Game 6 at LA and we'd have to go to a Game 7. Instead we just beat the living hell out of them to end their dynasty, with Tim and Tony in particular having big nights.

In '05 we blew Game 4 vs. the Suns in the Western Conference Championships and failed to sweep them like we should've. So once again the prevailing logic was that "The Suns finally figured out how to beat the Spurs" and it was just assumed they'd win at Phoenix and we'd have to finish them off in Game 6. Instead we just wiped them out in the desert the same as we had in Games 1 and 2. Once again it was Tim and Manu carrying the day.

The only other biggie was Game 6 at Dallas in '03, I guess.

People shouldn't be afraid of their government, their government should be afraid of its people.

by Aaronstampler on Nov 28, 2006 12:32 PM CST reply actions

Re: Road Glories, and a Question

That 2003 Horry-clank game 5... I watched that one in a Dallas bar. The fourth quarter, during the Lakers' comeback was the closest I've ever come to getting into a fistfight with a stranger. Why the hell was everyone in the place cheering for the Lakers? I mean, I know the Spurs are Dallas' natural enemy, but the freaking Lakers?! It still pisses me off... gonna go punch a co-worker.

Reaching into the wayback file... I remember game 4 of the 1995 WCFs, when Vinny Del Freaking Negro came up with a huge shooting night and blew out the Rockets in Houston to even the series. Of course, the series ended in tragedy, but after losing the first two at home, the national media was calling for a sweep. It might have been a pyrrhic victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.

My memory only extends back to the David Robinson era. Anyone got any memories of road triumphs in the Gervin days? (Were there any?)

by schwazz on Nov 28, 2006 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Re: Road Glories, and a Question

1990 2nd Round versus Portland. If I remember there was an overtime game in which Ninja distinguished himself, arguably for the first time all season, with some clutch offensive play. We were way down in the 4th and came storming back. I feel like David Wingate and Reggie Williams played well also.

by Jones on Nov 28, 2006 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

Dude, how much do you think structural engineers make? Baseline tickets to a playoff game... out of my price range. I had nosebleed seats to games 3 and 4 but stayed home for game 6. Game 4 was especially frustrating because I was sure they were going to blow Seattle out of the water, and SA got ran out of the building.

As for my favorite road playoff victories, I have to echo stampler's sentiments regarding game 6 against the Lakers in 2003. I really hated the Lakers; they were the three-time champs and had embarassed the Spurs on multiple occasions in the playoffs. And to end the run on their court in such convincing fashion (28 points) was the perfect way to exercise the demons.

There's one moment I remember in particular (and have written about before) involving, surprisingly enough, Kevin Willis. It was with about 6 minutes to go in the fourth quarter; the Spurs were up 18 but I still wasn't entirely convinced, not after the game 5 meltdown. Tony Parker missed a three and Kevin Willis came out of nowhere, streaking along the baseline, and slammed it home while unleashing a yell that you could actually hear on your television. I yelled along with him. The Lakers called a timeout, but they knew, the crowd knew and the Spurs knew. It was OVER. At that point I allowed myself to begin the celebration; we finally beat the Lakers.

by sungo on Nov 28, 2006 2:59 PM CST reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

Right! I remember that! And then shortly after the Willis putback, ABC cut to shots of Derek Fisher and Kobe crying like a bully took away their big wheels.

The Spurs were a class act through and through that night, showing respect to their vanquished opponent during the postgame handshake. But as the 2003 championship DVD showed, Malik Rose and Stephen Jackson (along with the entire fanbase) were giggling with delight in the locker room at the awesome big wheels they'd just taken from the rich kids down the block.

As far as road playoff triumphs go, few can be as tasty as the sweet tears of an ass clown.

by schwazz on Nov 28, 2006 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

I think I remember Walton's comment on the DVD being something like, "...and now the Spurs are just raining embarrassment down on the Lakers heads."

by Jones on Nov 28, 2006 5:35 PM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

I don't own any of the Spurs championship DVDs. Haven't watched any of them, either. Judge me.

by sungo on Nov 28, 2006 6:16 PM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

I remember Kobe crying like a 4 year old in time out but I had forgotten about the Willis dunk.

As great as game 6 vs. LA and game 5 vs. Det were (both had me chewing the couch cushions), I'm gonna have to go with game 6 vs. Dal in '03. I remember the Cubanettes took something like a 15 point lead in the 3rd quarter without Dirk, and the announcers were talking trash about us being old chokers, and busting out the "anything can happen in a Game 7" cliches...and then Stevie Kerr came in and the show started. By the middle of the third quarter, I was jumping up and down just like the 37-year old Admiral. And it was extra special because that win sent us to the Finals, and I hadn't gotten to watch any of the '99 playoffs including, sadly, the Memorial Day Miracle.

As a bonus, after the Dal game, the Express-News had as its headline the next day: "KERRVILLE!" which is where I grew up (since it seems the majority of folks on here are not from SA or TX, I guess I should explain that Kerrville is about an hour north on I-10 from SA...birthplace of HEB, actually).

Oh, and Matthew, you should get the "25 Years of NBA Champions" DVD boxed set (think its $40-$50). Its hilarious watching some of those old grainy Lakers-Celtics videos from the 80s, and there's even some good Iceman highlight footage in there.

by davidpj24 on Nov 29, 2006 12:24 AM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

That Kerr game was fantastic. I remember da Blade and I calling each other back and forth, taking turns screaming STEVE KERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and MOTHERFUCKING STEVE KERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Thanks for the heads up on the DVD set. Watching old NBA (pre Magic/Bird) games sort of depresses me. The defense is pathetic and half the players seem awkward and slow. And I don't have much nostalgia for the game. I have no attachment to guys like Oscar Robertson or George Mikan, whereas old baseball players like Lou Gehrig and Satchel Paige are mythical figures in my head. Baseball will always be my first love when it comes to sports.

by sungo on Nov 29, 2006 1:42 AM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

Yeah, da Blade and I curse a lot. And talk about "cocaine and bear whores" quite often.

by sungo on Nov 29, 2006 1:43 AM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

No problem, the real reason I recommended that set is because it also comes with the '99 and '03 Spurs videos (though it stops with the '04 "Lesser-Of-Two-Evils" Finals, so you'd still have to buy the '05 Spurs vid separate).

Another playoff memory for me was when Dave dropped 40-something on Phoenix in '96 (game 2, I think). Might've been the last time he had one of those types of games.

Also, I know he's sleeping with the enemy now, but AJ dropping in that baseline jumper to kill the Knicks will always be poetic justice.

by davidpj24 on Nov 29, 2006 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

Re: I'm a sysop! That's hawt.

I remember that game as well. I saw it at Wings'n'More on I-10 and Callaghan. My wife, her brother, and I went to the airport the next morning. There was a TON of people there for that one.

by spurfan81 on Nov 29, 2006 8:42 AM CST up reply actions