Two Asterisks for the Spurs?

By Craig Kwasniewski

Courtesy of referee Tim Donaghy, the San Antonio Spurs have earned their second asterisk-laced NBA title.

The first one was obviously the 1999 NBA title during the hectic strike-shortened season. Bill Simmoms best describes the shammockery that it really was:

This was the excruciating lockout season, when the overmatched player's union -- led by Billy Hunter and Patrick Ewing, who shouldn't have been trusted to handle a bake sale at an elementary school, much less a labor dispute -- had their ensalada tossed by David Stern (at the apex of his power) and limped back to work in early February, followed by a rushed 50-game season in which too many players changed teams and nearly everyone was out of shape, leading to nagging injuries, shoddy basketball and an absolutely hateful season on every level. The rushed playoffs were such a joke that the eighth-seeded Knicks ended up making the Finals before getting trounced by the Spurs...

Much like the 1982 and 1987 Washington Redskins and the 1981 LA Dodgers, the 1999 Spurs can never rank up there with title-holders from full seasons. The "highlight" from the 1999 Finals was a wide open 14-foot baseline jumper by Avery Johnson for crissake... not a key steal or a sick layup, but a W-I-D-E O-P-E-N 14-foot jumper.

Now the Spurs can proudly add a second asterisk to their trophy case for their 2007 title. As many of you already know, Donaghy refereed game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Spurs and Suns. At the time, many watching the game felt something wasn't quite right about the officiating. Add in Amare's suspension and you get the feeling that the Spurs didn't earn their victory over Phoenix, but were rather handed the title.

So let's make it official and change the listings, here's how it SHOULD be:

NBA Champions Since 1998

1997-98 Chicago Bulls
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs *
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs
2003-04 Detroit Pistons
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs
2005-06 Miami Heat
2006-07 San Antonio Spurs **

* Strike-Shortened Season
** Referee Tim Donaghy fixed pivotal Game 3 of the WCSF in the Spurs favor

Comments

[Matt, your friendly Bulls Blogger]

I'll settle for just calling this post a big steamy pile, but you should read the following as well.

http://www.poundingtherock.com/story/2007/7/23/205557/178

[dave]

this is pathetic. is this really the best you can do? this is a feeble, dim-witted attempt at an ill-conceived, pointless idea of a half-baked, impotent concept.

you and your ilk and all that you believe and fear are insignificant, wretched vermin-weasel, bog-dwelling mote.

you will die the horrid, torturous, laborious death that your soulless, stupid little black hearts deserve.

[Daniel]

Damn Dave, I knew San Antonio was a one-team town, but shit...

[Jason Lancaster]

Wow -- awesome! I don't think I've seen anyone else put it so succinctly.

To be fair, the game 3 evidence isn't as damning as you let on (at least not in my opinion). However, if you add the role that Donaghy might have played together with the BS Amare/Diaw suspension, you can definitely make a case for some sort of disclosure or footnote.

[DennardC]

Asterisk my ass. If you want to put an asterisk by the Spurs 1999 or 2007 titles, put an asterisk by the 2000 and 2002 Lakers titles. Portland blew a big lead in the 4th qtr in game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals and the NBA fixed game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Or what about Miami in 2006? True champions, I think not. When you have one player shooting 400 free throws in a series, I think that happens to be a skewed series. Maybe that's just me. Besides for every post that has been written like this, the Spurs still have 4 titles. Deal with it!!!

[chris]

you point out some bad calls in game 3. but game 4 was practically one big make up call. in the end spurs won -deal with it. and i am sick of hearing about 'b.s. suspensions'. that is a rule that is meant to prevent brawls and it has always been enforced. to ignore the rule would have been a true travesty. as for an asterisk in 99 every team had to deal with the challenges of a shortened season, you act as if the spurs played more games than others. and put an asterisk for 98 bulls, 00 lakers while you're at it there were some bad calls too. in fact the spurs were ripped off by bad calls in 04 and 06. you obviously are not any kind of basketball fan, just a sore loser

[chris]

you point out some bad calls in game 3. but game 4 was practically one big make up call. in the end spurs won -deal with it. and i am sick of hearing about 'b.s. suspensions'. that is a rule that is meant to prevent brawls and it has always been enforced. to ignore the rule would have been a true travesty. as for an asterisk in 99 every team had to deal with the challenges of a shortened season, you act as if the spurs played more games than others. and put an asterisk for 98 bulls, 00 lakers while you're at it there were some bad calls too. in fact the spurs were ripped off by bad calls in 04 and 06. you obviously are not any kind of basketball fan, just a sore loser

[chris]

you point out some bad calls in game 3. but game 4 was practically one big make up call. in the end spurs won -deal with it. and i am sick of hearing about 'b.s. suspensions'. that is a rule that is meant to prevent brawls and it has always been enforced. to ignore the rule would have been a true travesty. as for an asterisk in 99 every team had to deal with the challenges of a shortened season, you act as if the spurs played more games than others. and put an asterisk for 98 bulls, 00 lakers while you're at it there were some bad calls too. in fact the spurs were ripped off by bad calls in 04 and 06. you obviously are not any kind of basketball fan, just a sore loser

[RambisYouth]

"The "highlight" from the 1999 Finals was a wide open 14-foot baseline jumper by Avery Johnson for crissake... not a key steal or a sick layup, but a W-I-D-E O-P-E-N 14-foot jumper."

It was a highlight because everyone was SHOCKED he finally made one, lol.

A lot of bitter Spurs fans in here! Methinks they doth protest too much. But since everyone is bringing up history....

First, any team that won the title in 99 would have had an asterisk attached. Seriously, Spurs fan, it's not all about you.

Second, I don't think you know what the meaning of the asterisk is if you lump the 2000 WCF into the discussion. Portland had their destiny in their own hands and they should have won. There were no ref shennanigans or shortened seasons here.

Third, the officiating in game 6 of the 2002 WCF was very poor. However, does anyone realize that, through game 5, Sacramento (a jump-shooting finesse team) had shot 37 more freebies than the Lakers (a power team)? Does no one remember the terrible call that gave Sactown the ball prior to the Bibby game winner in game 5?

Game 6 would be a case of the poor officiating throughout the series evening out. The Kings still had a chance to win game 7 AT HOME and shot 50% from the line. They had every chance and didn't come through. They also shot 19 more FT's than the Lakers during the series.

Lastly, I hate the Suns, but they got jobbed. Why wasn't Duncan suspended for leaving the floor earlier in the game, if "it's a matter of correctness, not fairness?"

The Suns lost two of their better players for a home game they possibly would have won otherwise, then got to play an elimination game ON THE ROAD, courtesy of the league office. That one of the games in the series might have been fixed only completes the parlay.

The Suns may have still had their own destiny in hand, but they were fighting with one of those hands tied behind their backs.

The asterisk is deserved.

Deal with it.

If you want to complain about how unfair it is that your team is soooo disrespected, complain to the league office for the terrible decisions that put the legitimacy of this title into question.

[[email protected]]

I TOTALLY AGREE!!! I thought all this during the series too, and I was especially suspicious of the ref's calls in gm 3. I told my family (who are all Spurs fans) about this and they treated me like I was insane. Also, remember in the Western Conf. Finals it was like, game four against Utah when in the fourth quarter, the refs called more fouls for the Spurs than the Jazz with like a 22:3 ratio? and Dereck Fisher got that BS ejection?
Coincidence? please

[dave mcnulla]

i can understand people who like the suns crying and people who hate the spurs crying. but have some self respect and do it in private. you don't want a giant whine attached to your name for people to search and find on the internet for all of eternity.

[Onur Tuncaboylu]

Did you find a proof about Tim fixing the Game3? No? So why are you still crying?
And shortened season. Why does Spurs have an asterisk? Didn't they win 15 games in play-offs(While losing only 2)? What makes 50 regular season games diferent from 82 games? Does it give Spurs an advatntage?
Sorry but it's bulls..t

[G-man]

Good one Craig.....blame Tim Donaghy for the Suns losing to the Spurs. While you're at it why don't you blame Tim Donaghy for the Kennedy assassination as well as he might have been the shooter on the grassy knoll. P-L-E-A-S-E. Everybody gets the benefits of some tough calls in the playoffs. I'd like to point out that the Mavs got the benefit of some tough calls against the Spurs in the 2006 playoffs leading them to a series victory over the Spurs.....but you don't see any Spurs fans whining about that. If you can't handle tough calls in the NBA then maybe you out to switch to a different sport...perhaps skeet shooting or badminton would be to your liking. Much like the IRS.....I'm here to help. :)

[John]

2003* Suns lose to the Spurs in 6 games
2005* Suns lose to the Spurs in 5 games
2007* Suns lose to the Spurs in 6 games

Wow, I never noticed before how superior the Suns are to the Spurs in every way and it took bad calls to elevate the Spurs to their 4th Championship season. I guess offense really does win perceived championships!

[Wu Aphex]

"The asterisk is deserved.

Deal with it.

If you want to complain about how unfair it is that your team is soooo disrespected, complain to the league office for the terrible decisions that put the legitimacy of this title into question."

Yeah, sure. The Spurs are going to beg the league office not to suspend Amare and Diaw because they were rushing up to knock Robert Horry's block off for bumping Nash (which was a great flop into the scoreboard, by the way...so good even his own players took the bait) and thanks to Raja Bell throwing a punch, it officially became an "altercation" and therefore anyone who had left the bench would be automatically suspended. That's also the reason why Duncan was not suspended because he stood up after witnessing a hard foul on Elson. Yeah Raja, you have to defend your teammates, right? It's not like the millions of dollars of video, audio and camera equipment recording every single player from every conceivable angle could possibly lead to enough evidence to punish ONLY Robert Horry. If Raja Bell goes to check on Nash and lets Horry walk to the bench (which is exactly what he was doing after the hard foul), then only he gets suspended and Phoenix has the advantage for Game 5. Phoenix has no one to blame but themselves.

[Spur_F]

"Intelligent NBA commentary from the two biggest basketball fans on the planet"

HAHAHA! :)

Is that like a joke or something?

Suns can`t win on the West because they don`t have heart (aside of a decent defense, of course) Stop blaming it on the Spurs. Had the Spurs not finished up the Suns, eventually someone else would have. We just put you out of your misery...

[Fabio]

I feel for you, intelligent commentators and biggest basketball fans in the planet. I'm sure it sucks to NEVER have a reason to joy, something to cheer for, maybe just a little happiness. So, as many losers who consider themselves pathetic your only resort is to cry and whine. I'm sympathetic with your cause and will donate some funds to CLOW (Crying Losers of the World).

In the meanwhile, I'll have LOTS of fun with the best basketball team in years and especially those boring Manu plays

PS: I assume this whole site is a big joke or irony, right?

[johnny]

Spurs fans unfortunately there are only 3 real dynasty champions. (Bulls,Lakers, and Celtics) Spurs have battled so much cheap competition it is pitiful. Imagine if the Spurs
battled these three teams. Duncan against Kareem or Ginobli
against Bird. Magic against Parker. Spurs fans please get over
it. I am happy for your little championships especially the
short season. WOW what an accomplishment. (RIGHT) What is wrong
with your spurs right now. HERE come all your EXCUSES.

Spurs can't even win a back to back. If the spurs are so good
why don't they win two or even three in a row. Ever thought of
that. I can give you some the weak teams that they beat. Lakers
swept New Jersey. Why couldn't the spurs sweep them in the finals?

Celtics, Lakers, and Bulls 4ever,

Jordan and Jackson have even commented on the short season.

[bklynspursfan]

No asterisks for the lakers though huh? during their repeat? does the kinds-lakers series ring a bell? incredible...

[bklynspursfan]

kings-lakers*** i meant

[nfl jerseys usa]

The Bruins are learning that as all three of their defeats have come by one goal, including 3-2 at Carolina on Wednesday."The difference between us having the results we want isn't that far off," said 2011 playoff MVP Tim Thomas, who is 1-2-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average.