| Team Pages |
|
NBA.com
ESPNet CNN/SI |
| Statistics |
|
J. of Basketball Studies
CNN/SI NBA.com ESPNet |
| Related Content |
|
Power of Parity
Twin Tower Dilemma |
| Records |
|
Predicted: 51-31
1996-97: 20-62 |
| Stat Selector |
| NBA Preview Pages |
| Team Statistics |
But it is eminently clear to me now that this argument is not valid. O'Neal came close to a championship when he was paired with Penny Hardaway and once the talent is amassed in L.A. (or Michael Jordan leaves), he will have another good chance to win a title. Robinson has continuously pushed his Spurs to a home court advantage in the playoffs. Though he has been ripped for not winning a title or even getting to the Finals, it has been made very obvious that the talent surrounding Robinson is mediocre at best.
Before Robinson joined the Spurs in '89-90, the team won 21 games. The following season, the Spurs won 56. Before Robinson's injury last year, the Spurs won 59 games. Last year, the Spurs won 20 games.
This shows two things. For one, it shows that the talent around Robinson is not very good. For two, it shows that there has not been anyone to back up Robinson.
The drafting of Tim Duncan gives the Spurs the kind of depth that the 49ers used to have with Steve Young backing up Joe Montana at quarterback. Duncan makes his whole team better, just as Robinson does, because he is such a dominant defensive player, the best I have ever seen in college. The Spurs can afford to lose Robinson now and not turn into one of the most pitiful teams in the NBA. Even with the relatively modest offensive players on the Spurs, Duncan's defense should keep the team above 0.500 should Robinson go down.
The Spurs of course hope that Robinson doesn't go down. They are planning on playing Robinson and Duncan together, which has worked well in the preseason. Duncan has been struggling with turnovers as all rookies do, committing more than 3 per game, but he and Robinson have combined to thoroughly shut down opposing offenses. Through the preseason, the Spurs have allowed only 94 points per 100 possessions. If they keep that up through the regular season, it would be the best defense in history.
To give you an idea for how good that is, if you put it together with last year's anemic offense, the team wins 60 games.