Spurs have perfected their own Patriot act
By JEFF CAPLAN
[email protected]
SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich might be a better dresser than Bill Belichick, but when it comes to building and sustaining successful franchises, the head coaches of the San Antonio Spurs and the New England Patriots are in a league of their own.
In four seasons, 2001-04, the Patriots won three Super Bowls, earning the distinction as the NFL’s first dynasty under the league’s “hard” salary cap.
Through shrewd drafting and savvy free-agent signings, Belichick constructed a team of selfless players with a team-first mind-set. The Patriots’ success made them the recent gold standard of the NFL.
The Spurs .... have followed a similar blueprint as the Patriots — dynasties that have defied salary-cap era parity by placing a premium on character, defense and championships.
With titles in 1999, 2003 and 2005, and the favorites to win it all again, the self-effacing Spurs are undoubtedly the class of the NBA.
.... I don’t think it’s by accident that you see those people here. That’s the way we try and build it.”
The NBA operates under a “soft” cap, which gives teams greater flexibility than NFL teams to re-sign their star players at maximum salaries without busting the cap.
Still, navigating the cap takes scrupulous management. Take the New York Knicks’ disastrous $139 million payroll, or even Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who will wind up paying Michael Finley $51.8 million over three seasons to play for the Spurs.
Under owner Peter Holt, Buford and Popovich have locked up San Antonio’s core for at least the next three seasons. They’re all original draft picks — Duncan, the No. 1 pick in 1997; Ginobili, taken with the 57th pick in 1999; and Parker, the 28th pick in 2001.
....
The Spurs have surrounded their three superstars with mostly veteran free agents eager to join the disciplined team for one reason — to win rings. They buy into Popovich’s defensive philosophy and accept roles that suit the team goal.
“Along with the Steve Kerrs, the Danny Ferrys, the Terry Porters, the Robert Horrys and Michael Finleys,” Buford said, rattling off names of veterans who signed with the Spurs late in their careers, “all those guys sacrificed at some point to be here.”
As in any business, others try to emulate success. The Spurs need look only to their opponent. Cleveland’s general manager is Ferry, groomed under Popovich and Buford. Coach Mike Brown, known as a defensive specialist, was a Spurs assistant from 2000-03.
....
Tale of two dynasties
The NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and the NFL’s New England Patriots have followed similar blueprints to success, creating dynasties in leagues where salary caps are designed to create parity. The two franchises’ fortunes under their head coaches:
Spurs Patriots
Gregg Popovich Coach Bill Belichick
11 Yrs. with team 7
6 (15 overall) Div. titles 5 (10 overall)
4 (4 overall) Conf. titles 3 (5 overall)
3 (1999, 2003, 2005) League titles 3 (2001, 2003, 2004)
0 League titles before current coach 0
edited excerpts:
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/128466.html
By JEFF CAPLAN
[email protected]
SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich might be a better dresser than Bill Belichick, but when it comes to building and sustaining successful franchises, the head coaches of the San Antonio Spurs and the New England Patriots are in a league of their own.
In four seasons, 2001-04, the Patriots won three Super Bowls, earning the distinction as the NFL’s first dynasty under the league’s “hard” salary cap.
Through shrewd drafting and savvy free-agent signings, Belichick constructed a team of selfless players with a team-first mind-set. The Patriots’ success made them the recent gold standard of the NFL.
The Spurs .... have followed a similar blueprint as the Patriots — dynasties that have defied salary-cap era parity by placing a premium on character, defense and championships.
With titles in 1999, 2003 and 2005, and the favorites to win it all again, the self-effacing Spurs are undoubtedly the class of the NBA.
.... I don’t think it’s by accident that you see those people here. That’s the way we try and build it.”
The NBA operates under a “soft” cap, which gives teams greater flexibility than NFL teams to re-sign their star players at maximum salaries without busting the cap.
Still, navigating the cap takes scrupulous management. Take the New York Knicks’ disastrous $139 million payroll, or even Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who will wind up paying Michael Finley $51.8 million over three seasons to play for the Spurs.
Under owner Peter Holt, Buford and Popovich have locked up San Antonio’s core for at least the next three seasons. They’re all original draft picks — Duncan, the No. 1 pick in 1997; Ginobili, taken with the 57th pick in 1999; and Parker, the 28th pick in 2001.
....
The Spurs have surrounded their three superstars with mostly veteran free agents eager to join the disciplined team for one reason — to win rings. They buy into Popovich’s defensive philosophy and accept roles that suit the team goal.
“Along with the Steve Kerrs, the Danny Ferrys, the Terry Porters, the Robert Horrys and Michael Finleys,” Buford said, rattling off names of veterans who signed with the Spurs late in their careers, “all those guys sacrificed at some point to be here.”
As in any business, others try to emulate success. The Spurs need look only to their opponent. Cleveland’s general manager is Ferry, groomed under Popovich and Buford. Coach Mike Brown, known as a defensive specialist, was a Spurs assistant from 2000-03.
....
Tale of two dynasties
The NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and the NFL’s New England Patriots have followed similar blueprints to success, creating dynasties in leagues where salary caps are designed to create parity. The two franchises’ fortunes under their head coaches:
Spurs Patriots
Gregg Popovich Coach Bill Belichick
11 Yrs. with team 7
6 (15 overall) Div. titles 5 (10 overall)
4 (4 overall) Conf. titles 3 (5 overall)
3 (1999, 2003, 2005) League titles 3 (2001, 2003, 2004)
0 League titles before current coach 0
edited excerpts:
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/128466.html
)
