BY EVAN SPORER
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP IMAGES
The NBA season has finally concluded. And while much has been made of the Eastern conference and the likes of the Miami Heat, probable MVP winner Derrick Rose, and the ageless Celtics, the Western Conference is certainly formidable in its own right. Check out how the West might play out.
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies
They’re too old. Their time has passed. They’re boring to watch, and haven’t adjusted to the new NBA.
Well, I’ll take boring and effective over flashy and on the outside any day (a’hem, Golden State Warriors).
The Spurs finished first in the Western Conference this year, amassing 61 wins, giving them home court throughout the West’s playoffs. They did so with the many of the same faces -- Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili -- but also an infusion new producers: DeJuan Blair, George Hill, and Gary Neal.
Even Richard Jefferson, whose acquisition was supposed to be a bust, came up big for the Spurs this year.
So, as always, this team was a defensive juggernaut. Although their 98 points allowed per game is deceptively high, the Spurs will wear you down on D. They’ll make you work on every possession just to get a decent look, and on many possessions, teams won’t. Defense wins championships; plain and simple, just ask Spurs head coach Greg Popovich (the guys has won four NBA titles).
