Timmy is dragging the Spurs through inconsistency.

Maybe if the Spurs’ offense still revolved around Tim Duncan, the rodeo road trip (2-4) might be going a little smoother. In last night loss to the Jazz…the jazz…Timmy posted his 27^th double double of the season, the fourth most in the league. He’s been remarkably consistent as always. He even hit a 3-pointer in a 30 point performance against the clippers last Thursday. Yet the Spurs still can’t find a rhythm that holds.

This final third of the season is usually when they hit the next gear and steamroll their way to the playoffs, but recently they have been very weak offensively. The ball movement of last year’s finals shows up occasionally, but the decision-making is spotty.  The spurs had a 4 on 1 fast break opportunity against warriors last Friday, and it ended in a three pointer from Belinelli. Even though he sunk the shot, I didn’t understand why a championship team that outpaced opponents with sharp passes and sweeping fast breaks were having this much trouble finding good shots.

Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald attributes it to 3 consecutive lengthy post-season pushes. Even young teams would feel the fatigue after that many extra games. It’s just strange that the 38 year old seems to look the most fresh. I won’t go into detail about Tony Parkers struggles, because the numbers are very depressing.

The Spurs aren’t themselves right now, and they have until the playoffs to get it together. The team to beat is Golden State, and if OKC keeps making this late season push led by Westbrook, the silver and black might see the Warriors in the first round as the 8^th seed. But everybody knows, the Spurs are a postseason team. Let’s see what happens when a championship defender riddled with injuries throughout the season will react.

Frenchies

The only time I stepped on the hardwood at the AT&T Center was when I was a Spurs “Ball Kid” in 2004 as a 10 year old. I saw Tim, Tony, and Manu in person and couldn’t believe how big they were. I thought that was the closest I would ever get to the Spurs.

A few days ago, I watched Danny Green, Corey Joseph and Kawhi Leonard practice mid-range jumpers from the sideline. I was sitting next to Tony Parker’s mom, talking to her about how us 20 something year olds are growing closer to the Spurs (especially the big three) as they age with us.

I was only sitting there because of two Frenchmen from Reunion Island. One of them was living in my parent’s house.

Nelson and Nathan were the first basketball players in their organization, Region Reunion, to come to the United States. Tony’s mother knew their coach and made this opportunity possible for them through her connections. They would play basketball for my alma mater, Central Catholic High School, and hopefully get noticed by college coaches in order to move to the next level. My mother is the school’s secretary and she would easily be able to accommodate one of the “Frenchies” with more room in the house after I left for UNT. She also had my senior brother at Central and a convenient schedule that lined up with basketball practice.

Nelson, shy and tall at 6’2, moved his things into the front room in September.  He spoke very little English yet he was supposed to take regular junior level classes at a college preparatory high school. A veteran English teacher would try to explain the literary meaning behind Huckleberry Fin, and an outgoing History teacher would describe what caused the American Revolution. After several months, it is still an understandably difficult transition.

Then Tony Parker’s mom offered to take them to a Spurs game last week. She extended the invitation to the kids they were living with—My brother and Sophomore Travis Berlanga. However, my brother is violently indifferent to all sports teams; even the one thriving in San Antonio. He declined the invitation and I was next in line.

I shook Tony’s hand and slurped up a little bit of drool. I was geeking out more than I did when I was a Ball Kid.  He spoke a little bit of French to Nelson and Nathan, who were equally star struck. Boris was very approachable and asked where they went to school (in French, of course). 

While they were talking, Kawhi was dribbling the ball so hard we could feel our legs vibrate. Watching him crossover from one claw to the next, I thought about what it would be like to guard that beast. It was a surreal experience. 

I saw Tim Duncan’s aged and expressionless face when I realized I probably wouldn’t see him in a Spurs jersey this close ever again. We snapped a quick picture with him and he ducked away into the tunnel just as I said “you’re a hero Tim!” I don’t think he heard me, but I don’t care.

He posted yet another double-double against Miami that night.