Consistency, Discipline, Teamwork - The San Antonio Spurs

Consistency, discipline, teamwork 

Often overlooked in the sports media as the "old man's team" or labelled as being a step slower than the rest of the competition, the San Antonio Spurs have season after season proved to their doubters that experience and playing the game of basketball by the fundamentals ultimately trump the modern day model of building a championship team around younger, more athletic players who showcase flashy plays or their dunking talents. By topping the standings after another season and making it the NBA Finals yet again, there should be no doubt that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even though they are another year older - simply because they understand the game.

The Spurs' selfless style of play, teamwork and trust in the coaching embodies how the game of basketball should be played. By being fundamentally-sound and understanding spacing on the floor, the fluidity of the game becomes very natural. The ball is able to seemingly flow through the system with nothing forced - the ball is passed off to a team mate if covered and the ball is shot when open. The principle is simple but having an entire team commit to it - not so much.

This is where coaching is so important. Over the years, Coach Popavich has been able to cultivate a particular team culture within the Spurs organization where each player understands his team role, trusts in his team mates, and believes in a common goal of playing team basketball. When this team mentality is adopted by all the players on the court, the results ultimately show. In particular, during stretches of losses in the season or when a final play is needed to win the game, the character of a team begins to unfold. Teams that are not truly unified tend to fall apart as the season prolongs or come into conflict with each other when a final play is not executed. It is in those moments where a team's identity is truly defined.

Here's to my wish that the San Antonio Spurs win this year's NBA championship title as they epitomize how basketball should be truly played - a team's game.