One of the hardest things to do in sports is for a team to make the playoffs. It is no different in the NBA. This year the San Antonio Spurs will be going for 23 year playoff streak . This is a feat that may never happen again. It will be a historic run. With A powerful Western conference can they do it?
Going for 23 Year Playoff Run
The last time a team was this far it was 1971. The Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers ended the “71” season with 22 straight appearances. So for the last 48 years that record was safe, but now the Spurs have a chance to be etched into the records books. By making the playoff this year they will have 23 straight playoff runs.
Dan Feldman NBA.NBCSports.com
lets take a look at how incredible this record really is. The next NBA franchise that has a streak is Golden State, and it is seven! That’s right seven years. Now Golden State is good, and definitely a playoff team for many more years. But with free agency and players moving from team to team it seems that the record may never be caught again . So the Spurs and the number 23 is truly remarkable.
Do They Have The Team?
The Spurs have been a contender for most of those 22 years. While they might not be a strong contender this year they will be good enough to get into the playoffs once again. The Spurs have great leaders in DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. The team is full of really good role players and a few ready to break out. Guys like Rudy Gay and newly acquired Trey Lyles will play hard and can give you scoring and experience.
Then there are the future stars, such as Derrick White who are poised to have a breakout year and become more of a force. Whites performance in last seasons Playoffs proved he has it in him. White controlled the tempo and got to the hole at will. and we know Pops will have him ready to break out. This brings me to the one consistent, coach Gregg Popovich.
Pops has been there every step of every playoff run during their streak, the one constant. This is the most important component as many players have come and gone from the Spurs during this run. Yet they always make the playoffs. Popovich is one of, if not the greatest coach in the history of the game, and that means something. It means the Spurs 23 year playoff streak can and will happen.
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