And the San Antonio Spurs draft ...

a 2007 second-round draft pick?!

I guess R.C. Buford and Coach Pop didn't see any compelling players in this year's NBA draft class. At least not any they could get.

R.C. Buford, general manager of the Spurs, said the team attempted to move up in the draft to get any of three or four "target" players.

"We had calls going all night long," Buford said. "We were diligent in trying to move up into the middle to late first round. Once our guys were gone, we figured let's keep some flexibility. Next year's draft will be one of the better ones in a long, long time."

The Spurs did not have a first-round selection this year. The team traded the pick, along with reserve forward Malik Rose, in a deal with the New York Knicks for center Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer during the 2004-2005 season.

Pop & Co. traded their first-round pick (#29) to the New York Knicks, who chose Mardy Collins, a guard out of Temple. Then they used their second-round pick (#59) to choose Damir Markota, a forward from Croatia, who was then traded to Milwaukee for a second-round pick in 2007.

Hopefully the 2007 NBA Draft will be a little more interesting for Spurs fan than this year's was.

"Spurs have nothing to apologize for"

Dave D'Alessandro writes in the Sporting News:

If memory serves, this season was supposed to be about the Spurs' coronation -- as what, we may never know. A team for the ages, perhaps. Or maybe the last great dynasty until a new era of parity sets in. Or at least "Team of the Decade," given that they could have been going for their fourth straight championship this spring, if not for a fluky heave by a first-rate second-string point guard named Derek Fisher in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals.

All that is moot now. It tells you how fragile this dynasty business can be if Tim Duncan can be so cramped from dehydration that he's outplayed by the legendary DeSagana Diop in the overtime of a Game 7.

Dallas won that series by a gnat's eyebrow, though it should be noted the Spurs somehow seemed vulnerable all season. Duncan, still the preeminent foundation player in the game, struggled with plantar fasciitis for months. Manu Ginobili had a rough ride all year, with foot and calf injuries taking away his aggressiveness and timing for long stretches. There also was a depth issue: Tony Parker arrived as a top five point guard, but there wasn't much to back him up. Beno Udrih was too green, and bone chips were rattling around in Nick Van Exel's elbow.

These problems, except perhaps for that last one, never really influenced the outcome of the series; in the end, the Spurs' second-round exit was a common playoff circumstance that arises when two great teams meet -- the team that gets stops and makes shots survives white-knuckle time, period. No disgrace in that. Somebody has to lose, and after years of superb execution in similar situations over the past eight postseasons, Duncan finally was handed the check. The missed bunny at the end of regulation in Game 5. The 1-for-7 meltdown in overtime of Game 7. It happens even to the best of them. It's almost comforting to know it can actually happen to the human metronome.

Still, the Spurs have nothing to apologize for -- least of all Duncan, who ended up having the best series of his career.

But the rest of the country is asking this: So what the hell happened, then? And it was left to Gregg Popovich, in his final backward glance last week, to explain the obvious.

Nothing happened, he said. It was just the Mavs' turn.

Blasted platitudes, you say. Sorry you lost your bar bet, I say in reply. Because Popovich isn't wrong. When they lose one game by a single point and two others in overtime, coaches tend to grow angry enough to eat raw wolverine and scream until the walls shake. But the way Popovich handled this loss might have been his finest moment because he spent most of the epilogue praising his protege, Avery Johnson, who coached with the same poise with which he played.

That's the way it had to be in this series, no matter how crushing the defeat. The media, the final arbiters of such matters, always need to know why losers lose. They often are obsessed with underlining any show of weakness or magnifying clues that a team is preoccupied with spit-polishing its tarnished legacy -- the most common such tip-off is when coaches offer excuses.

That doesn't mean the Spurs are perfect, of course. They'll make some minor moves. Nazr Mohammed is a free agent and won't return. He and Rasho Nesterovic, who would have some trade value if he didn't have $23.5 million left on his deal, played 29 minutes combined in the second round. So it's time to add another big, and one is on his way from Spain -- Argentinian power forward Luis Scola.

They could use an understudy for Bruce Bowen, who will turn 35 this month. Robert Horry will be 36 in August. Maybe they'll revisit that Brent Barry-J.R. Smith deal that fell through at the deadline, if only to give the roster some young legs.

As for that perception the Mavs beat them with superior athleticism: "It just makes me smile," Popovich says. "If you win, there's all kinds of things you did well. If you lose, there's got to be reasons why you lost. So if they're more athletic, I need to figure out how much more to win by a point. How much more athletic is that?"

Indeed, the margin was so scant, the Spurs' primary move this summer probably will make only the agate section: the addition of a backup point guard. Van Exel is retiring. Udrih will be given another shot, but they won't know if he's ready for it until camp.

In retrospect, if the Spurs had had a solid sub for Parker -- a veteran who could play screen-and-roll with Duncan and hit open shots -- they may have overcome the Mavs in the end. The problem is, the type of guy they needed was coaching the other team.

Soccer & Basketball

I'm not the only one who thinks the US should have better athletes playing soccer. Neither am I alone in thinking that soccer players are revolutionizing the way basketball is played in the US.

Imagine if Americans were able to do for World Cup soccer what Europeans have done for the NBA?

Here in America, a German was marking basketball with a kind of creative progress. And there in Germany, an American team was offering soccer nothing. Winning isn't entirely the point. It's that a big, rollicking, sports- crazy country that is supposed to show every four years that it has arrived in the Beautiful Game, produces zero that's distinctly American or worth watching.

Tony Parker, the French kid - albeit with an American father and a Dutch mother - who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, has brought basketball a one-off combination of speed and wisdom that incorporates a prodigious eye for space. Besides his athleticism, Parker represents deftness, control and cooperativeness, a kind of ideal European metaphor.

Add to this Boris Diaw of France and David (sic) Barboza of Brazil, playing in Phoenix with their own distinct character alongside Steve Nash, the Canadian whiz, and making the NBA pretty again. Or Manu Ginóbili, out of Argentina via Italy, a kind of above-the-rim acrobat when he isn't hurt at San Antonio, whose individuality (and generosity) have enriched basketball.

Meanwhile, from the World Cup Americans, nothing different, reckless or apostate is allowed to emerge. No distinct identity or charm has fastened to their national team. Its bosses' notion of acceptability seems to be in aping what's ordinary and boring in European football, and in running from any instincts that would lead United States from its pedestrian conventionality. Or toward a really American approach.

An American World Cup team that could change soccer forever would have a soaring Kevin Garnett type in goal, his scalp nearly reaching the crossbar and his wingspan going post to post. Or Dwyane Wade clones on attack, using incredible body control, spring and height to reinvent soccer as it's played in the air above the penalty box.

Germans Proud of Nowitzki

I suspect that most Spurs fans aren't watching the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. The two best teams in the NBA already played each other in a 7-game series, and regrettably, the Mavericks won. For Spurs fans, the 2005-2006 basketball season ended on May 22.

The Germans aren't watching the NBA Finals either, despite the fact that the greatest German basketball player since Detlef Schremp is just three wins away from winning the Larry O'Brien trophy.

The Germans have soccer on their minds, and rightly so, since they are hosting the 2006 World Cup and their team beat Costa Rica in the World Cup opener yesterday.

But the Germans know about Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, right?

Scott Ostler writes:

But even though NBA hoops are foreign to Germans, they definitely dig the Dirkster. I chatted with fans at the Costa Rica-Germany game, and projecting from my sample, 100 percent of Germans know who the Dallas Mavericks' forward is and admire him, and 100 percent of them aren't watching him in the NBA playoffs.

"He is the meister," Marco said. "How you say? The master, right!"

"The NBA is the best league, and a German sports guy is on one of the best teams," noted Stefan, proudly.

"He won the first (NBA) Final (game)!" Georg said. "He's the best basketball player in Germany and he is a fair player. When I can get the channel, I will see (him play), but the games are always at night."

And mostly they are on pay TV. So what most Germans see of Nowitzki are a few highlights on the news. Enough to make them proud.

"It's a very good man, I think," Christian said. "He is by Dallas, yes?''

No, I'm not mocking the imperfect English. I'm impressed that so many Germans speak it, and well.

I'm equally impressed by Dirk's training: reading Joseph Conrad, rollerblading, fencing, rowing, playing the sax, and attending the opera.

Marissa Miller is a Kings Fan?

Alas, I wish it weren't true, but Marissa grew up in Santa Cruz, so I shouldn't be that surprised.

The 2006 NBA Finals: A Matchup Made in Hell

Hitler vs. Osama.

Scott Stapp vs. Ted Nugent.

Kenneth Lay vs. Jeffrey Dahmer.

Halliburton vs. the Empire.

The Decepticons vs. the Borg.

Mark "I Wanna Smoke a" Cuban's Mavericks vs. Shaquille "Deal a Meal" O'Neal's Heat.

In my post-elimination depression, I was going to avoid watching the Finals, but I've decided, uncharacteristically, to suck it up and be a good sport (of sorts) about this travesty. That, of course, means that I have to decide whom to root for. It all comes down to the question of which individual I loathe less profoundly. That's a tough question to answer.

Cuban or Snaq: Which is the lesser of two evils?

One factor could make this decision much easier: the divine presence of Dwyane "[sic]" Wade on the Heat. Normally, that would be enough to tip the balance in their favor.

But man, Cuban is really only a recent footnote in the annals of my hatred, whereas my rancor toward Snaq Attaq goes way baq. Yeah, people say that Snaq is a nice guy in person, but he's been utterly classless over the years in his comments about the Spurs, particularly David Robinson. If there's one thing that San Antonians believe, it's that insulting David Robinson is tantamount to pissing in the Holy Grail.

I’d rather drain my lizard in this than say something bad about David Robinson. David might disagree with my priorities, however.

I've gotta hand it to you, Snaq: you must be quite an accomplished coq to catch as much flaq as you have from the city where you played high school basketball.

The fact that Snaq's Lakers eliminated the Spurs in 2001, 2002, and 2004 doesn't help, either. Cuban's crew, on the other hand, has only eliminated them once.

Maybe the best we can hope for is some sort of cataclysmic conflict that consumes both teams in a mushroom cloud of mutual destruction. Or at least a fistfight between Cuban and Snaq. Over in two seconds, you say? Not when Mark breaks out his combat exoskeleton.

"You fuqed with the wrong billionaire, Snaq!"

You know what? As I've been writing this, I've become convinced that, however painful it is, I must root for the Mavericks. If they win, the Spurs can plausibly claim to have been the second best team in the playoffs. And when it comes down to it, my feelings about Cuban are ephemeral. Yeah, the guy's an ass sometimes, but he's also said and done some good things over the years. And it’s hard to have too much hate for a guy who’s been a loser for so long. Also, I certainly respect his passion for his team. (It must be hard for you SpursDynasty readers to believe, but the Bramlet has also been known to let his passion for the Spurs make an ass of him.) But O'Neal, on the other hand...there's just no excuse for that Shaqass.

Once again, I have reaffirmed one of my cardinal rules as a basketball fan: I cannot root for any team that has Snaq, no matter who his teammates are.

Why, God?! Why did you have to pair this man with such a Shaqass?!

I'm putting my beef with you on hold, Mark. Go, Mavericks!–for the next couple of weeks, anyway. Then I’ll start thinking about how great it will be when the Spurs avenge their loss and take the Mavericks’ punk asses down next season.

The Bramlet roots for Mark Cuban: a sign of the Apocalypse?

After that, Cuban will no doubt show his ugly side once more, and I’ll be able to enjoy hating him again. I look forward to it, Mark.

Mrs. Avery Johnson Assaults Suns Fan

I can't decide which is stranger:

1. Former San Antonio Spur, and current Dallas Mavericks coach, Avery Johnson has been married for 14 years.
   
2. Avery's wife, Cassandra, assaulted a Suns fan and made an obscene gesture during her husband's team's loss in Game 4.
   
3. Cassandra assaulted Rebecca Kettle and Jose Martinez because they kept standing and cheering, blocking the view of her children. She claims she asked them to "not get up so much so my son can see the game."
   
4. She lied about the assault, despite the fact that at least one witness said she 'took at least three swings at the woman.'
   
5. Cassandra later claimed: "I didn't want to embarrass my husband or anyone in the Mavericks organization."
   
6. Dallas Mavericks backup center DJ Mbenga came to Cassandra Johnson's aid.
   
7. Mbenga was suspended for 6 games.
   
8. Cassandra and Avery's kids were sitting in seats bought by Avery, instead of tickets provided by the Mavericks.
   
9. Rebecca Kettle was ejected from the game, but Cassandra was not.
   
10. Mark Cuban called the whole thing a "non-event."

I wonder if Cassandra is in Phoenix for tonight's Game 6, where the Suns are up by 18 with 6 minutes left in the second quarter.

Javtokas on his way. Nazr curses Spurs on his way out.

The 2006-2007 Spurs are beginning to take shape. Robertas "The Lithuanian Beast" Javtokas is on his way, and Ian "Hasn't Done Enough to Warrant a Nickname Yet" Mahinmi is set to show the summer leagues some defensive domination. (Apparently 19-year-old wunderkind Viktor Sanikidze is also set to play for the Spurs' summer league team, but I don't think there's been any official word on that yet.)

Spurs draft pick Javtokas likely to leave old team

Web Posted: 06/01/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe Express-News Staff
Writer

The Lithuanian team for which 2001 Spurs second-round draft pick Robertas Javtokas has played for the past five seasons is so convinced Javtokas will be in the Spurs’ training camp this fall it has signed a player to replace him.

A report on Eurobasket.com indicated that recent player signings by the Lithuanian professional league team Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, for which Javtokas, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound center, has played since 2001, were motivated in part by the belief Javtokas will not return to the club so he can pursue a spot on the Spurs roster. The report cited Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius general manager J. Vainauskas saying his club "doesn’t have much hope on keeping R. Javtokas . . ."

Because Javtokas’ contract with his Lithuanian team has expired, the Spurs would not have to pay a buy-out fee to Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius before signing him.

Javtokas, a member of the Lithuanian national team since 2000, suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident on May 1, 2002, and did not play basketball for more than a year. Since returning to the court, he has been a consistent physical force for Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius and the Lithuanian national team. Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius won the 2005 Lithuanian League title and moved up to Euroleague competition in 2006.

With center Nazr Mohammed an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Spurs must make some decisions about the big men they will bring to training camp in October. French teen-ager Ian Mahinmi, the 6-foot 10 center-forward they selected with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2005 draft, is expected to join their summer league team in Utah in July.

He's not even officially a Spur yet, but I already love Robertas Javtokas. The guy comes back from a motorcycle accident that leaves doctors doubtful that he'll ever walk again, much less play basketball at the highest level in the world, and he proceeds to shut everyone up. Even after having his leg shattered, he still has major hops.

I remember when this happened. I was seriously depressed. Count me among the doubters - and among those who are glad that he shut us doubters up.

Another thing I love about Javtokas is that he looks like Dolph Lundgren. (By the way, who knew that dude had a master's degree in chemical engineering? Ironic how the brightest guys get stuck with the dumbest roles, and the dumbest guys get to be president.) The nicknames and photo captions alone will make him a valuable addition to the Spurs. The possibilities are endless.

Should we call him "The Punisher"?

There's no question that Robertas Javtokas is going to dish out punishment to some bitches in the paint.

Or perhaps we should go with "Red Scorpion"? It would kick ass if he quoted Marx and Lenin in his post-game interviews.

"I am coming to the NBA, you capitalist pigs, for one reason only: to help redistribute its bling fairly among the proletariat."

And when he starts dunking off offensive rebounds, sending suckers' shit back at 'em, setting screens as well as Rasho, and rolling to the basket as aggressively as Nazr - then he'll really be valuable. I think he'll give the Spurs a pretty good combination of what their current centers do, at a much lower cost. He may not be able to guard Dirk Nowitzki, but he'll help the Spurs against most teams.

Of course this development, along with the increasing amount of small ball in the NBA, means that it's extremely unlikely that Nazr will re-sign with the Spurs. But it's been unlikely all along that the Spurs would want to re-sign Nazr, who never seemed to master the Spurs' defensive scheme to Pop's satisfaction but would probably still cost an arm and perhaps a leg - and for a guy with hands of stone, that's a pretty heavy price to pay. On the other hand, I like some of what he does on the offensive end, and the man helped us win a championship. I also have no reason to think he's anything other than a nice guy. But I never got the sense that he would be a Spur for the rest of his career. And after this incident, I think it's pretty safe to say that the Mohammedan (Mohammedite?) Era is over. (Ok, so he didn't exactly curse the Spurs, but he did express relief at being "free," and as far as I'm concerned that's tantamount to cursing them.)

If he does leave, I already have a new nickname for him: Nazr "Maginot" Mohammed. But seriously, we'll always love ya, Nazr. Once a Spur, always a Spur - unless you act like a bitch after you leave, of course.

Regardless, the Dynasty continues as the Spurs plug in some fresh young blood next to their stars.

Jesus...writing about sports results in some of the worst mixed metaphors ever. My apologies.

San Antonio: Most Desired Destination in the NBA

This year, I think our only major free agent action will be with our European studs. But it's nice to know that players feel this way:

Utah not high on wish list for NBA players

According to a Sports Illustrated poll of 248 NBA players, 27 percent named the Jazz as the team (other than they're own) for which they would least like to play.

Toronto was second at 16 percent, followed by Atlanta (10 percent) and Milwaukee (six percent).

San Antonio was picked as the team respondents would most-like to play for at 13 percent, followed by Miami (11 percent).

The survey was completed in January, and runs in the issue of the magazine that hits news stands today.

Who knows - this image might help facilitate a trade. J.R. Smith, anyone?

That's gotta hurt if you're a Jazz fan.

Ben Wallace Stuffs Shaq

I still think the Heat are going to win this series, and beat the Suns in the Finals.

I just wanted to share this picture with the SpursDynasty family.