When it comes to NBA basketball, we obviously don’t appreciate understated excellence in this country.
If we did, the dull dynasty known as the San Antonio Spurs wouldn’t have been a part of the two lowest-rated NBA Finals since 1976.
This isn’t their fault as they travel to Miami for Game 1 of tonight’s Finals against the defending world champion Heat and its sun-bright star LeBron James.
Though no one much seems to know or care outside their charming mid-Texas town, the Spurs are attempting to win their fifth crown in 15 years, though it would also be their first since 2007, when they took out a 22-year-old James and the Cleveland Cavs.
No, the fault of not fully appreciating the Spurs is with all of us — or at least all of you — who’ve never fully embraced Spurs coach Gregg Popovich’s cranky genius, 37-year-old Tim “The Big Fundamental” Duncan’s steady excellence, 31-year-old Tony Parker’s underrated quarterbacking and 35-year-old Manu Ginobili’s nerveless flare for the dramatic.