Spurs and Patriots

by

48MoH reader Matthew Molina via email:

The Spurs and Patriots are often thrown into the same sentence because of their dominance over a sustained period of time so it is no surprise that comparisons are drawn. Both franchises are known for no-nonsense head coaches who have no problem making heart-breaking decisions (trading Elliot, M-Rose, Bowen) for the betterment of the franchise. Both franchises are led by an understated superstar (Duncan, Brady) that allow them to put a system in place and know that the other players will fall into line or else.

Both teams take chances on former superstars (Finley, Seau) at value prices knowing that these players have experience and high IQ’s in their sports and are more reliable than younger, more athletic players in pressure situations. Both teams are famous for their beyond the norm level of secrecy. Both coaches, ostensibly, have almost a disdain for speaking to the media. The list can go on and on, however, I feel that the similarities with the most league-wide impact center around the front offices for the respective teams.

The Spurs and Patriots were among the first teams to begin valuing character over anything else. The teams target players that will flourish in their particular system not only because of their specific skill set but because of their ability to contribute to the locker room as well. This kind of wisdom has allowed them to sign reasonably priced free agents that other teams may have missed. (Mason, Welker). The Spurs success in the draft is no secret (Blair is the latest coup) while the Patriots had positioned themselves so strongly that post-Spygate infractions they still had a 1st rd pick where they selected Jerod Mayo, the 2008 Defensive ROY.

It is not surprising that these two teams have contended for championships for nearly a decade, with injuries possibly being their toughest opponent. The Spurs are often quoted as the winningest franchise of all professional sports in the last 10 years with the Patriots not far behind. With this kind of success, logical people look to emulate these models in hopes of achieving the same kind of results. The quickest way to do this is hiring (stealing) the actual people making the tough decisions for the Spurs and Patriots. Most fans will not have to look far to see these Spurs/Patriots connections. The Belichick coaching tree is well documented with Josh McDaniels (Broncos), Jim Schwartz (Lions) joining this year’s club of Belichick-inspired head coaches. Spurs fans are very familiar with various household names spread around the country. I realize that the actual effect the Spurs organization actually had on the individual varies, but the connection should be noted nonetheless.

Name Current Position Spurs Connection
Cleveland Cavaliers Danny Ferry General Manager Player (’00-’03); Director of Basketball Operations (’03-’05)
Lance Blanks Assistant General Manager Scout (’00); Director of Scouting (’02)
Mike Brown Head Coach Assistant Coach (’00-’03)
Oklahoma City Thunder
 Sam Presti General Manager Various Front Office (’00-’07)
Rob Hennigan Director of College/International Personnel Asst. Basketball Operations (’05-’08)
Paul Rivers Director of Basketball Admin and Technology Video Coordinator (’04-’05)
Brian Facchini Director of Basketball Communications Media Relations Manager (’03-’05)
Phoenix Suns Steve Kerr President of Basketball Operations Player (’99-’01, ’02-’03)
Portland Trailblazers Kevin Pritchard General Manager Scout (’02-’04)

Note that the list does only accounts for front office individuals, not coaches (P.J., Avery) or future front office candidates (Coach Bud, Dennis Lindsey).

There are many ways to build a championship contender but there is no denying that the Spurs model is good one to follow. That being said this offseason reeks of the San Antonio way and that chart explains part of the reason why. We have seen multiple teams begin to stockpile draft picks and position themselves in the 2nd round (Blazers, Thunder, Rockets) in hopes of developing a pool for talent development in a manner that is “cap-friendly”. While a few teams still spend like congressmen, more teams are becoming reluctant to over-pay for role players (Ben Gordon, Rajon Rondo) or give lengthy deals to players nearing the end of their prime. It makes headlines when max players “consider” taking less than they are worth for the team but people forget Duncan has been doing that for his entire contract not to mention both Ginobilli and Parker both have very reasonable contracts which again speaks volumes for the Spurs front office. Almost all of the mock drafts had the Thunder taking Rubio with the 3rd pick and many were surprised with the selection of Harden instead. That to me seems like classic Spurs misdirection.

High character players, smart contracts, smart cap management, intelligent scouting both locally and internationally, a D-League “farm system”, having a system in place are all hallmarks of the successful franchises in today’s NBA and each of these traits can arguably be attributed to the San Antonio organization.

Name   Current Position   Spurs Connection
Atlanta Hawks   Domininque Wilkins   V.P. of Basketball   Player (’96-’97), TV Analyst
Boston Celtics   Doc Rivers   Head Coach   Player (’94-’96), TV Analyst
Charlotte Bobcats   Larry Brown   Head Coach   Head Coach (’89-’92)
Chicago Bulls   Vinny Del Negro   Head Coach   Player (’94-’98), TV Analyst
Cleveland Cavaliers   Danny Ferry   General Manager   Player (’00-’03), Dir. Of Basketball Operations (’03-05)
Lance Blanks   Asst. General Manager   Scout (’00), Dir. Of Scouting (’02), TV Analyst
Mike Brown   Head Coach   Asst. Coach (’00-’03)
Oklahoma City Thunder   Sam Presti   General Manager   Asst. GM (’05-’07), Dir. Of Player Personel (’03-’05), Asst. Dir. Of Scouting (’02-’03), Intern (’00-’01)
Rob Hennigan   Dir. Of College/International Player Personel   Asst. Basketball Operations (’05-’08)
Paul Rivers   Dir. Of Basketball Admin. &Technology   Video Coordinator (’04-’05)
Brian Facchini   Dir. Of Basketball Communications   Media Relations Manager (’03-’05)
Phoenix Suns   Steve Kerr   President of Basketball Operations, General Manager   Player (’99-’01) (’02-’03)
Portland Trailblazers   Kevin Pritchard   General Manager   Scout (’02-’04)
  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Graydon Gordian

    The Spurs-Patriots comparison is often made, and with good reason, but I have two fundamental problems with it.

    a) You said, “the Spurs and the Patriots value character over anything else.” That is true of the Spurs, but I am not so sure with the Patriots. I think that is a hard claim to make when the Pats were recently involved in one of the larger cheating scandals in the history of the modern NFL.

    b) Obviously Belichick is an excellent coach, there is no denying that. But there is something Popovich has that Belichick never will: Class. Belichick’s unsportsmanlike conduct is well recorded. Whether it be leaving the field before the game was formally concluded during Super Bowl XLII or barely acknowledging former assistant Eric Mangini after Jets-Pats games, Belichick has repeatedly proven himself to be an asshole.

    Popovich may be bristly with the media, but he is always respectful of his opponents and supportive of his former assistants.

    The Spurs are a classy, successful organization. The Pats are just a successful one.

    I’d also like to note that most of Belichick’s assistants that have gone on to be head coaches have not performed well, while, as you note, the network of former Spurs FO and coaching personnel has done quite well.

  • Big50

    Graydon, you stole my thunder. I will add that the Pat’s do not add class guys. See Randy Moss, Rodney Harrison and Cory Dillon among others. While all good players, classy is not a word used to describe these guys.

    I couldn’t be prouder of the HUGE differences between these two organizations.

  • Jordan

    I agree with Graydon on this one. However, up until I started paying more attention to the Patriots, I did see things about them that reminded me of the Spurs. Then I noticed Belichick’s attitude towards opponents, the (as Simmons would say) F-You touchdowns, the complete disregard of hospitality, if I can use that word, to his opponents.

    I wonder if we can actually say that Belichick and Popovich are that similar. Yes, the front offices are in their savvy moves and secrecy, but I don’t think I’ve heard of a head coach yet that enjoys the mandatory sideline reports during quarter breaks. Phil Jackson just spews emptiness, SVG seems irritated by the press, the list goes on and on. Plus it must be infuriating to be asked the same mundane questions over and over again. I’d get tired of that too.

  • LMac

    While I agree with the above comments, in all fairness there are over 50 players on a football team’s roster rather than 10-15 on a basketball team. I think that the majority of the players the Pats get are decent character and locker room guys who can then control/manage some of the problems of having some of these less savory characters on the team.

    And lets not forget that the Spurs used Stephen Jackson to win a championship, who was in unflattering headlines for a while there and was considered a thug by a lot of people.

  • Jacob

    Pop didn’t trade Elliot, that was Bob Bass. And was anyone really heart broken over the Bowen trade? Rodman for Will Perdue, now there’s heartbreak on Pop’s watch.

  • Jacob

    Also what about Del Negro and Doc Rivers as coaches who played for the Spurs? Anyone remember the 90s?

  • Tom

    Whenever I hear or read of the Spurs as a classy organization, I always think of David Robinson. The current team is Tim’s team, but it’s still David Robinson, version 3.0.

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    Jacob,

    In fairness to Matthew Molina, he did include Del Negro and Rivers. I edited them out because the table was a bit too large and I wanted to restrict it to the Pop era. Maybe that was a mistake on my end.

    Also, to be fair to myself, I received Matthew’s email with curiosity. I don’t follow the NFL, and I really wouldn’t know. In fact, I think the NFL is insufferable. I certainly didn’t know there was such a heated debate on the topic, which is interesting to a neutral party like myself to read. Graydon does follow the NFL and is a Steelers fan. Needless to say, he completely disavows the comparison.

  • Ruzer

    People always mention about the Spurs and how the Spurs value character over anything, but I think this is a perception that is not true. The Spurs really tried hard for Latrell Spreewell when he came off his suspension he just didn’t want to come here. We have tried for Ron Artest, we almost had a trade deadline deal for JR Smith but were too late. We tried hard for Vince Carter, we tried hard for Karl Malone. None of those are considered high character players.

    I believe Poppovich will give anybody a chance as long as he believes he will help the team.

  • duaneofly

    I agree with Graydon and every one else’s opinions on how the Pats don’t have the same class the Spurs do. One thing I don’t agree with on Pats-bashing though is how they “run up the score.” So the opposing team can still try to score, make a comeback and win the game, but the Pats have to play second and third stringers and not try to score? I just never understood that. If a football team doesn’t want to lose by fifty points, maybe they should take a good look at their team/organization first etc etc

    I’m not a Pats fan btw, Spurs / Dolphins / Astros all the way!
    Its funny, I’m from Maine and people online have called me a bandwagoner for loving the Spurs, but than tell me I’m stupid for not cheering for the Pats when they were scorching every one.

  • mattmo28

    I do not think anyone will argue that the Spurs have more class than the Patriots as an organization. For having as many people on the team in the NFL, locker room issues are not something we hear about with the Patriots which has to be partly conrtibuted to character. There is no real way to equate the NFL to the NBA but I think there are similarities between the teams that are hard to ignore. As for coaches, Belichick is no doubt an angry, viscious human being but its not like Pop doesn’t have an edge to him.

  • Baldemar

    I have been following the Spurs Organization from some time and i feel as though the chart shown above should be more detailed and posted on front page, at least for a day. We in San Antonio sometimes feel left out of the national spotlight that acknowledges true sportsmanship, though we are not “Hollywood” this blog is very appreciated. San Antonio may not be a big market for you business-sports buffs, but success is big in the Alamo City.

  • Jim

    I’d compare the spurs to the Tom Landry era Cowboys- classy individuals, maybe not the greatest team of any particular era, but serious contender year-in-year-out and a handful of championships too. Even ex-navy stars (Robinson and Staubach).

  • Mario Rendon

    What can I say. The San Antonio Spurs are the Team! Oh, and do not forget their FANS - The Los Angeles Lakers win a Championship, and there is fire in the streets. While the Spurs Fans just get ready for an All Night Downtown Car Cruise Celebration and later a Water - River Parade with a final all city get-together at the Alamo Dome! GO SPURS GO!

  • Marcus Venables

    What can i say im from ohio, my father was in the navy and got me started watching David Robinson, i followed him right to the spurs and have been hooked since. They are a class act, being from ohio the best for me was when i was a “witness” to the sweep of the cavs in 07 finals. There has been nothing sweeter tasting than that for me. I was personally disgusted with the whole celebration before and after games this year from the cavs. I am a huge browns fan and really thought when the spurs lost in the first round i wanted the cavs to win for the city of cleveland. But it was very nice to see them get put in their seat by the magic. I am very excited to see the spurs making moves this year cant wait til it all starts again. GO SPURS GO!!!!

  • Chris

    Wow…. I was just checking in on who the Spurs had picked up and saw the title of this article and had to read it. Though I do not disagree on quality of teams the Spurs have had over the past decade or so, I do have to give the author a little information.
    Nobody, outside of 1604, compares the Spurs to the Patriots, or any other team for that matter. Pop is Pop, it is his team, built the way he wants it, and that is all. Obviously the author wanted to draw some comparison the what he feels is the elite of the NFL. but he would have had better luck linking an NFL team to the Lakers or Mavericks. If anything, the Spurs are more like the Texans, except the Spurs have championship rings. You never hear about players of either team getting into any trouble, or dating super models.
    Spurs and Pats? No.. Spurs and Texans.. kind of… I would never take away from what Pop has accomplished by trying to compare him and his success to any other organization. He has done it his way, period.
    -nuff said