Your 2008-2009 Southwest Division Champs

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The stars aligned in our favor this evening. After the Mavs defeated the Rockets 95-84, the Spurs pulled off an overtime victory against the New Orleans Hornets to claim the division championship and the 3 seed. Down 3 with 7 seconds left, Michael Finley hit a booming fade-away three pointer to tie the game as the clock expired. Any shred of composure I had left immediately fled the room.

In overtime, Tim Duncan reminded the league that he moves into a different gear come the postseason. He scored 6 points, dished two assists, nabbed 6 boards and blocked a Chris Paul layup during the overtime period. A tremendous performance from one of the NBA’s all-time greats.

I’m not the bragging type but back in October I wrote a season preview. And in this season preview I predicted the Spurs would go 54-28. Our record after this evening’s win: 54-28. Just saying.

Ladies Gentlemen: I am awash in full blown playoff hysteria. I could not be more excited. I will be back over the next few days to discuss our first round Match-up with the Dallas Mavericks in greater detail. For the time being, enjoy this evening’s victory. Go Spurs!

  • LionZion

    I think I have done a seasons worth of high fiving in the last ten minutes.
    Go Spurs Go!!

  • ChillFAN

    Stage set with some great matchups. Wow, I feel for those Rockets fans: from hosting the Hornets to going on the road in Portland in one evening, its probably yet another year of not getting out of the first round.

  • Hamer

    I have been calling all my buddies back in SA since time expired in OT, i’m so damn happy right now!!!!!! Bless you findog, that play was incredible. and playoff TIM showed up in OT.

    I’m going to Game 3 in Dallas with my brother as well, I am so damn excited for the playoffs!!

  • TDzilla

    Go Spurs Go! Is this true, Marcus Williams was sent back to Austin?

  • SpurredOn

    Graydon,

    Straight props to you for calling the 54-28. Most “experts” I read had the Spurs as the 4th or 5th seed topping out at 50 wins. And this was with the thought that Manu would play over 50 games and not miss the end of the season, to say nothing of Parker’s concurrent injury in November.

    If Denver looses, we tie for second best record in the West (again). With all the injuries, new player (Mason, Jr.), rookie back-up PG early in the year and the age factor, how about Pop for coach of the year? Deserves as much hype as Adelman, Karl and McMillan.

    Whatever. Great night, #3 seed and if the Hornets hit that many fortunate shots vs Denver, we’ll see them in round 2.

  • TDzilla

    Go Toros Go! Marcus Williams had the spirit of Michael Finley.

  • GMT

    Holy crap, what a win! Besides that Finley 3, my favorite shot was Udoka for the reverse dunk. Who knew he had that in him. Most likely everyone was like Sean Elliott, hoping that he would actually finish, but he finished with authority.

  • Ken

    Dang it. I am bit disappointed, however. Timmy needed one more board for a season ending 20-20 game. What a phenomenal performance.

    And……what a crossover by Tony on Paul! Forgot about that. That made me giggle like a school-girl! :)

  • Christian

    Si se puede!

  • SpurredOn

    Playoff schedule is out an the beautiful marriage of television & round 1 is to our benefit. We open Saturday evening (which I prefer to the early afternoon start last year when it was TD v Shaq), then have two days off between games 2&3, two more between games 4&5, and two more between 5&6 (if necessary).

    So the team now comes off a home win followed by two days off with no travel, two home games then two off days before a short travel. We may look back on the Finley shot to tie as the shot in the arm and standings that set the Spurs up for their annual odd year run.

  • Duaneofly

    Hopefully hosting the Mavs like so many of us (including me) wanted pans out for us. It does look like we have the easiest path to the WCF though.

  • NL

    Great way to finish the season. I have a lot of hope for this team even if we are Manu-less. Go Spurs Go!

  • NickyDubs

    I just took the ESPN poll asking who would win the series. Out of 12,132 votes, it was split 50/50! Unbelievable! Even the “experts” were split 50/50. I can’t wait. Screw those guys.