San Antonio Spurs 2014 NBA Champions

Even more than months after the San Antonio Spurs won their fifth title, I still feel like everything is a dream. As a long-time fan of Tim Duncan, last year's loss to Miami Heat still feels like a nightmare whenever I think about it.

It took me more than a month to recover after that loss. I'm just a fan and I felt terrible so I can't imagine what it was like for the players. People who did not believe and appreciate them said it was the end of the line for the "old" guys. Duncan and Manu Ginobili were passe. They said some might retire or go to other teams, but they proved them wrong again. Of course I didn't wanna believe all the bad things they wrote but it was not easy to keep thinking like that after that kind of loss. They said it would not be easy to recover from that nightmare. Of course it wouldn't be, but how the players will deal with that will say a lot about them individually and their spirit as a team.

Whatever the unbelievers and haters said, we fans knew that our Spurs players were made of a tougher sort of material. Yes, most people would not easily forget a game 6 loss like that. Yes, they're still humans and they made mistakes in that series. But unlike other teams that suffered a big loss, the Spurs are tougher.

They kept saying no, they can't bounce back 'cause they're old. The joke about old players is old. Yes, we can see that our superstars are aging. But how many superstars can claim that their team is still a title contender even at the twilight of their careers? Besides not everyone on the team is old. The younger guys proved that they were more than just talented. They were willing to be coached and to play team basketball. Just look at Kawhi Leonard now.

2014 Western Conference Champions

When they won the 2014 Western Conference Finals, I heard some people say that it was an easy match for them because some players in the other team were not at their best. But have they forgotten their old players joke? Wasn't my team old and slow and boring? Tony Parker wasn't even at his best in the series against Oklahoma City Thunder, so why do people still deny that the Spurs are good? Didn't the other team have the season's MVP? We won but people criticized the team and the fans and still glorified the losers.

Even getting there was not easy. I almost thought they'd lose to the Dallas Mavericks. And I was surprised they cruised through the second round. But what amazed me more is the kind of basketball they played throughout the season.

Yes I know they've been playing beautiful basketball for years. That's why I became a fan in 2002 after all! The passing and ball movement, the defense, the unselfish superstars---I've watched all that for years. I was delighted to find however that they improved all of that. And this is the season after that loss in 2013. Who said the Spurs can't bounce back?

Even when people were praising their team basketball, there were still those who claim that the Spurs were not talented enough to beat Miami Heat in a rematch. Well guess what? Even the world's best player for the past few years can't beat a team with experience and spirit. Old and boring my ass.

The Big Three: Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili

In fact, the rematch was a disappointment partly because the Heat played like they did not want to win and partly because Spurs were just too damn good for them this year. I expected more heat from the Heat, but I think they looked old and lost. They relied too much on their superstars but the superstars weren't as good as the boring players after all. If I was a Heat fan I'd be ashamed of that performance. My Spurs last year may have lost in the Finals, but we weren't that terrible!

If this season was a redemption tour for the Spurs, they more than redeemed themselves in the eyes of their fans and critics. The critics can keep writing them off for next season if they want, but we've got new talent and experienced superstars. Keep saying boring and old if you want until the Spurs beat your team/s (then you'd start saying your team was just not at its hundred percent, duh). I didn't even mention yet the records they made this season on their way to the championship.

Congratulations my San Antonio Spurs! I never once regretted sticking with you guys and waiting for seven years for a fifth championship. The future looks bright with a talented kid like Leonard but we'll wait and see what kind of career he makes with a great team like the Spurs. 

2014 Lineup:

Jeff Ayres

Aron Baynes

Marco Belinelli

Austin Daye

Boris Diaw

Tim Duncan

Manu Ginobili

Danny Green

Cory Joseph

Kawhi Leonard

Patty Mills

Tony Parker

Tiago Splitter

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Assistant Coaches:

Jim Boylen

Chip Engelland

Chad Forcier

Sean Marks

Ime Udoka

Athletic trainer:

Will Sevening

Strength and conditioning coach:

Matt Herring

2014 AWARDS:

NBA Coach of the Year (Gregg Popovich)

NBA Executive of the Year Award (R.C. Buford)

NBA Finals MVP (Kawhi Leonard)

All-NBA Second Team (Tony Parker)

NBA All-Defensive Second Team (Kawhi Leonard)