The Boring Label: Will It Ever Die? Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Garcia   
Monday, 19 October 2009 00:00

Just like death and taxes, the "boring" label given to the Spurs seems to be certain.  It's been talked about and written about numerous times and without sounding like a broken record, this topic reared its ugly head yet again.

Sure, the Spurs stress defense and grind out games but this has translated into four NBA titles. I am sure every NBA player and all 30 NBA GM's would take on the boring label if it meant they were able to rack up four championships since 1999. But when you take a closer look at the Spurs and their players, how can a team with a speed demon like Tony Parker and an exciting player like Manu Ginobili ever be considered anything less.

With that being said, I recently had a conversation with John Karalis of Reds Army about this label on the Spurs. The conversation came about because of a Spurs season preview article from Slam Online, which likely broke world records for the amount of times you can use the word boring in one article.  Here is the conversation.

John:  You know... the Spurs ARE kinda boring

Jeff:  Four titles.

John: What's the connection to boring and titles?  I didn't say they're not good.  They're just boring.

Jeff:  If boring gets four titles I am sure any team would want to be "boring." Though the Spurs aren't.

John:  ... but I think he was kinda giving the Spurs a bit of a back-handed compliment. Yes, they're boring... but they're effective.  Dude... I have nothing against the Spurs... but they do have a very slow and deliberate style of play.

Jeff:  It gets wins.  It gets titles.

John: No one says it doesn't.

Jeff:  I am sure the Knicks and other loser teams would take "boring" anytime.

John: Probably.  But it doesn't make the Spurs any LESS boring.

Jeff:  Look at the Suns.  Run and gun.  Fail.  Warriors.  Run and gun.  More fail.  Mavs have no D and no titles.

John:  I've said a million times... I've written it too... the run and gun style won't win.  You get worked up over the boring tag. You're a great team.  Great and boring.

Jeff:  Ohhh but when the Pistons played D and got the title it was the best and wasn't boring.

John: Their run wasn't as long as yours.

Jeff:  Ohhh but when Kobe does interviews and openly says they have to slow the game, play methodical and use defense that's so awesome in the eyes of NBA fans.

John: You need to chill... take a step back and see what's actually being said here.  The Pistons had Ben Wallace.. who is very interesting... or at least he was.  And the Piston's had a short run. The story lines ran out... so did their success... and our ADHD society can move on.  The Spurs have been so good, for so long.  And their leader is Tim Duncan... who is a reserved person.  Their style is slow and deliberate... not flashy at all. After a while... people don't want to watch that anymore. It's not a commentary on how good they are.  They're awesome.

Jeff:  I guess Manu cracking slams on guys, Parker whizzing through teams for acrobatic shots or breaking the ankles of other players, and Mason hitting big time shots is boring

John:  But it's not particularly entertaining to non-Spurs fans.

Well there you have it Spurs fans.  Why the Spurs are boring from the eyes of a non-Spurs fan.  Thanks to John for being a part of this.  For all your Celtics news please visit RedsArmy.com.

Please leave us your comments on if the "boring" label is warranted or not.  But for all of you who say the Spurs are boring, I will leave you with these "boring" video clips. Enjoy.





 

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written by RG, October 19, 2009
yea, fans like John are boring. the Spurs are never boring, especially with Tim, Manu, and Tony. and for those fans that want to keep calling them boring, i'll just keep embarrassing them with what i know about basketball and the exciting players the Spurs have.
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written by Jeff -- Co Founder Project Spurs, October 19, 2009
@RG

yea I usually people who don't follow the Spurs do not realize how fun Spurs games are. Now we got RJ, Blair so the excitement factor will increase.

You see that Manu dunk? NASTY!!!!!
who cares?
written by redStoolsArmy, October 19, 2009
the Celtics get a label as being a "dirty" team. i don't agree at all, but i can definitely see why people call us it. why is it so difficult to understand people call the spurs boring, even if you (as fans of the team) don't think so?
@redsarmy
written by Michael De Leon, October 19, 2009
I'm guessing because some people remember basketball as the sport James Naismith invented before SportsCenter came around. I think the people that follow basketball just for the dunks and highlights aren't real fans of the sport, because the real fans can have an appreciation for excelling at the fundamental basics in the same manner as a steal and breakaway. I think you can especially appreciate it if you've ever played basketball on a team. Even then I'm sure you've found it pretty exciting to play and watch, even though none of the 5-9 and below guys on your team can't dunk on anything aside from their nephew's fisher-price court. When I watch the game, I don't just watch the ballhandler or watch Tim Duncan work in the post, I try to watch it all and see what goes on before the scoring play happens and it's all interesting to me. And if you need highlight plays and dunks, I'm sure TP, RJ and Manu will oblige.
They don't know about bascketball
written by AT, October 19, 2009
People ya have to understand that not only the spurs but San Antonio city we are very humble our mentality Is to get in the paint win and win I like the spurs the way they are at least people don't like us bc we are dirty lol . Pols that thi k spurs are boring you all are invited to the 2010 party when the spurs win the champion ship and we can show all of yall how to party and not be boring cause San antonio knows how to party thank you and GO SPURS GO
Perception Is Everything
written by Scot McKay, October 19, 2009
Great article. The question as to why the perception of the Spurs as "boring" is so persistent is one I've thought about often.

I'd say anyone who genuinely watches the Spurs play and evaluates based on their actual game itself would see things as we do.

But the simple truth is that most NBA fans are casual observers, especially of teams other than their own.

Therefore, my guess is that the "boring" tag probably originates from several more subjective perspectives:

1) As someone mentioned, Tim Duncan as both the Spurs' most recognized all-star and a relatively deadpan persona. Admittedly, his focus on fundamentals on the court doesn't help matters. But no matter what, Timmy = Spurs to many NBA fans outside the city.

2) Simply put, in the eyes of almost everyone outside of San Antonio, TX the Spurs have too many championships in one decade for a small market team. And they're flat-out sick of it.

Remember, this is one of the smaller major sports markets in the U.S. and unlike say, a Green Bay, S. A. can't really expect to carry the rest of the state as part of it's fan base. So when the Spurs win, everyone in the country with the exception of a little over a million of us aren't enthused.

I lived in the RGV for seven years and even people there aren't really on the bandwagon like you'd expect. Certainly the Cowboys (who are twice as far away geographically) have a much stronger fan presence there.

3) As silly as it sounds, I'd dare say our greyscale uniforms have more to do with appearing "boring" than you might think. Sure the Raiders avoid looking boring in the NFL (I guess), but the Spurs haven't really been interested in cultivating a "bad boy" image to go along with all that black and silver. If anything, the reality is that we've been equated with being the exact opposite, which makes the uniform color scheme all the more incongruous.

The bottom line is that the Spurs visually occur like black and white TV in a league that's in living color otherwise.
The Best Team .... er "Boring" Team of the Decade!
written by MexiMedia, October 19, 2009
This point of view is getting pretty old. Yes, I am a bit biased as a long-time Spurs fan, but come on. Anyone who says San Antonio's style of play is "boring" is not a true fan of the game. Everyone wants to win, it's that cut & dry. And when you win a lot, you tend to have a ton of haters trying to do anything to "cry foul". If we're not boring, then we're dirty and nothing but a bunch of "floppers". Truth of the matter is, no one plays like Manu and he's easily one of the 5 best players in the league to watch (when healthy of course!). Just ask Sir Charles. And Tony Parker zipping from end to end at will? Duncan hitting clutch shots and dominating on both ends? And who can forget all the game-winning threes from Kerr, Finley, Horry, Mason, Elliott and yes, even Jaren Jackson. He had Phil Jackson going "WTF?". The way the defense collapses in unison to get a defensive stop ... the way they execute a play out of a time-out ... the way year after year all 12 players buy into the team concept (Stephen Jackson and Derek Anderson excluded)... to me, things of beauty to watch!
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written by Jeff -- Co Founder Project Spurs, October 19, 2009
All you guys are awesome for leaving comments. I tell you one thing, ask ANY knick, grizz, or even a suns fan and tell them "your team will get 4 titles if you slow the game down and focus on D." if they say they wouldn't like that and will take run and gun over winning then they are crazy
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written by Pumpkin, October 19, 2009
Of course ppl think the Spurs are boring. They are not getting arrested, raping, making threats, starting fights, etc...

Fans of other teams think the Spurs are boring because they are tired of seeing the Spurs win Championships, they are bored with the fact that their teams do not win! The Spurs are not boring, the other championshipless teams are : )
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written by david3443, October 19, 2009
Last year you could say we were exciting and where did that get us?
People who think the Spurs are boring....
written by Chris Humpherys, October 20, 2009
...don't know the first thing about thing about basketball.

Can't wait for what Pop's magic can do with RJ in the lineup.

Here's my take on the Spurs in my NBA preview.

http://sportschump.net/2009/10/19/your-2009-2010-nba-season-preview/1910/

Would love to exchange blogrolls if you're so inclined.

I could use some San Anton perspective.

Chris
http://sportschump.net
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written by Red's Army, October 20, 2009
Ok... I'll hop in and defend myself a little.

First, can we cut the comments that "people who think the Spurs are boring aren't true fans of the game." That's total crap. I'm Jeff will vouch for me on that.

Yes, the Spurs are a fundamentally wonderful team. They execute on both ends extremely well. From that perspective... it's a beautiful game of basketball they play.

But it doesn't make it "exciting".

My question is... why do you all get so worked up about the team being called "boring." The Suns are (were) exciting and they didn't win a damn thing. The Mavericks are exciting and they haven't won a damn thing. You can run down the list of exciting teams that don't win squat.

Exciting and good don't always go hand in hand. And yeah... the length of your success has something to do with it. The longer you do the same thing, with the same players, and get the same results... it gets boring after a while.

To the rest of us who aren't in love with this team.... it's generally a boring brand of basketball. It's wildly effective... consistently great... championship calibur stuff.....

.... and it's not very exciting to watch.
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written by MexiMedia, October 20, 2009
The Spurs ... so "boring" that their style and philosophy are often emulated in hopes of turning a franchise around and adopting San Antonio's winning ways. And how many disciples of Popovich and Buford get handed the reigns of a losing team in hopes of a turnaround. Lebron and Mike Brown? They'd love to be boring too!
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written by Dan Ehrlich, October 21, 2009
I'm known as one HUGE Spurs fan and always will be, regardless of whether they are boring and winning or exciting and losing (or even if they ever get to boring and losing, but let's hope this never happens!). But I really don't think Red's Army is saying anything so OUTRAGEOUS here. He is telling us he has a huge amount of respect for our franchise and its winning ways, the right way to play basketball, and he clearly means it. He is a true basketball fan in that he respects and looks up to a good team even when it's not his own team. I think we all know we are not as 'exciting' to watch as the Suns or Mavs as far as many dunks or windmill jams, players trash talking, etc. etc. but who cares?! We are a model franchise and we WIN, that's all that matters in the end of the day, and Red's Army is agreeing with that too. He is simply saying that human nature favours controversy, crazy plays, things that are considered more "enticing to watch" to the average viewer, and these are usually associated with offense, not defense. I don't really think there's anything wrong with saying that as such. In the end of the day, the Spurs are playing basketball the right way in order to win and fairly. Let's bask in the fact that we are multiple champions and are the envy of everyone in what is important - winning! GO SPURS GO!
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written by Red's Army, October 21, 2009
Dan Ehrlich... thank you. That's exactly it.

And MexiMedia, you're right... losing teams would LOVE to be boring and win. Again... I don't know why people are so caught up in the connection between boring and winning. For some reason when I say the style of play can be boring... it's heard as "the style of play sucks". It doesn't suck. It's awesome. Fundamentally, it's almost perfect.

I'll put it in a way that maybe you can understand what I'm saying better.

Which girl is more exciting: The super-hot one that always shows off cleavage, does flaming shots at the bar with you then takes you home a do you all night... but who might do the same with another guy at any given time...

or the pretty one that dresses nicely but not provocatively... that will cook, clean, take care of you when you're sick... and who is nice to hang out with but won't embarrass herself in public?

The first girl is more exciting... but you don't want her to be your wife. You want the second one for the long term. But the first one is more exciting.

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