Why America Hates the Spurs

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Talking Points

Today's hot topics with The Post's Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon and Sports Editor Cindy Boren.

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Like Holmes, they have learned that coming after the greatest is more burden than blessing.

In succeeding Jordan, the Spurs have not just taken out their share of white hopes (dumping Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas, bloodying and hip-checking Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns out of the playoffs in consecutive years); they're the small-market spoilers, annually crushing a young superstar's dreams.

Before Paul, the Spurs outlasted Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's dysfunctional dynasty; they swept aside the league's new golden child, LeBron James, in four games last June; and they have played in some of the most ratings-challenged NBA Finals in memory, including a yawner against the Nets in 2003.

If they can send a reinvigorated Bryant and the Lakers packing in the Western Conference finals, they will have successfully removed Shaq and Kobe from the playoffs again while simultaneously ruining the best Finals story line David Stern could imagine:

Lakers-Celtics Redux -- Kobe and the Lake Show vs. Kevin Garnett and Boston, 21 years after Magic's junior sky hook buried Bird.

What is it about the Spurs, always beating the players and teams America wants to see win?

"Part of it is the selling of the sensational," Bowen said. "Like: 'Oh my gosh! Look at that guy pound his chest after he made that basket.' We're not Vegas. We don't have this me-against-the-world attitude. But that's what sells now. So they need to come up with labels for us."

Like, boring and dirty?

"Exactly," Bowen added. "Look at Robert Horry. In San Antonio he's a dirty player. But he wasn't dirty when he played in L.A. Why is that?"

Indeed, Horry was a clutch player for the Lakers who took and made all the pressure shots. But in San Antonio, the player known as Big Shot Rob has suddenly become "Cheap Shot Bob," as Yahoo Sports's Adrian Wojnarowski dubbed Horry after the veteran had the temerity to set a back pick on David West, a Hornets player with a bad back, who went down in Game 6 almost as hard as New Orleans in Game 7.

"Look at my reputation. It's easy to say, 'He's dirty,' " Bowen said. "But what defines dirty? Because I play defense against a guy whose job is to score on me at will? You don't see me going out hitting anyone, but it's amazing when you deal with certain darlings in the league and the perception that they're supposed to score."

Another reason the country turns on San Antonio is because of Duncan's unemotional on-court demeanor. He makes Alan Greenspan look like a hard partyer. Spock on antidepressants is more exciting.

But the real reason is that the Spurs continue to resemble the old geezers who show up at the YMCA each weekend, yell "Next!" and somehow figure out a way to hold the court against a bunch of uppity kids. After three straight blowouts in New Orleans, their season on the brink, the Spurs again made do in Game 7.

They basically made younger, superior athletes with fresher legs play their way, slowing down the game, making every possession count. It was like taking a hyperactive kid off his medication, until he became so antsy and frustrated he didn't know what to do except sulk and go away. They specialize in making supernovas burn out before their time. And like Barkley said, they won't die.

Poor Kobe. He's got next.