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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

What was the top moment of the Spurs dynasty?

by Ted Bauer

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His voice is funny. His game was straight serious.

TOP MOMENT OF THE SPURS DYNASTY? TOUGH ONE, BUT WE'LL TAKE (ODDLY) AVERY JOHNSON

What is All-World Power Rankings?

Spurs had this whole thing going: win titles in odd years ('03, '05, '07). If you're a big math nerd, you know the next item in that pattern would be '09. Lo and behold, though, they got bounced in the first round last night by the Mavericks, 4-1. There are a lot of things you can very easily say, specifically about the lack of Manu, but the fact is, there probably aren't a ton of people outside the Riverwalk who are gonna stroll into Caesar's next October and put a future on the Spurs for '10. Is the dynasty over? Perhaps. If it is (we could be wrong; we often are), it seems a good time to look back at some of the defining moments of the run. As always, if you disagree, e-mail us here. A good place to start your own search for Spurs' dynastic moments is right here.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (145) AVERY JOHNSON'S THREE-BALL IN 1999 You can watch it as No. 1 on the video here. We take it as No. 1 because '99 was their first title, this shot happened in Game 5 (the final game of that series), and how semi-awkward is it that Avery Johnson, who would later coach the Mavericks, hits arguably the biggest three-ball in Spurs history? Bonus for discussion: when Pop retires, assuming Avery isn't doing wonders with the T-Wolves or something, will he get that gig?
2 (102) ROBERT HORRY IN 2005 FINALS, GAME 5 There are two seminal moments for Horry in this game, which you can find around the 3:03 mark of this video: the hammer dunk and the game-wrapping three-ball. Bonus for discussion: who in Hollywood would you equate Horry to? Like, if you made a movie about Horry, who would have to play him for it to be believable appearance-wise and logistics-wise?
3 (84) STEVE KERR IN 2003 CONFERENCE FINALS, GAME 6 Go to the :25 mark of this video and you'll find it. We like it for the Avery reason too: Kerr isn't necessarily a guy you automatically associate with San Antonio, but they get contributions from everyone. Bruce Bowen did a similar thing against the Lakers in Game 2 of the '03 Conference Semis (six three-balls), but we picked this because it was one round later. You want to remember what Bowen did, go to 1:50ish on this "vid" and smile fondly. Bonus: if you consider Kerr a less-than-good GM, how is that possible given his time in this organization?
4 (71) MANU IN THE 2005 NBA FINALS, GAME 7 Our friend at work has a joke, which you have to see in person to think is funny, about how everyone knowing Manu is gonna iso left, but no one being able to stop him. There are millions of examples of Manu just owning people on drives to the hole, but around the 1:00 mark here is him splitting the D in Game 7 against the 'Stons. Impressive. Bonus: would you classify Manu as more important to the Spurs than Duncan? Controversial, right? Think about it.
5 (920) TONY PARKER OFF THE GLASS, GAME 2 IN 2007 Parker had a ridic Finals in 2007. For evidence, watch this entire video. The play we're talking about is No. 2. Cavs had no business being in those Finals, right? Shoulda been an '05 rematch. Bonus: what do you think Parker's relationship with Teri Hatcher is? What do they talk about?

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
12 (404) SEAN ELLIOTT "MEMORIAL DAY MIRACLE" Watch this. Probably should be higher, honestly.
28 (99) PARKER TO BOWEN OVER KOBE IN 2003 Go to 1:18 here. We won't say Kobe got owned, because he was ahead of the play, but it's pretty sweet regardless.

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
ANYTHING ROGER MASON (Dude is the leader of the new Spurs dynasty.)
LAST NIGHT (So sad.)


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