The Dark Horse?

The NBA playoff run is causing for teams to play to a higher level than earlier in the season. In the East, the Boston Celtic’s gamble of bringing in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen has paid off in spades, while the Detroit Pistons are continually playing up to their yearly expectations.

The powerful West Conference is not disappointing with perennial veterans like Kobe Bryant leading the Lakers back to the top and the new comers like New Orlean’s Chris Paul bringing the hope to the Hornets. However, with all the attention going to the Celtics, LeBron single handedly leading the Cavaliers, and Houston’s seventeen game winning streak, there is one team everyone is forgetting about, the San Antonio Spurs. Quietly, the Spurs who were forgotten about in the first half of the season have managed to rack up the third best record in the league and first in the dominant West. Oh by the way, they have won twelve straight.

Why do I do this ever year? Every year I sit back watching the NBA and seem to forget that the third team from Texas has the best winning percentage of any team in professional sports. Yes, better than the Patriots, Yankees and Red Sox. We forget San Antonio because of its lack of marketable superstars.

The NBA is a league of superstars and a game based more on personal performances over teamwork. The casual NBA fan associates with players more than the teams they play for. This is through marketing, advertising and television exposure.

Let’s face it, Tim Duncan pulling down 11.6 rebounds a game is not as exciting to see on Sports Center as LeBron driving and dunking over three guys. Because of this and Duncan’s mild mannered off court personality, marketers and advertisers do not give him the big marketing deals other superstars get. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili although more exciting to watch than Duncan, are also not promoted highly because they are seen more as international players with less appeal to the American public.

Despite this the Spurs have continued to play under the radar and are posed to make another run at an NBA title this season. So watch out NBA coming in unknown the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.