Post by SpursGM on Dec 21, 2005 18:52:22 GMT -5
Inside: Head Coach Chris Martinez
Chris Martinez, who is also the GM of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, has been criticzed many a time for dealing superstars such as Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury for quantity not quality. Martinez simply answers back "I'm getting into the playoffs, so I must be doing something right," and that he is, only missing the playoffs twice in his 7th year tenure so far with the San Antonio franchise. While some may question his GMing ability, no one can deny his coaching ability as he has gotten sub-par teams to play like playoff contenders season after season. Not only that, he has overcome many devestating injuries to key players, and gotten his team to play even better than before.
This season is no different. With Billups admitting that he has been suffering from severe depression and than leaving the team to seek both medical treatment and a bit of "soul searching" for the first half of the season, the San Antonio Spurs were heading nowhere... or so everyone thought.
The Spurs with the emergence of PG Eric Devendorf and the suberb play of SG Dajuan Wagner and SF Hedo Turkogolu catapulted the team into 5th place in the West after a very slow start. When Billups was welcomed back into open arms, the Spurs seemed unstoppable going 8-2 in one stretch and are now sitting in third place in the West.
Though, Billups wasn't the only one suffering mentally and emotionally. Martinez has been quoted in many reports and interviews as saying that he has lost focus at times because the stress of being on the road all the time has gotten to him. With four kids to take care of at home, he feels that at times, basketball is second to his family. While deep down inside, we all know that to be true, we also all know, you don't go about saying that publicly, as Martinez has.
So the question really now is will Martinez continue his legacy? Or will he leave things un-finished, never bringing a BBS title to San Antonio? Reports have come out saying that this in fact will be his last season with the team. Other reports are saying that Martinez has found himself once again and his interest in basketball as at an all-time high.
If Chris Martinez does in fact leave, do not be suprised if teams come ringing his phone off the hook and entice him to come back a-la Jeff Van Gundy. Martinez has said the day he retires, is the day the Spurs win a championship. While many people do not see the Spurs winning it all this year, Martinez may be seeing things differently... only time will tell.
Chris Martinez, who is also the GM of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, has been criticzed many a time for dealing superstars such as Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury for quantity not quality. Martinez simply answers back "I'm getting into the playoffs, so I must be doing something right," and that he is, only missing the playoffs twice in his 7th year tenure so far with the San Antonio franchise. While some may question his GMing ability, no one can deny his coaching ability as he has gotten sub-par teams to play like playoff contenders season after season. Not only that, he has overcome many devestating injuries to key players, and gotten his team to play even better than before.
This season is no different. With Billups admitting that he has been suffering from severe depression and than leaving the team to seek both medical treatment and a bit of "soul searching" for the first half of the season, the San Antonio Spurs were heading nowhere... or so everyone thought.
The Spurs with the emergence of PG Eric Devendorf and the suberb play of SG Dajuan Wagner and SF Hedo Turkogolu catapulted the team into 5th place in the West after a very slow start. When Billups was welcomed back into open arms, the Spurs seemed unstoppable going 8-2 in one stretch and are now sitting in third place in the West.
Though, Billups wasn't the only one suffering mentally and emotionally. Martinez has been quoted in many reports and interviews as saying that he has lost focus at times because the stress of being on the road all the time has gotten to him. With four kids to take care of at home, he feels that at times, basketball is second to his family. While deep down inside, we all know that to be true, we also all know, you don't go about saying that publicly, as Martinez has.
So the question really now is will Martinez continue his legacy? Or will he leave things un-finished, never bringing a BBS title to San Antonio? Reports have come out saying that this in fact will be his last season with the team. Other reports are saying that Martinez has found himself once again and his interest in basketball as at an all-time high.
If Chris Martinez does in fact leave, do not be suprised if teams come ringing his phone off the hook and entice him to come back a-la Jeff Van Gundy. Martinez has said the day he retires, is the day the Spurs win a championship. While many people do not see the Spurs winning it all this year, Martinez may be seeing things differently... only time will tell.
