Stephen Jackson and The Spurs

[twinthunder3]

Funny how he went from a 1st option to a bench player. But he's finally playing on a legit contender for once, perhaps he wanted a championship all along regardless of his role.

[NyCeEvO]

People seem to forget that Jackson left the Spurs, the team that gave him a chance in the NBA, developed him and made him part of a successful team because he wanted more money. Jackson has developed himself into a journeyman and occasional team cancer out of choice.

This.

A lot of people have forgotten that Jackson won with the Spurs in 02-03. He's much older now and (according to him) just cares about winning. The Spurs are winning so you're not hearing a peep out of him.

[Gomes3PC]

He is a good player on a winning team but on a losing team he is one of the last guys you want on a team.

So a poor man's, basketball version of Randy Moss?

[microfib4thewin]

I think the Diaw situation is completely different. Diaw didn't have the skills the Bobcats needed and they didn't appreciate what he did do. A losing culture can have a big effect on veteran players. San Antonio saw the skills he had and utilizes him in that role. Diaw has never been a problem on teams except when they wanted him to be more than he is.

Diaw came to camp out of shape in Phoenix, and this was after he signed a 45 mil extension. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and blame Diaw's shortcomings solely on the Bobcats.

[sonictecture]

One would have liked a little more commitment from Diaw after receiving an new contract, but the truth is Phoenix had a responsibility to monitor their players in the off season. What kind of organization hands out $45M and says see you in 3 months?

There have been plenty of players to come into camp out of shape. There is a difference between off season commitment to the team and Stephen Jackson's legacy.

I maintain Diaw's and Jackson's circumstances are different.

[DFolks]

Stephen Jackson was such a huge cancer on the Bucks. Just awful. He needs to act like a professional and play hard no matter the situation. 99% of the league does it. The fact that he may get a ring because he quit on the Bucks is disgusting.

He wasn't great for the Bucks but I don't he think he ever quit on them.

[doc.end]

It's not really fair. Jackson was a total cancer on the Bucks and now he's playing team ball. Diaw was as big as an elephant on the Bobcats and now he looks and plays like and all-star.

Implying that it is random chance/luck/fairness that made Jackson and Diaw shape up, and not the professional and winning environment that the Spurs organization has steady constructed since dumping Rodman ages ago.

Stephen Jackson is like Crazy Tom from Ender's Game. Around a bunch of losers he gets angry and acts out, but under strong leadership he stays controlled and professional..

it's Parker in Diaw's case.

[Bucksfans1and2]

It's not really fair. Jackson was a total cancer on the Bucks and now he's playing team ball. Diaw was as big as an elephant on the Bobcats and now he looks and plays like and all-star.

Implying that it is random chance/luck/fairness that made Jackson and Diaw shape up, and not the professional and winning environment that the Spurs organization has steady constructed since dumping Rodman ages ago.

Stephen Jackson is like Crazy Tom from Ender's Game. Around a bunch of losers he gets angry and acts out, but under strong leadership he stays controlled and professional..

High Five for Orson Scott Card Novel's.

[AnaheimRoyale]

Some teams understand players roles, and put them in situations where they can win. Other teams like the Knicks (pre-Woodson) or Lakers under Mike Brown (thanks to Kobe) try and force guys into roles they've preconceived as desirable, or ask more from the player than is reasonable. Popp doesn't do that. Fans don't get it, which is why nobody understands Blair riding the pine now except Spurs fans.

[methdefense]

He was a cancer in the end Warrior stint. Ask for contract extension and got it. Then force his way out. But everything was already said about the Spurs and it's player management. If I was a rookie, Spurs should be the number 1 destination in terms of player development and leadership.

[Jase]

Gregg Pop. That is all.

Pretty much sums up the thread. Jax openly respects Pops and Duncan, and it shows in his behavior.

[Jimmy Recard]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFU-wXsRhic[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmR7a89wYG8[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q15sGu5xYg8[/youtube]

[ReturnofMVP3]

Good explanations. I am happy for him, he seems crazy but deep down a good guy

[NewYorkWarmth37]

Jackson loves Pop and has a close relationship with Duncan..along with going back to Texas, those are the 3 factors that have led to Jackson accepting a team role..

As for Diaw, as somebody already mentioned, Tony Parker is the primary attribute for Diaw's resurgence..Parker and Diaw are best friends, and they have wanted to play together since they were teenagers..Popovich loves stretch bigs, and Diaw is almost the perfect fit for this team..

[Blame Rasho]

"'Jack’s pretty much been a Boy Scout most of his career and I look forward to fun conversations and humor and many good times with young Stephen,' Popovich responded."

[Blame Rasho]

From Jacksons own words... from a Jazz beat writer.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazzn ... n.html.csp

Jackson on how Tim Duncan has changed and stayed the same: Still weird. Still crazy. Still an action junkie. Tim has been — he's the same guy when I was here last time. A leader. Only thing he cares about is winning. Ultimate team player; doesn't mind passing the ball. He's just, like, everything in the back, especially on defense. You know you're going to get beat, you know Tim's going to be there. I know a lot of times when I get frustrated — even Tony [Parker's] taken a role now of talking to me, keeping me focused in the game. But Tim's been great, man. I don't expect anything less. And he's the same guy ever since I met him.

What's it meant to have Duncan stand by him after everything he's been through: Well, because Tim's a real guy. He's a real dude. What you see is what you get, and that's how I am. And he knows that about me. He knows that I'm one of those guys that — I'm a very humble guy. I'm just real humble about having the talent of basketball and the gift of basketball and he knows anything I do is about me being competitive and wanting to win, and he knows that. And that's one person that know me better than anybody. And I think he's never let that — that hasn't changed, even though I've made some mistakes in my career, he knows my heart. And that's one guy I consider a close friend of mine.

Has Duncan heard him rap: No, he hasn't. But he has both of my CDs. And I didn't ask for them, so that was a good thing. He asked for them.

Does Duncan have them just to be nice: Tim's never nice to me. That's one thing. He's never nice to me. He's always real with me, and that's the relationship we have. He knows that basketball's first and rap is always just a hobby — it's nothing that I'll put before basketball and he understands that.

How he's changed since his first run with Spurs: I've grown as a player. I've grown as a man. I've grown as a teammate. I've gotten a lot smarter in my basketball game on both ends of the court. And the older I get, the more coachable I become. I'm more able to play roles and understand situations and stuff like that. I've just matured over the years and been happy with the way my life has been going and the career I've had so far.

[phx#7]

One would have liked a little more commitment from Diaw after receiving an new contract, but the truth is Phoenix had a responsibility to monitor their players in the off season. What kind of organization hands out $45M and says see you in 3 months?

The Suns have made their fair share of poor choices over the years but you can't blame them for Diaw going Super Size Me in the offseason. Teams don't have control over what players do in offseason.

[ReturnofMVP3]

From Jacksons own words... from a Jazz beat writer.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazzn ... n.html.csp

Jackson on how Tim Duncan has changed and stayed the same: Still weird. Still crazy. Still an action junkie. Tim has been — he's the same guy when I was here last time. A leader. Only thing he cares about is winning. Ultimate team player; doesn't mind passing the ball. He's just, like, everything in the back, especially on defense. You know you're going to get beat, you know Tim's going to be there. I know a lot of times when I get frustrated — even Tony [Parker's] taken a role now of talking to me, keeping me focused in the game. But Tim's been great, man. I don't expect anything less. And he's the same guy ever since I met him.

What's it meant to have Duncan stand by him after everything he's been through: Well, because Tim's a real guy. He's a real dude. What you see is what you get, and that's how I am. And he knows that about me. He knows that I'm one of those guys that — I'm a very humble guy. I'm just real humble about having the talent of basketball and the gift of basketball and he knows anything I do is about me being competitive and wanting to win, and he knows that. And that's one person that know me better than anybody. And I think he's never let that — that hasn't changed, even though I've made some mistakes in my career, he knows my heart. And that's one guy I consider a close friend of mine.

Has Duncan heard him rap: No, he hasn't. But he has both of my CDs. And I didn't ask for them, so that was a good thing. He asked for them.

Does Duncan have them just to be nice: Tim's never nice to me. That's one thing. He's never nice to me. He's always real with me, and that's the relationship we have. He knows that basketball's first and rap is always just a hobby — it's nothing that I'll put before basketball and he understands that.

How he's changed since his first run with Spurs: I've grown as a player. I've grown as a man. I've grown as a teammate. I've gotten a lot smarter in my basketball game on both ends of the court. And the older I get, the more coachable I become. I'm more able to play roles and understand situations and stuff like that. I've just matured over the years and been happy with the way my life has been going and the career I've had so far.

Great read thanks

[Wooderson]

Gregg Pop. That is all.

Timmy Duncan.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/ ... /index.htm

8 Captain Jack

In 2001, when Stephen Jackson was in his second year and Duncan in his fourth, Jackson used to get so mad when he was subbed out of the game that he'd walk in a giant arc to the bench, nearly reaching the opposite baseline in an attempt to stay as far from Popovich as possible. Once seated, Jackson would unleash a stream of profanity so curdling that nearby fans would turn ashen. When it got to be too much, Duncan would approach Popovich. "I got him," Duncan would say.

And the funny thing is, Duncan did. He'd take Jackson aside, put a big, lanky arm around him and break it down. He'd joke with him, hang with him, make plans to play paintball with him. They made for an odd couple: Duncan, one of the squarest players in the league, and Jackson, who never met a club he couldn't close down, a team he couldn't tear apart or a bottle he couldn't pop.

This season, after an 11-year separation as Jackson moved from one team to another, seven in all, the two men are reunited in pursuit of another championship, and this is what Jackson has to say about Duncan: "I'm humbled to be able to say that Tim Duncan is a good friend of mine."

[LionOfLannister]

Who cares if he behaves. He is terrible on the court these days.