While there have been many legendary teams in the NBA over the years, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola believes the 2014 San Antonio Spurs are the best. In addition to complimenting the 2014 Spurs, Guardiola said he is “hopeful” that the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics will emulate his favorite team.
The Tim Duncan-led team eventually went 62-20 and won the franchise’s fifth title. After losing the previous year, they were able to redeem themselves by facing LeBron James’ Miami Heat in the championship game. One reason fans root for certain teams could be because of their underdog status or because of a group of multiple All-Stars.
But when asked which NBA team is his favourite, the Manchester City manager said the Spurs’ unselfish style of play stood out during his interview on Men in Blazers. “I’ve never seen anyone play basketball better than that [2014] “They are a great team,” Guardiola said. “The last Spurs title is the best of all time. The choral movement of the ball, the fact that they are not completely selfless… Now I hope that the Celtics and my friend Joe Mazzulla can continue this legacy.”
In the past, championship teams have won NBA titles by relying entirely on the talent and performance of their star players. While Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili were still part of Guardiola’s beloved Spurs team, their playing days were numbered. They also had Kawhi Leonard at the time, but he wasn’t the two-way superstar most people know. Coach Greg Popovich liked to have every player on the roster involved in the offense rather than focusing on the four athletes.
To achieve the best results in the playoffs, he skillfully used the team’s exceptional depth and strengths. Some fans thought the Celtics’ path to the 2024 title was reminiscent of the Spurs’ victorious team. They were a difficult team to face in previous playoffs because of their commitment to cooperation, use of their spacing, and maintain defensive chemistry.
They have only lost three games, including the NBA Finals, because the club played with determination and determination. At a press conference about the NBA Finals, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised the knowledge Guardiola imparted in some of their conversations.
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