Now that we are in the final month of the year, we at Sparty & Friends are taking a look back at the very best from this first decade of the 21st century in professional and college sports. We may be a little bit early with these lists, so they could change. How are we early? Because the 2009-10 sports season doesn’t conclude until June. What I am saying is this: whoever wins the Super Bowl, NBA Title, Stanley Cup Finals, the BCS, or the NCAA Mens and Womens Basketball Titles gets credited to this first decade. Meaning, if you won a title in the 1999-2000, it actually gets credited back to the 90s. You follow? Good. However, if your entire season took place in the year 2000, you get credit for this current decade. Still got it? Good. Remember this is mostly subjective, so don’t get too bent out of shape…even though I am right.

3 NBA Championships

5 Western Conference Finals Appearances

6 Southwest Division Titles

58 wins per season

.709 Win Pct

Never finished lower than 2nd in the Division all decade.

There are arguments for any of our top 3 to be number 1. The Spurs were the most consistent of all the teams that are remaining. They never missed post-season play, and never had to squeak-in to make the playoffs. They were title contenders each and every season during the naughts. They were spearheaded by the best coach in the NBA, Greg Popovich, and the best power forward of all-time, Tim Duncan. Another piece of the puzzle in San Antonio was their decision to embrace seasoned players from overseas as major components in their lineup, such as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs relied on a methodical offense, and a lockdown defense to help secure their status as one of the very best dynasties of the last 20 years.

The Spurs first title this decade was in 2003, as they ended the Lakers dominance of them and the association in the Western Conference Finals. They would go on to the NBA Finals and beat the New Jersey Nets, 4-2. T

It looked like the Spurs would be primed for another NBA Finals run the following year, after grabbing a 2-0 lead against the Lakers in the West Finals, but that Laker team would storm back to win the next 4 games, ending the Spurs chance at a repeat.

The next season, the Spurs would win their 2nd title of the decade, in a hard fought battle against the defending champion Pistons in 7 games. The Spurs looked like they might lose control of the series in Detroit, but won game five in OT, thanks in part to a huge Robert Horry 3-pointer.

The Spurs would once again fail to repeat as they would take a season off before returning to the NBA Finals in 2007. The Spurs would face the upstart Cleveland Cavaliers, led by superstar LeBron James. However, the Spurs would easily dispatch of their Finals foe in a 4 game sweep.

Many believed the Spurs would once again have a strong chance at repeating, but failed to do so, as they once again lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

The lack of a 4th title or a repeat title during the decade is what keeps the Spurs out of the top 2 spots on our countdown, but there is no denying that they do belong in the upper echelon of the decade due to their excellent consistency and championship victories.

10. Louisiana State University Tigers Football
9. UNC Tar Heels Basketball
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Southern Cal Trojans Football
6. University of Tennessee Lady Vols
5. Detroit Red Wings
4. UConn Huskies Women’s Basketball

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