In a franchise that has no time for spotlights, with a roster that has no interest in headlines, R.C. Buford may be the very embodiment of the all-for-one San Antonio Spurs. For more than two decades he has toiled in the shadows, happy to let the attention fall on coach Gregg Popovich and the team that Buford has played such a pivotal role in assembling. He quietly -- happily -- lives in the back channels and has built a reputation as one of the most respected executives in the NBA. Yet for all his impressive work over the previous 11 years as a general manager and architect of the most enduring success story in modern American sports, Buford had never been honoured by his peers as the leagues executive of the year. Until now. Buford won the award Wednesday, and as is the custom in the Alamo City, did as much as he could to downplay his significant contributions to a team that posted the best record in the NBA. "I think its not why we do what we do," Buford said. "I think its a great honour for the group of people that have been here and have been through here that have built and an ownership group thats allowed a continuity to build a program that were proud of so to be recognized as a program that people respect by your peers, thats rewarding." That Buford had never won the award before while helping to put together a team that won four championships and has posted a staggering 15 straight 50-win seasons has been one of the great mysteries in league annals. Hes helped put the Spurs at the forefront of the international invasion, implemented a system that demands commitment and humility over recognition and individual achievement, and has been partly responsible for so many teams pilfering his staff to run front offices or teams across the league. Yet he may have finally earned the award in his 12th season as GM because of what he didnt do. In the wake of a devastating loss to Miami in the NBA Finals last season, Buford didnt panic. He didnt give up on an aging Manu Ginobili. He didnt let Tiago Splitter get lured away by big money elsewhere. He followed the Spurs creed: Stay the course. Believe in the system. Never give in to outside influence. While other teams chased huge stars and made big splashes, Buford quietly re-signed Ginobili and Splitter and added second-tier free agent Marco Belinelli. The moves werent flashy, but were exactly what the Spurs, who enter Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Friday night leading Portland 1-0, needed to recover from that bitter defeat. "Its pretty cool," Popovich said. "Were all excited for him; long overdue. Hes done a great job for a very long time. Were giving him the requisite amount of you-know-what all over the offices. He walks down the halls we hit the walls we hit the sides to make room for him." Buford received nine first-place votes and 58 total points to win the award. Phoenixs Ryan McDonough (47) finished second for his superb job in turning the Suns from an afterthought into a 48-win team that just missed the playoffs. Neil Olshey, who added Robin Lopez, Dorell Wright and Thomas Robinson to bolster the Trail Blazers depth and get them into the playoffs, finished third in the voting with 34 points. Torontos Masai Ujiri and Miamis Pat Riley rounded out the top five. Popovich and Buford have made the Spurs the envy of the league, assembling one of the most uniquely stable systems in professional sports built around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili, a trio that has won three championships together and keep coming back for more. "Weve been working with each other for a long time," Popovich said. "We participate in everything. Its been a great relationship in that regard. We share everything its benefited both of us and the organization without a doubt. Just having that ability to communicate and having an owner that allows us to do that." Popovich gets more of the credit for making the Spurs machine go, and thats just fine with Buford. But most around the league, and certainly everyone in San Antonio, recognizes what a big role Buford has played in helping the Spurs avoid the teardowns that almost every franchise has endured since he and Pop took over. "You recognize how difficult that is and how fortunate weve been that an ownership group has allowed us to stay together and have the opportunity to survive through the growing pains," Buford said. "To have a group of players that have wanted to be a part of what this community of San Antonio and what our fans mean to them. To have wanted to stay with an ownership group the sacrifices that theyve made to make this a unique environment and then how theyve handled themselves that presents a platform that other players want to come join. "Again, were not in this to win an award. Were in this to try to win a championship. Thats the reward were all hoping for." 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"Its been a house of horrors for us for a long time," manager Walt Weiss said. "Its great to see us winning some games here, some tight games, some games that in the past we used to lose, those one-run games like tonight." Matzek did his part, and his defence turned four double plays. "Weve got a great defence," Matzek said. "They played well tonight. Its good to go out there and help the team win." In his 14th major league start and first facing the Giants, Matzek (3-9) won for the first time since beating Pittsburgh on July 26 and recorded his first victory versus the division. The left-hander won away from Coors Field for the first time in eight road appearances and seven starts after beginning 0-5. Matzek outdueled Jake Peavy (2-4), who had won his previous two starts following three straight losses after being acquired in a trade from Boston on July 26. Matzek was efficient in a 90-pitch outing. Justin Morneau and Corey Dickerson hit sacrifice flies for the Rockies, who earned just their fourth road win in 27 games since sweeping a three-game series at AT&T Park from June 13-15. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was ejected in the eighth by plate umpire Doug Eddings for arguing a called third strike on Buster Posey. Bochy removed his hat in frustration from the dugout and got tossed before he even got out to argue. He left to chants of "Bochy! Bochy!" "Thats a critical pitch," Bochy said. "You got Posey up there and thats a tough way to end that at-bat." Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth and LaTroy Hawkins finished for his 21st save in 22 opportunities. Colorado tied it in the fourth following consecutive wild throws for erroors by shortstop Brandon Crawford, then Peavys balk that scored a run.ddddddddddddCrawfords 20 errors lead the majors at his position. "I was just picking my leg up. Morneau couldnt have timed it any better," Peavy said. "As I was picking my leg up he started to go and everybody (was saying) step off, step off. I tried to hop off the back of the mound." Andrew Susac homered for the Giants, who missed a chance at their first three-game home winning streak since taking five straight from May 28-June 8. They saved a run on replay review in the seventh. Bochy challenged that D.J. LeMahieu beat Susacs tag on a close play at the plate. Right fielder Hunter Pence threw home on Charlie Blackmons two-out single. The call was overturned in 2 minutes, 48 seconds, ending the inning. Peavy was irate initially. "A crazy night all the way around," he said. PLAYER OF THE WEEK Rockies INF Nolan Arenado was named NL Player of the Week after going 12 for 22 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. "It means a lot," Arenado said. "Its nice to be noticed when you have some success. The credit goes to my teammates for me getting the opportunities." TRAINERS ROOM Rockies: C Wilin Rosario was not in the starting lineup for the fourth straight day with a sore left wrist. He tested the injury before the game in the batting cage. "Im still feeling it, but its not as bad as it was," he said. "Any day could be the day (to return)." Giants: 2B Marco Scutaro will miss the remainder of the season with a recurring strained back that has limited him to five games all season. He is home in Florida resting. ... 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) wont do baseball activity for another couple of weeks. He hasnt played since Aug. 6. C Hector Sanchez was in Pittsburgh being evaluated for his own concussion. UP NEXT Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (13-8, 4.21 ERA) looks to win his third straight start. He has lost his last four to San Francisco. Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.17) makes his fifth start of 2014 against the Rockies having gone 1-1. 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