Anyone who's anyone on the Internet has a running commentary. A blog if you will. Well, I figured since the Magic have been home
barbequing for about two months now, I needed something to keep my basketball juices going. So what better way to fill up some writing
space, than come up with a cheap gimmick and write about the NBA Finals? Think about it. This could be the best NBA finals no one's gonna
watch. This is the best basketball showdown since the days of Magic, Worthy, Isiah, a sane Dennis Rodman, and a completely insane Bill Lambeer (at least without Magic and Isiah making out before every game).
The Spurs and Pistons are going to give basketball die-hards around the world a great show. Meanwhile, casual fans will flip the channel looking for "O.C." and "Veronica Mars" repeats. Sadly, most fans relish offensive basketball (I even wrote an entire article about this), and will miss out on a great basketball series between the leagues top two defensive teams.
Anyway, here's a look at how the series unfolded. A day or two after each game, check back here for exclusive commentary about the game and a few other tidbits that I find interesting. So without further ado, here's my finals blog.
Game 1 SA 84 DET 69 Alright, I'll admit, I could hardly contain myself leading up to tip-off. I watched WWE Smackdown and Tommy Hilfiger's new reality series "The Cut" anxiously trying to buy time while ABC took three hours to introduce the players. I half expected them to give a shout out to the ball boys and equipment managers just so they could keep their ratings high for as long as possible. As soon as the ball went into the air, you just know casual fans would run away from this game like KeyShawn Johnson runs from defensive contact.
And to those that did turn away, you missed a great game. Every shot was contested, forcing players to elevate their game. The finals may not have the star power of Shaq, Kobe, or Wade, but it does have two way basketball.
If you look closely at the beginning of the game, the Spurs guards thought they were going to get around the Pistons defenders as easy as they did against Denver, Seattle, and Phoenix. That is until they realized that the Pistons had longer arms and covered a lot of space. As a result, the Pistons caused turnovers early and frustrated guys like Ginobili, Parker, and Barry. The Spurs, seeing that they needed to elevate their game, changed things up a bit and started to get into the lane.
It was a thing of beauty to see the adjustments by both teams throughout the game. Everybody hustled, everybody defended (17 blocks between them), and both teams' offense had to step it up a notch to get the best of their defender.
And if you didn't know, defense is contagious. You think any coach other than Gregg Popovich or Larry Brown could have gotten a guy like Glenn "Shoot Til Your Tired" Robinson to play defense as well as he did in his brief stint in game one?
I'm so hyped about this series, I can barely control myself. This years Finals are about team basketball. The way it should be. Sure, there are guys in this series that could easily score 25 on any given night, but they all sacrifice part of their games in order to help out their teammates.
The Pistons started hot early, but quickly fizzled after the Spurs settled down. You just know that Brown and the Pistons will make some adjustments. Similarly, you know Popovich has a counter punch just waiting.
Should make for a great game 2.
Game 2 SA 97 DET 76 That sound you hear is David Stern pounding his head on his million dollar desk. From an entertainment standpoint, game 2 was about as entertaining as watching paint dry. I flipped pass bass fishing on ESPN and it was more suspenseful than Sunday's game. Needless to say, ratings are down. So down that they're actually thinking about canceling the finals in place of "Desperate Housewives" repeats. Alright that's a joke, but you get my point. Put it this way, if this series goes seven, we might have to put Stern on suicide watch.
Personally, I loved the game. I'll admit, however, that it was a little hard to watch, what with the Pistons missing 10 shots from four feet or less away from the basket. Eighth graders could have made more lay-ups than the Pistons did in game 2. With their missed shots and inability to stop the Spurs backcourt, it's no wonder why this series has been so one sided thus far.
And let me say that if the NBA really wants to get out of the gutter, they need to start promoting guys like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Stern and the NBA has been their own worst enemy when it comes to marketing players. They promote the bad boy image and yet complain that fans aren't watching. Truth is if they actually advertised guys like Ginobili instead of Iverson, casual fans just might come back. Don't get me wrong, Iverson is a great player and an even better person (very misunderstood), but on the service, he epitomizes everything that the league has complained about. With corn rolls, tattoos, and a "gangster" persona, the NBA is only advertising to one demographic (mostly the non paying kind). A guy like Ginobili who has a world of talent, is cleaner cut, AND brings an international fan base. Iverson might move more jersey's than Ginobili ever will, but Ginobili is more of a long term solution for the leagues image.
Anyway, back to the game. I sure hope that high school basketball coaches everywhere had their VCR's set to record Sunday's game. Great ball movement, V-cuts, accurate pick and rolls, boxing out, and solid defense is a thing of the past in the NBA. In game 2, the Spurs ran a fundamental basketball clinic. And as great as the Pistons defense has been over the past two seasons, they just haven't found a way to stop the Spurs. They have been a step slow to every rotation and have lacked the desire and focus through the first two games. Their staple has always been their blue collar approach to the game, but thus far, they've been out-hustled for every loose ball and every offensive rebound. They've let Ginobili run circles around their defense and simply haven't played with the fire and determination that carried them through the past two seasons.
Now the series shifts to the Palace where crazy Detroit fans will come out in droves. The Pistons will be more in their element at home, and it's going to be really tough for the Spurs to win. With three straight games in the Motor City, the Spurs have to be very careful. They HAVE to get at least one game in Michigan. For those who don't remember, the Pistons won all three home games last year against the Lakers on the way to their first title since the early nineties. If the Spurs get comfortable, they might come back to San Antonio facing an elimination game, and I know Coach Gregg Popovich won't stand for that.
I'm looking forward to game 3. I don't think I can say the same about David Stern.
Game 3 DET 96 SA 79 Wow, what a game! Even a basketball purist like me will admit that Tuesday's game was very hard to watch. I barely stayed awake for the entire game. But I made it through, so here are some notes from game 3.
- Highlight of the night: Al Michaels revealing that he owned an IPOD and Stewart Scott didn't. I'm not quite sure what I should do with this information.
- Highlight of the night that no one noticed but me: Rip Hamilton changing his headband between halves from red to blue. Needless to say, I was looking for anything to keep me entertained.
- Most annoying part of playing in the Palace: DEEEE-TROIT BASSSSKETTTBALLLLL!!!!!
- According to ABC, there's an "Invasion" coming.
- How about Stevie Wonder's performance during the pre-game? He looked a little too ecstatic by an event he can't even see. Alright, that was a bit insensitive, but you know what I mean. The funniest Stevie moment was when they showed him at the end of the game it was if he knew the camera was on him. He quickly moved into Stevie Wonder mode. He was completely insane. I was dozing off by this time so watching it actually scared me a little bit.
- The cameras also showed David Stern mid-way through the game, and he looked comatose. He couldn't look more depressed. He must have looked at the ratings for the first two games.
All jokes aside (at least for now), the Pistons played a very solid game; they really didn't have a choice. Their defense was intense and they finally started making the shots they missed in games 1 and 2. Ben Wallace set the tone early with a steal on the opening possession, and the Pistons never looked back. Rip and Billups finally woke up, and Rasheed really gave the team an emotional lift. The Spurs looked rattled by the Pistons defense and I guess now we have a series.
The stat of the night by far was the fast break advantage the Pistons had over the Spurs (20-4). With Detroit's full court defense and half court traps, the Spurs looked like fifth graders learning to dribble with their left hand. The Spurs really shot themselves in the foot. I've never seen so many turnovers in such a short period of time. It was as if the Spurs players were channeling Steve Francis.
On another note, I tried my best not to talk about it, but after last night, they left me no choice. The officiating through three games has been absolutely atrocious. It's so blatantly one sided it's ridiculous. The Spurs got all the calls in game 2 and the Pistons got all the calls in game 3. The refs aren't even trying to hide their bias anymore. In years past, the refs would stretch their bias over the course of an entire series. Now, it's so obvious, I think Stevie Wonder could have seen how poor the officiating it was (alright no more Stevie jokes).
My theory is that the officiating is so bad because the refs are pushing for a seven game series just to stick it to Stern for the pending lockout. I think the refs and Billy Hunter are secretly in cahoots. Stern would like nothing more than for this series to end as quickly as possible. It may be good basketball, but fans would rather sit through nine innings of baseball instead of watching these finals. If the series runs through July (and trust me, with the way they've scheduled these games, that might be entirely possible), the players association might force Stern to surrender into submission and agree to a new deal.
My predictions for game 4: The officiating will continue to stink. We're gonna see 200 more commercials for ABC's "Invasion." Ratings dip to an all time low that the finals gets pushed to ESPN 2 and ABC replaces it with a "Lost" recap show. Manu Ginobili will play a lot better. Tim Duncan will play a lot better. Gregg Popovich and Larry Brown continue their battle to see who cracks a smile first. Hubie Brown will say the word "upside" 300 times, and talks in second person for the entire game.
Sounds like it's gonna be a good game. I just hope I can stay awake.
Game 4 DET 102 SA 71 Alright, I've had it. Just when I thought the officiating couldn't get any worse, last nights group proved me wrong. I think Joe Dumars paid the refs before the game. The Spurs were playing 5 on 8 last night and it was disappointing to watch. I was so disgusted by the officiating and lack of calls that I ran into my bathroom and threw up. It just made me sick to my stomach.
If the refs would have actually called the game the right way, the entire Pistons frontcourt would have fouled out by halftime. Poor Tim Duncan was grabbed and held more than a kid at Michael Jackson's house. The refs missed so many blatant calls I'd rather have Stevie Wonder officiating games. I was so frustrated by the lack of calls I turned off the game mid-way through the fourth and went to sleep. If I wanted to see refereeing that bad, I'd watch wrestling.
Now don't get me wrong, the Spurs shot themselves in the foot again. I haven't seen turnovers that bad since Steve Francis. I know, I know, I used that joke already, but it's the truth. It was as if they didn't even want the basketball. They couldn't get anything to fall and for the first time, I saw the Spurs heads drop.
Who is that guy wearing #21 and what did he do with Tim Duncan? Moreover, who is that long haired guy wearing a Manu Ginobili jersey? Are the real Duncan and Ginobili bound and gagged in a basement broom closet at the Palace? How else do you explain their play in games 4 and 5? It's as if they left their game in San Antonio.
And how about the media? After game 2, NBA analysts like Screamin' Stephen and Greg Anthony were predicting a San Antonio sweep. Bill Walton was comparing Detroit's demise to the end of the world, and every Sportscenter highlight was about how the Spurs were so much better than the Pistons. Then the Pistons won game 3 and the analysts started to change their tune. After Detroit won game 4 by 30, suddenly the Spurs were the equivalent of the Charlotte Bobcats, and the Pistons were good enough to rival the old Boston Celtics.
By the way, if Bill Walton flip flopped anymore, he'd be John Kerry.
Nevertheless, San Antonio can't play any worse than they did in game 4. It's not possible. I look for them to regroup and be ready for game 5. I'm not taking anything away from the Pistons because they played great, but the Spurs looked like the Atlanta Hawks last night. Pop knows it. Timmy knows it. Manu knows it. I think they come out with a recommitted attitude and make it one hell of a game on Sunday.
Let's just hope that Earl Hebner's not involved.
Game 5 SA 96 DET 95 (OT) If you learn nothing else about the playoffs this year, remember this:
"Never leave Robert Horry open at the three point line with the game on the line."
EVER!
Even if the guy was on the court in a wheel chair, I'd make sure someone had him covered. He's totally ripped out the heart of several teams over the years (Magic, Blazers, and Kings immediately come to mind), and might be on the verge of doing it again. Just when you thought he was dead and buried, he rose to the occasion once again. With the Spurs basically on their way to their third straight loss, Horry single handedly picked them up and put them on his shoulders. He scored 21 of the Spurs last 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. With guys like Ginobili, Parker, and Duncan basically giving the team nothing, Horry stepped up and gave his usual playoff punch. Now the Pistons are staggered against the ropes. If the Spurs are smart, they go for the kill tonight. They don't want any part of the Pistons in a game 7 situation. If you don't believe me, just ask Shaq and the Miami Heat.
Game 5 always seem like the best games in a 7 game series. It doesn't matter if the series is 2-2 or 3-1; game 5 is always the best played game (not including game 7). It's like listening to the seventh song on every album. For some reason it's always the song you end up enjoying a little more than all the others. After four blow outs, game 5 promised to be a much better game, and it delivered. Even the refs couldn't mess it up (and trust me, they did everything they could to ruin it).
Here are some other notes that I took from game 5:
- Forget the Spurs and Pistons. The real battle is between ABC's two new series "Invasion," and "Empire." Right now, I think the "Empire" commercials are running away with this thing.
- What's with ABC's insistence that we have to see a close up of Al Michael and Hubie Brown before every game? And is anyone walking this Earth that has more coffee stained teeth than these two? It's like they gargle 10 cups of coffee before every telecast.
- Is it just me or has the NBA run out of things for Amad Rashad to do?
- I think Kid Rock's version of "America the Beautiful" might have been the worst rendition I've ever heard. It didn't take a music lesson for me to know he was off key. Where's Stevie when you need him?
- If the Spurs win this series, are we going to be subjected to two weeks of, "Rasheed screwed up" articles? Can you tell I'm just brimming with questions?
Anyway, I'm looking forward to game 6. It's always high drama when a team is on the verge of elimination. It shows what type of team they are and how they handle adversity. The Pistons have been here before though. No one believes they'll pull it out based on a little known fact that they haven't won a game in San Antonio since 1997. But this team just loves being the underdog. They thrive on being counted out, just so they can say, "I told you so" when they actually win.
As for the Spurs? They were one Robert Horry heroics away from chocking in two straight seasons. Duncan was one Horry three away from getting his first brush of media scrutiny (how can you miss five of six free throws with the game on the line?).
Now the Spurs have a rejuvenated attitude, but they can't get comfortable. They have to take advantage of being at home. They have to enjoy the home crowd, the home cooking, the home calls. They need to embrace it. They're one game away from winning their third title in six years. It won't be easy, and they'll have to fight like never before to get there. Tonight will be like two heavyweight boxers.
Will one team elude that power punch and fight another round, or will the team ahead in the scorecards go for the TKO? After tonight, we'll know our answer.
And I can hardly wait!
Game 6 DET 95 SA 86 I think it was Coach Rudy Tomjanovich who once said, "Don't underestimate the heart of a champion!"
And he was right. With their backs against the wall and the team left for dead, the Detroit Pistons responded with a great performance in game 6.
If you've read any of my previous entries, you'll notice that I rarely mention the Pistons, and when I do, I'm not giving them their just do. Well, that's what this entry is for.
I take nothing away from Detroit. What they were able to accomplish in games 3 and 4 were huge. I've never seen the San Antonio Spurs manhandled like they were in game 4 (although it did seem like 5 on 8 the whole game...whoops, there I go again).
After Robert Horry's clutch shot to win game 5, I thought for sure the Pistons were done. They were one game away from losing their title, and just like Horry had done against teams like the Blazers and Kings, I thought Detroit's heart had been ripped out.
But I underestimated just how resilient the Pistons really are. I forgot that they had been in elimination situations before, even as soon as two weeks ago against Miami. Facing another elimination game, the Pistons dug down deep and pulled out consecutive wins in games 6 and 7.
To them, it didn't matter who they faced in game 6. It didn't matter that they hadn't won in San Antonio since 1997. None of it seemed to matter to the Pistons. The only thing they worried about was keeping their season alive.
And they did.
The Pistons played the best game of the season and fought off a prideful Spurs team.
Now the series has reached its limit. For the first time since the '94 finals, we have a pivotal game 7. The Spurs didn't show any killer instinct and now must play the game of their lives in order to get the best of an experienced team who's proven time and time again that a normal game won't be them. The Pistons have now proven that they can beat the Spurs on their home floor.
Tim Duncan has arguably had four straight poor games and that never happens. Ginobili was an early candidate for Finals MVP, but has since gone into a shell. For the Pistons, Rasheed Wallace hasn't really put his staple on this series (save for game 6), so you know he'll be ready. And Tayshaun Prince hasn't had a spectacular block on a running layup yet in this series.
So something's gotta give. Who will step up? Who will become the hero and who will become the lamb? We've seen two straight classic caliber games. Will game 7 live up to the hype? Will the Pistons retain the world title, or will they be forced to hand it over in disgust? I guess we'll have to wait til Thursday to find out.
Game 7 SA 81 DET 74 In what was a highly contested, classic display of basketball, the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA championship with a great performance against the Detroit Pistons. I was glued to my television the whole night. I wanted to see who would step up and who would step out. When it was all said and done, Tim Duncan solidified his status as the best player on the planet, while Rasheed Wallace showed why he's a fourth option role player. Nothing against Wallace, but he didn't play smart in last nights game. With everything on the line, and no one able to defend Duncan, Wallace committed silly fouls early, got himself into foul trouble late, and was unable to defend Duncan once he got on a roll.
Make no bones about it the Pistons were a great champion. They defied all odds. With their backs against the wall, the Pistons never laid down. Even with a minute left in the game, the Pistons made one last stand. But in the end, Detroit couldn't get over the hump, and the Spurs were awarded the title.
What can you say about Duncan? After four atrocious shooting games where he questioned his abilities, Duncan finally took charge in the third and emotionally picked up his team. The biggest shot of the game was his bank shot off the glass from 15 feet at the end of the third. After making the shot, you could see he had an extra pep in his step. From there, he showed his dominance in the paint and when the Pistons came over to double team, he found the open shooters on the perimeter.
Duncan had been criticized for the past week and a half as being "Timid Tim," but he once again showed that although he's not overtly aggressive, he makes plays when they count. In the end, the Pistons couldn't find a way to slow Duncan or the open shooters from the three point line. Ginobili and Bruce Bowen both knocked down huge shots for the Spurs when Duncan was double teamed.
So congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs. This is their third title in seven years. They're the most underrated champion to ever win three titles. No one gives the Spurs the respect that they deserve. While they may not be as dominate as the old Lakers and Bulls teams, they quietly continue to win championships. And with Duncan, Ginobili, and Tony Parker all signed through 2010, the Spurs could have three or four more championships before it's all said and done. Personally, I wouldn't have any problem with it. If the Magic aren't going to play past April, I don't mind watching the Spurs. They play the game the way it's supposed to be played.
Again, congrats to the Spurs. I think they need to send Isiah Thomas a championship ring since he helped build the team with the mid-season trade of Nazr Mohammod.
This has been a fun blog and I hope to do one again sometime soon. Thanks for reading and I'll see you after the draft. Here's a preview. The draft is next week and I'm looking forward to the Magic somehow screwing it up. But what else is new?
