To Fro no mo’: Spurs in 7

The battle continued from tipoff till time expired.
Detroit ran out to an early lead and the Spurs answered and the game was on.
Big Braided Ben led all players at the half and Billups had only one basket until late in the game. The defense was paralyzing. At half the Pistons were up 1 at 39-38, a record low for a finals game in the shot clock era.
Everything opened up for the Spurs when Larry Brown went small in the 3rd Quarter. Duncan went to town and Manu went to the rack and drained shots from downtown. The game remained close and contested until the end. The Spurs started to catch some breaks.
The Spurs won it because they exploited their advantage in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Once the Pistons went back to beating on Duncan he was not to be denied. Manu crashed the boards and drove to rack and finished with authority. The role players, Horry, Bones Barry and Bowen stepped up hitting shots and grabbing boards and doing the little things. Even Nazr smacked back a couple of shots and snagged some boards.
Ginoblili finished the Pistons off when he went long and continued to dribble until the Detroit was able to fouls him then he sank his free throws.
With 7 seconds left Detroit drove the length of the court but failed to convert before time expired and the Spurs exploded in celebration of being the 2005 NBA Champs.

First Game 7 in 11: Duced @ 3-3

Sheed's creed ruled the day and was the deciding factor with 5 fouls hanging on him. Both teams played hard but the Piston's pulled away in the last two minutes. They did it without the 'fro but Big Ben was big enough demonstrating his deceptive hops and defensive stops.
Tim needs to step up. If he's missing free throws and only taking 10 shots deep in the 4th quarter, that wont get it done.
Game 7 looms and you have to wonder which players are going to bring it all for the full 48 minutes and maybe more...Which teams will play as one and who will want it when the game is on the line.
Win or go fishin'.
My money is on Manu but anything could happen and probably will.

The end is near: Spurs 3-2

With ten seconds to go Horry inbounds, Rasheed doubles on Ginobili's who rifles a pass to Big Shot Bob/Rob 18 inches behind the three point line with the Spurs down two. Without a conscience BSB/Re shoots - Dagger in the heart baby. After the obligatory timeout Parker smothers Hamilton who flubs the last second shot. An instant classic, a sea of ink on Big shot Bob/Rob and the woes of Rasheed. Amazing what happens when both teams show up for the whole game. Tonight is the night, Game 6. Which teams and players will show up? Expect that no matter what the Pistons wont allow big Shot Bob/Rob to beat them. Expect the game to be even more physical. Pop made some good coaching shifts by having Ginobili bring up the ball and putting Bowen on Billups for the last play of regulation on the overtime. Larry has a chance to turn the tables tonight but Detroit hasn't won in San Antonio since the spring of 1997. Anything can happen in the final and I'll be watching and waiting: Only 13 tortuous hours until tip-off.

Finals Cartoon:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=sportoon/050617

Who's showin' up tonight: 2-2

The first two games are masterful Spurs moments. Manu explodes and is not to be denied. In game 3 and 4 Ben gets his fro on and goes to work and is not to be denied. So now we have a best of 3 series. Pistons have the momentum. Spurs have the questions. As Pop said referring to the Spurs problems lay with "what's between the ears and what's in the chest."
If both teams show up ready to rumble, it'll be epic. If one team doesn't, it'll be brutal and the other will orchestrate their brand of hoops at the next level.

Bring on Game 5 and players bring it all.

Side Note
A great interview with Red Auerbach on Phil Jackson. Very interesting. The best part is where he compares the players of his era to today’s players and picks his. He makes a powerful case. If there was a way to play it, I think I’d put my money on the old timers. Check it out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2088260

The Fro Strikes back! Sprus 2:1

Big Ben brought his 'A' game and his full fro and threw a major block party. It was a game for men. Player had bring strong or they were crushed. Then the Pistons took over. I had to miss most of the game for work but what I saw was full on mano-on-mano basketball.

Manu seemed to be passing up on shots indicating the bruise from the injury/re-injury 21 seconds into the game was really bothering him.

Piston pride powered them in game 3.

Game 4 is critical to both teams. One wonders which Pistons and Spurs teams will turn up for it.

The Series is real. It’s time to get it on and bring your A game or go down in flames.

MVP - Ginoblili: Spurs 2-0

The Man, Manu, was all that and more.
Ginobili owned the first and came back and crushed Detroit’s puny comeback in the fourth quarter.
Manu was doing it all and didn't miss a shot until well into the second period and the announcers sounded shocked.
The fans were chanting MVP at the end of the game. If that does come to pass, Duncan wont begrudge him that and even rejoice in the success of his teammate and most importantly the team.
It would be a great follow up to last year when Manu signed his contract extension making him the best paid Argentinean athlete and married on the same day. Then following it up with an MVP winning performance on the gold medal Basketball team in the Olympics for Argentina’s first team medal. His performance convinced Pop to allow Ginobili to be Ginobili and live with the pluses and minuses.
What more can you say but take him to Detroit!
Game 3 tonight!
Rock on!

Waiting for Game two

Reading and listening to deatulas about last nights game have been a cheap substitute for the real thing, game two. Only Charles, Kenny and the crew could make this more bearable. In 48 hours or so, I'll be posting about game two.
Waiting...

4th Quater is Ginobili Time! Spurs 1-0

Great game but oh, my, my Manu went nuts in the 4th quater. He went straight to the basket to finger roll it in but at the last second he turns it from a finger roll to a dunk. Man, I hadn't even contemplated that. What an unbelievable move. He also had a circus shot or two that left the Pistons shakin' their heads and throwin' their headbands. TD was solid and carried the Spurs early. Pop has the smooth moves including playing the Big Dog who shpwed he still has some defensive bite left as he led the Spurs with 3 blocks. I don't know if I ever saw him block a shot before tonight.
For the Pistons Chauncy got his, Big Ben had some hustle plays but it wasn't enough.

Bring on game 2! And more Manu!

Let the Champs Duke it out

There's going to be a rumble, tumble and bumble on the way to the hoop. It's going to be match up central. Manu v Prince - Rip v Bowen - Parker v Chauncey and of of course TD v Rasheed-n-Dice. From the benches will Pop snatch the pebble from Brown and become the master or is the wandering one still the master.
Both teams can pass and play wicked defense but the Spurs have proven that they can run and gun too.
I can't wait but I'm not impartial.
Spurs in 6 or 7.
Go Spurs!

Game 7 Rocks

The game is over! Let the Spurs-Pistons Finals begin.
The Heat could stay with the Pistons when it mattered most. Rasheed kept his head and made a series of key plays with 5 fouls. The Heat just fell short. Shaq and Wade got theirs but the supporting cast didn't get it done. Eddie Jones had his moments especially at the beginning of the game and his insane last second steal and long distance bank shot. He was all alone. Nice move Eddie. It cut the Piston lead to five and stole momentum going at halftime. Miami took the lead back in the in the third but surrendered again in the fourth when it mattered the most. Damon "Alfred the Butler" Jones scored one point while taking an ill advised shot late. Ben Wallace made his two fouls count and made Shaq go to the line where he went 3/4 late in the game.
The reffing seemed good and consistent. All three refs are good enough to make the cut for the Finals. The front office must not have wanted this to be decided on a botched call and they succeeded.
Who knows what would have happened if D Wade would have been healthy.
If only TNT could broadcast the final or at least do the post and pre-game shows. They are often more entertaining than the game. I look forward to reading Barkley's new book after the finals.
Bill Walton picked the Heat and I picked the Pistons.
Bring on the Finals.
Go Spurs!
Gin-Oh-Bili!

Sun sets on Phoenix

The incredible run ended they couldn't get the stop and the shots stopped falling in the second half of Game 5. Duncan was back and parker and Ginobili kept chipping away until it was done. Amare couldn't be stopped in game as in any of the games. Both teams showed tremendous class at the end and said all the right things in the interviews. I suspect they actually meant them which is another departure from today's NBA.
It is clear where the Suns need to improve rebounding and defense and they need to resign Joe Johnson. We're looking at game 7 today if Joe is healthy the whole series.
Well done Suns.
Go Spurs!7