It was no surprise that the Spurs came out hot and motivated.
Cleveland acted like a bride on her wedding night and the Spurs made it happen.
Quarters 1-3 were a clinic on shooting by Manu Manu the Slender Ginoibil, blocking by Big Shot Bob and rebounding by Mr. Duncan. LeBron went out early with two fouls and Popovich pulled starters at the same time. The Spurs still increased the score.
It was a classic butt kicking, not likely to be on ESPN Classic.
The halftime score was the third highest margin in the history of the NBA Finals.
By the end of Q3, the Spurs jacked the lead to 27.
Suddenly in Q4, Cleveland replaced their starters, the Vienna Boys Choir and made it close.
That was, until Ginobili was fouled for a four point play with 1:30 remaining. Cleveland's run to within eight points was over.
The game isn't worthy of a write up on Cleveland.
The network's ratings in the second half were probably dismal, like Cleveland's chances of winning the series.
After Q3, I was looking in the NBA posts, responding to several delusional Clevaland fans.
Suddenly, it was closer, yet not much to yack about. I don't like the 2-3-2 format.
I want 2-2-1-1-1!
Regardless of whether it's 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1 the Spurs will win it all. Before the series began I predicted Spurs in 6, but I may have to rethink that. (Sweep, maybe?)
jaysisko says it best...
Detroit barely got by to go up 2-0 on Cleveland and if you watched that series and arent a Pistons fans, you know that the second game should have been a Cavs wins if it were called accurately.
The Cavs are worn out from severe lack of depth at any postion and even a Cav fan would tell you their is honestly no one on that team to fear beating you except Labron James.
The Spurs had plenty of rest before this series and when clicking on all cylinders match up to beat any team except the Mavs consisently and the Mavs are long gone,and gone fishin.
Labron will get a title some time in his career but it wont be this year and it probably wont be in a Cavs uniform
This series really brings to light the lack of quality players that Cleveland has. Eric Snow has no offensive game to speak of. The Spurs play 10 feet off of him and shooting doesnt even cross his mind. Larry Hughes is a joke. He cant shoot and for all the credit he gets on D he couldnt stick with Parker(Nobody was able too and pretty soon nobody will. He will be a superstar next season.).
The only player aside Lebron that can actually get his own shot is Pavlovic but he only seems to come up big in garbage time.
The time to annoint San Antonio as one of the all time great teams is here. Before this team is dismantled they may even be a top 2 or 3 team. The greatest thing about the Spurs is the lack of ego. Parker, Ginobili and Duncan each know how good they are but dont mind deferring to one another. Spare me the run and gun Suns and Warriors, the Spurs are great to watch(At least for the basketball "purists".)
In Hughes' defense, he does have a signifigant injury. I'm surprised that he's getting the playing time that he has thus far.
And no need to wait 'til next season. Parker is a superstar now. If he has decent games from here thru game 5 or 6, he'll get his first MVP trophy. If he sputters, Duncan will have his fourth. As unselfish as Timmy can be, I wouldn't be surprised if he defers to Parker and lets him get one.
I was not surprised. That is what the Spurs do to you. Hey...I kept reading about how nobody wanted to see the Pistons and the Spurs...but apparently nobody wants to see the Spurs and Cavs either?
SLS...I think you should make that "butt Kick" picture your new avatar.
i knew this would happen. people think Lebron singlehandedly carried the Cavs on his back. but now that the reality of fundamentally sound basketball has kicked in, we see that he's still the same guy. he's a superstar - but he's only even transcended once. he's not going to be able to do that against the Spurs. Especially with Varajao falling all over the place. i think he could easily stop Duncan if he tried.
I'm a little surprised. I thought the Cavs would play better team defense. But with TP breaking down Hughes off the dribble and getting into the lane so easily, the rest of Cleveland's defense just breaks down as a result.
i am surprised at how easily the Spurs are winning. Plus the Jordan comparisons need to stop. However one writer here put Kobe in the same sentence as Jordan. PLEASE! Why does Kobe get a pass? He had a team with more talent than LeBron and he got bounced in first round. Kobe, Wade, and LeBron are all great players. BUT, unlike Jordan, they need a big man to win it all. Period.
No disrespect to those who picked the Cavs but I think there were a lot of people who were expecting an NBA Finals performance from LeBron similiar to the one from D. Wade last season.
The Mavericks chose to focus on Shaq in last season's NBA Final, that paved the way for Dwyane Wade to get to the basket and to the free throw line at will versus Dallas.
The Spurs can focus their efforts on LeBron because he doesn't have the supporting cast that Wade had.
LeBron James is and has been a better player than Dwyane Wade but the Spurs aren't the Mavericks. They won't allow one player to beat them.
James hasn't been able to get to the basket as easily as he did versus Detroit and when he does he's met by Duncan. The Spurs aren't bailing him out by fouling him either.
The Cavs don't have a chance unless James starts attempting and making jump shots.
I didn't think it would be much of a series but this is ridiculous. Cleveland does get to go home, and can hopefully pull out a victory to avoid a sweep. Right now, they just don't look competitive.
I don't think the series is over, but Cleveland is definitely on life support right now.
Statistics are a dangerous when handled by zealots.
I believe Burnt Orange isn't a color, it's a disease.
The DH rule should be elimintated.
I like cats and dogs...cats taste more like chicken.
Women are god's greatest creation.
Barry Bonds was detrimental to sports.
The month after the Super Bowl is sports HELL.
March Madness is the best elongated sports extravaganza.
The Masters is great watching, in spite of Jim 'nancy boy' Nantz.
Anyone spouting political commentary should be barred from this site.
This is a sports blog!
I need a soma.
