DarrinS
06-08-2007, 12:35 PM
I didn't see timvp's grades, so I posted these from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2007/06/07/fast.breaks/index.html
San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker, G
38 min., 27 points (12-23 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-6 FT), 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals Most devastating QB to hit Cleveland since John Elway. The cat-quick point slithered his way to a team-high 27 points and seven assists.
A
Michael Finley, G
20 min., 2 points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals
Sank a 15-footer to open the game but missed his next six shots. Maybe he was too keyed up after making his first Finals appearance in 12-year career.
D
Bruce Bowen, F
40 min., 6 points (2-6 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals
Spearheaded a sensational team defensive effort on LeBron. Also nailed two big 3-pointers in key third-quarter spurt that blew the game open.
A
Tim Duncan, F
39 min., 24 points (10-17 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-5 FT), 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks Showed up with shaved head, then played with the razor's edge. Also sent a message to the King that he doesn't intend to give up his throne easily.
A
Fabricio Oberto, C
17 min., 0 points (0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals
Helped shadow James on pick and rolls, and did his usual dirty work. Even threw a nifty wraparound pass to Duncan for bucket in third.
B
The Bench
85 min., 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steal
Good effort all around. Ginobili joined Duncan and Parker in carving up the Cavs' D, but the lethal lefty also picked up LeBron for key defensive stops and chipped in with eight boards. Meanwhile, Francisco Elson and Robert Horry helped shadow 'Bron while chipping in for a combined eight points.
A-
Gregg Popovich, Coach
His game plan on 'Bron worked to perfection. He also protected Duncan from third foul by pulling him late in first half.
B+
Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Hughes, G
23 min., 2 points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals
Give him credit for trying to play with a sore foot, but he couldn't stay in front of Parker and he couldn't knock down any shots. Now he might lose time to Daniel Gibson.
D
Sasha Pavlovic, G
37 min., 13 points (6-12 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals One of the few bright spots for the Cavs. The fourth-year pro broke out of his shooting slump and showed some suprising athleticism on drive in fourth quarter.
B+
LeBron James, F
44 min., 14 points (4-16 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4-4 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Rough Finals debut for the Chosen One. In addition to his errant shooting, he coughed up six turnovers. He did contribute seven boards, and hit a couple threes to spark a mini-rally in the fourth, but it was too late.
D
Drew Gooden, F
26 min., 14 points (6-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal
Shot the ball well, and showed some physical play by horse collaring Ginobili on a drive for a flagrant foul. But the fifth-year forward also had some defensive breakdowns and managed just four rebounds in 26 minutes.
C
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C
23 min., 2 points (1-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Like the Spurs' Finley, the 10-year-veteran had a Finals debut to forget. Missed seven of eight shots and hauled down just six boards in 23 minutes.
D
The Bench
86 min., 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals
Led by Gibson's team-high 16 points (on 7-for-9 shooting) and Anderson Varejao's 10 points and four rebounds, they held their own with their San Antonio counterparts. Gibson might well have played his way into a bigger role in Game 2.
B
Mike Brown, Coach
Couldn't get 'Bron untracked offensively, and might have stuck with Hughes too long, but the real test will be what adjustments he makes for Game 2.
C
San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker, G
38 min., 27 points (12-23 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-6 FT), 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals Most devastating QB to hit Cleveland since John Elway. The cat-quick point slithered his way to a team-high 27 points and seven assists.
A
Michael Finley, G
20 min., 2 points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals
Sank a 15-footer to open the game but missed his next six shots. Maybe he was too keyed up after making his first Finals appearance in 12-year career.
D
Bruce Bowen, F
40 min., 6 points (2-6 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals
Spearheaded a sensational team defensive effort on LeBron. Also nailed two big 3-pointers in key third-quarter spurt that blew the game open.
A
Tim Duncan, F
39 min., 24 points (10-17 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-5 FT), 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks Showed up with shaved head, then played with the razor's edge. Also sent a message to the King that he doesn't intend to give up his throne easily.
A
Fabricio Oberto, C
17 min., 0 points (0-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals
Helped shadow James on pick and rolls, and did his usual dirty work. Even threw a nifty wraparound pass to Duncan for bucket in third.
B
The Bench
85 min., 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steal
Good effort all around. Ginobili joined Duncan and Parker in carving up the Cavs' D, but the lethal lefty also picked up LeBron for key defensive stops and chipped in with eight boards. Meanwhile, Francisco Elson and Robert Horry helped shadow 'Bron while chipping in for a combined eight points.
A-
Gregg Popovich, Coach
His game plan on 'Bron worked to perfection. He also protected Duncan from third foul by pulling him late in first half.
B+
Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Hughes, G
23 min., 2 points (1-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT), 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals
Give him credit for trying to play with a sore foot, but he couldn't stay in front of Parker and he couldn't knock down any shots. Now he might lose time to Daniel Gibson.
D
Sasha Pavlovic, G
37 min., 13 points (6-12 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals One of the few bright spots for the Cavs. The fourth-year pro broke out of his shooting slump and showed some suprising athleticism on drive in fourth quarter.
B+
LeBron James, F
44 min., 14 points (4-16 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4-4 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Rough Finals debut for the Chosen One. In addition to his errant shooting, he coughed up six turnovers. He did contribute seven boards, and hit a couple threes to spark a mini-rally in the fourth, but it was too late.
D
Drew Gooden, F
26 min., 14 points (6-9 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal
Shot the ball well, and showed some physical play by horse collaring Ginobili on a drive for a flagrant foul. But the fifth-year forward also had some defensive breakdowns and managed just four rebounds in 26 minutes.
C
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C
23 min., 2 points (1-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Like the Spurs' Finley, the 10-year-veteran had a Finals debut to forget. Missed seven of eight shots and hauled down just six boards in 23 minutes.
D
The Bench
86 min., 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals
Led by Gibson's team-high 16 points (on 7-for-9 shooting) and Anderson Varejao's 10 points and four rebounds, they held their own with their San Antonio counterparts. Gibson might well have played his way into a bigger role in Game 2.
B
Mike Brown, Coach
Couldn't get 'Bron untracked offensively, and might have stuck with Hughes too long, but the real test will be what adjustments he makes for Game 2.
C