Corn on the Colb
06-11-2007, 01:02 AM
It's not on the site yet, but here's my Game 2 Recap, soon to be on www.spurszone.com
Again, I want as much feedback as possible. Positive and negative. Thanks again guys.
‘Tres’ of Greatness
Spurs’ Big Three Dominate En Route to 103-92 Victory
By Colby Satterthwaite
The San Antonio Spurs have three NBA Championships.
They currently have three bona-fide superstars on their roster, one of which has three Finals MVP awards.
After three quarters Sunday night, they started looking ahead to Game Three, and it nearly cost them.
Through three quarters of Game Two, the San Antonio Spurs seemed to have everything going for them. They had led by as many as 29 points, and were ahead by a score of 89-62 after 36 minutes. Finals MVP frontrunners Tim Duncan and Tony Parker had controlled the game, combining for 47 points on 19-28 shooting.
All the while, LeBron James and the entire Cavs team struggled to gain any rhythm after The Chosen One picked up his second foul only three minutes into the game. Prior to that call, LeBron looked like a rejuvenated man on a mission, attacking the rim every possession, even drawing an early foul on Tim Duncan. Things were looking okay for Cleveland. But then James committed that dreaded early second foul, by slapping the left arm of the three-time Finals MVP, and sat out for 9 minutes, not returning until the beginning of the second quarter.
Exit LeBron. Insert LeBrick.
James would return a changed man, settling for two quick jump shots while Tim Duncan converted two short post moves after each of the misses. The lackluster, almost lazy, play from LeBron would have a viral effect on his team, and the Spurs wasted no time taking advantage of it, making run after run on their way to a 25-point halftime lead.
Believe it or not, acrobatic Tony Parker drives and timely Manu Ginobili three-pointers were the backbone of those runs. They left the Cavs demoralized and reeling, looking for answers, but couldn’t find them from anyone, not even Coach Mike Brown, who stared blankly onto the court. That second quarter was UFC 71, guess who was Chuck Liddell.
Vintage Spurs.
Through those three quarters, and even after 5 minutes of the fourth, San Antonio was absolutely on cruise control. They pulled the ball out, ran their sets, and got beautiful shots. They slowed the game down to a point that it almost hurt them, like they were just hanging on, waiting for the buzzer, assuming that the scoring onslaught they had unleashed on the Cavs for 41 minutes was enough to assure they would be packing for Cleveland with a 2-0 lead.
Vintage Spurs.
Much like the Utah Jazz in Games 1 & 2 of the Western Conference Finals, the Cavs didn’t see triple zeroes on the clock, so they kept pounding. Pushing the pace, playing as hard as they could, and just waiting for the game to come to them.
It paid off in the form of a furious 25-6 rally. The Big Three, who were on the bench during a portion of the comeback, returned to the floor to try and salvage their suddenly shattered lead right in the midst of the Cavs’ run. I believe they checked in somewhere in between Damon Jones’ consecutive three-pointers and LeBron’s consecutive three-point plays. The lead was trimmed to eight quicker than you could say, “Man, Cleveland is terrible.”
Just like that, the game was right back in front of Cleveland, there for the taking. It was waiting for LeBron and Co. to take a hold on it and finish what could have been one of the largest comebacks in NBA history. It was waiting for James to steal one on the road against the mighty Spurs in his first Finals appearance, beginning his legacy on the game’s biggest stage.
Then Manu Ginobili, with a little help from Rookie Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, took it away so fast you didn’t even get a chance to see what could happen.
Ginobili fired up a three with 2:25 left in the game, and while his hands were still extended in the air, Gibson knocked them, along with the 29 year-old Argentinean, down to the ground. The shot went down, along with the ensuing free throw by Manu (25 pts, 11-11 FT’s) and Cleveland would never pull any closer than 9 points the rest of the way.
Just the way the Spurs like it.
It almost seems that San Antonio gets somewhat bored with beating around helpless opponents, so they toy with them a little, throw Jacque Vaughn and Francisco Elson at them, and then beat them around again once their enemies regain some hope.
It’s like they’ve figured out how to win, and now Gregg Popovich is teaching his boys how to beat the hope out of the opposition. To Tim Duncan (23 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) and Tony Parker (30 pts), it’s second nature. Or third.
Whatever it is, it’s beautiful basketball, and the Spurs are halfway to their fourth NBA Championship because of it.
Don't forget, critiques are very encouraged. Please insult/praise me. Comment. Sarcastically or not. :D Thanks guys.
Again, I want as much feedback as possible. Positive and negative. Thanks again guys.
‘Tres’ of Greatness
Spurs’ Big Three Dominate En Route to 103-92 Victory
By Colby Satterthwaite
The San Antonio Spurs have three NBA Championships.
They currently have three bona-fide superstars on their roster, one of which has three Finals MVP awards.
After three quarters Sunday night, they started looking ahead to Game Three, and it nearly cost them.
Through three quarters of Game Two, the San Antonio Spurs seemed to have everything going for them. They had led by as many as 29 points, and were ahead by a score of 89-62 after 36 minutes. Finals MVP frontrunners Tim Duncan and Tony Parker had controlled the game, combining for 47 points on 19-28 shooting.
All the while, LeBron James and the entire Cavs team struggled to gain any rhythm after The Chosen One picked up his second foul only three minutes into the game. Prior to that call, LeBron looked like a rejuvenated man on a mission, attacking the rim every possession, even drawing an early foul on Tim Duncan. Things were looking okay for Cleveland. But then James committed that dreaded early second foul, by slapping the left arm of the three-time Finals MVP, and sat out for 9 minutes, not returning until the beginning of the second quarter.
Exit LeBron. Insert LeBrick.
James would return a changed man, settling for two quick jump shots while Tim Duncan converted two short post moves after each of the misses. The lackluster, almost lazy, play from LeBron would have a viral effect on his team, and the Spurs wasted no time taking advantage of it, making run after run on their way to a 25-point halftime lead.
Believe it or not, acrobatic Tony Parker drives and timely Manu Ginobili three-pointers were the backbone of those runs. They left the Cavs demoralized and reeling, looking for answers, but couldn’t find them from anyone, not even Coach Mike Brown, who stared blankly onto the court. That second quarter was UFC 71, guess who was Chuck Liddell.
Vintage Spurs.
Through those three quarters, and even after 5 minutes of the fourth, San Antonio was absolutely on cruise control. They pulled the ball out, ran their sets, and got beautiful shots. They slowed the game down to a point that it almost hurt them, like they were just hanging on, waiting for the buzzer, assuming that the scoring onslaught they had unleashed on the Cavs for 41 minutes was enough to assure they would be packing for Cleveland with a 2-0 lead.
Vintage Spurs.
Much like the Utah Jazz in Games 1 & 2 of the Western Conference Finals, the Cavs didn’t see triple zeroes on the clock, so they kept pounding. Pushing the pace, playing as hard as they could, and just waiting for the game to come to them.
It paid off in the form of a furious 25-6 rally. The Big Three, who were on the bench during a portion of the comeback, returned to the floor to try and salvage their suddenly shattered lead right in the midst of the Cavs’ run. I believe they checked in somewhere in between Damon Jones’ consecutive three-pointers and LeBron’s consecutive three-point plays. The lead was trimmed to eight quicker than you could say, “Man, Cleveland is terrible.”
Just like that, the game was right back in front of Cleveland, there for the taking. It was waiting for LeBron and Co. to take a hold on it and finish what could have been one of the largest comebacks in NBA history. It was waiting for James to steal one on the road against the mighty Spurs in his first Finals appearance, beginning his legacy on the game’s biggest stage.
Then Manu Ginobili, with a little help from Rookie Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, took it away so fast you didn’t even get a chance to see what could happen.
Ginobili fired up a three with 2:25 left in the game, and while his hands were still extended in the air, Gibson knocked them, along with the 29 year-old Argentinean, down to the ground. The shot went down, along with the ensuing free throw by Manu (25 pts, 11-11 FT’s) and Cleveland would never pull any closer than 9 points the rest of the way.
Just the way the Spurs like it.
It almost seems that San Antonio gets somewhat bored with beating around helpless opponents, so they toy with them a little, throw Jacque Vaughn and Francisco Elson at them, and then beat them around again once their enemies regain some hope.
It’s like they’ve figured out how to win, and now Gregg Popovich is teaching his boys how to beat the hope out of the opposition. To Tim Duncan (23 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast) and Tony Parker (30 pts), it’s second nature. Or third.
Whatever it is, it’s beautiful basketball, and the Spurs are halfway to their fourth NBA Championship because of it.
Don't forget, critiques are very encouraged. Please insult/praise me. Comment. Sarcastically or not. :D Thanks guys.