Sure, the Spurs are headed to their fourth NBA Finals thanks to talent and execution. But it doesn't hurt to have a little luck. In fact, the Spurs have had their share of breaks this postseason. David Kendrick's analysis:
Avoiding Dallas
Entering the playoffs, it looked as though the Spurs would have to go through No. 2 seed Phoenix and the top-seeded Mavericks. Golden State did the Spurs a favor by eliminating the Mavericks in the first round. Dallas presented the biggest challenge for the Spurs after beating them in last season's playoffs and three out of four times in the regular season.
Avoiding Houston
Dallas wasn't the only team the Spurs avoided. Utah knocked out Houston in the second round, meaning the Spurs didn't have to face Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The Spurs were 2-2 against Houston during the regular season, and McGrady averaged 28 points in three games.
Nash's nose
Steve Nash scored 31 points in Game 1 of the Suns' Western Conference semifinal series with the Spurs, but it's the 45 seconds he missed that will be remembered. After a collision with Tony Parker, Nash developed a bloody cut on his nose and was out while trainers tried to fix the gash. "You only see things like that in a boxing match," Robert Horry said. When Nash went out, the Suns were down 106-104 and he had scored the team's last seven points. By the time he came back, the Spurs were up 110-106 with only 9.1 seconds remaining. They went on to win 111-106.
Suspensions
When the Suns beat the Spurs 104-98 at the AT&T Center, Phoenix tied the series 2-2 heading home. But the celebration didn't last. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for Game 5 after leaving the bench area during an altercation on the court. With Stoudemire and Diaw out, the Suns fell in Game 5 to the Spurs, who then closed out the series in Game 6 at home.
Williams' injury and sickness
Jazz guard Deron Williams was Utah's most effective player against the Spurs, averaging 30.3 points through the first three games. "This is like his coming-out party right now," Bruce Bowen said. But before Game 4, Williams came down with the stomach flu. While he did play, scoring 27 points and dishing out 10 assists, he wasn't 100 percent. Making things worse, he injured his foot at the end of the game and was then questionable for Game 5. He played but clearly wasn't at full strength as the Spurs eliminated the Jazz.
Fisher's absence
Williams wasn't the only Jazz guard who was questionable entering Game 5. Derek Fisher went to New York after Game 4 to be with his infant daughter, who underwent a procedure for a cancerous tumor in her left eye. He didn't show up until halftime Wednesday, by which time the Jazz already were down 55-39
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.3697c6e.html
If it's so easy, how come nobody else ever does it? The harder they works, the luckier they gets...
Better lucky than good.
WHY THE CANT WE JUST GET CREDIT FOR WINNING AND ADVANCING TO THE FINALS?
its not like we asked for those things to happen. we beat those teams fair and square.
they talk about the damn nose that its parker who initiated the fuc*ng contact.
Laker fans know that they've got Juwan Howard and Scott Pollard to thank for two of their rings.
Fisher didnt show up the entire series. So a half without him probably benefited Utah. He did decent in game 4 but that was it. I doubt that had any effect on the game or the series. He probably just didnt want to hear the he was gonna get at the AT&T Center for his altercations with Manu so he said he was missing for "family reasons" and expected Spurs fans to take it easy on him.
all of the supposed "breaks" listed are pretty stupid. but the dumbest one has to be that the spurs got lucky by not having to play houston, a team they went 2-2 against. instead, they lucked out by having to play utah, a team they went 2-2 against.
So basically, if we beat the Cavs that means Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Utah would have as well.
Winners play the hand they are dealt. Losers blame the dealer.
The path to the finals have been easy for San Antonio because they're the Spurs. Tim Duncan and the rest of the team make it looks easy.
How about the path to the finals for the Cavs?
Denver > Wizards
Suns > Nets
Utah > Detroit
I guess the Mavs trip to the Finals last year was luck because TD had the foot injury, TP had leg injuries, and Manu was banged up as well. Then the Heat's le was luck because they didn't have to face the Spurs.
This kind of thinking is incredibly stupid. happens every year and the winner receives breaks throughout the season and good health in the PO.
Ahh yes..the good old asterisk on the Spurs finals. You know the more they try to take away from you that means the more they want to BE you!
The Cavs may have had the easiest trip to the Finals in history - with the first two opponents being teams that wouldn't be in the playoffs in a normal NBA season where the East isn't NBDL level.
Awesome that no one has taken credit for writing that. My money is on ploto.
Anyone know why the playoffs have been easy for the Lakers?
BECAUSE THEY GOT ING OWNED IN THE FIRST ROUND AND HAVEN'T HAD TO PLAY!!!
Nitpicking At It's Best
It says it was David Kendrick in the lede.
That's what I get for just reading the bullets and looking for a byline.
It's weird to see such visceral hatred for a team everyone was indifferent about a year ago, but I guess the second best way to approach a team's success without directly beating them, is to discredit everything they've worked hard to accomplish. It's a move, and one everyone seems to have taken up.
In the first round with homecourt the Cavs played a Wizards team without it's best player (Arenas), and either its 2nd or 3rd best player (Butler). That team was 2-14 without those 2, with one win coming against Atlanta whom were also depleted and Indiana, who had given up on there season and also were without Jermaine O'Neal. The Spurs played a Denver team finding its peak, with 2 of the Top 5 scorers in the NBA including matchup nightmare in Carmelo, the DPOY in Camby and probably the 2nd most high octane offense in the league.
The Cavs then played the Nets who were without there best bigman (Krstic), a Richard Jefferson still fighting back from injury, a Jason Kidd playing with broken ribs and a declining Vince Carter who played like in the playoffs. Not to mention that the team was 41-41 playing in a terribly weak conference, and even if they were fully healthy, just aren't that good. Cavs also had homecourt. The Spurs played a 64 win team with a 2 time reigning MVP in Nash, an absolute beast in Stoudamire and another All-Star in Marion, not to mention the 6MOY, solid role players and the best offensive system in basketball. Also, Spurs didn't have home court.
The Cavs then got to Detroit, and beating them was an incredible effort for sure. Can't argue that, they were impressive. Spurs beat Utah as they should, but it has to be said that Utah finished with I think 2 less wins than Detroit, but played in a much tougher conference. Utah also got past Houston and Golden State, where as Detroit had only to beat a terrible Orlando side, and a very young Bulls squad. You could argue that the Jazz weren't that far off of Detroit in terms of being a tough opponent.
Who had the easy run again?
The Mavs and Rockets lost to utah and Golden State. its not our fault that they werent good enough to beat those teams.
i guess the author missed that part.
*1st round
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