All the local idiots are going nuts on TV and Facebook ridiculing LeBron for his cramps. The dignified hostess of a local morning program even popped a bottle of MIDOL in front of the camera. I can remember cramping up on the basketball court and on the pitch more than once. It's painful and kind of scary. The fact that he came back on the court and ran up and down once after already cramping up is pretty impressive to me. I hope we kick their frigging butte oxen however, since I don't really like them very much.
and we lose by two and everyone is crying about TV announcers, refs, etc. Can't stop LeBron, can't stop Miami. It's that simple
The turning point: Spurs up 87-85, Parker gets a flagrant elbow from Chalmers, resulting in 2 free throws and the ball back. He missed both FT, Spurs take ball out and Duncan gets fouled and HE misses both free throws also. Can't expect to make all 4, but 2 or 3 at home is mandatory.
And that was the loss in a nutshell - gotta hit those free throws, especially when its Parker and Duncan taking them. Also, in the last 5 minutes did Lebron take the ball up the court every time? Maybe a couple of instances he didn't, but the Heat were going to run their offense through him...as they should. Spurs need to find a defensive solution to this situation, if there is any to be found.
Being that I sit firmly in the "the NBA is the most rigged American sport", it looks like Miami has the Spurs right where they want them.
And the best professional franchise in the US comes through again. It was a solid effort by players who play the game the right way. So much for the "scripted" 7-game series and the "NBA wants LeBron to win" silliness. The most remarkable thing to folks who DON'T follow the Spurs closely is that the team effectively blew Miami out while Parker was shooting 0 for 9 from the floor. The gospel is that all of our "big three" have to excel or the team can't win. The truth was that a second year player from San Diego State, a French back-up center, and a little know Aussie who is third on the depth chart at shooting guard and second at point guard, carried the mail. The Spurs are NOT Miami, or Oklahoma City for that matter. They're not a team that has 2 or 3 stars and 10 spear carriers. And, yes, we have the best coach in any team sporting league anywhere in the world, but we also have an owner who prefers NOT to be on television or quoted in the press. Sorry for going on, but when you support Fulham winning so thoroughly by playing the game the right way is a bit stunning.
I have shunned the NBA on the whole since the early 90's because placing team first was forsaken to idolize the individual player but the Spurs were an absolute joy to watch. The ball movement was impeccable and their collective decision making was superb. I have not had that much fun watching professional basketball since the 80's Celtics-Lakers teams.
So, the old men in San Antonio can still show the young bucks a thing or two about hoopin.' A thorough, dominant team triumph over a team that ended up mailing it in in the finals. But great teams do that to you, and this franchise is the new poster child of how to do professional sports right. Somewhere The Iceman is smiling!
Man, that was some dominant play by the Spurs. Whilst, the most dominant player in the NBA was on the other end of the result. I'm guessing the CIA had something to do with Popovich and the Spurs' recent title... All in all, congrats to the Spurs.
