Sports: NBA FINALS 2013

                                              *photo credit to google images *

 “When Breaking Records Doesn’t Matter”
June 13, 2013
By Rey Andrade-Garza

San Antonio, TX

          The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just break some records in game 3, in retrospect some were shattered. Gone it seems are the days when breaking records didn’t just matter it solidified a team’s place in mystical lore. It added to the mystique. Oh, the glory days of 2012, when it was the Miami Heat breaking the records and not these bland Spurs. The Spurs Big Three won their 100^th playoff game together, 2^nd all time for a trio.  The Spurs set a NBA Finals record with 16 three pointers. Gary Neal tied John Starks for 24 pts is also a Finals record.  Those were the records that were scrolling after the game on ESPN and NBA TV that no one out of San Antonio seemed to pay any attention to.  Other statistics that were also glaring were the following:  Miami is 4-5 in the last nine, Spurs 7-1. The second trio on the Spurs in Leonard, Neal and Green are outscoring the Big Three of Miami in LBJ, Bosh and Wade. You tell me who is playing championship style basketball? What is most glaring is this fact that no one seems to have caught on to: Miami is 3-23 vs Spurs in San Antonio all time! Spurs have taken games 1 & 3 which are the statistical plateau markers everyone points to in who will win in this series but no one seems to care. Everyone seems to be giving the defending champions a pass they seem to not make on the court let alone deserve in this conversation. What is more indicative is this double standard for the Miami Heat that should be reserved for storied franchises like the Celtics or the Lakers, hell even the Spurs as the fourth best franchise in NBA history should get that kind of rarified respect but they don’t.  Some call this Miami team a dynasty with one chip to the Big 3 belt, really?! Flip the script and no one would give the Spurs a pass as defending champions playing this poorly in a playoff run. I would say if LeBron James were not playing on this team everyone would admit that this defending champion, with this current 9 game record, ranks as the worst in 20 plus years.  In fact, I will take a step further, Wade is playing hurt yet, when Manu went down a couple of years ago during a playoff run no one gave the Spurs a chance and with good reason one of the main pieces or the glue of the team wasn’t on the court or couldn’t even step on the court to contribute in anyway. Reading this morning’s shoot around Tony Parker seems a lock to play tonight in any condition which begs the question: Why is it that the Heat’s injuries are more magnified and forgiven but the Spurs play bang up all year and the same respect is not given? Let me make the point clearer.  Stephen A. Smith said yesterday in our fair city, that no way the Spurs win the championship with Tony Parker not on the court, yet when Sean Elliott interjected that the Spurs have proven all year they can step up when one of the Big Three didn’t play he forgot to mention that the Big Three for the Spurs missed 50 games together, yet still as a team, compiled 50 or more wins for 14th straight year. Everyone makes excuses for why the Heat is playing this shoddy but not me.  James with his humorous cape delivered a guarantee when in hindsight he should just keep his mouth shut.  He hasn’t delivered, champions always deliver. MJ never scored less than 22 pts in any NBA Finals game, yet, with all his guarantees, LBJ hasn’t scored 20 in any of the 3 Finals games where it matters! Instead, the Heat combined Big Three make like 300 million dollars yet can only tie the secondary 3 of the Spurs who make like 250 million dollars less but seem to shut up play and deliver with no guarantees.  It’s comical to see a superhero drink his own kool-aid and guarantee mythical wins and why not right?  The media has crowned Miami to win this title before the first thud of the basketball hit the court and they’ve been celebrating this phantom trophy all year, all along the way, cheapening the ride with hanging rim dunks, chest pumps and now sadly, with a homemade cape! The Heat have made everyone forget that records matter and distorted the myth, yet, quietly, between the hype and the “He was going to be on Sports Center one or way or another”-- when game four is done, the statistics should ultimately play out and the quiet champion should emerge and Sports Center will have to play it one way or another.  Sometimes instead of just saying you’re going to get the job done, just do what the Spurs have been doing all along, keep your head down, keep your mouth shut, play the game and get it done in the court no matter what the records say.

Sports: Preview of WCF 2013: San Antonio Spurs versus Memphis Grizzlies

*Photo used with credit to google images. *

“A Grizzly Discovery: The Complimentary pieces are not so complimentary."

By: Rey Andrade-Garza

San Antonio, TX

          One month or so away 6 years ago, right about the time everyone was paying attention to how Lebron would ever recover from a finals loss; the Spurs had just put the finishing touches to their fourth title with a sweep of the Cavaliers.  I mention sweep because the Spurs swept the Lakers this year, the Jazz and Clippers last year and once again reminded everyone in the world that like it or not this team isn’t content with the numerous accolades they have accomplished.  Tony Parker at the press conference after their defeat of the Warriors was quick to put perspective to how opportunities like returning to the NBA Finals don’t come that often.  Not to disagree but lost on all NBA analysts and maybe Tony is one careful oversight.  The Spurs are returning the Western Conference Finals on back to back years when the supposed window of opportunity for this team came and went.  Tim Duncan played great in the first half, not the second.  Manu shot horribly yet his intangibles were finally put on high alert with his 11 assists in the game and Tony playing over 40 minutes plus put in some timely 3’s using his reserve tank but all of that is not the reason why the Spurs are legitimate contenders to the title this year.  The complimentary pieces of Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Gary Neal show why the Spurs returning the conference title is no fluke.  These are just complimentary pieces that would have a starting role on any team.  Kawhi doesn’t complement the Big Three; in fact, Popovich moved him to a starting role because his value in both sides of the floor has become instrumental in the pick and roll. On the defensive side his long arms swat poor passes and corrals steal and is the first straight up Bruce Bowen since Bruce Bowen. When it came to giving rest to the Big Three; Leonard often got the same treatment.  Definitely, not complimentary; essential and equivalent in importance and Leonard played like it all year.  His clutch three’s against the Warriors is no mistake nor is his growth this time around in the playoffs.  Tiago Splitter is another Spurs who importance is not one of just complementary in nature.  It was evident in the semi-final series versus the Lakers his size was missed against Pau Gasol and in crucial period of game 4, 5 & 6 Andrew Bogut weakness and inability to defend against his superb passing and rebounding was key to pivotal momentum swings the Spurs needed. His sharp passing and finding the open man will expose flat footed permanent paint tenants like Zach Randolph. I promise you the "Big Gazeebo" as I like to call him; will have more than his hands handle full with Splitter with a dash of maybe Aron Baynes for good measure.  This will be the same Splitter that if often dismissed by the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Jeff Van Gundy but will be the post that neutralizes another Gasol this coming series. Danny Green shot more 3’s this season than any other in Spur’s history but rather than recognizing that the awe of Curry’s alluring arch was mesmerizing to most but without Green’s 3’s this Spurs team wouldn’t stand a shot of retuning  to the conference finals.  The real beauty that wasn’t diagnosed by any analysts in any true detail was Green’s play on Steph Curry. A close friend of mine posted a remark to Facebook post after one game and affectionately called him Danny “Hold the Curry” Green. He didn’t just hold the curry he didn’t let it anywhere near his plate. That was the real “Ankle Gate 2013” of that series. Ankles I don’t think twist themselves but good defense makes you change directions ankles aren’t used to turning. The only true complimentary piece besides Dujaun Blair is Gary Neal. Neal has yet to cement his mark in this Spurs playoff run but did show flashes of his offensive prowess in Game 5 & 6 showed that if his shooting confidences improves Gary could and is capable of going off Curry-like.  The NBA has it wrong.  The old guard of the Spurs isn’t taking a back seat to the rise of the new Trail Blazers, Rockets or the newly dispatched Warriors. The new guard of Spurs who continue to impress upon those unfamiliar with Silver & Black basketball how these roles players are anything but complimentary. See, it's not the Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili & Parker the Grizzlies should fear it should be the complimentary pieces who don't play like complimentary pieces. I know many will say that the Grizzlies beat the Spurs in 2011 but that wasn't the WCF nor is it 2011. Yes, the Grizzlies are gritty, so are the Spurs. Yes, they have a great defensive team, so too are the Spurs. Yes, they have a great coach but better than Popovich? Here is the real discovery no one talks about and the real difference this series: Memphis roles players: Tony Allen, Pondexter, Prince and even Conley are complementary players and beyond those roles; they can't be counted on. The Spurs bench is more like a second starting unit; not true for the Grizzlies. The last time these two teams faced each other the Spurs didn't have Kawhi and Splitter wasn't Splitter nor was Green, Green in fact he was very Green and wasn't even a role or complimentary piece in that playoff series that year. I feel that NBA playoffs this year need a heavy dose of Spurs team basketball.  They seem to compliment an otherwise self-serving audience that is enamored with the “ohh’s and ahh’s” and when this team arrives on the floor the decibel meters begin to flat line, the noise diminishes, time stops and Spurs silence the critics with a deafening roar.

Spurs enter 2013 Playoffs Banged Up

photo copyright of Spurs.com

It's no surprise to Spurs fans. This same script has played out the last few seasons almost in the same fashion with the same cast of characters injured. The recipe revolving around the big 3, Duncan, Ginobili and this year it's Tony Parker with an ailing ankle and sore neck and Manu Ginobili with a chronic hamstring. Last year, there was a glimmer of hope as the San Antonio faced Oklahoma City in the NBA Conference Finals. By the time San Antonio disposed of the Clippers in a sweep they were running on fumes. Holding the best record for most of the year and unsuccessfully integrating the youth of Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter in time for the playoffs.  In 2011, Ginobili played with a broken arm in the Memphis series. Tim Duncan hobbled with plantar fasciatis in 2010.  So, as you can see, Spurs fans are hopeful but have seen the team's drive for 5 NBA Championships halted mostly by injury concerns. Will this be the year? For most of this season, the Spurs have held on to the top spot in the Western Conference, only to unravel in the last five contests. With two straight losses to Miami @home with no Lebron or Wade the team played out of sorts and then a subsequent loss to playoff contender Memphis. The Spurs won against a limited Orlando team, followed by a disappointing loss to OKC in a statement game. San Antonio almost faltered in a near loss against a cast of near unknowns in the Atlanta Hawks at home. Giving the Spurs a 2-3 record in that span. It's obvious the Spurs are sputtering at season's end without their best play-maker and facilitator in Tony Parker. The only reason the Spurs have held on to the top spot, simply due to a rejuvenated Tim Duncan. Duncan's averaging an amazing double-double for the season with 17.0 ppg, 10.0 rbg and 2.7 bgp. Tim's playoff tested demeanor has kept the Spurs close in these last 5 games. Another test comes tomorrow as the Spurs face against Denver Nuggets in Denver. Even without Gallinari, who was lost to a recent ACL injury, the Nuggets present tough match up problems because of their swingman flexibility on the perimeter and defense. Coach Pop will rest his main guns in Duncan along with ailing Ginobili and Parker as in years past, but with the hopes that this time he can finally have his unit firing on all cylinders. Especially now that the young talent of Kawhi Leonrad, Tiago Splitter and Danny Green has proven their resolve most of this NBA season and should pay dividends in the 2013 playoffs. Spurs can only hope, cross fingers, and light candles for their hard court heroes.
- Rafael Andrade Garza, (c) April, 2013.