One more free throw or one more rebound. That's all it would have taken for the Spurs to win the NBA Championship.
Before I go into that, it was a great game. You had the 37 year old Tim Duncan reaching back into his youth for a 30 PT, 17 REB vintage performance. He leads the Spurs to 75-65 lead after 3 quarters.
Then LeBron James played like Heat fans were waiting for him to play. Up until that point, Mario Chalmers led the team with 17 PTS. Chalmers made one more bucket (a 3 for the first basket of the 4th) which came off an assist from James, who put up his 2nd triple-double of the Finals with 32 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST. He also had one BIG block on Duncan at the rim during the comeback. I have to believe Duncan was tired at that point because he was dunking those in the first half.
It looked like it was going to be one of the those quarters by the Spurs were they just don't play well offensively and score only single digits. By 6:03 the Heat had already erased the 10 point lead and led 84-82. With 1:47 to go, the Heat had an 89-86 lead, the Spurs managing to get some stops and stay within reach.
Then it was Tony Parker's turn (he had a miserable shooting game up to that point and ended the game hitting on just 6-23). First, Parker shot a step back three over James to tie the score at 89-89. Then he steals a pass by James intended for Chalmers. On the other end he spins on Chalmers in the lane and hits a floater to give the Spurs a 91-89 lead.
Two Ginobili free throws sandwiched around two turnovers by James gave the Spurs a 93-89 lead with 28.2 secounds left. At that point I was thinking that James, despite his effort to bring the Heat back, was going to get criticized to no end for those turnovers.
Then Murphy stepped in and Faith took over.
Having to foul, the Heat put Ginobili on the line. Make those two and the game would have been over, but he missed one, making the score 94-89. I know sportscasters are criticizing Popovich for taking Duncan out at this point, but I believe the decision was sound for this possession (I'll get to the next one). Spoelstra had put in Mike Miller for Chris Bosh, so Pop countered with Boris Diaw for Duncan. At the time I was thinking, "the Spurs are not a good rebounding team...with Duncan out everyone has to crash the boards."
Everyone is going to remember the last play, but this one is much worse. James missed the desperation three and Miller...Yes Miller!!...got the offensive rebound. With the game on the line how can the Spurs possibly let Miller get the rebound. Miller ended up kicking the ball out to James, who didn't miss the 2nd time.
19.4 secounds away from a Championship and the 21 year old Kwahi Leonard on the line with the Spurs only leading 94-92. Leonard was having his best game of the Finals (22 PTS, 9-14, 11 REB, 3 STL), but I couldn't help but thinking this was going to be two tough free throws for a guy only in his 2nd year in the NBA. I was actually glad he made one of two.
Now comes the time I question Popovich's decision. Duncan had re-entered the game after James made the 3. Spoelstra, didn't put Bosh back in for Miller until they fouled Leonard. I think Pop and/or the Spurs staff mistakenly thought Miller was going in for Bosh again, because that's when Diaw went back in the game for Duncan. Spurs were then stuck because there were no more time outs for either team. Murphy again showing his mug...if the Heat had a timeout left they would have called it to set up the last play. Pop then could have put Duncan back in after realizing Bosh was in the game.
If the Spurs lose game 7, I will be forever tortured by highlights of this final play of regulation. James missing the three, Bosh getting the offensive rebound surrounded by a trio of smaller Spurs, and then shuffling it out to Allen. Allen had 2 points up until that point, but he stepped back behind the 3-PT line and hit nothing but net.
Spurs actually had a 100-97 lead at one point in overtime, but the Heat scored the last 6 to put the game away, 4 of those by Allen. On the last play I thought that Danny Green had time to pump fake and let Bosh go by...1.9 seconds would have to make the move quick, but it could have been done. That one's just an observation...not criticizing Green. It was a desperation move either way.
Faith had blessed the Heat in Game 6. She saved James another year of the sports media questioning his heart and more ridiculously, his skill. Instead, that same media is questioning the decision of an otherwise great coach and praising James for leading the Heat back from the brink.
This game was so agonizing to watch. I did so with my brother-in-law and two sisters all rooting for San Antonio. I'm not a true Spurs fan but I really really am rooting for them. I can only imagine what Spurs fast went through. I don't agree with Duncan being out at all. If a shot is missed you need the rebound. Don't take out the seasoned veteran who if you can count on it would be him. I just don't like it. This isn't game 37 of the regular season. Other than that it is the big men's job to put a body on the opposing big men when the shot goes up. But who gets the big boards? Mike Miller and Chris Bosh. I understand Manu has played well in the past to include game five of this series. Still I thought Pop staying with him in this game was a huge fail. Huge. At what point in the game was he thinking Manu would turn it around? Last criticism of Pop is Parker not being on the court when Manu had to race down the court, drove into the lane and walked/got fouled. Should have been a whistle somewhere in there. Bottom line is Miami outplayed the Spurs. The shooting and free throws down the stretch weren't there. They also played excellent defense and shut down Duncan in the second half though I think San Antonio didn't try hard enough to get him the ball. LeBron had that stretch we were all waiting for. Miami was the better team.
ReplyDeleteSame as Yaj, if the Spurs lose game seven I'll have that play at the end of regulation (Bosh shovel pass to Allen - three pointer GOOD!) going through my head forever. I don't think the Spurs come back from this. I have to wonder what was going through Pop's head and the players looked lost at times and the offense was more stagnant than a fourth grade team. Can they put it all behind them? Sure but I don't think it will matter. I think Miami takes game seven and though the Spurs may hang around, I think Miami is in control for the majority of the game. Gosh I hope I'm wrong. GO SPURS!