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2013 NBA Finals Game 6 Recap/Game 7 Outlook

  By Josh Planos | June 19, 2013 - 6:32 PM |
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The NBA Playoffs 66 year history is marked by a nominal plethora of thumbnails and snapshots, names and images, that resonate with basketball aficionados each and every post-season, collecting like dust that rises and rises each year.  Sometimes these images haunt, sometimes they dazzle, but all of them stick, as if an adhesive placed upon the cerebral cortex of each and every fan who witnesses the magnitude of each moment, of each second, of each game.  Go ahead and add Ray Allen to the list of images that will forever remain in Playoff infamy, a permanent blemish that’ll find itself on the hearts of each Spur, even if they win the deciding Game 7.  A game that looked lopsided in the 4th, which might as well have had the Larry O’Brien packaged, engraved, and mailed to San Antonio, will now have to wait upon a final Game 7 to receive its destination-and the Spurs couldn’t be more disconsolate.  Instead of rambling, I will just list off my notes from the game:

1)   Poor Manu Ginobili.  The 10-year veteran had the worst game of his career in terms of turnovers (8).  This isn’t a throwaway statistic, it was THE WORST game of any that he’s played in either the regular-season or post, and he played to a plus-minus ration of -21.  Arguably the most important turnover of the entire series was made by the Argentinean, although it looked to be a clear foul on Ray Allen, with under 5 seconds to go in OT with the Spurs trailing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us9uVuW2yQc

2)   Tim Duncan didn’t show up for the 4th quarter or OT for the first time in the 2013 Playoffs.  Duncan has been dominating OT, taking control in multiple games of both the Golden State and Memphis series,’ but was nowhere to be found Tuesday night.  Duncan started hot but ended evanesce, and it hurt the Spurs immensely.   To clarify, Duncan has had one of the worst shooting series in his playoff career in the 2013 NBA Finals, but he played like a man possessed Tuesday night.  Duncan scored 13 straight points during one run in the 2nd quarter, ending with a huge 30pt 17reb performance, but was shut out after the 3rd quarter. 

3)   Ray Allen has never really been known to be a clutch performer.  When the game’s on the line, Allen might be the fourth or fifth option for the Miami Heat when looking for a big time basket, but Tuesday night represented the crown jewel of Allen’s career, especially if the Heat can close out the series.  With mere seconds to play, Allen received a pass from Chris Bosh and drilled a corner three to tie the game, even with Parker playing neighboring defense.  I guess that’s what happens when the all-time 3-point leader in the history of professional basketball gets off a fairly clean look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26HANFrnozQ

4)   LeBron James played with poise, an element that critics have harped the King on since his inception in the league.  Starting 3-12 shooting in the first three quarters, King James scored 16 in the 4th, sans trademark headband, and put up yet another triple double, finishing with 32pts, 1orebs, and 11asts (the first 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist game in the Finals since Charles Barkley in 1993).

Lebron James: Sans Headband

5)   Chris Bosh came to play.  Although Bosh only finished with 10 points, he came up huge on the boards late and had two key blocks in the OT period, including a block on Danny Green to end regulation.

6) San Antonio needs to start hitting their free throws if they want to have a chance in Game 7.  Kwahi Leonard missed a huge free throw down the stretch which would’ve extended the lead to 4, all but sealing the game for the Spurs.  Keep in mind that this kid is 21 years old, he can barely buy himself a drink and each game he’s played in has been the biggest in his life.  Time to step to the plate Kwahi, although he did put up some nice numbers aside from the missed free throw.  The Spurs shot 75% from the free throw line in Game 6 (21-28) but missed huge opportunities to seal it with under 2 minutes to play.

6)   Tony Parker is playing like a hero right now.  Hard to fathom that Parker still put the Spurs in a position to win the game and the title through the tumultuous pain he’s currently enduring, stating in an interview earlier this week that his right hamstring could tear “at any time now, but it’s the NBA Finals.  If it gets a tear, it’s life.”  What!?   Not only is Parkers biggest asset speed and maneuverability, but the pain he must be enduring has to be numbing.  Parker still did everything he could to bring the title back in the 4th quarter, hitting a clutch three-pointer to tie and an acrobatic spin-jumper in the lane to give them the lead with under a minute to play, but it was not to be.

Parker was completely spent after Game 6

Well, it’s time for every basketball fan’s dream, Game 7 to decide the Championship.  Here’s what I’ll be looking for Thursday night in what looks to be an amazing finale to an outstanding season:

1)   How will the Spurs come out of the gate?  The Championship was sealed, stamped, and sent to San Antonio and yet Miami still found a way to extend the game and eventually force Game 7.  The Spurs looked as dejected as any team in recent memory following the loss, and that can often ware on the minds of the losing team’s players, especially those of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, who were utterly demoralized as the final seconds ticked away.

2)   Will LBJ rock the headband?  What a silly question that the media clung to like porcelain following the Miami win, but it’ll be interesting to see if King James shows off that receding hairline for a full 48-minutes on Thursday night, it looked like it worked for him in Game 6.

3)   Will Danny Green find a way to get open shots.  Bosh noted before Game 6 that Green would have trouble hitting the 3-pointers he’s grown accustomed to if Miami swarmed him with defense, and Green only had 3pts on 1-7 shooting (1-5 from deep).  The Spurs not only need Green to be more active offensively, but to play better defense as well (aside from his swipe of LeBron, Green gave up countless baskets in the paint in Game 6).

4)   What’ll Spoelstra do with his lineup?  In the blowout loss that was Game 5, Spoelstra sat Chris Andersen, choosing to go with the more experienced yet crumbling Udonis Haslem, but switched entirely for Game 6 as Andersen played 14 minutes to Haslem’s 0.  Norris Cole also didn’t play in Game 6, so it’ll be interesting to see if Spoelstra chooses the lineup that kept the Spurs away from a title for at least another game, or the lineup that has won him countless matchups this post-season.

 

Whether you’re for Miami or San Antonio, at this point we’re all fans of basketball.  Come Thursday night we’ll again experience the magic that can only be found in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to decide the best team, literally, in the world.  Don’t blink, you’re not going to want to miss this. 

About Josh Planos

2013 NBA Finals: Game 1 Recap

  By Josh Planos | June 7, 2013 - 7:34 PM |
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If you read my 2013 NBA Finals Outlook, you’ll note that Athena struck first Thursday night.  Taking the lead late in the 3rd for their first lead since early in the 1st, the San Antonio Spurs looked like the more mature and experienced team the rest of the way, taking Game 1 92-88 and with it, the always important home court from the Heat.

 

James couldn’t get it done.

With the exception of the 4th quarter, the Miami Heat played a solid game, with LeBron obviously making his mark early in the series.  LeBron went off.  Picking up his second straight NBA Finals triple-double, the king had 18pts, 18rbs, and 10asts for a Heat team that looked as hesitant in the 4th as any team in recent memory.  Wade had another respectable performance adding 17pts and some great defense on Ginobili throughout.  It is interesting to note that Miami throughout much of the 4th without a true point guard on the floor, adopting a bigger lineup that proved lackluster in (obviously) setting up plays, leading to some errant shots from Bosh and Chalmers late.  Chris Bosh did have a more productive night but it came at a cost, shooting just 6-16 from the field (yeah LeBron only shot 7-16, but he also had a TRIPLE-DOUBLE) for 13pts, and missed a wide open three that could’ve cut the deficit to 2 late in the 4th.  I was expecting more out of Norris Cole in terms of minutes, as he only had 17 to Chalmers’ 27, and that may be something Miami looks into when adjusting for Game 2.  Also, MIKE MILLER.  Miller, played a great game Friday night, with 5pts and 4asts in just 20 minutes of playing time, look for him to be a bigger factor throughout this series, possibly replacing Battier in a majority of Miami’s lineups.  Overall, Miami did win the rebounding battle (46-37) but stumbled down the stretch, looking hesitant on offense and taken out of sync by the relentless San Antonio defense.

 

Parker, after the most clutch shot of his career.

How about the Spurs!?  Tony Parker continued his Playoff MVP candidacy Thursday night, hitting the most absurd game-sort-of-winning-shot in a long time:

Not only is Parker unfazed by LeBron guarding him (second in DPOY voting), but he works the clock down entirely like a champion knows how to do, nearly falls over, keeps his balance and dribble, pivots, and hits the most clutch shot of his career-it was beautiful.  If you haven’t been watching the NBA for the past decade and a half, you’ll want to know who Tim Duncan is.  The 37-year-old, playing in his 23rd Finals game of an illustrious career, had 20pts and 14rbs after a nightmare 1st quarter.  Duncan and Splitter both played great games, controlling the paint when necessary and overcoming a night that, by stats, should’ve belonged to Miami.  Did I mention that the Spurs are well coached?  Good lord, they had 4 turnovers all night!  Miami had 5 in the 4th!  Look for Popovich to preach the rebounding game, as well as possibly use Blair (who didn’t play a single minute in Game 1) down low to counteract the Spurs smaller lineup that comes in when Duncan is off the floor.  Blair has provided some great minutes for San Antonio this year and plays a more physical game than Boris Diaw who, frankly, looked comical in a matchup with LeBron.  Danny Green will need to replicate his numbers from Game 1 as well, and how about Kawhi Leonard!  That kid is 21 years old!  Leonard provided some great defensive minutes for San Antonio and didn’t look fazed in the slightest to be playing in a Finals game during his rookie season.  Props, Kawhi.

 

Game 2 isn’t until Sunday.  Let’s see what Miami draws up to counteract the Spurs resounding Game 1 victory, because they’ll be damned if they’re going to lose home court.  For those preaching “Dallas in 2011 all over again,” I’m highly doubting that the Spurs have anyone (with the exception of Parker) who can manage the 27.7ppg Nowitzki put down in that series, meaning, that this series is far from over.

About Josh Planos

2013 NBA Finals Miami Heat versus San Antonio SpursOutlook

  By Josh Planos | June 6, 2013 - 7:17 PM |
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In Greek mythology, Zeus is known to have indulged in many erotic escapades leading to the birthing of a multitude of gods and goddesses that still have their stories told in: college classrooms, backyards, and cinematic theatres to this day.  Two such offspring are Athena and Ares, Athena being the goddess of military strategy (intelligence, inspiration, arts and crafts, etc…) and Ares being the god of war.  Athena is meant to be the brains, Ares-the brawn.  Athena represents discipline; Ares symbolizes violence and tenacity towards man.  The two will be meeting in the NBA Finals Thursday night as well, in the shape of the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat.

The Ares and Athena of the NBA will face of in the NBA finals

Let’s start with Athena.   The Spurs are governed by the best coach they’ve had since the team’s inception in 1967.  Gregg Popovich is a coaching demigod, who is now looking for his 5th title in the last 14 years.  Before him they didn’t have a conference title, now they have five.  The reemergence of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili in the top tier of “big three” tandems in the NBA has reenergized and sparked San Antonio to its first Finals appearance since 2007.  And has it been fun to watch.  Tony Parker is playing like a man possessed right now: 23.0ppg, 7.2apg, and 48%fgp.  This, combined with the leadership and authority of Tim Duncan, the “Big Fundamental,” who has shut down overtime games throughout the playoff with his notorious 20ft jumper and ability to bang in the low blocks with the likes of the leagues best at the age of 37, has truly been remarkable to witness.  This team, for the most part, has been together for a while.  Parker has been alongside Tim Duncan since 2001, Ginobili had been with them since 2005, –and all of them have bought into Popovich’s system.  We’re even seeing Danny Green excel (43% from downtown) and Kawhi Leonard step into himself.  The Spurs must believe in their coach’s strategy, the same way they have all year, with Parker and Ginobili looking to penetrate and get Duncan, Splitter, Leonard, Green, and even Bonner the looks they need to knock down shots.  The glass will be crucial this series, I can’t reiterate that enough.  Miami has been astoundingly good this year on the boards, a true testament to the accusation of Birdman and Haslem’s resurgence over the past series.  Popovich deserves an incredible amount of respect for what he’s done this season all through discipline, San Antonio is the least foul-prone team in the NBA this postseason (average 2 fouls and turnovers less per game than Miami).  If San Antonio can be the wiser team, if they can exploit Miami’s lacking experience in close 4th quarter games, and if they can control the machine that is LeBron James, they have a chance.

 

 

Ares the god of war can represent the brawn and relentless brutality that is the Miami Heat.  Miami isn’t playing games this post-season, you can feel how badly they want another title, to quiet the critics pestering them all season, to give Haslem a title to retire on, to set-up a potential three-peat next season.  Consequently, it would also be interesting to consider what LeBron James would look like in a primitive setting, with a sword and shield, chances are he’d probably be the best warrior.  LeBron took over the Indiana series, logging 32pts, 4asts, and 8rbs, in the onslaught of the Pacers in Game 7 on Monday night.  Boy did it look easy.  The rebounding performance of Dwayne Wade was critical for the Heat, as bickering over the 31-year-old’s health raged in the media beforehand.  Wade did exactly what the Heat needs him to replicate Thursday night, to attack.  There was a streak in Monday’s game where Wade either scored or assisted on 7 straight plays late in the third, Miami needs this to continue.  I see the matchup of LeBron on Danny Green being an easily exploitable facet of the game so I’m going to focus on the big men.  Chris Bosh needs to come back in a big way, only averaging 11.0ppg, 4.3rpg in the Conference Finals.  This man is 6’11, and he’s being outrebounded right now by a man 7 inches shorter than him (Wade is averaging 4.9rbg throughout the playoffs)!  I realize that a majority of Bosh’s game comes from his uncanny 20ft jumper, but Miami simply cannot rely on Haslem, Andersen, and James for rebounding support.  I was truly impressed with the effort Mike Miller put in the minimal minutes played throughout the Conference Finals.  Mike Miller is the man, it’s truly odd that nobody knows about him (Former Rookie of the Year, Former 6th Man of the Year, etc..).  I’d like to see Miller come in to guard Danny Green, yes he lacks defensively but he can still guard Green, freeing up LeBron to either play down in the post.  Every single time Miami puts LeBron in the post, good things happen, take note Spoelstra.  LeBron is now at a point where his physicality rivals anyone in the NBA, they could put him on Duncan and he could limit his production for god’s sakes.  Norris Cole will be an important name in this series, faced with the horrifyingly daunting task of guarding Parker while running Miami’s offense, sort of.

Mike Miller wants to play!

Look for mythology to decide the 2013 NBA Finals starting Friday night.  Will it be strategy or physicality?  Only time will tell.

 

…but honestly, for the love of god can we get Tracy McGrady a basket or a dunk for old time’s sake?

Who gets to hold the trophy?

 

About Josh Planos

Game Recap: San Antonio Spurs defeat Memphis Grizzlies 104-93 in OT, Go Up 3-0

  By Josh Planos | May 26, 2013 - 9:25 PM |
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What a heartbreaker for Memphis.  A team who controlled the first handedly, to the tune of 29-13 and looked to poised to continue an unblemished record at home throughout the playoffs.  San Antonio just didn’t go away, and Memphis looked about as broken as any team in recent memory following the final buzzer.

Memphis is in a must-win situation

Memphis started hot on the defensive end, holding San Antonio to a 21.1% shooting percentage on 4-19 FG and an uncharacteristic 8 turnovers, with Memphis leading by as many as 18 in the first quarter of play.  But the rest of the game proved to be a different Spurs bunch, after Popovich benched the starting five, calling Game 3 “one of the worst starts I’ve ever seen.”  But the rest of the way it was San Antonio getting to the cup one step faster than Memphis, shooting 58.7% the rest of the way with only 9 turnovers.  Tony Parker who, like the Spurs, had a slow start, lead the charge with 26pts and 5asts on 11-22 shooting, continuing his playoff MVP tare.  The Spurs pick n roll game was on point Saturday night, with Tiago Splitter and Tim Duncan reaping the benefits.  Manu Ginobili had a great bounce back game with 19pts on 5-9 shooting, hitting a key 3-pointer down the stretch in the fourth quarter.  Let’s give it up for Tim Duncan, though.  Faced with an obvious psychological disadvantage throughout the game due to the recent news (yesterday) of his wife requesting a divorce after 12 years, Tim Duncan looked entirely unfazed and dominated the overtime period yet again, scoring the first 5pts of OT and making a blowout of an OT game.

Memphis just couldn’t punch back.  Once the domination that was the first 20 minutes of the game settled, San Antonio’s relentless attack on both ends proved too much for a team whose backbone, the home court, was broken Saturday night.  Mike Conley had another nice game with 20pts to go along with 5stls, although missing a tough look that could’ve ended it at the buzzer.  Zach Randolph overcame another atrocious shooting effort with 14pts 15rebs on 5-14 shooting but is far from his OKC numbers that Memphis needs in order to have a chance during this series.  Quincey Pondexter looked unconscious from the field for a while, finishing with 15pts, but missed a huge point blank layup that could’ve edged the game in Memphis’ favor.  If you’re Memphis, how do you respond!?  Dear lord, they were in dominant shape throughout much of the 1st half!  Check the first half highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-rWqkDbuOI

 

Memphis.  You’re down 3-0 against a team who has been the juggernaut of the Western Conference for the past 15 years.  Chances look grim.  Look for a big game from TayShaun Prince (who knows!) who is looking to earn the respect of a relentless city who will be seeing more of his lackluster numbers for the next three years if he isn’t traded at season’s end or cut altogether, and Randolph to hopefully break free from his shooting slump to give Memphis a win at home in Game 4.

About Josh Planos

Western Conference Finals Outlook: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies

  By Josh Planos | May 19, 2013 - 11:03 PM |
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parker

In case you hadn’t heard, the San Antonio Spurs are pretty good.  They’ve been good for quite a while actually.  This greatness was in jeopardy this past offseason, but Tim Duncan, being the demigod that he is, agreed to halve his salary in order to keep the team intact.  He’s now the 4th highest Spur on the team although he has 14 All-Star appearances, four championships, 3 NBA Finals MVP’s, and an obvious place in the HOF upon retirement –but back to the Spurs.  All they were told all season long was how age would catch up to them.  San Antonio had the best record in the Western Conference this year.  And they just went up 1-0 on the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals.  The first game wasn’t close.

There’s a reason why we love the Playoffs, the stories that they provide, which are then recounted and burned into our basketball-allotted-memories for the rest of time.  Pick a storyline and I guarantee you can find a version of it covered in this series.  Can youth trump experience?  Can a team who hasn’t been there defeat the Goliath of its conference?  Can a city earn its first trip to the NBA Finals in team history?  Can a coach whose legacy has been torn apart, spit on, and re-amended by the city he once played for, finally find a signature win?  Where the hell did Tracy McGrady go?  Everything can be found in this series.

Back to the first game.  This was a dominant effort by San Antonio.  Before the game I felt that the key factor in this series would be the boards, San Antonio ended up losing that battle by two, and still won by 22 (105-83).  Turns out if you shoot 52.6% from the field it doesn’t matter who wins the glass.  We all know the Spurs start fast, leading after the first quarter in all but two games this postseason, but Sunday felt different.  The only time Memphis had a shred of hope was after they won the opening tip.  The Spurs went on to take the first quarter to the tune of 31-14, dismantling the Grizzlies offensive game plan with stifling defense.  Tiago Splitter gave some great defensive minutes, and some awful offensive ones, and showed Lionel Hollins that him and Duncan refused to forfeit the paint.  Matt Bonner, Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard played great supplemental offensive minutes to the big three and San Antonio never looked back.  Basic pick n roll offense spread Memphis’ defense, allowing for a variety of breakdowns and missed assignments throughout the second half.  San Antonio’s shooting couldn’t have been purer.  And then shots like this went down.

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, TRACY MCGRADY IS STILL AROUND!  I used to buy this guy’s shoes!  A tired and out-of-shape McGrady hasn’t scored this post season but damn it if he wasn’t going to try Sunday, attempting two three-pointers in the closing minutes.  Neither went in.  Damnit. He did however, hilariously wave off a screen and try to score in isolation against Richard Jefferson in the Warriors season, which was hilarious.

As my fellow work-associate Davis Mattek commented, if Mike Conley can play his matchup with Tony Parker to a draw, the Grizzlies have a chance.  He didn’t.  Tony Parker demonstrated vintage form, with 20 points & 9 assists, commanding his team to a victory over the inexperienced Conley.  It was evident early on that Popovich and Duncan want that fifth ring.  Tim Duncan’s offensive game was hindered by Marc Gasol (reigning Defensive POY) but was still able to grab 10 boards and make Zach Randolph’s trip to San Antonio one to forget.  Randolph, the leading scorer for the Grizzlies, ended with 2 points on 1-8 shooting, a far cry from his 28pt, 14reb performance to seal Oklahoma City’s fate.

Randolph must find his form if the Grizz want too compete.

For the first time in a series or two, Mike Conley was human.  He made mistakes in the half court, missed open shots, turned the ball over, and lost command of his team.  However, the Grizzlies are nothing without the 25-year-old and will look to him for guidance and to have him deliver OKC-series-numbers in the games to come.  If Memphis has a chance to win this series, it’s on the glass.  It’s going to come down to Randolph, Gasol, Darrell Arthur and possibly Ed Davispushing San Antonio around offensively and defensively, and Hollins most assuredly won’t allow for the defensive breakdowns in Game 1.  Yes, Memphis technically won the rebounding battle and still lost the game handedly, but when you consider that neither Randolph nor Gasol made their presence known in the paint during Game 1, this can be a lopsided statistic that the Grizzlies need.  Rebounding is an opportunity.  Rebounding will slow down the game, allow for Gasol and Randolph to find an offensive rhythm, and supply lanes for Conley, Bayless, Prince, and Allen to run through.  In total, Memphis must rise to the occasion, for although they have never been here before, to approach this series with a tourist mentality will mean imminent doom for a team that so badly wants to experience what San Antonio has relished in over the past 15 seasons.  As of now, Memphis doesn’t have a jersey number retired yet (only been around since 1995), but whoever can bring them back in this series will most assuredly be on their way to those rafters.

About Josh Planos