Finals finally here for underworked Spurs
The NBA Finals begin tonight. For the San Antonio Spurs, who serve as hosts for the first two games, the competition will be a welcome change. They've been on a slow burn since eliminating the Suns eight days ago and, by the time the series shifts to Michigan, the Spurs will have played twice in 11 days.
''You can make a case either way for the long rest," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is looking to add a third championship ring to the ones he got from 1999 and 2003. ''The rest is good for Timmy [Duncan's] ankles and for Manu [Ginobili's] body. Is it a little too much time? Probably. But it's up to us to make the best use of it."
The defending champion Pistons, meanwhile, had two days to recover from their seven-game grind with the Heat before getting their first, Spurs-only, workout yesterday in San Antonio. Game 2 will be Sunday.
''We look at it as a challenge," Pistons guard Rip Hamilton said yesterday. ''You know, they had about a week off or something like that. We just feel as though, you know, we're in a nice little groove right now, so we want to continue to stay in that groove."
This series promises to be closely contested with both teams relying on suffocating defense and opportunistic scoring. The Spurs led the NBA in fewest points allowed at 88.4 a game; the Pistons were second at 89.5. Both teams were among the top five in defensive field goal percentage -- and in the bottom half in scoring, which, if you've been watching, comes as no surprise.
Scoring can be excruciatingly difficult at times for both teams, despite a number of decent point producers. In their first playoff game on April 24, the Spurs missed 17 consecutive shots, scored a mere 12 points in the fourth quarter, and lost at home to Denver. The Pistons go through ruts as well. In Game 5 against Miami, Detroit had a 13-point second quarter and a 16-point fourth quarter.
Nonetheless, Popovich believes this Spurs team, with the quick backcourt tandem of Ginobili and Tony Parker, is faster, more athletic, and better in transition (on offense, anyway) than either of the two teams he took to the Finals.
''Execution-wise on defense, we're not as good as the '99 team," Popovich said. ''We've still got Nazr [Mohammed] trying to figure things out and Beno [Udrih] is a rookie, so it's a little different for us this time around. But offensively, I think we're more dynamic."
Duncan, of course, remains the bread and butter (and anything else that's edible) for San Antonio. He played on two bum ankles against the Suns, got abused more than once by Amare Stoudemire, and lived to tell about it. Historically, the Pistons have had a tough time with the man they call The Big Fundamental; in 15 games against Detroit, of which the Spurs have won 11, Duncan has averaged 20.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
Asked yesterday if the rest had helped his ankles, Duncan said, ''Yeah, it has helped tremendously. It's good to have a little time off in between, not only myself but Manu had a couple dings and Tony with his knee hurting a little bit.
''So just a lot of different guys with things, so time to heal, it was a good little break. You have to fight against the rust and whatever else, but I think we'll break through that pretty soon and really get back into our flow."
The Pistons return the same starting five that ousted the Lakers in last year's Finals. Arguably, it's the top starting lineup in the league. Their bench, which was a big asset last season, is not as strong, with only Antonio McDyess as any kind of regular contributor. Lindsey Hunter defines the term ''streak shooter" and Carlos Arroyo, while undeniably gifted, is sometimes too out of control for the go-by-the-book coach, Larry Brown. Arroyo played only four minutes in Game 6 and none in Game 7.
San Antonio has tweaked its roster, putting Mohammed, who was acquired midseason, into the starting lineup over Rasho Nesterovic. Bruce Bowen will continue to play the role of defensive stopper, focusing primarily on Hamilton, who never stops moving. Popovich's bench has been huge, with veterans such as Brent Barry and Robert Horry providing big lifts.
Many forecasters last November predicted this matchup. It might have happened last year were it not for Derek Fisher's miracle shot in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. Brown won his first NBA title last year, shocking the dysfunctional Lakers in five. The Spurs' 72.7 winning percentage in the Finals is tops for any team, including the Bulls, Lakers, and Celtics.
Finally, it's time.
