Three cheers
Led by Duncan, Spurs top Pistons for third NBA title
SAN ANTONIO -- On a night where a lot went awry, enough still went right for Tim Duncan. The Spurs' franchise forward picked up his team in the second half and, despite some occasional un-Duncan-like moments, willed San Antonio to an 81-74 victory last night in Game 7 of the NBA Finals over the Detroit Pistons. The victory gave the Spurs their second title in three years and third in the last seven years.
Duncan, who vowed to be more assertive in the series finale, was true to his word, collecting 25 points on 27 shots, and hauled in 11 rebounds. He had two blocks, along with, ahem, five turnovers in 42 minutes. He ended up with his third Finals MVP trophy, joining Michael Jordan (6), Magic Johnson (3), and Shaquille O'Neal (3) as the only three-time winners. (The first award was in 1969, so Bill Russell never got one.)
Duncan got some big help from Manu Ginobili, who garnered some MVP votes as well. Ginobili finished with 23 points, including a driving dunk that snapped the game's final tie (61-59 with 10:22 left) and a stake-driving 3-pointer with 2:57 remaining that gave San Antonio a 7-point lead, its largest of the game to that point. (It would get to 8.) Ginobili had 11 points in the fourth quarter, the only two San Antonio baskets in the final 3:37, and also had five rebounds and a team-high four assists for the game.
And when the final buzzer sounded, confetti streamed from the rafters, fireworks went off, exhausted players embraced, coaches/chums Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich gave each other a big, long hug, and the city of San Antonio went into party mode. Popovich credited Brown for bringing him into the league and then added, ''We played a great team. I don't know how the hell we did it, but I'm thrilled."
Said Brown, ''These teams exemplified the good things about our game. I'm proud of my guys. We accepted it when we won and we accept it when we lost." As for his immediate future, Brown plans to check into the Mayo Clinic to take care of his medical issues and then decide whether -- and where -- he will coach next season.
''I hope I'll be back coaching," Brown said. ''That's been my plan. If Joe [Dumars] wants me, if I'm able to do it."
After an even first half (39-38, Detroit), the Pistons crafted a 9-point lead in the third quarter as the Spurs came out of the locker room and missed their first six shots. But the Pistons saw it disappear when an energized Duncan took over the game. Duncan (8 points on 4-of-9 shooting in the first half) had 12 points and six rebounds in the quarter and personally brought the Spurs back to a tie game after three. Duncan demanded the ball. He got the ball. He didn't have one of his best shooting nights (10 of 27), but when the Spurs needed something, he was there.
''It wasn't the greatest of games, but there was a stretch where I felt really good and got on a bit of a roll," said Duncan, who had 17 of his 25 points in the second half. ''There was a time when I felt the game was going bad for me. But my teammates continued to throw the ball in, feeding me. They were more confident in me than I was."
And when he wasn't there, Ginobili was. He added an NBA title to his Olympic gold. ''It's been an unbelievable year," he said.
The electric Argentine was a vastly different player than in Detroit. He broke the game's final tie with a driving, twisting dunk with 10:01 to play. Robert Horry (a gigantic 15 points in 32 minutes) then knocked down a trey, giving the Spurs a 64-59 lead, their largest of the game. Horry now has six rings from three teams (Lakers, Rockets, Spurs).
It was 69-65 when Duncan, hounded inside, got the ball out to Ginobili, who coolly dropped a 26-footer, punching the air in celebration on the way back down the court. The Spurs' success from international waters was a major factor; San Antonio made 7 of 11.
In most games, a 7-point lead with 2:57 to play is of little consequence. In this game, with points at a premium and the Pistons struggling to score (35 points in the second half), 7 points was downright cavernous. The Pistons never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. Detroit's guards, so dominating in the three wins, were pretty much held in check. Rip Hamilton squeezed off 18 shots to get his 15 points, a team high. Chauncey Billups, an MVP candidate through the first six games, had 13 points, but made only three field goals. Billups had been averaging 21.7 points in the first six games.
''We didn't make plays down the stretch," said the Pistons' Ben Wallace (11 rebounds, 2 blocks). ''Everyone feels like we let one slip away, but you've got to tip your hats to the Spurs. When they needed to make plays, they did. It's tough to come this close, but we have nothing to be ashamed of. We came out and played hard and that's all you can ask." 