Pounding The Rock: FanPosts

Game 7 - Invoking Nike

2013-06-20T01:58:44Z

Here we go...Calling all rabid Spurs Fans!

Golden blest Nike

Take us to victory.

We play hard every day.

Give us the sweet taste of victory and of the trophy.

Make our players strong, cunning & confident.

Let our 3 point shots rain on the Heat once again like a storm of shooting stars, dazzling and bewildering them.

Vanquish without any mercy the Heat, enemies of our valiant team.

Confound and frustrate them to their breaking point. Let their tears be torrential!

Then help us stick the fork in them and smack them down!

Give to us a divine glory furnished with trophies & rings.

Victory Is ours by your will

We kneel and implore you…

We take a vow, we guarantee

Our devotion and our duty

Take us to victory

O’ Nike!

Come, mighty Goddess, and bless Our House with the happiness that comes from another championship victory.

May our Spurs great deeds come through your protection, and find, led on by you, immortal fame!

Here we go...Calling all rabid Spurs Fans!

Golden blest Nike

Take us to victory.

We play hard every day.

Give us the sweet taste of victory and of the trophy.

Make our players strong, cunning & confident.

Let our 3 point shots rain on the Heat once again like a storm of shooting stars, dazzling and bewildering them.

Vanquish without any mercy the Heat, enemies of our valiant team.

Confound and frustrate them to their breaking point. Let their tears be torrential!

Then help us stick the fork in them and smack them down!

Give to us a divine glory furnished with trophies & rings.

Victory Is ours by your will

We kneel and implore you…

We take a vow, we guarantee

Our devotion and our duty

Take us to victory

O’ Nike!

Come, mighty Goddess, and bless Our House with the happiness that comes from another championship victory.

May our Spurs great deeds come through your protection, and find, led on by you, immortal fame!

Calm Down, Be Poised, And Take Five

2013-06-19T21:28:22Z

With the trace of negativity on this board for our boys' chances in Game 7, I can't help but contain a need to write something. You won't recognize my username; I've rarely ever posted, (that usually happening right around draft and free agency when there is talk of blowing my team up. And, oh, how I can't help the trepidation).
Yes, our boys are getting a little long in the tooth. And, as I've gone a few sleepless nights, these past several weeks (cant imagine way) I can't help but wonder what the future holds; my heart says Spurs, my head says the obnoxious ones. My own stalwart, steely confidence in my team has admittedly waned.
I've been around long enough to see Big Dave drafted, to curse Mr. Strickland for a blind over-the-head pass, to root MJ on for his first and then curse him for all the rest, to be privileged enough to play Avery Johnson in a game of HORSE long before he had become the Little General and had developed anything close to that jumper he hit to close out New York in'99 (I lost of course, my jumper was more deplorable even than his, but my cousin won). I was in the building when Barkley took the three over Big Dave. I rooted for Hakeem and Clyde in '95 just because the Spurs brought in the freakshow that was and is Dennis Rodman. If J.K. Rowling would have allowed an American to play the role of 'he who shall not be named,' the Worm would have had my vote, even if he has proved time and again, that any Joe in 99% of the human population would serve as a better thespian.
Sorry, I'll dispense with the Rodman rant.
I rooted for Karl and John against the Bulls, even after the massive elbow the near knocked the Admiral unconscious, but it was '97 of all years that made me a real Spurs fan. I watched every game believing that Monty Williams was going to become our next great star and that we were going to hold on to the Human Highlight film just long enough for Dave and Sean to get back so that we could win a championship. I never even once felt that, just maybe, we were tanking games on purpose to compete for a number one pick.
Yes, I know. I've never been accused of being a basketball IQ diamond in a bucket of cubic zirconia.
But since then, I've seen Tim Duncan. I don't think I need to say any more to make my point to anyone, but as I've already become a little long winded... Why not.
Karl Malone was the greatest power forward ever. I feel pretty confident saying that, though my experience doesn't extend far enough back to speak of those that came before The Round Mound and present-day zombie movie stand-in, Kevin Machale. He met Tim Duncan in the playoffs beat him once in '98, but not in '99. Suddenly and unapologetically, Timmeh became the new GOATPUFF, (thank you AS for perhaps the greatest acronym of all time).
Sadly, Timmeh could not repeat in 2000, though I dare say he would have if not for the knee. He didn't leave us either, though he had the chance to join all-star Grant Hill and budding starT-Mac somewhere else, nearer to South Beach, (take note, Mr. James of how to really become endeared to fans--true fans--and not just to fair-weather media minions; I'm sure true Miami fans exist, I just can't see them all behind the ...well, I digress).
We struck out in '01 and '02, building in both years the vast anticipation and exhilaration that would be 2003's western conference semis. David and Mr. Kevin Willis tag teamed the Shaq Monster while Timmeh, Tony, Manu, and, oh that guy that believed then and now that he was better than Manu Ginobili and then later Danny Green... What's his name? Never mind, who cares? The right guys won. (We miss you, Captain, in this series more than any other very likely, but I've a few four letter words saved up for you for not being capable of being a team player and joining us in this run. Somehow, I bet you're hurting over this more than most, and if not, hey, find a deep dark hole to crawl in. I hear the Bobcats might ...no, wait. Milwaukee? No. Indy? No. Atlanta, GS. Damn, is there a bridge you haven't burned.)
We burned up everybody we faced in 2003, Kerr burned up Dallas, and Duncan did the only thing I'll never forgive him for in missing the quadruple double in the finals against the Nets. Then we talked about signing Jason Kidd, and an ESPN crew tracked Timmeh as he sped through town, wooing the guy who ...used to blow kisses to ...well, that just seemed creepy, marital bliss or not.
Thank you, David Stern, for implementing instant replay. Wish you would have done it in time for 2004 and ...well 'point four,' but ...you're trying, I understand.
That year could have broke us, just like ill-luck and perhaps karma broke the Lake-show. It didn't. We moved on to 2005, though we abandoned Malik Rose along the way. Bruce Bowen earned the ire of Ray Allen, by moving his feet and playing defense. Ray Allen called him dirty and others hopped onto that bandwagon, but Bruce was just that good. He wasn't out to hurt anyone, Ray; he was just out to stop you. You don't seem to handle that all that well, and you tend to lash out at others when things don't go your way. Oh, that cute little grimace of disgust from the bench as Danny Green broke you record said it all; JJ Barea was right in what he called you this year, I think.
7 games. And the most impressive of all of our championships. Detroit. I think it was the first in which we truly had a big three. Parker, Manu, and Timmeh were brilliant, but I think the Bowen block on Chauncy in the waning moments of the fourth quarter Game 7 sticks out in my mind best, even over all the long-haired, winding and wiry Ginobili drives.
We were amazing.
Plantar Fasciitis and an untimely Ginobili foul killed our chances in 2006, and Miami reaped the benefit, you know, back then when they were still perhaps likable. Can you imagine what our Spurs would have done to that team?
2007 presented one man against our team, and we all know the result and the scars left upon Lebron. Seriously, leading up to and, I believe, long after Thursday, I believe that man will wake in a cold sweat in many a night with our Spurs' emblem etched into his minds' eye, along with its chief characters.
My daughter was born the night Joey Crawford refused to call Derek Fisher for his foul on Brent Barry in the final moments of Game 3. (the league issued a formal confirmation and apology for the no-call, if I remember right. Anger management helped? Maybe, but he sure seems to swallow his whistle in certain pivotal playoff moments for our Spurs. This one. Last year, at OKC. And Tuesday, on the Manu drive and the Green three.
2009 was doomed by a Manu injury.
2010 threw kryptonite at us in the Phoenix Suns.
2011 threw more kryptonite at us, as well as Grant Hill's payback to Tim for not joining him in Orlando all those years ago, as Manu's arm was broken. We weren't playing defense yet, but there wasn't a single team that year that would have challenged us more than Memphis, including Dallas, whom went on to win everything.
2012 saw us win 10 playoff games in a row only to falter to OKC, whom seemed to have a small tidbit of that same previously mentioned kryptonite, as well as the young star-studded sex appeal that seemingly drove Stern to play Puppet Master for a Heat-Thunder finals. The Thunder moved to play the Heat to five games before losing.
I don't know if we would have beaten the Heat last year; we weren't quite playing the same defense we are this year, what with the shortened season and the condensed playbook that was the result of it. OKC played great against us and stunk it up against the Heat. Could we have done better? I think so.
But my point in writing all this is to remind you, if doubt has invaded your heart, just who the Spurs are. We swept Cleveland, we took New York in five, New Jersey in six, and Detroit in seven. We've seen every sort of obstacle in between and yeah, we haven't always been successful.
37 or not, Tim is still the GOATPUFF. Tony Parker is an MVP candidate. Manu is still capable of the voodoo. Kawhi, Danny, and a fat man are playing the kind of defense that may just approach being called Bowenesque. Our three point shooting has been peerless.
Pop made perhaps a calculated mistake at the end of game six. No one played to their potential, save for Tim. Kawhi played well, but I think he has the potential to be even better next game.
We lost by three.
To a man, our guys are pissed off. Would any of the aforementioned teams we faced in the previous fifteen years want to face this team when it feels a chip on its shoulder?
The dejection the media has perceived in our guys is a rope-a-dope maneuver if I've ever seen one. Do you really think this team, these guys, are ready to surrender? Could any of them think themselves done? If you think so, I don't think you've been watching the same team I have this season.
It's a feint. It's the same kind of tactic the old joyful Viking, Herger, uses on the young warrior in the Thirteenth Warrior. He feigns that he has been beaten, only to behead his opponent in one swift move.
And the Heat, entitled to glory as they believe they are, "not two, not three, not four ..." just might fall for it.
Game 7 is upon us. It's not in our house. The media darlings would have you see every stat that would make you a nonbeliever.
But all I see is my team--the Spurs--ready and poised. They may be tired, and indeed, Friday, they'll take five and have more than earned it. But Thursday, I have faith, they'll take five another way.
Tim, Manu, and Tony aren't going anywhere at the end of this season, by the way. Especially, if they have a chance to do what has always escaped them. The repeat.
Let's go San Antonio. GSG!

Bosh Fouled Green ... yup.

2013-06-19T14:51:57Z

Full Disclosure: I'm a Spurs fan, devastated at the game's outcome, of course. But putting that aside, it was VERY clear to me that both teams' athletes left everything on the floor last night. It's one of the finest NBA games I've ever watched. Just wish we'd'a won ... That said, I am stunned at the refereeing ineptitude in that final play in OT (other plays, too, both ways). I've always believed that the best refereeing happens when it assures the game is about the players and about the game, not about them. Not so last night. Bosh clobbered Green across the 3-point line, and I figure it's the rare partisan observer who'd argue the point. Not calling that foul put the refereeing squarely front-and-center affecting the outcome. Had the foul been rightly called, the arena would have erupted in condemnation of the ref making the call -- no question. However, the outcome of the game would have hinged on the player (Green) going to the line to shoot three foul shots that would either tie the game (another OT) or he'd miss one or more and the game would go to Miami. The result would be specifically determined by the athletes involved, not as a result of a call or a bad no-call. It created a bitter taste and (if that's possible), reduced the credibility of NBA refs even more. From my observations, they're a joke parading around as impartial arbiters of the action (whether the calls or no-calls go for or against the Spurs ... it's still poor). Final comment on NBA refs: some observers/talking heads have "excused" bad calls by refs by citing the "bang-bang" speed of the action. My observations of NFL refs shows "bang-bang" action each and every game, and guess what ... the video replays almost always validate the refs' calls on the field -- much unlike the NBA replays. Or, they say that the calls "even out" over the course of the game ... right ... Oh -- and no one is allowed to criticize NBA refs' consistent ineptitude ... or the NBA spanks them with fines. Now THERE's a credibility builder! Ultimately, the only value I see in the NBA's refs is refereeing fights on court and awarding technical fouls when someone laughs at their calls.

As a Mavs fan, you were cheated

2013-06-19T04:35:18Z

Finished watching the game. Coudn't count how many missed calls there were. Most importantly I will list the Manu Ginobili layup where he was hacked on the arm countless times. Throw in the Danny Green 3 that was "blocked" by Chris Bosh, and you have a typical heat arena game. It is true that I am rooting for the Spurs, but this is ridiculous. If I was Coach Pop, I would take the 25k fine to complain about the jack @ss refs. I am sure he will not, being the person he is. I hold you high on my respect totem pole based on your guys' classiness, smarts, and dominance. I am now going to basically throw a fit if you guys don't win the finals. With this game now stuck in my head, I am throwing my heart and soul into making not the Spurs win, but just making the Heat lose (I know I can't do anything). The announcers were even saying those should be fouls. Again, I hold you guys with the utmost respect. The heat are a team I have zero respect for. I don't care who the heat are playing as long as they lose. I wanted the Mavs to beat them and they happily did. I wanted the Thunder (rivals) to win and sadly they lost. I want the Spurs (also rivals) to win and hopefully they will. I try not to blame refs, but this gets rid of any doubt I had about people basically setting it up for the Heat. It's not just since the overrated. I got extremely frustrated during the 2006 finals (and so did Mark Cuban). I wish you all luck in game 7 and I am really hoping you guys win. Good luck and whip their asses.

Poll

Were you guys cheated?

Hoodwinked On the Hardcourt (Part 1)

2013-06-19T00:12:56Z

Magicians and swindlers have a lot in common. In every scam, there exists some form of misdirection, a time when you watch the exaggerated motion as the "coin" disappears with virtually no movement. The exceptionally talented scammers make their marks think they are doing them a favor. The marks are so disoriented that they cannot wait to get taken again. And that brings us to the NBA.

Hook, Line and Free Throw

At the end of a typical NBA game, many fans take a look at the box score to confirm or disprove their observations of the game. If your team won, the observation starts with the points column and then proceeds to who shot well. Maybe you do the same for the opposition. It is fun to look for statistical anomalies such as double doubles or out of family performances (a center with 10 assists, a guard with 10 rebounds). Secure in your knowledge of your team's superiority, you can go about your life.

If, however, your team lost, the pilgrimage to the box score takes on an entirely different meaning. If you had an inkling that you got screwed by the referees, your first stop will be the free throw attempts column. Seeing a huge disparity in trips to the charity stripe may piss you off. But let me tell you this; you are probably looking in the wrong place. The table below shows from most to least what a single bad call by a referee can cost your team. Note where an incorrectly called defensive foul lies in the table. This table assumes a simple 1.1 points per possession (PPP) and 75% free throw shooting. Your mileage may vary.

Incorrect Call by Referee	Statistical Cost to Team
Offensive foul called on a shot that went in Should have been a defensive foul	2.75 points (basket + one FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Offensive foul called Should have been a defensive foul	1.5 (two FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Turnover Should have been a defensive foul	1.5 (two FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Incorrect travelling	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect carry	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect over and back	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect possession on out of bounds tip	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect offensive three seconds	1.1 (loss of possession)
Missed goaltending	0.9 (basket) vs. (one possession)
Incorrect defensive three seconds	0.75 (one FTA)
Incorrect defensive foul	0.4 (two FTA) vs. (one possession)

A defensive foul resulting in free throws is not a big statistical swinger during the game. A team shooting 75% on free throws has the expectation of 1.5 points from two free throws instead of 1.1 points from a single possession (there is some interdependence I am ignoring). If your team has 10 more or fewer free throws, the expectation is that changed the outcome by +/- two points. In a really tight game, two points can mean a lot. In most games, it is not a factor. On the other hand, missed turnovers that should have been fouls can add up in a hurry.

The 2013 Heat

At the risk of being obvious, let me point out that Basketball is a game. Even when it is played by people who bring in nearly $60 million a year for playing it, it is still a game. Upon retirement, many famous athletes from different sports marveled that they were allowed to make their living by simply playing a game that they loved. Those who respect their sports play within both legal and moral bounds. It is one of the reasons I love the Spurs, but alas, it is not universal.

The 2013 Heat are as talented a team as anyone in the league. But talent is not the sum total of the Heat. The Heat coaching staff seems to have combined knowledge of the table above with human nature to get an edge, effectively lowering the bar for a win. After watching all of their playoffs games, their approach appears to be:

1) If you go for a steal/block/disruption on the defensive end and get caught, the cost vs. most teams is 0.4 points. If you are successful, you gain 1.1 points (actually higher since PPP for turnovers is much greater). If you are successful only one in three times, it is a net positive!

2) When you opponent is ahead, referees are much less likely to call fouls on you. A recent statistical research project that showed no high level referee bias (free throws only), stumbled onto this fact. The phenomenon is real and statistically observable.

3) Referees are very familiar with how teams play. Most do not want to make the game a constant parade to the free throw line. In the same way that Memphis gets away with very physical play in offensive and defensive player body positioning, Miami gets away with physical harassment in an attempt to cause turnovers. The referees simply accept that as "Miami Heat Basketball".

How does this apply to the current NBA finals?

Game 1

Game 1 was the perfect "control" game in a quest to look at the effects of risky defense. It was one of the cleanest playoff games I have ever observed. Neither team led by much and there was a record low number of turnovers (13) and fouls (24). Miami should have won this game. The five Miami turnovers in the fourth game were the difference and as the pictures below show, only the first was a missed call (Ray Allen tripping over Bonner's foot).

Ray Allen trips.

Miller-James missed pass.

James throws it right to Kawhi.

Ball slips out of Chalmers hand.

Shot Clock Violation

What I got from this game was the knowledge that these team were very evenly matched without significant referee input. San Antonio was a little rusty and Miami was a little tired.

Game 2

Game 2 marked the beginning of Miami’s quest to dominate the game through turnovers. I found it very amusing that the announcers commented on how sloppy San Antonio’s ball handling had become suddenly. For the rest of this post, I will take you through the first quarter of game 2. To start, lets look at the two to three kicked balls (hard to tell on one for absolute sure) that were not called. In each case, Miami was trying to break up a pick and roll so kicking the ball is a very viable option to stop the play. It is an even better option if the referees do not call a kicked ball and let you have it as a turnover.

Parker nails Bosh's foot.

Another pass, another foot.

This time it was a shin.

In this last picture, you see Duncan kicking a ball. As it turns out, yes, these referees do know what a kicked ball is.

I guess Duncan's legs are not ethereal.

BTW, by NBA rules, the event below was a backcourt violation. A ball that is being held by a player can go into the backcourt provided neither the ball or any part of the player body touches the back court. Chalmers did not have possession of the ball before going over. In that case, as soon as it breaks the plane, it is over and back.

Over and Back ... or Not

I found it incredibly enlightening that the NBA felt the need to bring in a former referee to validate calls and no calls. Game 1 was such a cleanly played game. Were they expecting controversial calls in game 2? The only problem is, they only went to Javie a couple of times. When the missed foul call was clearly against the Heat, he said "I really can't tell what the referee on the floor saw". When it was clearly on the Spurs, he had no problems with his conviction. In addition, they never ask "Is this a steal?". Even though that is much more important than "Is this a foul?".

Smile for the camera, Steve. So who pays your salary now?

This brings us to the last part of this installment. Here are three examples of Miami's "incredible" defense in the first quarter of Game 2. In the first picture, you can see a steal by Bosh. In this case, the steal is executed by hitting Ginobli's arm as he dribbles. This is a scene that repeats over and over again throughout the playoffs. Next, there is a picture of Kawhi going back up for an offensive put back. This was actually called a block! The final picture is Duncan also trying for an offensive put back. He is simultaneously being hit on the forearm by Chalmers and being pushed with two hands by Bosh.

I guess the elbow is part of the ball.

I guess the shoulder is part of the ball.

I guess the forearm is part of the ball.

In future installments, I will try to add animated GIFs instead of just pictures.

I am hoping that the Spurs win the title. However, my math tells me that games 3 and 5 were a statistical aberration and as long as Miami gets 10-15 more possessions per game due to bad calls, a Spurs win will only come from a Herculean effort.

Hook, Line and Free Throw

Incorrect Call by Referee	Statistical Cost to Team
Offensive foul called on a shot that went in Should have been a defensive foul	2.75 points (basket + one FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Offensive foul called Should have been a defensive foul	1.5 (two FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Turnover Should have been a defensive foul	1.5 (two FTA) vs. (loss of possession)
Incorrect travelling	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect carry	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect over and back	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect possession on out of bounds tip	1.1 (loss of possession)
Incorrect offensive three seconds	1.1 (loss of possession)
Missed goaltending	0.9 (basket) vs. (one possession)
Incorrect defensive three seconds	0.75 (one FTA)
Incorrect defensive foul	0.4 (two FTA) vs. (one possession)

The 2013 Heat

How does this apply to the current NBA finals?

Game 1

Ray Allen trips.

Miller-James missed pass.

James throws it right to Kawhi.

Ball slips out of Chalmers hand.

Shot Clock Violation

What I got from this game was the knowledge that these team were very evenly matched without significant referee input. San Antonio was a little rusty and Miami was a little tired.

Game 2

Parker nails Bosh's foot.

Another pass, another foot.

This time it was a shin.

In this last picture, you see Duncan kicking a ball. As it turns out, yes, these referees do know what a kicked ball is.

I guess Duncan's legs are not ethereal.

Over and Back ... or Not

Smile for the camera, Steve. So who pays your salary now?

I guess the elbow is part of the ball.

I guess the shoulder is part of the ball.

I guess the forearm is part of the ball.

In future installments, I will try to add animated GIFs instead of just pictures.

Chalkboard: Game 6

2013-06-18T16:17:14Z

All those of us who watch from outside the lines can only hope for the best from the Silver & Black. We display confidence without swagger as the view through the telescope of this series has narrowed to tonight's potential close-out game. We know their fate is in good hands (TO's be damned!), the world will (Final-ly) be watching, and the time has come to make a statement.

Since this space is the next best thing to being there; where I may offer one man's estimation of the task at hand in a few pithy words and phrases, here's what I'd like to see play out as the Drive For Five ensues:

I. Proof of Concept - Trust the System. Execute. Recycle until 00:00.

II. Craftsmanship - Play to your strengths and expertise: Dictate pace, Move with Purpose, Create Spacing, Assist = Penetration/Good looks/3-pt. opportunities.

III. Defend - Like the basket's your Mama. Help, Rotate, and Always Be Closing.

IV. Intangibles - Define your legacy. Represent excellence. Be One Team-One Goal.

Stick 'em Spurs. Kick 'em when they're down, and keep your foot on the gas... until T-Mac gets subbed in.

I. Proof of Concept - Trust the System. Execute. Recycle until 00:00.

II. Craftsmanship - Play to your strengths and expertise: Dictate pace, Move with Purpose, Create Spacing, Assist = Penetration/Good looks/3-pt. opportunities.

III. Defend - Like the basket's your Mama. Help, Rotate, and Always Be Closing.

IV. Intangibles - Define your legacy. Represent excellence. Be One Team-One Goal.

Stick 'em Spurs. Kick 'em when they're down, and keep your foot on the gas... until T-Mac gets subbed in.

Funny LeBron flopping video

2013-06-18T02:14:28Z

Hey everyone -

In light of LeBron's "floppiness" this playoffs, I made a video. Thought you might dig it:

LeBron James - It's in My Blood - watch more funny videos

Thanks -- Go Spurs!!!!! Let's make it happen in game 6 and not even let it get to seven!

Also, if you feel like sharing, please do - would love the exposure. Maybe next a video for Bosh? Wade? All three of them together? Would be ree-dic.

Hey everyone -

In light of LeBron's "floppiness" this playoffs, I made a video. Thought you might dig it:

LeBron James - It's in My Blood - watch more funny videos

Thanks -- Go Spurs!!!!! Let's make it happen in game 6 and not even let it get to seven!

Also, if you feel like sharing, please do - would love the exposure. Maybe next a video for Bosh? Wade? All three of them together? Would be ree-dic.

9738, 7272, 2015, 1536

2013-06-17T23:27:45Z

Here are some numbers for you:

9738: Number of minutes played by the Heat's big three this season

7272: Number of minutes played by the Spur's big three this season

2015: Number of minutes played by the Heat's big three in the playoffs

1536: Number of minutes played by the Spur's big three in the playoffs

That extra 32 percent time in the playoffs may not seem like a huge deal to us armchair coaches watching the game on television exhorting those athletes to move their lazy butts and give more effort, but at this level it is a huge deal. Go out and run ten miles or so at a pretty good clip. Not too bad eh? Now go out and run 13 miles at exactly the same pace.

The numbers don't even tell the whole story. Pop rests his players when they need it. Spoelstra often had to keep his players out there even when they needed to be on the bench to either mentally or physically regroup. Yes, Pop has a deep bench and multiple effective lineups so he can do that, but I would argue that the coaching philosophy played a huge part in developing that deep bench and lineup advantage. Getting rest at the right time is just as important as the amount of rest. Advantage Spurs.

Energy levels are the result of a lot of different factors and body wear is just one of them. A big factor, maybe the biggest, is mental state of mind. You have way more energy when your team is winning and things have been working well, and inversely you have way less energy when you are mentally fatigued when questioning yourself, your teammates, your legacy, etc.. The Heat are always under the media microscope. When times are good they can feed off the media frenzy, but when times are bad it can crush spirits and exaggerate fatigue. The Spurs, on the other hand, both get and invite minimal media noise, preferring a low key approach depending on faith in themselves and each other. Advantage for this particular situation: Spurs.

The Heat are an incredibly talented bunch of players. Looking only at physical basketball skills LeBron is one of the greatest players ever and has the potential to be the greatest. Incredible speed, athletic ability, power and finesse all in one body. Incredible. The talent levels of Wade and LeBron are so high that we discount Bosh and Ray Allen, both stars in their own right. If they all play to their potential there are very few teams in history that can beat them. But luckily, well, not really luckily, by design the Spurs are playing to their potential while the Heat are not. A big part of that is simply Gregg Popovich carefully balancing lineups and minutes. That is only one of the factors, sure, but it is an important one. The Spurs simply have more physical and energy left to draw upon when times get tough.

As an aside, here are some personal numbers: 26,600, 7.6. I watch nationally televised games at the gym, but unfortunately the Spurs are not often on national TV as apparently this great nation would rather watch the train wreck in LA seven days a week than the gorgeous poetry created by the Spurs even once. Ugh. Luckily this postseason I have had nineteen games to watch at the gym, burning approximately 1400 extra calories each time. That works out to 26600 calories so far, the caloric value of 7.6 pounds of fat. Despite the extra ice cream and chocolate intake I have indeed lost seven pounds during these playoffs. Funny how math works

Back to the main topic. The teams are pretty evenly matched in many ways, so any advantage can be incredibly handy. If we can jump out early in game six and keep their mood down it will be that much more difficult for them to dig deep for extra energy. The Heat will not concede, of course, they are way too talented and proud to let us win easily, but we go in with a huge advantage. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that advantage is just by luck.

Here are some numbers for you:

9738: Number of minutes played by the Heat's big three this season

7272: Number of minutes played by the Spur's big three this season

2015: Number of minutes played by the Heat's big three in the playoffs

1536: Number of minutes played by the Spur's big three in the playoffs

Finals MVP on the losing team?

2013-06-17T15:01:26Z

Much has been made about Danny Green's performance so far in the finals. We haven't seen the IcyHot (thank you 48moh) that was present throughout the regular season. He has been wonderful on offense and pretty good on defense as well. As long as he keeps his performance at the current level and there are no other crazy breakout performances, I absolutely see him winning the finals MVP should the Spurs win. But what if we don't win (not me being a pessimist, just aknowledging the small possibility)? With the previous caveats, I think he has been the MVP out of both teams. Have you seen anyone on the Heat who has had a standout performance throughout the finals? There has only been one player in NBA history to have won the finals MVP and be on the losing team (Jerry West, 1969 for the Lakers). Of course the series is not over yet and there is always the possibility of someone else stepping up and having that standout performance, but I wanted put that thought out there into the basketball world and see what other's thoughts and opinions are.

Bench the Big 3 for Game 6, and Diaw too

2013-06-17T12:24:11Z

Why bench the big 3 for Game 6, when the Spurs have 2 shots to win the championship? 2 reasons.

1. the refs

2. Duncan is 37, Ginobili is 35, and Parker has a sore hamstring

1. The refs will influence game 6 in favor of the Heat. Why? To ensure a game 7 bonanza ratings for the NBA in David Stern's last year as commish. Doubt it? Remember game 6, Fakers vs Kings, when the Fakers shot 26 FT's in the 4th qtr? How about last year's game 6, Spurs vs Thunder, Spurs up 8 halfway thru the 3rd qtr when the following happens - Ginobili was called for 3 offensive fouls in the 2nd half, Duncan called for a moving pick when Fisher shoved him to the floor, Jackson getting a technical for looking at the Thunder bench, Westbrook hitting Jackson upside the head with such viciousness it looked intentional but no foul call?

2. The big 3 are old and injured. The notion that Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker can summon up enough strength to play effectively for 3 games in 5 nights has proven to be highly unlikely. 3 days off for the big 3, if necessary, would be extremely beneficial.

Let me clarify by putting percentages on my personal chances of a win.

With Big 3 = Game 5 - I gave a 75% chance, Game 6 - a 25% chance (due to poor refereeing), Game 7 - a 25% chance (due to Big 3 fatigue and exhaustion playing a 3rd game in 5 nights)

Without Big 3 in Game 6 = Game 5 - 75% chance, Game 6 - a 5% chance, Game 7 - a 75% chance (big 3 with 3 days rest, a neutrally officiated game due to all eyeballs on it for a Game 7 last game of the year, no one having beaten the Heat 2 games in a row in the past 60? games, and the Spurs being a better team)

Game 6 would have the same short 8 man rotation, but with Splitter, Bonner, Leonard, Green, and De Colo starting and Blair, Neal, McGrady as the only players off the bench. So, the Heat would still have to earn a win by expending energy.

Benching the big 3 would be unconventional and unexpected, but so is shooting more corner 3 point shots, or sending the big 3 home in the regular season instead of playing them a 4th game in 5 nights in Miami. Would Stern fine the Spurs? Not if the Spurs say Parker-hamstring, Duncan-knee, Ginobili-back.

I truly believe that a 3 day rested big 3 and Diaw would be the most beneficial course of action for the Spurs to take to secure a 5th championship banner.

Why bench the big 3 for Game 6, when the Spurs have 2 shots to win the championship? 2 reasons.

1. the refs

2. Duncan is 37, Ginobili is 35, and Parker has a sore hamstring

Let me clarify by putting percentages on my personal chances of a win.

With Big 3 = Game 5 - I gave a 75% chance, Game 6 - a 25% chance (due to poor refereeing), Game 7 - a 25% chance (due to Big 3 fatigue and exhaustion playing a 3rd game in 5 nights)

I truly believe that a 3 day rested big 3 and Diaw would be the most beneficial course of action for the Spurs to take to secure a 5th championship banner.

Stealing Ideas: Wild Predictions and Thank-You Notes

2013-06-17T07:01:57Z

My own approach to creativity and originality lies in taking someone else's work and making it like 5% mine. In the present case, I plan to ~~steal~~ take inspiration from two different sources: PtR's Fred Silva and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon". The first half of this piece was inspired by this great post by Mr. Silva, and the second half is inspired by Late Night's popular "Thank-You Notes" bit. And if you continue to read on, you may bask in my innovative spirit.

Six Wild Predictions For Game Six of the 2013 NBA Finals

Every game of the 2013 Finals since the game one shocker has featured a new wrinkle from coaches Popovich and Spoelstra, and every evening has featured a new hero or two. The momentum has shifted back and forth, unceasingly and without fail, like a dramatic Nadal-Federer point. And since Tuesday night is the first elimination game of these Finals, look for things to get weird.

1. Gregg Popovich sits Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard for rest

Why not? Kawhi's got a trick knee, Parker's got the tender hammy, and Tim and Manu are like 89 in human years. We've got a one game cushion - why not let our Big Three and The Future rest up for a fresh-as-can-be game seven? It's sort of like the decision baseball managers face every postseason - do I bring back my ace on short rest, or do I bring him back as scheduled? "Rest versus rust" has worked out well during the season and in the playoffs - might as well ride that horse.

2. The "Other Guys" will win game six anyway

Again, I ask, why not? We still have Finals-MVP-in-waiting Danny Green active and playing. We still have The Everlasting Bronstopper out there, Mr. Boris Diaw. Gary Neal can light it up in the AAA, we've seen that. TMac is an NBA legend, we can turn him loose on an unprepared defense. We'll reactivate Aron Baynes and all have a good laugh as he knocks a few skulls together, the way Moe used to on the Three Stooges shorts.

3. Erik Spoelstra will resign his position effective immediately, to "spend more time with his family"

Pat Riley will be adamant that Spoelstra is absolutely committed to being a better family man and that he hates to have to do this, but gee, someone has to coach this team. Might as well be the one Heat executive with extensive NBA Finals experience, Riley himself. But, Riley will add, this is in no way a self-serving move designed to get Riley another coaching ring and former coach Spoelstra will not be coaching the Orlando Magic the very next season. He certainly will not send his Magic to the NBA Finals in a few years with Nerleans Noel as the defensive anchor of his team, flanked by a stretch four in Chandler Parsons and big European shooting guard with three-point range Danilo Galinari. Never happen.

4. Tiago Splitter will retire at the end of the Finals, citing "extreme performance trauma"

THE GREATEST BLOCK in NBA HISTORY EVAR will be responsible for the premature end of the Spurs big man, because NO ONE ever blocked a dunk before. Especially when the dunker was a guy with limited hops and the shot-blocker can hit his head on the rim without trying real hard and can not only play all five basketball positions, but could probably play three defensive positions, two offensive positions, and placekicker in the NFL. That blocked dunk doesn't always drink beer, but when it does, it prefers Dos Equis.

5. Matt Bonner will hit four threes in game six

This is probably the only serious, or at least the most serious, prediction to make this list. I always feel like veterans that have put a lot of time in the NBA will have at least one shining moment on a big stage, and we've seen it several times with our Spurs: Jaren Jackson, career scrub, turned into Ray Allen for a few games in the 1999 playoffs. In game two versus Phoenix in 2003, Danny Ferry, he of the wildly disappointing NBA career, got 9 points and 10 rebounds when David Robinson and Kevin Willis were both out and the Spurs were trailing 0-1. Steve Kerr flashed back to the mid-90s in game six of the Western Conference Finals. When the Spurs came out flat in game one of the 2005 NBA Finals, Glenn Robinson had a dunk that helped energize the long-rested, rusty Spurs. In that same vein, Matt Bonner has had a better playoffs in 2013 than he's ever had, but hasn't had one of those signature Bonner games where he goes nuts from three. Four threes isn't exactly going nuts, but for Bonner, in a closeout victory in the NBA Finals, it's close enough.

6. In his first official act as NBA Commissioner...

Adam Silver will present the San Antonio Spurs with the Lawrence O'Brien NBA Championship trophy. And David Stern will be in the basement of the AAA giving Pat Riley a parting gift of an extra-special Stern Tongue Lashing. (See Erik, resigning wasn't such a bad move)

Thank-You Notes

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Miami Heat reserve forward Juwan Howard...when you injured Derek Anderson during the Spurs-Mavericks series in 2001, you might have doomed the Spurs to a humiliating sweep against the Lakers, but: if Anderson plays, has the series of his life and leads the Spurs into the Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, maybe Anderson comes back and signs a multi-year deal with the Spurs. And maybe for that reason, the Spurs decide not to move on a draft-stash from 1999, a crazy lefty from Argentina. And without him, we can forget about titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and perhaps 2013. Derek Anderson thanks you too: thanks to your thuggishness, his career takes a different turn, one where he won an NBA title with your Miami Heat. Against your old team, the Dallas Mavericks.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Boris Diaw...for showing the world that a fat guy can successfully defend the best player in the NBA on the biggest stage. If Paul Westphal had put Oliver Miller on Michael Jordan 20 years ago, maybe Charles Barkley has a ring now.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Josh Kroenke...for letting your 2013 Executive of the Year and 2013 Coach of the Year walk. Sure they contibuted mightily to the greatest regular season in Nuggets NBA history, but you've got to show the world that you really do know what you're doing. I was worried about the Spurs trying to defend their title next year against a team that I thought of as Miami Heat West, but it seems I no longer have to. Now Andre Iguodala wants out. Oh heck, let me just make this entry shorter...

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Nepotism.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Miami Heat PA guy...for knowing that there's a fine line between "dramatic effect" and "way overdone" and taking a Bob Beamonesque leap over that line. Michael Buffer and Andres Cantor think you're gimmicky.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, ESPN/ABC analyst Bill Simmons...for ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~openly hating~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ ~~not liking~~ liking the Spurs all these years.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Kobe Bryant's Achilles tendon...for making the first-round sweep that much easier, as well as for enabling Dwight Howard to display to the whole world his great leadership abilities...which leads me to:

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank You, Dwight Howard...for forcing the casual viewer to finally, for probably the only time ever, root for the Spurs in a Spurs-Lakers matchup.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank You, Stephen Jackson...for making Pop choose between you and Danny Green.

***

And finally, thank you, San Antonio Spurs. To Tony Parker, for thriving in a complimentary role for years, then shifting seamlessly into the team leader role when the time came. You're a warrior. To Tim Duncan, for following in the Gervin-Robinson tradition of the team superstar raising the team to a new level. Gervin put us on the map, Robinson kept us on the map, and Timmy hung the banners. To Manu Ginobili, for being Manu Ginobili. When we needed you to give us a chance to go up 3-2, you responded with your best game of 2012-13. To Danny Green, for performing with confident humility. To Kawhi Leonard, who not only needed to guard the best player in the game, but who needed to deliver with points, rebounds, steals, and three-point shooting throughout the Finals...and he has. Without any signs of feeling the pressure. To Gary Neal, for battling through a tough year but giving us his best game during the Finals. (A lot like Manu, actually) To Boris Diaw, whose timely defense on LeBron James has put us in a favorable position in the NBA Finals. To Tiago Splitter, who has had a tough time of things but has given us a few points and nice passes here and there. To Cory Joseph, who is showing growth and growing pains all at the same time. To Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair, Nando deColo, Patty Mills, and Aron Baynes, thanks for staying ready and keeping a good attitude about it.

None of us know what's coming in the next game or two, but no matter what happens, this has been the sweetest title run of them all. If #5 is on the way, it's the sweetest of them all. If it's not to be, it's still been far more sweet than sour.

Tuesday night will be the 102nd blow to the stone. Will it be the last?

Six Wild Predictions For Game Six of the 2013 NBA Finals

1. Gregg Popovich sits Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard for rest

2. The "Other Guys" will win game six anyway

3. Erik Spoelstra will resign his position effective immediately, to "spend more time with his family"

4. Tiago Splitter will retire at the end of the Finals, citing "extreme performance trauma"

5. Matt Bonner will hit four threes in game six

6. In his first official act as NBA Commissioner...

Thank-You Notes

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank you, Nepotism.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank You, Dwight Howard...for forcing the casual viewer to finally, for probably the only time ever, root for the Spurs in a Spurs-Lakers matchup.

(cue heartfelt piano music)

Thank You, Stephen Jackson...for making Pop choose between you and Danny Green.

***

Tuesday night will be the 102nd blow to the stone. Will it be the last?

Win or Lose - Appreciating the Spurs and Life

2013-06-16T19:47:56Z

I, like many of us, really want this Win and this Championship. Many picked the Spurs to win in six and some in 7 e.g. the NBA.com writers etc. The Heat, too, can win in six or seven. Most think that if the Spurs don't win tonight that the Heat effectively have won the championship. That is not the case. It is going to be difficult, no doubt, but still not the case. Its always been a one game at a time when it comes to a series e.g. the teams that blew 3-1 leads.

I found myself the most emotional - I've ever been for the duration of a game throughout Game 4 - with Game 6 last year a very close behind. I find that my emotional attachment to games grew as a result as my attachment to this team's organization, players, culture, fans, and city grew (since I was a child being a fan of David Robinson which grew to being a Spurs fan watching the humility and greatness of Duncan in 99. Since then, I've been a Spurs fan - usually the only one in Los Angeles).

Game 4 was a very demoralizing loss. I watched as one of my favorite players in Manu get ripped in comments and media alike. I, for one too, as much as I'm rooting for Ginobili has found myself cringing at his off balanced threes in this series or when he seemed to have forgot how to dribble. I found myself angry at referees for not calling fouls on his arm when he drives or calling tick tack fouls. Ginobili, though, has shown flashes that its there - the dunk against the Lakers, the dunks in Game 3, the passes, and as someone else pointed out - his turnovers rate is actually around the same rate as during the season in this series. Its his assists that are down - largely due to Miami's defense. And sometimes he does shoot early in the shot clock and the ill advised one against Golden State and Memphis - as ill advised as they are - he can make. And he has done so many times before and to add the unpredictability that we needed in the past.

I'm digressing - the point I wanted to win or lose - and I really want this win for Duncan, Ginobili, the team, the organization - is that I'd want to support this team win or lose. That win or lose - I want to emphasize that I'm very proud of this team- especially to Parker to play to risk injury. And that life like Pop has said is bigger than basketball: our relationships, our health, and for us to continue supporting our team win or lose tonight and the series. For us to appreciate their efforts heart, skill, the quality people that they are, and not the outcome.

Perhaps without coincidence, today is Father's Day. Happy Fathers Day. And GO SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Countering the Heat's Trapping Defense

2013-06-16T16:18:03Z

The Heat's defense thrives on trapping the ball handler; sending them out way beyond the 3 point line and jumping the immediate passing lanes, leaving the 2nd pass to a shooter open. They gamble on being able to intercept the first pass and being able to recover should there be a 2nd pass. They have been quite successful this series as well as all season.

What I've noticed is that whole defensive concept is predicated on the double team trap of the ball handler. Their trapping is aided even more so by the pick and roll. When the ballhandler calls for the pick, the screener brings his defender with him. Instead of switching they immediately go for the ballhandler.

So if I were the Spurs I would stop running the pick and roll with the ballhandler. I would primarily run picks and off-ball screens, with the other 4 players to get open shooters, cutters and passing lanes.

Also I have faith that Parker and occasionally Neal as the ballhandler can take his man off the dribble and draw a double team. But in this case the double would come from inside the 3 point line and would allow for much easier passes to be made.

And in the even they bring the double to the primary guy early. The 2nd defenders offensive man should have more ability to exploit his defender leaving him and at the very least give the ballhandler an easier passing lane.

tl;dr Heat's defense is perfect pick n roll counter. Stop running pick n roll with point guard. Off ball-screens and cutters and iso penetration to achieve same results as pick n roll did previously

tl;dr tl;dr Heat double team good, pick n roll bad

Winning and Losing Ways of the Finals

2013-06-16T08:22:51Z

These Finals are now best of 3 games. Each team won on their court. Each team lost on their court. Each team won and lost on the road. Each team had good and bad games. Game 4 was a good game for Miami, not so good for the Spurs. Spoelstra made a brilliant adjustment starting Mike Miller instead of Haslem. Really, who could see that happen? In response, Pop put Splitter on Wade. A brilliant move by all accounts, which unfortunately didn't quite work as intended. Everyone blames Splitter now, and for a good reason. How dares he being unable to defend Wade?

Anyway, this is not what I wanted to write about. So far, this series was very predictable.

game 1: Miami lost game 1 to Chicago and almost lost to Indiana. The Spurs won every game 1 in his previous three series of 2013. So it comes as no huge surprise that the Spurs won game 1 at Miami. Good win nevertheless, it gave us some hope for the series.

game 2: Miami bounced back after every loss in last several moths. They bounced back after the loss of game 1. Nobody should be too surprised.

game 3: The Spurs have proven themselves in game 3. It should have been expected that they'd bounce back after bad game 2. Nobody could quite predict Gary Neal and Danny Green to go berserk and blow Miami out of the game with their shooting. It was very very enjoyable.

game 4: We are getting back to Spoelstra's adjustments now. Facing a must-win game (nobody wants to be 1-3 in a series) he goes with a small ball against the Spurs. Let us now review how our players have fared in these Finals so far:

Duncan - I think, Bosh is a tough match up for him. Bosh plays like a small forward in a 7-feet-tall body. Tim is a great low post defender. He likes to stay in the paint and protect the basket. When Miami plays Bosh-LeBron-Miller in the frontcourt, Duncan has nobody to defend. Still, he is our best big. This is a problem.

Splitter - He can be useful against two big men, like in Memphis series. Miami makes him look bad, just like OKC did last year. I kept saying that the Heat is just OKC on steroids, and even though we are better team this year, we now run in the same problems we faced in WCF last year.

Leonard and Green: They have been playing great. If we have any hope, these two are our best hope.

Parker: His injury in game 3 didn't help him to play like MVP. He has been OK, but not spectacular in this series.

Neal: He was an X-factor for us in game 3 win, and has been solid in other games as well. Good job.

Manu: He has been as bad as Neal has been good. If we lose this series, he'll be blamed, whether justly or not.

So, now we are facing game 5, which is the first real must-win game for us. If we lose, the series is pretty much over. If we win however, we'll face a dilemma of winning one of two remaining games, both at Miami. So, how can we do it?

I seen game 6 as a scheduled loss even before the series started. I still see it as a scheduled loss. It would be elimination game for Miami, but not for us. It is played at Miami after 1 day of rest. So far the Heat did everything they were supposed to do. I don't see them losing game 6. I think, we have a chance in game 6 if we surprise them. Pop rested Big 3 for the game at Miami before, he should do it again. Start Blair and DeColo, it would be the ultimate elimination game for those guys, so they'll leave everything they got on the floor. At the same time Miami's stars are proud. When they are challenged, they play their best. But I doubt they can play with the same motivation and energy against the Spurs team lacking Big 3. So even if Miami would have a huge talent advantage, they may have a disadvantage in energy. It can only work for one game, and it worked for Chicago in game 1 of their series. It may or may not work for us, but if it does, it would be a great story. And if it doesn't, we'll play game 7 with rested and very angry Big 3. There is no way the Big 3 would be happy to miss game 6, and this anger should push them overboard. This is the idea anyway, something that never been done before, something that no other coach in the NBA would dare to do. I doubt even Pop would dare to do it, but it would certainly add some spice to these Finals. On the other hand, it certainly won't be popular with anyone, and Stern will be pissed again.

So what do you think? Tell us what you think in the poll and comments below.

Anyway, this is not what I wanted to write about. So far, this series was very predictable.

game 2: Miami bounced back after every loss in last several moths. They bounced back after the loss of game 1. Nobody should be too surprised.

Leonard and Green: They have been playing great. If we have any hope, these two are our best hope.

Parker: His injury in game 3 didn't help him to play like MVP. He has been OK, but not spectacular in this series.

Neal: He was an X-factor for us in game 3 win, and has been solid in other games as well. Good job.

Manu: He has been as bad as Neal has been good. If we lose this series, he'll be blamed, whether justly or not.

So what do you think? Tell us what you think in the poll and comments below.

Poll

Assuming the Spurs win game 5, should Pop rest Big 3 in game 6?

Spurs Fans headed to Miami for Game 6

2013-06-16T06:35:58Z

My husband and I are going to Miami for Game 6. We are wondering if there are any other Spurs fans out heading out there. I hear Miami fans can be obnoxious but we will be supporting our Spurs and yelling as loud as we can. It's always good to see a Spurs fan anywhere we go. Let us know if you'll be at the game. We can all cheer together when they win the trophy. Go spurs go!!