Ten years in the past, the Spurs’ redemption in opposition to the Miami Warmth started with a HOT Recreation 1 (actually)

For the primary three rounds of the 2014 NBA Finals recap, we have now provided a abstract of every spherical precisely ten years after that spherical ended. As a reminder, the Spurs beat the Mavs in Spherical Considered one of 2014 — a seven-game sequence by which the Spurs crushed Dallas within the seventh recreation. In Spherical Two, the Spurs blew out the Path Blazers in a “gentleman’s sweep” — the Spurs let up in recreation 4 in Portland after which closed out the sequence 4-1 with a giant dwelling win. Subsequent, the Spurs took out the OKC Thunder in six video games. Every of the primary 5 video games was a blow-out by the house crew, however the Spurs received recreation 6 in an time beyond regulation thriller in Oklahoma Metropolis to take the sequence 4-2.

For the Finals, I can’t wait till the tip of the sequence. As an alternative, we’ll return ten years for every recreation.

Of their 12 wins earlier than the Finals, the Spurs received by a mean of 15 factors per recreation. That appeared unlikely to proceed in opposition to the defending champion Miami Warmth. However in contrast to 2013, the Spurs had dwelling court docket benefit in 2014, which means the primary recreation could be in San Antonio as an alternative of Miami.

Recreation One was June 5, 2014 — the “Air Conditioning Recreation”. Or extra precisely, the “No Air Conditioning Recreation”. In South Texas. In June.

In Recreation One, the 90 diploma warmth and matching humidity precipitated Miami star LeBron James to cramp up with about 4 minutes left — after the Spurs already worn out a Miami lead. He didn’t return, and the Spurs completed on a 31-9 run, scoring the final 11 factors to win by 15 factors: the identical common margin of victory as their earlier 12 playoff wins. This was the road rating:

The 2014 Redemption Finals occurred earlier than I began at Pounding the Rock later that yr. For Recreation One, I’ve pulled up my modern abstract from my outdated web site for Spurs evaluation — Leesfakeblog.blogspot.com. Let the video games start!

In case you can’t stand the Warmth, get out of the Kitchen: Recreation One — June 6, 2014

One factor I haven’t heard talked about wherever about Recreation 1: 17,000 followers and 24 sweating athletes in a confined house with no air con.

Wow, it will need to have stunk.

What additionally stunk was the commentary of Mark Jackson, former (fortunately) coach of the Golden State Warriors, and now again within the sales space. When Lebron first pulled himself out of the sport with cramps within the 90 diploma warmth, Jackson (who I don’t suppose is an precise physician) instructed that Lebron wanted to inform his physique that this was a giant recreation and get again within the recreation.

Wouldn’t or not it’s good to stay in Jackson’s world, the place bodily maladies might be commanded to vanish: “Satan, be gone!” That solely works with coaches, one thing Warrior possession did on the finish of the season: “Jackson, be gone”. And so it was.

Would the result of the sport been completely different if Lebron had Jackson’s present of auto-cure and never completely cramped up on the 3:59 mark of the fourth quarter? Unattainable to know, however there are a number of indications that it will not have modified the result.

First, whereas Lebron was on the ground, his plus/minus was really zero. Second, when Lebron left, the Warmth had been down two, on the street, and the Spurs had the ball, so the Warmth had been already an underdog. Third, Danny Inexperienced (who Lebron wouldn’t have been overlaying anyway) had already heated up, as had the remainder of the Spurs. Lastly, that is what occurred within the two minutes that adopted. The play which will have sealed the deal was Ray Allen’s missed three pointer with 2:08 left (he made his first three 3s, then missed his final 5):

So, whereas the Spurs clearly pulled away after Lebron left, the best way issues performed out may have occurred equally even in Lebron was on the ground: Inexperienced would possible have made the three to place the Spurs up 5, Wade would have missed his jumper (he was clearly dragging down the stretch) – and Allen (additionally dragging) couldn’t have been way more open if there had been 4 Lebrons on the court docket, all of whom would have handed the ball to the wide-open Ray Allen.

Maybe extra attention-grabbing is why Lebron, and solely Lebron, cramped up. Everybody else was drained, and particularly so with the circumstances. However the Spurs had been clearly more energizing down the stretch.

Different feedback:

1. Whereas Lebron’s plus/minus was zero, the Spurs second Frenchman (Boris Diaw) was an exceptional +30 throughout his time on the ground. Sure, within the 33 minutes Diaw performed, the Spurs outscored the Warmth by 30.

2. My Man Manu was comparable – Manu was +22 throughout his 32 minutes on the ground, largely because of his 11 assists. Like Ray Allen, Manu made his first three 3s, and missed his final three. The distinction is that Manu stuffed the stat sheet with different stuff too – the 11 assists, 5 boards, 3 steals and solely 2 turnovers. His low variety of turnovers was completely in contrast to the remainder of the Spurs. I believe the 90 diploma temperature made it tough to tell apart the pink uniforms from the white ones. Therefore, 22 turnovers, 9 within the third quarter alone. When the Spurs stopped throwing the ball to the pink shirts, that they had extra alternatives to shoot the ball. Which is an efficient factor. Particularly while you shoot 59% from the ground, together with 13 for 25 from three – for an efficient taking pictures share of 69% (as a result of, you realize, threes depend greater than twos).

3. I puzzled earlier than the sport whether or not the Spurs would play a lot with Duncan and Splitter on the ground collectively. Quick reply: Nope. They had been collectively for under 8 of the 48 minutes. Primarily, the primary 4 minutes of every half. However Splitter nonetheless contributed (in contrast to the 2013 Finals). He gave the Spurs good minutes when Duncan was on the bench, particularly a by no means earlier than seen 9 factors in a row bridging the third and 4thquarters. Simply as importantly, he allowed Duncan to get helpful minutes on the bench, presumably consuming Gatorade, and never Powerade:

4. One other attention-grabbing stat from the sport: San Antonio Spurs had 30 assists on their 40 baskets. Miami “Can’t Deal with the” Warmth had solely 16 assists on their 37 baskets. (Final yr, the Spurs had assists on 60% of their baskets in Video games 1 – 5, once they went up 3 – 2, however fell to 38% in Video games 6 and seven – largely as a result of Parker was harm and unable to generate a lot offense or push the ball up court docket.) One other factor to observe for! Help share.

5. The purpose about Parker’s well being in final yr’s Finals is essential. Will he keep wholesome this time? Will Manu and DWade? And can Lebron have any lingering results from his cramp-out in Recreation 1? The additional day of relaxation between Video games 1 and a couple of will assist.

6. The excellent news is that the Spurs’ crack electrical engineers, who efficiently sabotaged the Warmth in Recreation One with the AC malfunction, have apparently “mounted” that “drawback”. Recreation 2 ought to be performed in higher circumstances for all. Let’s hope the Spurs can show they’ll “beat the Warmth” with air con that really works. Go Spurs.