The very best sport complete within the 2005 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons was Recreation 5 with the Spurs successful 96-95. The Silver and Black received that nail biter on a go-ahead, clutch three-point shot by none apart from Robert Horry. Tim Duncan had 26 factors and 19 rebounds together with 2 assists and a couple of blocks.
On Monday night time within the yr of our Lord and franchise savior Victor Wembanyama, the upstart Spurs and Pistons have been in a position to hit the mid ‘90s complete with 5 minutes left within the 4th quarter. The over/underneath was projected at 232.5, so odds makers and bettors have been most likely hoping for extra of that candy trendy basketball quite than that grit and grind like we noticed approach again when the nationwide media was so “bored” with the 2005 Finals that they began making sideline reporters grill Eva Longoria into revealing main plot twists on “Determined Housewives.”
Regardless, the Spurs and Pistons gave us a pleasant preview of a heavyweight bout between two of the excessive ranked groups from their respective conferences. The Pistons, particularly, have by no means wavered from their embedded DNA of powerful basketball, and the Spurs, as they have an inclination to do, don’t stray from their heritage of prioritizing protection.
Devin Vassell led all gamers with 28 factors on a scorching 7 – 11 taking pictures from downtown. Victor Wembanyama poured in 21 factors, pulled down 17 rebounds, and had 6 blocks.
Devin Vassell was merely seeing an ocean inside an ocean inside an ocean each time he let unfastened a shot from deep. For the season, he’s taking pictures 37% from lengthy vary as he continues to stack collectively video games performed. The Spurs are a deep group, however it particularly works when vets like Vassell can keep on the ground and reap the benefits of the orbit of defenders round Wembanyama.
Do you assume Wembanyama has ever had a slice of pizza from Little Caesar’s? He appears the sort that will take pleasure in certainly one of their Loopy Puffs (cupcake-sized pizzas). That being mentioned, I’m not certain if his physique has ever been launched to grease earlier than so it could be a shock to his system.
Like a wonderfully blended amalgam of marinara sauce, cheese, and extra cheese, the Spurs appear to have lastly melded collectively as a group that strikes in sync the place every participant might be blindfolded however nonetheless discover their teammates anyplace on the ground.
It’s simple to overlook (a minimum of for me) that the Spurs have the quantity 2 general decide taking part in off the bench, and the child has flashed his expertise a number of occasions this season. Their cup runneths over with potential.
Talking of issues simple to overlook (for me a minimum of, I’m getting outdated), it’s additionally simple to overlook that the Spurs even have the quantity 14 general decide taking part in off the bench. The gamers talked about after this sport how cohesive the offense performed. This specific play demonstrates how the group additionally performed full basketball on each ends with Carter Bryant blocking a shot try, working up the ground to house out the Pistons’ protection in order that he can simply discover a streaking Keldon Johnson for the bucket.
I wished to spotlight this particular play the place Stephon Citadel discovered a gap within the protection and casually walked his approach to an open dunk as a result of in any other case Citadel appears to have an understated Dwyane Wade type to his sport. That’s, a few times a sport, you’ll see him sacrifice his physique and take a tough tumble to the ground. He’s explosive and uber athletic in his personal proper, however the place you noticed peak Wade flying down the ground doing acrobatic feats, Citadel’s type of play appears extra measured till instantly it isn’t. It’s a slight contradiction that I totally take pleasure in watching.
Wembanyama’s block was spectacular, however I used to be simply as impressed by his persistence ready for the shooter to see if he was going to pump faux or drive.
I believe Wembanyama simply invented the block off the glass to himself for a rebound transfer. Consequently, Citadel’s jumper additionally seems fairly {smooth}. I’m simply tingling watching this group.
Don’t modify your 55 inch, $300 tv (are you able to imagine how low cost TVs are actually??), this play beneath isn’t a reproduction of the earlier play embedded above. Positive, Wembanyama blocked one other shot off the glass, and Citadel and Vassell have the identical hair type and smooth-as-molasses jumper, however this one went to Vassell.
Former President Barack Obama just lately mentioned there’s no aliens in Space 51. Mayhaps the previous POTUS ought to look in San Antonio the place we now have our personal Space 51 aliens. And let’s be trustworthy with ourselves, if additional terrestrials are going to go to us, most definitely they need a style of our biggest useful resource: tacos.
I even have to say that Robinson had 13 factors and three rebounds in solely 26 minutes. No, not that Robinson. However Duncan did play 26 minutes and racked up 5 assists. No, not that Duncan both. Each group wants taking pictures, and I want the Spurs to sooner or later signal Duncan Robinson and have him put on a stitched jersey of each the final names of Tim Duncan and David Robinson—he may be the one participant within the league together with his first and final identify on his jersey so all of us can briefly relive the glory days.
Sending everybody out with the fond message that the gnomes are out of bounds:
In the event you missed the sport since you have been too busy binging seasons 1 and a couple of of Gray’s Anatomy and Determined Housewives (the one two it is advisable binge), listed here are the full-game highlights:
Subsequent up, the Spurs head up north to tackle the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, February 24, 2026.
