Ten years in the past, the Spurs dominated the Path Blazers to succeed in the Convention Finals

After dispatching the Dallas Mavericks in seven video games to flee Spherical One, the 2014 Spurs’ playoff run continued in opposition to the robust Portland Path Blazers crew that had a number of gamers who had lengthy NBA careers, together with 4 who’re nonetheless lively ten years later in Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, and CJ McCollum. Their greatest participant was LaMarcus Aldridge, who had an impressive 17-year profession, together with six years with the Spurs.

The Blazers completed the common season at 54-28 with a greater level differential than each crew within the Jap Convention. They have been additionally the one crew within the West to make it out of the primary spherical in lower than seven video games, beating the Rockets in six. Because of this, they’d twice as a lot relaxation going into the primary sport than the Spurs, who had simply 48 hours to get better after successful Recreation Seven in opposition to the Mavs. All in all, this sequence promised to be a barn-burner. And it was — besides the Spurs have been the fireplace, and the Blazers have been the barn.

After the Spurs crushed the Mavs in Recreation Seven by operating up an enormous first half lead, they carried over that dominant play into the primary sport in opposition to the Blazers. I don’t usually do that, however listed below are the quarter by quarter scores for Recreation One:

The Spurs completed the half up by 26 factors at 65–39, holding the Blazers to 33% capturing general, together with 0-5 from three. In distinction, the Spurs shot 60% from the ground, 5 for 7 from three, together with an ideal 3 for 3 from Marco Belinelli. The Spurs missed solely 18 pictures within the first half and obtained 8 of these again on offensive boards. They coasted from there, with Tony Parker scoring 33 factors with 9 assists. For the sport, the Spurs bench went 10 for 14 general and 4 for 4 from three.

Absolutely this robust Blazers squad would bounce again in Recreation Two. To start with, don’t name me Shirley, and secondly, no, the Blazers didn’t study that they wanted to indicate up early to have an opportunity. As soon as once more, that is the field for Recreation Two.

Though not as unhealthy as Recreation One, the Blazers have been down 19 at halftime, 70-51. By the best way, in contrast to in the present day, groups simply didn’t rating 70 factors in a half in 2013-14 — however the Spurs did, this time capturing 58% for the half, together with 7 for 10 from three. At halftime, Kawhi Leonard had 14 factors on 7 pictures, together with 2 for two from three. Tiago Splitter had 8 factors and 9 rebounds for the half, whereas Belinelli had 11 factors in 12 minutes. For the sport, the Spurs had seven gamers in double figures, and virtually had 9 — DannyGreen! had 8 factors and Patty Mills 7. Combining the Recreation Seven win in opposition to the Mavs and the primary two in opposition to the Blazers, the Stunning Recreation Playoff Spurs have been starting to emerge.

Recreation Three was again in Portland, in entrance of the a number of the greatest followers within the NBA, the place the Blazers had gone 31-10. However the first half once more instructed the story:

Down 20 at halftime, at residence, the Blazers’ barn was formally burned. Portland by no means obtained nearer than 7 within the second half, and by no means nearer than 10 within the fourth quarter. Essentially the most outstanding stat from the sport: the Spurs went 25 for 25 on free throws, with My Man Manu Ginobili going 10 for 10.

The Blazers salvaged some pleasure with a 103-92 win in Recreation 4, however the Spurs closed the sequence in San Antonio with a 17-point win in Recreation 5, 104-87. Kawhi continued his glorious sequence with 22 factors, 4 boards, 7 assists, 5 steals — and no turnovers. DG had 22 factors with 9 boards, going 4 or 6 from three, and everybody was prepared to maneuver on. As Mark Barrington wrote after the sport:

As the sport ended, there have been no streamers, only a crew grateful to achieve just a few extra days of relaxation and preparation for his or her subsequent opponent. They’re targeted on just one aim, the identical aim they narrowly missed final June.

Sadly, Tony Parker injured his hamstring in Recreation 5 and solely performed 10 minutes. That was a critical concern for the subsequent spherical. Additionally regarding was Manu’s play, as he shot solely 14 for 49 within the 5 video games, 2 of 14 from three. Each future Corridor-of-Fame guards would want to play nicely if the Spurs wished to make the Finals once more to attempt to acquire redemption from the 2013 Finals.

Spherical Two of the 2014 playoffs ended Might 14, 2014, ten years in the past in the present day. After dispatching the Aldridge-Lillard Blazers, the Spurs subsequent confronted an one other two-headed monster in league MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the OKC Thunder. The Thunder had crushed the Blake Griffin-Chris Paul Clippers in six video games within the second spherical, and KD had a outstanding sequence, averaging 33.2 factors, 9.5 boards and 5.3 assists. Within the clinching Recreation Six, he put up an unimaginable 39/16/5 line within the Thunder’s 104-98 win. Westbrook had a 27.8/6.0/8.8 line for the sequence.

The Thunder additionally can be bringing some massive thunder, with Kendrick Perkins, Steven Adams and Nick Collison set to match up with the Spurs bigs. In what appeared like a foul break for the Thunder, Serge Ibaka — who had been an actual downside for the Spurs since 2012 — injured his left calf in opposition to the Clippers and the Thunder introduced he was OUT for the remainder of the playoffs. That turned out to be a lie.

The Spurs misplaced all 4 common season video games in opposition to the Thunder. Recreation One of many 2014 Western Convention Finals would start Might 19, 2014 in San Antonio. Keep tuned.