Too much is being made about San Antonio losing by a bunch to the Jazz in Game 3 of the Conference Finals. The big difference between these two series is that the Jazz were good. We'll be able to tell quickly whether the Spurs are on point or still playing a little loose away from home. I don't think Popovich lets them play like that, knowing they have to play three here.
8:08 Game starts, deliberate possession by the Spurs. I don't like the first play with Finley trying to post up. That should be Duncan.
8:10 Duncan is good. Another nice shot by him. There's no reason a Spurs player should take a tough shot without getting Duncan at least one touch. Same should go for Cleveland and LeBron, but it doesn't.
8:14 Well, I didn't think the fouls were going to play a big part in this one, but it seems they might at this pace. And now a make-up call for the Oberto foul.
8:16 Van Gundy (I think I called him Stan last time) is talking about players cutting themselves with razorblades instead of calling timeouts. Good point, but a little creepy at the same time.
8:30 Bowen should ask if he can shoot his free throws from behind the line in the corner. I'm pretty sure he'd shoot 80%. They'd have to look better than those two ducks he just put up there.
8:31 Duncan eats up carrot top (I can't spell his name). When he thinks he has somebody, he'll make a quick move to the basket, but he's also usually a lot closer than when Z is guarding him.
8:33 If you don't think these people read the stories about them, look at Duncan after the fouls called on him. Hand up after the first one, no bug eyes after the second, questionable, call.
SECOND QUARTER
Well, this is a closer game than the previous two games. I suppose that's a good thing. Mostly for the Cavaliers. The longer they can keep the crowd in this, the better off they'll be. I'm getting warmed up (read: more beers) so look for this to get better.
8:44 Probably the first time in the series that the Cavs have an advantage with their lineup. The Spurs should try to dictate the tempo a little bit with Duncan on the bench with two fouls. The uptempo game is going to play in the hands of the home team.
8:46 Henry Abott (and everybody else associated with ESPN) is sitting courtside blogging this game live. Where do I sign up for that job? This is as close as I can get to that. This one is probably closer to what I'd be qualified for.
8:53 Parker is getting involved, this is good for the Spurs. The Cavs have good ball movements sometimes, but once it gets to LeBron he just holds it.
8:55 Well, another make up call. LeBron gets his third on a questionable call, the Duncan gets called for his third. Neither were that bad of calls. Just seems suspect that Duncan gets his third right after LeBron gets his. Tim had a little bit of the bug eyes, but he didn't look as bad as James did after his foul.
9:02 This game kinda sucks. I either need the Spurs to dominate and put on a clinic or LeBron to do something special. With the star for each team sitting on the bench, not much chance of either of those happening.
9:09 Lead down to 3 after Cleveland's largest lead of 8 points. The Spurs generally make up ground quietly after a timeout. After the Cavs being up all first half, the Spurs could tie this ... Horry hits a three. Cavs take a time out. It won't surprise me if S.A. leads going into halftime. Or if I fall asleep during halftime, don't wake up until the game's over, and not really feel bad about it.
9:12 And the Spurs take the lead going into half! Hopefully everyone believes me when I say I write this as the game goes. That basket was set up by Parker attacking the lane even though there was 7 seconds left. The foul allowed the other Spurs to get down the court, call a play and spread the court for Parker.
HALFTIME
It's not good for the home team. Parker hasn't been anywhere near as effective as he as been in the first two games, Duncan had to sit, LeBron played most of the first half, and the role players for the Cavs are playing pretty well. They're still down by two.
Here's what I'd say if I were on the halftime commentary team. [showing highlights of first half] JMeeks: THIS IS WHY THEY CALL THE SPURS A BORING TEAM!
9:34 Second half starts, yawn. They show a shot of P.J. Carlesmo talking with Popovich. It seems the best teams in the NBA have a former head coach working as an assistant. Dallas has had Del Harris helping out Avery Johnson. And the Spurs have Carlesmo. I can't think of any other teams like this, but it seems to have helped these two.
9:42 I tried finding Drew Gooden's dunk against Iowa State, but it apparently hasn't found its way on to Youtube. I remember watching Kansas play and Gooden having a killer windmill-type jam from the side in the open court. It was not appreciated by the home crowd.
9:49 I'm about ready to split-screen this thing and start playing some Tiger Woods on the XBox. Seriously, this is a finals game? I respect the Spurs and enjoy watching them when they are playing well. Unfortunately for them, all anyone will remember is them being difficult to watch, when in fact, the Cavs on any given night are three times as painful to watch as the Spurs on their worst night.
9:53 Another call for the home team. Carrot top isn't anywhere near set and Ginobili gets called for the foul. Marc Jackson thinks it's a good call, Mike Breen backs him up and Van Gundy calls them out. No way that was a foul on Manu. He looks for contact, but it looked like the lane was his.
9:56 Gooden gets 3 fouls in 4 possessions - one Cavs possession and two Spurs possessions! To say he isn't very good at defense would be ... absolutely correct.
9:56 1/2 In case anyone forgot ...
I was looking for Brent Barry winning the Dunk contest and I got an added bonus of seeing Finley back when he could jump! In NBA Live 2003, Finley is on the All-90s team and he is a machine. He could dunk like whoa. Guess this is where they got it from.
10:14 Duncan is getting more active on the offensive end. He's passing up some shots to gallop across the lane for some running hooks. It seems to be working for him. What's a little scary is Duncan putting it on the floor in traffic. Not quite as graceful as some, but effective.
10:26 Carrot top needs to chill out. He's made some pretty bad plays in this game. He reminds me of Tommy Boy and the dinner roll. He's just so excited! Then he comes down and hacks the crap out of Duncan - you could hear it! - and no call.
10:36 This was almost a game. Carrot top takes an ill-advised shot. Go figure. LeBron will not have kind words for him during this timeout. If Mike Brown is half of a coach, he'll play Z for the rest of the game.
10:48 Maybe a foul on LeBron. Probably better for him in the long run that they didn't call it. If he makes the first two and misses the second, that's pretty rough. Tony Parker is using any excuse to show his "O-face".
That's my T.V, by the way.
END OF GAME
Well, this was exciting! I retract my previous statement about blogging this in person at the finals. I would have rather bought nude pics of Amanda Beard on my ESPN corporate credit card and called it research. I bet I'm more serious about playing darts than I am about watching the second half of the game on Thursday. Can't wait to blog about something more fun to watch ... like the Astros ... or the Texans.
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