The NBA final series is here: San Antonio vs. LA. With the recent growth in power in the Clippers organization, from Steve Balmer taking over, to Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Matt Barnes, Jordan and others, the team has overshadowed the powerhouse Lakers, taking over as the rival opponent to the forever-talented Spurs. Dating back to the early 2000s, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobli – alongside other great supporting teammates such as Rose and Bowen – have been going at it on monumental levels with the Lakers, and now the Clippers. While everyone has forgotten about the Wizards, even the Hawks, who’ve had a phenomenal season, and so many have become enraptured with the Warriors’ great year, it is the Spurs and Clippers who – to many – are undoubtedly the best all around teams this season, and, low and behold, they meet in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs! To everyone’s chagrin. “Please,” most people are thinking, “Let them meet in the finals!” But, without a doubt, while all the other teams are fighting away, the real fight is going down on Saturday, in the form of the illustrious game 7, alongside the other “real” fight between Manny and Floyd.
While the boxing fight of the century is hogging up air time there will be a tough debate between true basketball aficionados as to which program to watch. LA will host the epic game 7, win or go home, and for Duncan, some speculate this could be his last big game in a Spurs uniform, now at the age of thirty-nine. “They” have been speculating this for years, as Duncan continues to play as though he could lead a team to the finals for the next three-four years. When it counts he steps up and delivers beautiful rhythm passes, the classic Duncan defensive stop, as he blocked Griffin’s attempt at rim in game 5 the other night, a bank-shot from ten feet out, or the classic “bully ball” (as Shaq likes to call it, which Zach Randolph is so good at); grinding and pounding away at the defender, backing into the basket, taking all the spotlight, focusing on no one else except him and the guy trying to guard him, as Duncan does so well. With Parker and Ginobli banged up, Diaw, who – to my knowledge – the all-star who hasn’t become an all-star yet, is taking over in many key situations with defensive stops and unbelievable cat-like agility around the rim in the form of awkward lay ups that Parker has thrived at over the years. He’s like a mix between Rick Fox and Robert Horry, providing all the little plays to make everyone else shine, while also hitting the big shots from outside when needed.
On the other side, Griffin, who was originally labeled as “only a glamour dunker,” who only a short time ago appeared very weak and timid in posting up, or in the ten–to–fifteen foot jumpers, is now hitting various shots with confidence, carrying an attitude befit for the finals; along with Paul and Jordan, the Clippers are exuding the body language that says “now is their time.” It will all go down Saturday, as a fight, alongside the other “real” fight, and, following suit from the previous games in this match up, it should be toe-to-toe, going down to the wire, with tip-ins at the last second, balls lingering on the invisible cylinder, as the winner will likely win the whole thing in a few weeks time.
While the boxing fight of the century is hogging up air time there will be a tough debate between true basketball aficionados as to which program to watch. LA will host the epic game 7, win or go home, and for Duncan, some speculate this could be his last big game in a Spurs uniform, now at the age of thirty-nine. “They” have been speculating this for years, as Duncan continues to play as though he could lead a team to the finals for the next three-four years. When it counts he steps up and delivers beautiful rhythm passes, the classic Duncan defensive stop, as he blocked Griffin’s attempt at rim in game 5 the other night, a bank-shot from ten feet out, or the classic “bully ball” (as Shaq likes to call it, which Zach Randolph is so good at); grinding and pounding away at the defender, backing into the basket, taking all the spotlight, focusing on no one else except him and the guy trying to guard him, as Duncan does so well. With Parker and Ginobli banged up, Diaw, who – to my knowledge – the all-star who hasn’t become an all-star yet, is taking over in many key situations with defensive stops and unbelievable cat-like agility around the rim in the form of awkward lay ups that Parker has thrived at over the years. He’s like a mix between Rick Fox and Robert Horry, providing all the little plays to make everyone else shine, while also hitting the big shots from outside when needed.
On the other side, Griffin, who was originally labeled as “only a glamour dunker,” who only a short time ago appeared very weak and timid in posting up, or in the ten–to–fifteen foot jumpers, is now hitting various shots with confidence, carrying an attitude befit for the finals; along with Paul and Jordan, the Clippers are exuding the body language that says “now is their time.” It will all go down Saturday, as a fight, alongside the other “real” fight, and, following suit from the previous games in this match up, it should be toe-to-toe, going down to the wire, with tip-ins at the last second, balls lingering on the invisible cylinder, as the winner will likely win the whole thing in a few weeks time.
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