When you play the San Antonio Spurs, there is always a risk of getting completely blown out of the game – sometimes by half time. You just don’t expect the Miami Heat to be one of those teams. In two consecutive games in the NBA Finals, no less. No matter how you predicted this series would go (I predicted Spurs in 6), no one could have seen this coming. The Heat were supposed to be the most formidable bunch for the Spurs after
MIAMI — The proverbial “Next step.” When a young player scores a career-high 29 points on 10-for-13 shooting in a 111-92 win in Game 3 in a tied NBA Finals, takes that “Next step,” it’s a big deal (especially in the social media centric world we live in today). Normally he’ll shower, get dressed and head to the podium to answer questions from the media. That was not the case on Tuesday evening. Stone faced and serious, Kawhi Leonard headed toward the throng of media
If you break up Chris Andersen’s nickname into two words, you have the operative sentence for Game 2: Free Bird. [Read more…]
Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs tips Thursday night at 9:00 PM. If you’re looking forward to watching it in hopes of getting some exciting NBA action, you’re not alone. After last year’s Finals that featured two amazing finishes—Tony Parker’s bank shot to secure a four-point victory in Game 1 or Ray Allen’s three-point shot, perhaps the shot heard round the world, in Game 6 to force overtime, everyone is hoping for
I have always pondered the challenge of being an NBA coach, so here’s my attempt at coming up with three different key strategies for both coaches and teams to implement if they are going to win the championship. I personally feel that San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich is not only the premier coach in the game today, I actually believe he is one of the greatest leaders of any sport in the history of our country. On the other side you have Miami’s
Having been to nine NBA Finals, winner of five, Earvin “Magic” Johnson is more of an expert on what it takes to make it to the promised land than most, save for Bill Russell and Phil Jackson, among only a select few others. With the start of the 2014 NBA Finals just days away, Magic took to Twitter to share some insight into what it is going to take for the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat to win. [Read more…]
Sunday night the Oklahoma City Thunder were whole. Center Serge Ibaka made his return from what was previously thought to be a season ending injury. His return was much needed, as he provided the defensive energy necessary for the Thunder to play free on the perimeter without worry or fear of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili wreaking havoc in the paint near the rim. Ibaka had a profound impact on the game, as Oklahoma claimed a 106-97 Game 3 victory
There have been some fair comparisons drawn between the current 17-game winning streak of the San Antonio Spurs and the remarkable 27-game run put together a year ago by the Miami Heat. Both teams expect to compete for the NBA championship. Both teams found their rhythm at the most opportune time of the season. Both teams stormed to the league’s best record and home court advantage throughout the playoffs. There are obvious differences as well. For one, San Antonio still needs 10