Spurs win the 2007 NBA Finals
If ever there is any contest to the fact that the San Antonio Spurs have a dynasty on their hands, then it is the proof that they have won the last 4 of the 9 finals that will quiet them down. Some say that it was the most boring finals ever with the most boring of teams winning the championship. I say that that is just a result of bad media plugging that during the series. The harsh reality is that it is the fundamentally sound team that usually wins championships in the World Arena and that is the reality that USA basketball is facing right now as it tries to claw its way back to former Olympic glory.
The Spurs finally won their fourth championship in nine years by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in their own homecourt with a score of 83-82. Cleveland was able to take the lead for the first time ever on the 4th with 8:21 remaining by riding on an 11-1 run that cut the 11 pt lead. The Spurs however were able to key in their own 11-3 run to take back the lead for good and make it an 8 pt lead. What transpired was a Manu Ginobli 3 to bring it up by 3 then 4 consecutive ball recoveries that were converted and capped by an Oberto 3 pt play off a Duncan steal on a driving Lebron James.
With 7 seconds remaining on the clock Manu Ginobli fouls Damon Jones on the 3pt arc and the ensuing free throws brings it down to a 2 pt game. Ginobli makes it up by hitting 2 FT to bring it up to 5, but James counters with a 3 of his own. Ginobli however does the smart thing by running the ball up the halfcourt during the inbound before he could be fouled, this effectively cut the time to just 1.9 secs. He then coolly sinks his 2 FT to make it a four point game so as to take any hope of a comeback away from the Cavs. Damon Jones final 3 pointer establishes the final score of the game 83-82.
Mike Brown, the coach of the Cavs quickly goes over to Greg Popovich to congratulate his mentor for the win. Too bad that this time, unlike in the 2003 victory when he was an assistant Coach of the Spurs, he won’t be able to join them as victors on the court.
Tony Parker was awarded the MVP of the Finals tournament and was joined by lady love Eva Longoria at mid court. Now we can say that this guy is one lucky bastard. He quarterbacks the champion Spurs, has 3 Championship rings to his credit, has a beautiful fiancee and now got the MVP of the Finals as a testament to his skills. Eva was marvelously decked out in a Spurs t-shirt while waving a small Spurs banner the entire length of the game. Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker both had flags of their country wrapper around their waist to celebrate their victory.
Tony Parker dedicated his MVP trophy to Michael Finley, for having joined the team a season back. He beat out his former teammates, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, in the Dallas Mavericks by getting a Championship before them. He now joins the illustrious list of players who have gained a championship by joining the Spurs. These include Glen Robinson, Kevin Willis and current Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry.
I have to say that I was a bit irked with the question of Dan Patrick to Tim Duncan, on how he felt that it was Tony going home with his MVP trophy. Bad form man, bad form. At least Duncan answered well enough by saying that his friend Parker deserved the award.
Rookie Fabricio Oberto, Duncan’s post partner, gets to take home a ring for his year in the NBA. And another great thing about this championship is that Robert Horry finally gets his 7th Championship ring. I think Steve Kerr summed it up real well by saying that there are a lot of great MVP caliber players out there that deserve the title (Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and John Stockton to name a few) but never got it, and yet they are the lucky ones who have gained more than one. It is a testament to role players everywhere, Long Live the role player!
Congratulations Spurs!
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Tags: 2007 NBA Finals