Duncan Has Parker. James Has Himself. (New York Times)
James may be the N.B.A.’s brightest star and its greatest hope, but three of the four best players in this series are wearing silver and black: Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginóbili.
The Spurs have all of the experience, the three crisp championship banners and a cast of role players who have been there and done that, then done it again. The Cavaliers have James. And James has Boobie.
The Cavaliers are possibly the least talented team the Spurs have faced in the postseason. San Antonio beat Denver (featuring Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby) in the first round, then eliminated multifaceted Phoenix (with Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion) in the conference semifinals. The Spurs advanced to the finals by beating Utah’s brilliant inside-out tandem of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.
San Antonio’s Mr Boring aims for title (Times UK)
Tim Duncan remains largely underappreciated and anonymous to all but the most ardent basketball aficionados, but as he starts the quest for his and the San Antonio Spurs’ fourth NBA title in nine years tonight, he may be the most admirable modern sports star in the United States.
Finally for Finley: Spurs’ swingman reaches NBA finals at last (Sporting News)
“When I was growing up in Chicago, I thought this was something that everybody experienced, playing in the finals or just being part of the finals,” Finley said. “Watching MJ and Scottie lead those teams to those trophies was very exciting for me at the time and it was something that made me want to get to this point to get the opportunity to feel what they felt then in the NBA finals. And after 12 years I’m finally here.”
San Antonio nuns send up prayers for Spurs (Houston Chronicle)
“We pray for them to win, but we also pray for them to continue their sportsmanship,” said Sister Sandra Neaves, head of the order in the Western U.S.
Friendly bet: Cleveland, San Antonio mayors wager on NBA finals (Sports Illustrated)
San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger will send a case each of tamales, fresh salsa and Alamo Golden Ale to Cleveland if the Cavaliers win.
“In the unlikely event the Spurs win the championship,” Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said in a news release Tuesday, he’ll give Hardberger a case of Ohio City Pasta, a case of Hot Sauce Williams ribs, a bottle of Williams’ special sauce and a case of Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Burning River Pale Ale.
What do you think they’ll be saying after game one?
