NBA Finals Heads to Cleveland
The final score in Game 2 of the NBA Finals was close to the oddsmaker's number, but don't be fooled: It was total domination by the Spurs for the second straight game. Thus far it's been the superior West against the best that a weak Eastern Conference can muster. It's not simply experience versus youth, the Spurs are deeper, more talented, better coached and have more versatile scoring options.
Other numbers are more revealing in Game 2: San Antonio shot 48%, the Cavs 40%. Cleveland, the worst free throw shooting team in the NBA, missed 10 freebies and shot 65% from the line. Sure, hitting a few more freebies and they might have covered, but you are what you are and they have been certified masons from the line all season.
In my analysis on the eve of the Game 2 I wrote, "The popular NBA zigzag theory would indicate a call on the Cavs to cover the spot here after the Spurs won and covered the series opener. But I'll fade that popular wisdom and play San Antonio to register a second straight convincing win. The opening game was far more lopsided than the score might indicate, and I can't see any form of a letdown on the part of the Spurs. In fact, now that they've shaken off any rust from the long layoff between series, they may be even sharper here. I'll lay the number with the Spurs to go up 2-0."
This was the case as San Antonio was far sharper than they had been in Game 1, shooting lights out for three quarters while building a 25-point halftime lead and a 29-point lead before relaxing in the fourth quarter.
It was interesting that San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich blamed himself for some of the fourth quarter problems, saying he made changes to the defensive scheme and was too slow to substitute some of his best players back into the game.
Popovich has been the far better coach, starting with his attacking defensive game plan on LeBron James. Instead of double-teaming James, which the Pistons had done, Popovich has had Bruce Bowen follow James around while constantly bringing other players in from different parts of the court to harass King James. And they've been quick to rotate and cover Cleveland players that are briefly open. It's confusing and deadly effective.
Cleveland coach Mike Brown's decision to start Larry Hughes has been a failure. Even at 100%, Hughes isn't an offensive force, a poor outside shooter. And Hughes is suffering from plantar fasciitis. It's a serious foot injury, and Hughes is a player who relies on his legs to be effective. Brown had Larry Hughes in the starting lineup for Game 2. He was on the court for 20 minutes in which he went scoreless, shooting 0-for-5.
They don't have anyone to stay with lightening-quick Tony Parker, and Hughes is the worst choice with his foot ailment. It was so bad, that once when Parker was matched against Hughes, the Spurs guard threw a bounce pass between the legs of Hughes to Tim Duncan!
In the two games of this series, Hughes has been on the court 43 minutes. He has scored two points, shooting 1-of-10 from the field. He has five rebounds, two assists and has not been to the foul line. Meanwhile, rookie Daniel Gibson had 15 points in Game 2, nine in the fourth quarter when the Cavs made a near-comeback. Why wasn't he starting?
James had 25 points in Game 2 but shot only 9-of-21. After getting at least seven assists in 15 of the first 16 playoff games, James again was held down, with six assists and six turnovers. After two games, James has only one more field goal (13) than turnovers (12). "We've got a lack of aggression, a lack of focus, a lack of effort," the Cavs coach said. Actually, coach, your team has a lack of talent on the floor in relation to the opponent, which is no one's fault, really.
So now the series shifts to Cleveland for three straight games. The Cavs can take some comfort in knowing they are 32-16 SU, 27-20 ATS at home and the home team is 5-1 SU/ATS the last six meetings between the Spurs and Cavs.
However, San Antonio is 37-12 SU, 26-22 ATS on the road and has the far better team. Tim Duncan has three NBA Finals MVP awards on his mantle, but did anyone out there get a future's ticker on Parker as series MVP? Because so far (30 points in Game 2), he has been.
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