Bench Comes Up Strong

The Big 3 did its thing, no doubt about that. 

Duncan wasn’t ever dominant in Game Seven, but he was Duncan—steady, sturdy. 

Ginobili started off slow (and stupid, with two early turnovers that nearly exploded blood vessels in Popovich’s brain), but hit a handle of three’s in the the second and iced the game at the line in the fourth. 

And TP, all he did was hit the biggest jumper of the season.  Coming off a wide open miss from Pargo that would’ve tied the game, Parker stepped around a pick, hand in his face, and calmly nailed a jumper to put the Spurs ahead, for good this time, at 85-80.

But, what made the difference, what made the difference all series, was the play of the bench, who ever was on it. 

After playing more than two minutes in a game only once in the first three, Ime Udoka took over for Michael Finley, and didn’t look back.  In the final four games, Udoka hit a remarkable 65% of his three’s (11-17), none more impressive than the three of three he canned in game six.  Also, lest we forget how Udoka had to either guard Chris Paul, Jannero Pargo, or Peja Stojakavic while on D.  He grabbed some big offensive boards, and, had that huge block on Pargo in game six.  Nice job.

Kurt Thomas, brought in to rebound and play tough defense, did just that.  While no one will confuse the angry, former TCU star as Dennis Rodman, Thomas did his part, even if no one really noticed.  In the clinching game, Thomas grabbed seven rebounds, five which were offensive.  Oh yeah, he only played a shade over seven minutes.

Even Finley, the bannished Fin-Dog, came up with some big play.  After seeing his minutes diminished over the last five games, Finley came in to game seven, and calmly drilled two three’s in what turned out to be the decisive third quarter.

All things considered, the Spurs do have a fighting shot against L.A. in the Western Conference Finals, no doubt about that.  But, they’ll need more than Duncan, Parker and Ginobili to have it.