"You
showed the world how beautiful this game is," Commissioner Adam Silver
told the Spurs during the post-game award ceremony. It is what the San Antonio
Spurs have done for the past decade despite being criticized by the media for having
a boring and clinical style.
The Spurs have performed the same way for the past 10 years: Manu Ginobili splitting the offense either to lay up or occasionally jam the ball as he did in game 5 of this year’s lopsided finals, Tony Parker running the fast break, driving to the glass or tossing up a floater that glides over a seven footer swishing for two points. Tim Duncan’s classic turn around jump shot off the glass, and now series final MVP Kawhi Leonard who like Ginobili and Parker can do a variety of amazing things on the court.
R.C. Buford
and Gregg Popovich continue to put together teams that gel and perform at a
high level. Danny Green, Ginobili,
Parker, Leonard and new addition Paddy Mills all have the ability to shoot
three pointers effectively.
The Spurs in
perhaps the most dominant championship victory ever had the highest shooting
percentage of any team since the advent of the shot clock. They shot 52.8% for
the series eclipsing the 1991 Chicago Bulls’ 52.7%. San Antonio also had their 12th
win by 15 or more points, most ever in a post-season.
Whether it is
a blocked shot, great rebounding or tough defense that produces the fast break,
moving the ball effectively to find the open man, shooting threes, or driving
to the hoop the San Antonio Spurs have played exciting basketball for the past
decade. With their 5th championship in place and a great cast of new
players coming up in the ranks to join the big three (Duncan, Parker and
Ginobili), the Spurs are poised for more championships and exciting ball for
many years to come.
