Cinco Triunfos
2017 NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 2
Rocket Man - And I think it's going to be a long, long time till touchdown brings me around again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home. I mean, come on. This is insanity. Kahwi Leonard just obliterated James Harden and in so doing...the way the "experts" framed this year's NBA MVP race. You need to take your "best two-way player in the game but..." ball and go home. Kawhi is the best player in the game, no qualifiers needed. Not only is he the current best player in basketball, he's playing at an historic level. How often have you seen a player guard the best offensive weapon in basketball for an entire playoff game, hold said best offensive weapon in basketball to 13 points (3-17 shooting from the field and 0-5 from the field with two turnovers while checking him as the primary defender) while getting seven rebounds, three steals and a block, and then on the other end of the floor score 34 points (13-16 from the field, 3-4 from range, 5-5 from the line) and dish out eight assists? The answer is not very often at all. I can only think of four other wing players in the history of the game that were/are capable of having a playoff game that ridiculous. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. That's the list. For what it's worth, the last time a player had at least 30 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds while shooting at least 80 percent from the the field in a playoff game was Michael Jordan in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals. Considering that MJ is the GOAT, this tidbit isn't surprising but gives historical context to make Kawhi's game last night all the more impressive. To be clear, I'm not really sure that Larry, Kobe, or LeBron have ever had a playoff game as dominant on both sides of the ball as Leonard did last night, that's just the list of players who had/have the ability to potentially be that dominant on both ends of the court. All of this is to say that Kawhi Leonard has elevated himself into rarified air. Because we have the best player in basketball and because we got back to playing loose, unselfish, joyful team basketball, the San Antonio Spurs returned the favor and blew out the Houston Rockets 121-96 last night at the AT&T Center to knot our Western Conference Semifinal series at 1-1. Kawhi was prodigious, marvelous, superhuman but all things considered, the player of the game is Tony Parker. Tony had 18 points (8-13 from the field, 2-2 from range) and four assists. Unfortunately, it's no secret why I chose Tony for player of the game on a night that Kawhi Leonard put together one of the greatest two-way performances in NBA history. The longest-tenured Spur and the four-time NBA champion deserves the honor because his 2016-17 season is suddenly over.
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Man. This really, really, really sucks. I can't remember ever feeling like this the day after a Spurs playoff win. Sure, there was the time - prior to the 2000 playoffs - the Spurs announced that Tim Duncan was unavailable for the first round with a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. That sucked. It robbed us of a legitimate chance to defend our first title and allowed a talented Shaq-Kobe Lakers team an easier path to reach the NBA Finals and learn how to become champions themselves (without Duncan, the Spurs lost 3-1 to the fifth-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round as the four-seed). There was also the time - prior to the 2009 playoffs - the team announced that Manu Ginobili was out for the playoffs with a fracture in his right distal fibula. This also sucked and, once again, an easier path was cleared for a Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team to get back to the NBA Finals and win another title (without Manu, the Spurs lost 4-1 to the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round as a four-seed). But, as unfortunate and costly as both of those injuries were, at least they happened prior to the playoffs where we had time to process them and reassess our expectations. I don't ever remember the Spurs losing a superstar player to injury in the middle of a deep playoff run much less on the night of an exhilarating rivalry win. I don't remember, because it hasn't happened (at least not since I started watching religiously in 1989-90, David Robinson's rookie season). Perhaps because for three decades straight we'd been blessed with the good fortune to not lose a superstar player mid-playoffs, I started off this process in denial. Last night, after the game, even though it looked bad...I was still hoping for the best. I kept telling myself, Kevin Durant's injury this season was originally feared to be worse than it ended up being. Also, just the other day - in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Boston and Washington - Wizards forward Markieff Morris went down with what was thought to be a devastating ankle sprain only to return in Game 2 and have his best game of these playoffs. Or did he? I won't lie, I went to bed mildly optimistic that we might be able to get our future Hall of Fame point guard back at some point in this series or at least at some point in this playoff run. Sadly, this morning around 10:00 am (MDT), I was reminded that The Nile is a river in Egypt. In other words, my worst fears were confirmed when the Spurs released the following statement...
I never even consider that this could happen to Tony. In his exemplary 16-year NBA career, TP has never missed a playoff game. Lamentably, tomorrow night will be the first one ever. The last time the San Antonio Spurs played a playoff game without Tony Parker was on May 2nd, 2000 (more than 17 years ago) in the aforementioned series against Phoenix that Tim Duncan missed due to injury. Since then, Tony Parker has played in 221 playoff games (most among active players, fifth-most all-time). He is ninth all-time in playoff points and fifth all-time in playoff assists. He joins long-time playoff rival LeBron James as the only two players in NBA history with more than 4,000 playoff points and 1,000 playoff assists. TP also holds the NBA record for most playoff games won by teammates with two of his. (I'm sure you can guess which two.) Tony Parker and Tim Duncan had the NBA record for most playoff wins by teammates with 131 wins. That is until, in some sort of ironic Big Three stroke of poetic symmetry, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili tied that record with last night's win. Man. This really, really, really sucks. I feel awful. I'm not sure if I felt worse on Tuesday after getting blown out at home by 27 points or today after returning the favor and blowing out the Rockets by 25. I think I feel worse today. I don't know what else to say about it except get well soon, Tony. May the fourth be with you.
There's no question this is a devastating blow to our title hopes but if there is any team that is equipped to carry the "next man up" mantra all the way into June it's a Gregg Popovich coached team. I still feel very confident that we can win this series with our in-state rival and even re-steal our home court advantage back tomorrow night. The Olajuwon-esque dismantling of the likely NBA MVP that Kawhi Leonard put together against James Harden last night cannot be understated. It was the type of undressing that can get in the receiver's head and ruin him psychologically for the rest of a series. I'm not predicting this will trigger a psychological meltdown from The Bearded One, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. Playoff series are about imposing will more than anything else. Last night, Kawhi reached a level of dominance that very few players reach. The type of dominance to conduct the game like classical music, orchestrating the movements of a superstar opponent in order to reduce that opponent into an operatic prop. Being that dominant is psychological warfare. Once it's in the opponent's head that you have that type of control over the game, their talent becomes meaningless. Of course, barring The Klaw already having a firm grip on James Harden's soul, we still have every reason to fear Houston that we did two days ago (plus the added one of losing a former NBA Finals MVP for the rest of the series). The Rockets are extremely dangerous and I have no doubt that they have the ability to bounce right back tomorrow night. That being said, with Kawhi looking more and more like Michael Jordan with every single passing game, I still like our chances to take care of the Rockets and I still believe we have a puncher's chance to win the title. By the way, Tony's injury may hurt my heart but it doesn't hurt my memory. Don't get it twisted. I can still remember two nights ago when Rockets fans were convinced they had already left the #BlackAndSilver for dead on the side of the road. You remember, right, H-Town? You were riding that bandwagon hard in order to try to keep pace with the hype because you thought your team was barreling down the highway in the Ferrari that is Mike D'Antoni's offensive system in search of the outer limits of seven seconds or less basketball nirvana. Two days ago, you were thinking...next stop, Western Conference Finals. I know you remember. Well, as painful of a night as last night was for the city of San Antonio, it was also a reminder to the city of Houston to stay in your lane.We have Kawhi Leonard and you don't. Guess who's back.
Featured Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Headline Image Source: Pounding the Rock
Tres Derrotas
2017 NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 1
Welcome to the Jungle - One of the great equalizers in military conflict is the element of surprise. Guerrilla tactics can often catch a superior army off guard to win a battle, especially in terrain as hostile as the jungle. Once the inferior army has successfully stunned the opponent through its initial guerrilla attack, it can use jungle terrain to its advantage to stay two steps ahead until the battle is won. Last night, the San Antonio Spurs foolishly attempted to provide a neighboring rival with a gentlemanly welcome to the jungle (playoff basketball at the AT&T Center) only to find out a few minutes too late that Houston was already in the building lurking in the shadows readying to welcome us to jungle warfare. Indeed, the Rockets made their three hour commute over to San Antonio on Interstate 10 and proceeded to punch us in the mouth in Game 1, destroying the Spurs 126-99 to instantly snatch home court advantage away from us in this suddenly desperate Western Conference Semifinals series. No sour grapes here. Give them credit. Considering that they slapped us with our largest halftime deficit in playoff history (30 points), the Rockets earned their first playoff victory in San Antonio during the Popovich-era. From the opening tip, we simply weren't ready for the speed of Houston after having just played the plodding Memphis Grizzlies for six straight games. By the time we adjusted to their speed, it was too late. The good news is that we've seen it now and there is no excuse for our defense not to be ready for it the rest of the series. While quite effective as a sneak attack, Houston's guerrilla tactics alone won't win the war. There will be a counter attack and eventually this, like every playoff series, will settle into being a test of each team's defensive armament. As for the use of guerrilla tactics in Game 1, the Rockets went 22-50 from the three point line. That's not a typo. These fools shot 50 threes. Amazing. I hope they shoot 50 more in Game 2. If Daryl Morey and Mike D'Antoni think they're going to knock the San Antonio Spurs out of the playoffs by shooting 50 threes a game, God bless them. I'm happy to take our chances with that. Please keep it up, Houston.
Having lived through dozens of best-of-seven series in these past 20 years, nobody knows better than Spurs fans that a playoff series is a marathon. Sure, you can overpower your opponent with hot three point shooting for one night. It is highly unlikely, however, that you will successfully overpower your opponent by expecting to rely on hot three point shooting for two weeks. By the beginning of the fourth quarter last night and with the outcome already determined, I was rooting for the Rockets to make threes. I'm a firm believer that each team only has a finite amount of "made threes" in its stockpile for a series. That being the case, I believe it’s not only bad form but also an injudicious squandering of resources to continue draining them during a game that's already in hand in an effort to pile on. Last night, the Houston Rockets went 7-13 from deep in the fourth quarter while leading by somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty points for most of the frame. We've seen this type of shortsightedness from this very same coach's teams in past playoff battles. Mike D'Antonio just can't seem to help himself. Two weeks is a long period of time and karma has a funny way of catching up. So thanks for wasting a bunch of "made threes" from your series stockpile in a meaningless quarter, Houston. Chances are that there will be a close game later in this series where Houston's shooters will tighten up and the Rockets are going to wish they had a few of the seven "made threes" (that they wasted in the fourth quarter of Game 1) back when they're watching a potential series-altering crucial one rim out at the most critical of moments.
While our good, dear friends over in the Rockets' fanbase were all over social media last night celebrating like Houston just won their third NBA championship, I'm not ready to panic yet. I still expect this to be a long series favoring the Spurs. My unflappable confidence aside, I'm sure the Rockets in 6 crowd is feeling quite emboldened today. Somewhere on ESPN television right now there's an "expert" writing the Spurs' obituary, then waxing poetic about the brilliance of James Harden and the Rockets' offense, and finally wrapping up the segment by prognosticating about Houston's chances to upset the Warriors. And the city of Houston is lapping it up by a spoon. It doesn't matter to Rockets fans that, at a company as loyal as ESPN, this very same "expert" has about as much job security as Sean Spicer and will likely be laid off before Game 2, I guarantee that they are eating up as much "Rockets have broken the Spurs" analyses as they can find, soaking it in as if it's being preached directly out of the Holy Bible. Everything must feel like unicorns and lollipops in H-Town today. Having often been on their side of Game 1 blowouts in series that we've eventually lost, I can't help but think about how much more it's going to hurt in the end, having experienced this type of exhilarating victory (and the false sense of security that comes along with it), if the Spurs comeback and eventually win the series (which I still fully expect). Sorry, Rockets fans. After the obnoxious display you put forward on social media last night, you won't get any pity from me if and when the #BlackAndSilver close you out.
Now, a little housekeeping. The player of the game was Kawhi Leonard. Honestly, I would have given it to anyone else, especially a role player, if anyone had done anything even remotely noteworthy. Sadly, Kawhi got absolutely no help in last night's contest and therefore his 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 32 minutes gets the recognition by default. This cannot continue. Kawhi needs help. Particularly from LaMarcus Aldridge. While I still believe that the Spurs are the better team and should still be favored to win the series, let me be crystal clear. The Rockets are dangerous and capable of going straight through us en route to the Western Conference Finals. If, for some reason, LaMarcus Aldridge's confidence is shot and he continues to play like he did last night (a shell of himself) for this entire series...Houston will win it easily. Let's hope that's not the case. Hopefully for LA, Tony, Manu, Danny, Pau, (and on down the line)...our supporting players just needed a wake up call that the competition just got a great deal stiffer. Houston was desperate for our attention and last night they got it. If, somehow, we didn't receive the message...we're going to be toast by the end of the week. That being said, tomorrow night presents an interesting test for the Spurs. We used to be a player in our locker room that provided a calming presence to help us regroup after a tough playoff loss. You know, a certain someone to lean on through adversity. That player is now retired and ladies and gentlemen...Matt Bonner is not walking through that door again. (Fooled you, of course I meant Tim Duncan.)
All kidding aside, last night's demoralizing defeat presents a great opportunity for Kawhi to start learning how to fill the void left by Timmy in the locker room the same way he's filling the void on the court. Also, speaking of Matt Bonner, we could use a little Red Rocket mojo from our supporting cast tomorrow in Game 2. While Kawhi Leonard's game is still ascending (into the stratosphere) as he continues his "best player in the world" journey, if last night has told us anything...it's that he can't beat Houston alone. For the first time since Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston has an MVP-caliber player surrounded by a supporting cast built to win. James Harden may very well be the most talented offensive weapon left in these playoffs. Sure, we know he can be more than offset by Kawhi Leonard's two-way brilliance but our new franchise cornerstone is probably thinking, "I got this but only with a little help from my friends." Superior contributions from Players Two through Thirteen is what the Spurs are going to have to get in order to take control back in this series. Houston has vastly improved their talent-base and I respect the hell out of the beatdown they laid on us last night but the fact remains that we are the deeper and better team. Tomorrow night, we just have to focus on going out and playing loose, unselfish, joyful team basketball; you know...the Spurs way. If we do that, I have every confidence that we'll start to get back on track. Houston used guerrilla tactics to catch us off guard and win the first battle. They have our attention and we're here now. Through playing for each other and as a team, we can still win the war...with the added bonus of getting to witness The Klaw outshine a Rocket Man.