Game 1
I granted TV access to the wifey so she could watch the season finale of a reality show she frequently watches. But, don’t you worry ’bout me…I was scoreboard watching on espn.com, scanning my twitter feed, and reading facebook, all for game updates. I did, however, fall asleep way before the game ended and we were getting our asses kicked all over the court.
The next morning, I was expecting a loss and I gotta thank @RichardCOliver (you know him from the San Antonio Express News and also Spurs TV broadcasts) as I saw a tweet from him saying we won!! I then had to turn on ESPN and the winning shot from Manu was all over ESPN. WOW!!!!
So in Game 1 VS the LA Lakers, it was more about Kobe tweeting than the actual game. In this game, it was all about some screaming lady who was heard thru the TV announcers mics. Hey, she is just a very enthusiastic fan so get over it all all you complainers!! I am fairly sure my laugh has been heard many times on tv, radio and internet during high school football games. Maybe my laugh is a god in a tiny country…dude, that would be awesome.
Game 2
We were packing for our vacation and we watched CSI. Yes, I chose one of my favorite tv shows over a spurs game!! STOP CALLING ME A BAD FAN!!
Game 3
We were in Boston. Now, I could’ve watched the game since I was in the hotel room, but it started at 10:30 local time and I was tired and wanted to get my beauty sleep. Stupid West Coast game!!!
Game 4
We were flying home and in an airplane. The flight attendant provided us with updates…Spurs up 4 with 3 minutes to go. Next update…Spurs lose in OT. I was annoyed by that cause I wanted to be surprised when I got home.
Game 5 and Game 6
I did watch games 5 and 6. Hey, we won both games and clinched the series!!! I am glad I am not superstitious cause if so I would have to wear the same t-shirt, shorts and pink slippers!!! STOP LAUGHING AT MY PINK SLIPPERS!!
Late in 4th quarter of Game 6, the Spurs were only up by 2 points and I really thought we were gonna lose. Tony and Manu couldn’t make baskets and the Spurs were turnover happy. But, man, I was so happy when Tony nailed 2 huge three pointers to help preserve the win. I have a great feeling that Tony and Manu will have excellent shooting on Sunday.
For the Spurs, I am always impressed with the Big 3 of Tim, Tony, and Manu. In the games I did watch, I was impressed with Kawhi Leonard, Cory Joseph, and Tiago Splitter. Kawhi defended very well, hit some huge baskets, and rebounds. Cory is just a smart aggressive point guard (kinda reminds me a bit of Speedy Claxton). And, Tiago has great passing skills and great hands to finish around the basket.
Man, I came away with a new outlook on the Golden State Warriors (I mean, in the past, the warriors were always an easy W), but not anymore. They are a real good team and gave the Spurs fits! I was really impressed with Stephen Curry (I told you he is a sharp shooter). When Curry gets a breather, his replacement is pretty darn good…Jarret Jack. Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson are only gonna get better.
Mark Jackson, the head coach of Golden State, is a former player and gosh, he is the perfect coach for the team. I remember Jackson when he played for the Indiana Pacers…some of his Pacer teammates included: Rick Smits, Reggie Miller, Detlef Schrempf, Dale Davis, and Antonio Davis. He was coached by two Larry’s as an Indiana Pacer…Larry Brown and Larry Bird.
Gregg Popovich, the Spurs head coach, was an assistant under Larry Brown when Brown coached at Kansas. Larry Brown won the NCAA National Championship with Kansas in 1988 and bolted to the Spurs after that. Dude, that doesn’t happen anymore. Usually when a coach wins a college championship, they are offered a substantial pay increase and contract extension at the school, or they choose to retire at the top of there game, or they bolt for a more money at a better school! Pop was again an assistant under Brown when they arrived in San Antonio and this was the very beginning of the David Robinson and Sean Elliott era in San Antonio.
Brown is one of may favorite ex-Spur coaches. I also really liked Bob Hill.
I was the manager of the Clark High school basketball team from 1991-1995 and Bob Hill’s son was on the team and Greg Popovich’s daughter was on the girls team. At a few games, both Bob and Gregg would show up to support their kids. We would also sometimes have another coach (Buddy Meyer form St. Marys University) show up to support his son. And, if we played MacArthur high school, former Spurs legend, George Gervin may show up as well to support his son. Yeah, pretty cool!!
Larry bird was my favorite player when I was a young lad. He was a white boy from a small town with amazing basketball skills who was successful in high school, college, and the NBA. For my Bar Mitzvah, a friend of the family worked for the Celtics and he got me an autographed photo of Bird…I still have it and will never part ways with it. That was an awesome gift!!
The Spurs next opponent are the Memphis Grizzlies and playing them won’t be a cakewalk for the Spurs. The Grizzles beat the defending Western Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder (yeah, I know the Thunder were missing all star point guard Russell Westbrook, but they still got one of the top 5 players in the NBA in Kevin Durant).
Says a lot about how good Memphis is. Mike Conley, the Memphis point guard, is an underrated point guard who doesn’t get the credit or the media attention like Tony Parker. Marc Gasol, the center, is the defensive player of the year (I am serious). Zach Randolph and Tayshaun Prince always gives the Spurs a hard time. Zach is big and strong (whomever guards him is gonna have there hands full) and Prince is tall and his long arms make him an excellent defender (he was a member of the 2004 Detroit Pistons Championship)!
The Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the first round of the 2010-2011 NBA Playoff’s. The Spurs, if you remember, were the number 1 seed and Memphis was number 8. Oh, I know the Spurs remember that series and want payback!!
I am not going to make any predictions. All I ask of the “Basketball GODS” is for the Spurs to win the series (and keep everyone healthy) and advance to their 5th NBA Finals appearance since 1999!! OMG, if that happens, that would be totally awesome!!!!!
