French Kiss of Death - Tony Parker Leads Spurs to Finals Sweep
Just as advertised in the final score of Game 2, the San Antonio Spurs solidified their place in NBA history with their fourth NBA championship in nine years, with an 83-82 victory of the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in Cleveland.
The win capped a 4-0 sweep of the Cavs, who never looked offensively organized against a well prepared Spurs defense. It was a far cry from the Eastern Conference finals for the Cavs, as LeBron James averaged as many turnovers as assists in the Finals.
Spurs guard Tony Parker elevated his game to a new level, and looks to be the league’s next great play maker. His 24.7 scoring average, combined with 57 percent FG% and five rebounds per made him the runaway choice for Finals MVP, the first European born MVP in league history. His only flaw will be playing the majority of his career with Tim Duncan, but if Stockton and Malone could carve out individual hall-of-fame careers without a ring, it seems realistic that this tandem has a chance for greater legacy.
The most intriguing part of this Spurs team, which has the best winning percentage of all the major American sports in the last 10 years, is that they figure to be a steady lock for the Finals for the next several years. Duncan is 31, Ginobili will be 30 in July and Parker is 25. At the very least, three more years of great play will come out of the Alamo, and that’s not withstanding future moves Spurs GM R.C. Buford may make.
Intriguing may be one way to put it. Scary is another.
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