Are we counting moral victories? Because then the Finals would be tied at two wins apiece — two actual wins for San Antonio, and two “they should be proud” W’s for the Cavs. Last night was almost a replay of Game 1, with the Spurs knocking on a 30-piece McNugget (extra honey mustard sauce) before letting the Cavs back into it in the fourth quarter. You can argue that the late comeback gives Cleveland something to build on for Game 3, but what about the Game 1 comeback? That obviously had no impact on last night’s game, right? Bottom line is, San Anton has a 2-0 lead and have shown that LeBron and Co. cannot hang with them when they’re on their game. Deep ish, indeed … Tony Parker continued his Finals MVP push, dropping 30 points and shutting the door on the late-game comeback attempt. LeBron started off guarding TP, which lasted all of three minutes as ‘Bron picked up two quick fouls and sat down for the rest of the quarter. Matched up with Larry Hughes, Parker was again able to get into the lane at will and picked the Cavs apart like a vulture going after roadkill. Duncan added 23 points, 9 boards and 8 dimes, while Manu dropped 25 points … How much did Mike Brown’s decision to sit LeBron for so long hurt the Cavs? When ‘Bron wasn’t on the court, Cleveland’s offense was atrocious. We know it’s standard practice to take a guy out once he gets two fouls, but this was the time for Brown to go against the grain. You can have kept ‘Bron out of foul trouble by sticking him on Bruce Bowen; as long as he doesn’t swipe at the ball going for steals, he would’ve been fine. Cleveland needed him out there too much … Before he had to sit, LeBron showed more aggression in three minutes than he did for most of Game 1. He never got into a rhythm (9-for-21 FGs) once he came back, couldn’t get a bounce and had another 6-turnover game … What has taken more abuse lately: LeBron’s confidence or Mike Brown’s reputation? The Cleveland sports-radio airwaves must be real ugly right now … For the second game in a row, Daniel Gibson (15 pts) was arguably the best player on the floor for Cleveland, while Hughes looked like he didn’t belong on the court. Will that be enough to get Brown to start Gibson in Game 3? … Did you see when Rob Horry came from the weakside and sent Drew Gooden’s shot into the crowd? Duncan and David Robinson got pumped for that one, while Gooden broke out his best “aw shucks” look … Austin covered the first half of the game in a live running diary. The second half was pretty much window dressing … E-mail from Christian: “What’s up with Terrence Howard pushing up on Eva Longoria? He’s sitting all next to her.” … Yesterday we put a few new things up on the Dime site: Kyle the intern took a look at actors trying to play ball and the best streetball tournaments in NYC, while Terrell the intern put together the ideal Team USA roster for this summer’s Olympic qualifying tourney … And we also want to know: Who’s the best high school ballplayer you’ve ever seen? … How bad is this offseason getting for the Nuggets? First J.R. Smith gets into a car accident over the weekend where one of his passengers was listed in extremely serious condition last we read. Then, the Denver Post reported DerMarr Johnson was arrested over the weekend and charged with interfering with police and resisting arrest, and he had the taser used on him … In J.R.’s case, the Rocky Mountain News is reporting that he’ll be cited for his role in the crash, where the police report says he drove around a car at a stop sign and continued into the intersection when his SUV was hit … Gilbert Arenas says he’s opting out of his deal after next season. Gil told the Washington Post he doesn’t want to leave D.C., but it’s “just business” and he wants a long-term deal. And he’s going to act as his own agent. This could get interesting … We’re out like moral victories …
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June 11th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Veezie says:
The league is fixed..Stern is so desperate for ratings. How in the world does Cleveland down by 29 points cut it to 8 in San Antonio versus the team who absolutely dominated them all game long? I dont buy it! Spurs just all the sudden quit playing defense and then just start missing shot and Cleveland all the sudden start making shots out of nowhere. Stern if you want ratings, you would have never left NBA on NBC baby!
June 11th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Fairs in Tdot. says:
It happens all the time when teams go into cruise control. I really am sick and tired of people claiming the fix whenever something happens, get over it people.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Bron42 says:
anyone else realize how quite these pages are now that the jazz are done and all their fans have gone back to finish or mountain climbing or whatever there is to do in utah lol..All kidding aside, as a ball player, trust me, teams comin back like that happens easy. You realize its a blow out, bench a few of your starters, their on the side jokin around. Slowly the lead gets chipped away. When the coach noticies and puts the starters back in, their not in the same flow they were before. Happens all the time. Not sayin there was ever a doubt the spurs would lose but at the same time, thats why teams like the pistons lose. They kno they’ll destroy teams and then just expect to coast. So how about another lebron-esque performance and by that I mean inconsistent. Like MJ said in his interview, lebron has to step up more on a regular basis. 1 crazy game in every 7 isn’t going to carry his team and as a superstar, thats what he need to do. Think Iverson vs Vince,Iverson vs the lakers, wade vs the mavs, magic his rookie year. Certain players kno when its their time, lebron came close but hes not on that level yet with one game. Plus he needs to get more well rounded considering hes got 2 moves. driving down the lane just barreling into people and that lazy crossover step back (or as manu calls it “cookies!!”) Complain all you want about the rest of his team, but hes supposedly a superstar and superstars raise their game when its needed more than once in the playoffs. I’m out like paris hilton
June 11th, 2007 at 9:15 am
seth says:
Anyone have thoughts on the sopranos finale?
June 11th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Andrew-PL says:
How mean and cruel is TD bank shot? It might be one of the most beautifull/annoying things I have ever seen. The one last night that he pulled on Big Z? Classic. It sucks when he does it agains my beloved suns, but hey I gotta give him mad props for his play. Now I gotta buy his jersey so he will no complain that nobody likes them. Also TP is getting sick. I like his floater. I didn’t see it a lot last year. Can somebody tell me why cavs are paying around 20-25 millions for 41 minutes playing time? (Big Z and L. Hughes combined minutes). You know that salary cap exists and it hurts your team when yuou getting overpaid. I wonder if there is a person last night who didn’t enjoy Big shot Bobs block(s)? I guess the correct answer here would be Drew Gooden. Gilbert Arenas is going to be his own agent? Thats amazing. Can we make a reality TV show out of it? Somebody needs to pitch that to ABC or something. All I can say to that is “Wassabi”!!! I am out like Gilberts money…
P.S
Could you add spellchecking into reply box? Thanks
June 11th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Frank F says:
Thank God the Sopranos was on last night to save me from having to watch an hour of that debacle of a basketball game. I still know know which was worse, the Sopranos abrupt ending or the Cav’s stagnant offense. I gotta give props to Kyle though - who included Manu in his top 10 clutch players - because Ginobli was definitely clutch last night when he nailed that three-plus-one to ice it for the Spurs. I’m out like the Cavs in game 5.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am
syence says:
I have faith in Bron-Bron. Look for him to have another coming out party in Game 3.
I’m out like Tony Soprano..
June 11th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Girlybballluver says:
Who was it again who got upset when I said Mike Brown is an idiot? Are you still going to try to make a case for him? Sitting Lebron for 9 minutes in the first quarter…who in their right mind would have done that? Why is he still playing Hughes?
I hope he keeps up this kind of coaching, it makes it a lot easier on the Spurs, so Finley can get his ring and punch Mark Cuban in the face with it.
Note* Gibson’s shot is wet. I’m expecting a huge game from him and Lebron when they get back to Cleveland. Game 3 should be good.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:15 am
SWAT says:
Ok I’m gonna go on record here and say that to me it doesn’t look like Lebron is hungry enuff just yet…in the Detroit series you could see the fire in his eyes. He wanted to embarass Detroit. I don’t see that same intensity here, but when he does lose this series next season he will officially be a monster. I think it took MJ 7 or 8 years to win his first and now these guys are making it to the finals in 3 or 4…and heaven forbid they win the whole thing because they lose that drive. I feel heartache drives them to reach that next level and want the title even more. Pain is needful for growth and when they lose this series maybe Bron will work on his shooting form or Mike Brown will work on a new playbook…one that has more than 2 plays in it.
PS-The Sopranos finale was sick. Maybe because i like Journey.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Frank F says:
I defended Mike Brown last series because everyone was calling him a horrible coach, and I was just trying to point out that defense is his specialty. The Cavs are one of the best defending teams in the league, and Mike Brown is the reason why. However, you guys are right in that Brown’s coaching is one dimensional, because while Cavs play hardnose defense, Brown’s offense lacks creativity and effectiveness. Mike Brown got this team playing D, and that’s why they’re in the finals. He’s not a terrible coach because of his defensive commitment, but it’s obvious that the Cavs eventually need a new coach who can liven up the offense if they ever expect to win a ring.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Amar says:
Quote: “anyone else realize how quite these pages are now that the jazz are done and all their fans have gone back to finish or mountain climbing or whatever there is to do in utah lol..”
Are all suns fans living in phoenix? Are all lakers fans living in SoCal? I don’t think so. It’s quite ignorant to suppose that all Jazz fans live in Utah. You know, some people are fans of teams because of their style of play — not because of the media telling them that they should like a team, or mere geographically proximety. But of course, the only people who could EVER root for utah would have to be uncool people living in Utah right? The Game says that his favorite team is the utah jazz. Does he live in Utah?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jcNp9c7h7dY
I’ve been a ‘fan’ of the jazz since 1987, and the closest I’ve ever lived to there was LA. I’ve never been to utah, and i’m not some white mormon homeschooled blonde haired guy wearing a white shirt and a thin black tie either.
All jokes aside, assumptions about fan bases in this global world is quite behind the times and reveals ignorance.
Still, writing and reading this post is more entertaining than the actual NBA finals.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Frank F says:
What’s Larry Brown been up to? The Cavs should give him a call this off-season.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Yo, I can’t believe it…I’m over here racking my brain as to why they make such a HUUGE deal over this Eva Longoria thing…(as if Tony Parker was the first NBA player to get a hot wife) and then I realize that this is ABC, and freakin’ DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES is on ABC…they’re torturing us for the RATINGS!! I HATE NBA ON ABC…between the Eva thing, and all the pointless information from Michelle Tafoya, and their HORRIBLE soundtrack…I can’t take it…rest in peace, NBA on NBC, you were the best…
June 11th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
Somebody should get a Tony Parker jersey and put LONGORIA on the back instead of Parker…wear that to a Cavs home game…that would be DUMB funny! I wish I could do that
June 11th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Andrew says:
worst finals ever. i dont like either team, both aren’t what you call exciting teams to watch (say hello to mike brown’s placebook!), and the nba/eva on abc just plain sucks. mike brown (news flash!) sucks, the cavs supporting cast might be worse than the hawks, and the spurs are worse at whining to the refs than the pistons. and to think the sternbot is extending abc’s deal for another gutwrenching 8 yrs?
June 11th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
bliz289 says:
Hughes out, Gibson in. That’s their best chance…And seriously, am I the only one who though their TV set was broken when the Sopranos ended?
June 11th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
jnuh says:
Cavs are easily the worst team to ever play in the Finals.
It’s kind of embarrassing to watch…
June 11th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
TLam says:
Am i the only one who somehow always get the “Speak the Truth” Smack page from 2/15/07 whenever i try to access http://www.dimemag.com? Something wrong with my internet, or is that just the default page you guys use when updating?
June 11th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
bliz289 says:
nah, never had that problem.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
marketing online says:
Gibson is overrated. They’ll never win a single game in this series…except if the Spurs wants to win in their home court, like ‘96 Bulls…
June 11th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Austin Burton says:
Whoa whoa whoa … I KNOW you’re not implying that Jordan and Co. just LET my Sonics win a couple games. You’re messing with my childhood there.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Keith says:
TLam, clear out your browser’s temporary internet files (cache). If you’re using Internet Explorer: Tools - Internet Options - Delete Files. Check the box, click OK. Then click Settings and set it to “every visit to page”. OK. OK. Then close IE and start from scratch.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
marketing online says:
Austin - yeah sorry for that…but if you think about it, its Jordan’s comeback year, they’ve won 72 games, and its just fitting to finish it all on their home town.