Thursday, June 14, 2007 It’s over LeBron By Homer D. Sayson Of Sun.Star Cebu
CLEVELAND - Seen in 128 countries around the globe, the 2007 NBA Finals is broadcast in 46 languages. But regardless of how Game 3’s outcome was chronicled through the airwaves of radio and television, the universal message was loud and clear: It’s over.
Playing with characteristic poise, the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday, 75-72, before a sold-out of 20,562 at the Quicken Loans Arena.
The narrow margin gave the Spurs a 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven championship series, with Game 4 returning tomorrow at The Q. No team in the history of the NBA playoffs has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit.
The first half seemed like a heavyweight match, where both squads traded spurts and stops that swung the lead back and forth like an errant pendulum.
With LeBron James riding the bench with three fouls midway through the second quarter, the Cavs, led by the resurgent Sasha Pavlovic, went on a significant tear and built what seemed like a comfortable 38-30 edge with 2:38 remaining in the half.
Jumper
But the Spurs, seasoned by 17 playoffs appearances since the-Tim Duncan era, soldiered on. Seldom used Brent Barry knocked down a trey followed by a Tony Parker lay-up. And after Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed a turnaround jumper on the other end, Robert Horry answered with another 3.
Parker then capped San Antonio’s 10-0 blast with a floater, and just like that, the Spurs regained the edge at halftime, 40-38.
The third quarter was ugly as both teams tied an NBA Finals record low of 27 combined points previously set by the Nets, and yes, the Spurs in 2003. In last night’s forgettable third stanza, San Antonio missed 9-of-14 shots while Cleveland made just 6-of-21.
Despite shooting only 29 of 79 field goals for the night (36.7 percent), the Cavs managed to stay within reach of the Spurs, who were equally horrendous from the field with just 28 of 68 shots made.
Stamina
But the young Cavs, who out-rebounded their visitors, 48-41, did not have the Spurs’ mental stamina.
Duncan, who was held to 14 points and 9 rebounds, sank a pair of free throws which pushed San Antonio ahead, 69-65, with 1:33 left. Parker made a killer 3 with one minute to go, and Manu Ginobili staved off Cleveland’s desperate late-game rally by swishing 3-of-4 free throws in the final 10 seconds.
“We gave ourselves a chance to win tonight, and that’s all we can ask for,” said James, who finished with 25 points and 8 rebounds, but was tormented by the Spurs defense in the fourth quarter and missed two lay-ups and two jump shots when the game was still to be had.
“I’m happy tonight, whatever it is you want to ask,“ Spurs coach Gregg Poppovich told a reporter during the post-game press conference, showing a rare stab at humor.
Well, who wouldn’t be happy if he were Pop?
San Antonio, despite having a so-so 17 points from Parker and an 0-for-7 clip from Ginobili, survived Cleveland, pushing the Spurs to within one game away from their fourth championship.
