#5 May Be the Sweetest of All

Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs for winning their 5th NBA title in 15 years. Congratulations to The Spurs for setting the record for highest point differential in Finals history. After last year's devastating loss to Miami in a seven game series (where the Spurs were 28 seconds from victory in Game 6 with a five point lead), they wanted this probably more than any of the other championships. They also wanted this team, Miami. They not only won, they completely dismantled them. Congratulations to a team that understands, in the words of Miami's coach, "exquisite team basketball" vs. hero ball. Lebron James is clearly the best player on the planet right now, but this Finals showed that you still need a team. Not just a star. I think James understands that too, so it will be interesting to see what his next Decision will be as far as where he wants to go. Since Gregg Popovich's Spurs have beaten him in two of his three Finals losses, I bet he wouldn't mind playing for Pop. I know they admire each other greatly. We'd take him.

ABOVE: The "Big Three" of the Spurs. Why has this team been so successful for so long? Tim Duncan took a pay cut in order to free up some money to bring in quality role players (attention Kobe Bryant). Manu Ginobilli is a great player, but has agreed to come off the bench leading the second unit, helping to make the Spurs bench the most potent in the league. When the Spurs second five are in, there often is no drop in production vs. when the starting five are in. These and other reasons are why Duncan has five rings now, and Parker and Ginobilli have four.

ABOVE: I have to apologize to those basketball fans who are sick of The Spurs always being one of the best in the league. It won't change for awhile. Duncan, Parker and Ginobilli all may be on the verge of retirement, but emerging superstar Kawhi Leonard, along with dynamic point guard Patty Mills, Danny Green...this new young generation is the core of the Spurs future for the next decade or so. Kawhi Leonard shut down Lebron James at times, and was simply amazing offensively during those last three games. Popovich has called him "the future of the franchise." Winning the Finals MVP last night at the age of 22, the Spurs future looks bright indeed with Leonard.