Rematch

Rarely in life do you get a do-over of one of your most crushing disappointments. But one such opportunity is now in front of the San Antonio Spurs, as they prepare to face the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals (starting this Thursday) in a rematch of last year’s thrilling seven game Finals. A series in which the Spurs were 28 seconds away in game 6 from winning the championship (but for a miracle three from miracle three specialist, Ray Allen). This was the first Finals loss for the Spurs in franchise history, winning the other four times they got there in the Tim Duncan era. So it was a new experience for the team and its fans, and even worse to be so close.

Now we are back. What is the same? What is different? The Heat still have the best player on the planet in Lebron James. No dispute there. Basketball is such a team sport, but Lebron is one of those rare players who can singlehandedly win you some games in a series. They also have the second best player on either team in Dwayne Wade. And Wade is much healthier this year than last. “The Big Three” thing is a misnomer, Bosh was never that great. He was a star at one point, but is not now. So it is more the “Big 2 and ½.” The Heat this season, though, are not quite as deep beyond their starters.

And depth is where San Antonio is much better than they were last season. This is the deepest team I can remember in San Antonio. Their second unit, led by Manu Ginobili (the confidence of a guy that good who willingly comes off the bench is rare), can beat many other team’s starting five. And then there are solid guys even in the third unit. In Game 6 of the Spurs-Thunder series that just ended, the leading scorer was Boris Diaw with 26 off the bench. If you have followed San Antonio throughout the season, that has been the case. Any given night, it will either be Diaw, rising star Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills, Marco Belinelli…someone else who shines alongside the three aging established stars (Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili). That has been the difference, the depth has allowed Coach Gregg Popovich to give crucial rest and limited minutes during the season to keep the team fresh. While still locking up the #1 spot. The Spurs have The Heat on depth, Popovich is widely regarded as the best coach in the NBA, and most importantly, San Antonio has “The System.”

Everyone from Duncan down to third string bench warmer buys into the Spurs System, which is why they have had the highest winning percentage of any team in the four major league American sports (basketball, football, baseball, hockey) over the last 15 years. If you do not buy into this system and you cannot obey the decrees of Popovich, you simply cannot be a Spur. Whoever you think you are. Just ask Stephen Jackson. Which is why if Tony Parker has to leave a game in the middle of the 2nd quarter, Cory Joseph and Mills can be plugged in and the Spurs can still win the Western Conference series in Oklahoma City. It is The System. But that buy-in is the real key. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are rare in that they are stars who keep their egos in check and give their head coach real authority. Popovich will tear into Duncan in front of the team if necessary, and he takes it. That attitude flows downhill. If Tim Duncan accepts that, then I better listen to Pop too, says the bench warmer. Which is why someone like Kobe Bryant could never play for Gregg Popovich.

Miami is a good organization too. There is buy-in there as well. They have looked absolutely dominant so far in the playoffs, but it is important to take into account the difference between the Western and Eastern conferences. I honestly think that any of the top eight Western teams could have run the gauntlet that Miami ran and made it to a Finals. The West is just that much better than the East outside of The Heat.

Prediction? I might copout like Shaq did the other night when he was asked on TNT after the Spurs victory, I really don’t know. I think the series will go seven again. And another crucial difference from last year, The Spurs have home court. Miami had it last year. For the Spurs, especially, home court has made a big difference for them during this playoffs. And the Spurs have more motivation. 28 seconds.

Since I do think it is a toss-up and I do think it will go seven, I might as well go with the home team. So I will say Spurs in seven.

What do you think?