The key to Spurs’ success

In one of my previous columns, I made a prediction that the Miami Heat will win this year's NBA championship. I was wrong. Nevertheless,  I am happy because my favorite team, the San Antonio Spurs, clinched the title in a spectacular manner. My hats off to the Spurs especially to the ageless trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Toni Parker!

How did the Spurs triumph in such manner that left millions of Heat fans around the globe shaking their heads in disbelief? There are some key points which I think have largely contributed to the Spurs' success.

THE BIG THREE. In all five games of  the NBA finals, Miami's Big 3 - LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were outscored and outrebounded by their Spurs' counterparts. Only James did most of the hard work for the Heat, averaging 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and four assists per game. Chris Bosh only normed 14ppg and 5rpg, while Wade was held off to 15.2ppg and 2.2 apg. In sharp contrast, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker were simply amazing as they continue to defy Father Time. They passed the ball like water that flows freely in Kawasan Falls. They were smooth as silk. Above all, they were very consistent. Duncan posted a double-double average of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Parker was similarly impressive with his 18ppg and 4.6apg. Ditto with Ginobili, who charted 14.4 points and 4.8 assists in the lopsided series.

BENCH. All throughout the series, the supporting crew of the Spurs outclassed the Heat in the scoring, rebounding and assist department. The Spurs surrounded their Big 3 with a younger and more talented support cast led by eventual Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 23.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in Games 3, 4 & 5. They also have 3-point sensation Danny Green, back-up point guard Patty Mills, the vastly-improved Brazilian center Tiago Splitter, and power-playing forward Boris Diaw. Even the likes of Marco Belinelli, Matt Bonner and the rest of bench contributed in their own little ways, playing hard-nose defense and scored if necessary. Miami's Big 3, on the other hand, were backed up by much older players, who were no longer effective as last season. Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier were non-existent in those three crucial games. If  you get the average age of the bench players of Spurs and Miami minus the Big 3, Miami had an older line-up with an average age of 30 while the Spurs bench had an average age of 27.

HEALTH. Wade was playing even if he was injured. Gone were the days when he was monickered the 'Flash'. His moves were like slow motion.

TEAMWORK. All praises for coach Pop (Greg Popovich) on how he molded his team. I can't help but smile every time they make an extra pass. The Spurs passed the ball four to five times before they make a shot. They executed their game plan to the letter. They played simple, but lethal basketball. Once again, the Spurs positioned themselves as a very good role model for the kids playing basketball today. They have proven that there is no 'I' in the word TEAM. You can’t win championship with one star player. Even the great Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen to win six rings. Kobe Bryant had Shaq, Magic Johnson had Kareem Adbul Jabar, and Larry Bird had Kevin McHale and Dennis Johnson, to name a few successful tandems in NBA history.