Spurs of the moment

There’s no doubt Argentinian spitfire Manu Ginobili was the hero in San Antonio’s 84-69 win over Detroit in Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals at the SBC Center last Thursday night (Friday morning, Manila).

Breaking open a close dogfight, the Spurs leaned on Ginobili’s heroics to ice it in the fourth period. Ginobili hit only four points in the first half but finished with 26, including 15 in the payoff quarter, as the Spurs drew first blood in what could be a long best-of-7 series.

Ginobili, in only his third NBA season and second Finals appearance, made mincemeat of Tayshaun Prince’s vaunted defense to lead the San Antonio charge in the homestretch.

Ginobili, 27, grew up a Michael Jordan fan. Although he idolizes Diego Maradona, basketball–not football–has always been his sport. His father was the president of the Argentinian basketball club Bahiense del Norte. His brothers Sebastian and Lenardro are Argentinian league veterans.

What makes Ginobili so difficult to defend is his unpredictability. He has a quick first step, is extremely athletic, isn’t afraid to challenge the big men in daredevil drives to the hole and has eyes on the back of his head. Ginobili is an inside-outside threat and a perfect complement to Tim Duncan.

For the Pistons, it was a shock for the Spurs to put more focus on defense instead of offense. San Antonio is known as a team that thrives in transition and an up-tempo pace while Detroit likes to slow it down, play physical and use muscle to power inside the lane.

The Pistons showed the wear-and-tear effects of a grueling seven-game duel in disposing of Miami for the Eastern Conference ticket to the Last Dance. The Heat had a twice-to-beat advantage entering Game 6 but Detroit wouldn’t be denied the chance to defend its crown.

Detroit had little energy left to stave off the Spurs in the last few minutes. Rip Hamilton, hounded by defensive whiz Bruce Bowen, could just knock down 7-of-21 field goals. Rasheed Wallace, who has the unnerving habit of guaranteeing wins, was listless in taking only six attempts from the floor and Ben Wallace was 2-of-5. Reserves Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess combined for a miserable 2-of-13. As a team, the Pistons hit .377 from the field and a lowly .167 from three-point range.

Despite the horrendous shooting, the Pistons had an early 13-point cushion, led at the half and was in the thick of things until Ginobili’s eruption late in the contest.

Because of the Spurs’ awesome advantage in depth, the Pistons can’t afford to run with San Antonio. Coach Larry Brown’s boys must stretch the clock to keep the Spurs from turning the series into an up-and-down footrace.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has the luxury of playing a second-unit that can hold its own against the starting cast of the majority of the league’s 30 teams. Among Pop’s explosive relievers are Robert Horry, Brent Barry, Rasho Nesterovic (who used to start alongside Duncan until Nazr Mohammed came along) and Glenn (Big Dog) Robinson (who’s finally playing after taking over a week off to mourn his mother’s death).

Duncan remains the Spurs’ main man and he did his job in Game 1, delivering 24 points and 17 rebounds. His ability to pass is phenomenal for a 6-11 power forward. When he’s doubled, Duncan looks for the open man and more often than not, finds him.

The Spurs are a shining example of the NBA’s globalization campaign. There are six "foreigners" in the lineup–Duncan of the Virgin Islands, Nesterovic and Beno Udrih of Slovenia, Ginobili, Tony Parker of France and reserve Sean Marks of New Zealand.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Ginobili and Duncan were on opposing sides. The 6-6, 205-pound swingman scored 29 points to fuel Argentina’s 89-81 win over the US in the semifinals. Argentina eventually took the gold and the US, the bronze. Ginobili averaged 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the Olympics. Duncan, playing for the US, hit at a 12.9 clip and grabbed 9.1 boards a game.

The Spurs enjoy the homecourt advantage in the Finals but to the Pistons, that means little. Detroit has won five of 10 road games in the playoffs so far–one in Philadelphia and two each in Indiana and Miami.

San Antonio hosts Game 2 tonight (Monday morning, Manila) then the action shifts to Detroit where the Pistons will defend their homecourt in Games 3 and 4 and if necessary, 5. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be played in San Antonio under the Finals format of 2-3-2.

As for my fearful forecast, my heart says Detroit will win but my mind tells me otherwise.