For all the marbles

PARIS (George Eddy's International Show) - It seems like long ago that the San Antonio Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies to make the NBA Finals for the first time in six years.

The Spurs weren't too old after all but rest assured, as Tony Parker pointed out, that they are very happy to have all these extra days of rest and recuperation while their future opponents tire themselves out in a seven-game, ultra-physical battle in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Manu Ginobili noted that pundits have been calling the Spurs too old since the last time they were in the Finals! The fact that the team has surrounded the aging Big Three with youthful, athletic talent the last few years was the key to getting back to the big stage but don't think that beating Memphis was as easy as the 4-0 final tally would indicate because the Spurs had to win in overtime in Games 2 and 3 which was the turning point in the series.

A rejuvenated Tim Duncan carried the Spurs in those two overtimes and an unstoppable Parker scored a season-high 37 points in Game 4 in Memphis to close out the sweep but each and every Spur played an important role at one point or another.

Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw never let Zach Randolph get going and the fact that Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen couldn't hit their outside shots allowed the Spurs' defense to pack the paint with Duncan protecting the rim.

Here is where the Rudy Gay trade really hurt the Grizzlies because only Mike Conley and Quincy Pondexter were able to spread the court.

The Spurs protected the paint like the Alamo and the lane was as crowded as a Manhattan traffic jam!

Now the question is, who will the Spurs face in the Finals?

The Miami Heat, as defending champs with homecourt advantage in a Game 7 HAVE to be considered the favorites BUT, the cracks that showed in their edifice in the last few games certainly give confidence and hope to the Indiana Pacers.

The Miami team that dominated the regular season and won an amazing 27 games in a row seems a far cry from the hurting cast of characters that Indiana beat down in Game 6.

LeBron James referred to reverting back to his 'Cleveland' style of play in Game 5, putting the team squarely on his back because fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh struggled to produce while Wade stated clearly after Game 6 that James has to do more to get his teammates involved. These are not good signs!

If LeBron can produce another one-man show like he did in Game 6 in Boston last season, he will once again save the day but remember that during his 'Cleveland' days he often stumbled in big games trying to do TOO much.

Even if Wade's knee and Bosh's ankle are hurting, the Heat are probably better off trying to eliminate Indiana TOGETHER!

A player like Udonis Haslem has been a deciding factor in two games hitting baseline jumpers off LeBron's penetration and assists because the revelation of these playoffs, Roy Hibbert, CAN'T protect the rim AND go out to defend Haslem at the same time!

Indiana's 'tall ball' format has often dominated Miami's 'small ball' line-up in this series but the last step will be an enormous leap for this young and inexperienced team compared to the battle-worn champs from Miami who are playing this career-defining game at HOME for all the marbles.

Maybe the fact that Parker is giving tips to his good buddy and former teammate George Hill on how to beat Miami will help.

In any case, all of this pushes me to flip-flop again on my original predictions because I am now under the impression that this is the year of the Spurs.

Whoever survives Game 7 will lose to a well-rested and finely-tuned San Antonio collective machine which is producing the best team basketball of these 2013 playoffs.

A pleasure to watch for any purist or basketball aficionado.

George Eddy

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