3 games gone, this year's NBA finals is one that I'm following closely.
I've always liked the Spurs - they have an amazing coach in Popovich, play with great teamwork and fundamentals, and they were the team which had the 'twin towers', David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Some of their key players have played together for a decade (Duncan, Parker and Manu) and although they have grown older, their class is still enduring.
Heat are just exciting to watch. They have their own 'Big Three' with James, Bosh and Wade, of which James is undoubtedly the most dominant player in the league today. They have an aging legend off the bench in Ray Allen who can still chip in with sharp shooting from beyond the arc, but Heat's main weakness has to be in their lack of size in their front court.
The last time Spurs were in the finals was 2007, of which they won, beating James' Cavaliers. This time, James is back, with more support and as a far better developed player. It's still early in the series...will Spurs' experience and fundamentals win out, or will James take over and explode?
Here's what defined the first three games for me so far.
Game 1: Parker's buzzer beater for Spurs to steal the game from under Heat's nose
Game 2: James' emphatic block to emphasise his all-round contribution despite shooting badly
Game 3: Spurs setting a new Finals record with 16 three-pointers. Who the heck is Gary Neal?
Game 4 is coming up. I'm anticipating a Heat win to tie up the series. James hasn't shot well the first three games and has something to prove - he's going to go all out from the very beginning of the game. And Spurs is going to find it harder to flow offensively if Parker's hamstring injury keeps him out of the game.
Can't wait!
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