2008 Woodie Awards
Spurs, Suns Put On Show In Game 1
John Frascella
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
Some events in sports are so astounding, so incredible that words just can't do them justice.
That's how I feel about Saturday's Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns/San Antonio Spurs' opening round playoff series. It was an epic back-and-forth battle of wills that ended in double overtime, with the defending champion Spurs on top, 117-115.
Each team's respective MVP - Tim Duncan and Steve Nash - knocked down mind-blowing three-pointers in an effort to keep the heavyweight fight going. Unfortunately for Nash, his miraculous leaning, fading, twisting, falling 3 was nullified by Manu Ginobili's game-winning, left-handed runner.
I take nothing away from Ginobili - he has been one of the premier clutch performers in the NBA over the course of the past five seasons - but his shot was not the biggest of the game. That distinction goes to Duncan, whose 3 was undoubtedly one for the ages.
With approximately three seconds remaining in overtime, his Spurs trailing by three points, Duncan received a no-look pass from Ginobili. Everyone froze when they realized Duncan was wide open on the right elbow, both feet behind the 3-point arc.
With all of the Suns and Spurs' fans holding their breath, Duncan set his feet and let his patented line-drive shot go.
He picked a hell of a time to make his first three of the season, don't you think?
Duncan came through, as he seems to do every year in the postseason. But let's examine this shot a little closer. Duncan played in 78 regular season games, and had zero three-pointers. Zero. None.
Think about the mental toughness and physical ability it took for him to step outside of his element and put up a quality, high-percentage attempt. He squared his shoulders and feet perfectly, and ignored the fact that a miss would result in the Spurs' loss of homecourt advantage.
Also, interesting to note, Duncan scored over 30 points only four times this year. Not once did he crack the 40-point barrier; and yet, he finishes with 40 points on 16-of-24 shooting in Game 1 of the playoffs.
That's how I feel about Saturday's Game 1 of the Phoenix Suns/San Antonio Spurs' opening round playoff series. It was an epic back-and-forth battle of wills that ended in double overtime, with the defending champion Spurs on top, 117-115.
Each team's respective MVP - Tim Duncan and Steve Nash - knocked down mind-blowing three-pointers in an effort to keep the heavyweight fight going. Unfortunately for Nash, his miraculous leaning, fading, twisting, falling 3 was nullified by Manu Ginobili's game-winning, left-handed runner.
I take nothing away from Ginobili - he has been one of the premier clutch performers in the NBA over the course of the past five seasons - but his shot was not the biggest of the game. That distinction goes to Duncan, whose 3 was undoubtedly one for the ages.
With approximately three seconds remaining in overtime, his Spurs trailing by three points, Duncan received a no-look pass from Ginobili. Everyone froze when they realized Duncan was wide open on the right elbow, both feet behind the 3-point arc.
With all of the Suns and Spurs' fans holding their breath, Duncan set his feet and let his patented line-drive shot go.
He picked a hell of a time to make his first three of the season, don't you think?
Duncan came through, as he seems to do every year in the postseason. But let's examine this shot a little closer. Duncan played in 78 regular season games, and had zero three-pointers. Zero. None.
Think about the mental toughness and physical ability it took for him to step outside of his element and put up a quality, high-percentage attempt. He squared his shoulders and feet perfectly, and ignored the fact that a miss would result in the Spurs' loss of homecourt advantage.
Also, interesting to note, Duncan scored over 30 points only four times this year. Not once did he crack the 40-point barrier; and yet, he finishes with 40 points on 16-of-24 shooting in Game 1 of the playoffs.
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