Morning Wrap: Sixers Lose 17th Straight Game--Barely

The Philadelphia 76ers continued their losing ways Monday night, dropping a close game at home to the San Antonio Spurs.

The final score was 109-103, but it should be noted the Spurs played without their two best players, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Third wheel Manu Ginobilli only played 12 minutes.

But all that meant is that it was time for Kawhi Leonard to shine.

Leonard had 26 points and 10 rebounds leading the Spurs to their 13th win of the season.

For the Sixers, quite possibly the worst team in NBA history, it's their 17th straight loss which puts them just a game away from tying an NBA record. They were led Monday night by Michael Carter-Williams who scored 24 points and had 11 boards.

They face Minnesota Wednesday and could break the record with a game against Oklahoma City at the end of the week.

 Highlights from NBA.com:

Morning Wrap: Chris Paul Has Rough Finish in Clippers Loss

((ht: cbssports.com))

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul picked a bad night to have a bad night.

Paul did have 12 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists during the game, nearly getting the coveted "Triple Double"...but it's what happened at the end of Monday nights game vs. San Antonio that killed the mood.

The Spurs were up by 2, but the Clippers had the ball. Paul made his move from the top of the key, driving to the basket and missed the layup with 2 defenders in his face.

Somehow, Clippers forward Blake Griffin ended up with the ball after diving for it on the ground. Paul called timeout with 1.4 seconds left in the game.

Problem was, he had no timeouts and calling one when you have none means a technical foul.

But...San Antonio's Tony Parker missed the technical.

Still, the Spurs got to inbound the ball to Kawhi Leonard who drained two free throws, giving San Antonio the 89-85 win.

Your highlights from NBA.com:

Suns Owner Apologizes to Fans For Spurs

((ht: cbssports.com))

Wonder how well this will go over in sports motivation land?

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver apparently felt the San Antonio Spurs short changed his fans Thursday night during an exhibition game by not bringing or playing most of their starters. Coach Greg Popovich stayed home sick and Tim Duncan along with a couple other starters didn't make the trip.

So he took to the P.A system late in the 4th quarter to apologize to them for having to pay for a "Lopsided" game.

Hmmm...

While we sort of understand the sentiment, it WAS an exhibition game. And much like in football and other sports it isn't always about letting your starters play like it's the regular season.

For that very reason, we don't watch NFL preseason football and if the Hawks had their preseason games televised here at the OSG Global HQ (Atlanta), we wouldn't watch that either.

Here's video of Sarver talking to the huddled masses:

NBA Finals: AC in San Antonio Fixed, Now Please Stop Whining

Ok, enough already. Yeah, great, sure, we get it. The air conditioner didn't work for Game 1 of the NBA Finals causing discomfort for fans and players alike.

And yeah, we know, in part, it caused Miami Heat star LeBron James to cramp up and rendered him unable to play down the stretch as the San Antonio Spurs won game 1 of the series 110-95.

It's fixed.

Can we please stop talking about it like some sort of Greek Tragedy?

All we've heard for the past 48 hours is how hot it was and that James is a lesser basketball god because he cramped up. And a large group---mostly of judgmental, idiot fans who keep saying "He should have played through the cramps" and "How could that happen to a star?".

It happens. A lot.

For those of you with short term memories (That includes a lot of sportswriters), it wasn't so long ago that the Boston Garden, home of the Celtics during their epic battles with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980's, would routinely be 90 or 100 degrees with no air circulating during the game.

You didn't hear people whining and crying about it then.

((NOTE---I'm not talking about the players. Because if you listened to the post game interviews Thursday, none of them complained about it. Just said it was part of the game.))



So...game 2 will be played Sunday night. In a fully air conditioned arena. It will still be warm. Heck, it's Southern Texas, in June with 18,000 people inside a building.

But no, it won't be 90+ in the building. Everyone will play. Including Mr. James. Who, and I can't believe I'm saying this...doesn't deserve the grief he's getting.

Think about it for a second. IF...any of you have been an elite level athlete and cramped up. (It happens in football all the time). Just try to run or do...well, anything. Or look at it this way: Have you ever been asleep and suddenly had your calf cramp up on you? Yes? You've probably jumped out of bed like you've been shot to try and stretch it out. But you weren't functional for awhile after it happened.

That's what it's like.

For what it's worth, we here at the OSG. Okay, at least the part of us who enjoy basketball, are looking forward to the rest of the Spurs/Heat series. These are your 2 best teams playing at a level others can't compete with right now. This series may, before it ends...go down as being an all-time classic.

For those who missed it, here's the video of LeBron after he locked up...

Do Not Joust With Gregg Popovich

((HT: SI.com/cjzerovids))

This happened after the Spurs-Thunder game last night when asked to explain the blowouts in the five games so far in the series...


DO NOT MESS WITH THIS MAN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE UNLESS YOU WANT THE HORNS, JUNIOR...!!!

ICYMI: Vince Carter With the Buzzer Beater for Dallas

Yes, Vince Carter is still in the NBA. And playing significant minutes for the Dallas Mavericks.

The 37-year old Carter, once a Top-10 player in the league, still played a big role for Dallas as a 6th man. And likely he's not made a bigger play than the one he made Saturday night.

Carter drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer, giving Dallas a 109-108 win over the San Antonio Spurs in game 3 of their best-of-7 series. The Mavs now lead that series 2-1.

The shot, which came on a play that began with only 1.7 seconds left on the clock was a counter to the Spurs Manu Ginobili who drilled a runner giving the Spurs a 108-106 lead.

And then Carter performed his magic--

Your highlight, with musical accompaniment from NBA.com:

Gregg Popovich's Message to Craig Sager: True Class

For all the grief San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gets about his gruff and often short answers when being interviewed during games, nobody can give him grief anymore.

Pop did what can only be called one of the classiest things a coach could ever do as a sign of respect.

During Sunday's Spurs game vs. Dallas on TNT, Popovich came over to do an interview between the 3rd and 4th quarter.

((NOTE--San Antonio won the game--90-85))

Only this time, instead of the sartorial (look it up) unique stylings of TNT's regular sideline reporter Craig Sager, Pop was talking to Sager's son.

The reason.

The widely respect Sager announced this week that he had Leukemia and would not be able to take his customary role during the NBA Postseason while he battles the disease.

So, Sager's son, Craig Jr. took over the role, which was supposed to be a taped piece to send to his father. Only Popovich's response changed that.

Arrived this morning to do a taped interview with Pop. He goes no, we're doing this live 3rd qtr just like your Dad. pic.twitter.com/RPAwIt7tvR
— Craig Sager II (@CraigSagerJr) April 20, 2014

The reason: Popovich had a message for Junior's ill father:



How often does this happen?

Not very.

To top it off....Popovich and the Spurs had a personal message to deliver to Sager.

Popovich gave me a hand written letter to give my Dad tomorrow. The whole Spurs organization is filled with class and great people. Thanks
— Craig Sager II (@CraigSagerJr) April 20, 2014

And if you ever wonder why the entire basketball world respects the Spurs, Popovich and everyone surrounding them. Your question is now answered.

ICYMI: Spurs Sit Big 3, Win Anyway...

((HT: NBA on TNT))

The last time this happened, the Spurs sat practically everyone at Miami, sent Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, and Green and only lost by five. That didn't sit well with the Commish who fined the team a quarter of a million bucks...

It was a marquee match-up and he wanted the stars on the floor, gosh darned it...

It kinda happened again last night when the Spurs took on Golden State...

Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili sat and it took a Tiago Splitter bucket with less than three seconds left for the Spurs to win 104-102


Apparently, it was the first time that three Australians started in an NBA game with Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes, and Patty Mills... but the Warriors are more concerned about letting one slip away that they should have won in the first place...

But it will be interesting to see if the Commish's office will do anything this time...

Spurs-Wolves PPD'd By Smoke

((HT: Sportsnet))

The San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves game was supposed to happen in Mexico City this evening...

But this happened...
Mexico City Police said in a statement there was a fire in the generator room on the fourth floor of the arena that opened in 2012. “What happened was provoked by a short circuit in the room of generators,” the statement said in Spanish.

The game will be made up in Minnesota some time this season...

Miami Heat Fans Leave Game 6 Early, Then Denied Re-Entry

Well you can't blame Heat fans.  Down 5 with less than 30 seconds to go.  Not a bad idea to beat traffic home.

Then Ray Allen saved Miami's season and it was a free for all to get back into the American Airlines Arena.

WTVJ in Miami was there when Heat fans tried to get back in the arena.

View more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.

That dude at the 1:12 mark, doesn't he resemble a modern look for Heat Miser.

So for those who left early, here's Ray Allen's three that tied the game and forced overtime.

 

My guess is no one leaves early during Game 7.

Watching NBA Finals Becomes Hazardous In Miami

((HT: WSVN-TV))

Part of the Shuckers Bar and Grill ended up in Biscayne Bay after a deck collapse that happened while patrons were watching Game 4 last night in Miami.

About 100 people were on the deck when it gave way, and two dozen people were sent to hospital. Most people suffered cuts and bruises, but one person was treated for a fracture and two are listed as critical in local hospitals.

"That was a big gathering watching the Miami Heat and Spurs," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Griselle Marino. "There were a lot of TVs and everybody was in celebration and it was loud. So when it started happening, some people didn't even realize what was going on.

"We could have had a lot more seriously injured people but right now it seems to be a very positive outcome."

Patrons that weren't watching the game on the deck dove into the bay to help in the rescue efforts. And, while there were initial concerns that people were under the deck in the bay after the collapse, everyone was accounted for fairly quickly.

Here's your morning update...
WSVN-TV -

North Bay Village Mayor Connie Leon Kreps said her city and government would conduct a "thorough investigation" of what caused the collapse at Shuckers.

ICYMI: Parker Puts Away Heat: Spurs Win Game 1

The game went down to the final 5 seconds. And it finished on a shot by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker that had to be reviewed.

But it counted. And that's all that mattered.

The running, lunging bank shot gave Parker 21 points for the game and led the Spurs to a 92-88 win in Game One of the NBA Finals.

Did we mention it was played in Miami? Or that the Spurs have been off for nine days after an easy Conference Finals win?

Tim Duncan added 20 points and Kawahi Leonard played smothering defense on LeBron James, holding him to 18 points in the win.

For those of you who weren't able to see the game, here are your comprehensive highlights from our friends at NBA.com:

ICYMI: Spurs End Lakers Misery in 4 Straight

We normally steer clear of reporting on 1st Round NBA Playoff series because,well, the NBA Playoffs last for 3 months.

But we couldn't resist this story.

The San Antonio Spurs did exactly what they were supposed to do and swept the over-hyped Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in their best of 7 series.

The series ended after the Spurs annihilated the Lakers 103-82 on the Lakers home court Sunday evening.

The game featured Laker Cry-baby Dwight Howard getting ejected after 2 technical fouls and the rest of the team being woefully out-manned.

We also bring this up because the deities that rule the national sports airways deemed the Lakers "Competition for the Miami Heat". We deeemed them old, and losers in the 1st round of the playoffs. Back in July of last year, when they picked up 37-year old Steve Nash. To play with 36-year old Kobe Bryant and 35-year old Metta World Artest.

Really, we just wanted to remind everyone that we predicted this, it was no surprise to us and even further proof that just because you have a lot of aging superstars doesn't automatically make you a title contender.

Knicks-Spurs: Stephen Jackson Injured By A Waitress, JR Smith Gets Nasty...

((HT: NBA/MSG/Youtube))

The HQ, admittedly, isn't that much of an NBA fan...

But when these things happen on the parkay floor, we'll bite...

First, JR Smith just gets abusive...


Pablo Prignioni has good eyesight...

Then, there's the whole notion that when Gregg Popovich rested his guys and sent them home early and he caught hell for it. THIS IS WHY HE DID IT!!!!

An unfortunate waitress was taking a courtside order when Stephen Jackson didn't have any room after getting hip-checked on the end line...
((HT: FoxSportsSpurs))


Now, do you understand...???
We're still with Coach Pop on this one. It was the fourth game in a five-night stretch this time around, and he had to put up with that...

Not cool at all... but the HQ does hope the waitress is okay...

Thunder roll: Huge comeback sends OKC to NBA Finals

Anybody want to argue that Kevin Durant is the best basketball player in the NBA now?

Durant led his Oklahoma City Thunder to a rousing 2nd half comeback after being down 15 at the half as the they beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-99.

Durant had 34 points and 14 rebounds and just kept hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. Oh, his teammates weren't bad either. Russell Westbrook had 25 and The Beard (James Harden) chipped in 16.

And now the team in the smallest NBA market awaits the winner of the Boston Celtics/Miami Heat game Thursday night.

We applaud them for doing it the right way, draft picks, a few free agents and keeping the core of the team together. Yes, they are still young, but they are awfully deep and seriously talented. The only remaining question: "How will they handle the pressure of the finals?"

If this series is an indicator, they should be just fine. Though we suspect there was a huge collective 'Gulp' somewhere around Bristol, Connecticut.

NBA.com gives us the highlights:

Durant Goes Wild, Ibaka Was Perfect And Thunder Even Series With Spurs

Now that’s the Kevin Durant we know and love.

After going into the halftime locker room with only eight points Durant emerged from the locker room for the second half the player we saw during the regular season, a scoring machine.

In the fourth quarter Durant couldn’t miss with 16 consecutive points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 to even the NBA Western Conference series at 2-2.

"My teammates did a great job always encouraging me," Durant said. "The Spurs, their defense was so good early in the game.   In the fourth quarter, my teammates set great screens, had great passes."

While Durant would have 36 points in game four against the Spurs  perhaps he was encouraged by the performance of Serge Ibaka.    Who wouldn’t be all Ibaka did was have a career night with 26 points and a ridiculous 11-11 from the field.  Only Larry McNeill's 12-for-12 night for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in 1975 was more perfect that Ibaka.

With the series now even at two games the Thunder/Spurs feels like a whole new series.

Even a tougue lashing by Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich  wasn't enough to overcome the heroics of Kevin Durant.

Game five is Monday in San Antonio.

In Case You Missed it: Revenge of the Thunder

You kind of knew it was coming. And the game, well, it was never really close.

The Oklahoma City Thunder woke up Thursday night. They took advantage of their youth, their speed and most importantly their home court, routing the San Antonio Spurs 102-82 tightening up their Western Conference finals series.

The Spurs still lead 2 games to 1 and there is no need for them to panic.

Sure, they lost their 1st game in the NBA playoffs, but you knew something like this was going to happen. And considering the experience of the Spurs, they probably will shrug this off.

Kevin Durant had 22 points, but the star of the game was Thabo Sefolosha, who not only covered Spurs point guard Tony Parker, he put up 19 points his ownself.

Really, there isn't much more to say here, this was one of those "It is what it is games" and don't read as much into it as our friends on ESPN will.

Game 4 is Saturday night in OKC.

Your highlights from NBA.com:

Danny Green: Buzzer beating night

It didn't prevent the San Antonio Spurs from getting overwhelmed late in the game vs. the Miami Heat, but it looked pretty good on the highlight reel.

Spurs guard Danny Green had not one, but two buzzer beating shots go in Tuesday night in the game vs. the Heat. The 1st, a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the first quarter. That 3, gave the Spurs a 35-26 lead.

The second, from half-court at the end of the second quarter, gave the Spurs at 63-49 lead at the half. Unfortunately that was all the magic the Spurs and Green had. Miami went on to outscore them 71-35 in the second half and won the game going away, 120-98.

Here's a look at Mr. Green's magic: