I know I am a couple of days late to write about this, but better late than never, right?

As most of us know by now, the San Antonio Spurs have won the NBA Finals. They beat the Miami Heat in the series four games to one in quite a dominating fashion.

There have been numerous articles already printed and written all over the internet. I am just going to take a very simple approach and highlight some things that I noticed while watching The Finals and the Spurs throughout their run this season.

First off, I really need to stop betting against the Spurs. After their devastating loss in the 2013 NBA Finals against the Heat, I figured that the Spurs would go deep in the playoffs, but not return to The Finals this season. I figured the Western Conference was too deep and they would be beaten by either OKC or the Clippers. Well, they completely dominated the Western Conference, securing the first seed and the best record in the NBA. Their record was 62-20. That is the quietest 62-win team I have ever seen. The Spurs didn’t do it with flash or with big names. They did it with incredible team play and simple fundamentals on both ends of the floor.

Looking back, it is funny to think that the Dallas Mavericks, of all teams, almost eliminated this juggernaut. In the first round of the playoffs, the Mavericks took the Spurs to seven games and almost pulled off the upset. Again, looking back, it seems that Dallas had the Spurs when they were at their most vulnerable. They had not yet really settled into a groove and were still figuring out postseason play. Dallas lost game one by five in a game they should have won. Unfortunately, for the rest of the Western Conference, this series woke the Spurs up. I like to think of the Spurs as this giant “kill system”. It takes a little bit for the Spurs to figure a team out, but once they do, you might as well just leave the stadium. We saw that happen in each of the series, except a lot faster.

Portland made a valiant attempt, but really the Spurs just steamrolled over the Blazers in what seemed like an effortless series at some points. In the first three games of the Portland series, San Antonio won by at least 15. In game five of the same series, San Antonio won by 22. Most of you probably know that I am a Blazer fan and watching that series was probably the most exciting butt-kicking I have ever seen. Even though the Spurs were making Portland look silly on both ends of the floor, it was pretty to watch. The ball movement was exceptional and the defensive rotations were spot on. Not to mention that the shot selection for the Spurs was phenomenal. I love watching teams work their butts off on a play just to get the best shot possible.

This is great transition into the OKC series. Like I said above, the Spurs will take a few extra seconds off the clock just to get a slightly better shot, if possible. Rarely do you San Antonio jack up threes at random. Viewers know that when a Spur attempts a three, it was the best shot for that situation. The Thunder, however, are an entirely different story. How many times did we see Russell Westbrook dribble down and fire up a three from behind two Spurs? How many times did we see Kevin Durant stand on the side and saying to himself “Why do I not have the ball right now”? How many times did we see offensive plays break down because Westbrook dribbled into the middle and got stuck? After watching the Spurs for a longer stretch of time, other teams’ offenses do not seem as disciplined or focused. Furthermore, after watching that OKC series, I realized that the Thunder do not necessarily have the best offensive sets or flows, but they just have two of the top five players in the NBA. So, they can get themselves out of situations just by pure talent. Even if Serge Ibaka had been healthy, I honestly do not think the Thunder could have beaten the Spurs. To beat the Spurs a team not only needs the talent, but they need to think the game out instead of out-hustling and out-shooting them.

Dispatching the Thunder in six games, the Spurs moved onto The Finals to face the Miami Heat in what was probably the prediction two months into the season. Now, I may be weird, but it felt like this had to happen for San Antonio. The loss in game six in the 2013 Finals was so heartbreaking and so hurtful that I almost felt like the basketball gods were saying “Here you go, have one more shot at them”. But, from a basketball and analytical standpoint, I thought this was going to be the Pacers’ year to get to The Finals. I did not account for Indiana to completely backpedal, it seemed, throughout the whole playoffs and fall on their faces in the ECF.

The Spurs beat the Heat in game one 110-95 to take a 1-0 series lead. This game will probably go down as the “AC game”. Halfway through the game, the air conditioning in the arena gave out. So, not only are they playing in San Antonio in June with a packed house full of people, but now there is absolutely no air circulation. This would ultimately cause LeBron James to cramp up and he was forced to sit for most of the fourth quarter.

After Miami won in game two, people assumed that this was going to be a series and, frankly, so did I. But, then, the Spurs completely pounced on the Heat on their home floor and “figured them out”. Throughout these playoffs, the Spurs have at least had one quarter where the momentum of the game shifts completely in their favor.  In game three, the Spurs outscored Miami 41-25 in the first quarter. In game four, they outscored Miami 29-19 in the second quarter. And, finally, they outscored the Heat 25-11 in the second quarter and 30-18 in the third of game five. The final scores were not even pretty. The Spurs would beat the Heat by at least 15 for the last three games. In game three, the Spurs won 111-92, in game four, 107-86 and in game five, 104-87. This wasn’t even close and you cannot blame LeBron cramping up. Like I said above, it took the Spurs two games to figure the Heat out then we saw what happens in the last three games of the series. It is absolutely mind-blowing how much of a rhythm San Antonio can get into.

The Spurs shot extremely well from the field. In game one, the Spurs shot 59% from the field and 52% from three. In game two, their only loss in the series, they shot “only” 44% from the field and 46% from three. As a Blazer fan, that would be all right with me.  In game three, they shot 59% from the field and 45% from three. In game four, they shot 57% from the field and 43% from three. In game five… you get the picture. This was thorough stomping.

Sure, the Miami Heat had their issues. Dwayne Wade reverted back to his true age after traveling back in time for the Indiana series.  After having solid outings in his first three games, he disappeared in the last two games. In game four, he scored only 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting in 33 minutes of play. In game five, he finished with just 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting in 36 minutes of play.

The Heat did not have enough supporting cast this time around. Shane Battier retired immediately after the last game and injuries and generally having old players on their team is starting to catch up to Miami. LeBron is an amazing player, but even he needs some help. The Heat even tried to use Michael Beasley in game five in hopes of give the Spurs a different look, but that didn’t work.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. The Spurs were just that much better. I still stand by that I think, because the Eastern Conference was a lot weaker than the West, that the top four teams in the West could have beaten Miami or at least taken a series to six or seven.

One thing I want to touch on is Chris Bosh. Bosh is probably the most underrated player right now. In game three, he only attempted four shots, but made all four. Bosh attempted 11 shots in game four and he attempted 14 in game five. They slowly got him his touches, but there needs to be consistency there. If the big three do decide to opt in to their contracts or opt out to re-sign at a lower cost, then I think you need to consider putting Dwayne Wade on the bench or in a severely-reduced offensive role and have Chris Bosh carry more of the load because he can. In the games that Wade was ineffective, he was still attempting over ten shots. Regardless, Miami needs to figure it out as I think they are already on the decline. There are rumors that they will try to woo Carmelo Anthony to form a “big four”, but how long can you do that for? We have all seen what eventually happens to the Yankees and the Lakers who just go searching for stars year after year. They eventually turn into a mediocre pail of aging and grumpy veterans and have a hard time rebuilding because they no young assets to turn to. Miami is in a similar situation. The only young players they have are Greg Oden, Norris Cole, Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. Essentially, they have pocket lint in terms of young players. Personally, I would look to see what draft picks you could get now to already start building for the future, but this all depends on what the “big three” decide to do.

For the Spurs, I think they are the best that they have been in a while. They have a star that is starting to bloom in Kawhi Leonard, who won Finals MVP. Manu Ginobili says he wants to play for one or two more years and all signs are pointing to Duncan opting in for next season. The only wrinkle is that Patty Mills, the outstanding back-up point guard to Tony Parker, is going to have teams on his doorstep. Already a rumor is spreading that the New York Knicks want his services badly. I see no reason; however, to think that the Spurs will not be back in The Finals next season. This team continues to amaze and has the potential to just do this all over again depending on how their offseason goes. Either way, I am not betting against them again as they continue to come out of a stacked Western Conference with ease.

Father Time is undefeated, but these Spurs are making him work for it.

This was an underwhelming Finals for some people, but I think it was a display of a brand of basketball that needs to return. The Thunder, Clippers and Rockets need to take notes. Enough with the hero ball and getting stats. Pass the ball and get a great shot, not just a good one. It may not be flashy and it may not be the most news-worthy brand of basketball, but who is the last team standing?