CLEVELAND -- Presenting maybe the worst professional playoff basketball game ever played.
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| What's wrong guys? Sure, it was ugly, but you won. (AP) |
The San Antonio Game 3 victory strangled any Cleveland hope of getting back into these NBA Finals while simultaneously causing the eyes to blister and fans to scurry away from their television sets like their homes were on fire.
San Antonio 75, Cleveland 72. Turnovers: one bazillion.
"We set the western world of offensive basketball back 10 years," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said.
It was by more than 10, buddy. By the game's conclusion the nets were replaced by peach baskets.
The game had the essence of a summer New Jersey day after a hefty garbage dump and was as easy on the eyes as a large man wearing a Speedo.
Now, the already sagging television ratings for this series will hover somewhere between the Republican debate reruns and The Flavor of Love.
It was the second lowest scoring game in Finals history and so badly played that Hall of Fame Cleveland running back Jim Brown, who was present at Quicken Loans Arena, must have thought he saw more offense from Sam Huff in 1961.
As odorous as this monstrosity was, the Spurs will take it. They have engineered a commanding 3-0 series lead which renders the remainder of the Finals moot.
While these Finals could go down as the worst in modern history they still add to the legend of this San Antonio dynasty, which has proven they can play up-tempo or play the dismal NFC East-style of basketball Cleveland enjoys.
San Antonio remains as versatile as any of the great teams because of the way they play defense. They can shut down almost any star or offense.
"I think I can honestly say these that these three games is the best defense we've played all season," Popovich said.
