NBA players, and athletes in general, are all about their routines, especially when it comes to game day. Guys like to show up at the arena at a certain time, eat their meals at a certain time, speak to the media at a certain time, eat a certain meal, and so on. The more of a routine they're in, the more likely they're going to be able to perform the necessary repetition it takes to execute the game plan and be in position to get their team a victory.
Before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, traffic may have prevented at least two members of the San Antonio Spurs from getting to the arena at their desired time. The Spurs' two best players, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, were late to the arena because of traffic that left the downtown area in gridlock.
Spurs confirm that everyone has indeed arrived at arena. But heavy traffic did delay Duncan, Parker and others from normal early arrival
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 12, 2013
Ira Winderman of the Miami Herald tweeted out that the Miami Heat are staying 45 minutes away from the arena just to avoid the traffic and that a graduation ceremony next to the AT&T Center is a big cause for the traffic that made Parker and Duncan late. But everybody arrived before the tip-off of Game 3.
