What About Bob?

Well, I was right for once--the Pistons stomped the Spurs again in Game Four. And technically I was right in my prediction for Game Five as well, even though I didn't post it. I didn't really have much of a handle on who was going to win, but figured it was going to be a dogfight. The Pistons needed to win Game Five to have a chance in the series, and the Spurs needed to win to lock it up (and get some momentum going back home). And while Tim Duncan's numbers didn't truly reflect his subpar game, Robert Horry--who's become an NBA big-moment Zelig--was there to save the day.

Not that I saw it. Sunday being Father's Day--and the day my younger sister, her husband, and their two-year-old son were due in town from Illinois--I made the hour and a half train ride out to Eastern Long Island for the day. It was quite the All-American day--beer, barbecue and baseball, followed by the NBA nightcap. Thanks to the 9-whatever tipoff, I ended up leaving during the third quarter, with the Spurs seemingly in control. Of course, they weren't, and roughly halfway back to the City I received a text message from one of my usual watching companions stating "Overtime?" I, of course, had no idea what was going on. This is when I realized the AM/FM radio iPod attachment would probably be a decent investment.

So yeah, the best game of the Finals thus far, and I missed the key parts of it. Of course tomorrow will be just another blowout, followed by a lockout, and the next time I see an exciting NBA game will be in six months. (Actually, I think tomorrow's game will be close, and if there is a lockout, it won't last very long.) Will we see a Game Seven? I doubt it. At this point the Spurs just want to get this over with. They dodged a bullet last night and they know it.

The more interesting question right now is this: Assuming the Spurs do finish the Pistons tomorrow night, who gets MVP? Manu Ginobili had those great games 1 and 2, but hasn't really done all that much the rest of the way. Duncan? Nah. Tony Parker? Probably not. Right now, why not Horry? Has anyone won the Finals MVP for their performance in one game? For that matter, one HALF of one game? And if not, why not now?