I know I'm a bit late on this but when you're up till 9 in the morning watching the match it's kinda hard to drag yourself to a PC and post on the blog.

but...

San Antonio Spurs, NBA Champions, 2005

That's the banner that will be up on the SBC Center rafters.

Tim Duncan, Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals, 2005

To go with his Finals MVP Trophies from 2003 and 1999 and his season MVPs from '01-'02 and '02-'03. He was already in Elite company by winning two Finals MVPs in his first two visits to the finals (Magic and Michael). Went scoreless for a 13.58 stretch spaning the 3rd and 4th again but dominated in the end. The 6'11" power forward was also seen flying through the air and onto the floor in diving for a lose ball in the 3rd.

Three rings for Pop. Three for Timmy. Six for Big Shot Rob.

Now here's the record of a player I've so far not talked about much:

• European League Champion, Italian League Champion and MVP in 2001.
• Italian League Champion and MVP in 2002.
• NBA Champion in 2003.
• Olympic Gold Medallist with Argentina in 2004.
• NBA Champion in 2005.

You want to talk about a winner? Emanual Ginobli is The Man!

Bruce Bowen, as pointed out by a sports columnist on ESPN.com last week, had acquire some real estate in these Finals, inside Rip Hamilton's jersey. He hounded Rip into another 33% FG night.

Pop has built his team of winners around a great player and leader. They play stiffling D most of the time. Whenit counts most though, they know how to get it done. Timmy, Manu, Tony, Horry, Bowen, Mohammed and Barry: winners.

I don't want to take anything away from the Detroit Pistons. They had fantastic defensive rotations. Chauncey was HUGE as usual. Big Ben started them rolling by scoring 6 of the team's 12 points to begin the game. 'Sheed had another great game in the 4th while playing with foul trouble. Hunter and McDyess were big as well with McDyess playing great D when 'Sheed was sitting with 4 fouls. He also had some nice moves at the other end showing that he can still ball with the best despite an injury plagued 3 years. Prince had a great game on the defensive end but couldn't find his rythm on offense. Rip was followed all over the court by Bowen and not allowed to score freely. He still managed to help with his rebounding. Marc Stein sums it up beautifully when he writes that Rip "will now report to the Mayo Clinic to have Bowen surgically removed from his hip."

Finally, how do you react when, after an intense 7-game battle, you have to walk across the court and hug the opposing coach who just happens to be one of your closest friends?

Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs, 2005 NBA Champions.