It's not the 3's but the D!

Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals between San Antonio and Miami Heat is one for the ages. The Spurs set a record of 16 treys of an NBA finals game. 

What is scary was that the record was set not by the old reliable Big 3 of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili but by unheralded role players in Danny Green and Gary Neal, each responsible for most of the three pointers. 

The game was a circus and the shooting of the Spurs from behind the arc is unbelievable. The Heat looks like a villain of a superhero movie where the hero beat its nemesis into pulp at the end of the story. 

It's the 3's that marked on peoples mind. But if you look closely with a magnifying glass, the Spurs won on defense and brilliant coaching. They always say that good defense will lead to good offense. It's exactly what happened.

The Spurs practically stopped Lebron James. It is here where brilliant coaching sets in. Yes, Bron can not be stopped. But he can be slowed down. From the opening tip Coach Popovic distracted the rhythm of Miami, e

specially King James.

James lost his concentration and everything follows. How Coach Pop did it? The Spurs gave Lebron the jumpers from 20 feet but never the lane. Bron never had a free throw in this game. This is a testimony that he lost his aggressiveness when his jumpers didn't go in. The rest are fumbles and backboards and interceptions and airballs.

But the record 3's still what won the game. But those treys will not materialize if not for the great defense and brilliant coaching strategy.

Durantula Can't Do It All

Ever since I am not in favor of the James Harden trade. Last season is testimonial what the Beard can do to the team. He don't only helps in scoring but in maintaining the explosiveness of the Thunder even when it's time for KD to take a breather.

But now it's different. KD is the only legitimate scoring threat even if the erratic and poor shot selection Westbrook is not injured. Against the inspired and rugged Memphis Grizzlies the Thunder can match only on the first three quarters and KD is still in full tank. But come closing time KD is still human after all and there is no other in the team that can help him. Kevin Harris is a big dissapointment. Derek Fisher rans out of luck during clutch time.

There is no question that the frontline of Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison and K. Perkins can hold it's own against Marc Gasul and Zach Randolph but they need to score after defending. As they say in tennis " a serve broke is not a serve broke unless you hold your own."

This season is a lesson for Scott Brooks. Even Michael Jordan needs a Scottie Pippen to win all the marbles.