I missed the first quarter due to steak.  Let's take a look from there.

2nd Quarter:

• Duncan has 4 blocks in the first 15 minutes of this game.  That's amazing.  In addition to being underrated overall, it's Duncan's defense that is especially underrated.  Seriously, how often does he come up in the defensive player of the year conversations?  Never, and rightfully so, but... while everybody always talks about his fundamentals, his great bank shots, etc, guess what hardly gets mentioned?  He's a great blocker.  Remember those 9 or 10 block games in the playoffs?
  
• I'm of the opinion that Ginobili is the key for the Spurs beating the Cavs. 
  
• The Cavs' defense is once again doing a solid job quietly - the Spurs have now missed 13 of their last 15 FGA, and the Cavs are holding a 25-22 lead.  Timeout Spurs.
• Oh, there we go.  A 9-0 run, which is all Tony Parker.  He hits a layup, a runner, hits Elson with a pass underneath (Elson with the dunk, and one), then hits Duncan for the dunk.  Masterful.  Big up to French Vanilla.  Parlez vous, francais, mi amor, merci, oui oui, bon bons and all that good stuff.

Ginobili hits a three at the end of the half to make the score 40-35 Spurs.  Despite my assumption that it would be Ginobili who would step up to beat the Cavs, in fact it was Tony Parker with the big first half - 12 pts, 4 rebs, 5 assists.  Duncan had 14 pts, 6 rebs, and 5 blocks.  Ginobili only had 5 points (including that three at the end). 

For the Cavs, LeBron is, um... absent.  Not only is his defense on Tony Parker... well, just look at Parker's numbers... but his offense is 0/7 FG, for 4 points, 3 rebs, and 1 assist.  Plus 2 turnovers.  Not a good start.  Sasha is the star for Cleveland, with 8 points and 4 rebs.  Gibson has 7 points (3-4 FG) with 2 steals.  

While the offense for Cleveland has been horrible, it is their defense that has kept them in the game.  The held the Spurs to 40 points (and it could have been a two point game if not for that last Manu three) and are in this game. 

3rd Quarter:

• Wow, a great move from Parker on Larry Hughes.  44-37 Spurs.
• Good gets the dunk off a nice pass underneath.  44-39.
• Tony Parker again, with a 16 foot jumper. 46-39.
• LeBron with a strong move to the basket - I thought he was going to turn the Spurs into a bunch of Tayshaun Princes, but someone stood his ground, forcing LeBron to lay it up.  Still an impressive move, and the score is now 46-41.
• On the replace, we see that LeBron got free thanks to a Ilgaukas "screen", in which his foot screened the defenders feet, forcing the defender to the ground.  Or a "trip" in layman's terms.
• LBJ draws the double, kicks it out to Ilgaukas for a wide open 16 footer... he bricks it.
  
• Oberto to Bowen in the corner - he loves the corner - boom!  For three.  49-41. Spurs.
• LBJ draws the double, kicks it out to Ilgaukas for a wide open 15 footer... he bricks it.  Again.  Let's keep running this play, okay?  Anyway, Gooden picks up the offensive board, puts it back. 49-43.
• Parker to Ginobili for an alley-oop!  Ginobili can't dunk it, but he does find a way to get it in.  51-43, Spurs.
• Drew Gooden hits 2 FTAs.  51-45, Spurs.
• Horry to Ginobili, for three... it's good.  54-45, Spurs.  Somehow they are pulling away.  Where is the defense now, Cavs?
• James draws the double, kicks it out to Gooden for a wide open 14 footer... he hits it.  Gooden is either better than Ilgaukas, or that foot makes a huge difference.  54-47.  Cleveland has to hang around.
• Parker to Duncan for a nice layup... love the assist.  56-47.  Who is going to step up for the Cavs?
• LeBron for a long three.  Brick.  Terrible call - if you need a big shot, don't let LeBron take that shot from long-range.  Either have LeBron drive and overpower (and outquick) the defense, or have him kick it out to a three shooter, like Marshall, Jones, or better yet, Gibson.  Don't like this shot.
• Parker with another crazy layup, 58-47.  Timeout, Cleveland.

The Cavs need to stay tight with the Spurs.  San Antonio isn't prone to giving up big leads late, and Cleveland's offense won't allow for quick enough scoring to make that comeback possible. 

• LBJ with a big layup off a Gibson pass.  58-49.
• Bowen misses a three from his corner.  Big opportunity for Le Cavs.
• LeBron loses the ball.
• SA misses the shot.
• LeBron loses the ball again (bad pass, picked off by Ginobili).
• Ginobili on the breakaway is fouled hard by Drew Gooden.  It is called a flagrant foul.   

Upon watching the replay, it looked like it could go either way.  Gooden did catch a bit of Ginobili's head, because Manu is so fast Gooden missed his shoulder and hit his head, sending Manu flying.  Either way it doesn't matter - he hits 1 of 2 FTAs, and then the Spurs miss the shoot. 59-49.

LeBron drives to the basket on the next possession, but is cut off quickly, forcing him to settle for a 9 footer instead of a layup, which he misses.  Very nice help defense, Spurs.

• Bowen with another three.  62-49.  Uh-oh.
• Gibson!  Oh, no, he just misses the floater.
  
• And Tim Duncan hits a layup, and now it is 64-49, a 15 point lead for the Spurs with 47 seconds to go in the period.   

That's how the quarter would end, 64-49.  Cleveland's offense continues to kill them, and their defense, while solid, has given up just enough mini-bursts to the Spurs so that they can comfortably relax in the fourth quarter.  A 15 point lead means the Spurs will go on to win the game, with the Cavs never getting closer than 7 points.

One quarter later, the Spurs win the game 85-76.  LeBron's final line is 14 points on 4-16, with 7 rebs, 4 assists, and 6 turnovers.  Are we still sure he made the jump?!?  

Not hating on LeBron, just pointing out how silly it looks to have given him so much credit for one huge amazing game last week.  I don't know about you guys, but I still think the Eastern Conference is up for grabs next season, even if the road goes through Cleveland.  Despite how impressive that game was, I still think Flip Saunders is as responsible for the Cavs being in the Finals as Mike Brown, LeBron James, and Daniel Gibson.  They all played their part, and there is nothing that says that next season everyone will play their part again.  Spurs lead one nothing, but don't count the Cavs out yet.  Anything can happen... it usually does.... 

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