By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-06-21 15:49:48
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
圣安东尼奥马刺队的马努·吉诺比利 (Manu Ginobili)（左）、托尼·帕克 (Tony Parker)（9号）和布鲁斯·鲍文 (Bruce Bowen)（右）在圣安东尼奥，2005年6月23日星期四，他们以81-74击败底特律活塞队，赢得NBA总决赛后，庆祝夺得NBA总冠军奖杯。历史通常将抢七大战视为命中注定，但这忽略了赢得NBA总冠军所付出的艰苦搏斗。（美联社图片/M. 斯宾塞·格林）
在19年零364天的时间里，关于NBA总决赛抢七大战，有些事情从未改变。
世界上一些最无聊的人执着于电视收视率。
拥有最佳球员的球队理应获胜，尤其是在主场作战时。而当一切尘埃落定，几乎所有人都会忘记，结果原本是多么容易走向另一个方向。
周日晚上在俄克拉荷马城获胜的球队，将像所有胜利者一样，书写历史。他们会宣称自己的总冠军是命中注定，最终也会以这种方式被铭记。
以今天为例，在圣安东尼奥——或者整个NBA——有多少人还记得二十年前，蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan) 和马努·吉诺比利 (Manu Ginobili) 曾多么接近输给昌西·比卢普斯 (Chauncey Billups) 和拉希德·华莱士 (Rasheed Wallace)？
那其中两人身处联盟最经久不衰的王朝之中。另外两人则即将从昙花一现的辉煌中淡出。当年，马刺队会最终胜出，这肯定是显而易见的，对吗？
事实并非如此。2005年，活塞队不仅是卫冕冠军，他们在总决赛的大部分时间里都表现得像更强硬的一方。直到罗伯特·霍里 (Robert Horry) 在第五场比赛结束时命中一记三分球，马刺队才似乎获得了一定程度的控制权，但这并没有持续多久。
他们在第六场比赛中表现挣扎，虽然不如本周雷霆对阵步行者那么糟糕，但失利同样令人不安。这不足为奇。2005年至今，还有三届NBA总决赛打到了抢七。这三场——2010年湖人击败凯尔特人，2013年热火击败马刺，以及2016年骑士击败勇士——都是由大比分2-3落后但赢下第六场的球队赢得的。
印第安纳步行者队后卫泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton)（0号）在印第安纳波利斯，2025年6月19日星期四，NBA总决赛第六场比赛上半场期间，在俄克拉荷马城雷霆队后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)（2号）上方投篮。雷霆队和步行者队将于周日晚上进行抢七大战。（美联社图片/艾比·帕尔）
这就是俄克拉荷马城周日将努力阻止的趋势，也是20年前马刺队希望避免的趋势。与这支雷霆队类似，圣安东尼奥也拥有一位在总决赛中获得过最有价值球员奖项的球员（沉着、谦逊的邓肯预示着沉着、谦逊的谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大）。与这支雷霆队类似，圣安东尼奥也拥有了在系列赛某些阶段甚至盖过球队明星球员风头的活力新星（马努·吉诺比利预示着杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams)）。
然而，在2005年6月23日那个早晨，仍有一些理由让人相信活塞队可能占据优势。首先，他们刚刚赢下一场生死战，并且在过去13个月内赢得了另外两场抢七大战。马刺队，即使在当时已经取得了所有的季后赛成功，却从未打过一场胜者为王的比赛，并且在邓肯时代，此前每一场面临淘汰的比赛都输了。
相比之下，雷霆队比当年的马刺队更有准备。两轮前，俄克拉荷马城就被丹佛逼入抢七大战，而且那场比赛从未焦灼过。半场时比赛就已经是一边倒，雷霆队以32分的分差获胜。
也许周日也会发生类似的情况，届时泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 跛行的 小腿 以及步行者队其他队员的腿脚最终支撑不住。但如果印第安纳队保持在可追近的距离内呢？
既然已经多次上演不可能的奇迹，步行者队难道不是更不容易恐慌的那一方吗？在主队感受到压力的同时，难道不是他们会打得更放松吗？
那是20年前事情可能发展的一种方式。但在那场竞争激烈的比赛的关键时刻，罗伯特·霍里 (Robert Horry) 和布伦特·巴里 (Brent Barry) 这样的角色球员——他们是伊赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因 (Isaiah Hartenstein) 和亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso) 的前辈——为马刺队稳住了局面。布鲁斯·鲍文 (Bruce Bowen)——一个有着卢根茨·多尔特 (Luguentz Dort) 精神的落选秀防守悍将——命中了一记关键三分，并盖掉了比卢普斯 (Chauncey Billups) 的一次投篮。
邓肯做着邓肯该做的事。吉诺比利做着吉诺比利该做的事。而赛后的庆祝中，一位主教练承认，这一切并非都按计划进行。
“我真不知道我们是怎么做到的，”格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 说，“但我激动不已。”
19年零364天后，另一位教练或许会表达同样的情绪。有朝一日，他所执教球队的历史会让人听起来仿佛这个总冠军从一开始就注定要发生。
但他会更清楚。
San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, celebrates after his team beat the Detroit Pistons, 81-74, to win the NBA championship in seven games, in San Antonio, Thursday, June 23, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
San Antonio Spurs’ Robert Horry (5) loses the ball as he charges the basket against Detroit Pistons Rasheed Wallace (36), and Ben Wallace (3) during the first quarter in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Auburn Hills, Mich., Tuesday, June 14, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photos/Jeff Roberson)
San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan (21) lays the ball up in the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game two of the NBA finals in San Antonio, Sunday, June 12, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photo/Brian Bahr, Pool)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan celebrates as he was named the MVP of the NBA Finals. San Antonio won, 81-74, to win the championship.in game seven of the NBA finals in San Antonio, Thursday, June 23, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photo/Eric Gay
Spurs Manu Ginobili defends Pistons Ben Wallace during first half action game two of the NBA Finals at the SBC Center in San Antonio on June 9, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. ( JERRY LARA STAFF )
The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili is sandwiched between the Pistons’ Rasheed Wallace, left, and Richard Hamilton while looking for a freethrow rebound during first quarter of game two NBA Finals Sunday, June 12, 2005 at the SBC Center in San Antonio. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI/STAFF
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots as Indiana Pacers center Tony Bradley, left, defends during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Oklahoma City. The Thunder and Pacers are set for Game 7 on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Oklahoma City. The Thunder and Pacers are set for Game 7 on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, right, passes over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. The Thunder and Pacers are set for Game 7 on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, rear, during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. The Thunder and Pacers are set for Game 7 on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
点击查看原文：NBA Finals destiny is overrated; just look at Spurs' 2005 title
NBA Finals destiny is overrated; just look at Spurs’ 2005 title
San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, left, Tony Parker (9) and Bruce Bowen, right, celebrate with the NBA Championship trophy after they defeated the Detroit Pistons 81-74 to win the NBA finals in San Antonio, Thursday, June 23, 2005. History often remembers Game 7s as a matter of destiny, but that ignores the fight it takes to win an NBA title. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Over the course of 19 years and 364 days, there are a few things that haven’t changed about an NBA Finals Game 7.
Some of the most boring people in the world obsess over TV ratings.
The team with the best individual player is supposed to win, especially if he’s at home. And when it’s over, almost everybody will forget how easily it could have gone the other way.
The victors in Oklahoma City on Sunday night will be in charge of writing the history, as victors always are. They will claim their championship was destiny, and eventually it will be remembered that way.
Today, for instance, how many in San Antonio — or anywhere across the NBA — recall how close Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili came to losing to Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace two decades ago?
Two of those guys were in the middle of one of the league’s most enduring dynasties. The other two were about to fade away from their fleeting relevance. Surely it was obvious back then that the Spurs would come out on top, right?
Well, not so much. In 2005, not only were the Pistons the defending champions, they spent much of the Finals acting like the tougher team. It wasn’t until Robert Horry drained a 3-pointer at the end of Game 5 that the Spurs appeared to be in any degree of control, and that didn’t last long.
They sputtered in Game 6, not quite as badly as the Thunder did against Indiana this week, but the defeat was just as disconcerting. It was no wonder. Between 2005 and now, three other NBA Finals have gone to Game 7. All three — the Lakers over the Celtics in 2010, the Heat over the Spurs in 2013, and the Cavaliers over the Warriors in 2016 — were won by the team that trailed 3-2 and won Game 6.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. The Thunder and Pacers are set for Game 7 on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
That’s the trend Oklahoma City will try to stop on Sunday, and it’s the one the Spurs were hoping to avoid 20 years ago. Like this version of the Thunder, San Antonio had the one player in the Finals with a Most Valuable Player award (with the stoic, unassuming Duncan presaging the stoic, unassuming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). Like this version of the Thunder, San Antonio had the dynamic up-and-comer who for stretches of the series outshone even the franchise star (with Manu Ginobili presaging Jalen Williams).
But on the morning of June 23, 2005, there were reasons to believe the Pistons might have had the edge, anyway. For one thing, they’d just won a do-or-die game, and had prevailed in two other Game 7s during the past 13 months. The Spurs, even with all their playoff success at that point, never had been in a winner-take-all game, and in the Duncan era had lost every previous game in which they faced elimination.
The Thunder, in comparison, are a bit more prepared for this than the Spurs were. Two rounds ago, Oklahoma City was pushed to Game 7 by Denver, and it was never close. The blowout was on by halftime, and the Thunder won by 32 points.
Maybe something similar will happen Sunday, when Tyrese Haliburton’s gimpy calf and the rest of the Pacers’ legs finally give out. But if Indiana stays within striking distance?
Having pulled off the impossible so many times already, won’t the Pacers be the ones less likely to panic? Won’t they be the ones to play free while the home team feels the pressure?
That was one way things could have gone 20 years ago. But in the pivotal moments of a competitive game, role players like Horry and Brent Barry — the predecessors of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso — kept things steady for the Spurs. Bruce Bowen — an undrafted defensive pest in the spirit of Luguentz Dort — swished a clutch 3-pointer and blocked one by Billups.
Duncan did Duncan things. Ginobili did Ginobili things. And amid the celebration afterwards, a head coach acknowledged that not all of it was by design.
“I don’t know how the hell we did it,” Gregg Popovich said. “But I’m thrilled.”
Nineteen years and 364 days later, another coach might express the same sentiment. Someday, the history of his franchise will make it sound like the championship was destined to happen all along.
He will know better.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News