By Dan Savage
May 18, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
LeBron James and Donyell Marshall celebrate the Cavaliers' first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 15 years. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"That kid's the greatest. He's unbelievable the way he makes his team run."
-- San Antonio's Tim Duncan on playing the Suns' Steve Nash. Nash powered a 20-7 run late in the fourth quarter that came up short as the Spurs ousted Phoenix on Friday.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Friday's top play: Steve Nash finds Amare Stoudemire for an amazing play.
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NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
Since you have to wait until Sunday before playoff action resumes, you have a little extra time to get your Drive to the Finals lineup together. In this fantasy guru's opinion, your best bet is to cash in on Utah's Deron Williams, while he is still around. With the Spurs' Bruce Bowen likely covering Williams, use him early, while Bowen is still recovering from chasing around Steve Nash.
SHOOTING STUDS
Donyell Marshall, Cavaliers88-72 win at Nets
18 pts, 6-11 FG, 6-10 3-pt FG
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
114-106 win vs. Suns
33 pts, 11-17 FG, 4-7 3-pt FG
Steve Nash, Suns
114-106 loss at Spurs
18 pts, 7-10 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG
STAT SHEET STUFFER
Although he couldn't get out of Round 2, Jason Kidd proved he is one of the best stuffers of all-time. Kidd came two assists shy on Friday of his 12th career postseason triple-double and finished the playoffs averaging 14.6 points, 10.9 boards and 10.9 dimes. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kidd is only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the entire postseason. Oscar Robertson averaged 28.8, 11.0 and 11.0 in a 3-1 first-round loss in 1962.
SHOOTING DUDS
Leandro Barbosa, Suns114-106 loss at Spurs
5-15 FG, 0-5 3-pt FG, 13 pts
Jason Kidd, Nets
88-72 loss vs. Cavaliers
7-20 FG, 1-7 3-pt FG, 19 pts
Sasha Pavlovic, Cavaliers
88-72 win at Nets
1-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 3 pts
CLEVELAND'S ROCKING LIKE IT'S 1992
After falling apart in the fourth quarter on Wednesday and handing the Nets a Game 5 victory, LeBron James and the Cavaliers righted their wrong on Friday. Forced to sit out much of the third quarter with foul trouble, James had to watch from the bench as his teammates managed to only score eight points in the period. However, in the fourth he returned and New Jersey felt King James' wrath. LeBron scored nine of his 23 points in the final period as the Cavaliers finished the game on a 22-6 run and ousted the Nets, 88-72, earning Cleveland its first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1992. Donyell Marshall recorded more points in Game 6 than he did the entire postseason as he poured in 18, all courtesy of 3-point shots. Rookie Daniel Gibson stepped up and scored all eight of his points in the fourth. "Donyell and Daniel did a great job," James said. "They knocked it down. In Game 5 we had the same opportunities but we didn't knock it down.''
WELL-BALANCED SPURS BEST IN WEST
Throughout the regular season just about everyone outside of San Antonio believed the Western Conference Finals would come down to a matchup between the Mavericks and Suns. On Friday, the Spurs demonstrated why they should have been a favorite all along as they eliminated Phoenix, 114-106. When it comes to defense, the Spurs have it. Tim Duncan had a
career-high-tying nine blocks in Game 6 and Bruce Bowen slowed down Steve Nash for the better part of the first three quarters. When they needed offense, cue Tony Parker, who sliced and diced the Suns for 30 points and Manu Ginobili, who drilled outside shot after outside shot for 33. If it was leadership you were searching for, look no further than Gregg Popovich, who made continual defensive substitutions and switches to leave Phoenix's oustide shooters somewhat confused. As San Antonio heads to its third conference final in five years, the last thing anyone should be is surprised.
