They are a team in a way the Heat simply aren't. Personally I'm very much enjoying watching the series.

And I especially enjoyed listening to Bill Simmons say before game 3 that the Spurs were in trouble after losing game 2. And then the Spurs just ran the Heat off the floor in game 3, especially in the first half. Maybe someday I'll understand why people think Bill Simmons knows anything about sports.

Though Miami is certainly capable of winning 3 straight and 3-1 comebacks have occurred several times - though only 2 times the road team has done it. Philly/Boston in the 80's and Houston came back on Phoenix in the 90's (I think same year they won 1 of their 2 championships).

San Antonio certainly is on a whole new level this year. They eliminated a damn good Portland team pretty easily. Able to defend one of the top 2 highest scoring teams in the league. Interesting to remember they were actually in trouble in the Dallas series, needing 7 games to finish them off.

Barkley said during the Portland series bench doesn't matter in the playoffs since strategy typically sees 6-8 players get playing time while the reserves minutes are significantly less but for the Spurs it does matter. It is like trying to dodge machine gun fire.

Apparently he missed the part where Tony Parker (a well over 80% FT shooter) missed two in a row that made a HUGE difference in a very close game.
Given the Spurs' depth, that game going to overtime would favor the fresher team, and this series could be over already.
As you can tell, i'm no fan of Simmons either.

but in game 1 it was 50/50 game until the Heat started becoming affected by the lack of AC, notably James who was unable to finish, worsened conditions trying to return (made a huge basket in the process) and were without him (who they need on D much more than on offense) down the stretch. Spurs largely international roster and experience playing in arenas w/ no AC which is why they were able to outlast the largely American Miami roster (Bosh said he was unaffected due to playing HS ball w/ no AC in Texas).

My point is w/ a proper functioning AC it would likely be a 50/50 ball game all the way down to the final minutes (Miami tends to win the close ones) and would have been a different series if Miami pulled it out. Could be 2-2 right now if everything else unfolded the way it did.

I understand that while it was factors out of Miami's control, San Antonio had to deal w/ the conditions too. My point was we could play this different series game all day.

Guys like Splitter, Genobili and Parker haven't played more than 20 games in non-AC gyms in the last 5 or 10 years.

I'm way more on board with your last paragraph. Both teams played in the same condition and the deeper team was less affected by the conditions because, well because they're deeper.
GAC

He said what I said which I got from him.

I may be overstating it but it would be a different game and potentially different series without the issue.

These guys grew up playing on playgrounds and in gyms with no AC no matter what country.

Parker is trying to be a diplomat. Giving his opponents an excuse for getting their asses kicked.

when he went out. It was the lack of depth that killed Miami. Lebron was on the way to 40 minutes. No one can stand that heat and last. Spurs are relentless and Miami is worn out. They looked tired and old last night. Rashad Lewis and ray allen man are they old. They can't take the pace.
Spurs broke Miami's will last night. Spoelstra wasn't even calling time outs. After they got it to 13 and the Spurs went back up by 24 resignation set in.

...suck on it Heat.

I will always keep the vision how your "fans" cleared out of the arena at Games 3 AND 4...nice support.

Bravo Spurs...you are a class act.