European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 54 stars and stripes june 2007 steady on san Antonio grinds toward title spurs use a different big 3 to ruin cars go up 30 by Tom Withers the associated press Cleveland the san Anto Nio spurs plod poised and purposeful in everything they they prefer fundamentals Over substance Over the approach has made them champions and almost certainly will the currently the Clos est thing to a dynasty in professional moved within one Victory of their fourth Aba title in nine years on tuesday wrecking a party Cleveland waited 37 years to throw with a 7572 win Over the Cavaliers in game no team has Ever come Back from an 03 deficit to win the i and the Over matched Cava making their first appear Are giving no indication  even threaten to make this series said Lebron is All about Tony Parker scored 17 Tim Duncan 14 and Bruce the spurs defensive Sher added 13 for san seeking its fourth title since 1999 and third in the past five the spurs won despite being making More turn overs and getting Only three Points from Manu who missed All seven Fiel goal at tempts and didst score until there was seconds that when he dropped the first of three straight free throws to help hold off the Cavaliers and crush the Hopes of their Towel waving which had never before seen their team play a finals game in Cleveland and maybe their last Hopes of extend ing the ended when who led the Cavaliers with 25 eight rebounds and seven missed a three Pointer in the final he appeared to be fouled be fore the attempt by but there was no incidental James it didst affect my i had a Good look at it and i who had just nine Points in the first two scored 13 and Brent Barry made three three pointers for the who can All but plan their Victory Parade on the Scenic Riv Rewalk Back we need to get one and that however it Dun can we know there going to come out this next they dont want to get the spurs can secure another tide with a Victory in game 4 on thursday if they do com plete the eighth sweep in finals  join the Boston los Angeles lakers and Chicago bulls As the Only franchises to win four or More the grind tout game 3 tied for the second fewest Points in Aba finals Matching san Antonios 8067 win Over the new York kicks in the 22yearold James scored 12 Points in the fourth threatening to take Over As he did in game 5 of the Eastern Confer ence finals against with drives through the Teeth of san Antonios smothering but James had several layups dance off the and he got Little help from his teammates As the cars went just 3for19 on three pointers and failed to take advantage on a night when the spurs were not we shot a lot of threes versus their hard Brown both teams shot they made we made other than just about every other i thought statistically we played All James can do now is try to prevent a sweep by the who Are 48 minutes from adding the 2007 title to the ones they Cap tured in 2003 and every other it seems to be san Antonios and this one is no James scored seven straight Points As the cars Cut a 10point Lead to 6967 with remaining on another Layup by Cleveland but Parker countered with a three Pointer before Sasha Pav Lovic hit a deep one for the cars to make it 7270 with seconds Eric Cleveland Lebron James 23 drives against Bruce Bowen during the third Quarter of game 3 of the Aba finals on Bowen lifted the spurs on offence and putting them one Victory from the so dominant in games 1 and turned the Ball Over but the cars failed to capitalize As criticized Early in the play offs for being too got bottled up and passed to Ander son the mop topped Nick named wild tried to make a spin move on Duncan be fore flinging up a wild James expected a return pass from but it never James what made it More frustrating for Cleveland was that coach Mike Brown was screaming for a timeout that no one i was time Brown it was so loud in there none of my Guys heard and i asked referee Bernie Fryer if he heard and he looked at me and there was nothing i could finals san Antonio Cleveland san Antonio Cleveland 76 san Antonio Cleveland 92 tuesday san Antonio Cleveland 72 san Antonio leads series 30 thursday san Antonio at Cleveland sunday san Antonio at june 19 Cleveland at san june 21 Cleveland at san if necessary tuesday spurs Cavaliers 72 san Antonio Bowen 46 14 Duncan 617 22 Oberto 37 00 Finley 37 00 Parker 717 Horry 1100 Ginobile 07 34 Vaughn 11 00 Elson 00 12 Barry 35 00 totals 2868 916 Cleveland James 923 78 goo Clen 511 34 Lugauskas 613 01 Pavlovic 515 12 Gibson 110 00 Varjao 24 00 Dejones 12 00 Marshall 0100 Snow 00 00 totals 2979 1115 san Antonio 16 24 is 2075 Cleveland 18 20 12 2272 three Point goals san Antonio 1019 Bowen Barry Horry Finley Parker Ginobile Cleveland 319 Pav Lovic Dejones Marshall James Gibson fouled re bound Ssan Antonio 49 Duncan Cleveland 52 Lugauskas assists san an Tonio 15 Ginobile Cleveland 19 James total fouls san Antonio Cleveland Ginobile was then missed his first throw but finally got something to fall through the net to give the spurs a three Point James again got to the rim for a Basket before Ginobile hit two on Cleveland last James began to Rise for a potential tying three Pointer when he was grabbed by but nothing was the Ball bounced off the rim and the spurs inched closer to a the Cavaliers changed their starting lineup As Rookie Daniel Gibson replaced Larry Hughes at Point Hughes was both ered by a sore left but Gib who has emerged As a Star in these didst he went just lfor10 from the Field and missed All five unable to duplicate his 5for5 performance when Cleveland captured the Eastern conference title in game 6 against id rather not give excuses for not making Gibson a Drunas Lugauskas added 12 Points and 18 rebounds 10 offensive for the who were hoping three straight games in their own building could help them get Back into the Besto seven the spurs have nearly wrapped it Gibson replaces ailing then struggles from the Start by Brian Mahoney the associated press Cleveland a super Daniel Gibson was a starting Gibson finally replaced injured Point guard Larry Hughes in the Cleveland Cava Liers starting lineup tuesday then delivered a performance As bad As any of those from the struggling the Rookie was lfor10 in his first Ca reer playoff scoring Only two Points in the Cavaliers 7572 loss to the san Anto Nio spurs in game 3 of the Aba Hughes was lfor10 in the first two Gibson got there in 36 in past those Are the same shots that Ive been taking and so i was going to step into them and shoot them with Gibson tonight they just we rent going the decision to Start Gibson was a popu Lar one in and nobody was questioning it in the locker room All those Guys were still in my telling me if you got a Good let it Gibson and those they stayed in my Corner the entire and hopefully next game ill come out and make a couple of but even though he was on the floor at the Gibson was Back on the Bench by the fourth coach Mike Brown went with Veteran Eric Snow for most of the final period when the cars were desperately fighting to come and now it probably wont matter what lineup Brown goes with the rest of the no Aba team has Ever recovered from a 30 i dont feel like i was top hyped at be cause Meres been a Little anticipation every night that theres a possibility that i could Gibson i was prepared for i just got out tried to let the game come to and just missed a couple of the cars praised Gibson for trying to play through his shooting struggles and find ways to such As defending Tony Parker was Only 7for17 for 17 the one thing Ive always been on Daniel about All season Long is affecting the game if your shot int Snow him being a Young that whats hard in this when teams take away what you do How do you still consistently affect the game unfortunately he want Able to hit his shot but i still thought he did a Good Job guarding still miking plays when he had he just had a rough shooting and that