Pregame reading and a game thread, all in one! Hopefully this version of Found Objects will make the time pass a little faster before we get to Game 2 in San Antonio. To the goodies:
- Sports Illustrated’s Chris Ballard on the man behind the machine – Tim Duncan. From the tales of Timmy and Pop spending a weekend together on the beach and becoming soulmates (really) to Duncan relentlessly blasting Danny Ferry with a paintball gun, this is a great read and brilliant profile on one of the league’s greatest (and most reticent) players to ever lace them up.
- What’s the sign of a truly great set? You run it for 15 years, teams know you’re running it, and you still can’t stop it. Kevin Arnovitz looks at the complicated Spurs’ offense in a way hardly anyone else can. Later, if you guys are really nice, I’ll draw out the Clippers’ offense in crayon.
- Speaking of turning everything into something that has to do with me, here’s a little pregame 3-on-3 with Timothy Varner and Andrew McNeill over at the always excellent Spurs’ site, 48 Minutes of Hell. There are concerns with the Clippers’ offense and defense, but at least the special teams (Bledsoe?) are clicking.
- Speaking of Bledsoe, many of you guys will feel vindicated with your EB volume 2 love (shoutout to Nick C. in the comments section, who was all over this a few weeks ago) when you read this breakdown of the Clippers’ backcourts by Jared Dubin over at Hardwood Paroxysm. As it turns out, the Paul/Bledsoe backcourt has been one of the most successful pairings seen in the playoffs. Play that man!
