Spurs Join NBA's All-Time Elite

Jun 15, 04:04 AM

Current Headlines: By TOM WITHERS

CLEVELAND -- True roundball royalty, the San Antonio Spurs are once again wearing the crown.

LeBron James, Cleveland's preordained King, isn't quite ready for his.

Finals MVP Tony Parker scored 24 points, Manu Ginobili had 27 -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- and the Spurs, who bounced over from the ABA in 1976, moved in among the NBA's greatest franchises with an 83- 82 victory Thursday night for a sweep of the Cavaliers -- court jesters through much of their first finals.

With their fourth championship since 1999 -- and third in five years -- the Spurs joined the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls as the only teams in NBA history to win four titles.

And No. 5 might not be far away either with Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan leading this Texas-oiled machine. Coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, now a perfect 4-for-4 together in finals appearances, spent most of the postseason dismissing talk that they should be considered a dynasty.

But with titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, there's no more reason to pretend they aren't one.

As the final seconds ticked off on Cleveland's finest season, Duncan stood at center court with both arms raised triumphantly as the rest of the Spurs danced around their center in a huddle. San Antonio's star sought out Cleveland's Eric Snow, but was unable to find James in the pandemonium.

Moments later, the Spurs put on champions baseball caps, which has almost become a June ritual for them.

The final moments were hectic, though, as the Spurs needed every last free throw to hold off the Cavaliers, who made a last stand at home in a season of seasons for their once downtrodden franchise.

Cleveland went on an 11-0 run to open the fourth quarter, taking its first lead in any second half of the series on James' drive with 7:55 left. Cleveland went up 63-60 on Daniel Gibson's drive, but that's when Duncan and Co. showed why they're champions.

Ginobili scored inside, was fouled and missed his free throw. But Duncan muscled into the lane and tipped in the miss to make it 66- 63. The Cavs tied it, but Ginobili, who didn't make a field goal in Game 3, dropped a 3-pointer, and when James missed a 3, the Spurs regained control by outworking Cleveland.

Duncan and Fabricio Oberto scrapped for offensive rebounds as the Spurs kept the ball for nearly two minutes before Oberto's three- point play made it 72-66 with 2:29 remaining. Duncan then poked the ball away from James and Oberto scored underneath to give San Antonio a 74-66 lead.

James, possibly a little tired following the early morning birth of his second son, hit another 3-pointer but Ginobili responded again with a tough runner in the lane to make it 76-69.

Damon Jones made three free throws and James made another 3- pointer, but Ginobili made four free throws in the final seven seconds and immediately began celebrating a title that was all but inevitable.

San Antonio's four-game sweep was the eighth since the finals began in 1947.

Parker, who averaged 24.5 points on 57 percent shooting for the series, became the first European-born player to be honored as MVP. Until now, he was mostly viewed as a pretty decent player with a prettier fiancee, TV actress Eva Longoria.

SAN ANTONIO (83) -- Bowen 1-6 0-0 2, Duncan 4-15 4-10 12, Oberto 3-5 1-1 7, Finley 1-5 2-3 4, Parker 10-14 2-5 24, Ginobili 8-19 8- 11 27, Horry 0-2 1-2 1, Elson 1-1 2-2 4, Vaughn 1-1 0-0 2, Barry 0- 0 0-0 0. Totals 29-68 20-34 83.

CLEVELAND (82) -- James 10-30 2-6 24, Gooden 5-12 1-1 11, Ilgauskas 3-8 2-2 8, Pavlovic 1-6 0-0 3, Gibson 4-10 0-0 10, Snow 2- 4 0-0 4, Varejao 3-3 2-2 8, Marshall 2-6 1-2 5, Da.Jones 2-5 3-3 9, S.Brown 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-84 11-16 82.

San Antonio 19 20 21 23 -- 83

Cleveland 20 14 18 30 -- 82

3-Point Goals--San Antonio 5-19 (Ginobili 3-9, Parker 2-3, Finley 0-2, Horry 0-2, Bowen 0-3), Cleveland 7-22 (Da.Jones 2-4, Gibson 2- 6, James 2-7, Pavlovic 1-2, Marshall 0-3). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--San Antonio 57 (Duncan 15), Cleveland 53 (Ilgauskas 13). Assists--San Antonio 13 (Bowen, Duncan, Ginobili 3), Cleveland 23 (James 10). Total Fouls--San Antonio 19, Cleveland 24. Technical-- Cleveland Defensive Three Second. A--20,562 (20,562).

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