Open Thread: The Spurs could have had five Finals MVPs in their starting line-up

Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

A before, after, and what might have been of the Silver & Black’s “Beautiful Game”

As mentioned the other day, ESPN’s encore presentation of Games 6 and 7 of the 2013 Finals was airing. In Game 6, their starting line-up was Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan.

At this point, Tim Duncan had amassed three Finals MVP awards. Tony Parker had claimed the prize in 2007.

And I am sure that most Pounders are aware that in 2005 Manu Ginobili was one vote shy of sharing the award with Duncan.

It’s probable that if the Spurs had won the 2013 Finals in Game 6, the Bill Russell trophy would have been handed to Danny Green who also claimed the record for most 3-pointers in a Finals series with 27 (a record until 2016). Although not the most marquee player, the argument for his claim was surmountable. If you don’t believe me, check this article from June 13, 2013.

And of course in 2014, the MVP of the Finals was Kawhi Leonard.

For better or worse, the Spurs were one vote, an either a free throw or missed shot (or just six seconds) away from having five players who all won Finals MVP awards for the same team on the court at the same time.

Sure, it is a big “what if” with lots of holes to punch, but isn’t that what open thread discussions are for?

Even if labeled as farfetched, it does say a lot about how 2014’s Beautiful Game evolved.

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Open Thread: The Spurs could have had five Finals MVPs in their starting line-up
Open Thread: The Spurs could have had five Finals MVPs in their starting line-up