Tim Cone. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone had raved, at times, about how well the San Antonio Spurs’ system was being run during his post-game interviews and how he tried to do the same for his Mixers.
But his admiration for the Spurs won’t be enough for him not to pick the Miami Heat in this year’s NBA Finals.
“No one appreciates, I think, the Spurs’ system and the way they go about more than I do. They’re really fun to watch, they’re very efficient and I really admire what Greg Popovich does,” said Cone, the PBA’s winningest coach with 16 championships.
“But I’m a Miami fan because of coach Spo,” Cone added, referring to the Heat’s Fil-American coach Erik Spoelstra. “Erik and I communicate a lot together so I’m fully in support of him so as much as I admire San Antonio, I still want Miami to win.”
The Heat outlasted the Spurs last year to win their second consecutive title in seven games and Cone thinks it will go the distance again.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. I would think it’s going to be a long standings series. I would slightly favor San Antonio at this point they got the homecourt and they’re playing at a high level especially if Parker can get back and play well I think they’re the favorite team,” Cone said.
The Spurs do have the homecourt advantage after clinching the top overall seed but they don’t have what the Heat do.
“They (Heat) still have by far the best player in the world (LeBron James). And in my view they’re going to have the two best players on the court in LeBron and Wade.”
But while Cone is convinced the Heat will win it again for the third straight time, his former trusted assistant coach and now Barangay Ginebra head coach Jeff Cariaso have the Spurs exacting revenge this time.
“To be honest, I think the Spurs are going to get them this year. They’re playing better this year than last year. I think they’re more determined,” said Cariaso. “Obviously it’s not going to be easy Miami’s a very strong team and LeBron’s going to allow it to be easy.”
“I think the Spurs will find the way. The guys, aside from the Big Three, their other guys are playing better. Green’s playing better, Leonard’s playing better, Patty Mills is player better, Splitter’s playing better. So that’s enabling them to be a better team,” Cariaso explained.
San Miguel Beer’s active consultant Todd Purves also sees the Spurs coming out on top.
“That is such a tough call but I’m gonna say the Spurs are going to win this time. I realized we got a lot of heat fans right here but I think the Spurs are going to win in seven,” Purves said.
“I’m very impressed with the mental toughness of the Spurs they were heartbroken last year and to be able to come back after that disappointment is impressive and they’re so fun to watch. It’s going to be a great series,” Purves, who cited Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Heat shooting guard Ray Allen as the X-factors for both teams, added.