One perk of his copy editor position at The Galveston County Daily News is that he writes a weekly column on a topic of his choice for "Texas' Oldest Newspaper, Publishing Since 1841."
So, the NBA finals offered the Del Rio High School graduate a rare opportunity to write about his beloved Spurs. Yanelli predicted the Silver and Black would win the championship in five games in a column on June 5.
His prophetic column, "Why the Spurs win this time," and one written by Community News Editor and Miami Heats fan Angela Taylor-Wilson on why the Heat would win in six games appeared on either side of the Associated Press game advance.
I’ve enjoyed talking NBA basketball from time to time with my co-worker, Community News Editor Angela Taylor-Wilson. She knows her stuff and has a genuine take on the game.
But today, I think her fanaticism toward LeBron James (her “boo,” as I’ve heard her call him) has blinded her objectivity on the Miami Heat’s chances to three-peat.
With all due respect to the best player on the planet, there’s several reasons the San Antonio Spurs should be favored to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
For one, the Spurs are a better team this year, and the Heat are the same or a little weaker. I’ve heard many analysts say the Spurs play as good a brand of team basketball as they’ve ever seen.
They’re led by the Big 3. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are going to do what they do. I actually think Ginobili — after a summer off from playing with the Argentine national team — is playing at a much higher level than last season.
But the Spurs’ strength is in their role players:
Danny Green, even on nights when he’s not draining 3s, brings a defensive hustle and attitude that the national media have yet to pick up on. Kawhi Leonard, named along with James to the NBA All-Defense Second Team, is a physical freak on defense (did you see the steal-swipe-block on Russell Westbrook in OT of Game 6 of the Western Conference finals?) and is more explosive offensively than last year. Boris Diaw, who for his offense and defense might have been the MVP of the previous series. Patty Mills, who when not being a defensive pest for 96 feet is knocking down 3-pointers of his own.
I like Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, but I have to give the coaching advantage to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs. Pop’s adjustments to counter Serge Ibaka’s impact in the previous series showed the genius that is Coach Pop.
Finally, the Spurs are the team with the home-court advantage this time around, and San Antonio is 9-1 in the AT&T Center this postseason and, in case you haven’t noticed, most have been blowouts.
I think the Spurs protect home court, steal Game 4 on the road and clinch it at home in Game 5.
San Antonio in 5
Copy Editor Adam Yanelli lives and dies with the Spurs. Shoot him an email at adam.yanelli@galvnews.com.