The initial 24 minutes of Game 3 was a high-scoring affair for the Spurs. It was also a Kawhi scoring one. Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson were in attendance and they witnessed the hoops equivalent of a haymaker. From the outset, Kawhi Leonard was slugging as strongly as Sugar Ray Leonard, knocking down his first six shots and knocking the Heat up against the ropes (which were velvet, since this is Miami).
Leonard, whose primary purpose is to stick to LeBron James like a barnacle, actually outscored him, contributing a career-best 29 points, including 16 in the Spurs 41-point first quarter flurry. San Antonio almost equaled its Game 1, fourth period points-producing perfection in the first quarter, then prolonged its prolific pace into quarter number two, ultimately setting a Finals record for shooting percentage. Yes, the Spurs were hotter than the bikini beauties sunbathing on South Beach. No matter who hoisted it or from where, the ball kept going in for the Spurs and soon everyone saw the Heat were in for a extensive and excruciating evening. Mike Breen bellowed "bang" more frequently than if he was narrating a fourth of July fireworks display*.
The scoreboard showed 71 points on 75.8% shooting for San Antonio by the time Sage Steele and her distinct 'do^ came onscreen. Down 21 at the break, Miami wasn't in a hole so much as a crater. If every man's home is his (sand)castle, then Leonard and his mates kicked Miami's over. The Heat, who never came closer than within seven, couldn't rebuild because the bucket belonged to the Spurs. Every bucket did Tuesday night.
This was definitely the Kawhigh point in Leonard's three years as a pro, yet he wasn't on the podium afterwards to meet with the media. Proof that Popovich doesn't put his people on a pedestal. No matter, if they keep playing this way, we will.
*if we hear Mark Jackson jabber, "hand down, man down" one more time, we're turning the sound down
^the Heat had more kinks to work out than if she were straightening her hair
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