With the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers (126-96) all sewn up way before the final quarter, it’s only natural to see players pulling pranks on each other to pass the time, like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker did to Tim Duncan. It also gives players like Matt Bonner a chance to play point guard.
What was the prank? Duncan was heading over to his seat on the bench. Manu Ginobili is talking, harmlessly, to Boris Diaw in the suit behind him. Tony Parker is holding a towel on his face, trying to hide his laughter. Just when Duncan is about to sit down, it seems Ginobili pulls a cup and plants it on Duncan’s seat. His reaction? It makes it seem like this isn’t the first time someone has pulled that off, not to mention Parker gloating and giggling like a child.
It’s easy keeping spirits high when you’re winning 10 games in a row, leading the league with a 12-1 record. It actually gives someone like Matt Bonner a chance to play like a point guard. He and Tony Parker wrestled for a rebound, won by Bonner. The big man was about to hand Parker the ball, as you usually do, but Parker was having none of it.
The result? Bonner looks confused, and decides he’ll run the next play, pointing his finger to the sky, signaling an iso play, while Parker had another small moment of laughter in a game that was over before the second half began.