Malik Rose. Sure, we wanted to be different and not pick Tim Duncan again. But who can argue with Rose? After a nightmare Game 4, he bounced back to pump in 14 crucial points off the bench, and shot 6-for-9 in a series where 35 percent is "feeling it." Duncan and Steve Kerr got the headlines, but Rose was the difference.
Kenyon Martin. Martin had perhaps the worst-timed flu in sports history and was useless in Game 5. His final line included 2-for-8 shooting, seven turnovers and five fouls, while San Antonio's power forwards combined for 43 points on his watch. The Nets can only pray he's feeling better by Sunday.
Steve Kerr, victory cigar. When the Spurs really need a win, they dust off Steve Kerr in the fourth quarter and let him rip. Kerr nailed a crucial 3-pointer, got a steal from Martin, and followed it up with another jumper as the Spurs pulled away down the stretch. The performance echoed of his seismic Game 6 performance against Dallas.
Mt. Nostradamus. Prior to Game 5, Dikembe Mutombo thought he would relive the greatest moment in the history of his Meadowlands co-tenant, the Jets. Fancying himself a 7-foot-2 Joe Namath with Cookie Monster's voice, he guaranteed a Nets win and even talked about their victory parade. But he was reading the wrong fortune cookie.
Photo Credits: Rose (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images), Martin (AP), Kerr (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images), Mutombo (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)