With the clock still showing 23 minutes to go before the Game 7 tipoff -- and without a single player from either team on the floor -- all of the 18,797 in attendance at the SBC Center spontaneously broke into a raucous pre-game uproar that amazingly continued uninterrupted right up to the National Anthem. The enthusiasm in the arena was infectious. There was no need for encouragement from the video screens or even the rush of being on national TV; there wouldn’t be much sitting on this night. The decibel levels were already off the chart.

It was so loud in the SBC Center on Thursday, public address announcer Stan Kelly’s player introductions were almost inaudible. And many times throughout the game, the crowd could not hear the officials’ whistles indicating foul calls or turnovers.

After Tuesday’s Game 6 loss, some callers to sports radio talk shows grumbled about a quieter-than-usual effort from the crowd. “We were so disappointed the Spurs didn't win it in Game 6, I kept waiting for the team to set a tone and it never came," said Spurs fan Ray Cortez.

But Thursday was different. The Spurs worked all season to secure home court advantage, and it paid off with one of the best efforts of the season from the Spurs faithful. Led in the stands, as always, by the Baseline Bums and on the court by the team of Crazy Lou, Coyote, and Spurs Silver Dancers, the sold-out sea of silver and black made it difficult for the visiting Detroit Pistons to gather or sustain any momentum. "The atmosphere last night," Brent Barry told the local media, "was certainly electric and loud and exactly what we needed it to be in order for us to feed off that."

From the thunder of cheer sticks while the Pistons shot free throws, to the calls of “Brrrruuuuuuccce” (Bowen), to the chants of M-V-P for Tim Duncan, the crowd did everything it could to support the Spurs. Standing for much of the game -- including the entire fourth quarter -- the fans rallied behind Manu Ginobili, screaming “GINOBILI!!!!!!!!!” as he slashed to 11 of his 23 points in the last 10 minutes. "This never gets old and we're never going to stop doing it," said Spurs Chairman and CEO Peter Holt, hoarse from cheering his team through a roller-coaster Finals series.

With the Spurs trailing 48-39 at 7:40 to go in the third quarter and the crowd getting antsy, Tim Duncan simply took over with a six-minute stretch of hooks, jumpers, and assists, as the teams went into the final period tied 57-57. "He's one of the best players in the world, so we knew that sooner or later he was going to appear and take us to the win," added Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. "When he started making those shots, Detroit started to worry. The whole game opened." The Spurs finally pulled away in the 4th quarter, out-scoring the Pistons 24-17 to trigger massive celebrations which shook the rafters at the SBC Center.

Duncan, who finished with 25 points and 11 boards, became only the fourth player to earn at least three Finals MVP awards, joining the class of Michael Jordan (6), Magic Johnson (3), and Shaquille O’Neal (3). "This trophy is definitely an honor, but this team has so many MVPs," Duncan said. "We fought for this thing. It was incredible."

After the game, there was pandemonium in the locker room and the downtown streets. The City of San Antonio truly feels like it is a part of this Spurs team, and rightly so; it has supported the Spurs through thick and thin. But in Game 7 of the 2005 NBA Finals, when the Spurs needed the home crowd like never before -- with a season, a championship, and a legacy on the line -- they showed why they truly are the best fans in the NBA.

Thank you, San Antonio!