Spurs/Cavs...nba finals 2007

[SA_Gunslinger]

who would have thunk it?


make your picks!

i got SPURS IN FIVE.

[Mavs Man]

This should be a good one. I'll take Spurs in six.

[kTXe]

who would have thunk it?


make your picks!

i got SPURS IN FIVE.
Ditto.

And, FWIW, I have predicted the correct number of games for every Spurs series this playoffs. :patsselfonback:

[MC KAos]

like always, i got spurs in five

[Rampage]

cavs in 6

[calico]

God, another boring NBA finals with the Spurs...as long as the Spurs don't win, then I am happy.

[MC KAos]

cavs in 6

hahaha, oh man, i needed a laugh

[ConcordCowboy]

Cavs in 6.:D

LETS GO CAVS!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PHO/AAHB148_8x10-2006PlayoffAction~Lebron-James-Posters.jpg

[SA_Gunslinger]

i love that the spurs are the enemy now.

it's awesome.


:D

[Danny White]

Spurs close it out at home in game 6.

I don't get how people see this as a "boring" series... you have the best team of the decade going up against the most exciting individual player since MJ. Both teams can play solid defense and can play up-tempo exciting half-court basketball as well.

[kTXe]

Spurs close it out at home in game 6.

I don't get how people see this as a "boring" series... you have the best team of the decade going up against the most exciting individual player since MJ. Both teams can play solid defense and can play up-tempo exciting half-court basketball as well.
With all the bashing of seemingly every possible series, I've determined that no one will be happy with the Finals until Stern figures out a way to have the Suns play themselves for the trophy.

[DragonCowboy]

sigh...

spurs in 4.

[Bob Sacamano]

Ditto.

And, FWIW, I have predicted the correct number of games for every Spurs series this playoffs. :patsselfonback:

I'll knock on wood for you

[calico]

Spurs close it out at home in game 6.

I don't get how people see this as a "boring" series... you have the best team of the decade going up against the most exciting individual player since MJ. Both teams can play solid defense and can play up-tempo exciting half-court basketball as well.


The Spurs have always been boring. I could not stand them in '90 and I cannot stand them now...you know, before they had all these "fans".

[zrinkill]

I love all the hate being shown the Spurs .... I enjoy the haters misery.

[kTXe]

The Spurs have always been boring. I could not stand them in '90 and I cannot stand them now...you know, before they had all these "fans".
Boring for opposing fans, yes, because all they do is win. I'd be frustrated if I was a Mavs fan, too.

Oh, and I lived in San Antonio for 11 years and have been a Spurs fan since I was about 3. Don't try to lump me in as any sort of bandwagoner.

[MC KAos]

Boring for opposing fans, yes, because all they do is win. I'd be frustrated if I was a Mavs fan, too.

Oh, and I lived in San Antonio for 11 years and have been a Spurs fan since I was about 3. Don't try to lump me in as any sort of bandwagoner.

ditto!!

[Rampage]

hahaha, oh man, i needed a laugh
hey man i want the cavs to win. the spurs are so boring

[Mavs Man]

Great, here we go again . . .

[MC KAos]

hey man i want the cavs to win. the spurs are so boring

thats your opinion and your entitled to it, i just thought it was funny someone picked the cavs because i dont think they have a chance in hell. But i wasnt calling you any names or anything.

[Yeagermeister]

thats your opinion and your entitled to it, i just thought it was funny someone picked the cavs because i dont think they have a chance in hell. But i wasnt calling you any names or anything.

I think the Cavs have a chance....a small one but it's a chance.

And IMO there is nothing wrong the the Spurs style. I'd rather watch them than some team that just comes down court jacking up three's.

[Mavs Man]

The Cavs have a serious chance . . . if Tim Duncan breaks his ankle.

I think the Spurs get a lot of flack because of their success. They're the NE Patriots of the NBA. They both have a no-nonsense coach (Pops is much more likeable, though), a great team leader surrounded by fundamentally sound role players, and they consistently draft smart. It's not sexy, but it works.

Avery has modeled the Mavs after the Spurs. They've had major disappointments the past two seasons, but they were also the most successful years in franchise history.

[sandy007]

I am cheering for the Cavs because I hope the city has no cheer duirng the NFL season.:D

[MC KAos]

I am cheering for the Cavs because I hope the city has no cheer duirng the NFL season.:D

haha, i just hope the city of cleveland has a horrendous next 11 months starting thursday

[Achozen]

Go Cavs!

[Mavs Man]

haha, i just hope the city of cleveland has a horrendous next 11 months starting thursday

Actually, they've already had an awful six months or so with both Ohio State football and basketball squads losing their respective national championship games.

Of course, the football team losing was much worse after being ranked #1 all year.

[peplaw06]

haha, i just hope the city of cleveland has a horrendous next 11 months starting thursday

Maybe between the Cavs and the Indians, all the good luck will be used up come Fall.

[MC KAos]

Maybe between the Cavs and the Indians, all the good luck will be used up come Fall.

well the cavs have used quite a bit of luck so far this season, from drawing the number 2 seed by having the bulls loose the last game of the season to the pistons pretty much not giving a crap. If the Cavs win any games this series it will be either game 1 OR game 3. If i was a cavs fan i wouldnt want them to win game 1, its the kiss of death for spurs opponents.

[Biggems]

those who call the Spurs boring are not fans of quality basketball. they tend to have short attention spans and long for Sportscenter highlights.

I find the Spurs very exciting. I love a team that can be so dominant defensively. Defense is my favorite part of the game. I love when the Cowboys have a dominant defense and I love the Spurs dominant defense. I love how, as a series progresses, the Spurs slowly constricts their opponents, until finally crushing them and suffocating them into submission and the death of their season (similar to the way a boa constrictor takes out its prey)

I love how on offense they can play any style......fast pace, slow pace, full court, half court, inside, outside......I love how they can take on and outplay an opponent when using the opponent's own style.

I love how they play their game and dictate their pace. I love how they force other teams to change instead of themselves changing their style.

I love a team that plays and wins with class, unselfishness, dignity, respect, and modesty. I love how on and off the court, the Spurs are quality guys, give back to the community, and are solid role models for children.

GO SPURS GO

[MC KAos]

those who call the Spurs boring are not fans of quality basketball. they tend to have short attention spans and long for Sportscenter highlights.

I find the Spurs very exciting. I love a team that can be so dominant defensively. Defense is my favorite part of the game. I love when the Cowboys have a dominant defense and I love the Spurs dominant defense. I love how, as a series progresses, the Spurs slowly constricts their opponents, until finally crushing them and suffocating them into submission and the death of their season (similar to the way a boa constrictor takes out its prey)

I love how on offense they can play any style......fast pace, slow pace, full court, half court, inside, outside......I love how they can take on and outplay an opponent when using the opponent's own style.

I love how they play their game and dictate their pace. I love how they force other teams to change instead of themselves changing their style.

I love a team that plays and wins with class, unselfishness, dignity, respect, and modesty. I love how on and off the court, the Spurs are quality guys, give back to the community, and are solid role models for children.

GO SPURS GO

:bow::bow::bow::bow:

[Rampage]

those who call the Spurs boring are not fans of quality basketball. they tend to have short attention spans and long for Sportscenter highlights.

I find the Spurs very exciting. I love a team that can be so dominant defensively. Defense is my favorite part of the game. I love when the Cowboys have a dominant defense and I love the Spurs dominant defense. I love how, as a series progresses, the Spurs slowly constricts their opponents, until finally crushing them and suffocating them into submission and the death of their season (similar to the way a boa constrictor takes out its prey)

I love how on offense they can play any style......fast pace, slow pace, full court, half court, inside, outside......I love how they can take on and outplay an opponent when using the opponent's own style.

I love how they play their game and dictate their pace. I love how they force other teams to change instead of themselves changing their style.

I love a team that plays and wins with class, unselfishness, dignity, respect, and modesty. I love how on and off the court, the Spurs are quality guys, give back to the community, and are solid role models for children.

GO SPURS GO
i respect them but dude they are boring. watching bruce bowen shutdown some superstar player for a posession is impressive......but not exciting. watching tim duncan hit bankers off the glass is impressive......but not exciting. you think they're exciting cause your a spurs fan

[MC KAos]

all good points, as a spurs fan i have a biased opinion but i love how the spurs play, its awesome. But at the same time when tony and manu are on fire there is no doubt in my mind its not boring to watch and that they both are very exciting players, hopefully people will see that in the finals.

[dargonking999]

Clevand in 5

[Yeagermeister]

all good points, as a spurs fan i have a biased opinion but i love how the spurs play, its awesome. But at the same time when tony and manu are on fire there is no doubt in my mind its not boring to watch and that they both are very exciting players, hopefully people will see that in the finals.

I'd much rather watch a team like the Spurs than some And1 wannabe team running up and down the court jacking up 3's and not playing D.

[Danny White]

For once, the Spurs won't be facing a team that has a huge free-throw shooting advantage over us.

It always killed me historically when we faced teams like the Suns and Mavericks and even the Pistons who seemed to make all of their FTs and then we brick shots down the stretch to make games closer than they should be.

But the Cavs appear to be a much worse FT shooting team. And James is under 70% just as Timmy is... what's more, James seems to miss clutch FTs just like Timmy.

So that's one X factor I won't have to sweat about.

[MC KAos]

For once, the Spurs won't be facing a team that has a huge free-throw shooting advantage over us.

It always killed me historically when we faced teams like the Suns and Mavericks and even the Pistons who seemed to make all of their FTs and then we brick shots down the stretch to make games closer than they should be.

But the Cavs appear to be a much worse FT shooting team. And James is under 70% just as Timmy is... what's more, James seems to miss clutch FTs just like Timmy.

So that's one X factor I won't have to sweat about.

actually tim usually misses FTs early in games but makes clutch ones, that the difference between him and lebron....right now

[dargonking999]

actually tim usually misses FTs early in games but makes clutch ones, that the difference between him and lebron....right now

You mean how Bron iced two free throws in Game 4 after Rip was trying to pull his little stunt?

[Danny White]

actually tim usually misses FTs early in games but makes clutch ones, that the difference between him and lebron....right now

I don't want to get into a squabble between Spurs fans here, but I think you're mistaken. Tim is not a clutch free throw shooter... and that's coming from one of his biggest fans.

[SA_Gunslinger]

Clevand in 5

:lmao2: :lmao: :lmao2:


yo, whatever you're smoking...pass that action my way. anything less than all 7 games for a cleveland win is wishful thinking.


:lmao2:

[SA_Gunslinger]

You mean how Bron iced two free throws in Game 4 after Rip was trying to pull his little stunt?

wake me when lebron wins something worth talking about.


right now, he's on par with the mavs. :lmao2:

[Mavs Man]

wake me when lebron wins something worth talking about.


right now, he's on par with the mavs. :lmao2:

:tongue:

Going into this series I don't think the Spurs have anything to worry about (things can change fast). But it's a little odd to disregard someone who's done so much with so little at his age.

You could say the Cavs "lucked" into a #2 seed. But you would then have to say the Spurs "lucked" into their match-ups with the Suns and the Jazz when the . . . the . . . you know . . . hadn't choked and would have been a much tougher WCF opponent. The Mavs are one of the few teams who really match up well with the Spurs. Who's to say that the Mavs wouldn't have played the same as in the GS series, but most likely it would have been a good series.

Make all the jokes you want, but this has been an unchallenged run for the Spurs. Or do you believe they are really that much better than last year's team and the Mavs and Suns are that much worse?

[Biggems]

i guess u missed the passing clinic they put on in game 2 of the WCF....man those were some sweet passes all game long.

[Bob Sacamano]

hey man i want the cavs to win. the spurs are so boring

how could anyone say that? when they have one of the best players, at least power forwards, of all-time, the quickest point guard in the league, and one of the most athletically gifted players in the entire league in Manu Ginobili, who when he is on his game is amazing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgBe8_GEvbU), they could beat you in a half-court set, they could beat you running, they could beat you from the perimeter, inside, the list goes on

I guess it's because they don't have anyone running around screaming and yelling and are so predictable...they just win championships

[Bob Sacamano]

Or do you believe they are really that much better than last year's team and the Mavs and Suns are that much worse?

I believe it's the Spurs being that much better because Tim is as healthy as he's ever been now

[Mavs Man]

I believe it's the Spurs being that much better because Tim is as healthy as he's ever been now

I agree with you to some extent. Duncan hobbled through last season and never really clicked until the second round of the playoffs. Plus, for the first time in years he had most of the summer off to heal.

But if that's the only difference, why did they finish five games worse than last year's mark?

[MC KAos]

You mean how Bron iced two free throws in Game 4 after Rip was trying to pull his little stunt?

no, i mean besides the one time he hit his free throws, botom line is that bron is not a clutch free throw shooter, or a clutch anything shooter.....YET!!...his most clutch plays have all been layups, like the two game winning layups in last years series against the wizards, or the game winning layup in game five vs. the pistons. And ya, that step back three was nice, but he wouldnt have air balled the next one if he was clutch. but again he is only 22 so he can still gain that killer instinct.

I don't want to get into a squabble between Spurs fans here, but I think you're mistaken. Tim is not a clutch free throw shooter... and that's coming from one of his biggest fans.

well, over the years in the playoffs he has increased his FT%, so id say thats pretty clutch there, and dont forget in game seven of the finals in 05 he hit 2 clutch free throws at the end of the game that helped seal it, that and ginobili's CRAZY GOOD PLAY!! and bowens SICK BLOCK of billups...just thought id throw that in there, bowen is sick!

[Bob Sacamano]

I agree with you to some extent. Duncan hobbled through last season and never really clicked until the second round of the playoffs. Plus, for the first time in years he had most of the summer off to heal.

But if that's the only difference, why did they finish five games worse than last year's mark?

idk, all that I know is that TD is healthy and the Spurs are in the Finals as opposed to last year

[Mavs Man]

idk, all that I know is that TD is healthy and the Spurs are in the Finals as opposed to last year

True, and the seven game improvement by the Mavs helped them not at all.

[kTXe]

:tongue:

Going into this series I don't think the Spurs have anything to worry about (things can change fast). But it's a little odd to disregard someone who's done so much with so little at his age.

You could say the Cavs "lucked" into a #2 seed. But you would then have to say the Spurs "lucked" into their match-ups with the Suns and the Jazz when the . . . the . . . you know . . . hadn't choked and would have been a much tougher WCF opponent. The Mavs are one of the few teams who really match up well with the Spurs. Who's to say that the Mavs wouldn't have played the same as in the GS series, but most likely it would have been a good series.

Make all the jokes you want, but this has been an unchallenged run for the Spurs. Or do you believe they are really that much better than last year's team and the Mavs and Suns are that much worse?
The Mavs scared the crap out of me this year. I don't think I have EVER rooted as hard for a team to lose as I did during the GS series...just because I knew the Mavs would give the Spurs fits.

I really think that the 2007 Mavs, Spurs, and Suns are all very similar to the 2006 versions. I don't think that the Spurs are significantly better than they were last year. Yes, Duncan struggled with plantar fasciitis in '06, but he was absolutely INCREDIBLE in the playoffs last year...especially in the Mavs series. His injury had nothing to do with why we lost.

I think that the Mavs were slightly better this year than last, but they just ran into a bad matchup and a complete buzzsaw in round 1 this year. I still can't really explain that series. I think that a rematch of Mavs-Spurs in the playoffs this year would have gone to the absolute brink.

As far as the Suns...the Spurs would have beat the crap out of them in the playoffs last year, too. The way that team is put together, they won't be beating the Spurs in a 7 game series any time soon.

It really just comes down to the Mavs being unlucky and drawing a first round team that was coming together at the perfect time and played a style that just perplexed Dallas. And I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. I lost about three years of my life watching the Mavs-Spurs series last year...I really didn't want to go through that again.

[SA_Gunslinger]

:Make all the jokes you want, but this has been an unchallenged run for the Spurs. Or do you believe they are really that much better than last year's team and the Mavs and Suns are that much worse?


i think it could have been a TOUGHER road, but i don't think it's been a total cakewalk. i'll give you utah, but denver was playing great at the end of the year and phoenix could win the title at any moment.

[SA_Gunslinger]

by the way...the spurs finally gave in.

all fans on thursday (me included! :D ) will be given white "go spurs go" shirts.

get ready for the white-out!

[MC KAos]

The Mavs scared the crap out of me this year. I don't think I have EVER rooted as hard for a team to lose as I did during the GS series...just because I knew the Mavs would give the Spurs fits.

I really think that the 2007 Mavs, Spurs, and Suns are all very similar to the 2006 versions. I don't think that the Spurs are significantly better than they were last year. Yes, Duncan struggled with plantar fasciitis in '06, but he was absolutely INCREDIBLE in the playoffs last year...especially in the Mavs series. His injury had nothing to do with why we lost.

I think that the Mavs were slightly better this year than last, but they just ran into a bad matchup and a complete buzzsaw in round 1 this year. I still can't really explain that series. I think that a rematch of Mavs-Spurs in the playoffs this year would have gone to the absolute brink.

As far as the Suns...the Spurs would have beat the crap out of them in the playoffs last year, too. The way that team is put together, they won't be beating the Spurs in a 7 game series any time soon.

It really just comes down to the Mavs being unlucky and drawing a first round team that was coming together at the perfect time and played a style that just perplexed Dallas. And I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. I lost about three years of my life watching the Mavs-Spurs series last year...I really didn't want to go through that again.

i think you made a good point about duncan playing great in the playoffs. However, i dont think the rest of the team had gotten acclimated to his more aggresive play after he had finally started to heal at the start of the playoffs. Also dont forget how banged up parker and ginobili were last year. Remember the nasty fall tony had in game 6 vs the kings? and ginobili was just hurt all year. But most importantly ginobili's confidence was shot to hell after the kevin martin steal.

[Mavs Man]

The Mavs scared the crap out of me this year. I don't think I have EVER rooted as hard for a team to lose as I did during the GS series...just because I knew the Mavs would give the Spurs fits.

I really think that the 2007 Mavs, Spurs, and Suns are all very similar to the 2006 versions. I don't think that the Spurs are significantly better than they were last year. Yes, Duncan struggled with plantar fasciitis in '06, but he was absolutely INCREDIBLE in the playoffs last year...especially in the Mavs series. His injury had nothing to do with why we lost.

I think that the Mavs were slightly better this year than last, but they just ran into a bad matchup and a complete buzzsaw in round 1 this year. I still can't really explain that series. I think that a rematch of Mavs-Spurs in the playoffs this year would have gone to the absolute brink.

As far as the Suns...the Spurs would have beat the crap out of them in the playoffs last year, too. The way that team is put together, they won't be beating the Spurs in a 7 game series any time soon.

It really just comes down to the Mavs being unlucky and drawing a first round team that was coming together at the perfect time and played a style that just perplexed Dallas. And I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. I lost about three years of my life watching the Mavs-Spurs series last year...I really didn't want to go through that again.

After the shock has worn off a bit, I agree with you that it was more wrong team, wrong time, than anything - but two years in a row is a double stomach punch for Mavs fans. They changed too much of their game to suit the Warriors - HUGE no-no for a 67 win team. No excuse for that.

If it makes you feel any better I lost about a year of my life with the Mavs-Spurs series last year. Every game was so friggin' close I felt like my insides were dissolving from stomach ulcers. I didn't sleep much that week. Up, down, up, down like a rollercoaster. Then the Mavs go down by three with seconds left in game seven. It's over. In my years as a fan I've watched so many games that were SO close and usually my team 90% of the time doesn't pull it out. It just doesn't happen that often. But that was one of those 10% times - the times that hook you and keep you watching.

The 2006 BCS game was another one.

I remember thinking before that series "man we caught a break" with Duncan's injury. But, as it always happens, he was at full health by then. His numbers in that series were WAYYYY up from his "lowly" regular season numbers (it was still like a 19 and 9). But even if the Mavs had lost, I'm glad he was at full health. With teams like that, you don't want to win and have excuses, and as a fan, you want to see them go at full strength. That was a great, great series, and could have gone either way.

[kTXe]

After the shock has worn off a bit, I agree with you that it was more wrong team, wrong time, than anything - but two years in a row is a double stomach punch for Mavs fans. They changed too much of their game to suit the Warriors - HUGE no-no for a 67 win team. No excuse for that.
I definitely agree. The small-ball lineup Avery trotted out there for game 1 was just a bad omen for the series. Plus, I forgot to mention how big Don Nelson's role was in that series. I guarantee that he had his team 100% convinced that they could beat the Mavs after game 1. Nelson knowing that Mavs team inside and out could have been the most important factor in the series.

If it makes you feel any better I lost about a year of my life with the Mavs-Spurs series last year. Every game was so friggin' close I felt like my insides were dissolving from stomach ulcers. I didn't sleep much that week. Up, down, up, down like a rollercoaster. Then the Mavs go down by three with seconds left in game seven. It's over. In my years as a fan I've watched so many games that were SO close and usually my team 90% of the time doesn't pull it out. It just doesn't happen that often. But that was one of those 10% times - the times that hook you and keep you watching.

The 2006 BCS game was another one.

I remember thinking before that series "man we caught a break" with Duncan's injury. But, as it always happens, he was at full health by then. His numbers in that series were WAYYYY up from his "lowly" regular season numbers (it was still like a 19 and 9). But even if the Mavs had lost, I'm glad he was at full health. With teams like that, you don't want to win and have excuses, and as a fan, you want to see them go at full strength. That was a great, great series, and could have gone either way.
I will admit that a (small) part of me really wanted to see Mavs-Spurs again this year. That series, while one of the most gut-wrenching things I have ever seen, was absolutely incredible. It was without a doubt one of the most exciting playoff series I have ever seen. And game 7, WOW is all I can say. What a game.

Still, the bigger part of me knew that the Mavs were the main ro to the Spurs title run and was glad to see them go.

[peplaw06]

no, i mean besides the one time he hit his free throws, botom line is that bron is not a clutch free throw shooter, or a clutch anything shooter.....YET!!...his most clutch plays have all been layups, like the two game winning layups in last years series against the wizards, or the game winning layup in game five vs. the pistons. And ya, that step back three was nice, but he wouldnt have air balled the next one if he was clutch. but again he is only 22 so he can still gain that killer instinct. I don't care if you shoot 50% on free throws, if you score 29 of your team's last 30 points in the 4th and OT, you're pretty clutch.

[MC KAos]

I don't care if you shoot 50% on free throws, if you score 29 of your team's last 30 points in the 4th and OT, you're pretty clutch.

i just dont think you are a clutch player till you do that multiple times, as of right now i consider that an EXTREMELY clutch performance, but he is not a clutch player, yet, in my book. But again, i think he might get there some day. i love his attitude about the game, its very spurs like.

[Biggems]

:tongue:

Going into this series I don't think the Spurs have anything to worry about (things can change fast). But it's a little odd to disregard someone who's done so much with so little at his age.

You could say the Cavs "lucked" into a #2 seed. But you would then have to say the Spurs "lucked" into their match-ups with the Suns and the Jazz when the . . . the . . . you know . . . hadn't choked and would have been a much tougher WCF opponent. The Mavs are one of the few teams who really match up well with the Spurs. Who's to say that the Mavs wouldn't have played the same as in the GS series, but most likely it would have been a good series.

Make all the jokes you want, but this has been an unchallenged run for the Spurs. Or do you believe they are really that much better than last year's team and the Mavs and Suns are that much worse?

I can agree with your assessment on lucking into the Jazz, but not the Suns. How can you say the Spurs lucked their way into a matchup with the Suns? Suns were #2 and the Spurs were #3....they were in the same bracket and thus had to meet in the second round if they both won their first round matchups.

Also, I wouldn't say Cleveland lucked into the #2 seed. Here are why two reasons why.... 1. Cleveland and Chicago played one another in the last week or two of the season. The winner of that game had the inside track on the #2 seed. The Cavs rolled the Bulls. 2. All Chicago had to do was win the final game of the season, and they win the #2 seed. New Jersey really had nothing to play for, but Chicago had so much. The Bulls came out and laid a big, fat, smelly egg....lost the game, and thus lost the #2 seed. There was no luck at all for Cleveland. They handled their business accordingly, while the Bulls on two separate occasions, failed to get the job done.

Now to say the Spurs have been unchallenged is insane. The Nuggets were a physical team. They were big on the interior and had the top scoring duo in the league. The Spurs won the series in 5 games, but each game was tough, physical, and intense. The Suns had the second best record in the NBA. They possess the most potent offense in the league. The Spurs took the #1 defense and defeated, once again, the top ranked offense. It was another physical, intense, and tough series. Then came the Jazz. Now I will say that Utah was a much easier opponent than Dallas would have been, but the Spurs couldn't control that.

The Spurs are more battle tested than the Cavs however. Washington was missing Arenas and Butler. They also had their two starting Centers fighting with each other. They were doomed before they started. Cleveland could have beaten them with their cheerleaders. The Nets were really no match either, especially with Vince Carter being hurt. I will say Detroit was a tough opponent. However, Cleveland found a way to beat the Pistons. Once Detroit felt a little pressure, they crumbled. They lost composure (starting with Sheed)...They lost their edge....Instead of showing the heart of a Champion....they turned into the Suns and whined and moaned when any little thing went against them. Cleveland, instead held their composure, stepped up, and put the dagger into the hearts of the Pistons.

Spurs in 5.....

GO SPURS GO

[Mavs Man]

I can agree with your assessment on lucking into the Jazz, but not the Suns. How can you say the Spurs lucked their way into a matchup with the Suns? Suns were #2 and the Spurs were #3....they were in the same bracket and thus had to meet in the second round if they both won their first round matchups.

Also, I wouldn't say Cleveland lucked into the #2 seed. Here are why two reasons why.... 1. Cleveland and Chicago played one another in the last week or two of the season. The winner of that game had the inside track on the #2 seed. The Cavs rolled the Bulls. 2. All Chicago had to do was win the final game of the season, and they win the #2 seed. New Jersey really had nothing to play for, but Chicago had so much. The Bulls came out and laid a big, fat, smelly egg....lost the game, and thus lost the #2 seed. There was no luck at all for Cleveland. They handled their business accordingly, while the Bulls on two separate occasions, failed to get the job done.

Now to say the Spurs have been unchallenged is insane. The Nuggets were a physical team. They were big on the interior and had the top scoring duo in the league. The Spurs won the series in 5 games, but each game was tough, physical, and intense. The Suns had the second best record in the NBA. They possess the most potent offense in the league. The Spurs took the #1 defense and defeated, once again, the top ranked offense. It was another physical, intense, and tough series. Then came the Jazz. Now I will say that Utah was a much easier opponent than Dallas would have been, but the Spurs couldn't control that.

The Spurs are more battle tested than the Cavs however. Washington was missing Arenas and Butler. They also had their two starting Centers fighting with each other. They were doomed before they started. Cleveland could have beaten them with their cheerleaders. The Nets were really no match either, especially with Vince Carter being hurt. I will say Detroit was a tough opponent. However, Cleveland found a way to beat the Pistons. Once Detroit felt a little pressure, they crumbled. They lost composure (starting with Sheed)...They lost their edge....Instead of showing the heart of a Champion....they turned into the Suns and whined and moaned when any little thing went against them. Cleveland, instead held their composure, stepped up, and put the dagger into the hearts of the Pistons.

Spurs in 5.....

GO SPURS GO

I didn't say the Spurs were lucky to draw the Suns (or if I did, that was not my intent). That was a response to philly if I remember right, but saying one team or another was "lucky" (why I put quotation marks around it) was a response to MC Kaos saying the Cavs were lucky to draw the number two seed.

I'm not taking anything away from the Spurs, but Suns/Jazz was much easier than Suns/Mavs. If I were a Spurs fan, I would be perfectly happy with that draw. You own the Suns, and the Jazz are a young team. Compare that to the Mavs last year, who played the (record-wise) best first round opponent despite the second-best record in the league, then the Spurs on the road, and then the Suns.

[peplaw06]

I can agree with your assessment on lucking into the Jazz, but not the Suns. How can you say the Spurs lucked their way into a matchup with the Suns? Suns were #2 and the Spurs were #3....they were in the same bracket and thus had to meet in the second round if they both won their first round matchups.

They didn't luck into a matchup with the Suns, but you can't deny they got a little lucky in that series.

I know it sucks because it's not in the Spurs control, but there was a terrible taste in everyone's mouths from what went down. That series could have been a great one, instead there was controversy.

[Rampage]

cavs will win tonight. eva longoria is a jinx

[Danny White]

cavs will win tonight. eva longoria is a jinx

OK, I'll bite.... how is she a jinx?

She's been to just about every playoff game this year, and her presence doesn't seem to result in losses.

Also, she's been rooting for the team for years, including at least their last two championships.

If anything, she's been a good luck charm.

Do you have anything solid here, or are you just agitating?

[Danny White]

FWIW, Mike D'Antoni picks the Spurs to win it all....

June 07, 2007
Suns coach says Spurs will sizzle

Count Mike D'Antoni among those predicting the Spurs will win their fourth NBA title.

"I think San Antonio is the better team," the Phoenix Suns coach said Thursday morning. "It's the first time Cleveland's been there. San Antonio has won three championships. I would think San Antonio would beat them. Anything could happen. But five or six games, San Antonio should win."

D'Antoni's comments came on "Out of Bounds" on Fox with hosts Craig Shemon and former Dallas Cowboys safety James Washington. The show, heard locally on Ticket 760-AM, moved from Los Angeles to San Antonio this week for the Finals and is broadcasting from the Westin Riverwalk.

D'Antoni said Cleveland's chances of winning hinge on whether LeBron James can lift his teammates.

"If he comes out with confidence and can rally the other guys," the Cavs have a chance, D'Antoni said. "If he shows any signs of being hesitant or being overwhelmed by anything, then the other guys will kind of follow suit...But I don't think the atmosphere is going to affect them. San Antonio might affect them, but I don't think (the Cavs) will wilt under the pressure."

Still, D'Antoni, who Suns lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, thinks the Spurs will prevail.

"San Antonio is probably better than anybody in the league right now," D'Antoni said. "They just have an edge to them. They know how to win. It should be a great series, but San Antonio is clearly the best team."

I couldn't agree more, Mike. The Spurs' greatest strength is their mental toughness, which stems from coach Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan. In the end, that should be enough to carry them past a Cavs team that many observers think is just happy to be here.

[Mavs Man]

I see LeBron getting some calls thrown his way in Cleveland that could make the series interesting, but it's crazy talk to think the Spurs won't easily handle the Cavs in this series. Just too much of a mismatch in talent, in postseason opponents, playoff experience, coaching (huge advantage), and the fact that the Spurs are currently on a 37-6 run (including three cruise control losses to end the season).

[Signals]

who would have thunk it?


make your picks!

i got SPURS IN FIVE.

I was just watching the beginning of game one on ABC and thinking the same thing and then I saw this thread.

Spurs in five. :D

[Danny White]

Interesting beginning... both teams come out red hot, showing no rust, and then cool off considerably.

Let's see how they both play after halftime adjustments.

[Danny White]

Good solid win by the Spurs on a night when they weren't at their best.

It was smart of them to let the Cavs back into it in the end there to keep public interest in the series. ;)

How was the crowd phillycowboy? They seemed pretty good, especially when the Spurs went on their run at the end of the 3rd/beginning of 4th, but were affected all in all by the Spurs somewhat uneven play.

[MC KAos]

i was dissappointed in the way we played in the fourth, lebron should have ended with only 8 points in this game

[kTXe]

Disappointing that EVERY player outside of the big 3 struggled tonight, but I will certainly take the win.

3 to go.

[Bob Sacamano]

this isn't going to be much of a series, for Cleveland it's 'bron and maybe someone else might show up, every, other night

btw, anyone else tired of seeing Lebron brick fadeaway 3's? Kobe's a master at it, 'bron just plain sucks at it

[Mavs Man]

this isn't going to be much of a series, for Cleveland it's 'bron and maybe someone else might show up, every, other night

btw, anyone else tired of seeing Lebron brick fadeaway 3's? Kobe's a master at it, 'bron just plain sucks at it

I'm guessing that will improve. Jordan didn't start out a great 3 point shooter, either.

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm guessing that will improve. Jordan didn't start out a great 3 point shooter, either.

it might, but he should stop for now until it does improve, he just looks awful

[Mavs Man]

it might, but he should stop for now until it does improve, he just looks awful

Point taken.

[SA_Gunslinger]

great times.

happy birthday to me. :D


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/marv41/HPIM2713.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c333/marv41/HPIM2776.jpg

[Achozen]

Ha, that guy in the back has a number 69 jersey, what a tool.

[Biggems]

They didn't luck into a matchup with the Suns, but you can't deny they got a little lucky in that series.

I know it sucks because it's not in the Spurs control, but there was a terrible taste in everyone's mouths from what went down. That series could have been a great one, instead there was controversy.

They didn't get lucky. They won the series in 6 games. They outsmarted the Suns in every aspect. They used mental warfare against the likes of DAntoni and Amare, and both took the bait. Amare was more concerned with crying about this and that, instead of playing. Oh and the Robert Horry thing, Nash made it look worse than it was, with his masterful flop. Nash got his team all riled up, Bell went at Horry making it an altercation, and then those Super Geniuses Amare and Diaw left the bench to get into the fray. Horry used psychological warfare and the Suns lost that battle easily.

It isn't about luck as much as it is about mental toughness, experience, and basketball IQ....and the Spurs destroy the Suns in all 3.

Also, in games 5 and 6, the refs stopped buying into Raja Bell's flopping and flailing act. He was no longer getting those bogus calls and he became frustrated. You could see it in his play.

Steve Nash is not known for defense. What happens the two times he decides to play in your face defense? He gets a busted nose (nash initiated the contact) and a knee to the sac (not bowen's fault that his knee is the same height as Nash's jewels). He picked the wrong time to try and pretend to be an on the ball defender that is for sure.

BTW, a great defense beats a great offense 9 out of 10 times.

[Danny White]

Disappointing that EVERY player outside of the big 3 struggled tonight, but I will certainly take the win.

3 to go.

I'd add Bowen to the positive side of the ledger... he had a very good game on both ends of the court. He hit his open shots and played lights out, harassing defense.

[Danny White]

No poster for you tonight, LeBron...

http://www.nba.com/media/james_Bowen_TD_070607.jpg

http://www.mysanantonio.com/multimedia/slideshows/show_1674/GAME-1-CAVALIERS-SPURS-5.jpg

[Mavs Man]

They didn't get lucky. They won the series in 6 games. They outsmarted the Suns in every aspect. They used mental warfare against the likes of DAntoni and Amare, and both took the bait. Amare was more concerned with crying about this and that, instead of playing. Oh and the Robert Horry thing, Nash made it look worse than it was, with his masterful flop. Nash got his team all riled up, Bell went at Horry making it an altercation, and then those Super Geniuses Amare and Diaw left the bench to get into the fray. Horry used psychological warfare and the Suns lost that battle easily.

It isn't about luck as much as it is about mental toughness, experience, and basketball IQ....and the Spurs destroy the Suns in all 3.

Also, in games 5 and 6, the refs stopped buying into Raja Bell's flopping and flailing act. He was no longer getting those bogus calls and he became frustrated. You could see it in his play.

Steve Nash is not known for defense. What happens the two times he decides to play in your face defense? He gets a busted nose (nash initiated the contact) and a knee to the sac (not bowen's fault that his knee is the same height as Nash's jewels). He picked the wrong time to try and pretend to be an on the ball defender that is for sure.

BTW, a great defense beats a great offense 9 out of 10 times.

Keep in mind I picked the Spurs to win that series, but you can't say the two suspensions for games five made no difference on the series. I know, people will say the Suns came out firing in game five. They also ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. I'm not saying they got robbed, because Stern had to suspend them based on precedent. But that changed the series and you have to take that into account. The Suns were stupid in getting on the court because they should know not to, but the rule is a bit strong for non-contact.

And, not to start a flame war here, but you mention several Suns flops while Manu Ginobili is on your team. :huh:

[peplaw06]

They didn't get lucky. They won the series in 6 games. They outsmarted the Suns in every aspect. They used mental warfare against the likes of DAntoni and Amare, and both took the bait. Amare was more concerned with crying about this and that, instead of playing. Oh and the Robert Horry thing, Nash made it look worse than it was, with his masterful flop. Nash got his team all riled up, Bell went at Horry making it an altercation, and then those Super Geniuses Amare and Diaw left the bench to get into the fray. Horry used psychological warfare and the Suns lost that battle easily.

It isn't about luck as much as it is about mental toughness, experience, and basketball IQ....and the Spurs destroy the Suns in all 3.

Also, in games 5 and 6, the refs stopped buying into Raja Bell's flopping and flailing act. He was no longer getting those bogus calls and he became frustrated. You could see it in his play.

Steve Nash is not known for defense. What happens the two times he decides to play in your face defense? He gets a busted nose (nash initiated the contact) and a knee to the sac (not bowen's fault that his knee is the same height as Nash's jewels). He picked the wrong time to try and pretend to be an on the ball defender that is for sure.

BTW, a great defense beats a great offense 9 out of 10 times.

:lmao2:

Someone's delusional. Mental warfare?? So Horry ran over Steve Nash because he knew Amare and Boris would leave the bench and get suspended for a game in effect negating his 2 game suspension? That's not IQ, that's clairevoyance.

The Spurs were never at fault for anything according to you. I never thought I'd see anyone give Horry a pass, but you have done it. Congratulations Sir, you have reached a new low.

[kTXe]

I'd add Bowen to the positive side of the ledger... he had a very good game on both ends of the court. He hit his open shots and played lights out, harassing defense.
Very true. It's at the point that I almost take Bowen for granted because he never really seems to have an off game on the defensive end of the court.

Overall, like others have said, it was an average game for the Spurs. And that has to scare the piss out of the Cavs.

[zrinkill]

People are still crying about the Suns stupid players?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/zrinkill/cartman_tears.gif

[MC KAos]

:lmao2:

Someone's delusional. Mental warfare?? So Horry ran over Steve Nash because he knew Amare and Boris would leave the bench and get suspended for a game in effect negating his 2 game suspension? That's not IQ, that's clairevoyance.

The Spurs were never at fault for anything according to you. I never thought I'd see anyone give Horry a pass, but you have done it. Congratulations Sir, you have reached a new low.

Keep in mind I picked the Spurs to win that series, but you can't say the two suspensions for games five made no difference on the series. I know, people will say the Suns came out firing in game five. They also ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. I'm not saying they got robbed, because Stern had to suspend them based on precedent. But that changed the series and you have to take that into account. The Suns were stupid in getting on the court because they should know not to, but the rule is a bit strong for non-contact.

And, not to start a flame war here, but you mention several Suns flops while Manu Ginobili is on your team. :huh:

all i have to say about the suspensions is that people should realise just how RETARDED amare stoudamire is, he has like a 60 IQ! its not surprising he ran onto the court and got his *** suspended! but really, people need to get over that, on pti they were talking about "oh the suns should be in the finals" well...

a)is that wishful thinking so lebron can have 1,000,000,000,000 points against their hidious D?
b)who the hell says the suns would have won game 5 even with amare? they lost 3 games WITH amare and diaw, so what makes them think game five was gonna be any different?
c)these mediots need to get over the suns and move on with their lives, its not like the spurs all of the sudden beat the suns out of the blue. The truth of the matter is that the spurs have POWNED the suns for the last 3 years since nash has been there(coinsidence?)

[MC KAos]

Disappointing that EVERY player outside of the big 3 struggled tonight, but I will certainly take the win.

3 to go.

elson had some decent plays here and there, and bruce had a good game as well, specially with those 2 timely threes. Vaugh also did ok, although i think i loose a year off of my life every time he takes a shot. But all that being said, Fab and Finley HAVE to step up their game! and why are we not seeing the sweet plays where gino dribbled in between "boobies" legs, TWICE! and then took it coast to coast for a layup on a defenseless lebron? talk about biased media(on highlights that is)

ps i think the spurs would get better ratings if the nba didnt spend their money advertising stars instead of teams, like the nfl does.

[peplaw06]

all i have to say about the suspensions is that people should realise just how RETARDED amare stoudamire is, he has like a 60 IQ! its not surprising he ran onto the court and got his *** suspended! but really, people need to get over that, on pti they were talking about "oh the suns should be in the finals" well...

a)is that wishful thinking so lebron can have 1,000,000,000,000 points against their hidious D?
b)who the hell says the suns would have won game 5 even with amare? they lost 3 games WITH amare and diaw, so what makes them think game five was gonna be any different?
c)these mediots need to get over the suns and move on with their lives, its not like the spurs all of the sudden beat the suns out of the blue. The truth of the matter is that the spurs have POWNED the suns for the last 3 years since nash has been there(coinsidence?)

Who cares how smart Amare is? I'm sure every NBA player is a Rocket Surgeon outside of Stoudemire:rolleyes:

And I wasn't even talking about the merits of the suspensions, nor did I say the Suns would have won. All I was commenting on was the luck the Spurs have had these playoffs... that and the pollyannish post by biggems where every incident in these playoffs involving the Spurs has been someone else's fault.

[SA_Gunslinger]

maybe the spurs were lucky....maybe the mavs just suck.

[MC KAos]

Who cares how smart Amare is? I'm sure every NBA player is a Rocket Surgeon outside of Stoudemire:rolleyes:

And I wasn't even talking about the merits of the suspensions, nor did I say the Suns would have won. All I was commenting on was the luck the Spurs have had these playoffs... that and the pollyannish post by biggems where every incident in these playoffs involving the Spurs has been someone else's fault.

i wasnt refering to you specifically in that post, more to the media people like michael wilbon who just wont let it go.

maybe the spurs were lucky....maybe the mavs just suck.

:lmao2::lmao2:

[peplaw06]

maybe the spurs were lucky....maybe the mavs just suck.:rolleyes:

This doesn't have anything to do with the Mavs. Guess you don't have an on-point rebuttal? Good... I'll count you as in agreement.

Though I'm sure you're glad the Spurs didn't have to face the Mavs.

i wasnt refering to you specifically in that post, more to the media people like michael wilbon who just wont let it go.
You quoted me... I responded.

[Mavs Man]

I don't know why I keep trying on here.

This has been taken waaaayyy past what I said.

[Mavs Man]

Why does the NBA persist in stretching out playoff series? Why is there a three day span between games one and two, and then only a two day turnaround after the series goes to Cleveland? It messes with the momentum of a series to have so much down time between games.

[SA_Gunslinger]

Why does the NBA persist in stretching out playoff series? Why is there a three day span between games one and two, and then only a two day turnaround after the series goes to Cleveland? It messes with the momentum of a series to have so much down time between games.


it picks up after this lull.

it's pretty much every other day after this break.

[Mavs Man]

it picks up after this lull.

it's pretty much every other day after this break.

Yeah. But even in the first round it'll be like Saturday, Tuesday, Sunday, etc. Way too long in between games, imo.

[MC KAos]

ya, i think what they should do instead of having them play thursday sunday tuesday thursday etc. is they should start on a friday, then play sunday, wednesday, friday sunday, etc. that way you....

a)have two games on the weekends instead of one
b)have two days off in between travel days instead of the retarded way they have it now(2 days off in between games 1 and 2 but only 1 day off before game 3)

but ya, the long stretches without games kills me, but having an old team like we do it helps out a lot!

[SA_Gunslinger]

Yeah. But even in the first round it'll be like Saturday, Tuesday, Sunday, etc. Way too long in between games, imo.

oh god, the first round ALWAYS drags. i agree.

i hate it.

[Biggems]

i respect them but dude they are boring. watching bruce bowen shutdown some superstar player for a posession is impressive......but not exciting. watching tim duncan hit bankers off the glass is impressive......but not exciting. you think they're exciting cause your a spurs fan

well u obviously are not a fan of lockdown defense. I on the other hand, am a fan of it. I love watching my team put the opponent through 5-6 minute scoring droughts game after game after game. I love watching them methodically wear down the opponent and make them ultimately submit. In a chess match of wills, my team is superior and I love it.

GO SPURS GO

[SA_Gunslinger]

well u obviously are not a fan of lockdown defense. I on the other hand, am a fan of it. I love watching my team put the opponent through 5-6 minute scoring droughts game after game after game. I love watching them methodically wear down the opponent and make them ultimately submit. In a chess match of wills, my team is superior and I love it.

GO SPURS GO


that's the difference between spurs fans and the rest of the nba.

spurs fans enjoy fundamental team basketball that produces wins.

the rest of the nba would rather be on sportscenter.


you guys keep watching sportscenter...we'll keep having river parades.


:)

[Danny White]

Wow, so I decided to watch the Sopranos finale and catch up with the game on TIVO, and I find myself in the middle of a 20+ point rout.

This series is OVER.

[MC KAos]

here is a nice article written by sean elliott

June 10, 2007

Image Isn't Everything

It just astonishes me when I still see people calling the Spurs boring. What team are you talking about? It can't be this one.

Now, I don't even want to watch old tapes of our 1999 team. It might put me to sleep.
But if you're saying that about this team, you're just repeating something that you've heard. The media is as guilty of it as anyone. They keep perpetuating the myth.

Yeah, it irritates me. It irritates me because it promotes ignorance. And I think that when you perpetuate that, it shows you haven't taken the time to watch the team.

I worked at ESPN for two years, and when I got there, people were asking me about the Spurs. I found that a lot of those guys there knew their teams, particularly in the East, but when they looked out West the only team they knew was the Lakers. I also kept hearing about Kevin Garnett with all the commercials and the chest-beating, and Timmy Duncan isn't any of that. So, for me, it was one-on-20, defending him and the Spurs.

I mean, really, let's look at it. You have this great team on the floor, playing ego-less, selfless basketball. You have a guy so sound fundamentally that you put taller, more athletic guys on him and he still destroys them. On top of that, the Spurs have two exciting backcourt players in Tony and Manu. And you have Bruce, who puts so much more pride in his defense that other coaches in the league can't beg their players to put that much of it on the floor.

We have an endearing team, with a lot of endearing qualities.

And you call it boring?

Here's a great story as an example: About three years ago, I was on vacation with my beautiful wife, Claudia. I was on the golf course, and there was a funny area in how the hole was set up, where you could hit toward your green, and it was next to an area where someone was hitting back toward a green that was near my tee box.

I hit the ball just outside of the hole. I went looking for it, because I had hit the ball left and close to the other fairway. Someone else had hit my ball to his green. I heard someone yell, "I'm sorry, I hit your ball." He picks it up and throws it to me from like 100 yards away.

First off, I thought, that voice sounds familiar. Second, he threw the ball so effortlessly. Sure enough, it was (New England Patriots quarterback) Tom Brady. My wife almost had a fit.

He ended up riding back in the hotel van with us, me and him and my wife and his girlfriend at the time, Bridget Moynahan. He was telling me how much he enjoyed watching our team and enjoying our guys on the team.

He said he had a tough time watching NBA basketball because he didn't find it endearing. As a player, he understands egos and mentalities, and he certainly understands how hard it is to win a championship.

It's why he enjoyed the Spurs.

It's why I have a hard time understanding why we keep hearing this team is boring,

Memory Lane

My first year at ESPN, I was an analyst for LeBron James' first game. I said during his rookie year that he was the best player in the Eastern Conference, and I had plenty of people around me who argued against me on the East Coast.

But I had seen enough of him to know.

It reminds me that ESPN was covering his first game, and I'm telling you right now that ESPN made a classic mistake. It was the second game in a doubleheader, and the first game was Orlando at New York, and that game went overtime. You had basically two teams in Orlando and New York that were going absolutely nowhere and fast.

Instead of switching over and carrying LeBron's first minute in the NBA, they chose to stay with the OT game. By the time TV coverage had come to us, about three-quarters of the way through the first quarter, LeBron had already put on an unbelievable show.

By the time we went to the first timeout, people in Sacramento were already buzzing. There were spectacular steals, dishes, about three or four dunks and fantastic playing. I'm sitting there with Dan Majerle and Brad Nessler, and the three of us were just looking at us like, "Is this a joke?" It was unbelievable.

And the rest of the country missed out on it, unless you watched the re-airing at 2 in the morning.

But, hey, we've all done stupid things.

One of my stupid things I did on the air was at ESPN when I called Doug Collins a mediocre player. At the break, our stat guy informed me that he'd been a multiple All-Star, the first pick of the draft. I immediately wanted to regurgitate my size-14 Donald Pliner shoes. I felt really stupid.

In Defense of Bruce

For Bruce Bowen not to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, after all these years, is another thing that's just plain stupid.

I've told this story numerous times during telecasts. My senior year in high school, Arizona coach Lute Olson came to watch me play. I had like 30-something points, 14 or 15 rebounds and nine blocked shots.

He called the next day and said, "You played pretty well, but I've got to get you to play some defense." My reaction, in my head, was, "What do you mean? I had nine blocks." But I learned quickly my first two weeks of practice at Arizona that defense isn't defined by blocking shots. It's just one nuance of the game.

This year, the media picked a shot-blocker (Denver's Marcus Camby) on a team that was 27th or 28th in the league in defense. Yes, he blocked some shots, but you're going to block a lot of shots when guys are blowing past your perimeter defenders.

Bruce had a game earlier this year (against Portland) where he guarded everyone from Zach Randolph to Brandon Roy. He guarded (positions) 1 through 5 that game. In the past few weeks, he's guarded Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and did the best job any of us have ever seen on Steve Nash.

He helped slow Deron Williams, and now is being asked to guard LeBron James. There's not a defender in the league who is asked to do that.

Everybody goes out there and practices jump shots, layups and dunks, but who goes out there and practices defense? It's about effort and working hard, and it's not glamorous.

A Golden Rule

I happened to run into Commissioner David Stern at an NBA reception for Game 1, and we talked about his decision on the rule that states no players can leave the bench during an altercation on the floor. What still totally boggles my mind about the entire situation, and it's what I told him, is that for some reason people in Phoenix forgot that that rule has been in place for years.

The media did such a disservice to the fans in this situation. They called for common sense, called for the commissioner to take a look at it and have leniency for those two guys. Maybe it was because the series was a fantastic series. But at the same time, what fans and media did was perpetuate the idea that this was a stupid rule.

Let me tell you, as a player that rule is etched in your mind. It's not only etched in there, it's hammered into your head every year. It's not an unknown rule. It may be an unknown rule to fans, but to players it's as second nature as not moving your pivot foot.

Furthermore, that rule has kept more altercations from happening than it has suspended players, or kept players out of games. To call it a stupid rule, especially being a player and calling it that, is being a little disingenuous.

So make no mistake: That rule is very, very well-known to players.

Obviously, it's hard for me to be unbiased in this situation, but as a player, the first thing I thought about was I can remember numerous times where things were going on on the court and we all looked at each other and said, "I'm not going out there."

People forget about the altercation this year with Denver and New York. As rowdy as that one got, the New York Knicks bench stayed put. And that altercation was way more ferocious than what happened here.

The rule was solidified after the Competition Committee didn't amend it last week.

link: http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/elliott/

[Danny White]

Nice job by the spurs again to try to keep public interest in the series by making it look close at the end. ;)

Anyone think the Cavs win one in Cleveland?

[Mavs Man]

Nice job by the spurs again to try to keep public interest in the series by making it look close at the end. ;)

Anyone think the Cavs win one in Cleveland?

During the rout, I'd say no. But after that comeback I'm going to go out on a limb and upgrade that to a maybe-possibly-could be-might-take one.

[Mavs Man]

here is a nice article written by sean elliott

June 10, 2007

Image Isn't Everything

<snip>

Bill Simmons for ESPN Page 2 wrote a similar article about a week ago. Other than a couple teams like the Suns and Mavs I don't know of better teams to watch than the Spurs for the West. You think the Jazz or Rockets would be more exciting? Other than games five and six (because of LeBron) the Cavs-Pistons series was sloppy and poorly executed. Like my mama always said, I'll take good basketball over bad basketball every day of the week.

[big dog cowboy]

Anyone think the Cavs win one in Cleveland?
Probably. But really, does it matter?

[Signals]

Missed the end, what was the final?

[Mavs Man]

By the way, I think it's time to break out the Denny Green:

http://www1.whdh.com/images/news_articles/389x205/061017_dennis_green.jpg

"The Spurs are who we thought they were. They're who we thought they were. That's why we took the [bleep] field. If you wanna crown 'em, then crown their [bleep]. THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!"

[Danny White]

103-92... Spurs put a lousy lineup in during the 4th and let the Cavs back into it. Then they put the starters back in and they were a little cold. But in the end, Parker and Ginobili hit some key shots and kept it from getting any closer than 8.

[Mavs Man]

Missed the end, what was the final?

103-92. The Spurs were up by 29 in the third and 27 in the fourth. The Cavs eventually cut the lead to eight points with three minutes left and the ball, but the Spurs got the ball back and Ginobili made a four point play to clinch it.

[SA_Gunslinger]

this series is a JOKE.

:lmao:



my team is AWESOME and i LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:bow:

[kTXe]

I swear, I want the Spurs to finish out one game, JUST ONE GAME, on a strong note. When they got it down to 10 with about 6 mins left, I just about sh** a brick. I really do think the Cavs win one in Cleveland (I'm gonna go with game 4). I'm sticking with my prediction: Spurs in 5.

[DallasCowpoke]

Anyone think the Cavs win one in Cleveland?

Ummm........ no!

http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/contractor-broom.jpg

[Mavs Man]

I don't think the Spurs will do so this year, but they have a disturbing precedent of giving away games three (and sometimes four) after going up 2-0 in playoff series.

2005 NBA Finals
Game 1: SAS 84, DET 69
Game 2: SAS 97, DET 76
Game 3: DET 96, SAS 79
Game 4: DET 102, SAS 71
Game 5: SAS 96, DET 95 (OT) *The Horry Game
Game 6: DET 95, SAS 86
Game 7: SAS 81, DET 74

San Antonio won games one and two by a combined 34 points, and then got blown out in games three and four by a combined 48 points. This Spurs team is better than the '05 squad, and the Cavs aren't as good as that Pistons team - but LeBron is better than any player on that Pistons team, and the Spurs have had a breakdown in focus in the second half the past two series (which I guess tends to happen when you go up by 20 in the second and third quarters).

9 chances in 10 this series ends in Cleveland, but it gives you something to think about.

[Yeagermeister]

Ummm........ no!

http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/contractor-broom.jpg



If Cleve doesn't win game 3 at home then it will be a sweep.

[MC KAos]

wouldnt surprise me at all if the cavs won game 3, in fact im kind of expecting it, but thats all theyll get. I see the cavs taking a huge lead, but the spurs coming back and maybe winning, well see what happens, im just glad i dont have to wait 2 days!

[SA_Gunslinger]

i think the cavs win game 3, and the spurs close it out in 5.

[peplaw06]

i think the cavs win game 3, and the spurs close it out in 5.

I just hope you guys haven't printed the parade route in the newspaper yet:o:

[zrinkill]

I just hope you guys haven't printed the parade route in the newspaper yet:o:

Only the stupid Mavs organization would do that.

[Mavs Man]

Only the stupid Mavs organization would do that.

Oh, really? I wasn't aware that Dallas Mayor Laura Miller worked for the Mavs.

[MC KAos]

I just hope you guys haven't printed the parade route in the newspaper yet:o:

we will probably just use the same one we used the last three times weve won a championship!!:p:

in all serious ness tho, its a pretty simple route. Riverwalk to alamodome, vuala!

[MC KAos]

here is a nice little article on Avery and his opinion on these finals

Web Posted: 06/11/2007 11:25 PM CDT

Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...y.3605776.html

CLEVELAND — Avery Johnson says Gregg Popovich doesn't need his advice, and he's serious and respectful.

Does that mean AJ won't pass along his Finals road strategy of last year?

When things go wrong, switch hotels?

AJ laughed as if the joke was not yet funny. "Pop needs to put them in the right hotel the first time," AJ said.

But AJ still has a message as the Finals move out of Texas for Game 3 for the third consecutive June. And it's about what happened a year ago, when another product of the 2003 draft surged, and AJ saw his world come apart.

"Trust me," AJ said. "It can happen."

These last two springs have turned on Dallas with momentous cruelty, and most in America don't mind. Mark Cuban can have that effect.

But tied to the same fate has been AJ, and he says he'll never get over this year's first-round collapse. "Because I don't think you ever do," he said. "I don't think I've ever gotten over the Spurs' 1995 loss to the Rockets."

At least he's had time to calm down, and now he says he's rooting for the Spurs. "I'm Western Conference," he said. "I'm Popovich. I'm for him, for Texas and for the Spurs."

He said from the start of these Finals he thought the Spurs would beat Cleveland, and there's no reason for him to change his opinion now. But, as it is when any coach has too much time, he always saw potential doom.

"Cleveland is a dangerous ballclub right now," he said. "You only need really seven, eight days of good basketball for any team to come through. And we saw that with us last year."

AJ's Mavericks led the Finals 2-0, just as the Spurs do now, and just as the Spurs did two years ago when they headed to Detroit. Dallas city leaders were already planning a parade, and most in Dallas were convinced the Finals were over, just as most in San Antonio are now.

The Mavericks were up 13 points with just over six minutes left in Game 3, with Cuban poised to go into full gloat. Then the Mavericks took a turn the way John Daly's marriages do.

"I'm not telling the Spurs anything they don't know," AJ said. "But beware. It can change."

There are differences, of course. AJ had never been on that stage as a coach, and Popovich has been through this Finals pressure three times before.

The franchises reflect the same contrast. The Mavericks, for example, wrestled last year with the best way to celebrate their first Western Conference championship. They delayed a ceremony until the next season, and then they delayed that. Instead of raising the banner when the Spurs were in town for the opener, they waited for their second home game.

That was Golden State. Appropriate karma followed six months later.

The Spurs? They hung their 2007 conference banner before these Finals began, as if they were hanging a curtain.

Other differences are more clear on the court. Miami was the experienced team last year, for example, whereas the Spurs are now. And while the flu weakened Dwyane Wade in the first two games in Dallas last year, Bruce Bowen weakened LeBron James.

Yet another: Wade had Shaquille O'Neal on his side, and even an older, slower Shaq is better than anyone James has.

The setting differs, too. The Mavericks faced the distractions of South Beach, prompting AJ to move his players out of the area in mid-trip and pair them with roommates. Popovich not only has a team of professionals, he also has Cleveland on his side.

Still, as it is with the Spurs now, there was nothing in the first two games in Dallas to suggest the Mavericks would ever lose. Then Gary Payton hit his first and second meaningful shots of the season. More meaningful was Wade.

He's never been much of a 3-point shooter, with a career average of less than 25 percent. But in that Game 3, facing elimination, Wade turned in the corner and threw in a late three that changed everything.

Suddenly he couldn't be stopped, and in those last four games he scored 36, 43, 36 and 42 points. Wade was, if anyone from that draft class deserves such a name, The Chosen One.

Can James be the same? Can his teammates chip in? Can the Spurs lose what seems to already be theirs?

"Miami was the best team on the planet when it mattered," AJ said.

And he wasn't laughing when he said it.

[ConcordCowboy]

Cavs in 6.:D

LETS GO CAVS!



The Cavs have the Spurs right where they want them to make my prediction come true....

4 in a row and the Cavs take the Championship in 6!

:D

[zrinkill]

Oh, really? I wasn't aware that Dallas Mayor Laura Miller worked for the Mavs.

She is closer to the Mavs organization than the Cowboys.

[peplaw06]

She is closer to the Mavs organization than the Cowboys.

That's like saying Fidel Castro is closer to America than China.

[zrinkill]

That's like saying Fidel Castro is closer to America than China.

Yea ..... its just like that.


http://static.flickr.com/78/155733289_44299089e6.jpg



The spurs will not do something as stupid as the Mavs owner did in conjunction with the piece of trash dallas mayor.


sorry.

[peplaw06]

Yea ..... its just like that.

The spurs will not do something as stupid as the Mavs owner did in conjunction with the piece of trash dallas mayor.

sorry.
gotta link that said Cuban had something to do with that?

[Danny White]

I'm embarassed by our performance so far... win or lose this is an ugly game.

If we're going to sweep these guys, we owe it to the fans to at least play quality Spurs basketball.

[MC KAos]

ya, duncan's foul trouble isnt helping matters much, and ginobili hasnt showed up yet! i think he will have a good solid 4th tho, ditto for timmy

[Danny White]

ya, duncan's foul trouble isnt helping matters much, and ginobili hasnt showed up yet! i think he will have a good solid 4th tho, ditto for timmy

I just feel that LeBron and the Spurs owe NBA fans a little bit more than they're giving in this game.

All those expecting to see the greatness of LeBron in this series must be very disappointed if they're still watching.

And while the Spurs have given C+ and B performances up to this point, tonight is a D at best. I'll love seeing the team get it's fourth championship, but I'll be a little let down if we do it without one solid A performance in the finals.

[MC KAos]

I just feel that LeBron and the Spurs owe NBA fans a little bit more than they're giving in this game.

All those expecting to see the greatness of LeBron in this series must be very disappointed if they're still watching.

And while the Spurs have given C+ and B performances up to this point, tonight is a D at best. I'll love seeing the team get it's fourth championship, but I'll be a little let down if we do it without one solid A performance in the finals.

ya we have played like crap, but all that matters is that we win baby!! ha, they just tried to jinx the spurs

"last year mavs had a 13 point lead with 6 and a half minutes in the third game"

[Mavs Man]

This game is giving me nightmare flashbacks of the 66-63 Pistons Celtics playoff game a couple of years ago. Yikes!

[Mavs Man]

Man, with 10 seconds left LeBron HAS to take that shot. Set a pick or something. Call a play for him.

Who's coaching this team? Oh, right . . .

[Danny White]

Would have been nice for Manu to have hit both of those... would have removed a lot of the tension for me.

Think LeBron's shooting here?

[Mavs Man]

Yea ..... its just like that.

The spurs will not do something as stupid as the Mavs owner did in conjunction with the piece of trash dallas mayor.


sorry.

Finally you say something I can agree with.

[Mavs Man]

Would have been nice for Manu to have hit both of those... would have removed a lot of the tension for me.

Think LeBron's shooting here?

Down by three, the smart move would be to set a play for the Boobie.

[Mavs Man]

I'd say go for the two and the foul, but I think Ginobili learned his lesson last year when he cost them what should have ended up as three straight titles.

[Mavs Man]

Down by three, the smart move would be to set a play for the Boobie.

SMART, being the key word. :banghead:

[Danny White]

I agree with van gundy that there was a foul, but I don't think it was in the act.

[MC KAos]

I agree with van gundy that there was a foul, but I don't think it was in the act.

ditto

and what did i tell you about TD being clutch with his FTs!!! MONEY BABY!!!:bow::bow::bow::bow:

[Kangaroo]

The Spurs played like a JV team tonight and still won

I am a Spurs fan and that was one of the worse performance this year in the playoffs

4 minutes with out a basket bad FT shooting out rebound on the offensive glass badly

I am still trying to figure out how the Spurs won this game

[Mavs Man]

The Spurs played like a JV team tonight and still won

I am a Spurs fan and that was one of the worse performance this year in the playoffs

4 minutes with out a basket bad FT shooting out rebound on the offensive glass badly

I am still trying to figure out how the Spurs won this game

Spurs bad. Cavs worse.

[Mavs Man]

So, Tony Parker - Finals MVP?

[SA_Gunslinger]

sorry spurs haters...............


WE'RE GONNA BE CHAMPS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[joseephuss]

Varejao is the dumbest player I have seen in a while. He made a stupid move to try and go one on one with Duncan from near the top of the key near the end of the game. He should have passed the ball off. He is not a scorer. Even before that play I noticed that he just makes dumb choices. Silly fouls after the other team gets a defensive rebound. Especially when the team is already in the bonus. That is just giving away free throw attempts. He just seems to do dumb things.

I didn't like the Cavs approach with 10 seconds left and 3 points down. Van Gundy said it was the right thing to do and I have seen this approach many times in basketball. Get a quick two points, then foul and hope you can atch up to the team in front of you by missed free throws. It just doesn't make sense to me. When the Cavs got the ball back they had 5 seconds left. Use the full 10 and set up the best play possible. It still isn't great odds, but better than working against less time.

The Spurs did not play their best game on offense, but they played very well on defense. The Cavs weren't missing wide open shots. There was a Spur in their face on just about every shot.

Looks like Tony Parker will be the finals MVP. His late three pointer was the difference in the game. He is not a good three point shooter, so that was huge and unexpected.

[Yeagermeister]

break out the brooms

[zrinkill]

Its gonna be nice to see Michael Finley get a ring with a real team ..... after the way the Mavs and their fans disrespected him last year (booing, throwing stuff, punching him in the nuts) after years and years of great service ....

Finley will finally get what he is due .....

[phillycard]

Its gonna be nice to see Michael Finley get a ring with a real team ..... after the way the Mavs and their fans disrespected him last year (booing, throwing stuff, punching him in the nuts) after years and years of great service ....

Finley will finally get what he is due .....

Agreed z. I was pulling for the Cavs, but now that the Spurs are on the cusp of clinching, I just want to see them put Cleveland out of it's misery. Much like a hit dog on the side of the highway.

[Mavs Man]

Its gonna be nice to see Michael Finley get a ring with a real team ..... after the way the Mavs and their fans disrespected him last year (booing, throwing stuff, punching him in the nuts) after years and years of great service ....

Finley will finally get what he is due .....

I'm happy to see Finley get a ring (and would have felt the same way with Nash), one of many reasons I don't mind seeing the Spurs get their fourth title in nine years.

And I don't know what happened to Mavs' fans last year. Not our classiest moment.

[Danny White]

ditto

and what did i tell you about TD being clutch with his FTs!!! MONEY BABY!!!:bow::bow::bow::bow:

He sure was money when it counted last night! :bow:

I guess I still have game 5 from 2005 etched in my mind when he missed 6 of 7 in the 4th.

I really hope the Spurs play a complete game on Thursday. Games 1 and 2 the Big 3 came on strong and the role players were MIA... in game 3, Barry, Bowen and Fin were hitting, while Manu disappeared completely and Timmy took a nap during the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

[Bob Sacamano]

tied for the lowest, scoring Finals game in history

yikes, ugly

[Danny White]

Just to add... I was really impressed by LeBron last night in his press conference refusing to blame the refs on the non-call on the last shot.

It was clear he was upset about it when it happened, but he refused to let that be an excuse, and didn't give the mediots an inch when the pressed him on it.

He showed a lot of maturity and class there... some other teams could stand to learn that from him.

[Bob Sacamano]

Just to add... I was really impressed by LeBron last night in his press conference refusing to blame the refs on the non-call on the last shot.

It was clear he was upset about it when it happened, but he refused to let that be an excuse, and didn't give the mediots an inch when the pressed him on it.

He showed a lot of maturity and class there... some other teams could stand to learn that from him.

that wasn't a shooting foul, which is why he was angry because he thought it was one, he was in the process of dribbling when Bowen fouled him

[Mavs Man]

He sure was money when it counted last night! :bow:

I guess I still have game 5 from 2005 etched in my mind when he missed 6 of 7 in the 4th.

I really hope the Spurs play a complete game on Thursday. Games 1 and 2 the Big 3 came on strong and the role players were MIA... in game 3, Barry, Bowen and Fin were hitting, while Manu disappeared completely and Timmy took a nap during the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

I think that was the season when Tim Duncan lost his mind at the free throw line and averaged between 50-60% at the line.

I guess he has to have some weakness. Even Superman has kryptonite.

[Mavs Man]

Just to add... I was really impressed by LeBron last night in his press conference refusing to blame the refs on the non-call on the last shot.

It was clear he was upset about it when it happened, but he refused to let that be an excuse, and didn't give the mediots an inch when the pressed him on it.

He showed a lot of maturity and class there... some other teams could stand to learn that from him.

I agree. I'm sick of hearing teams whine about officiating (especially my own, before someone pipes in ;)) so it was a refreshing to see him step up off the court (even if he won't on the court).

[MC KAos]

mike brown learned that from pop, if you ever notice, the spurs argue a lot during games, but they never complain about things that happened on the court after games, except for the whole duncan vs joey crawford thing, but that was understandable.

as for game 4, i expect at least 2 of the big 3 to have big games, it will probably be a close game.

[Mavs Man]

mike brown learned that from pop, if you ever notice, the spurs argue a lot during games, but they never complain about things that happened on the court after games, except for the whole duncan vs joey crawford thing, but that was understandable.

as for game 4, i expect at least 2 of the big 3 to have big games, it will probably be a close game.

I don't know. To me this looks more and more like a sweep. If the Cavs were going to take a game, Tuesday was it.

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't know. To me this looks more and more like a sweep. If the Cavs were going to take a game, Tuesday was it.

I think the Cavs win game 4, they can't stop LeBron and I have a feeling he's going to go off and and everyone is going to rally around him

[Danny White]

Spurs Free Throw shooting is making me vomit... this game should already be over.

Parker is the clear and obvious MVP of the series. This is still Timmy's team and he's their most essential part, but Parker has been the difference making playmaker in this series. Honestly, my MVP ballot would probably read: Parker, Bowen, Duncan.

[Bob Sacamano]

why the hell is Bowen driving? just stand on the corner Bowen

[Bob Sacamano]

how was that an offensive foul?

[Mavs Man]

Spurs Free Throw shooting is making me vomit... this game should already be over.

Parker is the clear and obvious MVP of the series. This is still Timmy's team and he's their most essential part, but Parker has been the difference making playmaker in this series. Honestly, my MVP ballot would probably read: Parker, Bowen, Duncan.

Bowen has been great on James. I agree with Parker as MVP, but I'd switch Bowen for Duncan. Duncan has been pretty solid (everyone was bad in game three) and almost had a triple-double in game two.

[Bob Sacamano]

Bowen has been great on James. I agree with Parker as MVP, but I'd switch Bowen for Duncan. Duncan has been pretty solid (everyone was bad in game three) and almost had a triple-double in game two.

not really, James has just been missing his shots

[MC KAos]

and 1 Baby!!!! Woooohoooo

[Bob Sacamano]

LeBrick James

translated from French into English

The Brick James

keep tossing 'em up kid LOL

[Danny White]

Congratulations to the Spurs!

Amazing to get a sweep and we didn't even come close to playing an "A" game all series long.

The defense really stood out this series... led by Bowen and Duncan and really solid team defense.

The Cavs (well, LeBron) have a bright future ahead.

But for now... SPURS DYNASTY!!!

[Mavs Man]

Congratulations to the Spurs!

Amazing to get a sweep and we didn't even come close to playing an "A" game all series long.

The defense really stood out this series... led by Bowen and Duncan and really solid team defense.

The Cavs (well, LeBron) have a bright future ahead.

But for now... SPURS DYNASTY!!!

Congrats, Spurs fans. Starting Gibson closed the gap a bit. Really don't know why Mike Brown didn't try that earlier.

Oh yeah, that's right . . . He's Mike Brown.

[MC KAos]

OMG WE ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS WOO HOO!!!!!!
aojdfl;kajsfdlkjaslk;fdja;lkjsfdajsf;kds YAAAAA WOOOOO

[Danny White]

Congrats, Spurs fans. Starting Gibson closed the gap a bit. Really don't know why Mike Brown didn't try that earlier.

Oh yeah, that's right . . . He's Mike Brown.

Mavs Man... you've been a really classy fan all through the playoffs! It's been fun chatting with you.

That said, I think the change of venue to their home court had a much bigger impact for the Cavs than Boobie moving to the starting lineup. I think Brown was right that he was better coming off the bench.

Anyway, the West is going to be tough as heck again next year. For the Spurs' sake, I hope the Suns and Mavs overreact to their losses this year and blow up their teams. :D I really think they just need to keep their core and tinker around the edges. Any one of the big 3 next year could win the Championship.

[MC KAos]

Omg We Won Whaaaa!!!!

[Rampage]

wow! was that the most boring finals of all time? you bet it was

[Danny White]

Can you say "team defense"?

http://www.nba.com/media/jamesSpurs_JM_627_070614.jpg

[Mavs Man]

Mavs Man... you've been a really classy fan all through the playoffs! It's been fun chatting with you.

That said, I think the change of venue to their home court had a much bigger impact for the Cavs than Boobie moving to the starting lineup. I think Brown was right that he was better coming off the bench.

Anyway, the West is going to be tough as heck again next year. For the Spurs' sake, I hope the Suns and Mavs overreact to their losses this year and blow up their teams. :D I really think they just need to keep their core and tinker around the edges. Any one of the big 3 next year could win the Championship.

We're all Cowboys fans (well, except for a few Eagles fans).

Gibson is a rookie, but he's also one of the few guys who is quick enough to run with Parker and the closest thing Cleveland has to a true point guard.

I would love for Devin Harris to evolve into the player he sometimes is in the playoffs, except on a 35 minutes a night basis. I would love for Diop to stay focused and in shape so we can start him at center again and move Damp to the bench. I would love for the Mavs to sign a legit PF to back-up Dirk (someone who is NOT in the mold of Keith Van Horn/Austin Croshere/token tall white guy whose only purpose is to jack up threes) so we can limit his minutes to more reasonable numbers during the regular season. I would love for Dallas to acquire a true two guard (provided Harris is up to the task of a one guard) or start Stackhouse and have Terry come off the bench.

I'd like to see what the Suns could do with KG for Stoudamire and Marion, Barbosa, Banks and draft picks for Kobe. Nash-KG-Kobe-Bell-Diaw as a starting five (with Kurt Thomas and possible draft pick Acie Law IV coming off the bench)? Crown 'em.

[Danny White]

wow! was that the most boring finals of all time? you bet it was

I wonder if there's a way to make it so that the playoffs are re-seeded and the best two teams can play in the Finals rather than the best from the West and the "best" from the East?

[Mavs Man]

Can you say "team defense"?

http://www.nba.com/media/jamesSpurs_JM_627_070614.jpg

I'm also guessing there's an open teammate, somewhere.

[Danny White]

I'm also guessing there's an open teammate, somewhere.

I think Brent Barry was covering the other 4 guys. ;)

[Rampage]

I wonder if there's a way to make it so that the playoffs are re-seeded and the best two teams can play in the Finals rather than the best from the West and the "best" from the East?
yeah they gotta figure something out

[kTXe]

Can you say "team defense"?

http://www.nba.com/media/jamesSpurs_JM_627_070614.jpg
The fifth guy probably got chewed out by Pop at the next timeout.

[Mavs Man]

I think Brent Barry was covering the other 4 guys. ;)

I didn't realize Brent Barry was Goro.

[kTXe]

I see a great year for my fandom developing.

Spurs - NBA Champs
Tar Heels - NCAA B-ball Champs (book it!)
Cowboys - Number 6

:boner:

[Danny White]

yeah they gotta figure something out

Bill Simmons had a pretty good plan in his column today with a system that seeds all 16 across the board regardless of conference... I think he even had a mini play-in tournament to decide the last 4 teams in the playoffs.

[Mavs Man]

I wonder if there's a way to make it so that the playoffs are re-seeded and the best two teams can play in the Finals rather than the best from the West and the "best" from the East?

Bill Simmons had a good idea the other day:

Top teams in each conference get the overall one and two seed by record.

Top six teams in each conference automatically make the playoffs, no matter what. This year it would be Mavs, Pistons, Suns, Spurs, etc. This seeding would have ensured that none of those top four teams would have played each other until the conference finals round.

Teams 13-16 are set by an end-of-season tournament where the bottom 18 teams in the conference play a double elimination round to determine the last four playoff spots. This has three huge advantages over the current system:

1) The top 12 teams get a two week "bye week" to rest and tune up for the playoffs

2) This eliminates any team "tanking" down the stretch since fans would cool on their team who didn't try to make the playoffs

3) This would make NBA "May Madness" a killer gambling season

[Mavs Man]

Bill Simmons had a pretty good plan in his column today with a system that seeds all 16 across the board regardless of conference... I think he even had a mini play-in tournament to decide the last 4 teams in the playoffs.

:eek:

:laugh2:

Bill Simmons is awesome.

[Danny White]

:eek:

:laugh2:

Bill Simmons is awesome.

Simmons for NBA commissioner???

Lord knows Stern would never go for something so exciting... he's too busy making sure the players are wearing ties after the game.

[Mavs Man]

Simmons for NBA commissioner???

Lord knows Stern would never go for something so exciting... he's too busy making sure the players are wearing ties after the game.

I think it would make the league more exciting, more marketable, generate greater revenue, more fan interest and higher TV ratings - you're right, Stern would never go for it.

[MC KAos]

wow! was that the most boring finals of all time? you bet it was

dont playa hate!!

[SA_Gunslinger]

amazing night in san antonio.

i got teary eyed.

[peplaw06]

Bill Simmons had a good idea the other day:

Top teams in each conference get the overall one and two seed by record.

Top six teams in each conference automatically make the playoffs, no matter what. This year it would be Mavs, Pistons, Suns, Spurs, etc. This seeding would have ensured that none of those top four teams would have played each other until the conference finals round.

Teams 13-16 are set by an end-of-season tournament where the bottom 18 teams in the conference play a double elimination round to determine the last four playoff spots. This has three huge advantages over the current system:

1) The top 12 teams get a two week "bye week" to rest and tune up for the playoffs

2) This eliminates any team "tanking" down the stretch since fans would cool on their team who didn't try to make the playoffs

3) This would make NBA "May Madness" a killer gambling season

Nah... I don't need any more time to tell you that the Grizzlies don't deserve to make the playoffs. Sorry Yeag :D

I heard an idea from Mike and Mike the other day, but I think they got it from somewhere else, but I don't know where. The idea is to take the top 8 teams from each conference, but intersperse all the seeds. The draw would look like this:

West 1 vs. East 8
West 2 vs. East 7
West 3 vs. East 6
West 4 vs. East 5
East 1 vs. West 8
East 2 vs. West 7
East 3 vs. West 6
East 4 vs. West 5

I thought that was a good idea. Needs some tweaking to see who goes on the same side of the draw, but I would suggest that be seeded by record.