Mavericks getting Stoudemire...

[Phoenix]

...championship?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

...championship?

Spurs

 

[Fletch]

Spurs

... are done.

 

[Fletch]

Amare to Dallas is interesting, but I don't know about a championship. They have still yet to learn how to play and execute as a team, and they already have some really good players right now. They just have no chemistry.

 

[Rockport]

It takes more than talent to win a championship. As Fletch said, team chemistry is a big part of it. Adding a player this late in the year usually doesn't show tangible, consistent results until the following year. Also not sure if his knees can hold up.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

... are NOT done.

Fixed it for you done.

 

[jterrell]

We've discussed it a bit in the NBA thread just below this one.

It is hard to say anyone in the West is a strong favorite or out of it.
There are a lot of good teams and getting hot at the right time will matter.
Too much parity... which should make for a tremendous fan experience until the inevitable heartbreaks of losings.
But unlike the NFL where when Dallas was knifed I really WANT to see the playoffs in the West regardless of my team because it is really quality basketball.

GSW looks unbeatable at times but their lack of experience would worry me. I also wonder how their bigs will fare in playoff series.
Memphis is gritty and tough but really lack a go to scorer.
Portland can run the gamut from outstanding to very average but it has all the pieces.
Dallas looks good on paper with a strong coach and a very experienced team but that's a lot of gelling to do in a short period of time.
Spurs are not gonna roll over but they've been behind the 8ball since Mills was injured before the year began.
Clips have immense talent and are playing with physicality under Doc but Griffin's health is a concern.
HOU has Harden to close games as a scorer but can be spotty on defense and Howard is a health concern.
OKC has more star power than anyone with arguably the games best scorers, but the pieces haven't fit as nicely this year and the coaching seems questionable to poor.
Pelicans have the game's most desirable player, in young Anthony Davis, but they are real young and can;t seem to close out even regular season games yet.


Dallas specific breakdown:
PG: Rondo, Harris, Barea
SG: Ellis, Aminu, Barea
SF: Parsons, Aminu, Jefferson
PF: Dirk, Amare, Parsons, Charlie V
C: Tyson, Sarge, Amare

10 man rotation would be:
G: Rondo, Ellis, Harris, Barea
G/F: Aminu
F/C: Parsons, Dirk, Tyson, Amare, Sarge

May even see Chandler Parsons some at the 2 when/if Aminu is in foul trouble and they want to run a long zone style defense.
Dallas now can match just about anyone defensively or offensively tho finding that balance may be tough in 30 games.

 

[Fletch]

We've discussed it a bit in the NBA thread just below this one.

It is hard to say anyone in the West is a strong favorite or out of it.
There are a lot of good teams and getting hot at the right time will matter.
Too much parity... which should make for a tremendous fan experience until the inevitable heartbreaks of losings.
But unlike the NFL where when Dallas was knifed I really WANT to see the playoffs in the West regardless of my team because it is really quality basketball.

GSW looks unbeatable at times but their lack of experience would worry me. I also wonder how their bigs will fare in playoff series.
Memphis is gritty and tough but really lack a go to scorer.
Portland can run the gamut from outstanding to very average but it has all the pieces.
Dallas looks good on paper with a strong coach and a very experienced team but that's a lot of gelling to do in a short period of time.
Spurs are not gonna roll over but they've been behind the 8ball since Mills was injured before the year began.
Clips have immense talent and are playing with physicality under Doc but Griffin's health is a concern.
HOU has Harden to close games as a scorer but can be spotty on defense and Howard is a health concern.
OKC has more star power than anyone with arguably the games best scorers, but the pieces haven't fit as nicely this year and the coaching seems questionable to poor.
Pelicans have the game's most desirable player, in young Anthony Davis, but they are real young and can;t seem to close out even regular season games yet.


Dallas specific breakdown:
PG: Rondo, Harris, Barea
SG: Ellis, Aminu, Barea
SF: Parsons, Aminu, Jefferson
PF: Dirk, Amare, Parsons, Charlie V
C: Tyson, Sarge, Amare

10 man rotation would be:
G: Rondo, Ellis, Harris, Barea
G/F: Aminu
F/C: Parsons, Dirk, Tyson, Amare, Sarge

May even see Chandler Parsons some at the 2 when/if Aminu is in foul trouble and they want to run a long zone style defense.
Dallas now can match just about anyone defensively or offensively tho finding that balance may be tough in 30 games.

Is that you Jalen? I don't think Jalen could even break it down that well.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

... are done.

I would give Popovich "greatest coach ever" over Belichick!

 

[jterrell]

Is that you Jalen? I don't think Jalen could even break it down that well.

I wish I got paid for this! and to hang with Bill Simmons??? yeeshhh. But I do love it.
And loved Jalen and that Mich Fab Four.
I knew Jimmy King from Plano East... Well knew him to have seen him play a fair amount of high school ball, not as a buddy.

 

[Fletch]

I would give Popovich "greatest coach ever" over Belichick!

That I agree with, wholeheartedly! Pops, pound for pound, is the best coach in all of sports. Well, after JG anyway.

 

[Fletch]

I wish I got paid for this! and to hang with Bill Simmons??? yeeshhh. But I do love it.
And loved Jalen and that Mich Fab Four.
I knew Jimmy King from Plano East... Well knew him to have seen him play a fair amount of high school ball, not as a buddy.

Yeah, to have a job, that of a analyst of sorts would be sweet! I feel ya. My grandparents (mom's side) used to live in Plano. I remember frequent trips from Abilene to Plano. Those were the good ole days.

 

[Phoenix]

That I agree with, wholeheartedly! Pops, pound for pound, is the best coach in all of sports. Well, after JG anyway.

Coach K

 

[Fletch]

Coach K

Mike is second on my list. Pop wins at the ultimate level. I know Coach K coaches the US men's team, but that's like the best of the best. Popovich just keeps winning with chemistry, mid-tier players, sprinkles of greatness, and old guys.

They aren't my team, but they are the model franchise in all of sports.

 

[bounce]

Mike is second on my list. Pop wins at the ultimate level. I know Coach K coaches the US men's team, but that's like the best of the best. Popovich just keeps winning with chemistry, mid-tier players, sprinkles of greatness, and old guys.

They aren't my team, but they are the model franchise in all of sports.

I think one of the great things about Pop is that he's won it many different ways. He's managed to adapt to the league and talent swings, and create entirely new systems, and win that way. In 99, they were the grind-it-out defense that would suffocate you. Teams shot in the 30s against them and the games would be 80-70. In 2003, they shot a LOT more outside shots (as well as Timmy being in total beast mode). 2005 was back to a more defensive approach. As the game spread out and became more up-tempo, he changed his system to be more of a running, ball movement type offense. They went from winning 80-70 to winning 120-110 with the same core big 3 (Tony, Tim, Manu

 

[bounce]

We've discussed it a bit in the NBA thread just below this one.

It is hard to say anyone in the West is a strong favorite or out of it.
There are a lot of good teams and getting hot at the right time will matter.
Too much parity... which should make for a tremendous fan experience until the inevitable heartbreaks of losings.
But unlike the NFL where when Dallas was knifed I really WANT to see the playoffs in the West regardless of my team because it is really quality basketball.

GSW looks unbeatable at times but their lack of experience would worry me. I also wonder how their bigs will fare in playoff series.
Memphis is gritty and tough but really lack a go to scorer.
Portland can run the gamut from outstanding to very average but it has all the pieces.
Dallas looks good on paper with a strong coach and a very experienced team but that's a lot of gelling to do in a short period of time.
Spurs are not gonna roll over but they've been behind the 8ball since Mills was injured before the year began.
Clips have immense talent and are playing with physicality under Doc but Griffin's health is a concern.
HOU has Harden to close games as a scorer but can be spotty on defense and Howard is a health concern.
OKC has more star power than anyone with arguably the games best scorers, but the pieces haven't fit as nicely this year and the coaching seems questionable to poor.
Pelicans have the game's most desirable player, in young Anthony Davis, but they are real young and can;t seem to close out even regular season games yet.

I agree that really any team 1-7 in the West can be capable of winning it all. Health is going to be the biggest issue. The Spurs, thankfully, got a lot of rest towards the beginning of the season with guys out, so hopefully they have time to get clicking with a healthy roster. Dallas is just now starting to break down, but they're getting pieces to help weather that. I think the Clips are going to free-fall with Griffin out. That one is something can linger for a while. And totally agree on Memphis. They're VERY solid, but they need a go-to guy. Conley isn't it. Gasol and ZBo ain't it.

 

[jterrell]

I agree that really any team 1-7 in the West can be capable of winning it all. Health is going to be the biggest issue. The Spurs, thankfully, got a lot of rest towards the beginning of the season with guys out, so hopefully they have time to get clicking with a healthy roster. Dallas is just now starting to break down, but they're getting pieces to help weather that. I think the Clips are going to free-fall with Griffin out. That one is something can linger for a while. And totally agree on Memphis. They're VERY solid, but they need a go-to guy. Conley isn't it. Gasol and ZBo ain't it.

Your Spurs take is delightfully homeristic. The top 7... hilariously the last spot held by the Spurs.

The Spurs haven't gotten a lot of rest.
They have had injuries to some young guys who wouldn't have rested anyways.
The vets have played more than last year with the exception of Parker who has generally missed 15-20 games a year and had last year as an outlier.

Seriously man you gotta be more open to real talk or focus on non-spurs or I gotta put you on ignore.

The Spurs were suitors for Amare but lost out to the Mavs, they open the post all-star break with games on the road versus the Clippers and GSW. It's not all rosy but they are bringing positives as well. Like any other West playoff team they'll get shots at the crown.

Pop is a great coach but he's never won back to back and at best will have a small advantage over most WC foes. Carlisle flat outcoached Pop last year round 1. To Pop's credit he learned in that series, finished it off strong and took that and rolled to the title. Make no mistake the Spurs are pushing a boulder uphill. It just happens so is everyone else in the West even the currently dominant GSW.

 

[Fletch]

bounce - - jterrrell

Spirited. I like it. You both are helping me find my love for basketball all over again. It'll never be football worthy, but I'm getting excited about the upcoming playoffs. Just hope my Mavs can find some much needed chemistry before it's too late.

 

[Rockport]

Your Spurs take is delightfully homeristic. The top 7... hilariously the last spot held by the Spurs.

The Spurs haven't gotten a lot of rest.
They have had injuries to some young guys who wouldn't have rested anyways.
The vets have played more than last year with the exception of Parker who has generally missed 15-20 games a year and had last year as an outlier.

Seriously man you gotta be more open to real talk or focus on non-spurs or I gotta put you on ignore.

The Spurs were suitors for Amare but lost out to the Mavs, they open the post all-star break with games on the road versus the Clippers and GSW. It's not all rosy but they are bringing positives as well. Like any other West playoff team they'll get shots at the crown.

Pop is a great coach but he's never won back to back and at best will have a small advantage over most WC foes. Carlisle flat outcoached Pop last year round 1. To Pop's credit he learned in that series, finished it off strong and took that and rolled to the title. Make no mistake the Spurs are pushing a boulder uphill. It just happens so is everyone else in the West even the currently dominant GSW.

The best thing for the Spurs this year is for fans like you and talking heads to count them out.

 

[bounce]

Your Spurs take is delightfully homeristic. The top 7... hilariously the last spot held by the Spurs.

The Spurs haven't gotten a lot of rest.
They have had injuries to some young guys who wouldn't have rested anyways.
The vets have played more than last year with the exception of Parker who has generally missed 15-20 games a year and had last year as an outlier.

Seriously man you gotta be more open to real talk or focus on non-spurs or I gotta put you on ignore.

The Spurs were suitors for Amare but lost out to the Mavs, they open the post all-star break with games on the road versus the Clippers and GSW. It's not all rosy but they are bringing positives as well. Like any other West playoff team they'll get shots at the crown.

Pop is a great coach but he's never won back to back and at best will have a small advantage over most WC foes. Carlisle flat outcoached Pop last year round 1. To Pop's credit he learned in that series, finished it off strong and took that and rolled to the title. Make no mistake the Spurs are pushing a boulder uphill. It just happens so is everyone else in the West even the currently dominant GSW.

Do you even read, or do you just have arguments holstered? I never pimped the Spurs or dogged the Mavs. I pretty much pointed out the exact same things you did.

It's homeristic to say that the Spurs got a lot of rest earlier in the season because of injuries? It's homeristic to say that Kawhi is running on fresher legs because he missed ~20 games with a busted hand? It's homerisitic to say that Patty Mills being out for the first third of the season because of shoulder surgery might have given him a little more rest than other guys who have played the whole season? No, that's the truth. But despite all of that, I'm not putting the Spurs as a front-runner for anything. I'm saying they're in the group of 7 or 8 teams that could win the West. I'm not giving them better odds than anyone else.

Focus on non-Spurs? In fact I mentioned the Mavs (a non-Spurs team), Memphis (a non-Spurs team) and the Clippers (a non-Spurs team), and pretty much gave the same points on Memphis and the Clips as you did - no go-to guy on Memphis and the Clips hurting with Griffin out. I actually said that the Mavs made some good moves to help them weather the injuries they've had, and somehow you spun those into me dogging on the Mavs and pumping the Spurs.

Stop creating arguments where there aren't any. I'm not homering out on the Spurs. I think they're in the mix, that's all. Read my posts from opening day on. Find a single one where I tout the Spurs as the obvious favorite. One.

Let me dumb down what I'm saying for you so you can't spin it into something else.

In the West, my thoughts on the potential top 8 teams are (in no order)...

1) Warriors - a really good team, but they have some holes
2) Clippers - a really good team, but they have some holes
3) Blazers - a really good team, but they have some holes
4) Rockets - a really good team, but they have some holes
5) Mavericks - a really good team, but they have some holes
6) Spurs - a really good team, but they have some holes
7) Grizzlies - a really good team, but they have some holes
8) Thunder - a really good team, but they have some holes.

Also, Pop's never won back to back, that's correct. But he's won five total. Hopefully one day he'll be able to match all the back-to-back titles that Carlisle teams have rattled off.