Spurs/Cavs...nba finals 2007

[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.

 

[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.


http://i30.***BLOCKED***/albums/c333/marv41/HPIM2713.jpg


http://i30.***BLOCKED***/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...

 

[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.

 

[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.

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.