No NBA finals thread?

[loki44]

OK, I admit I was wrong. Wade played an admirable game and the Pistons didn't blow 'em out. I wasn't betting on the spread though. I still say S.A. in 5. Any takers?

 

[DonTadow]

OK, I admit I was wrong. Wade played an admirable game and the Pistons didn't blow 'em out. I wasn't betting on the spread though. I still say S.A. in 5. Any takers?

Hehehehe you do something few ever do on the boards admit you were wrong to me .

I got Detroit in 5. Trust me there's no answer as Detroit has better Team offense.

Hey did anybody notice how good Wade got coming out of locker at halftime. Who wants to bet me he didn't get a serious injection of pain killers which he coudln't get before the game.

 

[dagger]

Ugly basketball? You mean team first basketball...the Spurs are explosive on offense and play hard nosed defense...

I had tried to keep an NBA thread alive (and was pulling for Phoenix once the Kings went down).

I still suspect Miami wins the east, which is better than the worst possible finals going into the playoffs (Detroit v. San Antonio, or A Fan's Guide to Ugly Basketball), but not by much.

 

[dagger]

Come on now, Duncan averaged 15 boards against the Phoenix Suns, a team that does not believe in offensive rebounds as it controdicts their fast court game. Heck the suns barely know what defense is. Thats why Manu had a field day agaisnt them. He got every shot he wanted. But we'll see how well he reacts when he is forced into shots. He's going to have to master that fade away jumper like Wade has if he is going to have a chance to shoot over Prince.
QUOTE]


You mean like what was done during the Sonics and Nuggets series already? They didnt let him have what ever he wanted, and they knocked him to the ground everytime.

 

[dagger]

I prefer to watch teams than run a lot, pass a lot, and shoot threes like there's no tomorrow; the superstar vs. balanced team thing isn't all that important.

Like what the Spurs did to Pheonix you mean, its just that they also happen to play defense and care about things like rebounding.

 

[DonTadow]

You mean like what was done during the Sonics and Nuggets series already? They didnt let him have what ever he wanted, and they knocked him to the ground everytime.

Sonics is a team built like Phoenix (finesse) and Denver was far too inexperienced. NO one has had a tougher schedule in the playoffs that the Pistons. San Antonio hasn't experienced ANY defense so far in the playoff, look at what they're averaging piont wise and you can tell. They havn't had any physical teams. Rasheed has owned Duncan since they're college days, in portland and even the last two years in Detroit. Plus now that Duncan is playing gimpy Sheed should dominate him easily. The pistons have went through their biggest threat already, now its just cleanup time.

 

[drothgery]

Ugly basketball? You mean team first basketball...the Spurs are explosive on offense and play hard nosed defense...

Don't tell me that Phoenix and Sacremento play something other than team-first basketball. What they don't do is play physical defense, and that's a good thing. It leads to injuries, and slows the game down.

 

[DonTadow]

Don't tell me that Phoenix and Sacremento play something other than team-first basketball. What they don't do is play physical defense, and that's a good thing. It leads to injuries, and slows the game down.

That's a misconception. True Detroit and San Antonio don't venture above 120 but their offenses can be explosive in transition and fast break opportunities. What does "slow the game" down mean. IF I want fast paced I'll watch hockey (yeah i know just let me have this one). But for anyone who is a true fan of the game of basketball this shoudl be an exciting series. YOu have two of the best chess masters in basketball going against one another with the most balanced teams in the league.

 

[loki44]

Don't tell me that Phoenix and Sacremento play something other than team-first basketball. What they don't do is play physical defense, and that's a good thing. It leads to injuries, and slows the game down.

Phoenix and Sacramento do play good team offense, but I'm not sure I understand the correlation between defense and injuries, and the actual game is the same length of time whether the score is 78-74 or 121-118 (discounting overtime of course). One of my all-time favorite teams was the Knicks of the early 90's with Ewing, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, John Starks, etc... Brutal but entertaining. It doesn't matter HOW you win as long as you do so within the rules.

 

[DonTadow]

Phoenix and Sacramento do play good team offense, but I'm not sure I understand the correlation between defense and injuries, and the actual game is the same length of time whether the score is 78-74 or 121-118 (discounting overtime of course). One of my all-time favorite teams was the Knicks of the early 90's with Ewing, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, John Starks, etc... Brutal but entertaining. It doesn't matter HOW you win as long as you do so within the rules.

I liked those Knicks too. Before all these "rules" basketball was more of a physical sport than it is now (even though it still is quite a physical sport). Indiana had a beefy front line about then two with the two Davis's and the floppy Reggie Miller. Of course now the game is changing more and more to gear teams to play less defense and more offense. I won't be surprised if they restrict the zoning in the lead and place more emphasis on touch files.