San Antonio vs........"Cleveland"?!?

[TarionzCousin]

The teams in the NBA finals are set: San Antonio, perennial powerhouses, vs. Cleveland, perennial punchline fodder.

I'm happy for Cleveland--surprised, but happy. I thought Detroit couldn't lose. Of course, they did. All the local sports guys here in Portland (where Rasheed Wallace played for years) could talk about were Rasheed's two technical fouls when the team needed him.

So, does Cleveland have a chance at winning the NBA title? Or is it San Antonio in

Spoiler

six

four?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The thing about a team sport is that it is always possible for a player or players to elevate their game and surprise the world.

Of course, that will be Parker, Ginobli and Duncan- San Antonio in 5.

 

[drothgery]

So, does Cleveland have a chance at winning the NBA title? Or is it San Antonio in six?

Assuming no freak injuries, or a rash of suspensions on San Antonio's side, then it's extremely unlikely that Cleveland will win the title, and the Spurs in 4 is quite possible. The Cavs just aren't as good as the Nuggets, Suns or Jazz, and San Antonio disposed of Denver in 5, Phoenix in 6 (with a bit of help from automatic suspension rules), and Utah in 5.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I wonder what the odds were at the start of the season on Cleveland getting to the Finals?

My first impulse was to pick SA in five, but Cleveland has got to be pumped up and elevate their game. Plus "SA in Six" rolls off the tongue nicely.

 

[Kralin Thornberry]

Being a Pistons fan, I'm going to say San Antonio. BUT, if the refs give LeBron the "MJ" treatment, and he gets tons of favorable calls, then Cleveland may win, but I'll go SA in 5 or 6.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Damn San Antonio. *shakes his fist in the air angrily*

Will the Jazz ever win a championship while I'm alive. I had high hopes when Stockton and Malone were together. We looked certainties for it at one point until some guy called Mike Jordash (or something) came along and took it away from us.

(still carries those awful memories of Jordan hitting that game-winning basket over Byron Russell)

Olaf the Stout

Edit: Just remembered that it was not just the game-winning shot but also the championship-winning shot.

 

[Theron]

Being an old guy and seeing how San Antonio is still "home" to me (even if I haven't lived there in over a decade), I'm going to say Spurs Sweep. Rolls off the tongue nicely, I think.

 

[drothgery]

I wonder what the odds were at the start of the season on Cleveland getting to the Finals?

Dunno, but they probably weren't too bad. I'm thinking they were probably next-best after Detroit and Miami from the East. Actually winning the championship is a whole different kettle of fish; the Cavs would have had trouble making the playoffs at all in the west.

 

[Doctor DM]

I'm boycotting the Finals this year. I'm disgusted by the way San Antonio got by Phoenix (i.e. the suspensions to Stoudamire and Diaw, and how Duncan did the EXACT SAME THING and didn't get a suspension). That and I don't care for all the special treatment Lebron recieves. You look at him funny and it's a foul. It's just ridiculous.

And I'm a die hard Pistons fan, so I hate both teams.

 

[Bront]

Dunno, but they probably weren't too bad. I'm thinking they were probably next-best after Detroit and Miami from the East. Actually winning the championship is a whole different kettle of fish; the Cavs would have had trouble making the playoffs at all in the west.

They were probably below the Bulls as well, who looked to possibly have the next complete up and coming team of youngsters. Looks like they still need an inside scorer AND to mature a bit.

I'm thinking it's the makers of Pace over the mistake by the lake in 6, mostly because cleveland doesn't have the firepower or experience yet. LeBron will make it a good show.

Oh, and I believe the suspensions were for leaving the bench, not for anything else they did (The 2 pheonix players)