We're the underdogs again

[Leetonidas]

12) Which team will win the NBA title?

42.2% Pistons
18.3% Spurs
8.8% Lakers
7.6% Mavericks
5.6% Heat
4.6% Suns
2.7% Bulls
2.5% Cavaliers
2.2% Nets
1.7% Kings
1.0% Pacers
0.8% Nuggets
0.7% Clippers
0.6% Wizards
0.4% Bucks
0.2% Grizzlies

Looks like Detroit is being heavily favored.

[Sense]

That's GREAT news for us...

The more we can concentrate and beat them once again...

And get some kind of revenge for the meaningless regular season games.... show them that the record won't matter in the finals, and take down those cocky assholes.. :king

[Darrin]

12 months ago that would've scared me...but not this season.

[Darrin]

That's GREAT news for us...

The more we can concentrate and beat them once again...

And get some kind of revenge for the meaningless regular season games.... show them that the record won't matter in the finals, and take down those cocky assholes.. :king

Do you realize that without those wins, Detroit wouldn't have homecourt in a potential matchup?

Pistons - 64-2 = 62-20
Spurs - 63+2 = 65-17.

[mike detroit]

stupid favorites. prevented me from placing any money on the pistons this year. it just wasn't worth it with the odds.

[SequSpur]

stupid favorites. prevented me from placing any money on the pistons this year. it just wasn't worth it with the odds.

Since Flip is your coach, I would assume that you all won't get past the 2nd round.

Book it.

[Darrin]

Since Flip is your coach, I would assume that you all won't get past the 2nd round.

Book it.

Yes, Cleveland and Washington are so formmidable. That is definitely where this team will give out.

[NASpurs]

"I don't even think we're the underdogs any more," Artest said. "I think we're the team to beat, just by how we've been playing."

We're underdogs as well for the series.. according to Ron Artest

[mike detroit]

Since Flip is your coach, I would assume that you all won't get past the 2nd round.

Book it.


you remind me of the guy on here that said the red wings won't get out of the first round because they don't have a goalie that can.

[Darrin]

"I don't even think we're the underdogs any more," Artest said. "I think we're the team to beat, just by how we've been playing."

We're underdogs as well for the series.. according to Ron Artest

And he's like the definition of rational emotional states and clear, unbiased thought.

[Trainwreck2100]

Since Flip is your coach, I would assume that you all won't get past the 2nd round.

Book it.


Flip may be the coach, but he's not the leader.

[Sense]

Do you realize that without those wins, Detroit wouldn't have homecourt in a potential matchup?

Pistons - 64-2 = 62-20
Spurs - 63+2 = 65-17.


The Pistons wouldn't have dropped their final games either.
They played hard until they noticed they clinched...

Then they dropped their last couple of games...
Or else you would've prolly gotten 67 or so.

[NASpurs]

And he's like the definition of rational emotional states and clear, unbiased thought.Hey buddy, you have to use the blue color font or Ron Artest and King fans might actually believe you and think you're not being sarcastic. :lol

Ron Artest is the role model of what an athlete should be. His ego-less and temperate attitude is what makes him an icon of NBA atheletes.

[bdubya]

Hey hey HEY HEY HEY! Nice try. Go here
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2005/news/story?page=Predictions0506
and check their predictions for the title. 12 out of 12 pick WHO? WHO is heavily favored? Huh? And who's the underdog? Hmm?? :spin :spin

[Sense]

Wasn't that before the season started? ^


Updated: Oct. 31, 2005, 12:11 PM ET

[NASpurs]

Hey hey HEY HEY HEY! Nice try. Go here
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2005/news/story?page=Predictions0506
and check their predictions for the title. 12 our of 12 pick WHO? WHO is heavily favored? Huh? And who's the underdog? Hmm?? :spin :spinThat was before the season started from what I remember.

[Trainwreck2100]

Weren't those made in the preseason

[Trainwreck2100]

three o the same thought

[Darrin]

Do you share a brain? :lol

[Solid D]

The Pistons should be favored. They have the best record and they beat the Spurs twice in the regular season convincingly. They are favored because they have played at such a high level all season with the starters playing 74% of the minutes. That's over 35 minutes per game average for the 5 starters.

The Spurs have gotten an average of 62% of their minutes from their starters this season.

The Pistons have been fortunate with injuries, so far. Now another season begins.

[Darrin]

Hey hey HEY HEY HEY! Nice try. Go here
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2005/news/story?page=Predictions0506
and check their predictions for the title. 12 our of 12 pick WHO? WHO is heavily favored? Huh? And who's the underdog? Hmm?? :spin :spin

:lol Marc Stein is the only one who thought the Pistons would get to the Finals. Indiana had 4 picks, Miami had 7. 2 people picked the Pistons to win the Division, 1 for the Cavs, and 9 for the Pacers (41-41).

[RON ARTEST]

12) Which team will win the NBA title?

42.2% Pistons
18.3% Spurs
8.8% Lakers
7.6% Mavericks
5.6% Heat
4.6% Suns
2.7% Bulls
2.5% Cavaliers
2.2% Nets
1.7% Kings
1.0% Pacers
0.8% Nuggets
0.7% Clippers
0.6% Wizards
0.4% Bucks
0.2% Grizzlies

Looks like Detroit is being heavily favored.thats because they are better dumb ass.

[Sense]

thats because they are better dumb ass.

No, thats a poll... that's because people don't want the Spurs to repeat, and they think that the finals will have the same outcome as the regular season games did..


You see, we have alot of ignorant fans in the U.S.

You need to look at the mirror and start realizing that.

[aaronstampler]

big deal. The Lakers got the third highest percantage, for all the scientific worthiness of this thing...

[team-work]

Smart coaches like Pop knows how health of players is a major determinant of the outcome of a possible rematch of the 2005 Finals. I hope there is no major injuries so the teams can play at their highest levels.

[Bloodline666]

big deal. The Lakers got the third highest percantage, for all the scientific worthiness of this thing...
That third highest percentage would've made a lot more sense two or three years ago. It doesn't mean jack shit now. The reason being, if you factored Kobe out of the Lakers' roster two, three, five, however many years ago, it would affect the Lakers, but not very drastically. Factor Kobe out of the Lakers roster now, and the Lakers are nothing. You've seen it all season long; the rest of the team relies on Kobe too much, and when the Lakers are struggling, Phil benches Kobe for a few minutes and makes sure the rest of the team picks up the slack (I heard he did this with Michael Jordan, too), that way the rest of the team's thinking, "Oh shit, Kobe's benched...It's time to play now." Then when Kobe gets back in the game during the fourth quarter, the rest of the team just slacks off and says, "Kobe's back. Let's give him the ball now, because we're too lazy to put points on the board." Long story short, the Lakers roster outside of Kobe is inconsistent, and that is their Achilles Heel right now; and since the Lakers are in the playoffs, said Achilles Heel will be exposed for the world to see in due time. I'm willing to bet the people who voted the Lakers are fanboys who just want to see the most explosive and high-profile superstars win the Championship...unfortunately for those people, those days are over.


Smart coaches like Pop knows how health of players is a major determinant of the outcome of a possible rematch of the 2005 Finals. I hope there is no major injuries so the teams can play at their highest levels.
Well-said. And considering the injuries to Manu, Tim Duncan's plantar fasciitis, a few flu-like cases here and there between Tony and Tim, Manu's stints as sixth man while recovering from injury, and whatnot, I'm sure a few people who don't pay much attention to the Spurs yet know about the injury problems are surprised to see that the Spurs have 63 wins. Of course, the losses to Detroit involved Manu injuries and TD's PF in one form or another, as well as Detroit kicking our asses on the glass. But you know what? Those losses opened Pop's eyes to some problems the Spurs were having. Then there's a game where they kick the other team's ass on the rebounding and lose the game anyway (Nazr gets his starting job back because of his 20 or so rebounds that game).

The point I'm trying to make here is that Pop is willing to risk losing one or two games in the regular season if his key players aren't healthy enough. He knows he needs all of his players healthy come playoff time. Also, he needs his key players healthy in the long-run. He certainly doesn't want to run the risk of his players' injuries leading to more serious ones and eventually early retirement. So if it means risking a few regular season losses to ensure his team remains healthy come playoff time, then so be it.

[GrandeDavid]

I know, and it seems like this every year, which is why I find Detroit's team motto of "we get no respect" to be laughable. Sheed takes it to the extreme.

[Extra Stout]

No, thats a poll... that's because people don't want the Spurs to repeat, and they think that the finals will have the same outcome as the regular season games did..


You see, we have alot of ignorant fans in the U.S.

You need to look at the mirror and start realizing that.
:rolleyes

I think the Spurs have a good shot and all, but how exactly is favoring a 64-18 team "ignorant?"

[A-Train]

Since back2backs are rare to nonexistent in the NBA playoffs (actually, playing games every other day has become nonexistent as well), I like the Spurs' chances. The Spurs got to 63-19 with 2 of their big 3 not at full strength for most of the season (Manu missed 17 games). Contrast that with a team who didn't have a regular starter miss more than 2 games this season. Had the Spurs enjoyed the health Detroit did in the regular season, I have no doubt they would've ended up with the best record in the L. Detroit is a great team, don't get me wrong, but the hype is quite a bit overdone.

Also, I like any series with Pop vs. lil' Flip.

[NCaliSpurs]

As long as the media picks other people then I am cool with that.

San Antonio was the hot choice in 200(.)4, and we all saw how that turned out.

Even last year, I don't think we were the media favs.

[A-Train]

Last year was a tough Finals for the media. I think the Pistons were the hotter pick.

Frankly, the media hates parity. It doesn't make for a good story. They need a goliath or two, someone playing King of the Mountain or better yet, Godzilla v King Kong.

PS...they hate Godzilla when he's from a small market.

[SPURS21]

That poll is a joke...anyone notice the Lakers are 3rd on the list...cuz it's a bunch of non educated idiots that likely voted, the majority anyways

[CharlieMac]

The Bull have a better shot than teh Nets? I doubt it.

[A-Train]

This poll kinda follows the NBA media conventional wisdom. The Pistons were the dominant team, the one going for 70 wins, and no one else is in their class. With the media trumpeting that line it's no surprise that you'd get these results.

Frankly, I like the Spurs right were they are. The spotlight is off them. Had they enjoyed a healthy season, flirted with 70 wins, and ended up with the top seed then the media might be more inclined to pimp them as the dominant team, the team closing in on 3 titles in the last 4 seasons and dynastic contemplations. It's much better being the underdog.

[Leetonidas]

thats because they are better dumb ass.

You're an idiot. But hey, it's synonimous with your name. :lol

[JamStone]

Spurs are favored over every team except Detroit. I don't see anything wrong with that.