10 points on the playoffs that should include the Spurs

[Rummpd]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17548.shtml

Can be accessed free by all.

Regards, and hang in there, Spurs in 2007!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The Western Conference Finals (WCF) seem like a "pretender series", as the best team in the West is not playing, i.e., the Spurs.

Sorry doc, but that wreaks of sour grapes.

[Rummpd]

On Pro Basketball

May 29, 2006

Sam Smith

Best team doesn't always win

It's always interesting how analysts work backward in sports. You see who wins and then praise their genius and demand change for the loser.

So the Spurs are now being told they need to be younger and more athletic after losing to the Mavericks.

"I listen to [people say] how athletic Dallas was and how we couldn't handle it, and it just makes me smile," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "If you win, there's all kinds of things you did well. If you lose, there's got to be reasons why you lost. So if they're more athletic, I need to figure out how much more to win by a point. How much more athletic is that?"

And what if Tim Duncan is able to convert that Manu Ginobili shot in regulation--how badly did Dirk Nowitzki hack him on that one?--and the Spurs are facing the Suns? I've bounced around the playoffs and have seen most of the teams in person, and the best team I've seen is the Spurs. They just didn't win. It happens.Chicago Tribune

[Again = B]I agree with Mr. Smith = the fact is the best team in the West was shafted etc. [/B] Go Suns!

[JamStone]

Wow.

You're giving credence to bitter Pistons fans who feel the Pistons were the better team last year should have won last year's finals if Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace did not get into foul trouble with some early questionable foul calls.

Take the freaking loss and get over it.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

On Pro Basketball

May 29, 2006

Sam Smith

Best team doesn't always win

It's always interesting how analysts work backward in sports. You see who wins and then praise their genius and demand change for the loser.

So the Spurs are now being told they need to be younger and more athletic after losing to the Mavericks.

"I listen to [people say] how athletic Dallas was and how we couldn't handle it, and it just makes me smile," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "If you win, there's all kinds of things you did well. If you lose, there's got to be reasons why you lost. So if they're more athletic, I need to figure out how much more to win by a point. How much more athletic is that?"

And what if Tim Duncan is able to convert that Manu Ginobili shot in regulation--how badly did Dirk Nowitzki hack him on that one?--and the Spurs are facing the Suns? I've bounced around the playoffs and have seen most of the teams in person, and the best team I've seen is the Spurs. They just didn't win. It happens.Chicago Tribune

[Again = B]I agree with Mr. Smith = the fact is the best team in the West was shafted etc. [/B] Go Suns!
That's weak. The Mavs were the better team, cause they won. That's the whole point of playing the games, to decide who's better. What method do you propose to decide the better team?

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Does that mean I can say the Lions are the best team in the NFL, but they got shafted?

Awesome!

[leemajors]

don't quote sam smith.

[Trainwreck2100]

Does that mean I can say the Lions are the best team in the NFL, but they got shafted?

Awesome!

How bout them tigres, you can say they are the best team at baseball without having to add "at losing", it won't last though.

[SPARKY]

Spurs have an off year and that makes franchise history for another team. Funny shit.

[Extra Stout]

It's official. Rummpd is a hack.

[Rummpd]

Stout

If you honestly and truly believe Dallas is a better team, you (and the like minded are a hack (are hacks)!

[strangeweather]

Stout

If you honestly and truly believe Dallas is a better team, you (and the like minded are a hack (are hacks)!
They matched up better, and they won it. What does being "a better team" mean, if not matching up better?

[JamStone]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38702

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_17008.shtml



The Spurs won the NBA title last night.


Yes, I know it was only April 17, and the road to the finals and crown may be treacherous, but in reality, only one formidable and former champion team legitametely stands in their way, i.e., the Detroit Pistons.

The resolute Pistons, having been blessed by a trio of great health, great skill, and great drive all year; deservedly earned the top overall seed on their way to a 65 or 66 win season.

...

The Spurs will win their fourth title in less than a decade (and become a true dynasty in a historical fashion), because of at least five reasons:

1) Duncan is back. With apologies to Ron Artest, only Kobe Bryant (and perhaps either Dywane Wade or LeBron James) can honestly look up to Tim Duncan, and say, "I am truly one of the two best players in the game".

Today, “Mr. Fundemental” is the singularly most powerful combination of offensive and defensive skill in a big man.

This is especially true as a statement, since Shaquille O’Neal begins to ride into the sunset of a brilliant career - although, right now Duncan has already accomplished as much as O'Neal in many areas and more in others.

2) Ginobili is ready to rumble.

Manu Ginobili plays with a singular verve and passion that is a “poormans” combination of the intensity of Kobe Bryant/Allen Iverson and the artistry of Steve Nash.

Moreover, like Bryant and Wade (three others exhibiting this "clutchness" trait, Ben Gordon, Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony) Ginobili is simply fearless down the stretch.

He is also a very good defender and getting healthier daily as Gregg Popovich wisely gave him some rest down the stretch.

I expect him to be the finals MVP as he builds to that point.

3) Meanwhile, Tony Parker should be in more MVP discussions. He saved the Spurs great regular season when others were hurt or struggling.

Parker will shoot over 50% from the field and will be a leader in points in the paint. One of the top three guards in the league in quickness and pure speed - no one (except perhaps Iverson) can get to the hole as well in the league thru narrow crevices.

Parker's improved jumper from 10-15 feet plus this quickness is changing defensive schemes and giving opposition coaches nightmares.

"Pick your poison with the Spurs" – guard Duncan and Ginobili, Parker, Finley and Horry or someone of will go off, and all are capable of big games and big series.

4) Bruce Bowen is the real Defensive Player of the Year – regardless of who gets the award. End of story. Bowen is not perfect as his dumb kick on Ray Allen showed recently, but no one works harder in the game. Also no one, stays with his man and fights through screens in the league better than him.

He is also one of the top three point shooters in the game and has improved his former albatross, a Shaquille O’Neal like free throw shooting touch.

When push comes to shove no team in the league (other than the Kings arguebly with Artest) has a player as good to match up on a pretty consistent basis with anyone from Mike Bibby to Shaun Marion to Dywane Wade to Kobe Bryant.

He will not stop them all every night but they will have to work hard.

5) The Intangibles. The Spurs know how to win, will not be facing back to backs, have the best coach in the game according to a recent players poll (ESPN), and have veteran depth in Robert Horry, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel and the resurgent Brent Barry.



1. The NBA should have handed the Larry O'Brien trophy to the Spurs on April 18th. That way, when the Mavs beat the Spurs, at least the Spurs could have run away with the trophy and not given it back to the NBA.

2. As good as Ginobili is and as clutch as he has been before, he is probably the reason why the Spurs lost if you want to point at one single play or one single player. His Sacramento blunder also looms as a bad playoff memory from this post season. Gotta be in the NBA Finals to be the Finals MVP.

3. Tony Parker is as good as anyone in getting to the rim. Add Devin Harris to that conversation. And, how about that reliable midrange jumper when he and the team really needed it in the playoffs?

4. I'm tired of hearing the argument that Bruce Bowen was the real DPOY. He is absolutely a demon at the defensive end. But, when the Spurs really needed a stop, he was right there with Manu fouling Dirk for that and-one to tie game 7 in the closing seconds of regulation. He didn't really stop Terry when Terry got hot. He didn't really stop Dirk when Dirk got it going. Bruce is awesome. But, just like Ben Wallace is overrated defensively, so is Bruce.

5. The best coach in the game according to the players poll got OUTCOACHED by Avery Johnson. So much for intangibles.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Jam, does this mean the Lions still suck?

Damn you...

[ShoogarBear]

1. The NBA should have handed the Larry O'Brien trophy to the Spurs on April 18th. That way, when the Mavs beat the Spurs, at least the Spurs could have run away with the trophy and not given it back to the NBA.

Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuch!

I need to start getting some good material like this together now in case there's a chance to use it tonight.

:lol

[1Parker1]

Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuch!

I need to start getting some good material like this together now in case there's a chance to use it tonight.

:lol


:lol Seriously, that's the second time this week he's burned us. We need to think of some good smack talk about the Pistons.

[ShoogarBear]

I give Rummpd props for sticking his neck out and calling his shot early and in no uncertain terms.

But I think everyone correctly pointed out the flaws back then and of course when you're wrong you have to face the music now.

[JamStone]

Jam, does this mean the Lions still suck?

Damn you...


The Lions will always suck. Even if they start winning, they'll still suck. They could win the Superbowl, and I'll still think they suck. They could win back-to-back Superbowls, and I'll still think they suck. And, since neither of those two things will happen, they really, really, really suck.

I can accept that. And, I'll still be a Lion's fan ...

damn, I suck.

[JamStone]

Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuch!

I need to start getting some good material like this together now in case there's a chance to use it tonight.

:lol


ShoogarBear,

I expect some very good smack talk. And, every Pistons fan deserves to be bitch slapped in the mouth if the Pistons lose this series, even if it goes all the way to game 7. They simply cannot lose like this after the season they had.

And, I'll be right hereto take my medicine.

Again ... damn, I suck.

Pistons in 7. (Come on, please?)

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

If they start winning? SB?

:rollin

They are in their 50th year of the 5 year rebuilding process...

Please don't make me count on the Lions and Tigers. Pretty please?

[ShoogarBear]

Lions went to the NFC Championship game twice with Barry, right?

Of course, those might have been the two worst NFC finalists of all time . . .

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Only once and they got shafted by the officials.

42-10?

EDIT: I looked it up, final was only 41-10. Fucking zebras...

[Rummpd]

Mavs won the series and look at the column as there were three factors in play period.

They got some props and deservedly so as they are a very good and deep team.

However, as Smith and I and many others agree the Mavericks are still not the superior team even if they win the championship (doubtful). Spurs still have 2 in four years with core group and will comeback hungrier than before with some big man that Popovich will trust.

The only thing I will agree upon is that Johnson outcoached Popovich and surprisingly due the Spurs coach's stubborness to turn to and stick with "small ball"! Why not a friggin zone?

[JamStone]

Rummpd,

Just don't ever argue with a Pistons fan who claims the Pistons were the better team in the 2005 NBA Finals.

I don't believe that to be the case, but according to your logic, a Pistons fan who would believe that has a legitimate argument.

[strangeweather]

However, as Smith and I and many others agree the Mavericks are still not the superior team even if they win the championship (doubtful).
How do you define "superior team", if playing a seven game series doesn't decide it?


Why not a friggin zone?
Maybe because the Mavs are one of the best jump shooting teams in the NBA?

[Rummpd]

Make em beat you that way, rather than drive with impunity and get to line or give away wide open in the paint 5-10 foot jumpers. Things get tighter in the playoffs and Dirk and others have had their historical moments.

Dallas is not unbeatable nor on the caliber of the Lakers teams the Spurs had to face for 4-5 years, or the Pistons last year. Popovich lost this series IMO.

[strangeweather]

Make em beat you that way, rather than drive with impunity and get to line or give away wide open in the paint 5-10 foot jumpers. Things get tighter in the playoffs and Dirk and others have had their historical moments.

Dallas is not unbeatable nor on the caliber of the Lakers teams the Spurs had to face for 4-5 years, or the Pistons last year. Popovich lost this series IMO.
If teams can't beat you with jumpshots, why does anyone in the league play man defense? Wouldn't everybody just run a zone all the time, since jumpshots can't possibly win games?

Other teams don't leave Bruce Bowen open on the perimeter, so why would it suddenly be a good idea to leave Dirk and Stack and Jason Terry wide open?

[Extra Stout]

If you honestly and truly believe Dallas is a better team, you (and the like minded are a hack (are hacks)!

So according to you, the scoreboard is a hack. Great stuff.


Make em beat you that way, rather than drive with impunity and get to line or give away wide open in the paint 5-10 foot jumpers. Things get tighter in the playoffs and Dirk and others have had their historical moments.

Dallas is not unbeatable nor on the caliber of the Lakers teams the Spurs had to face for 4-5 years, or the Pistons last year. Popovich lost this series IMO.
Playing zone against the best jump-shooting team in the NBA is a brilliant idea.

Do they pay you to write for them?