Cavs could give Spurs problems in the finals?

[The_Game]

They won the season series 2-0 Vs the Spurs

Held Spurs to just 80 points per game in two games

Cavs having a great superstar who can score at will and take over a game

They have a good frontcourt with energy guys

They play good defense

not saying they would beat the Spurs, they aren't quite there but they would not be an easy match-up.

[ChumpDumper]

They could beat the Spurs if Finley plays.

[CosmicCowboy]

Forget the regular season, but they do present some match up problems. LeBron will get his, but I just can't see that series going longer than 5 games.

[LavaLamp]

Who is the rough equivalent of Bowen on the Cavs team?

[NoMoneyDown]

PO's are a different animal than the RS. I think the Cavs would win one - MAYBE two - but that's it.

[RJF08]

I honestly think a Jazz Cazs Finals woulda been the best thing for the NBA, both being young and new blood in the Finals. However, I think the fact that Lebron may get the monkey called Detroit, off his back will help substantially in regards to ratings. Cavs are a very good defensive team(sadly better than mine) and would be a formiddable foe.

With the injury to Hughes they would have a rookie getting alot of minutes. A Gibson/Parker matchup would be damn fun to see though.

Is it November yet, or even July for a summer league? My withdrawls have already begun!

[GrandeDavid]

Sure they could beat the Spurs. So could Detroit. But the Spurs can also beat them. Its one thing to beat the Spurs in two regular season games, entirely another to win an adjustments-filled seven game championship series. The Spurs have been there and done that many, many more times than Cleveland. And if you are worried about Lebron, he hasn't proven to be clutch, but you would still want to throw in some aggressive doubles on him. I don't see Z, Varejao and Larry Hughes taking down the Spurs in a series.

And while Cleveland has become a solid defensive team, do you really think that Manu, Tony and Tim will be contained sufficiently over the course of a long series? I have my doubts.

[thispego]

Who is the rough equivalent of Bowen on the Cavs team?
eric snow?
but he doesnt get much pt nowadays

[SAGambler]

From what I have seen in the 3 games I have watched, and what I have seen the Spurs do to the Jazz, I have to think it is almost a no-contest.

Cavs - Detroit game is slow....Both having trouble scoring....

Spurs may just turn it up one more notch, and really put on a clinic if they play next week like they have played this past week plus.

[BeerIsGood!]

Don't let the Cavs fool you. No way they're winning 2 on the road when Lebron and pretty much the entire team is shit on the road. The Cavs turn into Brent Barry on the road.

[CosmicCowboy]

Who is the rough equivalent of Bowen on the Cavs team?

From a positional standpoint it's that scrub kid...LeBron something...

[GrandeDavid]

I honestly think a Jazz Cazs Finals woulda been the best thing for the NBA, both being young and new blood in the Finals. However, I think the fact that Lebron may get the monkey called Detroit, off his back will help substantially in regards to ratings. Cavs are a very good defensive team(sadly better than mine) and would be a formiddable foe.

With the injury to Hughes they would have a rookie getting alot of minutes. A Gibson/Parker matchup would be damn fun to see though.

Is it November yet, or even July for a summer league? My withdrawls have already begun!

The best thing for the NBA is a Spurs dynasty. They are tough, play the right way and represent their community and fans with dignity and class. The Spurs are here because they earned it. The NBA and other franchises don't deserve squat until they take it from the Spurs. And Tim, Manu and Tony are still young. They are becoming a legendary, dominant trio in their primes. Americans with frighteningly short attention spans from big cities might not like the Spurs, but many people the world over, and the intelligent basketball fan, loves watching the Spurs and teams like them.

[CosmicCowboy]

Spurs may just turn it up one more notch, and really put on a clinic if they play next week like they have played this past week plus.

uhhh lets be honest here...do you really think the Spurs have a notch higher than the 1st quarter of game 5? That was just phenomenal basketball. SPAM at it's finest. They executed so well on both ends of the floor that they just crushed the life out of a good young Utah team.

[alamo50]

I be rooting for Mike, Danny and Hank to meet us in the Finals.
Spurs vs. Spurs of the East.

No more freakin' Deeeeeeeeeeeeeetroooooooooit.

[GrandeDavid]

Jurgen, I hope you are right. I want to face Cleveland. Just a different damn team! I think that both would be tough matchups, but I think San Antonio would take out either in less than seven.

[RJF08]

The best thing for the NBA is a Spurs dynasty. They are tough, play the right way and represent their community and fans with dignity and class. The Spurs are here because they earned it. The NBA and other franchises don't deserve squat until they take it from the Spurs. And Tim, Manu and Tony are still young. They are becoming a legendary, dominant trio in their primes. Americans with frighteningly short attention spans from big cities might not like the Spurs, but many people the world over, and the intelligent basketball fan, loves watching the Spurs and teams like them.


I'm not saying the Spurs don't deserve to be where they are, they won every series. That's what good teams do.

From a marketing and ratings standpoint, a Jazz/Cavs Finals would have brought in more casual fans as well as the diehard fans and the league would have gained more dollars.

From a basketball purist standpoint the best team is gonna win, which is the way it should be(I am glad about it too). If the league were trying to get more viewers then they would arrange the biggest markets to get there. Thankfully they are not.

Like I said before, don't underestimate the Cavs. November, November, can't wait til November.

[dimsah]

Wasn't both games against Cleveland this year before the all-star break?
I'm not taking them lightly, but this isn't the same team Cleveland played during the regular season.

[BUMP]

and i'd like to know whether Cleveland has good defense or whether they slow down the game. because their defensive PPG allowed is pretty good. when they played Dallas they held us to 92 points and 97 points respectively, and this whole postseason teams have had a hard time cracking 80+ on them.

i think their D might be a little underrated

[ATXSPUR]

Cleveland poses some matchup problems. But anybody who thinks they are more dangerous than detroit are drinking lebron's kool aid a little too soon.

[mardigan]

Wasn't both games against Cleveland this year before the all-star break?
I'm not taking them lightly, but this isn't the same team Cleveland played during the regular season.
Yea, the first game was the second game of the year, and the second game was the 32nd.

[The_Game]

cavs have made chauncey billups and rip hamilton struggle. that shows that their defense is pretty good.

[thispego]

I'm not saying the Spurs don't deserve to be where they are, they won every series. That's what good teams do.

From a marketing and ratings standpoint, a Jazz/Cavs Finals would have brought in more casual fans as well as the diehard fans and the league would have gained more dollars.

From a basketball purist standpoint the best team is gonna win, which is the way it should be(I am glad about it too). If the league were trying to get more viewers then they would arrange the biggest markets to get there. Thankfully they are not.

Like I said before, don't underestimate the Cavs. November, November, can't wait til November.
who plays for the jazz that the casual fan would tune in to see?

[ForestBrain]

Cavs couldn't beat the Spurs in a seven game series. They haven't even gotten pass the Pistons yet.
The Cavs are still pretty young yet, and their stars are too egotistical as of right now. Cockiness isn't a good thing.

[Budkin]

We would crush Cleveland. Detroit might give us some problems but I feel fairly confident against them too.

[RJF08]

who plays for the jazz that the casual fan would tune in to see?


Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer.

[SAGambler]

Cavs having a great superstar who can score at will and take over a game

Then tell me, why haven't the Cavs disposed of Detroit?

James goes through periods where he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. And if he has to make FTs with the game on the line for a NBA Championship.......well, he hasn't proven yet that he is unflappable.

[thispego]

they are nobody's. what have they done? i dont understand your logic.

[TampaDude]

We would crush Cleveland. Detroit might give us some problems but I feel fairly confident against them too.

WERD...the Spurs would smoke the Cavs...5 games, max.

[CosmicCowboy]

Then tell me, why haven't the Cavs disposed of Detroit?

James goes through periods where he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. And if he has to make FTs with the game on the line for a NBA Championship.......well, he hasn't proven yet that he is unflappable.

In the interest of fairness when discussing crunch time free throws TD has a pretty hit or miss crunch time free throw record as well. After watching him his whole career I've gotten to where I can just look at how he is standing at the line and call it with probably 90% accuracy before he shoots.

[SilverPlayer]

I worry about the Cavs because of what Lebron James means to the NBA. I honestly worry his team will get a free throw contest going against us (ala wade last year.)

That said I think we should be able to handle them. Lebron is a great young player, but he's got to mature a little more as a player before he can handle the Spurs.

[Solid D]

I think the Spurs vs. the Flip Saunders-coached Pistons is much preferred.

The Spurs facing the Cavs is very dangerous. LeBron James is a very tough player to handle physically. Bruce can't handle him. Secondly, Hank Egan and Mike Brown know the Spurs' system and they know how to defend the Spurs. The two victories vs. the Spurs this year were not flukes. They junk up the game. The 7'3" Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and James really can dominate the boards and the lane. Granted the Cavs losing Larry Hughes hurts them some because he does contribute with steals and quickness on the wing but Daniel Gibson is opening some eyes.

The people saying that the regular season losses means nothing need to talk to the Dallas Mavs fans and compare notes. Nuff' said.

[RJF08]

:lol


Thats a great argument, man. Geez, how do I argue with that?! :sleep

[Trainwreck2100]

I think the Spurs vs. the Flip Saunders-coached Pistons is much preferred.

The Spurs facing the Cavs is very dangerous. LeBron James is a very tough player to handle physically. Bruce can't handle him. Secondly, Hank Egan and Mike Brown know the Spurs' system and they know how to defend the Spurs. The two victories vs. the Spurs this year were not flukes. They junk up the game. The 7'3" Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and James really can dominate the boards and the lane. Granted the Cavs losing Larry Hughes hurts them some because he does contribute with steals and quickness on the wing but Daniel Gibson is opening some eyes.

The people saying that the regular season losses means nothing need to talk to the Dallas Mavs fans and compare notes. Nuff' said.


That second game in Cleveland was the worst offensive game of the season, and they lost by four.

[SilverPlayer]

I think the Spurs vs. the Flip Saunders-coached Pistons is much preferred.

The Spurs facing the Cavs is very dangerous. LeBron James is a very tough player to handle physically. Bruce can't handle him. Secondly, Hank Egan and Mike Brown know the Spurs' system and they know how to defend the Spurs. The two victories vs. the Spurs this year were not flukes. They junk up the game. The 7'3" Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and James really can dominate the boards and the lane. Granted the Cavs losing Larry Hughes hurts them some because he does contribute with steals and quickness on the wing but Daniel Gibson is opening some eyes.

The people saying that the regular season losses means nothing need to talk to the Dallas Mavs fans and compare notes. Nuff' said.

I would agree with this before playoff Manu decided to show up. The Manu of the regular season is all that they may be expecting from the Spurs. I mean you can watch him, but until he literally starts taking a playoff game from out of your hands there is just no way as a player to prepare for that...I hope.

[timvp]

The Spurs facing the Cavs is very dangerous. LeBron James is a very tough player to handle physically. Bruce can't handle him. Secondly, Hank Egan and Mike Brown know the Spurs' system and they know how to defend the Spurs. The two victories vs. the Spurs this year were not flukes. They junk up the game. The 7'3" Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and James really can dominate the boards and the lane. Granted the Cavs losing Larry Hughes hurts them some because he does contribute with steals and quickness on the wing but Daniel Gibson is opening some eyes.

Well said.

Also add in that Pop gets overly sentimental when going against coaches he likes. And Mike Brown is one of Pop's favorite people in the NBA and Hank Egan is the person who invented the defensive part of Spurs Basketball. And that's not even mentioning Danny Ferry.

Pop let his feelings get in the way of Detroit with Larry Brown in 2005 and Mavericks with AJ in 2006. Spurs were lucky to win one of those series.


The people saying that the regular season losses means nothing need to talk to the Dallas Mavs fans and compare notes. Nuff' said.

Owned :smokin

I saw nothing flukish in the way the Cavs shut down the Spurs in the regular season defensively. And there's nothing flukish about LeBron weighing as much as two Bowens.

[RJF08]

they are nobody's. what have they done? i dont understand your logic.


Got to the Western Conference Finals in their first playoffs. Williams was second in the league in assists, he also progressively improved as the playoffs went on. Boozer is a 20 12 guy night in and night out, who is touted as one of the top 8 PF's in the league today, as well as a fringe MVP candidate and they compete every night.

[mardigan]

Got to the Western Conference Finals in their first playoffs. Williams was second in the league in assists, he also progressively improved as the playoffs went on. Boozer is a 20 12 guy night in and night out, who is touted as one of the top 8 PF's in the league today, as well as a fringe MVP candidate and they compete every night.
So that makes them more watchable than a 3 time finals MVP, and two all-stars?

[thispego]

Got to the Western Conference Finals in their first playoffs. Williams was second in the league in assists, he also progressively improved as the playoffs went on. Boozer is a 20 12 guy night in and night out, who is touted as one of the top 8 PF's in the league today, as well as a fringe MVP candidate and they compete every night.
ok... Duncan is a 20 and 12 guy night in and night out who is touted as THE top pf in the league today, as well as a fringe MVP candidate.
Ginobili has progressively improved as the playoffs went on.
and Parker can score at will in the paint.. as a point guard. AND they compete every night..

I still dont understand why you think the Jazz would have been better for the NBA in the finals. Well, i do... you're a jazz fan. But is there another, more legitimate reason why you feel this way?

[NBA Junkie]

Despite the Cavs sweep, it wouldn't be a repeat of Dallas-Golden State.

Nobody beats the Spurs when the big 3 are all on their games. That's why they handled Utah with relative ease and why they were great in game 6 against Phoenix.

Yeah, there's match-up problems with James, but there's no point guard in that system that can give TP fits like Nash and Deron Williams did. Duncan and Oberto trump Gooden and Ziggy. If the Spurs can effectively shut down the 3 point line with the Suns and Jazz, I don't see the Cavs three point specialists going off either.

Spus will win regardless of who comes out of the losers bracket in the least conference.

[mavsfan1000]

Cavs->Spurs
Warriors->Mavs.

[VaSpursFan]

no way the cavs could beat us in a 7 game series. if phx and denver couldn't beat us, the cavs don't have a chance at all...

[Louie Vega]

They won the season series 2-0 Vs the Spurs

Held Spurs to just 80 points per game in two games

Cavs having a great superstar who can score at will and take over a game

They have a good frontcourt with energy guys

They play good defense

not saying they would beat the Spurs, they aren't quite there but they would not be an easy match-up.



Not to mention the refs would babysit James throughout the series. The Cavs would not be the team the SPurs want to face in the Finals.

[The_Game]

Not to mention the refs would babysit James throughout the series. The Cavs would not be the team the SPurs want to face in the Finals.

you never know it could be D-Wade all over again. Dallas were favoured badly last year but Wade and the refs stole it away from them.

[LilMissSPURfect]

The only thing i fear in playing the cavs would be the KING TREATMENT .....I would hate to hear and see ABC all o'er him........dissin my spurs.....

cavs lost coz james had a runny nose
cavs lost coz james shoelaces were untied
cavs lost coz ....blah blah blah.....

cavs win coz JAMES is BEST yadda yadda yadda......

other than all that noise SPURS would SWEEP

[SpursIndonesia]

Then tell me, why haven't the Cavs disposed of Detroit?

James goes through periods where he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. And if he has to make FTs with the game on the line for a NBA Championship.......well, he hasn't proven yet that he is unflappable.

Indeed, missing 2 critical FT in the 4th, darn LeBron !!
:depressed

[Cant_Be_Faded]

wow i hate lebron james

its just wrong to be gifted with those skillz lol
he's like kobe on steroids and HGH

[implacable44]

Looks like the Cavs might wrap this baby up - Pistons seem to be falling apart - how do you not run two guys at Lebron and make somebody else beat you ? A layup for a game winner?

Lebron will average 40 against the Spurs maybe even get to 50. Pop would do better to not even put Bowen on him - let Bowen check Hughes or ride the bench because he will be useless in that series - other than the 6 fouls he can contribute. The Cavs are not a good match up because if they can keep the game close Lebron can take it over. He can get his shot wherever and whenever he wants with single coverage. Spurs don't have a player like that.

Spurs in 7 by the grace of TD- Lebron averages 40.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Bowen has ZERO effect on Lebron

[ponky]

wgaf about this year's playoffs...it won't be interesting unless the cavs get to the finals...then i'd be happy for just another lebron over duncan dunk...just like duncan, spurs don't have an answer for lebron, they just have to hope the rest of the team stands around or that some fool like damon jones starts jacking up 3s...i'd like to see daniel gibson do well...other than that, get this boring playoffs over with so we can get on to the draft and next season, the ratings must be loooooooooooow :lol

[implacable44]

i bet you do want to get on to next season mavs fan -- though I don't know why -- it will be just another year of disappointment for you Cuban clones -- barring the Kobe for Howard, Stack and JET trade - nothing will change for Mav fan -- get used to it. The Mavs are the Jazz of the 90's.

[T Park]

wgaf about this year's playoffs...it won't be interesting unless the cavs get to the finals...then i'd be happy for just another lebron over duncan dunk...just like duncan, spurs don't have an answer for lebron, they just have to hope the rest of the team stands around or that some fool like damon jones starts jacking up 3s...i'd like to see daniel gibson do well...other than that, get this boring playoffs over with so we can get on to the draft and next season, the ratings must be loooooooooooow

go troll somewhere else you crabs infested walking STD.

[ponky]

i bet you do want to get on to next season mavs fan -- though I don't know why -- it will be just another year of disappointment for you Cuban clones -- barring the Kobe for Howard, Stack and JET trade - nothing will change for Mav fan -- get used to it. The Mavs are the Jazz of the 90's.

simmer down, i'm just playng around, but yes, i am looking forward to next season and why would you call us *cuban* clones? that's ridiculous, it's not like i believe all of you spurs fans are little bowen bitches. make fun of the team all you want, won't make me not root for the mavs... i merely posted the reality that is tv ratings, don't blame me if people find such teams boring, i never actually dissed the spurs in my original post. actually, maybe people will tune in to the cavs/spurs series, so many people hate the spurs these days because of the whole suns/spurs hoopla and with lebron as a marquee name i think it will help the ratings.

[ponky]

Not to mention the refs would babysit James throughout the series. The Cavs would not be the team the SPurs want to face in the Finals.

actually, i think the spurs are a better team as a team (while i think lebron is the best player) but i think the officiating is probably the one thing that could f*ck the spurs because it's lebron and it's the east (underdogs)

[ponky]

go troll somewhere else you crabs infested walking STD.

go stuff another ding dong in your mouth (or just a dong, whatever works) and hush already

[judaspriestess]

Cavs beat the Spurs early in the season when the Spurs where playing like crappola. I see it going 5 maybe 6 max. Spurs win!

[ponky]

Cavs beat the Spurs early in the season when the Spurs where playing like crappola. I see it going 5 maybe 6 max. Spurs win!

both games were early in the season? i don't remember.

[ponky]

oh btw, lest i forget my manners to the nicer spurs crowd (you know who you are), congrats.....on....the.....win.....in......(ugh, this is hard)....the......wcf

[greens]

I just checked...weren't the Cavs wins vs. Spurs during the time when Spurs were playing badly at the beginning of the season? It seems to me that the Spurs got their team together after the All Star break...

Either way, the Spurs have to play their very best against whoever they end up playing in the Finals. I want Manu to be consistently good. All players need to bring their very best effort in order to win. They can't win unless they give it their all.

But yeah, Lebron worries me. He's really really good...

[LakerLanny]

LeBron is sensational. The boy became a man tonight.

But the Spurs are in the West and have way too much for the Cavs overall.

I would be surprised if it goes 6 games unless LeBron keeps channeling whatever he was doing tonight. That was something else tonight, simply outstanding.

[easjer]

One was the second game of the season , the other was the thirty-second game of the season.

[conqueso]

Its one thing to beat the Lakers in two regular season games, entirely another to win an adjustments-filled seven game championship series. The Lakers have been there and done that many, many more times than Chicago. And if you are worried about Jordan, he hasn't proven to be clutch, but you would still want to throw in some aggressive doubles on him. I don't see Pip, Grant, Cartwright and Armstrong taking down the Lakers in a series.

And while Chicago has become a solid defensive team, do you really think that Worthy, Magic, and Scott will be contained sufficiently over the course of a long series? I have my doubts.

fixed

[ponky]

the cavs as a team become a non-factor on the road which imo, means a lot when facing the spurs....i mean, they have a chance, just something like 0.0000000999999%

i will be rooting for them obviously and will go to a game or two but i expect the spurs will win

[L.I.T]

Neither match-up is a cakewalk, you can point to a lot of different series to prove this.

Funny how Spurs fans disregard regular season match-ups when it suits their purposes.

I firmly believe that the Spurs can beat either team, but I also know either team can cause the Spurs fits.

[monosylab1k]

Spurs are too smart, experienced, and too well coached to let a one man wrecking crew beat them.

[ponky]

alright, well, good luck, whoever matches up in the finals, back to my xbox which will get me through the next couple of months!

[Texas_Ranger]

Everyone talks like Cavs are in the finals. They still need to win one more game, so stop worrying about them.
I still think that Detroit is a better team and that they'll win this series. LeBron can't score 48 every night. You can't win the series with one man show plays.

[LakerLanny]

actually, i think the spurs are a better team as a team (while i think lebron is the best player) but i think the officiating is probably the one thing that could f*ck the spurs because it's lebron and it's the east (underdogs)

That is a very astute post.

If the NBA decides it's LeBron's time....trust me when I say the Cavs will win.

I think the league will play it safe and not having the key fixer available this year (Joey Crawford) bodes well for the Spurs in a fix theory argument.

But after the 2004 Finals (4 Straight Opening Jump Balls Called Violations Against the Lakers) nothing could surprise me any more. The NBA is subject to manipulation through the use of the officials, it isn't a secret at this point.

[BeerIsGood!]

Everyone talks like Cavs are in the finals. They still need to win one more game, so stop worrying about them.
I still think that Detroit is a better team and that they'll win this series. LeBron can't score 48 every night. You can't win the series with one man show plays.

At home other guys show up at least sometimes, and that has been enough to get by a Pistons team that is a shell of it's former self. We have to face the facts - if this Piston's team were in the WC they would have been a near bottom seed who got knocked out in the 1st round more than likely. This isn't the same Detroit D of '04 and '05. The '05 Finals team would have beat this team in 5.

[BeerIsGood!]

That is a very astute post.

If the NBA decides it's LeBron's time....trust me when I say the Cavs will win.

I think the league will play it safe and not having the key fixer available this year (Joey Crawford) bodes well for the Spurs in a fix theory argument.

But after the 2004 Finals (4 Straight Opening Jump Balls Called Violations Against the Lakers) nothing could surprise me any more. The NBA is subject to manipulation through the use of the officials, it isn't a secret at this point.
If the league wanted Lebron in the finals (and were going to have the refs ensure it) he would have gotten calls in game 2 at the end and in this game, Oliver.

[timvp]

After tonight, LeBron gave even more reason why playing against him won't be easy. 25 points in a row to close out a game on the road in the ECF?

I don't even remember MJ doing anything like that.

[ducks]

After tonight, LeBron gave even more reason why playing against him won't be easy. 25 points in a row to close out a game on the road in the ECF?

I don't even remember MJ doing anything like that.
mj would make free throws and not let his teamates foul out and have to make all those points
and mj did not play against flip

[tlongII]

Cleveland will win the NBA championship and there's nothing the Spurs or their fans can do about it. It's time for The King to ascend to his throne.

[Budkin]

Cleveland will win the NBA championship and there's nothing the Spurs or their fans can do about it. It's time for The King to ascend to his throne.

:lmao

[conqueso]

That is a very astute post.

If the NBA decides it's LeBron's time....trust me when I say the Cavs will win.

I think the league will play it safe and not having the key fixer available this year (Joey Crawford) bodes well for the Spurs in a fix theory argument.

But after the 2004 Finals (4 Straight Opening Jump Balls Called Violations Against the Lakers) nothing could surprise me any more. The NBA is subject to manipulation through the use of the officials, it isn't a secret at this point.

Trust me, I hate the NBA refs like I hate Hitler, but seriously dude, what the fuck? So there were four jump ball violations. WGAF? Consider these three points:

1) Perhaps the Lakers actually violated the rules on those plays and were punished accordingly.

2) Jump ball violations have relatively no bearing on the outcome of the next 47:59 of the game.

3) The league had no discernible motive to fix a series against the Lakers in the second-biggest TV market in the nation sporting the most exciting player in the game, the most dominant big man in the game, and two other HOFers in favor of a smaller market, defensive-minded, less exciting team.

You've got a serious burden to shoulder if you're going to cry about a fix, and the motive element just can't be overcome, even if you could somehow explain away the lack of any actual infractions as well as the fact that trying to fix a game with meaningless calls at the opening tip-off is probably the LEAST effective way to accomplish a fix.

[ducks]

Cleveland will win the NBA championship and there's nothing the Spurs or their fans can do about it. It's time for The King to ascend to his throne.
did you not say that against the nuggets ,suns and jazz
thanks for saying spurs win

[Budkin]

After tonight, LeBron gave even more reason why playing against him won't be easy. 25 points in a row to close out a game on the road in the ECF?

I don't even remember MJ doing anything like that.

No way in hell he could pull of a performance like that against us... yeah he'll probably score a good amount but give me a break...

[duncanchick21]

Cleveland will win the NBA championship and there's nothing the Spurs or their fans can do about it. It's time for The King to ascend to his throne.
:blah :lol :p: :flag: :flag: :flag: :flag: :lmao :lmao

[BeerIsGood!]

No way in hell he could pull of a performance like that against us... yeah he'll probably score a good amount but give me a break...

He'll need 4 performances like that, maybe better than that.

[Burn531]

The Cavs are in the Finals? That's news to me.

[Agloco]

They won the season series 2-0 Vs the Spurs

Held Spurs to just 80 points per game in two games

Cavs having a great superstar who can score at will and take over a game

They have a good frontcourt with energy guys

They play good defense

not saying they would beat the Spurs, they aren't quite there but they would not be an easy match-up.

They won those game playing the "Pre-All Star Break" Spurs.

There's simply no conclusions to be drawn from those games. Period.

[hoopdreams11]

wgaf about this year's playoffs...it won't be interesting unless the cavs get to the finals...then i'd be happy for just another lebron over duncan dunk...just like duncan, spurs don't have an answer for lebron, they just have to hope the rest of the team stands around or that some fool like damon jones starts jacking up 3s...i'd like to see daniel gibson do well...other than that, get this boring playoffs over with so we can get on to the draft and next season, the ratings must be loooooooooooow :lol


Ratings might be low in the states but the rest of the world is watching. The NBA doesn't care if anybody in Dallas is watching. As long as advertisers are pimpin Gatorade, Vitamin water and Nike gear to France, Netherlands, Argentina, and China the ratings in the states will not affect their advertising revenue.

[Agloco]

I think the Spurs vs. the Flip Saunders-coached Pistons is much preferred.

The Spurs facing the Cavs is very dangerous. LeBron James is a very tough player to handle physically. Bruce can't handle him. Secondly, Hank Egan and Mike Brown know the Spurs' system and they know how to defend the Spurs. The two victories vs. the Spurs this year were not flukes. They junk up the game. The 7'3" Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and James really can dominate the boards and the lane. Granted the Cavs losing Larry Hughes hurts them some because he does contribute with steals and quickness on the wing but Daniel Gibson is opening some eyes.

The people saying that the regular season losses means nothing need to talk to the Dallas Mavs fans and compare notes. Nuff' said.

Comparing the Spurs/Cavs to Mavs/Warriors is like apples and oranges. The reason you can discount the regular season games is that the Spurs are hardly the same team after the all star break. Not so for the Mavs. What you see is what you get with them.

[jag]

They could beat the Spurs if Finley plays.

i can tell you thought this out... :rolleyes

[Southwest Texas Fan]

The appropriate fear factor is what the spurs need to beat either team. It's not going to be easy but doable. C’mon Timvp isn't time to believe.

[Louie Vega]

From a marketing and ratings standpoint, a Jazz/Cavs Finals would have brought in more casual fans as well as the diehard fans and the league would have gained more dollars.


LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol :lol

Thanks man! That's the funniest thing i've heard all day!

[sa_butta]

They won the season series 2-0 Vs the Spurs

Held Spurs to just 80 points per game in two games

Cavs having a great superstar who can score at will and take over a game

They have a good frontcourt with energy guys

They play good defense

not saying they would beat the Spurs, they aren't quite there but they would not be an easy match-up.They also went 0-2 against Dallas and Phoenix.
And those two games were played in November and January, Spurs have had plenty of time to come together as a team. Spurs are playing at a much higher level than they were at that time. Oh and they have no bench.

[Testing]

Its going to be hard for Lebron to get so many dunks and and easy layups against 2 7 footers against the Spurs. On the flip side, Duncan could easily be in foul trouble for many of these games.

However, Spurs advantage is in the backcourt. They have no answer for Parker...especially considering that they have no shot blockers in the lane. They also have no answer for Ginobili...Pavolic is defending Rip Hamilton very, very well which is a key why the Cavs are up 1. However, Ginobili is a completely different type of player than Rip as hes more easily able to get in the lane, has a perimeter game, and is left handed. Pavolic can easily get in foul trouble against him. Granted, Hughes being injured also helps.

Lebron is bound to get his. and in a close game it'll be tough to stop him. But key is to stop everyone else. They don't have an answer for Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan.

[cherylsteele]

Its going to be hard for Lebron to get so many dunks and and easy layups against 2 7 footers against the Spurs. On the flip side, Duncan could easily be in foul trouble for many of these games.

However, Spurs advantage is in the backcourt. They have no answer for Parker...especially considering that they have no shot blockers in the lane. They also have no answer for Ginobili...Pavolic is defending Rip Hamilton very, very well which is a key why the Cavs are up 1. However, Ginobili is a completely different type of player than Rip as hes more easily able to get in the lane, has a perimeter game, and is left handed. Pavolic can easily get in foul trouble against him. Granted, Hughes being injured also helps.

Lebron is bound to get his. and in a close game it'll be tough to stop him. But key is to stop everyone else. They don't have an answer for Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan.
Who is Duncan going to guard? Gooden? Žydrūnas Ilgauskas? A better question who will guard Timmy? Lebron will get his but I think Bowen will make him work for everything.

They have no second scorer now that Hughes is gone. The Spurs are way too deep for the Cavs.

Sure Mike Brown knows our system, but you need to have the tools to play with, I just don't think he has enough pieces to win.

A sweep would not surprise me....but I expect a 5 game series.....Cavs win one at home. It'll be kinda like the Jazz series.

[Supergirl]

Who is the rough equivalent of Bowen on the Cavs team?

Eric Snow.
Also, Daniel Gibson has played very good D against Chauncey Billups.

[RJF08]

ok... Duncan is a 20 and 12 guy night in and night out who is touted as THE top pf in the league today, as well as a fringe MVP candidate.
Ginobili has progressively improved as the playoffs went on.
and Parker can score at will in the paint.. as a point guard. AND they compete every night..

I still dont understand why you think the Jazz would have been better for the NBA in the finals. Well, i do... you're a jazz fan. But is there another, more legitimate reason why you feel this way?


He is also a fuckin ROBOT. Seriously, he is a talented player but has no relatability! He is boring! Simply boring. I don't think anyone, who likes basketball, would say otherwise.

Can either of us not be accused of making a homer pick?

[RJF08]

The Cavs are in the Finals? That's news to me.

They will be after tomorrow night.

[cherylsteele]

He is also a fuckin ROBOT. Seriously, he is a talented player but has no relatability! He is boring! Simply boring. I don't think anyone, who likes basketball, would say otherwise.

Can either of us not be accused of making a homer pick?
If you like and understand basketball....I think Timmy has more than enough relatability......It is those who just watch ESPN for those 5 sec highlights who think he is boring.

I would rather be bored winning than excited losing.

[BreezeHillBill]

Cavs->Spurs
Warriors->Mavs.
Is that supposed to be logic, math, magic, or just BS?

[BreezeHillBill]

He is also a fuckin ROBOT. Seriously, he is a talented player but has no relatability! He is boring! Simply boring. I don't think anyone, who likes basketball, would say otherwise.

Can either of us not be accused of making a homer pick?
Uh . . . Bill Russell likes basketball and believes that Tim is fantastic and that opinions like yours are superficial.

[ATXSPUR]

He is also a fuckin ROBOT. Seriously, he is a talented player but has no relatability! He is boring! Simply boring. I don't think anyone, who likes basketball, would say otherwise.

Can either of us not be accused of making a homer pick?

People who like basketball love Tim. It is dipshit casual fans like you who dont like him. You just want to be entertained. Those who like basketball and know basketball appreciate and love Timmy.

[td4mvp3]

Uh . . . Bill Russell likes basketball and believes that Tim is fantastic and that opinions like yours are superficial.
what's more, it speaks more to how media is capable of honing the public's opinion. how relatable is any multti-millionaire athlete who has little in common with most of us at this point? and exactly does any of that mean on the court? we aren't watching them in a chitchat contest, we're watching basketball.

[DDS4]

Simply boring. I don't think anyone, who likes basketball, would say otherwise.

You just contradicted yourself right there.

Congrats. You just demoted yourself to a casual NBA fan.

If you know basketball, you would appreciate his greatness.

[SAGambler]

After tonight, LeBron gave even more reason why playing against him won't be easy. 25 points in a row to close out a game on the road in the ECF?

I don't even remember MJ doing anything like that.

Do you remember Manu putting up 24 in under five minutes?

Do you really think if Pop was coaching instead of Saunders, Bron would have put up those numbers?

And someone who said the Pistons are a shell of their old team is right.

They aren't playing like the Pistons of '05.

And get beat by 2 with Bron putting up 48?

I hope to see a resurgance of the Pistons tonight. I want this series to go 7.

[GSH]

=NM! =

[RJF08]

People who like basketball love Tim. It is dipshit casual fans like you who dont like him. You just want to be entertained. Those who like basketball and know basketball appreciate and love Timmy.


I love basketball, organized, executing offenses, like Utah and San An. I have never liked Duncan even when he played for WF. He shows no emotion, yeah he is good but its not entertaining to me. Bill Russell has an opinion but that doesn't mean I have to share it. Manu is exciting to watch because he drives constantly and can move like nothing I've ever seen. Tim is predictable and boring, don't think I am in the minority for saying so. To do that is just moronic.

Your coach, also the most boring person I have ever heard speak. Duncan is just like him. Emotion is part of the game and I have never seen Duncan show any. Other than mope, or bitch like a child when he doesn't get a call or when someone makes a good defensive stand against him.

[lefty]

We'll beat the crap out of them :hungry: :hungry:

[BreezeHillBill]

I love basketball, organized, executing offenses, like Utah and San An. I have never liked Duncan even when he played for WF. He shows no emotion, yeah he is good but its not entertaining to me. Bill Russell has an opinion but that doesn't mean I have to share it. Manu is exciting to watch because he drives constantly and can move like nothing I've ever seen. Tim is predictable and boring, don't think I am in the minority for saying so. To do that is just moronic.

Your coach, also the most boring person I have ever heard speak. Duncan is just like him. Emotion is part of the game and I have never seen Duncan show any. Other than mope, or bitch like a child when he doesn't get a call or when someone makes a good defensive stand against him.
Broken record.

[TampaDude]

I love basketball, organized, executing offenses, like Utah and San An. I have never liked Duncan even when he played for WF. He shows no emotion, yeah he is good but its not entertaining to me. Bill Russell has an opinion but that doesn't mean I have to share it. Manu is exciting to watch because he drives constantly and can move like nothing I've ever seen. Tim is predictable and boring, don't think I am in the minority for saying so. To do that is just moronic.

Your coach, also the most boring person I have ever heard speak. Duncan is just like him. Emotion is part of the game and I have never seen Duncan show any. Other than mope, or bitch like a child when he doesn't get a call or when someone makes a good defensive stand against him.

Yeah, 3 NBA Titles and 3 Finals MVPs is real boring... :lol

[Solid D]

Emotion is part of the game and I have never seen Duncan show any.

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070531/capt.77c4b103539341ba9daa75515a6e5cf9.jazz_spurs_b asketball_saa124.jpg
Tim Duncan shows emotion as he watches the Spurs score again on the Utah Jazz.

[Roxsfan]

The Cavs are in the Finals? That's news to me.


you were saying :rolleyes