Ok, How do you beat the Cavaliers?

[T Park]

Looks like thats the Finals opponent.

How do you beat the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Do you double Lebron and hope Daniel Gibson, Big Z, and others, don't hit their shots?

[Russ]

For some reason Cleveland is starting to remind me of Dallas. But is it Dallas of 3-4 years ago or Dallas of last year?

[ZStomp]

You outscore them.

:lol

[sandman]

Looks like thats the Finals opponent.

How do you beat the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Do you double Lebron and hope Daniel Gibson, Big Z, and others, don't hit their shots?

Good question. I don't think that our normal "let him get his and shut down the rest of the team" concept will work as well as it has against other teams, because we have never faced as dynamic an individual over a 7-game series. And quite frankly, Bowen will have an issue with "contain", much less shut down.

This series will be an interesting strategy. Guess the Pop haters will have much to bitch about if he can't outcoach a guy who seemingly has one play: get the ball to Bron-Bron.

[SPARKY]

Close out on the shooters and rebound. In addition, pick apart their defense ala the last round. Their transition defense looks ok, but is not that great. They have some length and size on the frontline to deal with. But the Spurs should be able to do a much better job shutting down the supporting cast than the Pistons did. I'm feeling the Spurs in 6, with the Cavs getting their 2 at home.

W
W
L
L
W
W

[td4mvp21]

No idea, they actually look pretty scary. It definitely won't be a sweep or 5 game series IMO. They are capable of beating us.

[slayermin]

I think rebounding will be the key to winning this series.

[td4mvp21]

But if we could beat the Kobe-Shaq Lakers, we can beat the Lebron Cavaliers. Not saying we will for sure, we can though.

[sprrs]

Good question. I don't think that our normal "let him get his and shut down the rest of the team" concept will work as well as it has against other teams, because we have never faced as dynamic an individual over a 7-game series. And quite frankly, Bowen will have an issue with "contain", much less shut down.

This series will be an interesting strategy. Guess the Pop haters will have much to bitch about if he can't outcoach a guy who seemingly has one play: get the ball to Bron-Bron.

Seeing how Lebron has given Bruce a lot of trouble, it might not be a bad idea to throw him on Gibson, and throw all kinda of looks at Lebron. They still have no answer for Manu, tony, and especially Tim.

[Roxsfan]

Umm, Just add Spurs.


or

Just show up


Looks like a SA cake walk to me.

[DuncanInYourFace]

This goes 5 games max

There's no way they are more talented/scary than the Suns

[ducks]

put bowen on gibson
let james get his
or put finely on james

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

I wish i supported an eastern conference team :lol It is SO much easier to get to the finals

[ducks]

spurs as a team play d
pistons do not

[DuncanInYourFace]

spurs as a team play d
pistons do not

Exactly.

Also people are forgetting how truly bad all the teams in the East are.

[sandman]

Seeing how Lebron has given Bruce a lot of trouble, it might not be a bad idea to throw him on Gibson, and throw all kinda of looks at Lebron. They still have no answer for Manu, tony, and especially Tim.

Oh, it is obvious that the Cavs have much more to prepare for against the Spurs than they had to throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. The question is mainly how many games can/will LBJ steal based on his singular talent and how do we minimize that risk. The Spurs need to make sure that they don't put themselves in a position to get upset.

[yavozerb]

put bowen on gibson
let james get his
or put finely on james
Uh no!!!!!Bowen on james, tp on gibson, finley on pavlovic (not sure last name), and TD on gooden, elson on Z..The spurs will try and go straight up at first but need to occasionaly bring over finley or manu help on double team of james.

[lrrr]

Looks like thats the Finals opponent.

How do you beat the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Do you double Lebron and hope Daniel Gibson, Big Z, and others, don't hit their shots?

Not have Chris Webber on your team.

[td4mvp21]

The Cavs are good. They beat the Pistons 4 in a row. Not even sure the Spurs could do that.

[Admidave50]

Let Lebron work for his points, miss his FTs!

Control the rebounds, play Spurs team basketball!

Hope Tim won't get into foul trouble with Varejo's flops!

[sandman]

The Cavs are good. They beat the Pistons 4 in a row. Not even sure the Spurs could do that.

This was not the 2005 Pistons

[easjer]

Team D

Not letting his teammates go off.

You still try to guard him, but don't waste Bowen on him all game if Bowen can't be effective - put Bowen on the hot guy (whoever that might be) and shut them down.

I think a strategy that's been successful in the past that could be beneficial here is letting and asking LeBron get off in the first three while concentrating on shutting down his team and then concentrating on him in the fourth, since his team will most likely be cold.

Our experience in the Finals should help.

Rebounding and protecting the ball will be crucial. Pistons gave up too many layups and too many second chance points.

[lrrr]

The Cavs are good. They beat the Pistons 4 in a row. Not even sure the Spurs could do that.

These aren't the same Pistons as 2005. It's not just the absence of Big Ben, but they don't seem to have the same chemistry as the 2005 team. This year and last year, you could see the team fragment the further they advanced, last year Flip isolated Ben, this year, Rasheed seemed to turn on Rip. If a team doesn't play for each other, they will loose regardless of the "talent on paper" (see Shaq/Kobe 2004).

I pin this on Flip Saunders. The Pistons pre-Flip had a history of success. Flip has a history of failure. Would Joe re-hire Carlisle? :blah

[Borosai]

1) Rebound
2) Sag off of James. Make him take jumpers. Close the lane if he penetrates anyway.
3) Stay at home on other players

Basically, solid basketball.

[easjer]

I also think not underestimating the Cavs will help. 'Appropriate fear' and all that. I think Pop and co will do a good job of that, but still. I don't think the Pistons were ever as worried as they should be.

[Budkin]

We are going to crush them.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

The key to winning any championship is still:


Rebounding
Defense.

[sandman]

Honestly, the ECF was about the Pistons not showing up as much as it was about the Cavs steppng up. James/Gibson heroics need to be viewed in that light.

[td4mvp3]

i think it's the cavs' year. i thinkl they surprise everyone and win game one and then win in 6.

[T Park]

:lol

So just rebound, and put your hands up.

thats it Spur fans?

:lol

Cocky mfers.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

:lol

So just rebound, and put your hands up.

thats it Spur fans?

:lol

Cocky mfers.



Well even though you were invited on the round table for absolutely no reason, I still think Larry Brown knows more about basketball than you. So I say, crash the boards every possession like your life depends on it, play that good old fashion disciplined spurs defense, and good things shall come.

[florige]

i think it's the cavs' year. i thinkl they surprise everyone and win game one and then win in 6.


If they win game 1, the Cavs will lose in 5 games. But like someone else said, I think it was more Detroit toying around with them too long and when LeBron went postal in game 5 Detroit was still shell-shocked tonight. I mean focus on James, but don't leave everybody else WIDE open. Sheeesh!!

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Now as to the specifics of said defense, I have no idea but really hope Pop does :pctoss

[Roxsfan]

i think it's the cavs' year. i thinkl they surprise everyone and win game one and then win in 6.


are you kidding me? Spurs don't win this year, how the hell will they ever win with an aging duncan and an ever competitive west conf. in the future. This is their year.

[jacobdrj]

Sick Bowen on James, put the non-Duncan centers on Z, have Duncan on Gooden/Sideshow and Ginobli/Parker on Hughes/Gibby.

You use your reserves when necessary. You defend vigorously, and you give the ball to Duncan and Ginobli down the stretch...

In essence, you do what you would have done anyways.

Oh, and make sure not to double James too much, if at all, and NEVER EVER tipple him. Play him like Shaq, because the closest thing he has to Kobe is Gibson, and he is still young enough to single-team.

[whottt]

Hope Parker continues his emergence as a SuperStar in this series.
Hope Finley has the series of his life.
Hope Horry gets court time.
Hope Elson plays up to about 1/10th of his potential in this series

Hope that the assistant wasn't paying attention when the Magician was showing him the tricks...


Hope the Cavs are just happy to be there and the Spurs maximize their experience edge.

Sorry folks...but they match up with us better than we match up with them.

Big Z has had some good games against us, he's been very similar to Okur(hope for a repeat of the Utah choke), as has Marshall, and LeBron has whupped us...and Gibson looks to be a problem.


Hit our fucking FT's. We're better at it than they are.

[SAGambler]

spurs as a team play d
pistons do not

And besides that no one on the Pistons seemed to want to drive the lane like TP.

They were settling for jump shots all night. I look for Tony and Manu to put some of them in foul trouble early.

As for Gibson, this was probably the game of his life tonight. And besides the Spurs won't leave 3 point shooters wide open.

I look for the Spurs to close them out in 5.

[whottt]

What part of Bowen can't guard LeBron aren't people getting?

Go find someone that outweighs you by 50lbs, is more athletic, go pick a fight with them...fight them straight up with no special tactics, and see if you get it then.

[Capt Bringdown]

Cavs aren't a deep team, so we should attack the basket as much as possible to get their scrubs on the floor.

Perimeter defense will be key, for if we double the rook or Larry Hughes can knock down threes.

[td4mvp3]

are you kidding me? Spurs don't win this year, how the hell will they ever win with an aging duncan and an ever competitive west conf. in the future. This is their year.
i think lebron gets the d-wade treatment, manu and finley's inconsistencies show back up, the confidence bred by the two reg season wins carries over, and rebounds go their way.

[florige]

We should be able to utilize our deep bench against them too. Don't be surprised though if they steal one of the first two games in SA though.

[easjer]

:lol

So just rebound, and put your hands up.

thats it Spur fans?

:lol

Cocky mfers.


No one here is predicting a sweep.

You're just trying to pick a fight. It's hardly the end of the fucking world to play the Cavs.

But just like with Utah - rebounds and the advantage will be huge. If the Pistons had taken care of the boards, they would have been in a much better position.

No, whottt, Bowen can't guard LeBron by himself, but the beauty of the system is that he doesn't have to. I can't count how many times in the last two games I watched people near the basket watch LeBron instead of guard him or attempt to block his shot. That won't happen with the Spurs.

[florige]

What part of Bowen can't guard LeBron aren't people getting?

Go find someone that outweighs you by 50lbs, is more athletic, go pick a fight with them...fight them straight up with no special tactics, and see if you get it then.


The thing that comforts me right now is that we didn't have anyone who could guard Amare either. And Phx has waaaay more weapons on their side of the ball then Cleveland does. I mean we found a way to beat Melo, and Iverson on the same freakin team for goodness sakes. Beating those two teams weren't an easy task, but we still manged to do so. And you have got to remember, this is a Detroit team that layed down really. It's like they got caught up in all the James hype. Other than James, their team is mediocre at best. And thats including their coach.

[florige]

No one here is predicting a sweep.

You're just trying to pick a fight. It's hardly the end of the fucking world to play the Cavs.

But just like with Utah - rebounds and the advantage will be huge. If the Pistons had taken care of the boards, they would have been in a much better position.

No, whottt, Bowen can't guard LeBron by himself, but the beauty of the system is that he doesn't have to. I can't count how many times in the last two games I watched people near the basket watch LeBron instead of guard him or attempt to block his shot. That won't happen with the Spurs.



Yeah, in game 5 Prince ran for cover on one of Lebron's many dunks. (literally ran) :lol

[spurster]

The Spurs defense will like vs. Carmelo. Lebron is better than Carmelo, to be sure, but the Cavs don't have a second player at the level of Iverson.

[florige]

I say we come at them scoring on all cylinders, basically playing the way we have played and let Lebron have his. We just can't have him dishing out assist, rebounding and scoring.

[whottt]

The thing that comforts me right now is that we didn't have anyone who could guard Amare either. And Phx has waaaay more weapons on their side of the ball then Cleveland does. I mean we found a way to beat Melo, and Iverson on the same freakin team for goodness sakes. Beating those two teams weren't an easy task, but we still manged to do so. And you have got to remember, this is a Detroit team that layed down really. It's like they got caught up in all the James hype. Other than James, their team is mediocre at best. And thats including their coach.

Amare can't pass...if you could combine Amare and Nash into one player...you'd have a similar problem to what LeBron is going to bring...he's not as good as combination of Nash and Amare would be...but he's better than Amare. They aren't even in the same league in skills.

And the Cav's are 50 times the defensive team the Suns are.

They play our D.

[thewatcher]

your are doomed san antonio :lol

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9269/rockcl4.png

pwned!

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1391/detoq4.png

pwned!

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7659/dalgn3.png

pwned!

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2471/sasci2.png

next to be pwned :lol

[whottt]

If we get into a basket for basket situation(a likely occurrence with the style of hoops they play and we play), LeBron is going to be able to score on us more easily than we will be able to score on him. And he can pass....and you can't really foul him.

We need a freaking true SF with some defensive skill....Pop is going to have to cover up this mismatch with smoke and mirrors...I just hope Brown doesn't see through them.

I'd promise TPark will stop posting for a year to get James Posey right about now.

[Buddy Holly]

What part of Bowen can't guard LeBron aren't people getting?

He's had three big games out of eight played against the Spurs since he was drafted, the rest have been average.

Doesn't sound or look like Bowen can't guard Lebron.

Also, has Bowen ever guarded Lebron in the playoffs? No.

[whottt]

He's had three big games out of eight played against the Spurs since he was drafted, the rest have been average.

Doesn't sound or look like Bowen can't guard Lebron.

Also, has Bowen ever guarded Lebron in the playoffs? No.


We've played him 8 times or so since he was a rookie...he's won that matchup about 5 times by my accounting...

He's had one bad game, a bunch of good ones, and some phenomenal ones...and that bad one was the one where he went 6-20.


The Cavs haven't beating us because of flukes...they've matched up well with us for about 3 years now...even before they started beating us routinely.


Pop didn't even try to guard LeBron with Bruce as a rookie...it was instant Hedo.

[whottt]

I just think people expect too much of Bruce...he's a phenomenal defender...but he's still only 200lbs dripping wet.


Put it this way...

If Bruce can defend him?


I have no doubts we will win this series...

And Bruce Bowen will deserve the finals MVP...


Go for it Bruce...we're all rooting for you.

[NASpurs]

your are doomed san antonio :lol

next to be pwned :lolThey've been right more than they've been wrong so what's the point? Anyway who cares what they say.

[T Park]

You're just trying to pick a fight.

i havent seen shit for an honest answer.

Whottt is just saying this bullshit cause hes pissed that Finley is in the Finals.


I have yet to see someone say

"This is how you beat Cleveland"

[easjer]

It's been all over the thread. You just don't like the responses.

[Buddy Holly]

We've played him 8 times or so since he was a rookie...he's won that matchup about 5 times by my accounting...

Scoring 17-25 points isn't owning Bowen on the defensive end. That's average, esp. for Lebron, those games in the 35-45 range are when he owns us and he's done that three times out of eight.


He's had one bad game, a bunch of good ones, and some phenomenal ones...and that bad one was the one where he went 6-20.

So then how do you go and make the statement that Bowen can't defend him? If we can get Lebron to have just good games, the Spurs sweep the Cavs.



The Cavs haven't beating us because of flukes...

Flukes? :sleep

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

your are doomed san antonio :lol

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9269/rockcl4.png

pwned!

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1391/detoq4.png

pwned!

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7659/dalgn3.png

pwned!

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2471/sasci2.png

next to be pwned :lol

AHHHHHHH!!!! :lol

[florige]

Amare can't pass...if you could combine Amare and Nash into one player...you'd have a similar problem to what LeBron is going to bring...he's not as good as combination of Nash and Amare would be...but he's better than Amare. They aren't even in the same league in skills.

And the Cav's are 50 times the defensive team the Suns are.

They play our D.



I guess the point I was trying to make was I'll let Lebron get his scoring. But it's when he starts getting his bums involved is when I might start to worry. I am confident that if we can neutralize everyone else Lebron can't beat us on his scoring alone. If we let the game be close late in the 4th quarter is when we might run into some problems. I just can't see them beating us 4 times. His cast sucks!! I don't care how good he is. Gibson went off tonight because Detroit chose to triple team James all game and left shooter WIDE open. Not matter how crappy they are, most players guards and forwards who are in the league can hit when they are that open. But the advantage we have is that James already has Pops attention. Last year Wade waited until the Finals before he decided to go postal and it caught poor Avery off guard. Pop will have something up his sleeve in regards on how to defend James..

[thewatcher]

They've been right more than they've been wrong so what's the point? Anyway who cares what they say.

those were the only series where all they picked up the same teams :lol

[Buddy Holly]

How are you going to compare Amare and Lebron?

One is a low post player who can shoot from 15-18 ft. while the other is a perimeter player who is a streaky shooter but able to drive the basket.

[whottt]

I guess the point I was trying to make was I'll let Lebron get his scoring. But it's when he starts getting his bums involved is when I might start to worry. I am confident that if we can neutralize everyone else Lebron can't beat us on his scoring alone. If we let the game be close late in the 4th quarter is when we might run into some problems. I just can't see them beating us 4 times. His cast sucks!! I don't care how good he is. Gibson went off tonight because Detroit chose to triple team James all game and left shooter WIDE open. Not matter how crappy they are, most players guards and forwards who are in the league can hit when they are that open. But the advantage we have is that James already has Pops attention. Last year Wade waited until the Finals before he decided to go postal and it caught poor Avery off guard. Pop will have something up his sleeve in regards on how to defend James..


I get your point and it is a valid one...

But the reason that worked with Amare and the Suns...is because they can't play D. We stopped them better than they stopped us by letting Amare get his and shutting everyone else down.

The Cavs can play D..we're going to have to be able to get stops on LeBron and I don't see the guy on our roster than can do that...

[florige]

We've played him 8 times or so since he was a rookie...he's won that matchup about 5 times by my accounting...

He's had one bad game, a bunch of good ones, and some phenomenal ones...and that bad one was the one where he went 6-20.


The Cavs haven't beating us because of flukes...they've matched up well with us for about 3 years now...even before they started beating us routinely.


Pop didn't even try to guard LeBron with Bruce as a rookie...it was instant Hedo.



So what you are saying is that you are thinking this is a GS-Dal thing?

[T Park]

IMO heres what you do.

Ginobili and Parker have GOT to attack.

They have no shotblockers what so ever.

Bowen and Fin have to be ready for kickouts.

Duncan should and better average about 28 a game. They have zip, zero, NAD, NO ONE, that can guard the man.

Lebron

Good question. I thnk you stay in front of him, and give him the jumper.

Play him, like Phil Jackson played Tony Parker.

[michaelwcho]

Whott,
I am really surprised by your comments. Personally, I see this as Spurs in 5. This is a team game, so why so obsessed with the matchup with Bron? No one in the league matches up with Bron...that's why you double when appropriate. If they were so good, wouldn't they have won 70 games in that crap conference?

What we witnessed tonight (and much of the series) was sloppy, late rotations by Detroit. They were tired or lazy or demoralized I guess. You may have seen that Chauncy took himself out in the 4th because he was tired. I think our 8 games of rest will help us in that regard. Rotations and team D is the Spurs strength. Bron will present a challenge each game, but his teammates are extremely inconsistent and can't be counted on.

On the other hand, Detroit's O was broke. I can't give all the credit to Cleveland, either. LeBron did not make Tayshaun go from a good player to a worse shooter than me. I think we are stronger at PF and PG than Detroit at this point, perhaps even SG.

[florige]

How are you going to compare Amare and Lebron?

One is a low post player who can shoot from 15-18 ft. while the other is a perimeter player who is a streaky shooter but able to drive the basket.


The point that we couldn't (and probably can't) stop either one of them from scoring. We have faced guys we couldn't stop from scoring at will it seemed. We just can't have Lebron doing any and everything he wants with assist, rebounds, I say make him beat us. You see what happened tonight when you take away his scoring.

[CosmicCowboy]

I think that game 1 Spurs will just come out and play their game. you don't start making adjustments before the first tipoff.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Finley taking LeBron game 1 and just playing off of him and making him a shooter or a passer. He's big enough to muscle with him if James tries to post.

Everyone else will stay home with their guy and throw occasional help doubles, but mainly concentrate on shutting everyone else down and limiting second chances.

Then after Pop sees how that works in game 1 he will adjust as necessary.

[SA210]

I've been saying it, and I say it again. Bruce is the man, and Bruce Bowen will step up and show the world who the DPOY of the last several years really is.

It's his time to prove all the haters wrong. The biggest spotlight, maybe the last great shot at proving them all wrong. Bruce may have a little trouble 1 or 2 games (for adjusting and Lebron getting calls) but Bruce will contain him or better to win this series.

The NBA Finals, Bruce Bowen vs. the NBA darling Lebron James

Go Bruce!!

[101A]

The toughest matchup that Cleveland has in the league is Phoenix.

Run them; wear them out; use depth and experience to constantly change up things on the relatively inexperienced coach. They have played a SINGLE series against a worthy playoff opponent; and that one mailed it in.


BTW, Whott, thank god Milwaukee's not in the finals, huh? They've owned the Spurs for about a decade!

[easjer]

I get your point and it is a valid one...

But the reason that worked with Amare and the Suns...is because they can't play D. We stopped them better than they stopped us by letting Amare get his and shutting everyone else down.

The Cavs can play D..we're going to have to be able to get stops on LeBron and I don't see the guy on our roster than can do that...


What is his shooting percentage? FGM/FGA?

I know it's not 100%



My point is that even if everything else fails, and we are entirely ineffective at guarding him or blocking him or forcing him into shot clock violations and turnovers - he still won't connect on every shot. So you crash the boards and get your stop by refusing to allow second chance points. It's not ideal, but works fairly well as a backup plan.

Additionally, he can only do one thing at a time - shoot or pass. They need to get a sense of when he'll do what and adjust accordingly. While he is capable of taking games over and equally capable of hanging back and feeding the ball, he doesn't yet seem capable of switching back and forth with ease. It takes a lot to get him to shift. So you exploit that and recognize when he changes and adjust accordingly. Send doubles when he's not passing. If he recognizes that and tries to exploit go to single coverage and attempt to lure him into the lane.

He's not Jesus - he's just a good BB player. And he's only one player. A problem player, a nightmare matchup -sure. One player. Versus one really, really, really good team. A team with several good individual players. I like our odds on that one.

[Buddy Holly]

The point that we couldn't (and probably can't) stop either one of them from scoring. We have faced guys we couldn't stop from scoring at will it seemed. We just can't have Lebron doing any and everything he wants with assist, rebounds, I say make him beat us. You see what happened tonight when you take away his scoring.

We didn't stop him from scoring simply because our defense wasn't guard to stopping him. The defense was geared at stopping Nash.

[whottt]

So what you are saying is that you are thinking this is a GS-Dal thing?




Yeah...the Cavs might be a joke to some...but not to us. We got no legit SF.

[Buddy Holly]

BTW, Whott, thank god Milwaukee's not in the finals, huh? They've owned the Spurs for about a decade!

Exactly, the Bucks have owned the Spurs in the regular season for the past god knows how long.

[florige]

I get your point and it is a valid one...

But the reason that worked with Amare and the Suns...is because they can't play D. We stopped them better than they stopped us by letting Amare get his and shutting everyone else down.

The Cavs can play D..we're going to have to be able to get stops on LeBron and I don't see the guy on our roster than can do that...


I'm not too fimiliar with the Cavs D. The only one of their guys who I know is really a good defender is Snow. If they can play D like you say then I guess it will be a tougher series than everyone is making it out to be. I still think we should be able to take it though. I'm hoping Pop makes whatever adjustments he needs from watching the Detroit film.

[Warlord23]

I think the Spurs' offensive execution will be something that Cleveland hasn't seen from anyone in their playoff so run. I mean, TP doing his penetration/kickout, Duncan on the low block, Manu/Duncan screen-n-roll, plenty of back-cuts from Oberto ... Detroit had nothing close to this kind of execution. I say they take 2 games to recover, at the very least. We go to Ohio up 2-0.

This year's Spurs won't lose 2 games in a row. Cleveland's role players play better at home, but are still streaky. We just need to know which of them are hot on a given night and stick close to them, and leave the ones who're scared open. We win at least 1 in Cleveland, and finish them in 6.

These guys are good, but nowhere close to the 2005 Pistons. Remember how much trouble they gave Duncan? Tim still played through it somehow.

Sheed/Ben/Dice of 05 >> Z/Gooden/Varejao/Marshall and its not close. Duncan needs to make his FTs. He has better help with Oberto now than with Nazr in 05.
Rip/Chauncey/Hunter of 05 >> Gibson/Hughes/Snow. Manu/Tony should dominate.
Of course James/Pavlovic >> Prince/Delfino. Bowen/Finley will have their hands full.

We need to bring our execution. Pass crisply, get people open, push on the break. The Cavs have a habit of getting so bogged down offensively from time to time that getting a good lead might be enough to break their resolve.

We are a 3-time champion with a chance for a 4th ring. If we can't get it done against a young team and a young coach with almost no playoff veterans on their squad, then we weren't so great after all.

We got this.

[Buddy Holly]

Yeah...the Cavs might be a joke to some...but not to us. We got no legit SF.

And you can tell this by one game this season and a couple more within the last three years.

Good job.

[florige]

We didn't stop him from scoring simply because our defense wasn't guard to stopping him. The defense was geared at stopping Nash.


Thats what I'm saying. If we gear our defense to stop the other players around James. Like you said we geared our D to slow Mash which worked. Just let James get his scoring wise. We just can't let him score, AND dish out 15 assist. Then we will be in hot water. I just hope Parker, Manu and Tim can score against them.

[whottt]

Exactly, the Bucks have owned the Spurs in the regular season for the past god knows how long.


The Bucks aren't good enough to make the Finals...

The Cavs are.


Figure it out.

[101A]

The Bucks aren't good enough to make the Finals...

The Cavs are.


Figure it out.


The Spurs have taken the Cavs about as seriously as the Bucks...the East might be just THAT weak. You figure it out.

[Buddy Holly]

The Bucks aren't good enough to make the Finals...

The Cavs are.


Figure it out.

Really, so you didn't sense the sarcasism?

The Cavs are in the finals, yes we all know this. They deserve to be there, yes we all know this.

But your argument for why Bowen can't guard Lebron is weak.

[whottt]

Scoring 17-25 points isn't owning Bowen on the defensive end. That's average, esp. for Lebron, those games in the 35-45 range are when he owns us and he's done that three times out of eight.

No...it's also the games where he gets 10 assists or 10 boards or 8 and 8 with 4 or 5 steals.




So then how do you go and make the statement that Bowen can't defend him? If we can get Lebron to have just good games, the Spurs sweep the Cavs.


LeBron is getting better and better....it's not a vacum...he's a better player now than he was before these playoffs began. And the Cavs are not a one man team...you guys just don't know basketball.

[whottt]

But your argument for why Bowen can't guard Lebron is weak.


No my argument for why he cannot guard him is not weak...



Your arrogance and assumption that this is going to be a cakwalk is weak and lazy...

This aint fucking Utah here.

[ShoogarBear]

LeBron's going to get his. That's okay, and the Spurs can win even with that.

The matchup I'm most worried about is Ilgauskas. He's exactly the kind of center who gives the Spurs problems: huge, not very mobile, but can hit from outside. Hopefully the Cavs will still run that uggggglyoffense and not develop some plays with team ball movement.

The Cavs' athleticism will also be a problem, and the Spurs will have to use the same magic that kept Utah from killing them on the boards.

[BeerIsGood!]

Here's a thought - you can double Lebron without leaving Gibson or Hughes. The only time you should double is on his penetration, and at that point the weak side defenders need to rotate leaving Lebron with a very difficult pass across court. The Spurs do it better than anyone and recover better than anyone in the league. No one will stop him, but the Spurs will make him work his ass off for everything he gets, and that will wear the Cavs down over the series. It's no secret with the Spurs - use all 48 to win and wear down the opponent. Everyone so far has gotten worn down - Denver, Phoenix, Utah. That's why the Spurs close out game is usually a pretty good margin of victory.

[florige]

What is his shooting percentage? FGM/FGA?

I know it's not 100%



My point is that even if everything else fails, and we are entirely ineffective at guarding him or blocking him or forcing him into shot clock violations and turnovers - he still won't connect on every shot. So you crash the boards and get your stop by refusing to allow second chance points. It's not ideal, but works fairly well as a backup plan.

Additionally, he can only do one thing at a time - shoot or pass. They need to get a sense of when he'll do what and adjust accordingly. While he is capable of taking games over and equally capable of hanging back and feeding the ball, he doesn't yet seem capable of switching back and forth with ease. It takes a lot to get him to shift. So you exploit that and recognize when he changes and adjust accordingly. Send doubles when he's not passing. If he recognizes that and tries to exploit go to single coverage and attempt to lure him into the lane.

He's not Jesus - he's just a good BB player. And he's only one player. A problem player, a nightmare matchup -sure. One player. Versus one really, really, really good team. A team with several good individual players. I like our odds on that one.




:lol The Jesus thing was funny. I think Whott ws making the point that Cleveland plays very good defense as well. But on the offensive end of the floor I feel alot better playing against James and scrubs who can only hit when wide open, than Phx & Den. But like I said I haven't a clue on the Cavs D except for that Whott says it is good.

[Buddy Holly]

No...it's also the games where he gets 10 assists or 10 boards or 8 and 8 with 4 or 5 steals.

And just how does Bowen stop him from getting assists and steals? :dramaquee






LeBron is getting better and better....it's not a vacum...he's a better player now than he was before these playoffs began.

No one has said otherwise.


And the Cavs are not a one man team...

Um, yes they are. Oh wait, one game speaks for an entire playoffs, huh?

It's Lebron and a bunch of other guys who can either make a shot or not, and on most nights it's a not.


you guys just don't know basketball.

Says the person who dismissed Bowen as a defender and then used Lebrons assists and steals to prove it. :clap

[Trainwreck2100]

Just like pheonix in 05 let the main guy get his and shut down everyone else.

[E20]

An easy way to beat the Cavs is let Lebron score 50 points, but have everybody else score like 2.

[BeerIsGood!]

No my argument for why he cannot guard him is not weak...



Your arrogance and assumption that this is going to be a cakwalk is weak and lazy...

This aint fucking Utah here.

Utah's matchup frontline of Boozer, Okur, and Kirilenko was scarier than this matchup. There is absolutely no reason why the Spurs should have dominated that front line and hung in there on the boards - but they did through disciplined play within the system.

[BeerIsGood!]

Don't underestimate how good Phoenix's defense was this year. They hung in there tight on defense, but the Spurs wore them down.

[Buddy Holly]

No my argument for why he cannot guard him is not weak...

Sorry, it is.

I know you think you're the man because you attend rec league basketball games, but no, you're not.




Your arrogance and assumption that this is going to be a cakwalk is weak and lazy...

Explain, wait, quote me, where in this thread I said it would be a cakewalk. Please, do so.


This aint fucking Utah here.

If Utah were in the east they'd be in the finals. But I agree, Cleveland isn't Utah.

[whottt]

I wish search was enabled....

Because I've had this arument routinely every time we play the Cavs for the last 2 years...

Their regular season success against us, is not a fluke. It's not a letdown, it's not us taking them lightly...it's because they know how to play us, and have the personnel to do it.

Beginning with their coach, and their GM...who they hand picked from the Spurs...

And ya'll act like those guys aren't even aware the Spurs play in the NBA.

They know us inside and out...and that's why they've had the success against us that they have...

Just like Nelly and the Mavs.

[easjer]

:lol The Jesus thing was funny. I think Whott ws making the point that Cleveland plays very good defense as well. But on the offensive end of the floor I feel alot better playing against James and scrubs who can only hit when wide open, than Phx & Den. But like I said I haven't a clue on the Cavs D except for that Whott says it is good.


Whott keeps arguing a couple of things, and I am primarily talking about his arguments about LeBron v Bruce.

Cavs do play defense, and maybe better D than we've seen from anyone else in the playoffs (but I'll believe it when I see it - Denver and Utah were supposed to be huge defensive threats too). But Cavs D better than Detriot's 2005 D? Don't think so. And we have improved offense since then and have more threats and more reliable threats. If the ball is being moved well and enough screens are set, we can get around good D.

[whottt]

It's like did anyone see all the crap AJ gave us last season...because he knows the Spurs and Pop?


This is worse...these guy knows the Spurs better than AJ does, and they have a Superstar that gives us bigger matchup problems than Dirk does.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Just like pheonix in 05 let the main guy get his and shut down everyone else.
:tu :tu :tu

[Chris Childs]

As long as Stern and his henchmen exist, you're not going to beat the cavs.....not with a guy name LeBron on it.

[CosmicCowboy]

Z is gonna have big trouble with Parker and Manu if the officiating is consistent. He's big and strong but his footwork is questionable at best. Spurs will spread the floor and Cleveland won't be able to pack the lane like they did with Detroit. He can't hurt us if he's sitting on the bench in foul trouble.

[Buddy Holly]

Their regular season success against us, is not a fluke. It's not a letdown, it's not us taking them lightly...it's because they know how to play us, and have the personnel to do it.

Yeah, regular season games are exactly what anyone should expect to see in the playoffs. Brillance again.



Beginning with their coach, and their GM...who they hand picked from the Spurs...

Well no, they hand picked their coach from Indiana.

And yeah, Flip > Pop

No contest.


They know us inside and out...and that's why they've had the success against us that they have...



Just like Nelly and the Mavs.

You're just god like with your takes. :clap

[easjer]

It's like did anyone see all the crap AJ gave us last season...because he knows the Spurs and Pop?


This is worse...these guy knows the Spurs better than AJ does, and they have a Superstar that gives us bigger matchup problems than Dirk does.

Mavs also had an entire team that was capable of stopping the Spurs and beating the Spurs in addition to corporate knowledge. They were designed that way and Spurs had the mismatch issues.

We are mismatched against LeBron, but the rest of his team can't beat us like the Mavs did.

Besides, I don't think there is much secret about what the Spurs do. They've been consistently doing it for awhile now. Corporate knowledge isn't going to help that much.

[efrem1]

The banter will continue til tipoff. V1 and rotate on Thursday folks!!!!

[callo1]

Show Up.

[Buddy Holly]

It's like did anyone see all the crap AJ gave us last season...because he knows the Spurs and Pop?

I thought it was small ball that killed us, well atleast that's what you couldn't stop whining about, not Avery and his half decade old inside knowledge.



This is worse...these guy knows the Spurs better than AJ does, and they have a Superstar that gives us bigger matchup problems than Dirk does.

I'd think any coach in the NBA that reviews tape and studies teams basically knows what the Spurs do. No great inside detail to it.

What exactly on the inside does Brown or Ferry know that would hurt us?

They like to give the ball to Timmy every odd number minute of every second full moon on the 3rd day, so watch out for that.

Brown and Ferry knowing the Spurs on the inside is like an insider for a tobacco company coming out and saying "Hey, my company tries to use clever advertising to get younger people to start smoking." Everyone goes, "yeah, duh."

[whottt]

No...it was Dirk Nowitski that killed us...


Bruce couldn't guard him...yeah he got some stops and his moments...but he couldn't guard him.

LeBron is worse, the Cavs know us better, they have a better C, they play a better playoff style of ball, and they don't choke like the Mavs...and yes, the Mavs choked against us last season in game 7...we just outchoked them.

[Buddy Holly]

No...it was Dirk Nowitski that killed us...

Well fucking get it straight then.

It's small ball one minute the next it's Avery and now it's the pathetic MVP.


LeBron is worse, the Cavs know us better, they have a better C, they play a better playoff style of ball, and they don't choke like the Mavs...and yes, the Mavs choked against us last season in game 7...we just outchoked them.

You just like to hear yourself talk, don't ya.

[mavs>spurs2]

I think rebounding will be the key to winning this series.

Good point sherlock...i think rebounding is key in any series. :lol

[whottt]

I thought ."

That was your first mistake...

You also think regular season success is no indication of playofff succes...which is false...look at the Warriors VS the Mavs this year.

It's starting you right there in your face, and you cling to stuipidity as if it is a virtue. It isn't...


You guys act like the Spurs are some unstoppable powerhouse...they aren't. Were you watching last season?


We have bypassed teams we matchup badly with this entire playoff run...and we haven't looked that great. Utah is not that good.

[CosmicCowboy]

dang Whott...

You should change you avatar to "witness" with a nike slash under it.

get a grip, man.

[E20]

I agree w/ Whottt. Bowen will have a hard time containing James, because Bowen has a hard time against players stronger than him. Deron Williams was a bulk player and he went off against the Spurs, Carmelo averaged 27 against the Spurs and he was stronger than Bowen. The Suns didn't have any big SF/SG's. Obviously, Lebron is stronger than Bowen and in the season series he averaged 27 PPG on 49 percent shooting.

But if James is contained to 27 PPG in the series then the Spurs will sweep. At most this series should end in 6 games.

[Buddy Holly]

That was your first mistake...

You also think regular season success is no indication of playofff succes...which is false...look at the Warriors VS the Mavs this year.

And would you like to offer any other recent examples? I know the Warriors-Mavs thing was fairly recent so it's still wet on your brain, but besides them, any others?

I guess when most NBA players say the regular season doesn't matter, you the almighty know the real truth.

Instead of attending your local YMCA's rec league game or whatever reject academy basketball game you're scouting, why aren't you coaching in the NBA dispensing this stuff?


It's starting you right there in your face, and you cling to stuipidity as if it is a virtue. It isn't...

Yeah, so you're still avoiding the whole, Bowen can't defend Lebron from asisting and stealing. :clap

You're right, it is a virtue.



You guys act like the Spurs are some unstoppable powerhouse...they aren't. Were you watching last season?

Quote me, quote me.

[easjer]

This isn't last year.

Again, no one is saying they will sweep. But if the pick up where they left off, they will be playing, as a team, a much higher level of basketball than I have seen the Cavs play.

So they beat us in the regular season - so what? In some cases, it is indicative of something; in this case, it is not. Go back and study the games and tell me what is the same with the teams.

The Spurs are better than they were when they were playing last year and better than they were in November and in January.

Would you just like to hand the trophy over to the Cavs now, and spare yourself the pain? Damn, you make it sound like there is nothing that can be done, and it's not even at that level of worst case scenario.

There are some scary things, but nothing that can't be avoided, adjusted or dealt with. I think you harp on this shit over and over just so that you can later say you were right and have something to cling to in the midst of a depression if we lose. And if we win, you think no one will care about your defeatist attitude.

[whottt]

My bad...

No sense attempting an intelligent discussion with all the fucking homers here.

Spurs sweep.

Go Spurs Go...

Buddy Holly is a winner.


Happy now?

[Pistons < Spurs]

I haven't read the previous 4 pages, so some of what I say may be repetative.

The Spurs have 3 things the Pistons did not....which greatly hindered us.

Speed. Athleticism/ability to create. Post scoring.

Parker will kill Hughes with his speed. Billups is used to using his size as an advantage. He wasn't able to do that this time. He couldn't back him down or shoot over him. He also is a very slow PG. He couldn't effectively break down the D by getting to the hole like Parker can. Parkers speed will be just as effective against BooBie.

Manu's ability to create and get in the lane will pay huge dividends. He'll get knocked down a bunch by Gooden and Verajo. But as long as he keeps attacking he'll be fine. We didn't have anyone who could get to the hole like he can.

Duncan will kill their interior. Again, something the Pistons don't have, as Sheed more often shoots from outside.

Plus the outside shooting and the more dependable and physical D will give them hell.

I believe the Pistons worried too much about Bron (except for the last 15 minutes of game 5....) Tonights game was a perfect example. We doubled, trapped and sometimes tripled Bron only to see BooBie hit 3's all night long. Play him up straight, but also stay in front of the role players. Who cares if Bron scores 50 if everyone else only scores 10. And he's often very passive, mainly looking to dish the ball.

Rebounding will be important. Box the fuck out, and limit their second chance points.

Beware of Verajo. He'll sometimes get lucky with his J, but the big thing with him, is that he's always active. He brings energy. He also doesn't back down. He's not scared to be physical. And of course he'll get crazy whistles with his flopping.

[Buddy Holly]

dang Whott...

You should change you avatar to "witness" with a nike slash under it.

get a grip, man.

He is a witness, he goes to whatever 100 seat gym is hosting a whose whose of NBA rejects game so he can then absorb as much as possible so in time he can come here and talk down to people who don't get to witness that stuff. You should be more humble kid, you're in the sight of greatness.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Another huge factor, is that the Pistons were the Cavs goal. We were their target. They needed to get past us as their next baby step. Now that they've achieved it, there will be a let down.

They also gained confidence against us. from last year, and each game this year. They won't have the same confidence against the Spurs....unless you give them reason to.

[Buddy Holly]

My bad...

No sense attempting an intelligent discussion with all the fucking homers here.

Spurs sweep.

Go Spurs Go...

Buddy Holly is a winner.


Happy now?

Yeah, real intelligent discussion. Have you figure out a way to get Bowen t defend Lebron better? You know, so he doesn't asist on shots and steal balls or rebound.

We have the technology...

[florige]

My bad...

No sense attempting an intelligent discussion with all the fucking homers here.

Spurs sweep.

Go Spurs Go...

Buddy Holly is a winner.


Happy now?



Nah man it nots like that. You make valid points. I just hope that we don't see a replay of the GS-Dal thing. I think our X-factor should be Pop. And I also think that AJ is alot smarter than Brown.

[whottt]

Yeah, real intelligent discussion. Have you figure out a way to get Bowen t defend Lebron better? You know, so he doesn't asist on shots and steal balls or rebound.

We have the technology...
What?

[Buddy Holly]

What?

What?

Really, you respond with what? Like you forgot what you just posted?

[easjer]

Nah man it nots like that. You make valid points. I just hope that we don't see a replay of the GS-Dal thing. I think our X-factor should be Pop. And I also think that AJ is alot smarter than Brown.

The biggest reason you won't see a replay is that Mike Brown is not the guy who formed Duncan into the player that he is. He may know a lot about Duncan, but he didn't mold him. Nellie molded Dirk. Nellie was probably the only person on the planet who could neutralize him that effectively.

Additionally, there were more than 1 matchup problems for the Mavs. They didn't have the ability to go as small and athletic as GS. Sort of like us the year before.

This is 1 player posing matchups (2 if they work some plays for Z, but I think he'll be in foul trouble more often than not - dude is slower than molasses - makes Oberto look speedy).

[florige]

I haven't read the previous 4 pages, so some of what I say may be repetative.

The Spurs have 3 things the Pistons did not....which greatly hindered us.

Speed. Athleticism/ability to create. Post scoring.

Parker will kill Hughes with his speed. Billups is used to using his size as an advantage. He wasn't able to do that this time. He couldn't back him down or shoot over him. He also is a very slow PG. He couldn't effectively break down the D by getting to the hole like Parker can. Parkers speed will be just as effective against BooBie.

Manu's ability to create and get in the lane will pay huge dividends. He'll get knocked down a bunch by Gooden and Verajo. But as long as he keeps attacking he'll be fine. We didn't have anyone who could get to the hole like he can.

Duncan will kill their interior. Again, something the Pistons don't have, as Sheed more often shoots from outside.

Plus the outside shooting and the more dependable and physical D will give them hell.

I believe the Pistons worried too much about Bron (except for the last 15 minutes of game 5....) Tonights game was a perfect example. We doubled, trapped and sometimes tripled Bron only to see BooBie hit 3's all night long. Play him up straight, but also stay in front of the role players. Who cares if Bron scores 50 if everyone else only scores 10. And he's often very passive, mainly looking to dish the ball.

Rebounding will be important. Box the fuck out, and limit their second chance points.

Beware of Verajo. He'll sometimes get lucky with his J, but the big thing with him, is that he's always active. He brings energy. He also doesn't back down. He's not scared to be physical. And of course he'll get crazy whistles with his flopping.



Thats what I'm hoping. But you never know.... I'm just glad that Bron already had his outrageous game of all time so Pop could take note.

[whottt]

What?

Really, you respond with what? Like you forgot what you just posted?



No douche....

The Cavs suck.
They don't present matchup problems with us.


LeBron is what...23 now? He's already on the decline. I doubt he's improved any.


Brown has been coaching them for what, 2 years now? He's probably had them playing as good as they could play the last 3 times they beat us.

And I agree...there's absolutely nothing to indicate Bruce can't guard LeBron or that they might present matchup problems for us...

Nothing but flukes.

The regular season never means anything.

We're the Spurs, we never lose, it's in the bag, this is the best Spurs team in history, it's our divine right to be champions.

This is the most impressive playoff run in Spurs history, we've had a brutal schedule and dominated without any series ever being in the slightest bit of doubt.

We'll win because Bruce will shut LeBron down, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili will be consistent, I mean they never get shut down...and the Cavs are a one man team that play D like the Suns.


No worries. Go Spurs Go...

[possessed]

i think it's the cavs' year. i thinkl they surprise everyone and win game one and then win in 6.
What is this, the anti-jinx?

The Cavs are severely outmatched. Hardly a time for doom and gloom if you're a Spurs fan. I'm not superstitious, nor do I feel a need for low expectations. I say the Spurs dominate in a bad match up for the Cavaliers.

[Buddy Holly]

No douche....

The Cavs suck.
They don't present matchup problems with us.


LeBron is what...23 now? He's already on the decline. I doubt he's improved any.


Brown has been coaching them for what, 2 years now? He's probably had them playing as good as they could play the last 3 times they beat us.

And I agree...there's absolutely nothing to indicate Bruce can't guard LeBron or that they might present matchup problems for us...

Nothing but flukes.

The regular season never means anything.

We're the Spurs, we never lose, it's in the bag, this is the best Spurs team in history, it's our divine right to be champions.

This is the most impressive playoff run in Spurs history, we've had a brutal schedule and dominated without any series ever being in the slightest bit of doubt.

We'll win because Bruce will shut LeBron down, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili will be consistent, I mean they never get shut down...and the Cavs are a one man team that play D like the Suns.


No worries. Go Spurs Go...

Yes, keep avoiding the retarded argument and proof yu provided, maybe if you avoid it long enough it'll just go away.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

put bowen on gibson
let james get his
or put finely on james




actually like that, but just double/triple him every time he drives in




Gibson won't be getting ANY 3's on the Spurs

[sprrs]

No...it was Dirk Nowitski that killed us...


Bruce couldn't guard him...yeah he got some stops and his moments...but he couldn't guard him.

LeBron is worse, the Cavs know us better, they have a better C, they play a better playoff style of ball, and they don't choke like the Mavs...and yes, the Mavs choked against us last season in game 7...we just outchoked them.

Spurs have no one to guard Lebron? Cave have no one to guard Duncan. Spurs team w/o Duncan>>>>>>>>>>>Cavs team w/o Lebron.

Pop>>>>>>Mike Brown....it's not even close. There's no way he knows more about the Spurs than Avery does.

Duncan is not the choker Dirk is. That's the main difference between this series and Dal/GS.

[whottt]

Yes, keep avoiding the retarded argument and proof yu provided, maybe if you avoid it long enough it'll just go away.



I think we are capable of winning...with help, but I don't think we're going to...

I am the voice of doubt here...I want see a convincing argument for why we will win...impress me.


And I want to be wrong. I have an entire year invested the season...I don't want it to end with our first finals loss...

I just haven't yet seen a why we will win argument that has as much thought put into it as my why we probably won't argument.



Go ahead impress me...saying the regular season doesn't count isn't it...
Neither is saying Bruce is going to shut LeBron down.


Put some thought into it...and come up with something someone hasn't said yet...

Don't just give me, we're going to win because the Cavs suck and we're the Spurs and the regular season doesn't matter.

[xamila rey]

i am a little worried too,
but lets wait for game 1,
and after that we will have a better idea
of how important were the games during the regular season.

[Leetonidas]

Cut off the lane and force LeBron to shoot jumpers.

[Strike]

Not have Chris Webber on your team.

:lol

[Trainwreck2100]

Have a coach that isn't a moron

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

1) Rebound
2) Sag off of James. Make him take jumpers. Close the lane if he penetrates anyway.
3) Stay at home on other players

Basically, solid basketball.

Well said. Also:

4) keep your head and execute in the 4th (we've done this all playoffs except game 4 vs Suns),
5) adjust depending on how they key on Timmy,
6) make the extra pass, and drive drive DRIVE the ball,

I say it goes 6 or 7 because LeBron will get EVERY freakin call (prepare to be frustrated by the reffing in this series), but I think our team looks really strong now - they've improved in each round of the playoffs this year, a great example of peaking at just the right time.

:fro

[Strike]

What part of Bowen can't guard LeBron aren't people getting?

Go find someone that outweighs you by 50lbs, is more athletic, go pick a fight with them...fight them straight up with no special tactics, and see if you get it then.

Not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog.

Clichè enough for ya?

[Trainwreck2100]

Not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog.



With that logic Mike Vick would have loved you.

[Strike]

With that logic Mike Vick would have loved you.

:lol I like that.

[himat]

LeBron will have his one game that he is carried by the refs. Spurs a sweep or in five.

[freedom&justice]

Stop Lebron. Don't let them run the offense through him. Keep them out of the paint - make them shoot jumpers and close out on their shooters.

[Leetonidas]

I think we are capable of winning...with help, but I don't think we're going to...

I am the voice of doubt here...I want see a convincing argument for why we will win...impress me.

Um, because the Spurs are better? More talented? Deeper? Have a better coach? More experienced? Smarter? More basketball IQ?

You could look at it from any angle. The Cavaliers are a one man show, and the Spurs will not give up open 3's and drives to the lane.

Who can stay in front of Tony?

Who can guard Manu?

Who can cover Tim Duncan?

But, they have the world's greatest fucking player; LeBron James.

Please.

Spurs in 6.

[danger]

whott go suck a dick, fuck the cavs too.
shit your sarcastically acting like the duke lacrose bitch. get laid homie.

as far as the cavs they are a good team, with a great player in lebron james who can do anything at will. but fuck WE ARE THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS NO TEAM ASIDE FROM THE 00-02 LA LAKERS HAVE OWNED US.
YES DICK, THE MAVS BEAT US LAST YEAR BUT IF YOU CAN RECALL WE WERE UP BY 3 WITH SECONDS TO GO IN GAME 7 A LUCKLY FOUL KILLED US, OUR MISTAKE NEVER THEIR GREATNESS.
we know what the spurs are going to do, feed Tim, tony penetrate, gino attack. play hard defense and stay poised I am confident in the spurs. I dont care about regular season ownage because that shit dont mean nothing right now. anyone think tim duncan is pissing his pants because they lost to the cavs in the reg season...i think not.

[Rapper]

I think that the spurs can take this finals in 6 games

Our Mvp is Tim Duncan,He can do everything on the court

Bruce can lock down Leborn...trust me..he'll prove the world that he is
the most defensive player in the league

The sixth sense
:p:

[ploto]

People are in my view underestimating the Cavs. They are a good defensive team and are younger- stronger- and definitely more athletic. They also have strengths in areas in which the Spurs are weakest. Surely, you would rather the Spurs had Gibson and Varejao off the bench instead of Vaughn and Elson.

[timvp]

Surely, you would rather the Spurs had Gibson and Varejao off the bench instead of Vaughn and Elson.

Yeah, but not in place of Manu and Horry.

:smokin

[dbestpro]

The coaching tandem of Pop and PJ will make adjustments to game moves that Brown simply does not have an answer for. I went to the Cav's game way back on Nov 3 and we were just trying to figure out what to do with Elson. The reason the Spurs lost that game was they hit 18-34 free throws. Udrih was the backup point guard 2-5, and Finley went 1-7 as he was still trying to find his shot.
The second game the Spurs lost 82-78 on Jan 2nd in a four point squeaker. Pop was ejected in this game with 6 minutes left. Bonner and Barry played major minutes and Udrih was still the backup with little contribution.
The Cavs may be different in letting Gibson shoot more, but the Spurs are asl different and are in high playoff form from the practice teams Pop puts on the court at various times of the year.
The matchups-
Duncan vs Ligauskas Duncan in the past owns this matchup. Big Z usually gets in foul trouble and this will be a problem as Cleveland has a lack of reliable ourside shooters. They will rotate the power forwards and Marchall on Funcan in an effort to keep Z out of foul trouble.

Varejao and Gooden vs Oberto and Elson. This should be very interesting. Elson will give you some Bunny minutes, but the real question is does the Oberto we saw in Utah still play in this series particularly on offense. If so, again big Z will be in trouble when the fowards rotate to guard Duncan. Varejao and his over pursuit of the ball should make Oberto availble for the back door cuts that he a has been making. It would help of Elson would get a little hungry and go after the rebounds with a little fire. Horry negates Marshall and in fact his gib shot mentality may rise again in this series as outside shooting will be a premium.

Bowen verses James will be one sided James as it is anyone he plays. In other words James will get his and Pop won't mind. It is the other four players on the court that Pop does not want to beat us and he does nor want to be beat on the three. The key here is for Bowen to remain focused on offense because he has lost his shot in games past where he is so focused on defense with James.

Parker verses Gibson/Huges. This is where Parker should absoultely own the Cavs. This is his series to lose. He is setup to be the MVP. Period. Vaughn vs Snow is a wash and actually Vaughn's offense is better.

Ginobili/Finley/Barry/ verses Pavlovic. Pavlovic is a good kid, but he is in way over his head with these wiley veterans. I look for Pavlovic to be in foul trouble throughout the series and sore foot Hughes is going to be misarable against Ginobili. Cleveland likes to pack the lane and take charges so perimeter passing will be key.

The Spurs will win going away with Parker softening the middle and if he will pass to the open man when Cleveland collapses. There will be a rain of three pointers available for the Spurs and if they hit the threes they will win the games going away. The games iwll be close and Cleveland will have a chance only if Duncan plays one on three and never passes the ball back out and if Parker tries to do one on three layups with out kicking it to the open man. The more points scored by someone other than Parker and Duncan will equte to a Spurs win. That magic number is 45. If the rest of the Spurs players including Ginobili score 45 or more points the Spurs will not a lose that game in this series.

it should be fun.

[phxspurfan]

attack their rookie PG and hobbled SG / force bron to pass the ball from traps and play tough defense.

[Dave McNulla]

your are doomed san antonio :lol

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9269/rockcl4.png

pwned!

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1391/detoq4.png

pwned!

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7659/dalgn3.png

pwned!

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2471/sasci2.png

next to be pwned :lol
all of them picked the spurs in the first three rounds of the good conference, hasn't hurt the spurs yet.

[contentode]

Many on this board try to discount regular season play by throwing out selected examples where one team performed well against another, but then lost in the playoffs, or vice-a-versa. I think you have to look a bit deeper.
Previous meetings are not necessarily a predictor of what is to come, but they do give a good indication of how the match-ups work and how one teams style vs the others plays out.

The thing the Spurs need to be concerned about is how the CAVS seem able to take them out of their normal tempo and beat them at their own game.

Yes, November 2006 was a long time ago, but notice that in their 7 point victory IN San Antonio, the CAVS held the Spurs to 17.5 under their seasonal scoring average.

The next time the two teams met, in Cleveland in January 2006, the Spurs were held to 20.5 under their seasonal scoring average and again lost.

Previous to these two games, in Feb 2005, once again the Spurs lost (3-in-a-row) and were held to 11.5 under their average. Not a ton of data, but...I think I see a trend here.

Does Cleveland's defense have anything to do with this? Maybe! In all three games, Parker, Duncan and Ginobili got their points, but the Spurs still lost.

Are the Spurs the superior team? Yeah, I think so..., but all I am saying is that you have to wait until the games are played. It's nice to be confident, but don't be surprised if things don't play-out as you think they will.

[Texas_Ranger]

1. Defense
2. Rebounds
3. Duncan should not come to foul trouble
4. If refs will send LeBron 15+ times on the line we are in trouble
5. Play as much as you can on Duncan
6. Make not a lot turnovers
7. Believe

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

The Spurs will do whatever they can to make Lebron uncomfortable. They'll certainly do a better job on him than Detroit did, and they will guard the rim much better than the post-Ben Wallace Pistons do. But in the end of course, Lebron will get his. Everyone knows it. The Spurs know it.

No defense, no matter how great, can stop a truly great player when he gets hot. BUT, what they can do is make him less effective when he's not hot. Once he heats up, you can't stop him. But no player stays hot all the time, and if you can limit him the rest of the time, you'll limit his overall damage... if only a little.

But the bigger issue is what they will do to the rest of the Cavs team. The Spurs aren't going to allow Lebron to make the rest of the players around him better to the degree he was able to against Detroit. Lebron's teammates won't be getting those open 3 point looks very often as they did in the conference finals. The Spurs will limit the rest of the Cavs team, and force Lebron to try and win every game single-handedly under intense defensive pressure.

Also, while Mike Brown has begun creating a culture of defense in Cleveland and has done a great job with his team in that dept... they still have work to do, and the Spurs offense will expose it. To put it simply, the Spurs offense is better than the Cavs defense... and it will show.

San Antonio is a better offensive team than Cleveland, and they're certainly a better defense team. The Spurs are much deeper, and obviously have a big edge in championship experience. The Cavs would be very lucky to take this thing to 6 games.

[Testing]

Varejo is exactly the type of player that can give Duncan fits. He's scrappy, has active hands, and is a big time flopper who can get Duncan in foul trouble. I can easily see Duncan having quite a few games like he did against the Jazz and Okur in Games 3 and 4.

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

Varejo is exactly the type of player that can give Duncan fits. He's scrappy, has active hands, and is a big time flopper who can get Duncan in foul trouble. I can easily see Duncan having quite a few games like he did against the Jazz and Okur in Games 3 and 4.

Sorry dude. I don't care how gifted an actor he may be. Verejo is not going to noticably slow Tim Duncan. :lol

[L.I.T]

Varejao will spend time on Duncan, but he doesn't have the strength to really handle him in the post. Gooden's play on Duncan is going to be much more vital. If he can play effective defense Cavs chances improve.

[Testing]

Sorry dude. I don't care how gifted an actor he may be. Verejo is not going to noticably slow Tim Duncan. :lol

Coupled with Gooden or with Iglesias's size? I think it could...Spurs fans are overconfident. Cavs are playing like a confident bunch right now and like they have nothing to lose and with the best closer of the playoffs this season in Lebron. Not an easy task/sweep as Spurs fans think...

[SpursWoman]

The Bucks aren't good enough to make the Finals...

The Cavs are.


Figure it out.


They played 1/2 a Wizards team, the Nets, and a Detroit team that didn't really look like it wanted to be there.

Yeah...we should just bend over right now and get on with our summer plans.

[td4mvp3]

That was your first mistake...

You also think regular season success is no indication of playofff succes...which is false...look at the Warriors VS the Mavs this year.

It's starting you right there in your face, and you cling to stuipidity as if it is a virtue. It isn't...


You guys act like the Spurs are some unstoppable powerhouse...they aren't. Were you watching last season?


We have bypassed teams we matchup badly with this entire playoff run...and we haven't looked that great. Utah is not that good.
i haven't read all tthe way through, so this may be pointed out already, but the reg season as indication of playoff performance goes only so far. i think it's important, but you also have to consider the the pistons beat the bulls, who had beaten them 3-1 in the rs, and the cavs beat the pistons, who had beaten the cavs 3-1. the cavs' victory just helped undercut some of that reg. season indication.

[td4mvp3]

What is this, the anti-jinx?

The Cavs are severely outmatched. Hardly a time for doom and gloom if you're a Spurs fan. I'm not superstitious, nor do I feel a need for low expectations. I say the Spurs dominate in a bad match up for the Cavaliers.
no, not an anti-jinx, just doing what everyone else will do in coming days, predicting who wins. i gave my reasons in a later post.

[HJNTX]

I think last night's game gave the SPURS a much better insight of what could happen and what they need to be prepared for ..

[whottt]

whott go suck a dick, fuck the cavs too.
shit your sarcastically acting like the duke lacrose bitch. get laid homie.

as far as the cavs they are a good team, with a great player in lebron james who can do anything at will. but fuck WE ARE THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS NO TEAM ASIDE FROM THE 00-02 LA LAKERS HAVE OWNED US.
YES DICK, THE MAVS BEAT US LAST YEAR BUT IF YOU CAN RECALL WE WERE UP BY 3 WITH SECONDS TO GO IN GAME 7 A LUCKLY FOUL KILLED US, OUR MISTAKE NEVER THEIR GREATNESS.
.


The Spurs were also down by 20 points...the Mavs choked before the Spurs choked.

And this is the worst Spurs Team to make the finals.

Go ahead stone the messenger. That'll fix it.

[HJNTX]

This goes 5 games max

There's no way they are more talented/scary than the Suns


IMHO, the SUNS are the 2nd best team in the NBA .. Honestly, when we won the series I felt it was over ..

I am looking forward to a change in the NBA Finals with the CAVS representing the East. Last year, I never felt that the HEAT was the best team in the country. I think this year proved it.

[td4mvp3]

The Spurs were also down by 20 points...the Mavs choked before the Spurs choked.

And this is the worst Spurs Team to make the finals.

Go ahead stone the messenger. That'll fix it.
how is this the worst spurs team? the defense holds folks to maybe 2 points more than 05 and score more.

[GoNavy]

Go CAVS!!!

Any guarantees for a 4 or 5 game series?

Yes, it's the Eeastern Conference- but when you're from Cleveland and have our sports history-- we'll take it.

GO CAVS!!! Good luck Spurs......

[HJNTX]

Yeah, but not in place of Manu and Horry.

:smokin
:lol :elephant :smokin :clap

[WhotttDynasty]

how is this the worst spurs team? the defense holds folks to maybe 2 points more than 05 and score more.
Everyone knows this is a fluke team with a fluke player named Michael Finley. All they have done is win games they are supposed to win. The only time Michael Finley does anything is when he is bailed out by the refs.

I can't wait for this fluke team to get exposed by a real team like Cleveland. Everybody says I don't know anything about basketball, but my takes keep coming true.

The only chance the Spurs have is to stop giving Finley major minutes, and play Brent Barry, the best shooting guard in Spurs history.

[whottt]

how is this the worst spurs team? the defense holds folks to maybe 2 points more than 05 and score more.

Because it's old, has lost games it shouldn't, and relies on Jacque Vaughn and Michael Finley instead of Brent Barry and Robert Horry(and I know they are older than Vaughn and Finley but still)...


It definitely had the worst regular season record of any Spurs Team to make the finals - fact

it looked the weakest getting there - opinion

and IMO, it had the easiest path to the finals - based on W-L and caliber of competition, this is also fact.

I think it's also going to face it's toughest matchup in the finals. I don't believe the Spurs have ever had a losing record against the team they met in the finals before.

Go ahead...beat up on the messenger some more...that'll fix it.

[HJNTX]

The Spurs were also down by 20 points...the Mavs choked before the Spurs choked.

And this is the worst Spurs Team to make the finals.

Go ahead stone the messenger. That'll fix it.


You MUST be trippin'! This is by no means, "the worst Spurs Team to make the finals."

This is one of the best dude....I will attribute your obviously uneducated assumption to: 1) Not following SPURS basketball, or 2) Trying to stir an argument ...

[whottt]

You MUST be trippin'! This is by no means, "the worst Spurs Team to make the finals."

This is one of the best dude....I will attribute your obviously uneducated assumption to: 1) Not following SPURS basketball, or 2) Trying to stir an argument ...

Um...why is it the best Spurs team to make the finals?

Where do you get that from?

It has the worst regular season record of any Spurs finals team.
It is the lowest seed.
It's beaten the least impressive playoff opponents, IMO, in the least impressive fashion.

[td4mvp3]

Because it's old, has lost games it shouldn't, and relies on Jacque Vaughn and Michael Finley instead of Brent Barry and Robert Horry(and I know they are older than Vaughn and Finley but still)...


It definitely had the worst regular season record of any Spurs Team to make the finals - fact

it looked the weakest getting there - opinion

and IMO, it had the easiest path to the finals - based on W-L and caliber of competition, this is also fact.

I think it's also going to face it's toughest matchup in the finals. I don't believe the Spurs have ever had a losing record against the team they met in the finals before.

Go ahead...beat up on the messenger some more...that'll fix it.
it's hardly beating you up when i'm asking for some insight into your opinion. don't be so sensitive. and i'd counter with the ease of the competition to the finals wasn't really up to the spurs, that should hardly count against them. they did their job, beating the teams they were supposed to (utah and denver) and one favored to beat them (phoenix). will they face their steepest test in the finals? probably, just defensive-wise, but that's hardly a reason to label this team as the worst spurs team to reach the finals. and your logic skews abit to say age is one reason they are so bad but then insist that the players who should play more are even older. granted, you point that out, but it doesn't change the fault in the thinking. what's more, let's look at it from another perspective: as fast as the nba has gotten, as quick and athletic as everyone seems to be and is glorified as ... the old spurs are still the ones closer to the finish line than all but one team. and cleveland won't be looking to win by running up the score, they aren't built for that, so that athleticism and quickness are self-negated. plus the spurs had the highest point diffferential this year of any of the years it won the title, a little more than 8 points.

[whottt]

Everyone knows this is a fluke team with a fluke player named Michael Finley. All they have done is win games they are supposed to win. The only time Michael Finley does anything is when he is bailed out by the refs.

I can't wait for this fluke team to get exposed by a real team like Cleveland. Everybody says I don't know anything about basketball, but my takes keep coming true.

The only chance the Spurs have is to stop giving Finley major minutes, and play Brent Barry, the best shooting guard in Spurs history.


Good take :tu...except the part about Brent Barry...

I rate Manu, Ice and Alvin Robertson ahead of him.

And I don't want to be right...

I am quite depressed because, I don't think this team is winning, and I have yet to see a convincing argument why I am wrong. And while I have been wrong about Pop before...I've haven't been wrong about a Spurs Teams championship worthiness since 2001.

I didn't enjoy being right about the 03-04 team.

[HJNTX]

Everyone knows this is a fluke team with a fluke player named Michael Finley. All they have done is win games they are supposed to win. The only time Michael Finley does anything is when he is bailed out by the refs.

I can't wait for this fluke team to get exposed by a real team like Cleveland. Everybody says I don't know anything about basketball, but my takes keep coming true.

The only chance the Spurs have is to stop giving Finley major minutes, and play Brent Barry, the best shooting guard in Spurs history.


hmmmm...bitter are you .. :rolleyes FLUKE or NO FLUKE...Michel Finley has given them what they needed from him......

[Warlord23]

Good take :tu...except the part about Brent Barry...

I rate Manu, Ice and Alvin Robertson ahead of him.

And I don't want to be right...

I am quite depressed because, I don't think this team is winning, and I have yet to see a convincing argument why I am wrong. And while I have been wrong about Pop before...I've haven't been wrong about a Spurs Teams championship worthiness since 2001.

I didn't enjoy being right about the 03-04 team.

Boy, you've gone all TPark on us ... why don't you round it off with a promise to stop posting for a year if the Spurs win it all?

[whottt]

it's hardly beating you up when i'm asking for some insight into your opinion. don't be so sensitive. and i'd counter with the ease of the competition to the finals wasn't really up to the spurs, that should hardly count against them. they did their job, beating the teams they were supposed to (utah and denver) and one favored to beat them (phoenix).

Sure...but it was hardly impressive...they hardly looked dominant or like a sure thing against anyone other than Utah...who was not very good.


will they face their steepest test in the finals? probably, just defensive-wise, but that's hardly a reason to label this team as the worst spurs team to reach the finals. and your logic skews abit to say age is one reason they are so bad but then insist that the players who should play more are even older. granted, you point that out, but it doesn't change the fault in the thinking.

No...Jacque and Finley are old too...there is no flaw in logic.


plus the spurs had the highest point diffferential this year of any of the years it won the title, a little more than 8 points.

At last, some zanax...

That is a very good point, I am not 100% sold on point differential though, because the Spurs always lead in that category, including two of their worst playoff losses of the Duncan era...2001 and, last season.

[whottt]

Boy, you've gone all TPark on us ... why don't you round it off with a promise to stop posting for a year if the Spurs win it all?


Ok...if the Spurs don't win it all...TPark will stop posting for a year.

[whottt]

Keep in mind before ya'll paint me as a nego..

I picked the Spurs to beat the Jazz in 5...I never had a doubt they would win that series.

[td4mvp21]

Because it's old, has lost games it shouldn't, and relies on Jacque Vaughn and Michael Finley instead of Brent Barry and Robert Horry(and I know they are older than Vaughn and Finley but still)...

Since when do we rely on Vaughn? He gets spot minutes for Parker and only shoots when wide open. And we've already gone over this, Finley's numbers are higher and better than Brent's were in the '05 playoffs (with the exception of FG%. More points, better three point %, and better impact. Nice way to put your opinion in there without too many people knowing it. Also, I'd say we are relying on Oberto/Horry this year too, who have both been awesome.



It definitely had the worst regular season record of any Spurs Team to make the finals - fact

it looked the weakest getting there - opinion

and IMO, it had the easiest path to the finals - based on W-L and caliber of competition, this is also fact.

Yes, they did have the worse regular season record.

IMO, they looked pretty strong getting there. They did a lot of things past teams wouldn't have done. For instance, the Jazz game 4. What Spurs team of past would have kept attacking and attacking even if the refs weren't calling anything? Definitely not the '05 team, that team would have went into jumpshooting mode.

Easiest path? I don't think so. (I'm not going to do '99, I don't remember the numbers)
'03:
Phoenix (44-38)
Lakers (50-32)
Dallas (60-22)
'05:
Denver (49-33)
Seattle (52-30)
Phoenix (62-20)
'07:
Denver (45-37, however much better than the '05 team)
Phoenix (61-21, a strong 60 win team that showed they can play some defense)
Utah (51-31, weaker than Phoenix '07, but perhaps stronger than Phoenix '05?)

All I know is that the Phoenix we played this year is the strongest out of all the ones I mentioned, except for maybe the '03 Lakers. The Denver team we faced in the first round is better than the Phoenix of '03, BUT the Phoenix '03 team gave us much more trouble and thefore seemed to be better. Utah is about the same as Seattle, the difference is the Spurs played up to their capability and didn't play shitty. I think the competition's been there, our play has just been excellent.




I think it's also going to face it's toughest matchup in the finals. I don't believe the Spurs have ever had a losing record against the team they met in the finals before.

Go ahead...beat up on the messenger some more...that'll fix it.

I agree. This is the toughest matchup because of their defensive capabilities and invidual matchups (Lebron/Bowen, Z/Oberto). The Spurs are going to have to play their best like they have been all playoffs to win. It's a dangerous matchup but that will make it all the better if we win. Cleveland has the potential to beat us, I acknowledge that and understand where you're coming from. But you have to have faith in the Spurs that they will take care of business. This "doom and gloom" outlook is pretty unwarranted given how they have performed this year in the playoffs.

[td4mvp3]

Sure...but it was hardly impressive...they hardly looked dominant or like a sure thing against anyone other than Utah...who was not very good.

but cleveland never looked dominant either. i mean, maybe last night toward the end, but that owed more to detroit laying down and sheed being sheed. 76-79 is hardly dominating. what's more, i don't remember the cavs being dominant against any of their opponents.


No...Jacque and Finley are old too...there is no flaw in logic.

age should actually be something of a nonfactor. there are no back-to-back games and our core is pretty young. besides, eric snow, z and donyell marshall aren't spring chickens. and in regards to how this is the worst spurs team, surely the geezers on the 99 team were old as well.


At last, some zanax...

That is a very good point, I am not 100% sold on point differential though, because the Spurs always lead in that category, including two of their worst playoff losses of the Duncan era...2001 and, last season.

i'm not bringing up the point as a way to show they'll win the title, simply to refute the claim that this is the worst finals spurs team.

[Warlord23]

Are there any patterns that govern who wins the title? For the most part, no. Except for one thing: the champion team almost always has veterans who have played at the NBA Finals level. Also the coaches who won the trophy are grizzled vets.

Over the last 13 years: the 2004 Pistons are the only team who didn't have the kind of veteran presence it takes to usually win, but they had Larry Brown. Otherwise, Kerr was part of 5 title teams, Horry was in 6, Elie was in 3 teams, Rodman, Fox and Fisher have 3 rings, 2006 Heat had Shaq and Payton.

Coaching: Jackson, Pop, Brown, Riley, Rudy T ... that accounts for the last 16 titles

2007 Cavs have Eric Snow for a vet and Mike Brown as coach. Doesn't look promising.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Good question. I thnk you stay in front of him, and give him the jumper.
Play him, like Phil Jackson played Tony Parker
.


That's a really good idea Tpark, something I mentioned in the game 5 blog. Someone countered with "pop is reluctant to go zone in the playoffs for stretches" but I really see us packing it in and turning LeBron into a jump shooter as our only chance of "slowing" him down.

[whottt]

Phil Jackson doubled Tony Parker...that's what the Cavs want you to do to LeBron...just like the Spurs want you to do it to Duncan.

[whottt]

People are seriously over-rating the Jazz...they weren't that good. I mean c'mon...they limped to the end of the regular season and beat Houston and Golden State...

It took them 7 games to beat the Rockets.

[Clutch20]

You respect Lebron's game and give him his due, but handle him per game plan Spurs vs Phoenex/Stoudamire. Shut down the rest of the Cav's team and wear JLb down to the nubs.

[SA210]

This thread is making me sick. You never give up on your team and never deny Bruce Bowen.

[SA210]

LeBron will have his one game that he is carried by the refs. Spurs a sweep or in five.
This, I believe. But Bruce will prevail overall.

[whottt]

Since when do we rely on Vaughn? He gets spot minutes for Parker and only shoots when wide open. And we've already gone over this, Finley's numbers are higher and better than Brent's were in the '05 playoffs (with the exception of FG%. More points, better three point %, and better impact. Nice way to put your opinion in there without too many people knowing it. Also, I'd say we are relying on Oberto/Horry this year too, who have both been awesome.

It's no secret...I think Brent Barry brings a lot of intangibles to our offense when he is allowed to play big minutes...

More than Michael Finley does, inspite of Finley being the better defender.

Finley brings scoring...and if that isn't falling he's an offensive liability, I don't believe that's true with Barry, due to his passing and desire to find the open man. I think Brent Barry is a very good guard, his impact on the Sonics W-L was verfiable.

Let me point this out one more time...

Brent Barry lead the team in 3pct
FG%
Adjusted FG%
2%
And PPS.
Probably PPFGA as well.

And he's the best passer on the team, the best one at finding open men, the best at getting rid of the ball the second he draws additional defenders.




Yes, they did have the worse regular season record.

IMO, they looked pretty strong getting there. They did a lot of things past teams wouldn't have done. For instance, the Jazz game 4. What Spurs team of past would have kept attacking and attacking even if the refs weren't calling anything? Definitely not the '05 team, that team would have went into jumpshooting mode.

I loved it when they did that...but the Jazz weren't that good.


Easiest path? I don't think so. (I'm not going to do '99, I don't remember the numbers)
'03:
Phoenix (44-38)
Lakers (50-32)
Dallas (60-22)
'05:
Denver (49-33)
Seattle (52-30)
Phoenix (62-20)
'07:
Denver (45-37, however much better than the '05 team)
Phoenix (61-21, a strong 60 win team that showed they can play some defense)
Utah (51-31, weaker than Phoenix '07, but perhaps stronger than Phoenix '05?)


What made the 2003 team's run so impressive was taking out the 3 time defending champion Lakers.

The 99 team probably had the toughest road to the finals based on winning PCT. But like you...I am not going to bother trying to extrapolate their record to see if I am right...Portland and LA both had excellent winning % that year.

And no way was Utah better than either of the last two 60 win Phoenix we faced. They won 51 games...and that's the only team we've looked particularly good against.

We got lucky against the Suns. Horry saved us...I don't think he's going to be on the court enough to do anything in this series.



All I know is that the Phoenix we played this year is the strongest out of all the ones I mentioned, except for maybe the '03 Lakers.

Hmmm...let me think about that for a second. Even still...they lost 2 players for a pivotal game...it destroyed their composure and distracted them. The Spurs held the mental edge in that series, and the Suns were in the process of taking it away from them when Horry capitalized on their youth.



The Denver team we faced in the first round is better than the Phoenix of '03, BUT the Phoenix '03 team gave us much more trouble and thefore seemed to be better. Utah is about the same as Seattle, the difference is the Spurs played up to their capability and didn't play shitty. I think the competition's been there, our play has just been excellent.

This Denver Team lacked experience playing together, that was their biggest fault...and Tony Parker's d on AI was pretty impressive. Melo raped us...






I agree. This is the toughest matchup because of their defensive capabilities and invidual matchups (Lebron/Bowen, Z/Oberto). The Spurs are going to have to play their best like they have been all playoffs to win. It's a dangerous matchup but that will make it all the better if we win. Cleveland has the potential to beat us, I acknowledge that and understand where you're coming from. But you have to have faith in the Spurs that they will take care of business. This "doom and gloom" outlook is pretty unwarranted given how they have performed this year in the playoffs.

And I think this is where years of neglecting the need for a long SF finally catches up to us(well actually, it caught up to us last season). I don't think this team has looked strong against anyone other than Utah.

And hey...without doom and gloom, Sunshine wouldn't mean as much.

Whether I blindly support the Spurs or not is not going to determing whether or not they win a title...and if it does...then I have gone out on a big enough limb to where I am begging fate to prove me wrong. About Finley, about this team. I am doing my part :smokin

[cherylsteele]

Um...why is it the best Spurs team to make the finals?

Where do you get that from?

It has the worst regular season record of any Spurs finals team.
It is the lowest seed.
It's beaten the least impressive playoff opponents, IMO, in the least impressive fashion.
I thought regular season doesn't mean much in the playoffs. I guess it has nothing to do with winning in the playoffs when it counts huh?:rolleyes
Remember they played the last 2 regular season games with the big three sitting out. Your regular season statement would/should be moot.

[whottt]

I thought regular season doesn't mean much in the playoffs. I guess it has nothing to do with winning in the playoffs when it counts huh?:rolleyes

I am not the one saying the regular season doesn't matter...I think it can matter and it can be used to gauge a teams chances against another team...



Remember they played the last 2 regular season games with the big three sitting out. Your regular season statement would/should be moot.


Not really...because they rested players at the end of 05 as well, IIRC that team had no shot at catching Phoenix and lost it's last 2 games of the season.

[whottt]

BTW Cheryl, I don't believe I've ever told you this, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for your insight...I've actually considered you a potential mate soley on the basis of your basketball knowledge. I am sorry that you feel the way you do and I am forced to tell you that there will be no honeymoon.

[ShoogarBear]

the best at getting rid of the ball the second he draws additional defenders.

Also the best at getting rid of the ball when he's got nobody on him and a wide-open layup.

[whottt]

Also the best at getting rid of the ball when he's got nobody on him and a wide-open layup.


As opposed to Finley...who'll hold onto it and jack it up over 4 defenders even if it's the last shot of game 7.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I noticed chumpdumper is suspiciously absent from this thread with his CD-isms...
:smokin

[whottt]

I noticed chumpdumper is suspiciously absent from this thread with his CD-isms...
:smokin

Participation in this thread would require Chump to actually have a visible stance...something Chump has yet to do...he doesn't even make vbookie bets.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

he does tend to hide behind his aphorisms

but still
he's the yin to your yang :smokin


back to the thread
man I wish we had a Hammer-like player that could just drop lebron on a dunk attempt, get him really mad and turn him into a chunker
that would 0wn

[GoNavy]

How do the SPURS beat the CAVS? Easy Answer

Show up for the game!! Cleveland has a Sports Championship Jinx.

The only Championship they've won in the last 2 decades is the #1 rating for their Cleveland Clinic Heart Center by USN&WR for the last 12 years. Impressive, but doesn't count when it comes to sports.

I hope the CAVS can win just 1 game. At least those watching the series will get to see LeBron-- he is a remarkably agile player of great strength and maturity for his age.

Go easy on us SPURS, how many championship rings you guys got already???


:hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry:

[sprrs]

Phil Jackson doubled Tony Parker...that's what the Cavs want you to do to LeBron...just like the Spurs want you to do it to Duncan.

The CAvs team is good enough to punish you for being left wide open? Please. Hughes has been off his game and Marshall isn't good enough to punish us. Gibson is the only real threat outside of Lebron.

[ChumpDumper]

What is there to say?

It won't be easy since we have no one that matches up with Lebron, but we've had a recent history of allowing ridiculous stats from individuals while beating their teams. Lebron may have the talent to overcome that, but his deferential nature may blunt that advantage.

Spurs win.

There's my stance.

whottt may now fuck his fat self.

[whottt]

What is there to say?

It won't be easy since we have no one that matches up with Lebron, but we've had a recent history of allowing ridiculous stats from individuals while beating their teams. Lebron may have the talent to overcome that, but his deferential nature may blunt that advantage.


That's actually a very good take.




Spurs win.


Holy spit...first timvp says ass...now this....


Up is down.

[whottt]

What is there to say?

It won't be easy since we have no one that matches up with Lebron, but we've had a recent history of allowing ridiculous stats from individuals while beating their teams. Lebron may have the talent to overcome that, but his deferential nature may blunt that advantage.

Spurs win.

There's my stance.

whottt may now fuck his fat self.



I'll believe you about the Spurs winning once I see you putting your vbucks where your fingers are...

[ChumpDumper]

That's actually a very good take.It's so obvious I figured it was understood.
Holy spit...first timvp says ass...now this....


Up is down.As a blind homer, that should also be understood.

What is with you people?

[GrandeDavid]

The coaching tandem of Pop and PJ will make adjustments to game moves that Brown simply does not have an answer for. I went to the Cav's game way back on Nov 3 and we were just trying to figure out what to do with Elson. The reason the Spurs lost that game was they hit 18-34 free throws. Udrih was the backup point guard 2-5, and Finley went 1-7 as he was still trying to find his shot...


dbestpro, thanks for the insight! That was a nice analysis.

[DarkReign]

I dont think this series will be anything to worry about.

Pop >>>>>> All

And thats all it takes to beat a one-man team, which the Cavs are by the widest of margins. LBJ may steal a game (or two, with a miracle) but Pop wont just let things be when he sees it isnt working.

No offense, but there isnt a player in the league that can guard LBJ. Bowen will be fouling out alot if he guarding him primarily. And besides Bowen, no one on the Spurs roster has the right combination of size, speed and strength needed to contain him (maybe Manu?).

Just get used to alot of LBJ driving by everyone and getting And-1s.

BTW, Cavs play excellent defense. They also own the boards.

With all that said, Spurs in 5. Big Men (Tim) >> Perimeter Guys (LBJ). Thats why Oden gets the #1 whilst Durant goes #2.

[whottt]

And besides Bowen, no one on the Spurs roster has the right combination of size, speed and strength needed to contain him (maybe Manu?).

.


Get fncking serious....what do you mean besides Bowen?

And besides Manu? Manu is not that great of a defender...he's good at getting steals and disrupting passing lanes, but he doesn't shut people down, and he's not that hard to beat off the dribble.


The guy that comes the cloest to having the weight and size to guard LeBron is Finley....

Manu and LeBron are not a physical match in any way shape or form and I doubt they spend much time guarding each other.


I hope they try to guard Manu with LeBron...

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

Looks like thats the Finals opponent.

How do you beat the Cleveland Cavaliers?

How so the Spurs beat the Cavs?

Avoid rainouts.

And since basketball is an indoor sport, I like the Spurs chances.

[dbestpro]

dbestpro, thanks for the insight! That was a nice analysis.
:toast

[NBA_Fanatics]

Spurs need to mix it up with Lebron ...throw everything at him (even the kitchen sink).

Melo was too big for bruce too but BRUCE did a helluva job on melo and ai. Fronting Lebronze bringing some help sounds about right.

On the other END who's gonna stop TIMMAY?

PARKER?

MANU?

OBERTO?

and BRUCE from the KORNER?


thank you lord, for you have blessed this SPURS TEAM.

[dbreiden83080]

Exactly.

Also people are forgetting how truly bad all the teams in the East are.

Exactly they swept the Wizzards minus Arenas. They needed 6 to get bye the Nets who are a shell of what they were 4 years ago. Then beat the Pistons in 6 who are a shell of what they were just 2 years ago and had they played a lick of D late in game 5 the series would have gone 7 games.

[itzsoweezee]

the cavs have pretty good D, but the spurs have too many weapons. if the cavs clog up the lanes, the spurs kill you with the three. that's the main difference between the spurs of this year versus the spurs of 2004 - the spurs today make their three pointers and aren't afraid to take them.

the spurs can basically play one-on-one against the cavs because their defense is so good. it was ridiculous how badly detroit rotated on defense. those wide open threes aren't going to be available against san antonio.

unless the spurs go super cold from the outside, i can't see the cavs beating the spurs.

[ploto]

Yeah, but not in place of Manu and Horry.

I would take Varejao over the Horry I have seen show up for 2 games this entire playoffs and who takes cheap shots at players.

[ploto]

They played 1/2 a Wizards team, the Nets, and a Detroit team that didn't really look like it wanted to be there.

Yeah...we should just bend over right now and get on with our summer plans.
Why won't people give Cleveland any credit for how bad Detroit looked? Detroit looked tired and old- and I fear that the Cavs could make San Antonio look old and tired, too.

[slayermin]

Why won't people give Cleveland any credit for how bad Detroit looked? Detroit looked tired and old- and I fear that the Cavs could make San Antonio look old and tired, too.

I don't think Detroit looked old and tired as much as they weren't as good as they were last season. Ben Wallace >>> Chris Webber.

[Obstructed_View]

The Pistons were able to hold the Cavs to under 90 points a game, despite playing really stupid and heartless defense. They got blown out in game six because they denied Lebron the ball through the first three quarters so he was fresh for the fourth and his teammates were in the game. The Pistons also left guys wide ass open at the three point line. You leave a pro basketball player a wide open shot and he's going to knock them down more than he misses.

Show up. Rebound. Rotate. Limit turnovers.

[Obstructed_View]

BTW Cheryl, I don't believe I've ever told you this, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for your insight...I've actually considered you a potential mate soley on the basis of your basketball knowledge. I am sorry that you feel the way you do and I am forced to tell you that there will be no honeymoon.
That might be a way to add basketball knowledge to your bloodline. ;)

[florige]

The Pistons were able to hold the Cavs to under 90 points a game, despite playing really stupid and heartless defense. They got blown out in game six because they denied Lebron the ball through the first three quarters so he was fresh for the fourth and his teammates were in the game. The Pistons also left guys wide ass open at the three point line. You leave a pro basketball player a wide open shot and he's going to knock them down more than he misses.

Show up. Rebound. Rotate. Limit turnovers.


Yeah, last night Detroit seemed to forget the rotate part. But I guess its hard to rotate when 3 of your 5 guys are sticking one guy.

[Obstructed_View]

Lebron asks that his teammates keep the game close in the fourth so he can win it. Seems like that makes the goal pretty simple. Jump on them early.

[florige]

Cleveland and Lebron, and everyone else for that matter knew that Detroit was going to key in on Lebron at ALL cost. Lebron wasn't even looking for his shot NONE in the first half. I think we let Lebron get his just nobody else gets theirs. I'm just really glad that Pop got to see, and evaluate Lebron in all his glory, BEFORE the freakin Finals.

[conversekid]

Play lebron straight up the first 3 quarters. The fourth quarter, double him at the perimeter and take the ball out of his hands. The rest of the team should be cold from lebron doing most of the work... close out the on the shooters. Penetrate and get Z in foul trouble early.

[Marcus Bryant]

Spurs fans, where are your nuts?

[Obstructed_View]

Spurs fans, where are your nuts?
I don't know about you, but mine are with anything I actually have control over. I watched the Spurs lay eggs against an inferior Lakers team at least three times, and I watched a terrible Heat team beat Dallas last year. Anything's possible.

[rualspursfan]

What scares me about the Cavs is that both Brown and Ferry were under Pop and they know the Spurs, they could possibly find the Spurs weakness and break it down. Simular to what Don Nelson and the Warriors did to the Mavs in the first round of the Western conferance playoffs. The only difference is that Nelson taught AJ alot of what he knows, where Brown and Ferry were under Pop. I think the Spurs should come out with a different look, something different than what the Cavs are expecting. Maybe come out in a run and gun style offence, then settle in to the half court. Something to shake the Cavs up. I still think the Spurs will be the NBA champs simply due to the fact that they have the finals experiance, more tallent (starters and bench), and home court advantage.

[conversekid]

I just think people expect too much of Bruce...he's a phenomenal defender...but he's still only 200lbs dripping wet.


Put it this way...

If Bruce can defend him?


I have no doubts we will win this series...

And Bruce Bowen will deserve the finals MVP...


Go for it Bruce...we're all rooting for you.

I've never heard a fan sound so scared... and so mad that everyone's not huddled in the corner scared with him. Yes james is playing great and is a great player... but this is the Spurs we're talking about.

[Marcus Bryant]

What scares me about the Cavs is that both Brown and Ferry were under Pop and they know the Spurs, they could possibly find the Spurs weakness and break it down. Simular to what Don Nelson and the Warriors did to the Mavs in the first round of the Western conferance playoffs. The only difference is that Nelson taught AJ alot of what he knows, where Brown and Ferry were under Pop. I think the Spurs should come out with a different look, something different than what the Cavs are expecting. Maybe come out in a run and gun style offence, then settle in to the half court. Something to shake the Cavs up. I still think the Spurs will be the NBA champs simply due to the fact that they have the finals experiance, more tallent (starters and bench), and home court advantage.

What the fuck do Brown, Egan, and Ferry know that they couldn't have picked up from watching tape or their scouts? This is the biggest load of overrated BS I've seen yet in this forum. As for Nelson, he had a team to beat the Mavs. That, moreso than anything he picked up during his time in DFW was the deciding factor.

[Obstructed_View]

Why would Brown be able to find a weakness that Jerry Sloan couldn't find? The last time the Spurs came out with a different look they ended up losing a game seven on their home floor. I'd be happier if the Spurs did what they did and called the plays out for Brown as they were running them.

[whottt]

I've never heard a fan sound so scared... and so mad that everyone's not huddled in the corner scared with him. Yes james is playing great and is a great player... but this is the Spurs we're talking about.



Dang you're so............brave!


You mean you actually think your basketball team is going to win a championship?

Wow!

Are they going to give you a medal for that?


STFU.

[Obstructed_View]

Appropriate Fear.
-Pop (not "Pops")

[conversekid]

Dang you're so............brave!


You mean you actually think your basketball team is going to win a championship?

Wow!

Are they going to give you a medal for that?


STFU.

Go breastfeed on your mom and get your diaper changed you scared, little girl. You shouldn't even call yourself a Spur fan.

How are they going to shutdown Tim? Parker? Manu? You ask about Lebron - one person. Please layout how the Cavs will shut us down?

[whottt]

How are they going to shutdown Tim? Parker? Manu? You ask about Lebron - one person. Please layout how the Cavs will shut us down?


There's only one ball...figure it out.

[td4mvp3]

There's only one ball...figure it out.
not looking to get in the middle of this, but i guess i will. he brings up a valid point. if you're asking how the spurs stop the cavs, why not provide the other end of the spectrum? i'd just like to hear your thoughts. the one-ball theory holds for the cavs as well.

[Obstructed_View]

There's only one ball...figure it out.
Wow. You just came up with the greatest defensive strategy of all time. You should be the coach of the Suns.

[Marcus Bryant]

not looking to get in the middle of this, but i guess i will. he brings up a valid point. if you're asking how the spurs stop the cavs, why not provide the other end of the spectrum? i'd just like to hear your thoughts. the one-ball theory holds for the cavs as well.

Because the rest of the Cavs' supporting cast feeds off of James' game while the Spurs have 3 separate guys to go to. Shutting down the supporting cast is not unheard of as a Spurs' playoff defensive strategy.

[td4mvp3]

There's only one ball...figure it out.
just to go a bit further and not seem like i'm just being an :donkey . in the previous two games against the cavs, duncan's hit 40-50 percent of his shots and parker's gotten nearly 30 points per game, i think. finley's on a downward spiral as the playoffs have gone along, but manu, duncan and parker have picked up their scoring totals from one round to the next. the cavs, for the most part, have done just the opposite. lebron, z, pavlovic, gooden have all seen their scoring totals decline, i believe, as the playoffs have progressed.

[whottt]

not looking to get in the middle of this, but i guess i will. he brings up a valid point. if you're asking how the spurs stop the cavs, why not provide the other end of the spectrum? i'd just like to hear your thoughts. the one-ball theory holds for the cavs as well.


I already listed what I think needs to happen...

Parker needs to keep emerging as SuperStar.
Finley needs to have the series of his life.
Horry needs to be on the court(this is kind of interchangeable with Finley's).
Hope Brown doesn't know Pop as well as AJ did (well enough to get Pop to shortcircuit his own defense)
Hope the Cavs are just happy to be there.
Elson needs to pull his head out and play up to his talent.

Hit our FT's.

I believe they have the personnel to stop Manu, and Duncan better than we have the personnel to stop LeBron. Parker is they guy I don't think they can stop, but he's got to keep coming up big. Anyway, I think LeBron is a better passer out of a double team than Duncan...LeBron is really good at passing, so good, I think he should be compared to Magic Johnson before he's compared to Jordan.

Big Z is better at shutting down the paint than people give him credit for...he's a good C, and it's not going to be a freeforall at the basket like the Suns were. He's also a pain in the azzzzz on offense and he's big enough to where we don't have a match for him either, he can hurt us, he has before.


And I will say this...I don't think Bruce can physically matchup with LeBron...but if he somehow all of a sudden can, defend him as well as he can...say, Kobe?

This series is over. That changes everything, I don't see that happening though...I see it being a lot more like it is when Bruce plays against TMac.

[T Park]

finley's on a downward spiral as the playoffs have gone along

:lmao

you are a moron.

Rewatch game 5 vs Utah and see how well he shot.

Give me a friggen break.

[whottt]

The silliest thing I keep hearing from Spursfans is that the Cavs are a one man team...

I don't agree with this. They may be a one SuperStar Team, but they have dangerous players.

They are definitely not a one man team on defense either.

And people underestimate what a Superstar with passing ability can do...even after we just got done messing with Steve Nash.

For all intents and purposes...the Suns are a one man team, because if you take Nash off that team...they can't do jack.

There's no such thing as a one man team when your SuperStar can pass like LeBron. Every player on his team is an offensive weapon.

[td4mvp3]

:lmao

you are a moron.

Rewatch game 5 vs Utah and see how well he shot.

Give me a friggen break.
um ok. but his scoring average has gone down for each succeeding round of the playoffs. he's gone from 16 to 13 to 10 ppg versus the nugs, suns and utah. at this rate, he looks like he'll have 7 point scoring average for the finals.

[ATXSPUR]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I cant wait for thursday to get here. The boredom has got some Spurs fans believing we are playing the 90's Bulls.

[td4mvp3]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I cant wait for thursday to get here. The boredom has got some Spurs fans believing we are playing the 90's Bulls.
yeah. i've been on these boards all day. that's what i've been reduced to.

scratch the down trend for the cavs scoring thing, too. they've been up and down.

[whottt]

IMO...the guy that is making the Cavs wrack their brains figuring out how to stop him right now...is Tony Parker.

I'd be willing to bet Brown knows the best way to stop Duncan with double teams...and whether Spursfans want to admit or not...Duncan can be stopped with double teams...he can be forced into TO's...he just kind of did it in the Utah series.

Pop didn't sign Horry because of the shot...he signed him because he Duncan himself said Horry gave him more trouble than anyone, especially when he was getting double help.

Phil Jackson used to do it to great effect in the 4th quarters of our playoff games...double off the choker(AJ, Porter, Hedo, Smitty etc) and force Duncan into a rash of late TO's.

It stopped when he had guys Phil was afraid to double off of...Stephen Jackson, Manu, Parker.


They tried sending Kobe to double him off of Bruce...that was the game where Bruce punked Kobe and dropped 27 on them.

[ATXSPUR]

IMO...the guy that is making the Cavs wrack their brains figuring out how to stop him right now...is Tony Parker.

I'd be willing to bet Brown knows the best way to stop Duncan with double teams...and whether Spursfans want to admit or not...Duncan can be stopped with double teams...he can be forced into TO's...he just kind of did it in the Utah series.

Pop didn't sign Horry because of the shot...he signed him because he Duncan himself said Horry gave him more trouble than anyone, especially when he was getting double help.

Phil Jackson used to do it to great effect in the 4th quarters of our playoff games...double off the choker(AJ, Porter, Hedo, Smitty etc) and force Duncan into a rash of late TO's.

It stopped when he had guys Phil was afraid to double off of...Stephen Jackson, Manu, Parker. And Manu and Parker are still here....I hope cleveland does try to double duncan.

[fuckespn]

The silliest thing I keep hearing from Spursfans is that the Cavs are a one man team...

I don't agree with this. They may be a one SuperStar Team, but they have dangerous players.

They are definitely not a one man team on defense either.

And people underestimate what a Superstar with passing ability can do...even after we just got done messing with Steve Nash.

For all intents and purposes...the Suns are a one man team, because if you take Nash off that team...they can't do jack.

There's no such thing as a one man team when your SuperStar can pass like LeBron. Every player on his team is an offensive weapon.

Pavlovic is a bum ass motherfucker who wouldnt start on any other team, Gooden is a bust, Z is can shoot a little but can't play D for shit with his slow ass footspeed and Hughes is just another chucker who tries to play point guard, and their bench is complete shit(Gibson had what 2 good games?) and sideshow Bob will get his ass beat in this series

[Borosai]

9 pages?

Kill their fucking horses!

Next question.

[whottt]

And just to tie all this up into a neat little package with my Finley hate...

Brown was here when Phil used to do that to us, if Finley winds up being the guy they double off of, and he goes on one of his patented 1-8 binges...we're going to be in a hole quick. I don't think he''s the type that knocks down wide open shots like Jack, Bruce and Horry are....I think he's the type that will miss them. He shoots best when he's got someone bodying him.

[fuckespn]

And just to tie all this up into a neat little package with my Finley hate...

Brown was here when Phil used to do that to us, if Finley winds up being the guy they double off of, and he goes on one of his patented 1-8 binges...we're going to be in a hole quick. I don't think he''s the type that knocks down wide open shots like Jack, Bruce and Horry are....I think he's the type that will miss them.

Yeah because these playoffs have been so evident of that point :rolleyes this dumb motherfucker

[whottt]

And Manu and Parker are still here....I hope cleveland does try to double duncan.

If Pop gets conservative and they start doubling Duncan....Duncan is prone to TO's...as I said, there's only one ball...that's why some of the great offensive teams in history have been dispatched from the playoffs easily.

[T Park]

but his scoring average has gone down for each succeeding round of the playoffs. he's gone from 16 to 13 to 10 ppg versus the nugs, suns and utah. at this rate, he looks like he'll have 7 point scoring average for the finals.


Maybe, cause, they are

1. Gameplanning for him more,

2. Ginobili, Parker, Duncan, Bowen are probobly shooting more shots.

[T Park]

I don't think he''s the type that knocks down wide open shots like Jack, Bruce and Horry are....I think he's the type that will miss them. He shoots best when he's got someone bodying him.

you haven't watched one playoff game this year have you...

[toosmallshoes]

Hope Tim won't get into foul trouble with Varejo's flops!
:guin
this is my main concern.

[toosmallshoes]

Maybe Ginobili could guard Varejo and they could have a "flop off".

[danger]

this is MADNESS..whott YOU A FOOL!

the voice or blah blah, brent barry this...blah blah i will correct you on this "And he's the best passer on the team, the best one at finding open men, the best at getting rid of the ball the second he draws additional defenders" please son, you lucky your not in CA because you would get smacked silly...TIM DUNCAN. i think you love bb so much cuz you look like him. (might be wrong but i believe i saw a pic of you at a GTG and i thought to myself this fag looks like brent barry)

Brent Barry hasnt done shit for the spurs, and dont bring up that game in phoenix, great brent job brent. he shoots 3 pts with no confidence and his best assest is his jokes and we all know it BE REAL, you fool.

STOP before i crucify yo ass. again your acting like a fool with your studip takes, they are so annoying because you have facts but we know whats up like bb might shoot well but never when he is needed(1 time).

[whottt]

this is MADNESS..whott YOU A FOOL!

the voice or blah blah, brent barry this...blah blah i will correct you on this "And he's the best passer on the team, the best one at finding open men, the best at getting rid of the ball the second he draws additional defenders" please son, you lucky your not in CA because you would get smacked silly...TIM DUNCAN. i think you love bb so much cuz you look like him. (might be wrong but i believe i saw a pic of you at a GTG and i thought to myself this fag looks like brent barry)

Brent Barry hasnt done shit for the spurs, and dont bring up that game in phoenix, great brent job brent. he shoots 3 pts with no confidence and his best assest is his jokes and we all know it BE REAL, you fool.

STOP before i crucify yo ass. again your acting like a fool with your studip takes, they are so annoying because you have facts but we know whats up like bb might shoot well but never when he is needed(1 time).


He was shooting fine before his minutes got cut in half....he'd beaten Finley out of the job and Finley got it back due to injury.

You don't discern that, do you though...hater.


Edit: and his passing is always good.

[ang_mysteryo]

my take on this series:

spurs have the depth, experience, personality, confidence and will to win it all....

it's like good 'ol shaq being challenged by big ben.... no problem!!!!

but being a cavs fan, i do have some knowledge on how to beat them..... DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE THEM....

the cavs is one of the worst offensive teams in the league.... even i personally hate the brown system offensively....

on the contrary, they do have some mysterious defensive philosophy patterned after pops'....

you can not really envision the likes of AV, gooden and Z as defensive players.... they seemed to "suck"....and hughes.... i more than don't like him either.... and snow.... no offensive threat at all.....

sasha is so inconsistent......

boobie is STILL a rookie.......

now you know lebron.....

bottomline is, we have a MEDIOCRE team... really..... but....

the only reason why there is still pride in us is because we have lebron who is one of
the best example of a LEADER.....

we are inspired by the the Titans' football team,... by the fictitious mighty ducks....

we are in no man's land until we were redeemed by the King...

yes, that's the story of the cavs.... from a worst 17 win season to back-to-back 50 win season the last two years....

we live and die w/ lebron.... as long as he is there, we have hope....

spurs team, you are great, we know that....we respect you for that..... but we are the cavs..... we don't really pose a threat against you.... let's just play and see what happens.....

[BreezeHillBill]

No one here is predicting a sweep.

You're just trying to pick a fight. It's hardly the end of the fucking world to play the Cavs.

But just like with Utah - rebounds and the advantage will be huge. If the Pistons had taken care of the boards, they would have been in a much better position.

No, whottt, Bowen can't guard LeBron by himself, but the beauty of the system is that he doesn't have to. I can't count how many times in the last two games I watched people near the basket watch LeBron instead of guard him or attempt to block his shot. That won't happen with the Spurs.
Iverson stated that his scoring frustration was that when he got around Bruce, somebody else was in his way, waiting for him. Seamless switchoffs. Team D.

[ang_mysteryo]

Iverson stated that his scoring frustration was that when he got around Bruce, somebody else was in his way, waiting for him. Seamless switchoffs. Team D.

yeah, i agree with you....

unless iverson don't reduce himself to a team player, he will neve be effective... if he can only humble himself and play like tony parker, he will be a pain in ass for any opposing team....

goerge karl should focus on iverson next season.... on how to maximize the talent.... man, if i have a team like the nuggets, it'll be rings after rings....

imagine if pops coaching the nuggets....

[EVAY]

Team D

Not letting his teammates go off.

You still try to guard him, but don't waste Bowen on him all game if Bowen can't be effective - put Bowen on the hot guy (whoever that might be) and shut them down.

I think a strategy that's been successful in the past that could be beneficial here is letting and asking LeBron get off in the first three while concentrating on shutting down his team and then concentrating on him in the fourth, since his team will most likely be cold.

Our experience in the Finals should help.

Rebounding and protecting the ball will be crucial. Pistons gave up too many layups and too many second chance points.
Best recommendation on the board. We HAVE to rebound better than we have to date this whole season. We CAN beat Cleveland, but they CAN beat us as well. Remember the two previous losses this season. Finally, this really DOES come down to Pop vs. Brown, I think. It will be an intresting series.

[Soul_Patch]

There is no way on earth the spurs are loosing this series to a one man team.

If they do somehow, this whole season is a fluke.


Ill say it again, i will be very VERY suprised if this series go's 6 games, and won't even blink an eye if it is a sweep.

The cavaliers are not a good basketball team. They just aren't, one man is not a team.

the spurs have an advantage in almost every aspect of the game, at every position except 1.

[whottt]

There is no way on earth the spurs are loosing this series to a one man team..

You forgot to add...that play D like the Suns.