Sorry Detroit ... Join the Spurs in Stern's Jahn Boat

[Duncan21MVP]

I really liked the ESPN article last week on how everyone should root for a Detroit-San Antonio Finals, if only for the league to prove that it isn't fixed. It obviously wants to put the Lakers-Celtics in front of what Stern hopes will be a gazillion fans.

Congrats, Commish. You got what you wanted. I hope the series sucks ass, no one watches and makes last year's series look like a ratings bonanza.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I hope no one watches a la the Lebron debacle, but with Kobe I doubt it.

Who knows, Celtics might turn the marginal fans off after game 1.

[Canuck]

LA vs Celtics > Spurs vs Pistons for rating and excitement anyday of the week.

This is the best thing to happen for basketball since...ever!

[CubanMustGo]

LA vs Celtics > Spurs vs Pistons for rating and excitement anyday of the week.

This is the best thing to happen for basketball since...ever!

Yeah, two teams that colluded to get star players for nothing in return. Best thing ever.

[carina_gino20]

I was hoping for the Pistons to at least force a Game 7, just to ruin the NBA's marketing plans. And besides, other than the Spurs, Detroit is the one team that I root for. Too bad though.

[BRHornet45]

LA vs Celtics > Spurs vs Pistons for rating and excitement anyday of the week.

This is the best thing to happen for basketball since...ever!

fuck you

[greens]

I guess the ratings dream is here.

I really like Detroit. They're a classy team. They gave the Celtics the congrats and all that stuff. Nice to see.

[Sp Ginobili 20]

Sorry Detroit. I was gonna watch the Finals if atleast the Pistons made it, but now I'm totally boycotting it.

[v2freak]

I'm with SP Ginobili 20. Sorry Detroit, I really wanted you to beat the Celtics and Lakers

[MagnusKrauss]

sigh

[Pistons < Spurs]

Anyone have a fishing pole I can borrow?

:fishing

[ancestron]

where are the spurs and pistons gone fishing photos.

[Holt's Cat]

LA vs Celtics > Spurs vs Pistons for rating and excitement anyday of the week.

This is the best thing to happen for basketball since...ever!

Not really. The NBA is damaged goods now thanks to Stern.

[Pucho!!!]

I really didnt want either of these teams in the Finals, like the rest of my Spurs fans brethren, but since it has happened. I hope the CELTICS hurry up and sweep the crappy Lakers with all their ken and barbie fans, so we can all move on to next season. Here's a Texas expression for all you Laker fans "FUCK ALL YALL!!!"

[GSH]

I guess the ratings dream is here.

I really like Detroit. They're a classy team. They gave the Celtics the congrats and all that stuff. Nice to see.


They're hard-nosed, but not dirty. When they lose, they take it like men. Even when Rasheed goes ape-shit about the refs, he does it openly and lives with the 25K fine - unlike Phildo Jackson. And yeah... no crying. There's no crying in basketball.

I don't know how many other fans appreciate the way they handled themselves, but I think a lot of Spurs fans do.

[himat]

We are tough but soft chokes at the same time. Dammit man. And this time I think the window is truly shut for this group.

[odogg726]

Not really. The NBA is damaged goods now thanks to Stern.




Really? The numbers show that the NBA's enjoyed it's highest rated season since MJ retired, and you consider that damaged goods? No one single commissioner has grown their sport since the 80's in terms of television, marketing, and worldwide exposure like David Stern, period. Look at what the NBA was in the late 70's and even early 80's. Then look at how he began to market the stars in his sport, starting with Magic, Bird, Jordan, and even today with LeBron, Kobe and the rest of the young talented players in today's game.

Real easy to say "OK, you wanna prove that the NBA's not fixed? Then fix it for US to win, not the other teams." Real logical thinking. Keep in mind this marketing genius "allowed" you guys to win 4 titles in the last 9 years. If he really was as almighty as you guys make him out to be, big markets would play in the Finals every year and New York wouldn't be one of the sorriest franchises of the last decade.

[himat]

It's damaged goods. The NBA is trying to make the next Jordan (ala Wade and LeBron) renew rivalries (this years Finals) killing boring teams (Spurs/Pistons). The league is full of floppers (watch the fine rule not work. the refs have fallen for it so much that every player that has done it in the past will do it again.)

[Manudona]

They're hard-nosed, but not dirty. When they lose, they take it like men. Even when Rasheed goes ape-shit about the refs, he does it openly and lives with the 25K fine - unlike Phildo Jackson. And yeah... no crying. There's no crying in basketball.




You mean Jackson was not fined??? :nope

[ancestron]

It's damaged goods. The NBA is trying to make the next Jordan (ala Wade and LeBron) renew rivalries (this years Finals) killing boring teams (Spurs/Pistons). The league is full of floppers (watch the fine rule not work. the refs have fallen for it so much that every player that has done it in the past will do it again.)

I completely agree. Like Sheed said. Its entertainment.

[DEVILS SON IN LAW]

I really liked the ESPN article last week on how everyone should root for a Detroit-San Antonio Finals, if only for the league to prove that it isn't fixed. It obviously wants to put the Lakers-Celtics in front of what Stern hopes will be a gazillion fans.

Congrats, Commish. You got what you wanted. I hope the series sucks ass, no one watches and makes last year's series look like a ratings bonanza.

Just because the series didn't go in your favor it's a conspiracy? Tha fuk outta here with that? YOU GOT BEAT!ACCEPT IT AND MOVE ON...even if you made it to the finals you would have lost.:lobt2::nope

[DEVILS SON IN LAW]

I really liked the ESPN article last week on how everyone should root for a Detroit-San Antonio Finals, if only for the league to prove that it isn't fixed. It obviously wants to put the Lakers-Celtics in front of what Stern hopes will be a gazillion fans.

Congrats, Commish. You got what you wanted. I hope the series sucks ass, no one watches and makes last year's series look like a ratings bonanza.

Just because the series didn't go in your favor it's a conspiracy? Tha fuk outta here with that! YOU GOT BEAT!ACCEPT IT AND MOVE ON...even if you made it to the finals you would have lost.:lobt2::nope

[Nbadan]

This series will be over in a heartbeat - the Lakers are too deep for the Celtics....might be a sweep....

[rasho8]

Anyone have a fishing pole I can borrow?

:fishing

Yeah I have a couple left. Deep sea or fresh water reel? Join me on the boat my friend.

[RsxPiimp]

lol

[Supreme_Being]

Nba = Wwe

[JamStone]

No conspiracies. Boston was/is better than Detroit. Celtics deserved to win.

Two #1 seeds. Two best teams in the league.

It's well deserved for both franchises.

[Tyler_Durden]

still sucks, though.

[rep]

^True that.

Conspiracy or not. Kinda pathetic tho that everyone knows that Stern is jumping for joy right now. Nobody should ever be bringing up the commissioner of the league when the title is on the line. Everyone knows little napoleon(as sheed once called him) wanted this.

[JWest596]

The riots will be the bigger ratings draw.

[Avitus1]

LA vs Celtics > Spurs vs Pistons for rating and excitement anyday of the week.

This is the best thing to happen for basketball since...ever!

The best thing to happen to basketball since

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/scorecard/03/25/truth.rumors.college/p1_032507_flair_getty.jpg

Stern is clearly Vince McMahon
Kobe can be Flair
Guess that makes KG Hogan...

Who needs legit teams fighting for a title anyways?

[greens]

Well, almost everyone was predicting a Boston/Lakers finale. Looks like they got their wish.

[sickdsm]

Just scratching my head as to how the Celtics were given KG and Ray. Timberwolves have been happy with the play of Al jefferson. That trade is not one sided. Ray allen has barely shown up in the playoffs and had KG not also been dealt no one really would have blinked an eye at the celtics dealings this last offseason.


If its the officiating your talking about, well, Obviously Stern wanted them to win last night so he had the refs make a horrible offensive call foul on Pierce's three that was a 6 point swing.


If anything that should ahve been a double digit win last night.

[foodie2]

I don't think it was a conspiracy--I don't see how anyone could really be so powerful as to fix that--but I'm with some of the other posters: I will not watch this series. I keep waffling on which team I dislike more. The only saving grace is that *one* of them will lose. Too bad both of them can't. I'd love to see Kobe crying again, but the thought of Ray Allen going out ringless, again, would also be sweet.

[m33p0]

so this isn't the "official pistons gone fishing thread"? where do i put this? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/2537870089_de9f242f5b_o.jpg

[Harry Callahan]

Really? The numbers show that the NBA's enjoyed it's highest rated season since MJ retired, and you consider that damaged goods? No one single commissioner has grown their sport since the 80's in terms of television, marketing, and worldwide exposure like David Stern, period. Look at what the NBA was in the late 70's and even early 80's. Then look at how he began to market the stars in his sport, starting with Magic, Bird, Jordan, and even today with LeBron, Kobe and the rest of the young talented players in today's game.

Real easy to say "OK, you wanna prove that the NBA's not fixed? Then fix it for US to win, not the other teams." Real logical thinking. Keep in mind this marketing genius "allowed" you guys to win 4 titles in the last 9 years. If he really was as almighty as you guys make him out to be, big markets would play in the Finals every year and New York wouldn't be one of the sorriest franchises of the last decade.

If the NBA truly "fixed" things, Laker fan actually made a good point after 68 posts. SA does not win as much as it has.

This is also a true - when someone asked David Stern a couple of years ago what his ideal finals matchup would be, he said "Lakers versus Lakers". He said he regretted comment later, but he did say it. That kind of stuff feeds the conspiracy stuff from fans of other teams.

Someone also asked Stern about having Joey Crawford ref Spurs playoff games. He said if he prevented Joey from doing SA PO games, then the league wouldn't be administering things properly. That also bit him in the butt when Joey is the one deciding a foul is a no-call at the buzzer. It just looks suspicious. No one can deny that crew should have received an "F" for a number of mistakes throughout the game (hurting both teams). Popovich even received a technical foul in an earlier playoff series when he pointed out another error Crawford made in favor of a Spurs opponent.

Stern is right now clapping his hands like a little kid. He got what he wanted this year. I won't be watching either - I wish I had a Neilson ratings box in my house so I could actually negatively effect those ratings with all the basketball neophytes watching like sheep this "great basketball" coming up.

[Hook Dem]

Just because the series didn't go in your favor it's a conspiracy? Tha fuk outta here with that! YOU GOT BEAT!ACCEPT IT AND MOVE ON...even if you made it to the finals you would have lost.:lobt2::nope

You're gonna miss some good trolling on the Celtics boards if you continue to hang around here. Move on. No bones to pick here!:lol

[florige]

Hell don't get all bummed out Spurs and Pistons fans. Maybe my team can pull a a shady ass deal and get Carmelo Anthony from Denver somehow for lets see, Jacque Vaugnn and a Spur, and Detroit can get Gilbert Arenas from Washington for Juan Dixon, and a ticket to a motown city concert. Hell if LA and Boston can do it surely our teams can do it to. Hell instead of the big three in SA we will now have the big 4!!!!!!

[florige]

I don't think it was a conspiracy--I don't see how anyone could really be so powerful as to fix that--but I'm with some of the other posters: I will not watch this series. I keep waffling on which team I dislike more. The only saving grace is that *one* of them will lose. Too bad both of them can't. I'd love to see Kobe crying again, but the thought of Ray Allen going out ringless, again, would also be sweet.



I don't care if Kobe wins another ring because he is one hell of a player. But to see that little punk Fisher winning another one is what pisses me off. I would pay to see that little jerk crying again. For not winning the championship that is...

[xmas1997]

Never thought I'd say this, but the NBA is Definitely Fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But they don't care what the average fan thinks as long as they get their rating bonanza.
The NBA and ABC made this happen!

[FromWayDowntown]

(watch the fine rule not work. the refs have fallen for it so much that every player that has done it in the past will do it again.)

It's ironic to me that the justification for the no-call on Barry in Game 4 of the Spurs/Lakers series is that he DIDN'T sell the call, i.e., flop. The very people who think that flopping is ruining the game are the same people who thought a flop by Brent was necessary to get a call.

Where amazing happens, indeed. . . .

[1Parker1]

It's ironic to me that the justification for the no-call on Barry in Game 4 of the Spurs/Lakers series is that he DIDN'T sell the call, i.e., flop. The very people who think that flopping is ruining the game are the same people who thought a flop by Brent was necessary to get a call.

Where amazing happens, indeed. . . .

:lol Not mention how nicely it was just blown over by the media and the NBA. They come out and say it was an incorrect play, it's argued over for about a day in every national and local media outlet, and then it's over.

Had the situation been reversed and it happened to Kobe or Fisher, do you think Phil Jackson and the Lakers would ever have let it go? The media's perception of the play would also no doubt be different if it had been a superstar like Kobe who made that play. That's what amazes me even more about the NBA.