Bill Simmons still believes in the Warriors!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eyeh8u

the world's most successful hack, a career based on no insight, no inside information, and 90210 references, and a fan based so devout that they will try to tear you apart on an almost kobefan level.

---

Hey, he found what turned out to be a really popular niche, and he found it before anyone else did. The blog from the fan perspective is ubiquitous now, but back when he started, nobody even knew what a blog was. And instead of churning out generic linkbait like "The Top 10 Most Improved Players" or posts that were basically a link to somebody else's article with a few lines of text, he was writing columns that had original angles like "The Ewing Theory," "The Vengeance Scale," or "The Awful GM Summit." He also consistently turned out columns that most people thought were funny.

As writers or commentators to hate go, he's not anywhere near the top of my list. Even when he's wrong or even being a total homer, he's almost never a completely lazy hack, like some of the guys out there.

Bill Simmons always look like a deer caught in headlights whenever he is on the panel on ABC. It really is tough watching that guy do any NBA analysis.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tesseractive

Hey, he found what turned out to be a really popular niche, and he found it before anyone else did. The blog from the fan perspective is ubiquitous now, but back when he started, nobody even knew what a blog was. And instead of churning out generic linkbait like "The Top 10 Most Improved Players" or posts that were basically a link to somebody else's article with a few lines of text, he was writing columns that had original angles like "The Ewing Theory," "The Vengeance Scale," or "The Awful GM Summit." He also consistently turned out columns that most people thought were funny.

As writers or commentators to hate go, he's not anywhere near the top of my list. Even when he's wrong or even being a total homer, he's almost never a completely lazy hack, like some of the guys out there.

---

You have valid points and all the is fine and good when you willingly read his article or listen to a podcast, but when he is forced upon me on TV, that's where I draw the line. I know I can change the channel, and I do, but its just too much of this guy. The way i heard his fans go on and on about grantland when it just started, "he was gathering the greatest minds in the world to change online sports entertainment, blah blah blah. I dont like it when people take small things and hype it up like its going to change the way we view the world.

He can have all the original angles he wants, he still believes in tried and true hack sportswriter go to mechanisms when he is on air.

Things like:

Body Language
Making assumptions about a player's psyche based on what he would think if in the position of the player.
Coaching Matters , Coaches are a big reason for success.
Making quick rash predictions, ie Nets sweeping the first round series after watching a half of basketball, not even a full game.
Then when things go wrong "the team lost their identity"
Alot of talk about "Passion" "Motivation" "Fire in their eyes" "Wanting it more"
Alot of Confirmation Bias, Selective Memory, and using the word "I think ______ will happen" when he really means "I want _______ to happen"

Also the blatant homerism compounds things. As for other sports personalities, I dont actively watch or read many, gave up on most of ESPN years ago, pretty much my only intake of "sports journalism" is The Basketball Jones podcast and just as a time waster PTI and ATH podcasts, so I really dont have a anything to compare to.

Of course the warriors can still win the series. It'll be stupid to say otherwise.

Spurs should still be favourites, but Warriors still have a chance

I'm a devoted spurs fan, for almost 30 years...and I say right now it's 60/40 spurs...maybe 55/45 (it's that close)..

There's reason for Golden State fans to be optimistic. The Warriors are stepping up and playing like ... well ...

Warrios-Heat would be fun to watch IMHO IMO TBH

He just did podcast with Zach Lowe and both agreed the Warriors would take the series. Bill said the Warriors are the better team this series, and Lowe said the series should be 3-1 in favor of the Warriors.

Lowe and Simmons feel GSW has a great shot at stealing a game in San Antonio coming up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Amuseddaysleeper

He just did podcast with Zach Lowe and both agreed the Warriors would take the series. Bill said the Warriors are the better team this series, and Lowe said the series should be 3-1 in favor of the Warriors.

Lowe and Simmons feel GSW has a great shot at stealing a game in San Antonio coming up.

---

I agree with everything they said except for the prediction.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chapnis

I agree with everything they said except for the prediction.

---

Just what i thought.

Bill is a Boston homer. Bill likes to hear himself speak. Bill ...

Wait! That IMHO opinion is everything I can blame him for. Not too bad I guess.

Spurs have conrolled both games on the road. They should of been up 3 to 1.

Whatever. There'll be blood in the water after Game 5, and hopefully it's the Warriors'. Plenty of people have picked against the Spurs when they were favored in the past, and people will continue to do it in the future.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/trutv....t-warriors.jpg

Simmons still salty the Celtics didn't get first overall. News flash: Stern likes San Antonio more than Boston, because why would the Spurs win the lottery when David Robinson got hurt and why would they get the refs favor in 2007?

Since 1997, boiled down:::

Spurs: 4

Celtics: 1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slippy

Spurs have conrolled both games on the road. They should of been up 3 to 1.

---

They were outplayed both games at home so the 2-2 is fair.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chapnis

I agree with everything they said except for the prediction.

---

Even a moron realizes we gave away game 4. So slice however you like 2-2 is what it is.

btw.: In one of his last podcasts, Simmons even mentioned game 5 of last years series vs. OKC beeing very dicey, saying that Brooks isn't a good coach, but was lucky they made the finals because of that game (and you don't fire a Finals coach).

Bill Simmons is so far out of his league being on tv. Stick to the Celts beat writing, you're not funny.

On his podcast Monday he picked the Warriors for the upset but said that you can never count out the Spurs, so he was reserved. I don't mind him all that much, his writing is pretty good. I'd probably be rooting for the Warriors if I weren't a Spurs fan just because they're a fresh face in the playoffs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slippy

Spurs have conrolled both games on the road. They should of been up 3 to 1.

---

Agree. The Spurs were better in game 4 and just let the game slip away. Last night should have been clinching.

Spurs have controlled the pace of the game for the past 3 games. Games 4 and 5 were similar in some regards. Difference was that the spurs limited the Warriors offensive rebounds and the Spurs hit there shots they had missed in game 4.

FBS. Will this bitch be coming to the Riverwalk as the Spurs progress? People should spit in his tacos. :tu

The Warriors didn't take full advantage of Duncan being sick and Splitter being hurt. They're toast.

He's now back tracking on being so harsh about the Spurs and their chances against Memphis after the game:



‏@BillSimmons

wish I had praised the Spurs more on TV tonight - got caught up in the gsw angles. SA's D + coaching adjustments were terrific last 4 games.



@BillSimmons

I think we're headed for Mia-Mem, but the thought of Duncan/Popp getting a ring 14 yrs after their 1st one together is increasingly amazing.