the only thing from last year that was better than this year was Manu :lol
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the only thing from last year that was better than this year was Manu :lol
It's weird. The Spurs looked so much stronger last year and yet I'm more confident in this team, despite the fact that they've looked so fucking shaky at times. Still worried about them dropping the 2-0 lead again, though.
We had to put one of our dogs down last year on the night before Game 3 of the WCF; the Spurs never won again.
We had to put another of our dogs down today, two nights before Game 3 of the WCF. Through my tears, I'm hoping for a better outcome for the Spurs.
This year better defense, Kawhi and Green are better this year and Tiago is starting, Duncan and Parker playing better than last year, decent back up point guard. Only one playing worse this year is Manu. Golden State last round played better than the Jazz and Clippers did last year in the playoffs and it was a good thing to be challenged last round.
The 2012 collapse was exacerbated by a Joey Crawford rip job in game 5. Spurs had that series in hand till then. I know I know...whining about the refs is lame but in that particular case there is merit.
Well, I think the 2013 team is the better team, because of last year if nothing else. More experience for the youngsters, much improved D - better team. But honestly, they look like shit - gassed, tired, old, winning games by the skin of their teeth, giving up huge leads . . . yeah, the 2012 looked much, much more impressive after 2 games than the 2013 team. I mean, come on - 20 straight wins, offense clicking like it was some kind of effing clinic. Yeah, that team looked serious, imposing, put together. But this team is better.
I'm so sorry, friend. Having to make that decision for your loved pet is so hard, and twice within the span of a year is just terrible. Sorry for your family, FWD.Quote:
Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown
Ugh seriously? I'm so sorry. Losing pets is horrible.Quote:
Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown
I think it would be hard to argue that Timmy, Kawhi, Danny, and Tiago were better last year and given the considerable amount of minutes those guys play on a nightly basis, it would seem illogical almost to argue that the 2012 team was better than the 2013 team is. I also think that while the 2013 Warriors might not have been superior to the 2012 Clippers on a talent-for-talent basis, they provided the Spurs with an ideal WCSF opponent in many ways, but mostly because they provided enough adversity for the Spurs to have to figure some things out and commit in real time to defense as a way to win tight playoff games. And I think it may prove to be beneficial to the younger guys that they went through the 2012 WCF. It reminds them that they have to continue playing and that being up 2-0 is nothing. It also put them through the fire of playoff games in an extremely hostile road environment; I'd argue that the benefits of that experience have already shown up with Kawhi, Danny, and Tiago, who all played well at times in the ear-splitting atmosphere of Oracle.Quote:
Originally Posted by easjer
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Originally Posted by easjer
Thank you both; it really means a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Budkin
I think we're thinking similar things, if not saying them (forgive me, I was up late last night and it's getting late now). You just restated what I was thinking.Quote:
Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown
The initial question posed by the poll was which team looked better - and my answer is, even knowing about the collapse that is about to occur to the 2012 team after game 2, they look better. Now, I took the question to be about confidence and appearances, and answered in that vein. The 2012 team was a much more attractive-appearing team that appeared to have so much going for it, sportswriters were tripping over themselves to flatter and build up the Spurs because it seemed inevitable they would win at that point in time. Ruthless, efficient, and ready to collapse - but we could only see the first two. Whereas this Spurs team looks beat up, worn down, and seem to be perpetually pulling miracles out of thin air to squeak through by the skin of their teeth (except that I haven't felt generally that they games were outside the Spurs' control).
The question posed in the first post is a different question and has a different answer; which team is better? Well, as has been articulated, the current team has the experience of last year spurring them on, and another year's worth of experience for the youngins in the system, and better D, and a much less compressed (if longer) season. They faced much more adversity this go round, which has honed their decision making, play making and defense.
Two sides of a coin perhaps, but I think it's hard to deny that there was a heady feeling the day after game 2 in the WCF last year, and this year, it just feels wearisome. I'm waiting for the result, rather than laser focused on the game itself because I find the actual games to be so frustrating.
Yes. By quoting your post, I didn't mean to suggest disagreement with your point.Quote:
Originally Posted by easjer
Combined with this years Game 2 near choke.Quote:
Originally Posted by eric365
Still, this year could be the Champ.
See? Tired. I'm about five minutes away from crashing in the chair with the laptop, so I'll just drag myself to bed now and stop repeating myself again.Quote:
Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown
Also, after 20 wins and "Give me some Nasty!"
Fark, i think we all thought the trophy was looking great.
I felt better last year simply because we hadn't lost a playoff game yet and had won 20 in a row! Yeah, OKC was better than Memphis, but it's hard to feel better than when you are on a 20-game win streak and swept your first two playoff opponents.
With that being said, I think we beat Memphis in six games and I think we have a decent shot against the Heat in the Finals. The Heat aren't unbeatable as many seem to think. Hell, they almost lost to Indiana in game 1 of the ECF.
the Heat have almost lost plenty of times yet here they stand having won 46 out of their last 49 games.Quote:
Originally Posted by superjames1992
Indeed, but we are the second-best team in the NBA, at worst, right now. We will give them all they can handle, IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by JingleJangleJingle
Someone said this the Spurs winning feels wearisome this year but for me
it feels like a Championship run... like they can't even truly lose. there is a better word for it in tagalog. (filipino) Stars aligning for them and all that jazz.
After that double OT win against the Warriors, I feel like the Spurs acquired a smoldering belief. They've been through trials been humbled and cast down, forced to elevate and they rose again. They're haunted men, hungry...
They get stops, they execute, they play together... they have a chip on their shoulder, they love each other, they collectively know it's the best/last chance.
They're grown mature men, with great minds and coaching. They have a purpose they've been chasing for 6 years, it's almost there. It's like that Boston team from a few years ago.
I think out of Spurs and Heat... the Spurs have the greater desire to becomes champion this year.... Miami, I don't know it's not like Jordan's teams or Kobe's... I'm not sure if they have that ruthlessness to not letdown from last year and repeat. I think inside they don't have as much hunger since they won last year. They have egos.
I still think Lebron is immature, case in point how he responded to the Pacers coach's comments. and if we face his team in the finals, all that same inner child of his can be defeated like in 2007. I think Bosh is that way too... they're chuckle heads when it comes down to it. Just my opinion. Birdman also.. ya feel me?
Ray Allen can lose his poise he has OCD he can go very cold when feeling uncomfortable. Wade is gimpy.
We'll see.
Defense, confident Green and rejuvenated TD are the differences this year.
I'd say that this year's Spurs is mentally nastier than the last year's, too.
2012 Spurs won 20 games in a row... That`s not even close
And this could be true. I have never seen a team with a chemistry, we had last year. When we were down around 18 in the half against the Clipps I just felt, chill out guys, we will win it. Really, last year seemed the best offensive basketball the world ever seen. Our player movement, our motion-flow offense, i thought it was like something else. We were 2 steps ahead of the NBA on the offensive end. Unfortunately, OKC was too good of a defensive team, they role players stepped up, while Danny, Neal and Bonner disappeared. And of course, they were the more athletic team. Right now, the Spurs are the better athletic team.Quote:
Originally Posted by mudyez
I believe.
:lobt::lobt::lobt::lobt:+:lobt:
True! I'm following the NBA since the 1993/94 season and only the AdelmanKings and mayby just maybe the 7SecondsAndLessSuns are in the conversation with last years Spurs.Quote:
Originally Posted by szkorhetz
Which team looked better? 2012, no question.
Which team probably has a better chance of winning? 2013.
Sorry about your dogs, FWD.Quote:
Originally Posted by FromWayDowntown
I voted 2013 just for the hell of it.