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keep on hatin' Simmons, we'll keep on winning.
-Mars
From his column en led "How the West May be Won." Simmons ultimately picks an LAL/PNX meeting in the West Finals, with the Lakers prevailing. His comments on the Spurs (particularly the repeated allusions to a drunken Popovich, his assessment of the X-factor facing the Spurs, his prediction of the Spurs ultimate fate, and his take on the Spurs' biggest mistake in 07-08) in that context seemed like they might start World War III here, so I thought they warranted posting:
5. SAN ANTONIO (48-23)
Scouting report: Same old Spurs -- they looked disinterested for a few months, only they knew and we knew that they'd be there in the end ... the bad news is that their swing guys got old (Bowen and Finley especially), and their perimeter defense is definitely weaker ... the good news is that Damon Stoudamire and Kurt Thomas give them as much depth as they've ever had ... more importantly, Ginobili jumped a level and became a top-four crunch-time guy (see above) ... and if that's not enough, Gregg Popovich went a long way toward erasing the bias against coaches who don't wear ties during games and look a little sloppy ... every time he's yelling at a referee, he looks like some drunk guy at a Martha's Vineyard wedding who's furious that the open bar just closed and eventually has to be restrained by two in-laws.
Biggest strength: Experience, Duncan, Ginobili and Popovich in some order.
Biggest weakness: Other than a (predictable) lack of urgency from time to time, they don't have anyone on the current roster who can defend Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Of course, nearly every contender could say that.
Biggest X-Factor: With $100-plus million in advertising profits at stake if there's a Celtics-Lakers or Celtics-Suns Finals, it will be interesting to see if the Spurs get a single borderline call in May or June. My guess is that somebody on the Suns or Lakers could use a chainsaw and numchucks to stop Duncan in a Game 7 and the refs wouldn't call it. But I'm cynical that way.
Biggest mistake: Not just giving away Luis Scola, but giving him away to a Texas team! Eight months have passed and I still haven't heard an adequate defense from R.C Buford and Popovich for that stinker trade other than "that's the last time we get drunk and make a trade at three in the morning."
Unsung Hero: Ime Udoka gives them someone to defend the Carmelos, Pierces and Bonzis of the NBA universe, as well as someone with his own Bill Brasky-esque fight story and another fun name for Marv to boot. You're damned right that I'm enjoying the Ime Udoka Era.
Best-case opponents: Houston or Los Angeles.
Worst-case opponents: New Orleans or Golden State.
Prediction: The third seed and a controversial demise in round two after the Lakers benefit from a 65-10 free throw advantage in Game 7.
Eventual 2007-08 Legacy: See the previous paragraph.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/080326
keep on hatin' Simmons, we'll keep on winning.
-Mars
he's right nobody outside san antonio, argentina and france wants to see the spurs in the playoff. do you guys still think that this month's schedule was just coincidence?
Sadly, he could be right.
I think he is like Spur fan in that hes underestimating Bowen (everyone does it happens) and Finley.
Although his scenario with the Lakers is more than plausible.
You know what? Other than the drunk crap that's not really a bad assessment, especially from someone like Simmons.
NBA = WWF ?
I hope not (but am uneasy about it just the same)
I don't even think he was hating.
We've won 4 championships...
You would think that they would exponentially us after every exasperating one and get it right at some point...
Conspiracy theories about the spurs getting no calls in the playoffs died when Stern and Jackson suspended Amare and Diaw.
Actually they died a long time before that... but that was the date of the funeral.
They have been laid to rest.
Conpare that article to the one he wrote in Oct. 2007
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...5&sportCat=nba
I expect about 30% less calls going Spurs favor this playoffs.
It sounds like he's either here nor there for the Spurs, but he's definitely right about the refereeing come playoff time.
Anybody who isn't expecting the Spurs to get dogged by the officials this year is going to be in a few arguments with their television set.
And were revived when Bowen was suspended and Chris Paul and Jerry Stackhouse were not.
Our perimeter guys are old.
I think LA is a bigger threat than Golden State and New Orleans combined...
I want to avoid NO in the first round, like poison.
I WANT Phx in the 1st round, I'm salivating just thinking about that one. Bring 'em on. Not because they'd be easy, but because we hate them and they hate us right back. Esp. w/ Shaq "Don't ing Help Me Up" Fu.
This makes me more confident about the Spurs' chances. Simmons is the walking kiss of death. IIRC whoever he picks to win is almost certain to lose.
Is New Orleans really that good?
Oh yeah i am sure Stern just loves reading trash like this. Yes we are not about who deserves to be there just who will get us the best ratings. Well i guess he had better rig the NBA playoffs for good since only about 4 teams in the whole damn league will get the NBA good ratings. His golden boy Lebron did not get him ratings and the Suns being popular is overated, i have seen no proof of this.
Aren't the Spurs one of the most popular teams overseas, and in Argentina? Surely the NBA generates a pretty good deal of revenue off the overseas and south american market when the spurs are successful. no?
I would imagine that the TV rights in those markets don't add up to much $, and that's where the NBA gets a whole lot of its money.
I imagine they would if they started marketing the NBA down here. At the moment, we get crappy NBA coverage, with the exception of DirectTV having two measly LP channels.
If the Spurs can't guard Deron Williams how is it they beat the Jazz to the tune of 5-1 in last season's playoffs?
I am sure they do but everyone has a heart attack when the ratings are not good in the states. I have made this point before though, the NBA in general is getting bad ratings, that is a fact. Finals ratings in general have not been the same since Jordan and the Bulls hung it up. When the Lakers were in the finals they had strong ratings but to say it is just about the Spurs not bringing in ratings is wrong. Ratings for Mavs/Heat were only slightly better in 2006 than Spurs/Pistons in 2005. Most people said before the finals started last year that ratings would be good because the Golden Boy of the league King James is in the finals. They were awful and again everyone just blamed the Spurs, which makes no sense if Lebron is so popular they would have watched at least game 1. All star game ratings have been down each of the last 4 years and they were the lowest in history this past year. This is a product that is having more and more touble selling itself as the years go bye. Based on what i have seen. Lakers/Celts will deliver ratings and maybe one other matchup but i don't see say Suns/Pistons or Hornets/Pistons or any one of about 10 finals matchups being a ratings blockbuster for the NBA.
He would never try to do that period. Think about it in this day and age with the media all over everything, what are the odds Stern could favor a team to make it to the finals for ratings and keep it quiet???
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