My God, how are the Spurs not in the Finals?

[Marcus Bryant]

Damn. The Celtics are all up in there, I guess.

[Mr. Body]

im watching the game, i dont see that many bad calls. i think if anything the refs are favoring the celtics based off of normal home court favoring standards, but nothing more.

The refs are having no impact on this game. They're not the reason the Lakers are completely and utterly overmatched.

[timvp]

These are the same Celtics that almost lost to a worse version of the Cavs that the Spurs swept last year. If Pierce didn't have the game of his life Boston would be fishing right now. The Hawks almost beat them. Their defense is good but only at home in the playoffs.

Bowen on Pierce. Parker on Allen. Ginobili roaming off of Rondo. Thomas/Oberto/Horry on jumpshooting KG. Duncan on Perkins. The Celtics bench relies on old players like PJ and Cassell ... but that veteran craftiness wouldn't work against the Spurs geezers.

Got damn it that would have been a great series. And I would have loved it to see the Spurs take down the Celtics. And I think they would have too. I was worried about them before the playoffs started ... but with Ray Allen in full choke mode, Parker could have easily guarded him. That was the one matchup I was worried about.

[whottt]

These are the same Celtics that almost lost to a worse version of the Cavs. If Pierce didn't have the game of his life Boston would be fishing right now. The Hawks almost beat them. Their defense is good but only at home in the playoffs.

Bowen on Pierce. Parker on Allen. Ginobili roaming off of Rondo. Thomas/Oberto/Horry on jumpshooting KG. Duncan on Perkins. The Celtics bench relies on old players like PJ and Cassell ... but that veteran craftiness wouldn't work against the Spurs geezers.

Got damn it that would have been a great series. And I would have loved it to see the Spurs take down the Celtics. And I think they would have too. I was worried about them before the playoffs started ... but with Ray Allen in full choke mode, Parker could have easily guarded him. That was the one matchup I was worried about.

Yeah...because Ray Allen always chokes against us

[lefty]

Yeah, I think so too. We are 4-0 in Finals appearances. The Fakers will have lost to the Pistons and Celtics (most likely). Losing sucks..period but being in the Finals and losing ? That's gotta really suck. Of course, as Spurs fans, how would we know what that feels like ?

Arrogance ?

[whottt]

The Lakers don't look any worse against the Celts than we did this season...


I know, I know, regular season...which is why our season is over now.

[timvp]

Celtics are the best evaaaaar !!!!!! ... ignore the Hawks and Cavs laying 120+ on them repeatedly

[Solid D]

Spurs aren't in the Finals because they weren't the defensive team they have been in previous years. I'm sorry but .444 Opp. FG% wasn't good enough to carry them when they weren't shooting that well.

.444 is a bit embarrassing for a team predicated on defensive stops as their primary thrust.

The Celtics have been the best defensive team all season. They finished with .419 Opp. FG% (1), .316 Opp. 3 pt % (1), +10.25 Point Differential (1). That's why I felt the Celts would win the championship, even before the playoffs started. I think it's their year because they are the best defensive team and outscore everyone by double digits.

In a year where "green" is the buzzword in everything from technology to ecology, Green is in this year.

[tmtcsc]

Arrogance ?

Arrogance Earned. Plus, that's all I got right now as my team is at home early.

[Marcus Bryant]

This Finals is probably more frustrating for Spurs fans than Laker bandwagoners.

[Marcus Bryant]

Spurs aren't in the Finals because they weren't the defensive team they have been in previous years. I'm sorry but .444 Opp. FG% wasn't good enough to carry them when they weren't shooting that well.

.444 is a bit embarrassing for a team predicated on defensive stops as their primary thrust.

The Celtics have been the best defensive team all season. They finished with .419 Opp. FG% (1), .316 Opp. 3 pt % (1), +10.25 Point Differential (1). That's why I felt the Celts would win the championship, even before the playoffs started. I think it's their year because they are the best defensive team and outscore everyone by double digits.

In a year where "green" is the buzzword in every from technology to ecology, Green is in this year.

Greens make me regular, boss.

[1Parker1]

In a year where "green" is the buzzword in everything from technology to ecology, Green is in this year.

That's one way to look at it...

[whottt]

MB and Timvp are just pissed because the Lakers are losing.

[timvp]

Yeah...because Ray Allen always chokes against us

Look what the Spurs style of defense did against Allen. Spurs would have guarded him the same way the Cavs did. Double off Rondo to not allow Allen any looks off of screens. Turn KG into a jump shooter. Put Bowen on Pierce. Pierce turns into a whiny Vince Carter versus Bowen. The old players cancel each other out.

The road games against the Celtics would have been like 55-55 heading into the fourth. At home the Spurs would have rolled them. The Celtics defense disappears on the road.

Of course this is assuming at least a 90% healthy Manu but still ... neither of these teams in the Finals are too great. These Lakers might be the softest team to ever make the Finals.

[GSH]

We lost to THESE Lakers ??????

Man, 1 injury and we are not the same team

One injury and a no-show Finley. A couple of 3-pointers per game would have gotten us past the Lakers. The difference was that small. But we would have needed a healthy Ginobili (back to regular-season form) and a reasonably productive Finley for the Finals. Two missing pieces is enough to say that we just didn't have the horsepower.

But I have to admit, I am REALLY enjoying all the excuses the Lakers' trolls are vomiting up. When Phildo Jackson actually took time to comment on Pierce leaving and returning to the game, I felt like they were cooked. But I bet he's not out of excuses yet.

[SRJ]

LMAO at Powe running 70 feet for a dunk. It's like scoring a goal in hockey from the other end.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Spurs would get torn up on the boards. Plus I truly think the Spurs need more athleticism and length on both the offensive and defensive end.

[Mr. Body]

Gasol is terrible when a guard is driving toward him.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

LMAO at Powe running 70 feet for a dunk. It's like scoring a goal in hockey from the other end.

The crazy thing is, I think they gave Rondo an assist on that

[1Parker1]

These are the same Celtics that almost lost to a worse version of the Cavs that the Spurs swept last year. If Pierce didn't have the game of his life Boston would be fishing right now. The Hawks almost beat them. Their defense is good but only at home in the playoffs.

Bowen on Pierce. Parker on Allen. Ginobili roaming off of Rondo. Thomas/Oberto/Horry on jumpshooting KG. Duncan on Perkins. The Celtics bench relies on old players like PJ and Cassell ... but that veteran craftiness wouldn't work against the Spurs geezers.

Got damn it that would have been a great series. And I would have loved it to see the Spurs take down the Celtics. And I think they would have too. I was worried about them before the playoffs started ... but with Ray Allen in full choke mode, Parker could have easily guarded him. That was the one matchup I was worried about.

You're really oversimplifying things. Celtics defense this season is a lot better than the Spurs. For all the claims of "KG, Pierce, and Allen" being perennial chokers, I believe it's been those 3 same players who got them through 2 tough game 7's and a Game 6 on the road to get here. That's not choking. The Celtics bench relies on old players like PJ and Cassell? If I'm correct Cassell didn't even play much in the series against the Pistons. Leon Powe, Eddie House, Posey, Allen are all young and somewhat athletic bench players that could have given the Spurs interior defense some trouble. And you think Bowen would have had an easy time checking Paul Pierce?

Celtics defense has been amazing all season long and postseason. You can say what you want about their bench, coaching, "Big 3" etc but they are great defensively...

[1Parker1]

These Lakers might be the softest team to ever make the Finals.

2006 Mavericks

[Phenomanul]

7 days before Game 1,
2 days off between Gm 1 and Gm 2,
2 days off between Gm 2 and Gm 3....

Remind me again why the conference finals were rushed?

[SRJ]

The crazy thing is, I think they gave Rondo an assist on that

Wow, if that's true.

[Mr. Body]

Remind me again why the conference finals were rushed?

*checks press guide*

Here it is: to ensure little rest for the aging Spurs.

p. 14

[whottt]

Look what the Spurs style of defense did against Allen. Spurs would have guarded him the same way the Cavs did. Double off Rondo to not allow Allen any looks off of screens. Turn KG into a jump shooter. Put Bowen on Pierce. Pierce turns into a whiny Vince Carter versus Bowen. The old players cancel each other out.

The road games against the Celtics would have been like 55-55 heading into the fourth. At home the Spurs would have rolled them. The Celtics defense disappears on the road.

Of course this is assuming at least a 90% healthy Manu but still ... neither of these teams in the Finals are too great. These Lakers might be the softest team to ever make the Finals.

The Spurs aren't who you thought they were anymore...they need some retooling.


Hopefully Pop won't get a roster full of his dream players ever again. Twice in a lifetime is enough.


Edit: I will consider this offseason a failure if Finley and Thomas are on this team next season.