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[QUOTE]Their role players know their role.[QUOTE]
now if the Spurs role players would take a page from the Jazz, this team would improve even more.
With a little luck, the Jazz will be right there. Kirilenko is overrated but he's still a solid all-around talent. Boozer is a beast. Harpring is recovering from injury, but he played better than Kirilenko a couple seasons ago. Arroyo is underrated. Bell is a tough SOB. Okur can fill it up.
Sloan knows how to get the best out of any team. Last year they should have been horrible but then turned around and almost made the playoffs. This year they'll be right there at the end with San Antonio and Minnesota in the west.
I don't understand what you don't get, Nikos. They have a bunch of tough guys who aren't afraid to lay the lumber. They have one of the best coaches ever. Their role players know their role.
[QUOTE]Their role players know their role.[QUOTE]
now if the Spurs role players would take a page from the Jazz, this team would improve even more.
What I do not get is the fact that you feel a team can win the le because of being 'tough and being deep', when those type of teams never win les. I could understand the logic if you felt Boozer and Kirlenko were all-stars and elite talents at their respective positions. But to think a team can win the le by just having a solid player at each position, a solid backup, and a good coach just seems a little strange to me that is all.I don't understand what you don't get, Nikos. They have a bunch of tough guys who aren't afraid to lay the lumber. They have one of the best coaches ever. Their role players know their role.
Sloan had more talented teams that were just as well coached, just as fundamental and tough as any of the guys on this current team, yet never won a le.
I would be very suprised if Utah won the le. I would not be suprised however if they scared a team in the playoffs or made it to the WCF.
He does think Boozer is elite.I could understand the logic if you felt Boozer and Kirlenko were all-stars and elite talents at their respective positions.
Ah, I guess that makes more sense. But I still think he is under estimating AK47.He does think Boozer is elite.
Um ... did you watch last season? The Pistons are a bunch of hardworkers. None of them are anywhere close to MVP type players.
You cited 'depth' as a main reason why Utah would be le contenders.
Detroit played their starting lineup the majority of the minutes. Corliss Williamson and Okur their best bench players were hardly major factors in the NBA finals. Sure they played a few minutes, but nothing significant to say they really helped push their team over the top. It was the starting 5 doing the major work.
Also Detroit had an above average player at every single position -- the only arguable non-above average player at their respective position would probably be Tayshaun Prince, but he is probably underrated at this point. His defense made up for any offensive short comings.
As an aside, here are the minute distributions for last years NBA finals.
Hamilton 44.4
Billups 38.4
R.Wallace 30.2
B.Wallace 40.6
Prince 39.2
Williamson 10.4
Hunter 13
Campbell 13.6
Okur 7.8
James 4.4
Ham 2
Milicic 1
Yeah they have a lot of good players, so do the Jazz now. You can make that "above average" claim to the Jazz as well.
And their depth is just an added bonus and another reason they can contend.
Just admit that AK47 is one of the best SF's in the league, and what you say will make even more sense.Yeah they have a lot of good players, so do the Jazz now. You can make that "above average" claim to the Jazz as well.
And their depth is just an added bonus and another reason they can contend.
I never said he wasn't. I just don't buy the hype of him being an All-Star and one of the better players in the league.
The Jazz. They play more like the Spurs than any other team in the West... tough and together.
Sloan will probably get his well-deserved COTY award this year.
The Jazz are legit.
Jerry Sloan isn't thrilled with AK's blocks.
Fundamental flaw: You probably think Utah coach Jerry Sloan is thrilled that Andrei Kirilenko is leading the NBA in blocked shots.
You probably are wrong.
Kirilenko's 31 blocks in the first four games were amazing, but the fact he gets so many of them from behind the shooter drives Sloan, ever the fundamentalist, crazy.
Says Sloan: "We have a tendency to let people go where they want to on defense because we want to block shots. Blocked shots are great, but layups are worse when they're being scored against you. That doesn't look very good. I've always had a simple philosophy: Stay between your man and the basket. You don't play from behind."
I guess I'm not the only one who can see through the mirage.
1st person I agree with... I think that the mid-late 90's rivalry is back on, they are the only team that worries me so far.
I posted on this 4 days ago. I mentioned that with Stack and Terry off the bench, they have bench players with potential to take over a game, and look what happened last night. Stackhouse comes off the bench to score 29 pts. This team IMO is the best team in the league and is the odds on fav to win it all this year. I can not see SA beating this team in a series, unless Parker improves 100% by May, and that is a fact, Jack.Hands down the Mavs - very deep with a fair center now, keep playing like they are; they would be a tough out in a 7 game series! Somehow though I think they will fall back again.
Any arguements on this? - Wolves only consideration in my view.
MadDoc
As the original poster here is how I rank the threats from now until the Conf. Finals:
1) Mavs = probably on their way to a 60 game season unless Dirk hurt. I do believe "Jack" above that the Spurs with Duncan and now Ginobli will score above to beat what is still a weak defensive team compared to the Spurs/Wolves and Jazz. Would probably go 6-7 games.
2) Wolves = although seem to be falling back a bit, but hard to ignore and Griffin played well yesterday.
3/4) Jazz Rockets (if the latter ever jell) I personally don't by the Jazz yet = however, 2 more years will contend seriously in my view.
5/6 any of the other teams that get hot - edge would go to the Fakers for 5 as Kobe will get all the calls and only if Malone comes back and plays well.
MadDoc
I'm more in tune with Pop's philosophy of your current opponent is your most scariest. I know the fans can make these kinds of assumptions, but even as a fan, I think the Spurs are only good when they play to their capabilities and take every opponet seriously. In '03 the Spurs were 2 mins away from going down 0-2 to the 8th seed Suns. So, I can understand why Pop hates for players to read their headlines.
I appologize for my ignorance . . .
What does "bumping" a thread mean?
Utah...
when you make a post
or just post bumb in this thread it brings it to the top thread in the forum
that is what is called "bumbing a thread"
I guess it’s a geographical thing...In So Cal that has a different meaning...
King of like. I lost my dog and I am like totally bumming....
Thanks Ducks!
Again, I am a novice to this wonderful sport, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong. I think the Mavs ( aside from Nowitski) are a big contender for the Western Conference, but i attribute this to the fact that they now have Avery Johnson as asst. coach- who i imagine is stressing defense.
"Avery Johnson as asst. coach- who i imagine is stressing defense"
Wizards shot 47%, +7 in off RBS, and scored 113 on Mavs today. Avery must have been held up at church.
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