finely is the melinda gates of the spurs

[Findog]

In case you forgot, or didn't know, Finley tied the Spurs playoff record with 8 three pointers in the closeout game against the Nuggets.
This is so like Dallas fans to try and belittle his championship. He played 8 years in Dallas and was basically cut by Cuban, and now Dallas fans are talking because he won a championship with the Spurs? lol. I know it stings but why not just be happy for the guy? Why don't you try telling Michael Finley to his face that he has a cheap ring and didn't earn it?

Personally I would love to meet Finley and shake his hand, he's my all-time favorite Mav. Don't lump all of us in with that line of reasoning. I'm personally happy for Finley, it stings a little bit to see him do it with our biggest rival, but he's a classy guy, he played rotation minutes and he earned it. Now I hope he never does it again

[Davidicus]

anyone that says a player doesnt deserve the ring because they just 'stepped in' as a role player on this spurs team is RE- ED. Thats basically saying if youre not one of the big 3 you dont deserve it. The spurs won because of their role players--theyre the ones who get us over the hump from good to great. Ive watched every playoff game and almost every regular season game and theres no doubt in my mind finley deserves every millimeter of his ring. Hes made huge shots and has won a lot of games for us, as well as stepped up his defense and nobody knows what veteran presence he helped us with. Any Dallas radio host thats just jealous can suck it.

[BlackFlagg]

This is possibly the stupidest I've ever heard. It's a TEAM ring. Finley has done his part in bringing the Spurs to the Finals. Period. There must be some acious residual bitterness in Dallas -- more than I thought!

[~Sweetmelody~]

I woke up thinking I would hear/see some nice coverage and all I heard on ESPN was that the Spurs have played with lower seeds, starting from 1999. It makes me sick! if your freaking team couldn't make it why imply that we are not best team?!?!?

Now I read this!?! Finely was part of the "team" he deserves his ring.

[monosylab1k]

Please nobody think that the opinions of that stupid Engel or any other dip at Dallas ESPN radio reflect the opinions of the vast majority of Mavericks fans. Most all of us are very happy for Finley, and would never do anything to try and cheapen this great accomplishment.

Dallas ESPN radio is the worst sports radio station I've ever listened to. Don't take anything they say seriously.

Also, they're the "official Mavericks station" so they're getting paid to have their noses up Cuban's asscrack.

[Marcus Bryant]

You would think that longtime Mav Fan would be happy for Finley.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

I think the whole thing about starting Finley had a lot to do with that and the validation of his ring. I understand he is loved a lot in SA and his teammates. He seems to be a nice guy and everything.

[Don Quixote]

Saying that Finley "didn't earn his ring," or that "his ring is cheap" is among the most ridiculous things I've ever read in this forum.

Michael Finley wasn't a star for the Spurs in these playoffs -- though he did have his moments -- but he was a vital part of this team in so many ways. He was pretty much outstanding against Denver, at a time when the Spurs needed someone to stretch the floor and the Denver defense. He played a fantastic Game 1 at Phoenix, when the Spurs had to have it. He hit some big 3's against Utah as well.

Saying that he didn't "earn" a ring because he had a bad Finals is absurd. All sorts of players on le teams have bad Finals, but nobody ever suggests that those guys didn't earn their rings. Finley was everything the Spurs needed him to be and by doing that, he undoubtedly earned his ring.

Right on.

[monosylab1k]

You would think that longtime Mav Fan would be happy for Finley.

We are. This is just one idiot trying to draw ratings by spewing bull .

[Findog]

You would think that longtime Mav Fan would be happy for Finley.

We are. Would've preferred a different uni, but he's a classy guy and deserves it.

[Money316]

this is the crap i have to listen to on espn's dallas affiliate. the jennifer engel show has one of the hosts arguing that finley didn't earn a ring, he was given one by joining the right team. nevermind the guy was a starter, or helped closeout denver, or helped in the game 3 win in cleveland ... his ring was a cheap one, is what she's saying.

Just sour grapes ...

[td4mvp3]

what i love is that at one point, she says a real contributor must average more than 8 ppg. he co-host points out that fin average 12 ppg in the playoffs. she says that doesn't mean anything. man it was annoying.

[ShoogarBear]

what i love is that at one point, she says a real contributor must average more than 8 ppg.

So then Dirk still counts as a contributor for this year.

[ObiwanGinobili]

If anyone didn't earn thier ring it's beno.

other than that the original subject of this thread is too far re ed for me to comment on. My braina doens't think in that direction.

[ancestron]

Just sour grapes ...

amen

[Scotti]

I understand what people mean when they say "Finley just got lucky by joining the right team".

But I realised Finley was actually one of the key reasons why we've won this year. We've got a bunch of people who has already been there and done that. And as some claim, the greatest enemy of continued success is success indeed. It's very difficult to sustain that hunger.

Everyone was going through the motions wondering what's new until Finley came along. Helping a veteran win a ring, was certainly good motivation. Especially when he's such a nice bloke.

I thought that desire to help Finley win a ring, gave Spurs an extra edge this year. Everyone was battling for not only themselves, but also for their teammates who have yet to win anything. The fact that everyone was talking about it when we've won the le proves the point. Just seeing Finley break out into a smile full of joy and gra ude was worth all the trouble.

These, I feel, are the intangibles that Finley and some of the role players bring to the team. Not to mention that he and others have contributed significantly and practically to our ball game too.

Hope we'll repeat next year. ^_^ Go Spurs!

[41times]

just STFU with that crap. Finley got a ring with the Spurs. He was as much a part of the team as anyone else regardless of what the stats sheets say, but I wouldn't really expect the Mavs or their fans to understand that concept. By the way, San Antonio Spurs - 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 NBA Champions biatch!

Never said he did not earn it, never said he did not deserve it. I just correctly stated that it was Cheap and that could have been said about any player the Spurs signed during the off season who contributed at the level Finley did.

I would have said the same thing about Devean George had the Mavs won. Because the Mavs were in the Finals last year and he was not required to contribute a whole lot this year other than play a little defense and make a 3 pointer every now and then. Same thing.

and congrats on your 4 les. You deserved them. Now let's fix the playoff system so we can have 2 of the best 3 or 4 teams playing for the le from now on.

[word]

this is the crap i have to listen to on espn's dallas affiliate. the jennifer engel show has one of the hosts arguing that finley didn't earn a ring, he was given one by joining the right team. nevermind the guy was a starter, or helped closeout denver, or helped in the game 3 win in cleveland ... his ring was a cheap one, is what she's saying.

That has to be the worst sports analogy ever. The Melinda Gates of the Spurs ? WTF !!?

Finley is clearly the Kobe Bryant of the Spurs.

lol

[FromWayDowntown]

what i love is that at one point, she says a real contributor must average more than 8 ppg.

It's too bad that Bruce Bowen (6.5 ppg for the playoffs; never averaged 8.0 ppg in any series) didn't really contribute to the Spurs championship.

Bowen is such a hanger-on.

[ambchang]

No, it only applies to guys who get added to the team that is already Championship caliber like the Spurs were. So it applies to the Free Agents, your MLE's or LLE's. It can only apply to 1 or 2 guys and it only applies to them if they did not really contribute that much.

The Spurs were 1 stupid foul away in 2006 from 3 peating this year. So ya'll did not need Fin.

If you would have signed say Mike James and he played 30 minutes per game and averaged 15-20 points, like what Minnesota was hoping for, it would not apply.

But honestly, the Spurs would have won the championship with or without Finley and the fact that he picked the Spurs further proves the point. He could have played in 10 other cities, but he wanted to get a ring, get it.

What does it matter whether it's cheap or not, it's still a ring.

But why is that? By what standard? Yours? Finley earned the rings by relearning the whole Spurs system and was a significant contributor to the championship run. His brilliant play allowed Popovich to bring Manu off the bench to provide scoring when Duncan and Parker are on the bench. Without Finley, the Spurs would be in a much worse situation.

Mind you, the Spurs were 1 stupid foul call away last year to reach the WF last year (not repeat, and I never agreed with Spurs fans who said the Spurs would have won it last year if they advanced. They have a good chance, but they still had to go through the Suns and the Heat) WITH FINLEY IN THE LINEUP.

If you brought up Mike James and try to compare what Finley did with the Spurs, you have no idea how basketball works. Mike James is a terrible player, with no concept of team basketball, and literally killed every team he has ever been on. You think Bosh blossomed after James left was a coincidence? Think again, and watch the games, it could possibly help.

So if James averaged 15-20 points, it would always translate to a +ve effect?
First off, he averaged 10 ppg this year with the Wolves and Finley averaged 9 ppg, then he proceed to average 11.3 ppg in the playoffs, including 16 ppg in the 1st round against a very strong Denver team.
2nd, a ballhog who jacks up terrible shots outside the rhythm of the offense breaks down the whole idea of the Spurs offensive system.
3rd, James plays defense by passing lanes, he is a marginal and lazy defender, which would destroy the Spurs defensive system.
Finally, James would never get any minutes under Pop, and would struggle to average 1 ppg.

Finley wanted a ring, and picked a team that provides the best chances. Heat, Suns and Pistons were in the run for him, with the Heat being the frontrunners, but Finley chose the Spurs and contributed immensely to the success of the Spurs.

Saying that it was a cheap ring and saying Finley free-rode to it is belittling all the hard work he put in to earn his prize. It does matter undermining a man's integrity.

[rwb]

There are several players on the Spurs who didn't work for their rings, but Finley is not one of them. I couldn't be happier for the guy, and every one of the Spurs interviewed after the game felt the same. I'm sure Mike couldn't care less about what Jennifer Engel has to say--he's probably busy still hugging that game ball.

[ambchang]

what i love is that at one point, she says a real contributor must average more than 8 ppg. he co-host points out that fin average 12 ppg in the playoffs. she says that doesn't mean anything. man it was annoying.

Bowen is not a real contributor .....
Why would people sell their souls and get laughed at? Are they really that talentless that they have to act as pros utes of dignity to earn a living?

[ambchang]

Never said he did not earn it, never said he did not deserve it. I just correctly stated that it was Cheap and that could have been said about any player the Spurs signed during the off season who contributed at the level Finley did.

I would have said the same thing about Devean George had the Mavs won. Because the Mavs were in the Finals last year and he was not required to contribute a whole lot this year other than play a little defense and make a 3 pointer every now and then. Same thing.

and congrats on your 4 les. You deserved them. Now let's fix the playoff system so we can have 2 of the best 3 or 4 teams playing for the le from now on.

Who would the Spurs have signed in the off season that could give what Finley gave 2 seasons ago? Or even last summer, never mind that players usually take 1+ seasons to adapt to the Spurs system.

[Avitus1]

They are just crying because Finley got a ring before Dirk.

[Obstructed_View]

I know Maverick fans don't actually know anything about basketball, but you'd think they would have at least remembered who the champions were last year.

If Finley is no factor to his team whatsoever, he would have won a ring this year with the Spurs or he would have won a ring last year with Miami. Those were the only teams he was going to go to, and both of them won.