Grizz were just better

[TJastal]

So evidently the Grizz are the most deep, rugged and talented team in the league. It's hilarious bc I was one of only a few vocal posters about how tough the Grizz were for the Spurs and now the same people who scoffed are trying to do a complete 180 over reaction.

Just laugh at the absurdity of some of the posters. That's what I do. It's really good entertainment, DPG.

[DPG21920]

You've been saying all year how the Spurs are overachieving and they had problems and now all of a sudden its a choke. They just weren't that good. They didn't have a player in the series the caliber of Zach Randolph and Gasol was Duncan's equal. Their defense was far better and the truth is they were the better team - not by much - but they were the better team.

Just because the Spurs over achieved and anyone with a logical brain saw they had serious problems with regards to a le run doesn't make the Memphis Grizzlies better than them. They are not mutually exclusive opinions.

I am not disagreeing that Zbo was the best player in the series and that Marc washed out Tim. That all happened. It doesn't change the fact it shouldn't have happened. The Spurs lost to an inferior team who executed very well. The Spurs choked. End of story. It sucks.

Lets put it this way:

1) Did Memphis play about as well as they could?

2) Did the Spurs?

3) If the Spurs played about as well as they could, or even just their normal level, do they win?

If DPG really wants to talk about which team is more "talented", then let's start talking about OJ Mayo's raw basketball talent. He might be the most talented player on either bench but doesn't have the brain to put it all together. Let's talk about Rudy Gay's talent that was wrapped up in an arm sling.

If it makes you feel better to say the Spurs are more "talented", then so be it. But keep in mind that's not the reality of a team that just lost 4-2.

What a terribly ty argument. Am I talking about "raw" talent, or proven, championship talent vs a team that never won a game? Am I talking about "perceived upside" or am I talking about a 1 seed vs an 8 seed?

It doesn't make me feel better to say they are more talented. It makes me feel worse. However, laying the "they were just better" makes you feel better because you don't have to acknowledge the truth; the Spurs lost to an clearly inferior team that they shouldn't have lost to.

[mexicanjunior]

...and thanks for nothing Pop.

[DPG21920]

Convinced DPG just likes to be contrarian at this point.

Yeah, because I am always like that and I am making illogical points.

[jag]

Convinced DPG just likes to be contrarian at this point.

He gets emotional after loses and doesn't think straight for a few days.

[DPG21920]

Jag, you are being a dip . Not because of your opinion, but because you throw that around like it's funny.

[TJastal]

You've been saying all year how the Spurs are overachieving and they had problems and now all of a sudden its a choke. They just weren't that good. They didn't have a player in the series the caliber of Zach Randolph and Gasol was Duncan's equal. Their defense was far better and the truth is they were the better team - not by much - but they were the better team.

When you continually use Matt Bonner as your frontline, anybody would look like Duncan's equal.

[Budkin]

We all knew this was coming in the playoffs, just not in round one. It was a fun season while it lasted.

[jag]

What a terribly ty argument. Am I talking about "raw" talent, or proven, championship talent vs a team that never won a game? Am I talking about "perceived upside" or am I talking about a 1 seed vs an 8 seed?

It doesn't make me feel better to say they are more talented. It makes me feel worse. However, laying the "they were just better" makes you feel better because you don't have to acknowledge the truth; the Spurs lost to an clearly inferior team that they shouldn't have lost to.

Actual knowledge of the truth? Better teams win 7-game series. Better teams dominate inferior teams to the tune of 4-2. You're arguing that the Spurs have talent that didn't manifest because of "x" reason. What you are purposefully ignoring is that the Grizzlies suppressed the Spurs' strengths. That's what good teams do. That's how the Spurs won les.

The Spurs had 6 chances to let all their talent shine. Arguing that your team is still more talented, is the argument of losers. It's all losers have left to cling to. It's obvious you cant accept the quantifiable. So i guess you can spend your time arguing the qualifiable with Suns fan.

[Andrew Cunanan]

The better team always wins in a 7-game series.

[DPG21920]

The Spurs choked. That is what a choke is. It's having the talent and losing to a lesser team.

Are there such things as a choke? Or does the better team always win?

[michaelwcho]

Notice that according to WoW, Memphis appeared to be the stronger team.

San Antonio vs. Memphis

Injuries have clearly hurt the Spurs (pun intended). Since the All-Star break the Spurs differential is 2.8. And the Grizzlies mark is 4.3 since the break (a mark achieved primarily without Rudy Gay). So this suggests the Grizzlies – a team that has never won an NBA playoff game – might defeat the number one seed in the Western Conference. Although I am tempted to make such a pick, I am going to guess that Manu Ginobili will eventually be healthy enough to make a contribution. So my pick is…

San Antonio (4-2)

He also commented on the RJ trade that he wouldn't help the team:

But across the past three seasons, Jefferson has generally been below average with respect to everything not associated with scoring. And when we look at scoring, we see a player that is only slightly above average.



http://dberri.wordpress.com/2011/04/...kdown-in-2011/
http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/06/...ore-the-draft/

[jag]

Jag, you are being a dip . Not because of your opinion, but because you throw that around like it's funny.

Ok, ok.. I take it back

[DPG21920]

at quantifiable. Am I denying the Grizz won the series?

Did the Spurs play their best or any where close to it? If they did, would they have won?

[jag]

at quantifiable. Am I denying the Grizz won the series?

Did the Spurs play their best or any where close to it? If they did, would they have won?

The Grizz wouldn't be the better team if they allowed San Antonio to run all over the court playing their "best." It's not what good teams do.

[200 miles]

When you continually use Matt Bonner as your frontline, anybody would look like Duncan's equal.

[jag]

Bruce Bowen's job was to follow Kobe around and prevent him from playing his best. It's what good defenders do.

[DPG21920]

I see what you are saying, and that is where MEM gets credit, but it wasn't all on them. The Spurs could have quite easily done things better that MEM couldn't control. The Spurs hurt themselves every bit as much as MEM did.

I am not saying the Spurs weren't mentally weak and that the Grizz did not deserve to win. I am saying, that despite how well MEM played and despite all the things they took away from the Spurs, the Spurs shot themselves in the foot numerous times and could have (which I know didn't happen) and most importantly SHOULD have won.

Spurs just flat out choked and couldn't survive it because of how well MEM played.

[jag]

I see what you are saying, and that is where MEM gets credit, but it wasn't all on them. The Spurs could have quite easily done things better that MEM couldn't control. The Spurs hurt themselves every bit as much as MEM did.

I am not saying the Spurs weren't mentally weak and that the Grizz did not deserve to win. I am saying, that despite how well MEM played and despite all the things they took away from the Spurs, the Spurs shot themselves in the foot numerous times and could have (which I know didn't happen) and most importantly SHOULD have won.

Spurs just flat out choked and couldn't survive it because of how well MEM played.

The Spurs no longer have the players to match teams like Memphis. Memphis took away their strengths and were able to show more talent. Because of that they were the better team.

The Spurs made some stupid plays and had costly turnovers throughout the series, and if you continue to do that in a 7-game series you will eventually lose. They were a lesser team in many areas. Not many people here think they choked. All their supposed, potential talent means nothing.

[DPG21920]

MEM was the better team for the series, they weren't the better team and this arguing isn't changing anyone's mind. Spurs played like and it wasn't just MEM.

[DPG21920]

The only person I care about said the same thing. Tim Duncan. He pretty much flat out said credit to MEM, but we didn't get it done. He very simply implied they lost to an inferior team. Watch his post game.

[ploto]

... Credit to MEM, but we didn't get it done. He very simply implied they lost to an inferior team.

I think that is a dangerous mindset. It makes the team think they are constructed fine as they are- which was a problem going into this season already.

[Master splitter]

Grizz played the old spurs, pop kept the young players out but it was too little too late. The momentum was on their side. Thanks pop for helping them win

[DPG21920]

Not really. I think it shows that they have serious problems if they can allow for that to happen.

[Budkin]

The whole thing just sucks... I can't believe we got punked by a bunch of tanking talkers.