Just John

Winamp.

Quite a few teams are one KG or AI away from being championship contenders. If the Clippers make the Garnett trade I proposed for them in some other thread, they are contenders. Amare is not going to hurt the Suns. They might tweak their style, but they'll still be very good.

Sounds like a good show. I loved the first Rey/Finlay match, so I'm looking forward to the main event re-match. Don't know why we need another Henry squash or bikini contest, but whatever. I'm looking forward to Kennedy's return.

At least this time SD lost someone who brought nothing to the table.

The Hawks and Raptors have about the same level of credibility. Even if VC wanted to play, Zo going there wouldn't have made that team contend for a championship in any capacity. Payton and Zo's antics were pretty much the same, so I don't see how you can rip one, and dismiss the other.

Didn't Payton no-show the Hawks, thereby ripping them off in a trade with Boston similar to what Zo did with the Raptors?

I thought Kenzo Suzuki's finisher was cool.

I'd say there's a good chance because the Mavs really have no answer for Shaq. I think a little issue that might be of some importance now is that Mbenga guy still having 5 games left on a suspension for going into the stands last series. Sure, he hasn't seen much playing time, but I bet they'd like to have his 6 fouls to throw at Shaq to give Dampier and Diop a break. I like the Mavs' depth, balance, and home court, but if Shaq and Zo can cut off the lane from Dirk, it could be a long series for the Mavs (possibly ending in defeat).

I have to give props to the Mavs D. They really are all that. I wasn't sure they improved enough to stop the Suns, but sure enough they did. Nash and Marion have done relatively nothing in this game. American Airlines series anyone?

The Suns have come to a screeching hault in this one. They need to pick up the pace very soon. And Dick Bavetta should never be allowed to ref an NBA game again.

This game has been hard to watch with all the foul calls. When did the refs get so strict?

I don't know how much of the Pistons defensive problems are because of Flip. I doubt he tells them "Don't play any D, we'll just win at the other end." And the D was still good most of the season. It only started to look bad against Miami because Ben Wallace saw less playing time, due to the need for more scoring. I think the Pistons need to look at what they're putting on the floor before changing coaches again. They ended up in the same postion with Flip that they've been in the last few years under Brown and Carlisle, close but no cigar (minus 04). I'll support a Detroit coaching change next year if they show substantial dropoff from this year. You don't need to replace a coach that got you to the conference finals.

And I wouldn't blame them. Even with a bad rep, a coach doesn't deserve to be fired for his stars not hitting open shots. After all, if the looks are good, then coach is doing all he can. He can't hit the lay-ups and open 3's himself.

Incorrect. The real Pistons DID show up. It's just that the real Pistons this year were arrogant and thought they could underachieve their way through the playoffs against "lesser" teams. The real Pistons are also poor offensively and that definitely showed tonight. I do feel a little bad for Flip, myself. I know he's not the greatest coach or anything, but he's gonna get a ton of shit that he doesn't deserve this go-around. The fact is, the guys on the court let him down. Flip's not the one missing open lay-ups, air-balling FT's, or shooting 30% from the floor. Somewhere along the way, the players need to take some responsibility for the failure. At least now, I'll be happy with whoever wins the Finals. I don't really want Payton or Cuban getting titles, but on the positive side, either Wade, Nash, or Dirk will get one. My desire for those 3 having success outweighs me wanting to see the others fail.

With the mass exodus of stars from SD, I think a ME "King's Court" heel stable with Booker, Regal, and Finlay would be awesome. Just have Regal and Finlay help Booker cheat to win the World title, then have Rey and Lashley act as the face foils. Angle/Rey is now officially the new front-runner for TV MOTY. Great SD overall. I don't know how they keep doing it.

Actually, the NWO-era shows without a Hogan title defense tended to be better overall. Fall Brawl 96 Starrcade 96 (had a Hogan singles match vs. Piper, but was non-title) Uncensored 97 Slamboree 97 BATB 97 Fall Brawl 97 Halloween Havoc 97 (Same ME situation as Starrcade 96) Souled Out 98 These were all good-excellent shows without a World title defense. Compare that to: Hog Wild 96 Souled Out 97 Superbrawl 97 (Same ME situation as Starrcade 96) Road Wild 97 Starrcade 97 Those shows all had World title defenses but were average-fucking terrible in quality. To be fair WW3 96 and Spring Stampede 97 didn't have a defense and were bad shows overall. Once the Goldberg reign hit, WCW shows were pretty much down the shitter for good, so a title defense wouldn't have done much either way.

I'm pretty sure Flair interfered in that one. Lesnar d. UT (No Mercy 02) Angle d. Hogan (KOTR 02) And let's not forget Rey's recent series of clean losses to heels.

To be fair, I'm glad they didn't go anywhere with the "Main Event Sleeper." I don't think he used the Indian Deathlock as a finisher, just as a weardown move when working someone's leg. WWE would never allow it, but he could try a safer version of the Pedigree '97 (or whatever year he dropped that jobber on his head)... Sort of a double-underhook tombstone.

I think it's only fitting for Phoenix to play a 3rd Game 7. It'd also be fitting of this post-season for the ECF to go to Game 7, too. Although, I really hope Miami puts it away tonight.

Edge should use the Impaler DDT as his super finisher. Cena could at least use the sit down FU variation where his opponent lands in the MD2 position. Booker T should bring back the Book-end or Harlem Hangover for his super finisher.

Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon at KOTR 2001 is vastly overrated.

Wouldn't removing Booker T from the front defeat the purpose of it being a WRESTLING shirt? I don't know why WWE would try to appeal to closet fans.

Another one: Chavo Guerrero sucks. The only reason he's had a job with WWE for the last 2 years is because of his last name.

I think it would be cool if WWE guys used the Japanese style of finishing moves. Guys kick out of finishers so much nowadays, that it'd be nice to have moves you know will end it if they hit. Guys can have their basic finisher, and their super finisher.

Spoiler courtesy, please. We don't all read them, for god sake.