Guest nikowwf Report post Posted May 30, 2003 I thought Parker had a so-so series. He completely let Nash and Van Exel set the tempo in the last series. He took way too many shots too. (When Parker is dribbling for 10 seconds, then taking a shot something is wrong). I thought the way he played in the Laker series, controlling the tempo, shooting when open, and making sure Duncan got the ball all the time was just fantastic. Parker has to play within himself. If he pushes the ball too much and lets the Net set the tempo, and gets into a personal contest against Kidd (which he will lose), the Nets have a good chance. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted May 30, 2003 Unless Kidd loses the use of his right arm like Marbury did, he will eat Parker alive. Nets don't have a big scorer...Good thing it is a team game or they would be in trouble. The Nets don't have a guy that will consistantly put up 30, but they have about 9 guys that can consistantly get you 15 each. Really, be honest. The only thing you guys watched was the West coast playoffs didn't you. This team is alot better than people are giving them credit for. Great teams always have the one superstar player who's capable of putting the team on his back and winning the game almost single handedly. Jordan did it, Shaq did it, Thomas did it, Olajuwon did it.Tim Duncan did it in '99 and he can do it again. While basketball is a team sport, having a real go to guy and scorer should not be overlooked. New Jersey might have 9 guys who can score 15, but realistically the Spurs have about 6 or 7 guys who can do the same thing. Defense is also a factor. The Spurs are the best defensive team in the NBA. The Nets might have 9 guys who can score 15, but the Spurs defense won't let it happen. In the end Tim Duncan wil be the difference maker. Other players on the Spurs need to step up, especially Parker but in the end it's usually the teams best player who wins the Championship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest notJames Report post Posted May 30, 2003 Nets in 7. Or Spurs in 7. Either way, I think we basketball fans deserve a barnburner of a series. May the best team win. (Go Nets!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted May 30, 2003 I think the Spurs supporting cast is way overrated. Parker WILL be great someday, Ginobli is very solid, and Jackson can be good but is a bit of a headcase. These are good subs, not championship stalwarts. If the Spurs win, it will be on the very capable shoulders of Mr. Duncan. I think this whole series is about tempo. If the Spurs are patient, and walk the ball up, hit open shots and run their offense the nets should not be able to compete. However, in the Dallas series at times, they totally let Dallas set the tempo, and until Game 6 didn't make them pay for that zone with open shots. If they let the Nets get them into an up and down game, it negates their defensive advantage. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted May 30, 2003 I would not mind a solid, long and even series. I think the playoffs for both the NBA and the NHL has been very entertaining and hopefully this series will surpass the lack of hype that has been surrounding it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bricks Report post Posted May 31, 2003 My mindset: West = Strong. East = Not so strong. So... Spurs in 4. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted May 31, 2003 ok, since all of a sudden, the nets look "strong" lets look at who they beat.... the milwaukee bucks... a team that has only played together for half a year with an aging point gaurd and a lack of depth. the celtics... a team that has one great fundamental player who did ALL the work (paul pierce) and a primadonna who stands 30 feet out hoisting up bricks who beat an indiana team who was self-destructing before our very eyes. the detroit pistons... a very hurt and tired team that has not been able to generate any offense all year who came off a grueling and very physical series with the 76ers. plus, billups was damaged goods by the time this series got off and ben wallace could not plug the middle by himself. IF any team 1-6 in the west faced hese three teams, we would be talking about a 12 game winning streak for the suns or lakers or t-wolves or any other western power. the nets deserve to be in the finals but they weren't facing a team tied with the best record n the league (mavs, although nowitzki being hurt kept the series from going 7), the current world champs (lakers) and pheonix suns (with the rookie of the year and superstars marbury and marion). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crazy Dan Report post Posted May 31, 2003 I think this will be a tougher series for the Spurs. I like the experience of the Nets. I also love Kidd, who is the best point gaurd in the league. I think the match up of K-Mart and Duncan will be entertaining. While he might not be the biggest Power forward, K-mart is definately one of the quickest and athletic. I also see the Spurs blowing at least one or two games. With that, I think the Spurs win this one in six. But if they let the Nets back into the series like they did with Suns, Lakers, and Mavs, then New Jersey will beat them. The Spurs do not look like a steam roller. New Jersey is also peaking at the right time. They are the most dominating team in the East. The Spurs, while at times have looked good, other times they look lost out there. What if Duncan's team mates pull the same crap they did in Game 5, where every one was scarred to shoot? The Nets also have proven they can mix up playing styles, and they play a zone defense that might drive the Spurs crazy. I just hope this is a good series. I also love watching dog fights. The "smart pick" is San Antonio, but my heart is saying upset. Go Kidd, representing the Bay Area once again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted May 31, 2003 All this crap about look at who the Nets beat is crap. I don't care who it is. It is extremely difficult to sweep ANY NBA team in the playoffs. To do it two rounds back to back is amazing. To say the Suns or T-Wolves would've done the same thing is lame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted May 31, 2003 I'm also an optimist and a HUGE Nets fan- They're on a roll right now and I think they can get it done. K-Mart has to have the series of his life. Nets in 7 b/c I'm a Nets fan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted May 31, 2003 It all comes down to FTs in my mind. Can the Spurs make them down the stretch? They haven't been able to so far. New Jersey doesn't have as many offensive weapons as Dallas, but the Mavs defense doesn't compare to the Nets. If the Spurs can get Martin in foul trouble that will help them out a ton (obviously). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted June 1, 2003 I must note that New Jersey choked a few up at the line too, especially in the first series with the Bucks. Neither are great from the line frankly. Spurs are worse but the Nets are shakey too. Still gonna have to say Spurs in 5 or 6. Martin is a hell of a talent but he hasn't reached his full potential yet and all the ahtleticism in the world isn't gonna save him against a machine like Duncan. Best strategy is to go with the Suns/Mavs route of just collapsing in on Duncan and hoping people miss their jumpers. Unless Kerr is in the game, then just hope Duncan misses. On that note, why the hell doesn't Kerr play more? The game against Dallas was hardly a fluke, I mean he is the most accurate 3 point shooter of all time. It'd relieve a lot of pressure on Duncan just based on reputation alone, he wouldn't even have to make any to start, most teams would be to afraid to leave him. But this is an old Bulls fan rambling, ignore him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 1, 2003 Why does the NBA wait until Wednesday to start the finals? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted June 1, 2003 Why does the NBA wait until Wednesday to start the finals? Stern addressed that on the post-game show after the Spurs/Mavs game on Thursday. He said it's so the international press can arrive to cover the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 1, 2003 It takes a week for those people to show up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 1, 2003 When was the last time the Nets played? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted June 1, 2003 When was the last time the Nets played? By the time the finals start the Nets wouldn't have played a game in 12 days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted June 1, 2003 On that note, why the hell doesn't Kerr play more? The game against Dallas was hardly a fluke, I mean he is the most accurate 3 point shooter of all time. It'd relieve a lot of pressure on Duncan just based on reputation alone, he wouldn't even have to make any to start, most teams would be to afraid to leave him. But this is an old Bulls fan rambling, ignore him. The Spurs are so deep at the guard position that he was an after thought. It was not until Parker was so sick to play and the fact that some of the young players began shooting bricks that Steve Kerr got off the bench. The Spurs were losing by a large margin, so the questionable Coach of the Year let the veteran get some game time. Popavich just got lucky otherwise the headlines would be SPURS BLOW LEAD again, instead of Steve Kerr veteran who has the best record for 3 pointer pecentage wins the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted June 2, 2003 On that note, why the hell doesn't Kerr play more? The game against Dallas was hardly a fluke, I mean he is the most accurate 3 point shooter of all time. It'd relieve a lot of pressure on Duncan just based on reputation alone, he wouldn't even have to make any to start, most teams would be to afraid to leave him. But this is an old Bulls fan rambling, ignore him. The Spurs are so deep at the guard position that he was an after thought. It was not until Parker was so sick to play and the fact that some of the young players began shooting bricks that Steve Kerr got off the bench. The Spurs were losing by a large margin, so the questionable Coach of the Year let the veteran get some game time. Popavich just got lucky otherwise the headlines would be SPURS BLOW LEAD again, instead of Steve Kerr veteran who has the best record for 3 pointer pecentage wins the game. I can understand playing Parker over him but outside of some good hustle, Speedy Claxton doesn't give you anything. No shot and no penetrating abilities. Give Kerr 15 a game or so, couldn't hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted June 2, 2003 To say the Nets didn't beat anybody is ridiculous. Thats like saying that because Marbury was hurt in the first round, Fox and George and Shaq hobbled in the second round, and Nowinski and Bradly hurt in the west finals, that the Spurs had a easy road through to the Finals. Both teams played great teams to get there and I think it will be a hell of a series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted June 2, 2003 Are the playoffs over? What is up with this 2nd off-season? I think the NBA is trying to avoid the NHL playoffs being shown on the same network and possibly avoid the Nets and Devils from playing at the same time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 2, 2003 The NBA could of started the finals Sunday. The NHL wasn't playing yesterday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted June 2, 2003 Why in the world would the NBA try to avoid the NHL? The NHL's ratings are barely higher than a test pattern. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted June 2, 2003 Why in the world would the NBA try to avoid the NHL? The NHL's ratings are barely higher than a test pattern. The only thing that I can think of is the fact that ABC is televising both series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted June 2, 2003 I think it's exactly what Stern said it is. The Finals have become a big deal all over the world. Media and fans all over the world have to set up travel plans and all that and they have to do it without having any idea where they're going for a while. NHL plays every other night, NBA plays every other night. I don't think they care about it. It's just the logistics of getting everything ready to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 2, 2003 I kinda like the week wait and the build up... It's kinda like the superbowl... I mean last year they started two days later and the hype never built up... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted June 3, 2003 I actually kinda do like the aniticipation being built up for the finals, maybe a bit too long but better than last year, which was essentially the NBA saying "Lets get this massacre over with" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Tino Standard Report post Posted June 3, 2003 I kinda like the week wait and the build up... It's kinda like the superbowl... I mean last year they started two days later and the hype never built up... ... because everybody and their dog knew that the Nets' chances against LA were slim to none, with Slim walking out of town. All the hype in the world wouldn't have saved that series. Last year's playoffs were great right up until the Finals. You had a great Eastern bracket and a great Western bracket, with the only problem being that those two brackets were on completely different quality levels. I think the playoffs this year have been pretty good, tho not as much fun as last year. On the bright side, you get a Finals series with a little bit more intrigue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620 Report post Posted June 4, 2003 Tomorrow night baby! I really think that the Nets have a chance. And I'm not just saying that because I hate the Spurs. I am making an educated statement when I say they have a chance. It'll go the seven games. I'm really looking forward to the finals even though the Lakers aren't in it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted June 4, 2003 I think the games will be more competitive than Spurs advocates think, but in the end there is no answer for Duncan on the Nets end (Kenyon is good, but he's not playing MVP type ball, Duncan is) and the Spurs can stop people, plain and simple. The only thing that'll stop the Spurs is themselves with dry spells from the free throw line and the field. This is the Spurs series to lose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
