Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2005 If Don Nelson hadn't retired, this series would be over now, as Don is famous for not actually adjusting, just throwing weird lineups out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2005 I'm baffled as to why everyone thinks the Heat will just roll over for the Pistons. I mean the Pistons are struggling some with the Pacers, who are on fumes right now. If they get ANY sort of performance from Shaq in this series it should be 5-6 games max. The Pistons were a flukish champ last year, no way are they repeating. Besides, Detroit vs. San Antonio in the Finals is like a death sentence for ABC and to my interest in the playoffs. I want to see teams who can actually SCORE. Shooting the basketball, putting it through the hoop. If you watch these Pacers/Pistons games this is a foreign concept. Watch the Suns/Mavs and you see actual skill being displayed, rather than just bone and club gooning to a dreary 79-74 finish. I suppose you could say Suns/Mavs is finesse ball while the Pistons/Pacers are man's games, but these epics to come next year in the Big East with Pitt vs. Cincy will be manly games too...they'll still suck horribly, but they'll put hair on your chest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2005 Detroit and San Antonio would be one of the best finals ever. Their games were entertaining also. the sluggish pace is more of a product of the two teams (Pistons and Pacers) specifically imo. Every time detroit has played the other elite teams like miami, San Antonio and Phoenix, the games have been fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest news_gimmick Report post Posted May 19, 2005 I'd like to see any other combination in the finals except for Detroit / San Antonio. I can understand their fans not caring who they face, but it just does not appeal to me and many others who aren't fans of these teams. San Antonio / Miami finals would be a good matchup I think, and I enjoyed the Phoenix / Detroit matchups I saw in the regular season as well. I just want to see a good mixture of offense and defense instead of nothing but defense and little offense in my basketball games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2005 The Pistons were a flukish champ last year, no way are they repeating. Besides, Detroit vs. San Antonio in the Finals is like a death sentence for ABC and to my interest in the playoffs. I want to see teams who can actually SCORE. Shooting the basketball, putting it through the hoop. If you watch these Pacers/Pistons games this is a foreign concept. Well, if you consider the Pistons beating the defending two time conference champions, the team with the best record in the NBA, and a team with 4 future Hall of Fame players and proven clutch playoff role players, a fluke. Then they were a fluke. Like others have said, when you get two defensive minded teams like the Pistons and Pacers together, its going to be a half court defensive battle, which is sometimes just as entertaining as those 120-118 games where no one plays any defense at all. The Pistons have played some great games with San Antonio, Dallas, and Phoenix this year, with the scores in the high 90s. As for the Heat, who in the hell have they played in this playoffs. The Nets and that great inside presence, Nenad Kristic. The Wizards, who just let Dwayne Wade roll over them. Miami hasn't seen a team so far that can defend at all 5 positions. The key to this series will be if Damon Jones, Dooling, Haslem, etc can get off. Because if they don't, the Pistons will say hey Shaq take your 25 points and concentrate on shutting down Dwayne Wade. Pistons in 6 or 7 if they can finish off the Pacers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted May 19, 2005 Erm, actually the Lakers had far from the best record in the NBA. They didn't even have the best record in the West; they were the #4 seed (Behind Minnesota, San Antonio, and Sacramento). Best record in the NBA last season was the Pacers. That doesn't diminish Detroit's accomplishment last year any less, though. The Lakers got to the Finals, and with Malone/Payton/Bryant/O'Neal, anything less than a championship would have been a disappointment, and the Pistons finished them off in 5. That's a very impressive way to come out and win. I doubt Shaq will even average over 20 points a game with the injuries he's having. Hmmm. Getting past his prime, anyone? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheech Tremendous 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2005 Erm, actually the Lakers had far from the best record in the NBA. They didn't even have the best record in the West; they were the #4 seed (Behind Minnesota, San Antonio, and Sacramento). Best record in the NBA last season was the Pacers. That doesn't diminish Detroit's accomplishment last year any less, though. The Lakers got to the Finals, and with Malone/Payton/Bryant/O'Neal, anything less than a championship would have been a disappointment, and the Pistons finished them off in 5. That's a very impressive way to come out and win. I doubt Shaq will even average over 20 points a game with the injuries he's having. Hmmm. Getting past his prime, anyone? I believe he was saying that the Pistons beat a two-time conference champ (Nets), team with best record (Pacers) and a team with 4 Hall of Famers (Lakers). That's a nice run I would say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted May 19, 2005 Oh yes, I misread that. Yeah, good point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 WOW. I dislike Reggie Miller a TON but even I was a little choked up during that goodbye. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt Angle Mark 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 WOW. I dislike Reggie Miller a TON but even I was a little choked up during that goodbye. Since Reggie Miller is my favorite player ever I couldn't hold back the tears Thanks Reggie for all the great moments especially against the Knicks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJordan23 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 LOL @ Ben Wallace pushing Reggie's last shot back and ending the Pacer's season twice. Reggie's career is over like Mike, pick one: Tyson, Jordan, Jackson... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 well, congrats on a great career, Reggie. that was quite a moment. that said, i'm just as glad the series is over and we can finally get to Miami vs Detroit, which i've only been waiting the whole playoffs for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 I can't wait for SC tomorrow: "who would believe that after this happened" *cue highlight of Artest running into the crowd* "...that these two teams could stand together and show this respect?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 ...what the FUCK was that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 Spurs advance with a 98-96 win. Good to see Duncan putting the Sonics over in the post-game interview, these guys got no respect...hell, most people were picking the Kings to beat them. No one expected them to do this well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt Angle Mark 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 Spurs advance with a 98-96 win. Good to see Duncan putting the Sonics over in the post-game interview, these guys got no respect...hell, most people were picking the Kings to beat them. No one expected them to do this well. Great Game and series This was an odd series for me to watch because I always root for the Spurs to win the West but this year I was backing up the Sonics. I just love the way the Sonics play. I felt that a Suns against a healthy Sonics team would have been something else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 people were picking the Kings to beat the Sonics??? THE KINGS!?!? Oy. two of my predictions (Pistons and Spurs in 6) came true today, but I was ONE Wizards win away from going 3 for 3 (couldn't even win one measly game *shakes head* ). my predic for dall/phe was phoenix in 7. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted May 20, 2005 Awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 I got the SA-Sea series right; if Phoenix wins tomorrow I'll have that one right too. I said Mia-Was was "no more than 5", so I don't know if I can give myself that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. S£im Citrus 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 Spurs advance with a 98-96 win. Good to see Duncan putting the Sonics over in the post-game interview, these guys got no respect...hell, most people were picking the Kings to beat them. No one expected them to do this well. Who the hell have you been talking to? Kings Fans didn't even think that we would beat Seattle; I mean, most people felt that the Sonics were the team that we had the best chance to beat, but that doesn't mean that we actually thought we could win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 I skimmed through the original playoff thread, and it appears more people picked Seattle than I had remembered. Doesn't change the point I was trying to make, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2005 Seattle has still been dogged for the playoffs and throughout the year as not being legit. You get a healthy Rashard Lewis and Vladimir, you are talking a extra 36 points a game. Hell, Ray Allen missed pretty much all of game one. Injuries just were too much for Seattle. Too bad because the team will look nothing like this next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest news_gimmick Report post Posted May 20, 2005 That really is a shame too, I hate when a team like Seattle disbands when they have great potential to expand upon this season. I've always felt great teams stick together year after year, and don't change too much with exception to fringe players. San Antonio is a great example of this, their team isn't too much different with exception to role players here and there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 Steve Nash shows his MVP instinct, deciding not to call a timeout and instead take it coast to coast and hit a three for the tie to send the game into overtime. When did Canadians get so good at this game?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Just John 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 Why was anyone arguing against Nash getting the MVP again? He is carrying Phoenix. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 Steve Nash shows his MVP instinct, deciding not to call a timeout and instead take it coast to coast and hit a three for the tie to send the game into overtime. When did Canadians get so good at this game?! Isnt Mr. Vanessa Williams also Canadian? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 We don't count him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 But he has rings... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest news_gimmick Report post Posted May 21, 2005 DAMN what a game this had been, I love it! Nash is doing it all out there right now, willing the Suns into overtime. Theres still a few minutes left for a Mavs comeback, but Phoenix is doing all they can to end this series tonight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2005 But he has rings... All Canadians think is Rick Who? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
