NBA Western Conference Finals

[alfdogg 0]

Game 1 is Sunday on ABC at 3 PM ET.

 

Discuss.

[Just John 0]

Should be a good series with a wide variety in final scores. I can see some games finishing in the 80's or low 90's while others get into the 120's.

 

The winner will be decided by who can establish their pace more effectively. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if Phoenix won a defensive battle and/or San Antonio won a shootout along the way.

 

I must say, the conference finals are the most interesting they've been in years.

[razazteca 0]

The series will be just like the previous round with games going to either be blowouts in the 100's or last second game winning shots. I can't wait to see the match up of Ginobili guarding Nash and Nazr up against Amare. I don't see much production out of RASHO unless Duncan's injuries are as bad as Shaq's problems but you never know maybe RASHO grows a spine and decides to shoot the ball. The Spurs are going to need guards Barry and Udrih to step up and get big time minutes since I predict the pace of the game will be nothing but fastbreaks. Or the Spurs could go big with Ginobili, Barry, Duncan, Muhammond, Horry on the court to dominate the paint and shoot 3's all day if needed.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I'm willing to bet that the conference finals will be infinitely more entertaining than the NBA Finals, unless we get Suns-Pistons.

 

I hope, pray, and think the Suns take this series within 6.

 

By the way, it'd probably be Parker guarding Nash, Ginobli on Marion, and Duncan/random big man on Stoudamire. That doesn't favor the Spurs. But having Brent Barry, Robert Horry, and etc. off the bench and in the lineup will.

[cabbageboy 0]

I know the Suns bench is thin but I haven't really seen this hurt them to any degree. If you have guys that are in shape they outta be able to go. Deep down I think the Spurs are probably the better team overall, but I hope the Suns win this series. They've always been one of my favorite teams since the Barkley/Majerle days.

 

Suns vs. Heat in the Finals....a nice warm weather vibe to it, don't you think?

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Spurs in 6. 7 if Duncan can't go. 5 if Johnson can't go.

[razazteca 0]

Bruce Bowen will defend Marion? It has been predestined to be Spurs vs Pistons in the Finals. Its what it should of been last year.

[The Electrifyer 0]

It is wierd how game 1 of the West finals is going to be on earlier than game 1 of the East finals, despite Phoenix being the last team to advance.

 

Anyhow, I think the main problem with Phoenix's lack of depth was almost exploited in game 6. They had Joe Johnson already injured, so Jim Jackson filled in the void to the best of his abilities. Outisde of JJ though, when the game went into the final minutes, their starters got into foul trouble. Amare fouled out, Jackson fouled out and Nash, Richardson and Marion were all in pretty deep foul trouble. If these keeps up in the final moments of a Spurs game, then Walter McCarty, Leonardo Barbosa or Steven Hunter might not be able to do it for them.

[razazteca 0]

I don't know maybe McCarty can summon the spirit of Dan Majerle and shoot half court 3 pointers.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Bruce Bowen will defend Marion? It has been predestined to be Spurs vs Pistons in the Finals. Its what it should of been last year.

Oh man don't tell me you're STILL bitter about 0.4

 

Get over it already, will ya? You still had two more chances to win.

[razazteca 0]

I was having flashbacks when the Sonics had the ball with 0.5 seconds...besides the local media is not over it either so.

 

0.4 will live on forever just like YOU SCREWED BRET!

[Guest Vitamin X]

Just be happy your team still made the playoffs and mine got completely dismantled in the offseason, with another turbulent one coming up soon.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Phoenix in Phive.

[razazteca 0]

Charles Barkley, 90's All Japan wrestling fan.

[Damaramu 0]

Charles is a bad man.

 

Anyways I know personally I'd love to see the Spurs and Pistons play. Just because I love the Pistons starting 5 and the Spurs are nothing but hard workers. The defensive battle would be crazy and low scoring at times but I think they can pick the tempo up.

 

I think the problem the Suns run into with the Spurs is not being able to run as much as they want to. I think the Spurs may trap them in the half court more than they'd like. But Nash can create his own shots so who knows.

We know Ginobli will take it to the hoop and if he gets the Suns into foul trouble they could be fucked with nobody to plug in.

 

What is Joe Johnsons status?

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

They are hoping Johnson will be ready to go in this one. I have my doubts.

[Cuban Linx 0]

While Johnson's apparently been cleared to return i'd expect Phoenix to play it cautious and not rush him back until Game 2 or 3 of the WCF, and give Jim Jackson the majority of his minutes until it's certain he's 100%. Though with Phoenix's lack of depth if they fall down a game or two they might not have a choice but to stick him out there for 30+ minutes sooner than they might want.

 

As for the series, i half hope/half expect Phoenix to win, but this is probably the series i'm least confident in predicting. Both were obviously the best teams in the best conference and either could go all the way and win the NBA title. 7 games regardless of the winner.

[Adam 0]

I really would love to see the Suns go all the way this year, just because no one expected it, and I love watching them play. I think the Spurs will be too strong and win in 7 games, but I hope I'm wrong.

[razazteca 0]

I think the Spurs strategy will be to get the Suns into foul trouble by having bench warmers Glenn Robinson and Tony Massenburg bump Amare Stodemire around the paint. Steve Nash will not have a triple double in this game but if Tony Parker is guarding him then anything can happen....I would expect 25 points, 6 assists, 3 steals from the MVP.

 

I predict Spurs win 110-98.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

This series depends on Shawn Marion. Nash will get his 25+ points and 10+ dishes every game most likely and if Dallas can handle Amare, I have no doubt that the Spurs can. So that leaves Marion as the guy who'll make or break the Suns.

 

For the Spurs it's all on Duncan. If he plays to his abilities then the Spurs will be tough to beat. If he's still hurt then it's up to Ginobli and Parker to provide most of the scoring, and neither is Steve Nash when it comes to coming up wiht ways to score.

 

I'll go with what's good for the NBA and with what I'm hoping for, Suns in 7.

[razazteca 0]

What is good for the NBA is for the Spurs to win because it will open up more international markets. As you can see GINOBILI is a big draw for the spanish speaking markets, Tony Parker can draw in the French, RASHO can draw the Slavic states, so therefore having the Spurs win would be more profitable for the Association. Now Commish Stern can ask for larger fees from the distributors in Europe and South America be it from Skybox and whoever is televising the NBA games.

 

Spurs win in 6 games.

[razazteca 0]

Half court 3 by Ginobili to end the 1st quarter Spurs lead 30-20.

[razazteca 0]

Game One's hero for the Spurs is Brent Barry for his ability to hit the 3 pointer when it was needed to keep the lead out of reach. Brent Barry went 5-8 from the outside and helped on defense by getting 3 steals.

 

Defense wins championships:

 

Shawn Marion played 39 minutes and only made 3 points and Richardson played 42 minutes and only made 7 points.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yeah Ripper was right. Richardson takes some awful shots.

[Brett Favre 0]

They need Joe Johnson. Barbosa is horrible.

[Matt Young 0]

I don't know who to pick, but I hope Phoenix wins since I've been following them (although I wouldn't call myself a true "fan") ever since they acquired Jason Kidd way back in the day. They're also far more exciting than the Spurs.

 

Spurs/Pistons would be the worst Finals of all-time. I wouldn't even watch it, and I haven't missed the NBA Finals since I started watching basketball in 1993.

[Damaramu 0]

I don't know who to pick, but I hope Phoenix wins since I've been following them (although I wouldn't call myself a true "fan") ever since they acquired Jason Kidd way back in the day. They're also far more exciting than the Spurs.

 

Spurs/Pistons would be the worst Finals of all-time. I wouldn't even watch it, and I haven't missed the NBA Finals since I started watching basketball in 1993.

I actually think it would be one of the best as the talent level on both teams is off the charts and the skill being exhibited on the court would be amazing.

[AboveAverage484 0]

I don't know who to pick, but I hope Phoenix wins since I've been following them (although I wouldn't call myself a true "fan") ever since they acquired Jason Kidd way back in the day. They're also far more exciting than the Spurs.

 

Spurs/Pistons would be the worst Finals of all-time. I wouldn't even watch it, and I haven't missed the NBA Finals since I started watching basketball in 1993.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Spurs/Heat final.

[razazteca 0]

I'm not going to watch Shaq sit on the bench for 3 games in any series no matter what.

[Ripper 0]

Did someone say that Dallas Handled Amare? He averaged damn near 30 points and 15 rebounds a game in that series. His only bad game was the foul trouble in game 3.

 

And last night we saw that A: Phoenix's screen and roll with Amare and Nash is unstoppable. B: they have GOT to stay home on shooters and c: they NEED Joe Johnson, because Q has been absolutely horrible the entire playoffs.

 

They need to insert Hunter into the starting lineup, move Amare to PF (keep him on Muhammed though) move Marion to the SF and, i don't know...PASS HIM THE BALL. I was watching the game and there was stretch where Shawn literally didn't TOUCH the ball let alone get a chance at a shot. I think SA got too much credit for his low game, it was more phoenix having to get him the ball because he can score on who ever is guarding him. Keep Jackson at the 2 and Nash at the 3.

 

If Joe can play, then move him into the starting spot and move JJ to the bench. Then you can have a backup squad of JJ, Q, and Barbosa and I like that alot better than what was out there last night. At the end of the day, Shawn had a horrible game, Q had a horrible game, Joe wasn't there, and they lost by 7 on the shooting of Brent Barry, who is anything but a constant for the spurs. I felt good about that game.