NBA Western Conference Finals

[Adam 0]

Its a 2 possession game, take a miracle for the Suns to come back.

[cabbageboy 0]

Spurs back in the finals again. I bet David Stern is just thrilled...another year of lousy ratings. Either way I'm not going to be terribly excited about the finals. We either get the matchup from hell (SA vs. Detroit) that will prove unwatchable, or we get Shaq vs. Duncan for the umpteenth time.

[Guest *KNK*]

Spurs back in the finals again.  I bet David Stern is just thrilled...another year of lousy ratings.  Either way I'm not going to be terribly excited about the finals.  We either get the matchup from hell (SA vs. Detroit) that will prove unwatchable, or we get Shaq vs. Duncan for the umpteenth time.

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because Phoenix is a ratings goldmine?

[razazteca 0]

Who will the white people cheer for?

[Adam 0]

Brent Barry.

[Damaramu 0]

Spurs back in the finals again. I bet David Stern is just thrilled...another year of lousy ratings. Either way I'm not going to be terribly excited about the finals. We either get the matchup from hell (SA vs. Detroit) that will prove unwatchable, or we get Shaq vs. Duncan for the umpteenth time.

 

Fuck ratings. I hate this argument. i want to see good basketball. And any of the possible finals matchups would've given us that. Fuck the stupid ratings argument. This isn't pro wrestling.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Spurs back in the finals again.  I bet David Stern is just thrilled...another year of lousy ratings.  Either way I'm not going to be terribly excited about the finals.  We either get the matchup from hell (SA vs. Detroit) that will prove unwatchable, or we get Shaq vs. Duncan for the umpteenth time.

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because Phoenix is a ratings goldmine?

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Moreso than San Antonio, anyways. Although people like Tim Duncan, he's a "get it done" player more than he is flashy or charismatic, which doesn't make for ratings. The Spurs deserve it though, as I said earlier in this thread, the Duncan/Ginobili/Parker Spurs deserve at least as many championships as Kobe/Shaq/Jackson. With Detroit/Miami headed at least to six games, and possibly 7 coming off a very tough, physical series, the Spurs might have the advantage going into the Finals. I've kinda grown to like the Heat because of Wade, but I still don't like Shaq, so I'd cheer for the Western Conference Champs if the Heat meet with them, but I'd cheer for Larry Brown's Pistons if they go up against the Spurs.

 

I can tell you one thing though: The playoffs become much less exciting without Phoenix in there. And the Suns hung in there till the end of almost every single game of this series without being able to get it done in the 4th. With a bit more experience and some depth, they could have done a lot better. And is it just me, or does Nash have absolutely no ballhandling skill whatsoever, despite his great shooting and passing? It seemed to me like the Spurs were able to just take the ball away from him with little to no effort quite a bit of times.

[Guest Bobby K.]

Let me tell ya what I think about this years playoffs. There is no real villain, so I have been forced to create the villain on my own, and for some reason, San Antonio and Detroit are the villains. The last 2 teams to win Championships shouldn't be in the playoffs, give me something new and exciting, and I'll show you basketball that I like to watch. I'm tired of this shit!

[bobobrazil1984 0]

^ boo fuckin hoo.

 

That's the fault of the Dallases, and the Kings and the Suns and all the rest for not being good enough, and ignoring defense. The blame rests on them, not the good teams for actually being good.

[Ripper 0]

Well, my team had a good year and have nothing to hang their head about. I am still annoyed by the "great defensive team San Antonio vs the NO D suns" when the suns shot a better percentage, scored more points in the paint, and the turnovers and score were pretty much even for the whole series. The difference in this series was second chance points, as San Antonio DESTROYED the suns in that area because of all of their offensive rebounds. But the Suns only have 2 rebounders(amare and Marion) while the Spurs had Duncan, Mohammad, Horry, Manu, and pretty much anyone else getting to the offensive boards for them(which no doubt was something stress by popovich)

 

I did enjoy the series though. Amare owned the Spurs frount line, Manu owned the Suns backcourt and I am only left to have a bunch of what ifs for if Joe Johnson hadn't fell on his face against Dallas.

 

But like i said, good year, they lost to the deeper, more complete team. Hopefully next year we get more than 6 deep and can get over the hump.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

I am only left to have a bunch of what ifs for if Joe Johnson hadn't fell on his face against Dallas.

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You forgot to mention what if Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson hadn't missed the entire series....

 

Oh wait they did play, could have fooled me

[Ripper 0]

I am only left to have a bunch of what ifs for if Joe Johnson hadn't fell on his face against Dallas.

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You forgot to mention what if Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson hadn't missed the entire series....

 

Oh wait they did play, could have fooled me

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Basketball is more than points, and Marion played well defensively, and on the boards. The pick and roll with Stoudimire and Nash was working so well, they didn't run any plays for Marion (he was only taking 9 shots a game as compared to his usual 19 shots a game). Q didn't show up to the playoffs or the last month of the season for that matter. I guess he was so used to the games not mattering anymore around about this time. Thus Joe Johnson was needed even more,.

[Guest news_gimmick]

Definately great season for the Suns, they really entertained me this season and I was cheering for them to make it to the finals. They excelled with the type of style that I hope continues on becomes more accepted around the league. All they need to do as Ripper said is bolster their front court and the sky is the limit. At the moment I'm not quite sure who they should go after, but they need to keep this core together and continue to improve.

 

I have to say at this point with the Spurs in the finals my interest has lessened. I know they are deserving of the finals but I come away with an "eh" feeling whenever I watch them in a playoff series. I'm hoping to see Miami pull away with a win over the Pistons, however I have a feeling the Pistons will pull it out in 6 or 7, and then we get that matchup of doom.

Edited June 2, 2005 by ThomasJMayer

[Dangerous A 0]

Although the series went 4-1, this was still an entertaining series and we all saw the emergence of the future "most dominant player" in the league in Amare Stoudamire. With Shaq's health and age going south, I think next year will be the year that Amare might put an MVP trophy next to Nash's. He averaged 37 ppg in the series, mostly against 8 time All NBA Defensive team member Tim Duncan. Barring injuries, the sky is the limit on this guy. He only has minor things to work on, but really this guy is the complete package. He is even developing a good midrange jumper. The only other things he needs to look at are passing out of double teams when he gets the ball on the block(which will only come through experience) and hitting the glass more. He averaged a little over 8 boards a game and that could be a little bit better. Those are minor things though and I already etch him in my Top 5 players in the league list.

[Ripper 0]

I think his problems with passing out is the fact that he honestly feels that anytime he gets the ball on the block he can score. He is often times not wrong either. But yeah, the guy is 22 years old and that is easy to forget when watching him play.

[razazteca 0]

I am still annoyed by the "great defensive team San Antonio vs the NO D suns"

It's true, it's true, even though the scores did reach in the 100+ nearly every game the Spurs did make an effort to shutdown selective players. Shawn Marion who was a big offensive threat in the Dallas series was held down to single digits in several games and in game 3 the MVP Steve Nash was held down to single digit assists. Who on the Suns team played defense other than Amare? I believe that the Spurs lead in Rebounds, Steals, Blocks the entire series. The steals usually lead to fastbreak oppertunities for the Spurs guards who would score majority of the time with layups.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Amare Stoudemire had the greatest losing effort I've ever seen. He almost willed the Suns to victory.

 

SA had no answer for him defensively. Stoudemire made Duncan look silly. If TD can't stop him I don't know who can.

 

Spurs deserved the win but the Suns will be back with a vengeance next season.

[Ripper 0]

I am still annoyed by the "great defensive team San Antonio vs the NO D suns"

It's true, it's true, even though the scores did reach in the 100+ nearly every game the Spurs did make an effort to shutdown selective players. Shawn Marion who was a big offensive threat in the Dallas series was held down to single digits in several games and in game 3 the MVP Steve Nash was held down to single digit assists. Who on the Suns team played defense other than Amare? I believe that the Spurs lead in Rebounds, Steals, Blocks the entire series. The steals usually lead to fastbreak oppertunities for the Spurs guards who would score majority of the time with layups.

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No. Its not true. The stats were ridiculously even. The suns actually won the blocks, and the Spurs had 10 more steals(basically 2 a game) The Spurs, like I said, owned the offensive boards and second chance points, which is why they were able to win even though they were shooting a lower field goal and freethrow percentage in most of the games. Seriously, it was a really close series, with no team dominating the other Defensively. The Spurs were just able to get something from their bench (Horry and Barry played great in this series) and all 5 starters while the suns got no more than 3 people on a night. The spurs depth and experience is what beat the suns, not their defense, because it simply wasn't there.

 

And Shawn marion was averaging double digets in rebounds, over a block a game and over 2 steals a game. he was playing some damn fine defense.

Edited June 2, 2005 by Ripper