NBA Conference Finals

MAN, Tim DUNCAN is simply...DA MAN!!!

The SUNS can cry all they want about Stoudemire's suspension, the SPURS are just flat out GOOD!! Offense, defense, they've got it all...and of course in the middle there they have Timmy...that guy is a MONSTA!!! and boy Eva Longoria hasn't slowed Tony Parker at all!!!

I see the Spurs coming out of the West in 6!!


The PISTONS...experience, experience, experience...
Cleveland is waaaaaay too young for them

My prediction, Pistons in 5!!!

As for the Big Finals, I'll pick after the conference finals are over!

 

Once again, JRem brother, i agree with you. Say all you want about Big Tim (he's too quiet, he's boring, not flashy) but when you need someone to be "da man" to paraphrase you, few today are as consistent.

I know you're gonna disagree with me but the Suns are wayyy too overrated. They play the 70s Knicks style run-n-gun (albeit badly, as that team actually played "D" well) and with all due respect to Nash, Amare is the reason why they lasted 6 games. I've always thought Nash, whilst a good player, isn't the best point guard in the league - For the record, Chuncey Billups is -. All that offensive showboating eventually had to end up like Nash's nose - bust. There is no way a team like San Antonio are giving up more than 100 points consecutively (something the Spurs can actually achieve when they want) and living Horry and Brent Barry wide open will never help your cause.

Overall, i think Parker has been their X factor but still Tim Duncan is the guy whom you can always count on. I think they'd beat Utah; it'll be one hell of a series but i'm not so sure that Utah can match the Spurs they way they did against Houston (whom they go lucky against) and Golden State.

 

Forget the conference finals...it's a foregone conclusion. The Spurs are going to win. End of story.

I wanna talk about what just transpired with today's draft lottery. Portland got the top spot, and Seattle got the second spot. Because Oden is projected as the number 1 overall choice, and Kevin Durant is projected as the number 2 choice, both of these teams are going to be sick next season. Just think about it. Ray Allen, Kevin Durant, and Rashard Lewis each scoring 20-25+ a game. For Portland, they will now have Randolph, Aldridge (last years lottery pick), and Oden. Not to mention Brandon Roy at guard. Sick.

I feel sorry for the Celts and the Grizz because they both had the worst records, and they both tanked their entire seasons just to land the top spots, but neither one of them even gets to pick in the top 3. Maybe now they can team Pierce up with Garnett. What else do they have to lose??

Oh, and a few more things:

1. Vince Carter used to be one of my fav. players, but my goodness is he overrated now. The Nets won't go anywhere with him.

2. And the Lakers "must" deal Odom and Bynum for better players if Kobe is to ever win another championship. My fav. 2-guard is D-wade, but there's nobody better in the league than Kobe. They should get the guy some friggin help. He can't score 81 every game.

 

Agreed, Bry. I've said the same thing you said in the "Dallas Mavericks choke job" thread about the Lakers. First off, they should rid this notion of Bynum becoming Hakeem Olajuwon or some shit. Ain't gonna happen. Even Kareem cannot do it. What they need to consider is that Kobe wants more championships and certainly, at 28, he still can win more. But he is not getting no younger. His career will pretty much come to a twilight in about 5 or 6 years time and so all this talk of "rebuilding" should come to an end. You cannot "rebuild" with lazy, inexperienced clowns. Actually, i feel they should keep Odom (and maybe Luke Walton) as he's the only one worth staying on that team (after Kobe of course). The rest are just a bunch of money-making, hopeless punks. They need a clear out. Had they got Jason Kidd in January, it might have been a different story but noooo, they didn't. I think if Kobe takes a pay cut to bring in more players, it'd work out quite well.

About Vince, well, i couldn't agree more. The man is 31 and he doesn't have to remain stuck on a team as consistent as he is. They aren't going in the direction they hoped when he got moved there in 2004 and so he should either go back to Toronto, or Charlotte or Orlando pick up his option. Those are teams who actually need him. New Jersey aren't going anywhere with him.

You know, i don't feel sorry for the Grizzlies or Celtics, especially the Celts. How many times does it have to be reiterated that you cannot have an awful season in the hope of landing the top picks? Sure, it worked out for a few teams but the lottery is a much different agenda now and it isn't the easy jackpot it was some 10 years ago. I don't really think KG will necessarily go to Boston but i do know he's getting the fuck out of shitty Minnesota Timberwolves.

I really do hope Seattle land Durant because they need a big man badly. If they can get him, it'd be great for them. They certainly aren't getting Oden so they should hope to get Durant.

P.S. Don't you think if Oden stayed a few more years in college, like another 2 years, he'd be a hell of a beast? Even better than he is now? I think so.

 

As a San Antonio homeboy, I agree with the both of you about the Spurs. I called the Suns series in 6. Had they gone to seven, the Spurs would have won. Nash is a beast, but in the Nash/D'Antoni era, the Spurs have always had Phoenix's number. The Suns can't beat the Spurs in a 7-game series. They can talk all the "shoulda coulda woulda" about game 5, but if they were so good, they'd have won game 6 with their whole team back.

Now, speaking as a man who bleeds burnt orange, I really wish Durant would have stayed another year. He is a great individual talent, but I don't think he has the greatest basketball knowledge yet. I don't really think he is going to make a real impact until season 2. But his game is definitely further along than Oden's. That guy certainly should have stayed for at least another year. I don't see him being more than a Boozer in his first couple of years.

Oh yeah...the Spurs in 5 against Utah and Detroit in 6 against the Cavs.

 

Jeeez, thos Cleveland Cavaliers...I know they are young but they just gave away TWO games on the Pistons homecourt!!!

Man, if the Pistons play this way and get to the NBA finals, they won;t be very hard to beat for the Spurs!!

Talking about the Spurs, if the Jazz lose game 3, this series might be done at 4!!!

About oden and Durant, I think Oden is the next Tim Duncan...low key, big, big and plays the post very well...of course he has to imporve is offensive game, but he is still very young!!

Durant...hmmm...I'm not sold on him yet...he reminds me of a younger Dirk...big man who loves to shoot from outside but plays average D...

Tim Duncan separates himself from all these guys by playing stellar defense!!!

 

Billups is not the best PG in the league. I'd say it's between kidd and nash. And as good as stoudamire is, Nash helps him alot. And vice versa.

I'm not a fan of either team, but that suspension was bullshit. Cheap shot bowen and Duncan should have been suspended as well. They both left the bench, if bitch ass stern wants to be politically correct. If the suspension did not happen, it would have been suns in 7 IMO.

Okay, maybe I am bias. Nash does alot for my city.

 

To begin with, neither the sonics or portland will be sick. Relax. Oden will play C, Aldrige PF, Roy SG, Outlaw SF, and PG ??? whoever. They'll still be a lotto team, with good assests and potential.

Seattles situation hasn't improved. Sure durant will be sick, but who's to say lewis who's a FA even resigns? He turned down a 2 year 22 million dollar deal around. And Ray allen. Who's to say he won't miss another 20 or so games?


As for Kobe, he wanted all the fame and shots. Now he got it. All of a sudden he wants help? What the fuck were people telling him when he drove shaq out of LA? Typical bitch ass superstar. You get what you want, when things aren't going well, you cry.

 

Boozer is a legit 20 and 11 guy when healthy. With Durants athleticism, height, lenght,etc, if he puts up boozer type number, he'll be well worth the 2nd pick.

 

Will he have a impact liek duncan? I feel he will. Will his game be like duncan's? I disagree. Offensively atleast.

 

I'm not so sure that this kid Deron Williams isn't one of the top point guards in the league already. I still think it's Jason Kidd, then Nash, then Baron Davis when healthy, but Deron Williams is a complete stud. He can do it all. And he's from Illinois!!

 

Once again, i agree with you. The Jazz will eventually be eliminated by the Spurs but that isn't saying much about them given that the Spurs have won 3 rings in 8 years. I mean, for a team that haven't even made the playoffs since 2003 (when Malone and Stockton last played together), they've made a vast improvement. And it's all because of D-Will. If he isn't an All-Star next year with this kind of performance, it's a travesty.

But here's where i disagree with you. I think Chauncey Billups is the best point guard in the league. Don't get me wrong, all those other guys are dope but there isn't a more consistent PG who can hit the big shot more than Billups can. And in an age where point guards are defensively inept, he still can play stellar D. So he gets the nod.

 

Yeah Cris, i see what you mean. Chauncey is one of those players who isn't flashy, but just leads the team, doesn't turn the ball over, makes all the right plays, and hits big, timely, clutch shots at the end of the game for you. And he is a great defender as well. I would love to see Chauncey go head to head with Deron Williams. That would be an awesome matchup. Man i wish the Jazz had've won that last game. It sucks to see the Spurs win it every other year.

By the way, that Cleveland vs. Detroit series has been completely unwatchable for me. I don't like either team, but if i have to, i'm pulling for Detroit to win because Cleveland is just such a boring team to watch. I can't wait for that series to be over. Watching it is like watching paint dry.

 

Wow, you must really hate Cleveland. :lol: Quite frankly, i'm pulling for them because i don't really like Detroit. If anything, it's they who are very boring. I actually saw last night's game and it was anything but boring. Lebron James tore up the place but in my opinion, Daniel Gibson was the star of the night. He was the reason Cleveland won that game. In my opinion, every single game has been fun to watch and Cleveland, but for Donyell Marshall in Game 1, could have been 3-1 up in this series. But we'll have to see. I hope the Cavs prevail, but they still aren't ready for San Antonio in the Finals. And that's the truth.

 

SHAME on you all guys, for not being the first to post this:

LEBRON JAMES IS A SUPER STUD!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, Wow, wow, wow, WOW!!!!!!!

 

Wow, i'm stunned. Who would have thought that Daniel Gibson...yes, Daniel "Boobie" Gibson, would have single handedly sent the Detroit Pistons packing??? the guy scores 30 points off of 7 shots. that's insane.

i'm actually happy for Cleveland. after watching LeBron these last couple of games, i've been completely blown away by his abilities. i knew King James was a great player, but he is a "GREAT" player. he makes everyone better. they'll make the finals competitive, but it's too bad that they get the Spurs up next. the Spurs are the wrong team for them to play because they're so even keeled, and they play at a consistent level "all" the time. i think LeBron can single handedly steal a game or two, but beating the Spurs 4 times?? i just don't see it happening. they're too darn good.

i will say this though. if Miami doesn't bounce back and retool, and get younger, the Cavs might end up winning the east for the next 4 or 5 years. so c'mon Shaq and D-wade, get it together!!

 

Bry, my man, you said it better than an ESPN analyst!!!

The finals are going to be exciting!!!!

I say Spurs in 5!!!

 

The Cavs deserve this trip to the finals. They were the better team all 6 games and say what you want about Lebron's "D" and shooting, the guy was just a stud. If i were Kobe and D Wade, i'd start to get worried because of all 3, Lebron is the most likely to win a ring in the foreseeable future. Daniel Gibson finally[/] might be the Scottie Pippen Lebron has been looking for all along. Lebron was great but as usual, the Pistons applied the Jordan rules but it didn't work. Gibson was just making it rain from downtown.

Overall, the Pistons just looked subpar and were undeniably below their level. They all looked tired (with the exception of Prince) and it seemed like they had already quit in the fourth quarter. In my opinion, Chauncey Billups will not re-sign with them and would probably move on. It'd be sad but they do need some changes in that team.

I just wanna say that this finals is going to be even more interesting than last year's. The Cavs vs the Spurs? Man, you couldn't ask for a much better matchup. Both teams deserve to be in the finals and would make an interesting matchup. But i must say the Spurs have a slight advantage. They have a much more experienced coach, consistent starters in Duncan and Parker, arguably the best 6th man in Manu and their bench is scary as fuck. When Finley and Horry get the ball, you better guard them or they'll burn you. Cleveland do have good players in Lebron, Gibson and Iglauskas. Varejeo is a rebounding machine but i'm not sure he'll be able to just crash the boards when matched up with Duncan, Oberto and Francisco Elson. Besides, the Cavs do not have a very strong bench and that is important in the Finals. Sure, their starters are great but what if they get hurt? Or get tired? What about the abominable foul trouble? Those are questions bandwagoning Cavs fans need to ask themselves.

Overall, i think the Spurs will take it in 6 or 7. It isn't going to be the slam dunk everyone had expected but the Spurs are just too experienced, compatible and strong for the Cavs.

 

I was one of the people who did have sort of a problem with LeBrons weird looking shot and his laziness sometimes not driving to the basket (i mean, the guy is so big, he can practically drive to the basket whenever he wants, and it annoys me when he doesn't) but i was extremely impressed with his game against the Pistons. his first few games were stinkers, but those last few games...WOW. what a great player.

so Cris, you think LeBron might win a ring before D-Wade and Shaq get another one?? as much as i hate to say it, if the Heat don't get younger, and get some perimeter stoppers on that team, they won't be going anywhere. i think they should make a run at Artest, even at the expense of my main man Posey, and bring in a reliable point guard if possible. maybe Mo Williams?? or how about letting the kid Dorrell play for a change?? he could be a stud.

Daniel Gibson was fantastic. it makes me wonder how in the world he slid so far down in the draft. it's not like the kid is one dimensional either. he can shoot, but he can also drive and get to the free throw line as well. if Cleveland starts Larry Hughes instead of Gibson, they're dumber than i thought.

I was just telling a buddy of mine the same thing the other day. I don't know for sure if Chauncey will resign with them, but one thing i do know is that Rasheed is history. There's no way they're bringing him back. He's a nuclear meltdown waiting to happen. What they need to do is let Maxiell play, because everytime he's in there, he scores. They also need to do something with Prince. He disappears too much. Maybe they should package Prince, and Wallace for players like Antawn Jamison and Antonio Daniels.

Cris, my main man, how can you say that!! Better than the Miami vs. Dallas series??? What about D-Wade carrying the team on his back game after game after game?? How about when Dallas on the verge of being up 3-0 with a big lead in the fourth quarter, but D-Wade goes on a rampage and single handedly wins the game for them?? That series was fantastic. I think this series will be good, but not like last years good. But then again, i am a Heat fan so maybe i'm a bit biased..lol :wink:

 

NBA finals beginning Thursday, June 7th. SA vs.CLE

I am going to make this thread interesting and say the Cavaliers will take this if it goes past 5 games.
I know that sounds like a weird prediction, but if we get down to a 2-2 3-2 situation;then I am going with the Cavs to upset the Spurs in this year's NBA final.
The Spurs have way more experience, better personnel, and Tim Duncan, but the Cavaliers play solid "D." If they can hold SA to under 90 points, the Cavs have a legitimate shot.
They need more balanced scoring because as sick as LeBron's 48 points against Detriot in game 5 was, he cannot do it alone. They need the big fella to score, some participation from Drew Gooden, and some bench like Eric Snow.
The Spurs have choked before, as in 2004 vs the Lakers, so it's not impossible, and if things line up right, we'll all be "witnesses."
I say the Cavs win if this goes past 5 games.
Thanks.