NBA Conference Finals

Hey no problem for the spelling, Wedlock...

I am a sports nuts...I follow Baseball, but not very seriously...I'll watch the end of the playoffs and a few games in the world series, that's all...I pull for the Yanks and for the Giants!

I am a tennis fan, I watch golf, I follow Hockey a bit as well...went to a few games in Canada...the speed is impressive, on TV you can't really imagine how fast it really is!!

My favorite sport is FOOTBALL though...but I mean, FOOTBALL, the real one, not the one played with your hands most of the time...ok, I'll say it, SOCCER!!! But of course, if you only watch MLS, you have no idea how great soccer is...gotta watch the European leagues, or the Champions League, or the big International events (World Cup, Euro, African Cup of Nations...)

I love American Football too, of course and I agree, this year vying for the Lombardi trophy, it's going to be between 3 teams...ok, maybe 4: Pats, Chargers, Saints and Bears...And I can sense a Saints-Pats matchup in the Superbowl, with the Pats winning it all...for the Saints, we'll have to wait another year, but still, this is the year we kick Da Bears' ass!!

I can't wait for preseason to start!!!

 

Keep Dreaming Jrem!!!! If it makes you sleep better at night!!HA HA. The Aints are going to get smoked! :smt025 Remember what i told ya. Keep the brown paper bags near at all times, cause you never know when you might need em again!! :twisted: :lol:

 

By the way, i got a little present for ya!

Check out the video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xP6ZjMGv-4Q

 

Thanks bro. But actually, a lot of the things you said in this post makes me realize i have a lot more homework to do! There's just something about baseball that bores the daylights out of me. The game is too long, and only a few players actually "hit" the ball in the game..lol I couldn't even watch the Sox games the year they won the world series. I just for the life of me, cannot get into baseball. Go figure. :smt102

I don't look at soccer like it's a sissy sport or anything, because you have to be a real tough guy to go out there and take the beating that some of those soccer players take on a regular basis, but being born in the U.S. probably has a lot to do with me not liking it. I grew up watching basketball (the Jordan Bulls and the Shaq and Kobe Lakers) and my favorite sport to "play" is basketball, but my favorite sport to watch and be a fan of is NFL football. In America, we just weren't raised up to appreciate soccer. Actually, whenever i tried to play it in gym class way back when, i sucked so bad at it, and i vowed never to play it again..lol But you know what, i think the thing about soccer that turns me off is the low scoring. It's similar to hockey in that it's hard as "heck" to even score a single point! :shock: lol

 

C'mon Bry, be more creative, everyone has seen that video! and the Saints won that game!!!

Back to Basketball...

I seriously think that the Cavs are in TROUBLE...they just kept the Spurs from being over-confident going into game 3 in Cleveland tuesday...

If the Spurs win game 3, this series will end in Cleveland!!

And man, Tony Parker looks like he wants to finish this quickly so he can focus on his wedding huh???

 

lol@ the Tony Parker comment, JRem.

I absolutely agree with the Game 3 comment there. It seems like most finals are often decided in Games 3 and/or 5. If Cleveland can pull one back at home, that can give them a boost of confidence but if they blow it, they're screwed. To be controversial, i say Cleveland will get swept. I know it sounds ludicrous, but there simply is nothing that Cleveland are doing to slow the Spurs. Tim Duncan is just punishing them in the post, Tony Parker is making the Cavs' backcourt look like amateurs and Lebron hasn't stepped up. I think we're gonna see a repeat of the 1994/1995 finals, where two stars (Hakeem and Shaq) were hyped up, but the more experienced on (Hakeem, and Tim Duncan in this case) simply dominated the other (Shaq, and Lebron now).

I hope i'm wrong.

 

NBA Finals Spurs v Cavs Tuesday night Game 3

:? I don't know if they'll get swept, but the way things are going, I can see you working, Cris. My prediction was that Cleveland would win if they got beyond that 5th game;as in a 3-2 scenario-but it may not even get there. Cleveland did fight back to make the game interesting, and the deficits were a 9 point loss in the first game and 11 in the second, but the role players aren't giving enough to support so far.Lebron had 14 in the first game, 25 here in the second,but where was the bench to lift him up in game 1 and etc, for game 2?
I hope you're wrong also, or it might be a 94/95 repeat- or worse, a 2002 repeat when NJ went down 0-4 to the Lakers.That kind of series blows, brother.I like competition in my sports.

 

Well...

It's not over yet for the Cavs, but like someone said, "It's getting late early" for them!!!

Tony Parker so far is the clear cut MVP and Lebron, well, is still young!!!

 

NBA Finals Cavs about to go down.

Well......... I thought the Cavs would perform better than this.It's a shame,because even though the Spurs are much better on paper-I thought the Cavs would have more fight in them.
I'll stand by my prediction, but the Cavs would have to win back to back in order to get to a 3-2 scenario.It doesn't look likely.
What can I tell you? Being overmatched is no excuse for showing up this poorly in the finals.

 

Honestly, i can name about umm, 6 or 7 teams that could easily take out the Cavs in a series. The Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, Mavs, Suns, Nuggets, and possibly even the Warriors with all their firepower. I would even say the Heat, but D-Wade was injured, and plus they can't guard "anybody." So basically, i'd pick just about "any" team in the west to take Cleveland out in a 7 game series. They're just not very good. They have LeBron, and that's it. Gibson is a good scorer, but he can be defended.

I knew Cleveland would get taken out, but i didn't think they'd be taken out this easily. But, i'm ecstatic that Cleveland is getting killed, so that there's absolutely no chance of a fluke championship this year. I hate it when the wrong team wins (and if the Cavs won this series, they would be that team) so it feels good that the Spurs are taking care of business like they should. I'm becoming a big Spurs fan after watching the clinic that they've been putting on this entire year. They're a great, great team.

I don't think they could necessarily beat Michael and Scotties Bulls, but they're definitely one of the best teams of my generation, and i personally think that Duncan is one of the top players of all-time of any position. He's fantastic.

Two more things:

Tony Parker is turning into a "Superstar"

and i still have absolutely no idea who should win MVP between him and Duncan. is there any way that they could share it??

 

NBA Finals.Cavs about to go down/Bryant's analysis.

:? I think we're speculating on the other teams that could all theoretically "take out" the Cavs, because the only team that is beating them currently is San Antonio.
As far as the "fluke element,"the concensus was that the Cavs would be a better draw all around, but the Cavs just haven't performed.I thought it was going to be a Detroit v.San Antonio re(2005) myself, but it didn't happen.
Someone else made the comparison between how THIS series is shaping up and the 94/95 finals.I piggybacked on their comments and added how much a 4-0 sweep really blows.For me it's a mental let down, and yes the Spurs are basketball clinicians,but when they play for it all the ratings go way down.Don't get wrong, the Spurs don't care about TV ratings, I'm just saying I look for a little excitement in my finals.
So, brothers, when WAS the last exciting final for you?I'll say 2001 began interesting but ended ho-hum, and that 2006 was the last really good one for me because THIS time I felt I could pull for Shaq.I love him as a big man.
Thoughts?
PS-Bryant:Your sig is much easier to wade through as I read your posts now-the old one had so much flash it was slowing me down,LOL.This one is much faster!

 

The simple truth about the Finals

I did, and it looks like i might be right eventually. I agree with you, Finals sweep are excruciatingly disgraceful. Finals are meant to be eventful and competitive, not looking like a fat kid on a see-saw. Even in the days of the Chicago Bulls, they never swept a series. The closest they came was the 1991 Finals, where they won 4-1. In the last 32 years, they have only been 5 sweeps. And i hope that pattern is not about to change.

However, the upshot of this is that the Finals would end quickly and i don't have to be getting up early to see (lacklustre) games i missed the previous night.

 

Re: NBA Finals.Cavs about to go down/Bryant's analysis.

You know, i honestly don't know why the Spurs get such low ratings. Nobody appreciates good, fundamentally sound basketball anymore. I for one, still do. I play recreation basketball quite often, and one thing that i always notice is the fact that the up and down teams with flashy players on them, always lose to the teams that use pick and rolls, pick and pop plays, and just overall team basketball strategy. The And-1 type players may score 5 straight baskets, but their team almost always loses. I used to think that the Spurs were by far, the most boring team in basketball, but i just have to say it again, the Spurs aren't the reason why this finals is boring (the Spurs actually play a very good brand of basketball), Cleveland is the reason.

Anyway, i still think last years Heat vs. Mavs finals was the best in years. I've been reading a lot of theories on how to make the playoffs and finals better, and everyone is in agreement that there should just be one big, 16 team bracket that combines the East teams with the West teams. I like this idea. I think it could work. Now we just have to get somebody to convince stubborn Stern to actually change it!

By the way, sorry about all that flash Wedlock..lol :wink:

 

Bry I totally agree with you...

And personally, I never even found the Spurs boring, ever...
What kills me even more is that even some sports analysts on TV and radio are calling the Spurs boring...so it isn't about sports anymore, it's only about flashy players, individuals taking games over a la Jordan or Dwayne Wade...but this IS NOT TENNIS, it is freaking Basketball, a TEAM game!!!

The Spurs pass the ball beautifully, Tony Parker makes some silly moves, but ppl are already so stubborn in their dislike of the Spurs and Tim Duncan that they are just blind to the pure beauty of the game!! I don't get it!!! :roll:

 

The NBA Finals.

Fellas:
I wouldn't sit here and call a team that is up 3-0 on somebody "boring," that's silly.I was just pointing out that when the Spurs win it all, the ratings are low.I don't know why either.There's nothing wrong with good fundamentals.They play that way mainly becasue their team is comprised of many international players.Around the world, basketball is really more of a thinking man's sport than a "reactive" one.Those cats pass the ball, take mid range jumpers, and play solid defense boxing out-all the basics your coaches taught back in the day.
For me , the GS Warriors were the most exciting story in the 2007 playoffs.If they weren't so "street," they could have done more.
At this point all I can really do is stand by my prediction until its over, but I have to tell you-I was disappointed by the Cavs.What can I tell you?LeBron's a beast;but just not ready yet.The role players could have done more, and let's face it-the deficits of 9, 11, &3, were not insurrmountable;the Cavs just didn't make it happen.Mike is a good coach-I always love to see a brother in the finals, but Pop is outcoaching him.We'll just have to chalk it up to a learning experience, and hold out for some better basketball.2006 Was indeed one of the best, and I miss ball like that. This thing is almost a rap, and now we won't have anything else worth trash talking over until football season.
What do you guys think?

 

Re: The NBA Finals.

Wedlock, my main man, i wasn't implying that you thought the Spurs were boring, that just seems to be the main sentiment that everybody around the country is sharing right now, and it's absurd. Just like Jrem said, people are more intrigued/fascinated about flashy players more so than great passing teams that move the ball, space well, box out, set great picks, are coached well, and who shoots a high percentage from the field. It's definitely not the Spurs fault that Cleveland is no match for them. And it's definitely not the Spurs fault that the Nuggets and Suns were no match for them either (by the way, i'm not one of those people who believes that the Suns would have beaten San Antonio even if Stoudemire and Diaw didn't get suspended for that game). I don't think Phoenix will "ever" beat San Antonio with their current roster. Not gonna happen.

I'm in total agreement with you about GS. I wanted them to make it farther than they did because that would have really given some relevance to knocking off the Mavs. So instead of people talking about how badly Dallas choked, they'd be talking about GS as a cinderella story instead. But it wasn't meant to be. Their reckless play got them beat in 5, which is something that i was very disappointed by. That style of play is exciting as heck to watch, but it will never get you any rings. That's why i don't think Phoenix will ever knock off the Spurs in the playoffs.

As far as having something to talk about until football season...well, there's still baseball. :lol:

 

NBA FINALS ARE OVER.CONGRATS TO JREM&ALL SPURS FANS.

This year's finals sucked ass. It wasn't even the fact I was wrong in my prediction.It's just that a 4-0 blowsssssss.
Anyway, I'll talk some baseball with you fellas.I'm down with Bonds, and looking at the Bosox.......what do you guys think?

 

Ha, i guess i was right afterall. Actually, i was right on two things. Firstly, i predicted that this finals would be determined by defense and there will not be much high scoring like last year. Secondly, after Game 2, i predicted a sweep of the worse than lacklustre Cleveland. I'ma genius. :lol:

Just kidding. But on a more serious note, Cleveland lost for so many reasons i am about to outline. Not because they were as terrible as they were made out to be, but psychologically they had caved (no pun intended) to San Antonio as early as the third quarter of Game 2. San Antonio, both on paper and on court, just looked the better team all along and shook out the swagger Cleveland were bringing from their triumph of Detroit. I won't say that was a fluke at all but Cleveland honestly did not expect to do the same to San Antonio. Not in their wildest dreams.

Secondly, Cleveland lost because Bruce Bowen, regardless of your personal opinion of him, slowed down Lebron, making him defer to other teammates, who were subdued themselves. Coupled with that fact, Tony Parker was slashing and burning his way, Duncan being the bogeyman that he is in the post and Robert Horry, in my opinion, put in his best postseason performance since 2002. Cleveland just do not have the confidence, consistence, durability and overall talent that San Antonio have and really, anyone who thought they could have won more than 2 games was either high, deluded, stupid or a combination.

Thirdly and most importantly to me, San Antonio had the "been there, done that" factor on their side. They've won many postseason games, visited the Finals a few times and know just how to take the edge off the other team. Cleveland do not have that experience yet. They are Finals' novices and Lebron, despite the media's eagerness to crown him as "the king", cannot at 22 deliver a championship alone, especially in a league of winners like Tim Duncan. Not yet.

Well, it's hard to swallow but on the flip side, Lebron welcomed his baby to the world. I guess that ain't too small a consolation price. Also, i'm sure Cleveland can take a lesson or two from this brief but valuable experience. Hey, Jerry West said when you lose, you try and try and try and try until you win. A first trip to the finals has proven to be bitter for men like Gary Payton, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Clyde Drexler and Jerry West and guess what, all these men have gone to have Hall of Fame careers. Hopefully, Lebron will join that elite list (with a championship in hand as well).

 

NBA Finals/Le Bron will get there.

Agreed, the first trip to the big dance can be daunting.It's a learning experience.I predict if the Cavs are a perennial force in the East over the next few seasons and there is no realignment, Le Bron will weigh his options about staying in Cleveland.He's a Cleveland guy, but if over the next few he feels like as an organization he's not getting any help he'll walk.
A.I. was a loyal Sixer, willing to stay in my opinion, but still had doubts about staying even through the Larry Brown era.Le Bron is loyal, but as a star may thrist after the ring.......and sometimes that means going to a different situation.
.02
Thanks.

 

Fellas, like I predicted, "MY" Spurs didn't even have to go back to play in their city...
I am very happy for SA, one of the most underappreciated team in the league's history...

BUT, Lebron will be back...they just need to give him better help!!! and he also needs to assert himself a lot more!!!

MAAAAAAAAAAN, what do we talk about now?? C'mon baseball mainly sucks, apart from Bonds an the Yankees headlines...

WNBA??? hmmm...well...apart from watching some asses dance on the floor, well, there isn't much to watch!!

Fortunately, i still have formula 1 and before we know it, football will be back!!!