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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jun 6, 2005 22:09:47 GMT -5
Lots of interesting story lines in this match-up: Greg Popovich and Larry Brown are good friends and both coached the bronze medal olympic team, Rip Hamilton vs. Bruce Bowen, and the future of Larry Brown. Again, the Pistons go into an NBA finals with no injuries and the Spurs have only the question of Tim Duncan's ankles.
In the end the Spurs have to many offensive weapons and play to strong on the defensive end. IMO - Spurs in 5.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 6, 2005 23:08:10 GMT -5
Pistons in 6--more reliable offensive firepower and they are allowed to get away with a bunch of stuff at the Palace--which disgusts me--not because I dislike the Pistons Players as much as I hate seeing their punk fans get rewarded with another title and that turncoat phony richard-head Larry Brown win again. By the way, I'd add a category--first team to break 70 wins as this will be some ugly basketball. Two defensive oriented teams and yet I'll watch because I respect the clutch playing of the players. Tonight's game was decided by terrible play by Damon "Mr. Mouth" Jones who gagged and Shaq's inability to get a rebound when Heat was up 3 and instead of being up 5 game was tied after Damon Jones allowed Billups room to rain a 3--when will people realize the guy hits big shots??  Stan Van Gundy should also be taught how to design an inbounds pass--that was comical to watch throughout the postseason--just awful and Brown thoroughly outcoached him--his offense/defense substititutions with Zo/Shaq with less than 20 seconds left made ZERO sense--and why not double Billups when down 2 and force him to pass to Hamilton who had gagged a lot of FT's this series? There was 14 seconds left with Heat down two--if Billups holds in backcourt for 8 seconds it's a violation so he'd be forced to pass and you foul the player he passes too--not a 90% FT shooter who is their most clutch player. Anyway, the point is fouling in backcourt means there is no need to have Shaq sub out--he's not going to be involved until Heat have ball on offense. You have a tight game and a superior defensive player in Mourning--Van Gundy needed him in with Shaq to force jumpshots from Wallace and Company and to protect basket because Shaq is a terrible defensive center and always has been--injury or no injury the guy intimidates nobody driving to the basket. Mourning does and as well as Udonis Haslem played Wallace's tip in was huge--and Mourning sitting on bench cheering when he should've been on court had to hurt. I could see Pat Riley jumping down from Front Office next year because Van Gundy coached like Ron Jeremy tonight--brutal. |
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 7, 2005 0:48:54 GMT -5
By the way, I'd add a category--first team to break 70 wins as this will be some ugly basketball. RDF, that was a line I had planned on using for my next article. LOL. I was hoping to write an article titled "Good Riddance" if the Pistons had lost and forward it to NBA Basketball News. But now instead I gotta do one on the upcoming clash between the two doomsday defenses. Yawn. Hopefully I'll be able to stay up throughout this series. If there's a just God...well if there was one Phoenix would be in the Finals. But God can make it up to me by having the Spurs take out the ref-blaming Pistons in five games. You can check out some of my work by clicking on the link to the site below. Check out the columns written by Nate Kemp. My fifth one that I wrote on Sunday dealing with the Spurs should be up soon. I'll give warning that the one I did on Wade is garbage because I rushed it unfortunately. nbabasketballnews.com/ |
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 12, 2005 21:44:05 GMT -5
ABC's coverage sucks. Bad theme music. Uninspired announcing. Lame graphics. Pathetic pre-game and half-time show. And annoying music acts who are promoted as if they are part of the game. Bring back CBS, Heck, I'd even take NBC over this.  |
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 12, 2005 22:24:00 GMT -5
ABC's coverage sucks. Bad theme music. Uninspired announcing. Lame graphics. Pathetic pre-game and half-time show. And annoying music acts who are promoted as if they are part of the game. Bring back CBS, Heck, I'd even take NBC over this. You are so right. I was just thinking about this. I don't even watch the games when ABC/ESPN are involved. It is so lame. I found myself this playoff season finding it which network was covering a game. If it was TNT, I would watch it, if it was ESPN I just couldn't bring myself to watch it. It is downright, as Bill Walton would say, "Horrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible". There is always an agenda when it comes to ESPN. They had Jamie Foxx doing the voiceover for the Bruce Bowen halftime segment. If only for the name, they definitely could have found somebody better who can enunciate the words he was reading. Mike Torico is the worst. Greg Anthony is horrible, and so is Tim Legler. ESPN is notorious for making lower-tier ex-players becoming so-called "expert analysts", (see Sean Salsbury, Mike Golic). And is it me, or does Al Michaels look at Hubie Brown with that certain "look" in his eyes when looking at Hubie. There is a certaing "glow" about Al Michaels when they show him looking at Hubie breaking down the game. Maybe its "deep admiration" or maybe... Well, its very, very, strange to say the least. I thought the Pistons would win this series, but I don't know. If the Pistons continue to sleep-walk for the rest of the series like they have been doing so far, then maybe not. Oh yeah, Manu Ginobli is a good player, but come on ESPN/ABC. He is not Dr. J., or Jordan. They would never drool or wet their pants over AI like this. Its insane. |
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 12, 2005 23:11:00 GMT -5
Even though ABC and ESPN are under the same umbrella, I enjoy ESPN's coverage far more than ABC's. ESPN's NBA theme music is better, its lighting is superior and its pre-game/halftime shows are better handled thanks to John Saunders. I like Greg and Tim by the way but they ahve to be together, not split as when Greg is doing ABC half time shows.
I have enjoyed TNT for the last 10 or so years..before Barkley even came aboard. I love the TNT show (especially Ernie) but my one complaint is that Kenny, Charles and Magic muck up the Emglish language all the time (Jamie Foxx can speak much better than them). I give Magic a free pass because he's Magic and brings such enthusiasm to the job. Plus he's not on all the time. But Charles can wear on me because half the time he sounds like a moron with his views. That leaves Kenny. Part of me want TNT to get rid of him and replace him with a former player who CAN speak the language (see Greg Anthony or Mark Jackson). But that would probably ruin the chemistry. Plus Kenny did come up with the "Gone Fishing" bit that has become to NBA fans what the John Madden awards were once to NFL fans.
Getting back to ABC it is ridiculous how they think having Jamie Foxx narrate halftime features and Coldplay songs playing during first half highlights will actually draw an audience or impress NBA fans. They need to fire some people.
Also Kevin Harlin needs to be promoted to main play-by-play man (even though that would mean stealing him from TNT).
Yeah, it is ironic that Ginobli is celebrated in the media for doing the same things (driving to the hoop without fear, going outside the offensive scheme and improvising, being aggresive and sacrificing his body when challenging the trees in the paint) Iverson has been doing for years.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 16, 2005 23:10:43 GMT -5
How in the hell do you have a Finals series where SUPPOSEDLY the best two teams in the World are going head to head and nobody even bothers to show up as the Road team?? Pathetic display of heartless, gutless, basketball and both organizations and the NBA Front Office should be embarrassed by this. It's pathetic when you are so thoroughly dominated simply because you aren't at home--and the calls might go one way a bit more, but great teams and CHAMPIONSHIP teams overcome this. I don't think this level of Basketball is where you should have 3 of the 4 games over with 10 minutes left and in 2 of the games over at midway point of 2nd Half. I hate Detroit's fans and Mason the PA announcer would be someone I'd take a suspension for beating the living snot out of during regular season, but now add that little clown Eminem to the list. As a hip hop fan if I have to hear one more track about his rough times in the Trailer Park, his deadbeat mother, his whitetrash scumball wife/girlfriend, his little whitetrash kid, I'll pull my hair out. For God's sake the guy has done 3 CD's about the SAME CRAP and nobody says a thing?? I'll say it--go away and write some fresh stuff you little piece of garbage.Instead he's taunting the Spurs behind their bench?? WHAT? I guess he'll mock Tony Massenberg--oh wait he's big, muscular, and black, he'll mock Rasho in his next video--as he likes to pick on teenage girls, Michael Jackson--which has been done since Bad Album, and now we've got to see that he's "all about the D" as in Detroit. For the love of God, why couldn't Dwayne Wade remained healthy and rid me of these guys?? And the Suns were without Joe Johnson and while I still think they weren't ready to win against Spurs, it would be fun basketball to watch--these games are painful and as I said before--first to 70 wins--problem is the other team wouldn't get there except for the fact they are getting beaten by 20 pts, so they eventually score due to lack of interest by opposition who's so far ahead Darko and Rasho have had their own 1 on 1 "duels" come 5 minutes left in game. Sorry for the rant, but the uncompetitive, and often unwatchable basketball in this Series is just so obvious I wonder why NBA doesn't spend more time figuring out ways to prevent crap like this being on their biggest stage--the Finals to me were about great teams going at it--and since Jordan era it's about one team that's pretty good and the other that is okay, and they play 1, maybe 2 good games in 7 game series. If this is future of NBA ball--lockout and STAY LOCKED OUT! |
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 16, 2005 23:53:12 GMT -5
Seeing the first 4 games of the series, my "conspiracy theories" about the NBA grow more and more. The Pistons tanked the first 2 games, the Spurs tanked the last 2 games. That PA announcer for Detroit is a joke. He is Stuart Scott on steriods. Both he and Stuart think they are "cool" and "hip" by what they say, but they just wind up looking so corny because they are forcing it. That is why I always liked G'town's PA announcer. Bland, no frills, just straight to the point. Now every PA announcer in the NBA has to make a name for himself. The NBA finals and pre-game show are a literal circus now. They might as well bring out the elephants,midgets, and the human cannonballs. Its depressing. What happened to the actual game itself, when, as Rasheed Wallace would say, "both teams played hard".
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2005 8:46:02 GMT -5
How dare you call Fr. McFadden bland. That lovely old man taught my "Theology and Sexuality" class (yes, it exists... and no, its not what you're thinking) and I'll have you know "bland" is one word that does NOT apply to him. Believe me, hearing an elderly priest discuss the female anatomy and other topics related to sexual congress and its applications to various spiritual belief sets is PRICELESS.  |
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 17, 2005 9:01:13 GMT -5
How dare you call Fr. McFadden bland. That lovely old man taught my "Theology and Sexuality" class (yes, it exists... and no, its not what you're thinking) and I'll have you know "bland" is one word that does NOT apply to him. Believe me, hearing an elderly priest discuss the female anatomy and other topics related to sexual congress and its applications to various spiritual belief sets is PRICELESS. I love the guy. When he is announcing the games, his voice gives off the notion that he would never win a personality contest. ;D |
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jun 17, 2005 12:39:43 GMT -5
way may be crazy as a loon, but in the spirit of giving credit where due, I must note that he called his shot on this series right on the button.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2005 13:22:29 GMT -5
_wayrooter... lay off the _way lovefest, huh? I'm going to puke!!
Just for the record, if this series ends in six or seven I win $200 (my idiot friend should work for ABC... after game one he declared it over, then after game two I told him put $ where mouth is, its going at least six... and he did... muahahahaha).
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the_way
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Post by the_way on Jun 17, 2005 13:37:24 GMT -5
_wayrooter... lay off the _way lovefest, huh? I'm going to puke!! Now Buff, don't get jealous. You will always be my number one fan.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2005 13:59:24 GMT -5
Hey man, I'm up there. Nobody consistently entertains me more than you do on the board!!
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Jun 17, 2005 14:45:42 GMT -5
I think that the semi-finals of the NBA should be reseeded based on a weighted average of playoff record and regular season record - biased slightly to regular season performance to protect power teams that might be in the same conference. Imagine how much better the finals would be if the semis looked like this:
San Antonio vs. Detroit (sucks as a finals match-up, tolerable as a semi)
Phoenix vs. Miami (entertaining to say the least with Wade on Nash)
and a finals that had San Antonio and Phoenix would be incredible.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 18, 2005 17:26:20 GMT -5
How in the hell do you have a Finals series where SUPPOSEDLY the best two teams in the World are going head to head and nobody even bothers to show up as the Road team?? Pathetic display of heartless, gutless, basketball and both organizations and the NBA Front Office should be embarrassed by this. It's pathetic when you are so thoroughly dominated simply because you aren't at home--and the calls might go one way a bit more, but great teams and CHAMPIONSHIP teams overcome this. I don't think this level of Basketball is where you should have 3 of the 4 games over with 10 minutes left and in 2 of the games over at midway point of 2nd Half. I hate Detroit's fans and Mason the PA announcer would be someone I'd take a suspension for beating the living snot out of during regular season, but now add that little clown Eminem to the list. As a hip hop fan if I have to hear one more track about his rough times in the Trailer Park, his deadbeat mother, his whitetrash scumball wife/girlfriend, his little whitetrash kid, I'll pull my hair out. For God's sake the guy has done 3 CD's about the SAME CRAP and nobody says a thing?? I'll say it--go away and write some fresh stuff you little piece of garbage.Instead he's taunting the Spurs behind their bench?? WHAT? I guess he'll mock Tony Massenberg--oh wait he's big, muscular, and black, he'll mock Rasho in his next video--as he likes to pick on teenage girls, Michael Jackson--which has been done since Bad Album, and now we've got to see that he's "all about the D" as in Detroit. For the love of God, why couldn't Dwayne Wade remained healthy and rid me of these guys?? And the Suns were without Joe Johnson and while I still think they weren't ready to win against Spurs, it would be fun basketball to watch--these games are painful and as I said before--first to 70 wins--problem is the other team wouldn't get there except for the fact they are getting beaten by 20 pts, so they eventually score due to lack of interest by opposition who's so far ahead Darko and Rasho have had their own 1 on 1 "duels" come 5 minutes left in game. Sorry for the rant, but the uncompetitive, and often unwatchable basketball in this Series is just so obvious I wonder why NBA doesn't spend more time figuring out ways to prevent crap like this being on their biggest stage--the Finals to me were about great teams going at it--and since Jordan era it's about one team that's pretty good and the other that is okay, and they play 1, maybe 2 good games in 7 game series. If this is future of NBA ball--lockout and STAY LOCKED OUT! Terrific post. Except for the lockout part. Just lock out the Spurs and Pistons. ;D Check out my column "Disappearing Act" on the NBA website and let me know what you think. |
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 18, 2005 23:49:39 GMT -5
Enjoyed the column MCI and well said about Spurs. I'd also like to point out that Tim Duncan reminds a lot of Pete Sampras--and some might wonder how/where this analogy came from--well Sampras was one of the most gifted players to ever play in his sport, he also had a beautifully skilled game that just dominated--when he was "on"--he was unbeatable. Duncan has proven this in his career--when he's on his game, there is nobody who can stop him.
However, in addition to Sampras' greatness he also had a knack for not stepping up when challenged. Rarely did he have to come back in a final as he often dominated those and if matches for him were hard, he often folded up shop. He also was GOD AWFUL in International Competition when it wasn't about money/fame, but rather playing for more--Country. Duncan SUCKED in the Olympics and played with the passion of a corpse. When things have been difficult for him in Detroit, he's done nothing to show that he was willingi to hang in and fight--by repeating "I usually don't have back to back bad games" and his Head Coach and ABC Crew using the "Timmy is off on his own island and doesn't get a talking too"---well "Timmy" is off his game and being beat up a bit--he's a player that has never had to face the type of intensity and effort that Detroit will bring and as I said prior to the beginning of this Series, you will get murdered when playing in Detroit--they call nothing and allow them to hack, slap, etc... but if you know it's coming--time to take your game up a level.
To Duncan's defense, guys like Ginobili haven't shown same fight either and Nazr Mohammed seems to fumble or drop about 3 layups/dunks per half, but I believe teams take on personality of their best player and leader and Duncan is being too nice and afraid of the beatings--he needs to dish some out. Will he?
It's always easy beating people when you have the hammer, but when it's getting more difficult, will you raise your game up?? Duncan's not afraid to take shots, but he needs to take on the physical nature that he's being victim of or else Spurs will be heading home down 3-2 and I think Detroit's mentally tough enough to win a game in San Antonio. Will they? And will they need to win 2 in San Antonio? That's question and it all starts with how Duncan comes out and responds to tough tactics he's faced. Being the best is great, but being a Legend is how you respond to the challenge of doubt and things not looking good.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Jun 20, 2005 0:18:41 GMT -5
BIG SHOT BOB!!!!! Finally a game worthy of NBA Finals and last 5 minutes of regulation and OT were great basketball--well except for Duncan going KG and Shaq on us at same time--YUCK. Why he's getting protected by media when it was Ginobili and Horry who carried this team down stretch and especially HORRY!! The man is as clutch as it gets and for those that don't understand what I have against certain players, watch Horry play--nothing going for him and then BAM--it's $$$ time and Big Shot Bob lights it up. Unbelievable performance and that dunk was just sick, but his dagger 3's are just fantastic--it's what basketball is all about. Tip my hat to Billups and Prince for stepping up as well and that was quality basketball down the stretch minus Duncan's crap play--he was awful at the line and his fumbling of the pass Horry made had me wondering if he was going to personally make sure Spurs lost tonight.
Great game and the "Legend" of Big Shot Bob adds another chapter tonight. ;D
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on Jun 20, 2005 9:42:11 GMT -5
The media gives Duncan a break because he is a genuinely classy person who doesn't make an ass of himself to the media (although he is not the most talkative guy to go to for quotes). The press will give such a person like that breaks, especially when that person has come up big before. And let's face it Duncan was the one who came up big in the Spurs two previous championships. Also Duncan is humble and honest enough to admit that he had screwed up and that Robert had bailed him out. That is in stark comparison with Richard Hamilton who keeps blaming everyone else (including the refs) and never blames himself for anything.
Not to mention the press realized that it had already grilled Duncan the previous three days.
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nychoya3
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Post by nychoya3 on Jun 20, 2005 10:43:19 GMT -5
I thought Horry's postgame comments about why he's so good in the clutch were very revealing. He basically said it's because he has fun, and when everyone is gritting their teeth late in the game, he's smiling and enjoying himself. The guy has no fear, and that makes him so valuable when it matters.
Duncan has done enough in his career that one can't really question his heart or toughness. But he did suck down the stretch. Still managed a pretty classic Duncan line of 26 and 19. Not too shabby.
And that's probably the series right there. I can imagine Detroit taking two at San Antonio.
MCI, I did like it when Rip was calling for a foul on Parker on the last play, after he had twice elbowed Parker in the face after getting beat to the spot on his drive.
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