The_Dude

damn it, the spurs should have won today!

so close....


spurs shot less than 30% and they still came close (1 pt!)
nets have no chance at all.

i'm puttin all my money on game5, easy san antonion win.

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

Halx

gut says spurs, heart says nets

__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]

raiden1

give one to the refs the spurs will win the rest!

BulletBob

If the refs could get their heads out of their asses for just one play I'd enjoy this series ten times better. Some of the foul calls are astonishing, the no calls even more so. I'm talking both ways, not just for one team. These NBA Finals referees have not been consistent. That said game 5 is a must win for the Nets, but the Spurs are gonna pull it out. When a team shoots 29% and only loses by three, they're damn good.

Oh and where the hell was Tony Parker? I like him and all but I can't wait to see Jason Kidd running the Spurs offense next season.

Kurant

If NJ pulls out this NBA Final, or goes to a game 7, you won't see Kidd on the Spurs next year. The nets are 1 "real" scorer away from the NBA championship. I guess though, with Detroit getting the only real "big man" that's going to be in the east, NJ could be in a bit of trouble next year. Personally, If I were NJ, I'd be chasing the unhappy T-Mac from Orlando. He's pissed about the Grant Hill thing, and that team just sucks. Deal Richard Jefferson, and Lucious Harris. Maybe Mutombo (Unload that 14 million a year off the cap, he aint worth it) Draft a decent sixth man, I think they'd be alot better off. And of course, keep Jason Kidd.

BTW, has the non-winning team ever had the MVP? Duncan without a doubt is the MVP of this final, and if they lose, Kidd is obviously going to get it, but shooting 29% for the series? Your kidding me right?

The_Dude

actually, they lost by 1 pt.

tim duncan made the last shot after ginobli missed the 3 point attempt.

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

Prophecy

The Spurs are not going to let the Nets when game five. Like someone said shooting 29% and then losing by only 1 point is damn good. If Parker gets back into the flow, and the rest of the team has a solid game (Duncan almost always does) the NJ is in for trouble. I still can't believe they missed the 3

I don't care if the Spurs lose or win the finals but, Kidd should no way in hell get the MVP. Yea, he's made some free throws but so far except for game 2 he hasn't done much. K Mart should get the MVP before Kidd.

__________________
La Disciplina È La Mia Spada,
La Fede È Il Mio Schermo,
Non salti Ciecamente In Incertezza,
E Potete Raccogliere Le Ricompense.

fearofmear

The Spurs should have swept the Nets in four but the Spurs will still win this series. If there is a close Game 7 though, the Nets will steal the series.

Reacharound

This reminds me of the Stanley Cup series where after 4 games, Anaheim lost by lots, but when they won it was close (both in OT). Same thing here, Nets have won close games, where the Spurs have won by a good amount. I'd say Spurs in 6 or 7.

Andrew

Wow, people can actually manage to stay up and watch this shit? I love basketball as much as the next guy (I manage to watch the Pistons}, but this is simply awful basketball. Don't give me the bullshit about good defense. They're both missing wide open shots. On one hand, you have the Spurs. a team that is far too scared to actually play. They're terrified out of their minds. The only reason they're in the finals is because they played the soft Mavericks, the injuried Lakers, and the inexperienced Suns. On the other hand, you have the Nets, the cream of the East, which isn't saying much.

I usually try to catch the finals and everything, but this year I'm content to catch the finals on Sportcenter.

Andrew.

Sensei

There is no way a team from the Leastern Conference will win the finals. I say the Nets have about a 50 percent chance of winning one more game but they will not win two.

__________________
Slacking off with style since 1981.

Cross-Over

I think the Spurs will win the next two, I thought from the onset that NJ would only squeak out one at home despite the generous 2-3-2 format.

I agree about the refs, it has been happening the entire playoffs. ie, Kobe's silly pumpfakes and the phantom call against Wally, The Dal vs Sa game where there were about 100 free throws shot, and the latest with the bs foul out on Robinson and Duncan not getting a blatant call down the stretch. However, I don't think its an outright conspiracy, I just think the refs are noticeably swayed by media/players/league scrutiny.

Orlando will not deal McGrady, he is their franchise. RJ, Mutumbo, and Harris for a 30/6/5 player, you have to be joking. TMac is like 25 years old, his popularity sells tickets and draws attention away from the unforunate Hill fiasco/ needed change to become contenders.

Andrew, no need to dog the Spurs achievements. LA was not really in that bad of shape, dont listen to all the hype. Yes Fox was an important piece, but the three time champs had faced many tougher challenges in the past. How about going down 15 in the fourth quarter of game 7 after blowing a 3-0 lead to Portland 3 years back? Not to mention, they have two of the top 5 players in the NBA. Or how about this for a spin. They beat a dangerous Suns team led by an all NBA point guard with an explosive 2-4 rotation. Dallas, despite losing Dirk, is the best offensive team in the league, and threw the best D at Duncan (quick double teams) in the later stages of the series.

The talent and skill on display in the playoffs this year has been unbelievable, I personally have seen some great basketball on many different levels.

Meridae'n

NJ better win game 5 or it's all she wrote...

__________________
What's easier to believe: that a guy was born without sex in the manner of several Greek demigods and grew up to be able to transmute liquids and alter his body density yet couldn't escape government execution, or that three freemasons in a vehicle made with aluminum foil in an era before digital technology escaped our atmosphere, landing on the moon, broadcasted from there, and then flew back without burning up?

dragon2fire

i hope and pray for nj to win the whole dam thing


and end this carp about how bad the east is


thats my heart


my head says the nets are a peice or two away form being a dominant team and that the spurs have a better roster and should win

Andrew

*chuckles* Come on, Cross-Over. Are you really insinuating that the Lakers were the same great team that they were a few short years ago? Let's take a look at them. Shaq- hurt beyond belief. Couldn't play defense nor rebound. And was still the most dominant player in the series. Kobe- hurt beyond belief. Hurt so bad that his shoulder required serious surgery. Beyond the great two, who'd they have, eh? Fisher? Be nice if he coudl actually move. Horry? Was missing wide-open threes. The Lakers were clearly in decline, as was showed by the Timberwolves in the first round.

Dalls is a good team. Finely had a hell of a series. But, the way Dirk handled his minor, minor injury simply displays how soft they actually were. Can you see any of the truely great NBA stars missing three games because of a minor knee injury?

Give the Suns an extra year or two, and they'll be among the cream of the crop. Hell, there second option is a kid straight out of high school. I'm not taking anything away from them because they're a hell of a team, but they need more experience.

Maybe I'm just pissed off that my beloved Pistons got swept by the mediocre New Jersey Nets. I'm still in tears.

Andrew.

Cross-Over

I think we both have some valid points, but you are a little off base when talking about Shaq. He might have been injured, but it didnt appear to be any worse than the previous year's playoffsbefore he had the surgery.

Shaq's playoff numbers 27ppg and 14.8 rpg. He scored nearly the same as he did all year, and his rebounds went way up.

Kobe was hurt, but his numbers still were solid. He shot a low percentage throughout and wasnt as effective all around, but he faced incredible defense from Peeler/Gill and then Bowen. Fisher actually was deadly from the outside these playoffs, something that usually spells Victory for the Lakers.

I just honestly believe they were outmatched by a better team. Dont forget, the Spurs held fourth quarter leads in every game against LA during last years playoffs and swept this years season series. San Antonio had a superb regular season landing them the number one seed, and they have continued their prowess through post season.

The_Dude

SAN ANTONIO WINS

congrats to everyone that picked spurs.

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

Andrew

Well, of course Shaq and Kobe are going to have good numbers. Who else on the team is willing to shoot the ball? The question is about the effectiveness. The previous three championships, those two alone were able to simply dominate any and every team. This year they were barely able to beat the Timberwolves. In fact, I found Troy Hudson to be the finest player in that series. Beyond the injuried Shaq and Kobe, there's nothing. You have a point guard with no lateral movement, a usually clutch forward in the midst of the most horrendous shooting slump ever, and ..a player called Kareem Rush.

Anyways, the more interesting question about the Spurs is whether or not they'll stay with Tony Parker, or go after Jason Kidd. Next year the Spurs are going to be even better, even with the retirement of David Robinson. Imagine Tim Duncan and Jermaine O'Neil lining up together in the front court. They'll be one of the most versitile, athletic teams in the league. I expect that they'd keep Parker, too.

Andrew.

Cross-Over

The reason I mentioned Shaq's stats about his great rebounding was because you obviously didnt do your homework before making assumptions, not for you to come back with arguement B about lack of supporting cast. Its not like we havent heard the media use that one :sarcasm;

That is inaccurate as well. Do you forget having to go seven against Portland in the Western Confrence Finals enroute to their first championship. Down by 15 in the 4th, they werent exactly "simply dominanting".

What about last year against Sac in the Western Cofrence Finals. That went to seven games, far from domination. Sacramento actually dominated several games, winning big and sometimes losing the lead. Some might say they got a sour deal with the refs and buzzer, but nonetheless, it was not domination.

LA steam rolled their way to the title for their 2nd ring, so I guess you are 1/3 correct

obelix

do or die next game for the nets. hopefully die, imo. i'd like to see d-rob go out with a bang. i cant wait

__________________
no substance