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The NBA Playoffs Thread

#301
GregC said:
26-19 in free throw attempts isn't out of line at all for the home team in any NBA game. Particularly when the visitors' main big man (Gasol) doesn't normally draw a ton of fouls.

BTW, I find it funny that you hate the Spurs because you don't like a couple guys on their team, but you'll root for Kobe's Lakers.
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I don't like quite a few players on the team, and I don't like the way they play. I think they are dirty and sometimes bordering on unsportsmanlike. I also get sick of the flops from Ginobli and Parker, and the stupid looks of disbelief from Duncan whenever he doesn't get the call he wants. Minor issues, really, but it all adds up.

Kobe is, IMO, a great player. He's almost unstoppable and I think he plays fairly. He can read the game better than just about anyone else and has single-handedly turned the tide of quite a few games in his time. Why is it hard to believe that I would support the Lakers?
 
#302
MakiSupaStar said:
Great game but that call, or rather lack of a call at the very end could have tipped the game in favor of the spurs. I'm not going to apologize for it, but if you spurs fans feel like you have to whine, you guys can send me five packs when the lakers take the series just so we don't have witness the indignation of grown men crying. ;)
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I thought it was a fair non-call. There were plenty of non-calls throughout the game so it seemed pretty consistent to me.
 
#303
The bad call was not the reason the Spurs lost. And yes it was a bad call Fischer left his feet and jumped toward Barry. That is a rookie mistake, you never foul a three point shooter in an end of game situation. But the Spurs lost because they don't have a legitamate NBA Center. Oberto-I can't cover anybody? Big Shot-I can't find the rim Horry? Thomas-I'm sitting on the end of the bench? When they get zero contribution from the center position Duncan has to work too hard. While Tim had a decent game he missed 7 lay-ups and was not aggressive going to the basket. He appears to be playing on tiered legs.

Ginobli, doesn't appear to be healthy and Parker is proving that when you eliminate his ability to get to the basket, he's a fairly mediocre point guard. The Spurs will need a major retooling in the off season. Besides the big three and maybe Barry (a good back up) and Bowen (a guy who should be coming of the the bench for D), They have a roster full of has bens, and development league grade players. Oberto, Thomas, Ingouda, Horry, Vaughn, and Findley. If SA wants to win next season they will need to have wholesale changes to give the big three more rest during the season.
 
#304
Disco_Gee said:
Kobe is, IMO, a great player. He's almost unstoppable and I think he plays fairly. He can read the game better than just about anyone else and has single-handedly turned the tide of quite a few games in his time. Why is it hard to believe that I would support the Lakers?
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C'mon, you're being disingenuous, right? This isn't about talent, as the Spurs have obviously been extremely good (4 rings for Duncan), as has Kobe.

Kobe's history as a bad teammate has been well-documented. And it isn't exactly ancient history, either--he was whining for a trade early this season (and arguably dogging it on the court, too). If you're going to dislike the Spurs for what they do, you have to hold Kobe to the same standard.
 
#305
That call was fine. If Barry had even pretended to shot while Fisher was hitting him he would of shot 3. But he waited and continued his dribble.

It begs two questions: Why is Brent Barry your number one option at the end of the game and why was Popovich going for the win rather than just sending it to OT?

Two really stupid calls.
 
#306
MakiSupaStar said:
Great game but that call, or rather lack of a call at the very end could have tipped the game in favor of the spurs. I'm not going to apologize for it, but if you spurs fans feel like you have to whine, you guys can send me five packs when the lakers take the series just so we don't have witness the indignation of grown men crying. ;)
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:spit::spit::spit::spit::spit: i'm going to send you a knuckle samich along with that Steel Reserve!!

;)
 
#307
Adam Barkley said:
That call was fine. If Barry had even pretended to shot while Fisher was hitting him he would of shot 3. But he waited and continued his dribble.

It begs two questions: Why is Brent Barry your number one option at the end of the game and why was Popovich going for the win rather than just sending it to OT?

Two really stupid calls.
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My understanding is the Lakers had no fouls to give. So it was a two shot foul even if it was non shooting. Also, when a player pump fakes and draws contact, usually a continuation is called. And it was a foul by any standard. As far as Barry being the number one option, I'm sure he wasn't. I imagine the play was run for Ginobli, maybe even Findley. But if you have 2.1 to make the play the first guy to get the ball has to shoot. The play wasn't great. and the Lakers defended it well. But, you NEVER foul a shooter that far out, and that was a foul every-time. Fischer initiated the contact.*

*I'm not a SA fan, and I don't believe in conspiracies. But I do believe that some teams get a better whistle because of star reputations. I also believe that some players get extremely beneficial treatment from the officials, to the point where the integrity of the game is effected.
 
#308
burk48237 said:
... I don't believe in conspiracies. But I do believe that some teams get a better whistle because of star reputations. I also believe that some players get extremely beneficial treatment from the officials, to the point where the integrity of the game is effected.
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+1.

I believe SA lost because they didn`t know how to win.
I know it`s almost impossible to win 3 in a row, but since 2 of 4 games were decided by a close margin, I won`t loose my hope.

Anyway, I still believe Lakers will be the next Champions (hope to be wrong, of course ;)
 
#309
burk48237 said:
My understanding is the Lakers had no fouls to give. So it was a two shot foul even if it was non shooting. Also, when a player pump fakes and draws contact, usually a continuation is called. And it was a foul by any standard. As far as Barry being the number one option, I'm sure he wasn't. I imagine the play was run for Ginobli, maybe even Findley. But if you have 2.1 to make the play the first guy to get the ball has to shoot. The play wasn't great. and the Lakers defended it well. But, you NEVER foul a shooter that far out, and that was a foul every-time. Fischer initiated the contact.*

*I'm not a SA fan, and I don't believe in conspiracies. But I do believe that some teams get a better whistle because of star reputations. I also believe that some players get extremely beneficial treatment from the officials, to the point where the integrity of the game is effected.
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There were some bad calls and some good calls in that game. Some benefitted the Lakers. Some benefitted the Spurs. The last shot was a missed call. But in the end I felt things were cosmically washed out and the karmic balance was restored to the universe of basketball.
 
#311
I still think anyone who assumes the Champion is going to come out of the West is missing something. The East teams teams play real Defense and are deep teams. If SA gets one of their big three in foul trouble their done, this is true to some extent with LA too. I realize it will depend a lot on how the games are called. Tight ticky-tac officiating favors the West teams, but a "let them play" attitude would favor both Detroit and Boston. Detroit and Boston are far more physical then any west team, and Detroit is far deeper up front then any west team. No west team has the athleticism and defensive ability of Sheed-McDyess-Maxiel-Ratlif in it's big men. While I think LA can win (SA is toast), I still think they're going to be shocked by the level of D they face in the finals. I do think the Pistons match up better against LA then Boston, only because Prince has always made Kobe work for his shots. But both teams are more then strong enough to beat the Lakers, and far more balanced then an injury effected San Antonio.
 
#312
Papersen said:
+1.

I believe SA lost because they didn`t know how to win.
I know it`s almost impossible to win 3 in a row, but since 2 of 4 games were decided by a close margin, I won`t loose my hope.

Anyway, I still believe Lakers will be the next Champions (hope to be wrong, of course ;)
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As great as San Antonio has been over the last 8-10 years they have never repeated or appeared in the finals two years in a row. I think it's a testament to two issues. #1 It's harder to keep a good team together in this age of a salary cap effected, fairly even quality between the top teams. Think about it, how much better (on paper) are the Knicks (this years edition which didn't make the post season) verse the Spurs? #2 It is hard to repeat anyway, which is why you have to respect teams that have done it.
 
#313
burk48237 said:
I still think anyone who assumes the Champion is going to come out of the West is missing something. The East teams teams play real Defense and are deep teams. If SA gets one of their big three in foul trouble their done, this is true to some extent with LA too. I realize it will depend a lot on how the games are called. Tight ticky-tac officiating favors the West teams, but a "let them play" attitude would favor both Detroit and Boston. Detroit and Boston are far more physical then any west team, and Detroit is far deeper up front then any west team. No west team has the athleticism and defensive ability of Sheed-McDyess-Maxiel-Ratlif in it's big men. While I think LA can win (SA is toast), I still think they're going to be shocked by the level of D they face in the finals. I do think the Pistons match up better against LA then Boston, only because Prince has always made Kobe work for his shots. But both teams are more then strong enough to beat the Lakers, and far more balanced then an injury effected San Antonio.
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I think you underestimate the D of the Lakers. They're a double threat.
 
#316
GregC said:
C'mon, you're being disingenuous, right? This isn't about talent, as the Spurs have obviously been extremely good (4 rings for Duncan), as has Kobe.

Kobe's history as a bad teammate has been well-documented. And it isn't exactly ancient history, either--he was whining for a trade early this season (and arguably dogging it on the court, too). If you're going to dislike the Spurs for what they do, you have to hold Kobe to the same standard.
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I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you were the authority on who I can and can't like :rolleyes:

You never managed to address the fact that what I said is true. He's a scoring machine. He's an amazing player. He's fantastic to watch. He can read the game. He can and does carry the team to victory in tough games. You don't have to like him, but don't tell me who I can and can't like.
 
#317
I spent 5 or 10 minutes last night watching the replay of the final shot and it's pretty clear that the refs made the right call (or non-call).



Watch Barry's feet. He quite clearly travels before he even gets touched by Fisher. If the refs were going to call anything, they'd have to have called the travel as it happened first.
 
#318
Disco_Gee said:
You never managed to address the fact that what I said is true. He's a scoring machine. He's an amazing player. He's fantastic to watch. He can read the game. He can and does carry the team to victory in tough games. You don't have to like him, but don't tell me who I can and can't like.
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Absolutely. He's the best rapist in the NBA.
 

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