NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 2

[FAH1223]

I have a bad feeling about this series. SA is too old IMO.

Besides Manu and Timmy, they aren't that old.

But they played great to steal this game. Definitely a statement win.

[hands11]

Hope I'm wrong but I think Miami wins in 6. They'll take the first two, steal one in San Antonio, and then close it out at home.

Bosh isn't gonna get banged around as much in the paint, I think he'll have a big series.

Well now you no longer have to hope.

Duncan and Parker are just machines.

That said, LeBron with 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Pretty impressive.

Should be a great series but I stand by my prediction. SA takes this. They are just to good. To seasons. To well coaches and to hungry. And rested. Its been a long time for Parker and Duncan's window is closing. When it comes down to it, they want it more.

Combine that will their talent and coaching and they will take it.

Every game is huge. But taking game 1 on the road. That's HUGE. If they take game 2, its over.

[hands11]

Watching the Spurs really makes you realize how far away the Wizards are from competing.

No one will know until we see them actually in the playoffs. Its a totally different level of ball.

That said, Wall and Beal is a solid set up at 1 and 2. I have no problem seeing them competing at that level. Now they just need experience. They need the right vets around them. A team of puppies isn't going to get it done.

But Wall, Beal, Webster, Trevor A, Nene and Okafor is a solid set up to make the playoff and get them that experience. I wouldn't underestimate the value Trevor A plays in that mix. But they just need to keep filling out the team so there is stability.

They need a least one more year of keeping those players around while they load the deck behind them for the future. They need to grown through this stage where there are still big questions about young players like Kevin S and Ves. I say this is their last year to prove if they have any future here. At least Kevin seems to be putting in the work with Randy so maybe he has a big year.

Personally, I'm not even thinking they absolutely need to draft a long term piece. They just need to draft someone who will help and who keeps their value. That way you can move them for the right piece when it presents itself. Wall and Beal were two solid drafted pieces but Nene, Okafor and Trevor A were trade pick ups. And we lucked into Webster. So the team doesn't need to be build just with draft pieces.

The model they started is sound. They just need depth. If Trevor A is defiantly going to leave, you pretty much have to pick Porter. That gets that part of the team established for a long time following the same model.

Wall, Beal, Webster and Porter. If you know you have that set, they means a lot.

Then you have Nene and Okafor for a while also. No reason to ship Okafor off unless his contract presents the right opportunity to add a younger longer term piece.

With all that set, you to focus on finding a Okafor replacement longer term plus the other role players you need. Stable growth.

There are going to be a ton of bigs floating around the league so they should be able to pick the right one up.

Now if Trevor A is actually committed to staying, go draft a big like Len.

[hands11]

I think Wall can be Tony Parker good. Plays his best in the playoffs and so damn smart!

If the can big up where he left off when he turned it around last season, he numbers are already in line with that.

He just needs to keep adding to his game.

A floater.
A post up game.

That is what you need for the playoffs so the coach has more flexibility to create match up problems.

Come playoffs, if you have rock solid team defense, one player that creates match up problems like that can really be a game changer.

I think with Wall and Beal they have a deadly combination. From there, its all about Nene or the vet that replaces him. If Nene can rebound his game next year, they can be a very good team. If not,

LaMarcus Aldridge is the right age.

[LyricalRico]

Good triumphs over Evil... for tonight at least.

Fell asleep at the end of the third and now kicking myself after seeing the highlights of the finish.

Go Spurs!

[FAH1223]

[fishercob]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

[closg00]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

No, that was a crab 180 drive to the basket

[Ruzious]

Tony Parker is being really underestimated everywhere.

If Westbrook and Rondo could get 40+ in a game vs. Miami last spring, I think Parker is very capable of doing it. He just played arguably the best perimeter defense in the NBA last round and torched them.

Miami is great at pick and roll defense. But their blitzing will turn into back breaking 3s or layups against SA because they swing the ball...

Splitter will probably be on Bosh and Duncan will protect the paint. If Spoelstra plays Battier on Duncan or Splitter, both of those guys have post moves and strength over him.

Great call on Parker. He's got to be the most under-appreciated player of the last 10 years or so. Even in fantasy basketball - every year I pick him about 2 rounds later than I think he should go. He doesn't get a lot of steals and 3 pointers, but he's sooooo consistent. Consistenly good isn't sexy, but it WINS.

[montestewart]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

Norris Cole, 3 steps without a dribble, no spins to confuse a ref, no defenders to block a refs view. Still pretty spectacular.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iwbIJ7jA8g[/youtube]

[nate33]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

There is a bit of a hop as he spins on his right foot. I suppose that could be construed as a travel.

[Ruzious]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

Yup. And it's a great example of how Parker's fundamentals are on a level most players can't come close to.

[fishercob]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

There is a bit of a hop as he spins on his right foot. I suppose that could be construed as a travel.

I disagree. That left foot is supposed to be a pivot foot during the spin, and it slides all over the place. Mind you, I'm not complaining.

[sfam]

Amazing finish! You gotta think the break really helped SA. Miami definitely lost their mojo in the fourth quarter - they really did look mentally tired. And they didn't seem as fast, which probably affected the low TO rate for SA.

I kind of hate the 2-3-2 format, but I think SA has a pretty decent chance to win at this point. So many pundits were picking Miami in 5. I wonder if they start saying, "the sky is falling!"

[jivelikenice]

^Im not seeing the left foot slide. I'm seeing him go to his toes on the left foot when he spins but where's the slide?

[fishercob]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

Yup. And it's a great example of how Parker's fundamentals are on a level most players can't come close to.

Parker is a better, more efficient version of Allen Iverson. He makes shots look easy that have an insane degree of difficulty.

[jivelikenice]

I still would favor Mia although I'm rooting for the Spurs. Biggest issue for Miami is do they respect their opponent enough? I think Lebron does, but what about the other guys on the team and Spoelstra? He can't treat the Spurs like any other team and think that if they execute their gameplan they will win. The Spurs aren't the Bull/ Pacers/ Knicks/ or OKC. They have championship pedigree and it shows. They won't fold under pressure and won't get caught up in the emotions of a run by either team. They're the ONLY team in the league right now that has the mindset necessary to beat the Heat in a best of 7 series.

Another thing going against Miami. The older/tougher team (as long as they're not too old) usually wins in sports.

[Ruzious]

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

Yup. And it's a great example of how Parker's fundamentals are on a level most players can't come close to.

Parker is a better, more efficient version of Allen Iverson. He makes shots look easy that have an insane degree of difficulty.

And if he chose to, he could have played like Iverson and scored every bit as much, but playing as part of a team and winning was more important to him. Plus, he fully realizes what it means to play with Duncan - who he reveres. He grew up in the NBA starting out as a very ordinary very young player in a new country - playing with the likes of young Duncan and Ginobili, and that had to be a humbling and motivating experience.

[verbal8]

I still would favor Mia although I'm rooting for the Spurs. Biggest issue for Miami is do they respect their opponent enough? I think Lebron does, but what about the other guys on the team and Spoelstra? He can't treat the Spurs like any other team and think that if they execute their gameplan they will win.

I think both teams were playing near their best last night. I think the pivotal game in this series will be Game 3. If the Heat go down 2-1, they give the Spurs a path to protect home court and win in 6.

[pancakes3]

That's quite the travel. Karma's a bitch, eh Lebron?

I don't think it is a travel. As long as he had picked up that left foot before he picked up his dribble, then the "layup" starts with his right foot as he spins. His first step is his left as he finishes the spin, his second step is his right as he jumps for the layup. Two steps.

There is a bit of a hop as he spins on his right foot. I suppose that could be construed as a travel.

I disagree. That left foot is supposed to be a pivot foot during the spin, and it slides all over the place. Mind you, I'm not complaining.

It'd be a stronger argument if you contend that his right foot was the pivot for the spin, making the 2nd right foot a third step. I think it's a borderline call. The Norris layup was blatant. Good on him to blow past a flat footed parker but those were 3 giant steps he took to get from the FT extended all the way to the rim.

edit to add: Last night's win gives the Spurs a sizable advantage. They've got 3 straight at home and can feasibly close it out in 5. Even if they only win 2 out of 3, they still only have to steal 1 out of 3 chances in Miami. Last night was huge.