*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (10 Viewers)

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Flip Saunders to coach T-Wolves

Also leading candidate for open positions as sales associate, Crunch the Wolf, and parking attendant.

I don't blame him for taking the job after interviewing Vinny D.

Locally everyone assumed Vinny D was a decoy candidate to make Flip more palatable.

Whoever is coaching the Wolves next season is far less interesting to me than who they end up getting for Love (and when).

For sure. I'd like them to move Rubio as well this off-season before the added workload sans-Love exposes him even further, but they probably won't.

I haven't watched enough the last couple of years to have a legitimately educated opinion of him (but that's never stopped me before, so...) but my take on him is that he has shown enough to be a legit PG if surrounded by the right weapons. He can't be the first, second, or even third scoring option, but if he was surrounded by scorers, I still think he could be what he was expected to be, which is a playmaker. Unfortunately, without Love, we are about three scorers away from having three scorers.

Exactly. Which means he'll try and take more of the scoring load to disastrous results.

 

[got_nugs]

It took Lebron over 5 games last year to figure out that SA is going to give him the mid range shot.

Do we expect San Antonio to give Miami the same defensive look as last year?

 

[Bull Dozier]

Flip Saunders to coach T-Wolves

Also leading candidate for open positions as sales associate, Crunch the Wolf, and parking attendant.

I don't blame him for taking the job after interviewing Vinny D.

Locally everyone assumed Vinny D was a decoy candidate to make Flip more palatable.

Whoever is coaching the Wolves next season is far less interesting to me than who they end up getting for Love (and when).

For sure. I'd like them to move Rubio as well this off-season before the added workload sans-Love exposes him even further, but they probably won't.

I haven't watched enough the last couple of years to have a legitimately educated opinion of him (but that's never stopped me before, so...) but my take on him is that he has shown enough to be a legit PG if surrounded by the right weapons. He can't be the first, second, or even third scoring option, but if he was surrounded by scorers, I still think he could be what he was expected to be, which is a playmaker. Unfortunately, without Love, we are about three scorers away from having three scorers.

Exactly. Which means he'll try and take more of the scoring load to disastrous results.

What's the upside of trading him though? Sending him somewhere with playmakers and seeing him flourish and have the fans collectively kick themselves and be mad at the front office for moving a "star" while most likely getting something very mediocre in return? We're in a no win situation with him.

 

[Freelove]

Go (insert your team of choice. It'll work with me)!! Finally, the long anticipated rematch starts tonight!

Odds this quote would look any different if it were the Celtics and Lakers in the final? The Bobcats and T'Wolves?

In the 80's, I was a Laker fan with Magic man. Bro was a Celtics hard core Bird fan. My parents went nuts watching us during the finals. As for the Bobcats and TWolves, who? I'd watch the finals as I always do but wouldn't care who won in this case.

But if they were in the finals, it would mean they had good players...

So. It's not just about being a good player on the court for me....

The evidence says otherwise...

 

[Raider Nation]

Why even bother watching the games if you're happy regardless of the outcome?

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Flip Saunders to coach T-Wolves

Also leading candidate for open positions as sales associate, Crunch the Wolf, and parking attendant.

I don't blame him for taking the job after interviewing Vinny D.

Locally everyone assumed Vinny D was a decoy candidate to make Flip more palatable.

Whoever is coaching the Wolves next season is far less interesting to me than who they end up getting for Love (and when).

For sure. I'd like them to move Rubio as well this off-season before the added workload sans-Love exposes him even further, but they probably won't.

I haven't watched enough the last couple of years to have a legitimately educated opinion of him (but that's never stopped me before, so...) but my take on him is that he has shown enough to be a legit PG if surrounded by the right weapons. He can't be the first, second, or even third scoring option, but if he was surrounded by scorers, I still think he could be what he was expected to be, which is a playmaker. Unfortunately, without Love, we are about three scorers away from having three scorers.

Exactly. Which means he'll try and take more of the scoring load to disastrous results.

What's the upside of trading him though? Sending him somewhere with playmakers and seeing him flourish and have the fans collectively kick themselves and be mad at the front office for moving a "star" while most likely getting something very mediocre in return? We're in a no win situation with him.

I think there's a chance someone still covets him enough for a future lottery 1st + something...maybe I'm crazy though. If they can't get something like that then I agree with you.

Remember, initiatlly the screwing around with the Love contract was partially because they wanted to leave themselves options for potentially giving Rubio a max deal. :killsself:

 

[matuski]

Why even bother watching the games if you're happy regardless of the outcome?

Start the party now!

 

[the moops]

Why even bother watching the games if you're happy regardless of the outcome?

I don't really care about this outcome but I will watch it. I just want to be entertained.

 

[Spartans Rule]

"As for the Spurs and Heat, who? I'd watch the finals as I always do but wouldn't care who won in this case." - Curly Night in 1989.

 

[CurlyNight]

Go (insert your team of choice. It'll work with me)!! Finally, the long anticipated rematch starts tonight!

Odds this quote would look any different if it were the Celtics and Lakers in the final? The Bobcats and T'Wolves?

In the 80's, I was a Laker fan with Magic man. Bro was a Celtics hard core Bird fan. My parents went nuts watching us during the finals. As for the Bobcats and TWolves, who? I'd watch the finals as I always do but wouldn't care who won in this case.

But if they were in the finals, it would mean they had good players...

So. It's not just about being a good player on the court for me....

The evidence says otherwise...

 

[CurlyNight]

"As for the Spurs and Heat, who? I'd watch the finals as I always do but wouldn't care who won in this case." - Curly Night in 1989.

Yep! Was very sad that Kareem retired losing against the Pistons in the finals.

 

[pollardsvision]

Why even bother watching the games if you're happy regardless of the outcome?

That makes it kind of like watching porn.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Interesting take on the series:

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is tonight.

Full disclosure: the network carrying the NBA Finals, ABC, also owns ESPN and Grantland.

Full disclosure: despite my goal of remaining an objective observer of sport, I'm totally rooting for the San Antonio Spurs.

As the great philosopher Steve Perry once crooned, "the girl can't help it." I'm in the tank for Los Spuros.

Call me an old codger if you must - I prefer the term "throwback" - but I see the Spurs as a team that was built through hard work and intelligence, and the Heat as a team that was bought with large sums of money and hype.

Tim Duncan was drafted by the Spurs in 1997, way back when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was still in junior high. Duncan never gave in to big money and big markets, staying loyal to the team that brought him into the league. And get this: Duncan went to college! For four whole years! I didn't know that was even still legal for NBA players.

Manu Ginobili? Drafted by the Spurs in 1999. Late in the second round, by the way. (or "BTW", as Zuckerberg might text.)

Tony Parker? Drafted by the Spurs in 2001.

Tiago Splitter? Drafted by Spurs. 2007.

Kawhi Leonard? Drafted. Spurs. 2011.

An entire starting five, all lifelong Spurs, only Duncan from a big-time college program, and even calling Wake Forest "big-time" is debatable.

Sure the Spurs have players they signed as free agents, but none of them were the result of bidding wars. They were castoffs.

Danny Green? Cut. Boris Diaw? Cut. Patty Mills? Cut. Marco Belinelli? Set free.

Gregg Popovich built this roster the right way. No big trades disturbing chemistry. No big-money free agent divas. No discrimination by race or nationality.

The Heat? Well, that's another story.

In you look in your thesaurus for an antonym for "paying dues", you will see a picture of LeBron James. LeBron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was a junior in high school. Already a household name when he entered the NBA Draft, without a day spent in college, mind you. Then he strung along his loyal home state fans after seven years of "cell phone set to vibrate" - no rings - and announcing his free agency decision on a freakin' reality show.

Bought. Signed, sealed, delivered, a perfect reality TV marriage of an overhyped athlete taking his talents to an overhyped city.

Chris Bosh? Bought during that same summer. Remember that pep rally when LeBron, Wade, and Bosh danced around to "YES WE DID" before playing a game together. Maybe "YES WE DID" was in honor of Tim Duncan's four career titles at that point, but I didn't see any Spurs in the audience that night.

Shane Battier? Took the money after seven seasons in small markets and no titles, just like his hero, LeBron.

Mario Chalmers? Bought. Literally. The Heat bought his draft rights from the Timberwolves.

Ray Allen? A hired gun his whole career. Such a diva he was traded before even playing one NBA game. Starred in a Spike Lee movie before making the playoffs. The Heat are the fourth franchise he's represented in the postseason.

Even the Heat's guiding guru, Pat Riley, is a man of expensive suits and image over substance, moving from big city to big city whenever he didn't feel appreciated enough.

Back when I competed, I wanted to compete against the best. Not recruit the best to come play alongside me to make it easier.

Give me the Spurs in 7. Please.

 

[got_nugs]

Interesting take on the series:

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is tonight.

Full disclosure: the network carrying the NBA Finals, ABC, also owns ESPN and Grantland.

Full disclosure: despite my goal of remaining an objective observer of sport, I'm totally rooting for the San Antonio Spurs.

As the great philosopher Steve Perry once crooned, "the girl can't help it." I'm in the tank for Los Spuros.

Call me an old codger if you must - I prefer the term "throwback" - but I see the Spurs as a team that was built through hard work and intelligence, and the Heat as a team that was bought with large sums of money and hype.

Tim Duncan was drafted by the Spurs in 1997, way back when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was still in junior high. Duncan never gave in to big money and big markets, staying loyal to the team that brought him into the league. And get this: Duncan went to college! For four whole years! I didn't know that was even still legal for NBA players.

Manu Ginobili? Drafted by the Spurs in 1999. Late in the second round, by the way. (or "BTW", as Zuckerberg might text.)

Tony Parker? Drafted by the Spurs in 2001.

Tiago Splitter? Drafted by Spurs. 2007.

Kawhi Leonard? Drafted. Spurs. 2011.

An entire starting five, all lifelong Spurs, only Duncan from a big-time college program, and even calling Wake Forest "big-time" is debatable.

Sure the Spurs have players they signed as free agents, but none of them were the result of bidding wars. They were castoffs.

Danny Green? Cut. Boris Diaw? Cut. Patty Mills? Cut. Marco Belinelli? Set free.

Gregg Popovich built this roster the right way. No big trades disturbing chemistry. No big-money free agent divas. No discrimination by race or nationality.

The Heat? Well, that's another story.

In you look in your thesaurus for an antonym for "paying dues", you will see a picture of LeBron James. LeBron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was a junior in high school. Already a household name when he entered the NBA Draft, without a day spent in college, mind you. Then he strung along his loyal home state fans after seven years of "cell phone set to vibrate" - no rings - and announcing his free agency decision on a freakin' reality show.

Bought. Signed, sealed, delivered, a perfect reality TV marriage of an overhyped athlete taking his talents to an overhyped city.

Chris Bosh? Bought during that same summer. Remember that pep rally when LeBron, Wade, and Bosh danced around to "YES WE DID" before playing a game together. Maybe "YES WE DID" was in honor of Tim Duncan's four career titles at that point, but I didn't see any Spurs in the audience that night.

Shane Battier? Took the money after seven seasons in small markets and no titles, just like his hero, LeBron.

Mario Chalmers? Bought. Literally. The Heat bought his draft rights from the Timberwolves.

Ray Allen? A hired gun his whole career. Such a diva he was traded before even playing one NBA game. Starred in a Spike Lee movie before making the playoffs. The Heat are the fourth franchise he's represented in the postseason.

Even the Heat's guiding guru, Pat Riley, is a man of expensive suits and image over substance, moving from big city to big city whenever he didn't feel appreciated enough.

Back when I competed, I wanted to compete against the best. Not recruit the best to come play alongside me to make it easier.

Give me the Spurs in 7. Please.

How is this a series take?

Also, Leonard wasn't drafted by San Antonio.

Heat in 3.

 

[Gr00vus]

That's one terrible article. Grantland?

 

[Premier]

Interesting take on the series:

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is tonight.

Full disclosure: the network carrying the NBA Finals, ABC, also owns ESPN and Grantland.

Full disclosure: despite my goal of remaining an objective observer of sport, I'm totally rooting for the San Antonio Spurs.

As the great philosopher Steve Perry once crooned, "the girl can't help it." I'm in the tank for Los Spuros.

Call me an old codger if you must - I prefer the term "throwback" - but I see the Spurs as a team that was built through hard work and intelligence, and the Heat as a team that was bought with large sums of money and hype.

Tim Duncan was drafted by the Spurs in 1997, way back when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was still in junior high. Duncan never gave in to big money and big markets, staying loyal to the team that brought him into the league. And get this: Duncan went to college! For four whole years! I didn't know that was even still legal for NBA players.

Manu Ginobili? Drafted by the Spurs in 1999. Late in the second round, by the way. (or "BTW", as Zuckerberg might text.)

Tony Parker? Drafted by the Spurs in 2001.

Tiago Splitter? Drafted by Spurs. 2007.

Kawhi Leonard? Drafted. Spurs. 2011.

An entire starting five, all lifelong Spurs, only Duncan from a big-time college program, and even calling Wake Forest "big-time" is debatable.

Sure the Spurs have players they signed as free agents, but none of them were the result of bidding wars. They were castoffs.

Danny Green? Cut. Boris Diaw? Cut. Patty Mills? Cut. Marco Belinelli? Set free.

Gregg Popovich built this roster the right way. No big trades disturbing chemistry. No big-money free agent divas. No discrimination by race or nationality.

The Heat? Well, that's another story.

In you look in your thesaurus for an antonym for "paying dues", you will see a picture of LeBron James. LeBron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was a junior in high school. Already a household name when he entered the NBA Draft, without a day spent in college, mind you. Then he strung along his loyal home state fans after seven years of "cell phone set to vibrate" - no rings - and announcing his free agency decision on a freakin' reality show.

Bought. Signed, sealed, delivered, a perfect reality TV marriage of an overhyped athlete taking his talents to an overhyped city.

Chris Bosh? Bought during that same summer. Remember that pep rally when LeBron, Wade, and Bosh danced around to "YES WE DID" before playing a game together. Maybe "YES WE DID" was in honor of Tim Duncan's four career titles at that point, but I didn't see any Spurs in the audience that night.

Shane Battier? Took the money after seven seasons in small markets and no titles, just like his hero, LeBron.

Mario Chalmers? Bought. Literally. The Heat bought his draft rights from the Timberwolves.

Ray Allen? A hired gun his whole career. Such a diva he was traded before even playing one NBA game. Starred in a Spike Lee movie before making the playoffs. The Heat are the fourth franchise he's represented in the postseason.

Even the Heat's guiding guru, Pat Riley, is a man of expensive suits and image over substance, moving from big city to big city whenever he didn't feel appreciated enough.

Back when I competed, I wanted to compete against the best. Not recruit the best to come play alongside me to make it easier.

Give me the Spurs in 7. Please.

This is one hell of a take.

 

[CurlyNight]

Let's get ready to rumbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbble!

 

[got_nugs]

I think i'm gonna throw up on my shoes.

 

[Moe.]

That's one terrible article. Grantland?

Listen bub, if you can't take the heat then stay out of the kitchen.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Four years later and someone is still crying about the decision, and it's an ex-player?

 

[pollardsvision]

I'd be fairly surprised to see SAS pull this series out. Not totally sure why.

I say that fully believing that SAS is the better team this year. They were the better team last year (though, even when they appeared to have G6 wrapped up, I still couldn't seem to wrap my mind around them winning). This year, they are even better and have HCA.

I hope I'm wrong because it would be a pretty awesome moment for Timmy and Pop. And as they say in the HST thread, a big moment for all of sport.

 

[Raider Nation]

Let's have a nice, clean series.

Go..... EVERYBODY!

 

[Raider Nation]

I could poop a better anthem.

 

[timschochet]

This is terrible.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Guess I'll throw in my "Go Spurs Go" before tip off. It's hard only being able to root for one team, right Curly? Oh, wait....

 

[CurlyNight]

Guess I'll throw in my "Go Spurs Go" before tip off. It's hard only being able to root for one team, right Curly? Oh, wait....

I already stated that I am rooting a little more for the Spurs than the Heat since the Heat are not an aging team possibly coming to an end of their era..

 

[CurlyNight]

Off to a very exciting series! Fast tempo!

 

[AAABatteries]

Off to a very exciting series! Fast tempo!

Congrats and condolences in advance Curly!

 

[CurlyNight]

Off to a very exciting series! Fast tempo!

Congrats and condolences in advance Curly!

lol! That's exactly how I felt last year!

 

[pollardsvision]

I don't see how Splitter is going to get too many minutes in this series.

With him in there, there don't seem to be many too many ways into the lane for Parker.

 

[AAABatteries]

Ginobli trying to make up for his craptastic performance in last years Finals.

 

[pollardsvision]

LeBron sure sold that contact

 

[NutterButter]

Good god, I can never like James with all the whining he does.

 

[CurlyNight]

 

[Todem]

Good god, I can never like James with all the whining he does.

You must not like any NBA player then.

They all whine.

 

[CurlyNight]

I hope Spurs win this game. The Heat will heat up more as the games go on....

 

[Long Ball Larry]

is bosh going to make out with Chalmers?

 

[Long Ball Larry]

what exactly happened on that inbounds play after the belinelli 3 when they cut away? no sound on here.

 

[got_nugs]

what exactly happened on that inbounds play after the belinelli 3 when they cut away? no sound on here.

time out to avoid 5 sec call, I think.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

but why did they nee a 5 sec call after that? it looked like no one was around at all.

 

[AAABatteries]

Horrible call.

If the Spurs would stop turning it over they could have a double-digit lead.

 

[NutterButter]

Good god, I can never like James with all the whining he does.

You must not like any NBA player then.

They all whine.

Some do, but very few superstars whine to LBJ's degree. I never see Wade whine. Can't say I see Parker whine much. Half of James' whines are totally legitimate calls or no-calls like the no-call at the end of the 1st that James had a typical James reaction to.

 

[metoo]

Wade is healthy. Heat in 6.

 

[got_nugs]

Just a bunch of gibberish and mother####ers act like they forgot about Wade

 

[Reegus]

Horrible call.

If the Spurs would stop turning it over they could have a double-digit lead.

Lol no. Heat are turning it over just as much.

 

[Raider Nation]

Entertaining game, Mark Jackson notwithstanding.

 

[Abraham]

AC not working.

 

[AAABatteries]

Horrible call.

If the Spurs would stop turning it over they could have a double-digit lead.

Lol no. Heat are turning it over just as much.

I didn't say for the Heat to stop turning it over. Duh!

 

[NutterButter]

Great game so far

 

[Ghost Rider]

Horrible call.

If the Spurs would stop turning it over they could have a double-digit lead.

That's like saying, if teams could just throw the ball well against the Seahawks, they'd beat them. Creating turnovers is what the Heat are good at when they are on their defensive game.