2006 / 2007 NBA Thread

[Cowboy22]

Well, that game was quite the improvement from my perspective. Duncan getting into foul trouble and turning the ball over like crazy was obviously a big part of it, but Utah played really well. Williams and Boozer were awesome as they always are (especially Williams, who made a ton of big shots for them. He's definitely become a star this postseason), but the bench was huge too, they really never lost a step when they had to rest starters, and in a lot of cases they actually played better. The defense was much improved too, especially Okur, who did a great job on Duncan (it'd be really nice if he could starting scoring again though). I still think they're going to lose the series (though they've got a good chance in game four. Like I've said before, totally different team at home), but this was a big win for the team as far as the future is concerned. They now know they're more than capable of hanging with the best of the best.

Edit: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2884339 There's a story that might interest you. Kobe is apparently upset with the direction of the Lakers and demanding that the Lakers bring West back in as GM, or he wants to be traded. I'm sure he'll calm down and get over it before the season starts, but it's still an interesting situation

[farfus]

They dominated SA, and i agree, they rule SA at home, im looking forward to the next game... Cleveland finally took down Detroit in game 3, good game there...

[Cowboy22]

Okay, so yeah, Utah lost the series and got blown out in the last game, SA is really good and going to win the Finals, Utah made good progress this season and is one piece away, blah blah blah, I don't want to talk about it because it still makes me sad.

Anyway, in something I will talk about LeBron James is amazing and all those pundits who were knocking him for being lazy or bad under pressure or whatever earlier this year can just go ahead and shut up now. That performance tonight in Game 5 was maybe the best individual performance I've ever seen in the playoffs. He literally scored every single point for the Cavs in the OTs, Detroit had absolutely no answer. Dunks, layups, post-ups, fade away jumpers, crazy threes over double teams, he did it all. And he added a bunch of rebounds and assists on top of it. Dude is unreal, and I really hope the Cavs don't blow it in the next two games like they did last year in the Eastern semis. They won't beat the Spurs anyway, but it'd be nice to see LeBron in the Finals.

[svosen]

Been away...

Good Clev/Det series. I enjoyed the last two games. Missed the last couple games of the SA/UT series, though.

Yeah, this whole Kobe thing... I don't want to see him traded. I like him enough that I'd probably end up being torn between whoever he would go to and the Lakers. But truthfully, they just can't make a contending team "right now." Unless they can convince some big-name free agent(s) to sign for peanuts. Or if they can hoodwink some team into an insane trade and Dr. Buss forgets his meds and signs on salaries putting him over the luxury tax limit.

As for SA/CLE. Hmm... MY prediciton is SA in five. They're going to DESTROY CLE in game 1, beat them in game 2, lose game three, then win the last two.

I hate to see it happen. I can't think of a better circumstance for Lebron to win his first title (e.g. preventing the Spurs from winning). I just can't stand the thought. Aaarrrg!!

[farfus]

Ok was gonna ask what you guys thought. I think it will go further than 5, but with a tremendous effort by Duncan and Co. the Spurs will take it. But... i want to reserve the possibility of Lebron and Co. possibly doing something they did during the regular season, which was sweep their series with the Spurs. I think both teams will win games, its all up to who the hot hand is, and The CAVS have won 4 straight. Lets see how much better the West really is, and i agree the first game could be a good indicator. Having all this time off may not be the best thing for the Spurs, though...

[svosen]

For the Spurs, the extra time is crucial. They're a polished team, with gobs of experience. The rest is critical.

For the Cavs, on the other hand, it's more important to keep the rust off. So the scheduling really works in favor of each team, I think.

The big deciders will be:

*Duncan's play
*Lebron's play
*Parker/Ginobli
*Gibson/Gooden
*The refs (they'll decide who gets away with what - expect the Spurs to win in this category, by a lot).

In the end, I predict I will be hugely frustrated that officiating decided yet another champ (e.g. the disgustingly lopsided officiating in favor of Wade last year, and many other such examples before). But mostly I'll just be mad that officiating gave the Spurs another title.

You wouldn't hear a peep from me if the refs gave it to Cleveland

[Cowboy22]

The Spurs won't need the refs, they're just a lot better. You can hate them all you'd like, but that's a great team and one of the best run franchises in all of sports. There are individuals on the team that I don't care for (*cough*Bowen*cough*), but as a whole, I can't help but respect what they've done over the last few years. I'll say them in five too. I'd say a sweep, but I expect LeBron to have at least one game where he goes off for, like, 200000000 points.

Really I win either way here. Either LeBron wins his first title and provides further evidence that he is the second coming, or the Spurs win and Utah looks better because they only lost to the champs .

[svosen]

Well, let's send this thread to its grave and never discuss it again. It's a sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad (etc. etc.) day.

See you in the 2007/2008 NBA thread. Or possibly a 2007 Offseason thread.