tfaz1 said:
Exactly! He is such a great clutch player. He is silent (no big scoring numbers), but deadly. With the Lakers, he put the Kings away a few years ago with a clutch shot over Divac.
Great game!
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Finals Matchup: San Antonio Vs. Detroit
- Thread starter calyxman
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Exactly! He is such a great clutch player. He is silent (no big scoring numbers), but deadly. With the Lakers, he put the Kings away a few years ago with a clutch shot over Divac.
Great game!
I did not notice this while watching the game. i thought i respected SA because they did things the right way. This is not the right way.
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm4682_20050620.htm
there's another shot of it at www.mysanantonio.com in their slide show.
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm4682_20050620.htm
there's another shot of it at www.mysanantonio.com in their slide show.
iPegboy said:
As well as he played last night, he could pretty much do whatever he wanted to and it doesn't take the luster off of it. We don't know if it was intentional anyway as a photograph is literally just a split second in time. We have no idea the true context since we don't have video of it occurring. Besides, Pistons fans should be a lot more angry at Rasheed for freelancing and leaving him wide open than for any alleged gesture that Horry made afterwards...
Eevee said:Exactly! He is such a great clutch player. He is silent (no big scoring numbers), but deadly. With the Lakers, he put the Kings away a few years ago with a clutch shot over Divac.
Great game!
IIRC, the shot against Sacramento came from Divac as he batted a short Shaq miss away from the basket, which is exactly what he was supposed to do in that situation. It just happened to go to Horry, who was waiting on the perimeter for a pass.
Lancetx said:
Exactly. That poor decision might haunt Rasheed for a while. Fundamentally, it was a good choice. Trap Ginobili in the corner with just a few seconds left on the clock. That's usually what you're supposed to do in that situation. BUT... given Horry's reputation, you must respect him and under no circumstances leave him wide open for the game winner.
In regards to the photo, usually when you make a gesture like that in a derogatory way, you want someone to notice. No one noticed at all until the photo came out. From the photo, it appears that he's looking at his own bench, not the Pistons' bench. If you look at the replay video you can see none of the Pistons players on that end of the court are looking in his direction. The idea that it's a message to the Pistons is rediculous. Furthurmore, if he wanted to disrespect the Palace crowd, he could have turned around to the people standing 3 feet behind him. There's nothing to see here.
Now, even more impressive than the 3 to win the game was that huge dunk over Hamilton the possession earlier. That brought me back to his days 10 years ago with the Rockets. You could see it in his face as he circled the court afterward (holding his injured left shoulder), he's thinking, "I'm getting too old for this $%@#"
So once again, we get over estimation and over anticipation from the San Antonio fans, and I'm not talking all of you people, this includes the media as well.
Well, Pistons fought back. We're at game 7. Something the Spurs never faced this post-season. Think they haven't met their match yet? Think the Pistons were going to let this year go down the drain, and come into a noisy and intimidating SBC center and watch the Spurs celebrate at the end of the game? Think the fact that the Pistons are still the reigning champs is meaningless? Think again.
By the way, in game 5, the Spurs won because of Horry's shot. Not because they out hustled the Pistons, not because they played better defense, but Big Shot Bob came up big off the Bench.
Game 6, he wasn't enough.
So what's everyone going to say now about the spurs now that we're heading to a game 7? Pistons take a solid win on the road, unlike the hail mary lucky win the Spurs get at Auburn Hills. I'm not a major Pistons fan, I could have cared less for them the entire season. But what gets me is this constant fawning and flattering taken place around the San Antonio Spurs. And Bill Walton....lemme just say this about Bill Walton: you're an idiot. Your insight is trash, you have no clue what you talk about, you've been off on so many things, and frankly you weren't that great of a basketball player. You need to be replaced, and Tirico and Anthony I'm sure wouldn't mind that either.
I'm seeing many comparing Ginobili to Jordan as well. I'm sorry, but if you don't see the difference between Jordan and Ginobili, then you obviously don't have a clue what you are talking about. Jordan is at the top of the elite list in the NBA. You don't accomplish that 3 years into the NBA and stepping into the roster of an already-established, championship capable team.
Well, Pistons fought back. We're at game 7. Something the Spurs never faced this post-season. Think they haven't met their match yet? Think the Pistons were going to let this year go down the drain, and come into a noisy and intimidating SBC center and watch the Spurs celebrate at the end of the game? Think the fact that the Pistons are still the reigning champs is meaningless? Think again.
By the way, in game 5, the Spurs won because of Horry's shot. Not because they out hustled the Pistons, not because they played better defense, but Big Shot Bob came up big off the Bench.
Game 6, he wasn't enough.
So what's everyone going to say now about the spurs now that we're heading to a game 7? Pistons take a solid win on the road, unlike the hail mary lucky win the Spurs get at Auburn Hills. I'm not a major Pistons fan, I could have cared less for them the entire season. But what gets me is this constant fawning and flattering taken place around the San Antonio Spurs. And Bill Walton....lemme just say this about Bill Walton: you're an idiot. Your insight is trash, you have no clue what you talk about, you've been off on so many things, and frankly you weren't that great of a basketball player. You need to be replaced, and Tirico and Anthony I'm sure wouldn't mind that either.
I'm seeing many comparing Ginobili to Jordan as well. I'm sorry, but if you don't see the difference between Jordan and Ginobili, then you obviously don't have a clue what you are talking about. Jordan is at the top of the elite list in the NBA. You don't accomplish that 3 years into the NBA and stepping into the roster of an already-established, championship capable team.
iPegboy said:
Jeez, that's pretty weak. Maybe he can do that during the parade on Thursday. Oh wait, there is another game to be played.
The Spurs are gonna have to put the Pistons away early on Thursday. If it is tight at halftime, the Spurs will wilt like week-old produce.
We've had 4 blowouts and now 2 tight games. Not too bad of a series...
like i said in the beginning, pistons in seven
its over by the third quarter. they are too clutch in game sevens
no more open three's for the spurs
its over by the third quarter. they are too clutch in game sevens
no more open three's for the spurs
This is the first game 7 in 11 years, second in 17 I believe. Going back to the 93-94 NBA finals between the Knicks and the rockets, the Knicks went into Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead. NY managed to pull off a win in game 2 in Houston, but as we all know, Houston came out on top in that series.
Unlike this series, however, Houston had the homecourt advantage, but still I think Detroit has a real good chance.
Chauncey Billup's will lay out his clutch-game Thursday. His 3 point shots in last night's game were more impressive and more pressured than Robert Horry's wide open easy treys.
Unlike this series, however, Houston had the homecourt advantage, but still I think Detroit has a real good chance.
Chauncey Billup's will lay out his clutch-game Thursday. His 3 point shots in last night's game were more impressive and more pressured than Robert Horry's wide open easy treys.
calyxman said:
Once again, Pistons fans feel like the whole world is against them. Does the whole Detroit area have this inferiority complex? Or just the sports fans? I didn't see a lot of people saying that the Pistons were doomed. I saw a lot of people saying that it would be an uphill battle to win the last two games on the road and that's true.
I've felt like the two teams were well-matched all along. I picked the Spurs in six and only a few clutch Detroit shots kept it from happening. At any rate, it's exciting to finally have a Game 7. There's a possibility of someone getting immortalized for a timely performance and a chance for someone to be a goat.
And you're wrong about one thing: before his foot problems derailed his career, Bill Walton was a great basketball player. Most of the clips you see of him these days are from when he was a clunky sixth man with the Celtics. But with UCLA and the Trailblazers, he was the most agile, fundamentally sound, best-passing big man in basketball. Having said all that, he isn't much of a commentator. And seeing old clips of that freaky beard he used to have gives me nightmares.
calyxman said:
who was comparing ginobili to jordan?!?! pleaaaaaasssssssseeeee. ginobili isn't even the leader of his own team.
aloofman said:
If they spurs lose, duncan will be that goat. All the games in detriot he sucked it up and if it wasn't for horry, the pistons would have won it last night. He needs to learn how to make his FT's is the big problem.
xli_ne said:
That makes no sense. Without Duncan -- even the free-throw-challenged Duncan -- the Spurs don't even sniff the NBA finals in the last eight years, much less win two titles and get close to a third. He is the franchise player. How can he be the goat for being a great player, but not an absolutely perfect one? It's like saying that Jerry West was the goat for not beating the Celtics in the 1960s, or that Iverson was the goat for not beating Shaq and Kobe in 2001.
When I say "goat" I mean a guy who makes a bonehead mistake that popular belief says cost his team the title. If the Spurs had won Game 6, then Wallace probably would have been the goat for leaving Horry open in Game 5. Even if Duncan plays crappy at the end of Game 7, he'll be more of a choker than a goat.
aloofman said:
Just for your information, I'm have never been, nor will I be if they win or lose this series, a Pistons fan. I've always been a Phoenix fan.
What I'm getting sick of is this notion that the Spurs are the almighty team of the NBA today. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected this series to be dragged out in 7 games. There were people calling the Spurs to take this in 5, or 6 games. Some suggested after Detroit lost the first two in san antonio that it would only go to 5. They came back to even the series after being down 2-0. They came up big last night to even the series again after dropping one in motown.
So now we're 3-3. Detroit is now leading the Spurs into an area where no Spurs player (except Robert Horry) has been before: game 7. This is the first time San Antonio's suffers 3 losses in the post-season. Detroit has a 10-0 record closing out series. Detroit knows what it's like to play under pressure, they are a model for outstanding clutch plays.
As funny as it sounds, San Antonio is in some respects an overrated team. Tim Duncan is not the greatest power forward ever in NBA history. Tony Parker is not the greatest point guard, and, no, Manu Ginobili is not the greatest shooting guard in the NBA. Yet when you hear the press and you hear a bunch of boneheaded commentators like Bill Walton make it seem like the Spurs own the day, you'd be lead to believe that is true.
aloofman said:
A two-time nba champion and two-time finals mvp should be able to make foul shots. Duncan missed 6 straight down the stretch in game 5. He makes any of those it probably wouldn't have gone into overtime. So I'll agree that he "choked" there. Luckly they won otherwise thats what the sports pages would be talking about, how he "choked". But missing important FT in the finals, and being the type of player he is, its pretty bad. So he choked in game 5, game 6 wasn't much better, 5 of 10 from the line, so if he again chokes in game 7, he won't be labeled a goat for his career, but a goat, in my opinion, for this series.
calyxman said:
Actually, the aforementioned Greg Anthony predicted the Pistons would win it in six. People weren't counting out Detroit this year the way they were against the Lakers last year. And it's not unreasonable to favor the Spurs when you consider that they had a week's rest and had played better in the playoffs going into the finals. I guess that's why they play the games.
Yeah but Anthony is in the minority, he even mentioned in his predictions before last night's game that he thought Detroit would win game six, as he always likes to go for the "underdog."
San Antonio's toughest challenge came from Seattle in the Western Conference. It's tough for me to admit that being a Phoenix fan, but Phoenix blew 4th quarter leads to let the Spurs overcome the Suns too easily.
Detroit, on the other hand, overcame some adversity in the eastern semi's and particularly in the eastern finals. I for one thought they had no chance against Miami, even in game 7! I was proved wrong.
Spurs are a great team, no doubt. They wouldn't be in the finals if they weren't. We'll have to see on Thursday night which team is made of real championship calibur.
San Antonio's toughest challenge came from Seattle in the Western Conference. It's tough for me to admit that being a Phoenix fan, but Phoenix blew 4th quarter leads to let the Spurs overcome the Suns too easily.
Detroit, on the other hand, overcame some adversity in the eastern semi's and particularly in the eastern finals. I for one thought they had no chance against Miami, even in game 7! I was proved wrong.
Spurs are a great team, no doubt. They wouldn't be in the finals if they weren't. We'll have to see on Thursday night which team is made of real championship calibur.
As a Piston fan I felt bad watching Timmy miss FT in game 5. I so wanted Detroit to win, but not with TD missing a bunch of shots at the line.
Big Shot Bob got his shot, but Mr Big Shot will keep the trophy in Detroit.
I don't like Larry Brown, but if the pistons win game 7, I hope he comes back for next year.
Big Shot Bob got his shot, but Mr Big Shot will keep the trophy in Detroit.
I don't like Larry Brown, but if the pistons win game 7, I hope he comes back for next year.
Duncan suceeded in blowing game 6. He tried his hardest in game 5 to do the same. If the Spurs win I think Horry deserves MVP since nobody has been extraordinary. Despite Duncan's numbers looking good on paper. His inability to perform in the 4th quarters of important games should disqualify him. Unless, he goes for 45+, 15+ boards, 5+ blocks, hits his ft's and doesn't turn the ball over.
Whoever is leading with 5:00 left has a 95% chance to win this game. I want to see if the Spurs, my team, want the title. In Spurs history they're 1-7 in game sevens. I'm glad this is the first year we've had real competition out of the east. Whoever wins this game deserves it. It's been a great series!
Whoever is leading with 5:00 left has a 95% chance to win this game. I want to see if the Spurs, my team, want the title. In Spurs history they're 1-7 in game sevens. I'm glad this is the first year we've had real competition out of the east. Whoever wins this game deserves it. It's been a great series!
calyxman said:
Bingo , someone already made the point about Seattle. Do you know what Seattle and Detroit have in common and why they are both teams that gave San Antonio trouble.
Both have Size and Depth.
Seattle had Reggie Evans 6'9" , Nick Colisson 6'10" , Danny Fortson 6'"9 , Jerome James 7'1", Rashard Lewis 6'10" , Valdimir Radmanovic 6'10". Thats a Big front line. add Ray Allen , Luke Ridnour , Antonio Daniels , Damien Wilkens , Filp Murry. You got a Very Deep and very Tlanted Team , they just got hurt and didn't really have much experience.
This team went 6 games with the Spurs and a last second shot in game 6 by TD to end it. Ths is all with out Radmanovic games 2-6 , Allen game 2 , Lewis Games 4-6 thier number 1-2-3 scorers. If they ran Re-sign Daniels and Allen , I give them a very good chance to go to the west finals as Phoenix still lacks Depth and Defense.
Not look at Detroit , Tough as Nails , Extreme on Defense.
Rahsheed and Ben Baddddd Mofo's..Nuff Said here.
Tayshun X-Factor at 6'9" but has Wingspan as big as Yao Mings. Can Post , shot block , good defender , improved shooting , drives the lane.
Rip Hamilton: Clutch Shooter , Phenominal Mid-range shooter , moves like Reggie Miller.
Chauncy Billups : This guy is the Tom Brady of the NBA , a guy who isn't as talented as his peers at his position but has the heart and will to be a champion. This Guy got passed around like Trash by 5 teams after falling out with Boston. Just shows you that Rick Potino didn't know crap about the NBA game and why he's the real Flunky. Very Stong , along with Marbury and Baron Davis , probabally the best built PGs in the League. He can Bump and Bully Skinny Pretty boy Parker. Clutch Shooter, Big Game Player , Leader , Born Champion.
Plus you got Antonio Mcdyess coming off the bench..who wouldn't kill for him just as a starter. Linsey Hunter killer D.
San Antonio blew it, Piston's in 7.
jiggie2g said:
They're comical, I love Rasheed especially. Did you see his facial expression after Larry Brown got called with a technical? Priceless!
The whole Pistons team is entertaining to watch, I laugh when I see Rasheed and the gang playing good because they make it seem like they're having fun. Of course they always have to mix in a few technical fouls, which are always fun to watch.