2013 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs (2) vs Miami Heat (1)

[SoF'nAwesome]

I remember this last year. I don't remember if benji was the one who brought it up or not, it showed the whole country rooting for OKC. But I remember clearly looking at the poll at NBA.com yesterday and it showed Miami 42k(I added the two poll options Heat in 4 or 5/Heat in 6 or 7) while Spurs 37k. I would have provided a screen but I don't see it anymore on NBA.com

So, that stuff really doesn't tell the whole story. But yes, jealousy is making the majority of the people root for the Spurs.

Other teams' fans be like "GO SPURS GO!!"

The Heat are still the favorites to win this one. Don't let the poll, the bandwagon effect and the I-have-an-agenda (ex. Kobe fantard) effect fool you.

Word

[Cpt(K)]

Hmm, I really don't know who has a higher chance of winning. I honestly would be elated if Timmy wins his 5th- going out as it were. I think it will be a fun and entertaining Finals nonetheless, hopefully, it won't be marred by poor officiating.. I'm looking at you Joey Crawford.

[Lean]

Can we stop the "haters gonna hate" remarks? This is what keeps me away from looking at the Playoffs altogether.

Haters gonna hate.

As much as I pains me though, I think the Heat will win it in six.

[[Q]]

a lot of people thinking (hoping?) the spurs take it. is this more of people hating on the heat or actually thinking the spurs can do it?

[Lean]

Maybe not completely hating on the Heat, but maybe favoring the teams the Heat face to see if they could actually beat them.

[SoF'nAwesome]

a lot of people thinking (hoping?) the spurs take it. is this more of people hating on the heat or actually thinking the spurs can do it?

Good point. But I think Spurs & Heat are quite matched, so most people will not put any over the other like that(i.e Bucks or injured Bulls). More people are going into the series with the hatred for Heat psychology.

But I mean, how much more right? Get over it & look up what "Free Agency" means while you are at it.

[Jackal]

That's the thing with Heat fans, they are so obsessed with their image of being "hated" they forget that people can actually not give a rats ass about them & just want SA to win because their organization is awesome and they have the greatest PF of all time.

[Patr1ck]

Remember the season series. Spurs rest their starters in game 1, almost win. Miami rests their starters in game 2 and win at the end.

[Stress Fracture]

Let the bench play the entire series!

[SoF'nAwesome]

I as a Heat fan wouldn't want that. Spurs bench is comparatively stronger that ours at the moment

Great series for sure. I just wonder how much the "rest" will affect the series.

[benji]

[Axel The Great]

Picked Spurs in 4 because I'm hoping history repeats himself in that the Spurs sweep LeBron James. That being said, I am aware that I completely underestimate the Heat with that prediction. And?

Two years ago, a team effort from Dallas (especially on defense) took down the Heat. I know the Spurs are capable of putting together a strong team effort to make it happen again.

[shadowgrin]

"His future plans include happiness."

Teen angst Pop.

[Andrew]

In case anyone was wondering why Stephen Jackson was released long before he could take part in these proceedings:

The basketball world seemed to collectively assume that Gregg Popovich had grown weary of the volatile Jackson and chose to cut him loose instead of keeping him the mix for his potential offensive and defensive benefits.

It turns out that there was a specific obvious reason that Jackson needed to go - he simply could not handle playing behind Danny Green and Manu Ginobili.

From today’s San Antonio Express-News:

A year ago Jackson announced, in so many words, Popovich was the only coach who could handle him. Tuesday he said he refused this season to play Popovich’s “mind games.”

That goes against Popovich’s reputation as a straight shooter. That also goes against the conversation Popovich had just before the Spurs traded for Jackson in 2012.

Then, Popovich told Jackson what he would have to accept if the Spurs were going to proceed with the trade: No contract extension and no guarantee of playing time.

Jackson happily agreed, and last season he gave the Spurs some life. In the finale, in Game 6 in Oklahoma City, he may have been the Spur most comfortable with the tension.

He began this past season looking slower, and his shooting percentages fell. So did his minutes. He admits now he sparred with Popovich for about half the season. And after Popovich released him just days before the regular season ended, Jackson posted this on Instagram:

“I would never say a player is better than me when I know their (sic) not. Not for no one. #uandiknowwhatsgoingon”

Tuesday he revealed who he was talking about: Danny Green and Manu Ginobili.

Jackson insists Popovich wanted him to admit Green and Ginobili were better. More than likely, Popovich simply told Jackson they were better. That’s why they were playing instead of him.

Pride wouldn’t let Jackson accept that, and he admitted as much Tuesday. After showing the initial flash of anger when talking about Popovich, he later said Popovich knows him well, and that the release “was best for me so I wouldn’t go crazy.”

Or, as Jackson said Tuesday, again smiling, “I wouldn’t want me on the team, either.”

As the commentary that follows notes, he might be able to argue that he's a better player than Danny Green, though his performance this season doesn't make a strong argument for that. Green is shooting the ball quite well, especially from downtown, while Jackson's percentages - raw and advanced - aren't particularly good at all. There's also no way he should be ahead of Manu in the rotation. Seems his ego and attitude got the best of him.

[formx]

Going with Joey Crawford. Maybe he will pull something off his sleeve and piss off Tim Duncan. But in all seriousness, I'd probably go with Heat in 7. It will be a very close series. A big game by LeBron may decide it.

[deihatein]

Hate both teams, going with the Heat for the win anyway.

[Sauru]

But yes, jealousy is making the majority of the people root for the Spurs.

i think you misunderstand why people hate the heat so much. i am sure some people hate them out of jealousy but i would say far more people hate them because lebron is a fucking douchebag and no body wants to see anyone who is such a dick win anything

[BrotherJRB]

I really don't like watching either of these teams. In fact I have had NBA league pass for 12 years and I have never clicked over to the SPURS game to watch them.

I will be interested to see how the Spurs defend the Heat. After watching my Pacers play everything straight up I wonder if we will see more trapping and double teams towards Lebron.

I imagine the Heat will contain Parker which is the Spurs offense with Ginobili looking very old (and bald like me). I say Heat in 5.

[Jackal]

i think you misunderstand why people hate the heat so much. i am sure some people hate them out of jealousy but i would say far more people hate them because lebron is a fucking douchebag and no body wants to see anyone who is such a dick win anything

This. Doesn't matter though, all he read was: I'm a hater, I'm a hater, I'm jealous etc.

In fact I have had NBA league pass for 12 years and I have never clicked over to the SPURS game to watch them.

Then you've missed some incredible team oriented games.

[atlwarrior]

The whole wanting to see the Heat lose thing is getting old. And no people are not rooting against them for jealousy. What for? Anyways I got Heat in 6 just because I think the the match ups are more their favor this series unlike against Indiana.

[shadowgrin]

The whole wanting to see the Heat lose thing is getting old. And no people are not rooting against them for jealousy. What for?

Because whoever posted that jealousy reason has no idea how fandom works in sports outside of being a bandwagoner or fanboy.

PLEASE STOP BEING JEALOUS SO YOU CAN LIKE HOW AWESOME MY TEAM IS LIKE I DO!

[SoF'nAwesome]

I don't get it. You only "root" for a team when you are a true fan of that team. Otherwise, you make predictions & give your thoughts on who will win. But so far the journey has been people rooting for Bulls, Pacers & now Spurs. Where does this "rooting" come from? Just for the sake of matchup? Then why did people "root" for the injured Bulls at the first place? Same trend. Only Spurs is understandable because "their organization is awesome and they have the greatest PF of all time." But the others?

i think you misunderstand why people hate the heat so much. i am sure some people hate them out of jealousy but i would say far more people hate them because lebron is a fucking douchebag and no body wants to see anyone who is such a dick win anything

And doesn't the LeBron "douchebag theory" mainly comes because of him joining the Heat? Or was it more because he left Cleveland like that? To be honest, people still hating on him & rooting against Heat just because of "The Decision" is retarted. Unless, some just don't want to accept LeBron as the greatest or in some silly cases, better than Kobe.

This. Doesn't matter though, all he read was: I'm a hater, I'm a hater, I'm jealous etc.

That's all I get out of your blah's, sorry.

The whole wanting to see the Heat lose thing is getting old. And no people are not rooting against them for jealousy. What for?

Pretty much since the big 3 got together. Because no team in the NBA has a combo like this. Though Bosh doesn't really live up to it. And imagine how those Lakers fan are feeling specially, as each day passes. Seeing Heat & LeBron win it all. The Kobe dickriders realize that no more Lakers, no more Kobe. Yes, Kobe might individually be the best but his team is done for. Also funny is nobody went bitch ranting about Howard joining Lakers but people are so bitchy against LeBron til today.

PLEASE STOP BEING JEALOUS SO YOU CAN LIKE HOW AWESOME MY TEAM IS LIKE I DO!

OMFG! THIS IS SO ACCURATE OH!!! You Kobe fans are so awesome.


One thing I've learned in my time here is that the Lakers, Bulls & Celtics fan minds are just too arrogant and partly dumb at times. And their opinions aren't to be changed even if they are wrong. They just "have to" hate LeBron.

Anyway, enough with this talk talk. Enjoy the finals game 1.

[NovU]

Has league pass been around for 12 years already?

i think you misunderstand why people hate the heat so much. i am sure some people hate them out of jealousy but i would say far more people hate them because lebron is a fucking douchebag and no body wants to see anyone who is such a dick win anything

This. Doesn't matter though, all he read was: I'm a hater, I'm a hater, I'm jealous etc.

Oh trust me. It's far from LeBron being a douchebag. If that was the case, he wouldn't be rooting for blood gang Pierce, psycho Rondo, or dick KG. If LeBrick was a Celtics or Lakers, douchebag issue would be a non-issue.

[benji]

When you can pay $16 million a year to turn Chris Bosh into Shane Battier you gotta do it.

[benji]