NEXT Year's Finals

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

JO is 6'11" 242, that's not Center size? Just because He's more of a finnesse player doesn't mean he's not just as much of a Center.

Well, TD is 7' and around 270, so there's a bit of a difference... JO is not THAT comfortable with his back to the basket, and he certainly cannot bang it with the Wallaces for 40+ minutes... especially with no helper alongside, even a Nazr Mohammed is better than Dale/Jeff/Harrison combined...

[Indy]

even a Nazr Mohammed is better than Dale/Jeff/Harrison combined...

WRONG.

I would take Jeff over Mohammed straight up.

Through in Dale and HULK and its not even close.

I'm not denying I wouldn't like some Center help, but I think every team has certain weaknesses, and we have scoring, we DEFINITLEY have defense, we have rebounding, we have three point shooting (will suffer a little next year, but not too much) we have expirience, we have youth, and now we finally have health. Thats a championship combination.

PLUS: We have the biggest chip on our shoulder in NBA history, and all the guys (especially JO and Stephen) are very, very pissed they didn't get Reggie his ring, they want to win one now, not 07, not 08, NOW!!!!

Fuck christ I'm fucking tired of waiting too.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

I'm not denying I wouldn't like some Center help, but I think every team has certain weaknesses, and we have scoring, we DEFINITLEY have defense, we have rebounding, we have three point shooting (will suffer a little next year, but not too much) we have expirience, we have youth, and now we finally have health. Thats a championship combination.

You forgot your main weakness: You are PLAIN OLD SLOW... Pistons and Spurs can run when needed, Indiana can't run to save their lives... You can't win a major playoff series if you can't turn the tempo up a notch and work your opposition...

PLUS: We have the biggest chip on our shoulder in NBA history, and all the guys (especially JO and Stephen) are very, very pissed they didn't get Reggie his ring, they want to win one now, not 07, not 08, NOW!!!!

I agree. But sometimes too much desire may result in the reverse effect... Poise and calmness will get you there faster... In a closing note, I hope next year's Finals are Between the Spurs and the Pacers, and may th ebest prevail... ( I would hope the Warriors somehow eliminate the Spurs, but if that happens I'll wear my wife's bra to work... )

[Jugs]

( I would hope the Warriors somehow eliminate the Spurs, but if that happens I'll wear my wife's bra to work... )

Well i personnally think it's way to early to predict the finals

I might after the first week of the new season

[Indy]

You forgot your main weakness: You are PLAIN OLD SLOW... Pistons and Spurs can run when needed, Indiana can't run to save their lives... You can't win a major playoff series if you can't turn the tempo up a notch and work your opposition...

The Pacers can run, I don't know what you're talking about. Tinsley can push the tempo excellently. Jackson is fast, and Fred Jones is a speed demon.

Even fuckin Bill Walton recognized we can run better then Detroit, he said the only way the Pacers could beat the Pistons was if they tried to run more and speed up the game. Thats the way we built the 18 point lead in game 2.

[Alvin]

assuming no injuries and Larry Brown returns, i'm still going with a Spurs-Detroit finals

[Andrew]

Anything can happen in the next 12 months, but I'll say either the Spurs or Suns will face either the Heat, Pacers or Pistons.

[baller status]

Im predicting the Spurs in the west, and the Heat or Pistons in the east. I dont really see any other team as of right now that would be better.

[cyanide]

Even fuckin Bill Walton recognized we can run better then Detroit

It's Bill Walton.

But I gotta say, Indiana has a good chance to make it to the Finals as the others in the East (Detroit, Miami)

[J@3]

Did Bill Walton throw that pearl of wisdom in before or after he said "GOODNESS GRACIOUS SNAKES ALIVE!"?

Anyways, of course Indy thinks "his" team can win the championship, go 82-0 then go to Europe and smash all of those Euro teams by 90 points. It's fan optimism, but I think they'll be there somewhere regardless.

[cklitsie]

I'm with IndyPacers on this one, I think Ron Artest will be pretty high in MVP voting next season too.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

I think Ron Artest will be pretty high in MVP voting next season too.

MVP as in Most Vocal Player? Maybe...

[Matt]

Detroit will be back. Spurs will be back. Book it!

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Detroit will be back

Only if Larry Brown stays, methinks...

Spurs will be back

Considering they have TD, Manu and TP locked on multi-year contracts, they will probably be around for a long time... let's hope they keep Horry for a year or two more...

[Indy]

I think Ron Artest will be pretty high in MVP voting next season too.

MVP as in Most Vocal Player? Maybe...

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

You have to admit, that is a possibility....

[Indy]

You have to admit, that is a possibility....

Well, Ron doesn't actually talk that much on the court. He just reacts to things. He trash talks much much less then guys like Reggie, Kobe, AI and many of you may be surprised, but Andreis Nocioni of the Bulls talks the most trash out of anyone I've ever seen.

I sat right behind the Pacers bench at the UC one game and Nocioni is running back on defense running his mouth at stephen jackson and he goes "hey steve, you ghetto right? well you aint seen shit mutherfucker, i'm about as tough as they come. you're gonna get it tonight. your career is finished mutherfucker you are done. go back home to your mom." and Jax turns to him and goes "would you shut the fuck up you dumbass? I can hardly understand you with your goddamn accent!"

Sory I'm ranting.

[Andrew]

Nothing beats Manute Bol's trash talking back in the day.

[cyanide]

rofl, thanks for the laugh, Indy. That Nocioni trash talk was great.

Andrew, what are some of the things that Manute said?

I came across a book of trash talk quotes many years ago. I wish I bought it, it had a lot of great quotes from Barkley, Jordan, Reggie, and Larry.

[Andrew]

During the 1991 Playoffs he was heard to scream "Mother fuck! Shut up you mother fuck!" at Phil Jackson.

[iKe7in]

Or maybe I just like the idea of a healthy lineup of

Tins
Jax
Ronnie
JO
Dale/Jeff

Lets review....

Jamaal Tinsley
-not a top 10 point guard in the league
-would get raped by Wade, Billups, Dickau, Parker or Nash
Stephen Jackson
-pretty good scorer, probably capable of 15-17ppg
-inconsistent at times, especially the temper
Ron Artest
-basket case
-just had a FUCKING YEAR OFF
-never played in a big game
Jermaine O'Neal
-excellent scorer
-not as good as Amare/Marion, Duncan, KG
-will still be ineffective against Big Ben should they meet
Dale Davis
-has loads of playoff experience
-far past his prime
-inferior to Shaq, Amare, Sheed, plus any starting big man the Spurs would use against him
Jeff Foster
-see Dale Davis, except he's not past his prime, he's just never had one

My guess is that we'll see a Spurs-Heat final, with the Heat taking this one. You have to believe that Shaq is primed for another run (TWO YEARS WITHOUT A TITLE!!!?!?!) which will include his well deserved 2nd MVP, and Wade will establish himself as an elite superstar right up their with LeBron.
Duncan will of course have another MVP caliber season, like he alays does.
His game will be boring, as it always is.
Manu will grow his hair even longer, becoming even greasier, and within 5 years, people will be giving him MVP talk, even if he averages less than 2 other guys on his team, but has the international factor and fan popularity (see Steve Nash).

[J@3]

During the 1991 Playoffs he was heard to scream "Mother fuck! Shut up you mother fuck!" at Phil Jackson.

that's hilarious

[Mick]

I think Dallas will make the finals with Avery preaching a defence first scheme and a full season under his reign. (this will probably include another major trades to get a consistent interior performer to team up with Dirk)

Detroit will make it back to the finals under their new coach, as they will be motivated to prove it isn't the coach, it is the team that wins. The coach provides direction but the team wins games.

[Colin]

Hawks vs. Jazz



wait...no, that's an awful pick



Hawks vs. Blazers

[Indy]

saying Tinsley isn't a top 10 point guard in the league literally made me fall out of my chair laughing. I'm not even going to respond to the rest of it, because clearly I cant convince you guys, the season will just have to speak for itself.