The OFFICIAL DET VS SAN Thread-Spurs 2005 NBA Champions

[kevC]

Tony Parker has one of those too

[Andrew]

On the eve of Game 1, most of us have picked the Spurs to win it all this year. In case anyone's interested, a couple of columns on the 2005 NBA Finals series:
RealGM: Two Plus the Foul: The NBA Finals No One Wants To See
ESPN: Page 2: Defining the NBA Finals (Bill Simmons)

The latter even touches on the "stats are the most important aspect" vs "stats aren't everything" debate:

Karl Malone – Fifty years from now, people will examine his stats and say, "Wait a second, this guy was one of the five best basketball players ever!" And that's why you shouldn't totally trust statistics. There was no stat that could fully capture the Karl Malone "Uh-oh, I'm taking another dump in a big playoff game" Face.

[furious1]

So when do we get to the part where people from Asia don't just pick the most likely winner?

[Matt]

this is not only a series i wanna see, but a series im gonna get on DVD from Pontel.

anyways, im gonna love this series....even through it's scoring droughts. Finally we get to see 2 teams play defense for 48 minutes for at least 4 games. Theres nearly not enough teams that play defense in this league.
@the end of the day, defense does win championships. Run n gun is good, but the run n gun that we get is where teams only play offense and no defense...the Spurs though showed what real run n gun is like. Defense + running where ever you can.

im done rambling.

[shadowgrin]

Wade has tons of intangibles. Leadership, charisma, People's Most Beautiful List

Tony Parker has one of those too

Tony Parker even dated Eva Longoria (Deperate Housewives)

[Indy]

Wade has tons of intangibles. Leadership, charisma, People's Most Beautiful List

Tony Parker has one of those too

Tony Parker even dated Eva Longoria (Deperate Housewives)

Im pretty sure they are still dating.

[Matt]

too bad she's not beautiful

[galvatron3000]

Wow, how did this become a thread about something other than Spurs and Pistons.


Anyway, I am having a hard time understanding who doesn't respect the Pistons? I keep hearing them say that but I am lost in that debate. Anyone care to elaborate?

[shadowgrin]

Wow, how did this become a thread about something other than Spurs and Pistons.

It happens all the time in the forums.

Bob Pettit – Sorry, I can't vote for anyone who played during an era when players actually smoked butts at halftime.
...
"Thank God I called Isiah that day just to offer that stupid trade that I never thought he would do."
...
By my count, we're up to seven He's The Next Michael Jordans – Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Let's not make it eight.
...
This was the game when Houston's Ralph Sampson (7-foot-4) started throwing punches at Boston's Jerry Sichting (6-foot-1), then nailed Dennis Johnson with an inadvertent right cross before Bill Walton came out of nowhere and tackled him like a Secret Service agent thwarting a gunman in front of the White House.
... But will we ever see another fight in the Finals with one guy having a 15-inch height advantage on another guy?

not only do the fans start to charge the court, but the entire Lakers bench edges onto the court by 5-6 feet starting to celebrate (guaranteed technical, right?). The Pistons still had a chance to tie the game! Amidst this chaos, Laimbeer threw a halfcourt pass to Rodman, who was body blocked by Magic and knocked down as he was trying to launch a 3. No call. Crowd charges the court. Ball game. Fishiest ending in the history of the league.

Damn Lakers.

[Amphatoast]

My vote still goes to Duncan. Although Amare Stoudemire might end up blowing everyone else away before everything's said and done. Or, as Detroit reader Mike Rooney points out, "If there's an NBA lockout, there's a chance that Amare Stoudemire could put on 150 pounds like Shawn Kemp did. Shouldn't that be enough to get the sides to agree?"

lol, scary

So in a way, the Mohammed trade was the 2005 equivalent of the Rasheed Wallace trade

damn knicks..

1. Game 7, 1988 Finals:
The Pistons were down by four with 10 seconds left until Laimbeer made a three. The Lakers quickly inbounded it to Magic, who found a wide-open AC Green with a football pass for a layup with two seconds to go (putting the Lakers up by three). If you watch the tape, not only do the fans start to charge the court, but the entire Lakers bench edges onto the court by 5-6 feet starting to celebrate (guaranteed technical, right?). The Pistons still had a chance to tie the game! Amidst this chaos, Laimbeer threw a halfcourt pass to Rodman, who was body blocked by Magic and knocked down as he was trying to launch a 3. No call. Crowd charges the court. Ball game. Fishiest ending in the history of the league

lol sounds like a good finals... too bad i was only 2 years old..

[Strike Freedom]

It's time for Pistons to go three peat..
THe Bulls have done it, so as the Lakers.
Now it's Pistons, and soon it'll be Boston to repeat the NBA History!

jk..

[Jackal]

Threepeat? This would be the second time they win it, right? Besides, SA's gonna whoop em tonight.

[Jeffx]

this is not only a series i wanna see, but a series im gonna get on DVD from Pontel.

anyways, im gonna love this series....even through it's scoring droughts. Finally we get to see 2 teams play defense for 48 minutes for at least 4 games. Theres nearly not enough teams that play defense in this league.
@the end of the day, defense does win championships. Run n gun is good, but the run n gun that we get is where teams only play offense and no defense...the Spurs though showed what real run n gun is like. Defense + running where ever you can.

im done rambling.

PREACH IT!!! I'm lovin' this game so far - defense, defense, DEFENSE!!! To me, that's the way basketball should be played. You can have those 138-135 track meets. Give me a 70-67 chessmatch any day.

[Matt]

anyone count the number of blocks in this one....there's been a few

close game right now

[Jeffx]

Not right now. Manu is FEELIN' IT! DAMN, what a shot!!!

[Matt]

well this game is as good as over, ANOTHER terrible 4th quarter by Detroit.....any more of this and all hopes are gone

this game just turned itself into a rout

Game 2 here we come

[Jeffx]

Pistons have to do two things...

1) Find some way to deal with the quickness of Manu & Parker.

2) Get more frontline scoring.

[Jackal]

No matter how dirty Bowen is, his defensive presence means a shitload to the Spurs, nice win.

[Colin]

manu...

That pretty much sums up the game. I'm 1 game closer to $10.

[cyanide]

Manu was awesome in the 4th, damn! The Pistons played as well as they can, except for the fact that Manu and Parker got waaaay too many looks in the paint. Duncan had a "quiet" but great game - 24 points and 17 rebounds.

[galvatron3000]

Unless Sheed starts to demand the ball and become the franchise player he is gifted to be, then Spurs should win their third in seven and dethrone the reigning champs and reclaim theirs. GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am a Spurs fan

[shadowgrin]

Manu really lit up the Pistons in the 4th!!!
Billups should post up on Parker more and Rasheed should really step up and stay out of foul trouble if they want to win. There's one play where Rip completely left a slow Bowen but missed the shot. If only Rip could elude Bowen more often the Spurs will be in trouble.
The slow Billups was exposed by quick Parker, I wonder what Brown will do next game to control that?
Maybe;
Prince - Ginobili
Rip - Parker
Billups will have an easy time guarding a non-scorer like Bowen but Rip will probably be tired guarding the fast Parker.
Just what will the Pistons do

[galvatron3000]

Emanuel "the Show" Ginobili

Greatness doesn't take a game off

[COOLmac©]

bring in the super star self of mcdyess
he has been in a shell all year long

[Andrew]

I thought it was going to become a game again when Detroit went on that 10-0 run, but then came the eruption from Manu. Good game because shots were still falling despite the tough defense, though Detroit did not play great basketball in the fourth. I don't think the deficit will be the same in Game 2 though, I wouldn't be surprised if the Pistons manage to get the split going home for games 3, 4 and 5.