Your preference for the 2005 NBA Finals

[Andrew]

We know the Spurs will be in the Finals and the Heat are now one win away from joining them but with Game 6 in Detroit, nothing is guaranteed. We've all made predictions, but which matchup do you want to see? Both have interesting subplots.

San Antonio vs Miami

A story made interesting because it involves a team that isn't even in the series, namely Shaq's former team the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the trade, the debate as to who was the main man and who should have been the main man on the Lakers have continued throughout the season. Shaq's teams have triumphed 3-0 (including the All-Star game) over Kobe's squads this season. Shaq's new team is one win away from a Finals berth while the Lakers finished 11th in the West and failed to qualify for the postseason.

It would be quite a story if the Heat were to win it all, adding plenty of fuel to the Shaq/Kobe debate. Simply by changing address, Shaq would have sent a team spiralling out of the league's upper echelon and elevated another to the championship. Just by making back to back Finals appearances having been traded in the offseason is an interesting story in iteself, as well as furthering the "Shaq was the real MVP" debate.

On the Spurs side, it's really a matter of living up to expectations. It's still a significant matchup though, given all the battles the Duncan-led Spurs have had with the Shaq-led Lakers so far this decade, not to mention last year they were eliminated by a team that boasted Shaq. And of course, it would be the first time Shaq vs Duncan features as the headline act of the NBA Finals.

San Antonio vs Detroit

This matchup pits the 2003 champions against the 2004 champions, interesting because they didn't face each other in either series. I believe the last time the two previous champions met each other the following year was 1987 when the Lakers met the Celtics, though the two teams met in the 1985 Finals where the Lakers were victorious.

And of course, you have the Spurs looking for redemption after bowing out in the second round last year after leading the Lakers 2-0 and the Pistons trying for a back-to-back.

[Amphatoast]

spurs and heat
Why?
you had more to write about them

but it would be good because if shaq does bring a championship to Miami, it will make the lakers look worst, in particularly Kobe.
Then of course Shaq eliminating Duncan last year adds the the drama

[cRoSSoWEr]

pistons can win a score 4-3 against miami

if wade doesn't play - miami can't look forward under the shaq's sholder's [trust me]

there just question when billups/prince/wallas's/hamilton wake up and do their job.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Spurs vs. Heat...

I think it'll be easier on the Spurs to win...

[Fresh8]

Pistons Spurs. I would love to see that match up.. the two best teams in the NBA.

[galvatron3000]

Detroit vs. Spurs because they are the two best teams in the league. The most complete teams and almost identical. Matchups favor the Pistons but the bench favors the Spurs. Spurs need to control the tempo at all times and make the Pistons work.

He's the story:
Teacher versus former apprentice(Brown & Popovich)
Two almost indentical styles clash(defense)
both have dethroned previous champions the Spurs in 2003, the Piston in 2004
Spurs have a rising new star in Manu Ginobili who has increased his scoring production in the post season by 6 points
Pistons have been up and down through-out the playoffs but found the fortitude and resolve to win the last two games of the Eastern Finals against a Shaq led Heat squad.
It's the battle of NBA Champions on ABC
Spurs, Pistons next

[iG®]

I say Pistons vs Spurs, and then Spurs in 6.

[Jackal]

Miami vs Spurs.

Simple, the number one big man vs the number three big man? What's not to love? Duncan vs Shaq will be nice.

[Matt]

Spurs vs Pistons.....of course the teams matchup really well too!

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

the number one big man vs the number three big man? What's not to love? Duncan vs Shaq will be nice.

Who's no 1? And who's no 3?

Then again,who's no 2?

[Amphatoast]

1.shaq
2. KG ( or is it Amare? lol)
3. duncan

[NNpF]

I voted Spurs and Heat because that would be a more entertaining finals series.

I would rather see scores like 110-100 then 5-3, which is what we would probably see with a Pistons vs Spurs finals.

However, I wouldn't mind seeing two teams that match up so well and play basketball the way is should be played meet up in the finals.

[Andrew]

He's the story:
Teacher versus former apprentice(Brown & Popovich)
Two almost indentical styles clash(defense)
both have dethroned previous champions the Spurs in 2003, the Piston in 2004
Spurs have a rising new star in Manu Ginobili who has increased his scoring production in the post season by 6 points
Pistons have been up and down through-out the playoffs but found the fortitude and resolve to win the last two games of the Eastern Finals against a Shaq led Heat squad.
It's the battle of NBA Champions on ABC
Spurs, Pistons next

Indeed, I neglected to mention much of the story in the potential Spurs/Pistons series, but I felt the 2003 champs vs 2004 champs angle was the main one. I can't remember the last time the two previous champs met each other in the Finals having not faced off in either of the last two championship series, if it's ever happened at all. As I said, the closest was the Lakers/Celtics Finals in 1987.

I voted for Miami, as I'd like to see Shaq have a chance to win it all. I know I haven't been the biggest Shaq fan through most of his career, but I tend to agree with his side when it comes to the soap opera that saw his depature from the Lakers.

[Jona]

Spurs - Heat, fo sho.