05-03-2007, 07:35 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Waking up from a long sleep
Posts: 626
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Suns vs Spurs 2007 Western Conference Semi-Finals Thread
Thought I'd go ahead and get this discussion going.
link
Quote:
Can Suns avoid Spurs' defensive vise grip?
By Marc J. Spears
Special to ESPN.com
SAN ANTONIO -- The long alley-oops to Carmelo Anthony were gone. There were no easy layups for Allen Iverson. No fun. Just boring half-court basketball. And after just five postseason games, the Nuggets' season is now over due to the stingy San Antonio Spurs defense.
Still, it's one thing to shut down the Nuggets' fast break and quite another to shut down Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. But the Spurs more than displayed against the Nuggets that they have the defensive capabilities to make even the running Suns boring, too.
"I tip my hat to San Antonio," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "They are a great defensive team and they realized they had to be at the top of their game defensively and they were."
Remember how fun the Nuggets were to watch during the regular-season?
Denver entered the postseason with a 42-14 mark when scoring 100 or more points this season, averaged the third-most points in the NBA with 105.4 points per game and was second in the NBA in fast-break points with 18.6 per contest. The Nuggets also had the NBA's second-leading scorer in the regular season in Anthony and the eighth in Iverson.
But in the No. 3 seed Spurs the No. 6 seed Nuggets faced their worst possible Western Conference foe.
San Antonio led the NBA in scoring defense (90.1 points per game) in the regular season and was fourth in field-goal percentage defense (.443). The Spurs also have two all-NBA defensive first-team members in Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen.
Supposedly aging San Antonio doesn't have the best athletes pound-for-pound in the NBA nor the fastest. But one key to the Spurs' stopping teams that love to run is they get back to defend their baskets on fast breaks better than any other team in the league.
How? Well, it's simple. Either get back or deal with the glare and repercussions of San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.
"You get back or you ain't going to play," Spurs center Francisco Elson said. "He's a tough man. He's going to explain it to you one time. If you don't get it, you just ain't going to play."
Well, the Spurs got back in the first round and the Nuggets simply weren't able to play their game not once in the series that ended with a 93-78 Game 5 loss at the AT&T Center on Wednesday .
The Nuggets won Game 1 of the series 95-89 against the Spurs. But even in their lone triumph Denver played Spurs ball instead of its own brand by scoring just three fast-break points. The Nuggets scored only 88 points and had seven fast-break points in a Game 2 loss. Denver had 91 points and only nine fast-break points in a Game 3 loss at the Pepsi Center, and then only 89 points and 10 fast-break points in a Game 4 loss at the Pepsi Center. And Denver had a series-low 78 points and just six fast-break points in a deciding Game 5 in San Antonio.
Overall, the Nuggets averaged 88.2 points on 42.3 percent shooting and seven fast-break points per game against the Spurs. In other words, San Antonio limited Denver to 17.2 fewer points and 11.6 fewer fast-break points in the first round than it averaged in the regular season.
The Spurs didn't have any answer for Anthony, who averaged 26.8 points per game, and I'm not sure anyone in the world does now. But San Antonio did limit Iverson, an eight-time NBA All-Star, to a playoff career low 22.8 points per game.
"There were times that I would get by my man and find another one waiting for me at the basket," Iverson said. "That's great defense. They play that same style of defense every night."
The Suns better get ready to see that defense that the Spurs take so much pride in every night, too. And not long ago, Phoenix got a taste of just how suffocating San Antonio's defense can be.
Second-seeded Phoenix finished the regular season averaging an NBA-best 110.2 points per game as well as 17 fast-break points. The Suns have the NBA's best passer in Nash, a two-time reigning MVP who averaged a league-best 11.6 assists per game. Many of those assists went to athletic, All-Star big men Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.
All those aforementioned statistics are impressive. But the statistic from the regular-season that Phoenix has to be worried about is its box score on April 5, 2007.
It was on that night -- their last meeting with San Antonion -- when the Spurs put the Suns' fast break in cement during a 92-85 at AT&T Center. San Antonio held Phoenix to a season-low 37 points at halftime on 34.1 percent shooting.
The only Sun to reach the 20-point mark was Nash with 20. The Suns were 2-of-11 from beyond the arc, tying their season low in 3s made, and had a season low in points, field-goal percentage (38.6) and assists (14). They also tied their season low in field goals made (32). Oh, yeah, Phoenix was limited to six fast break points, too.
"We did not get in transition like we wanted to, but that's rare for us,'' said Phoenix guard Raja Bell, to the media in San Antonio, after the April 5 loss.
April 5 isn't quite a month ago, which means that defensive lockdown by the Spurs is still fresh in Phoenix' mind. The long alley-oops to Stoudemire may be gone. There might not be any easy layups for Nash. No fun and just boring half-court basketball is quite possible, too.
Be careful Suns. The boring basketball just displayed by those running Nuggets is possible for you, too, because of that stingy Spurs defense.
Marc J. Spears covers the Denver Nuggets and the NBA for The Denver Post.
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05-03-2007, 07:36 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Waking up from a long sleep
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btw, even without HCA, I like the Spurs in this series.
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05-03-2007, 08:42 AM
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#3
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,082
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If we can't beat GS the next two games, this is definetely going to determine who goes to the NBA Finals. I mean the winner would face GS or Houston? pffffft.
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05-03-2007, 08:50 AM
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#4
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,215
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs
If we can't beat GS the next two games, this is definetely going to determine who goes to the NBA Finals. I mean the winner would face GS or Houston? pffffft.
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Seriously. We don't need to have the WCF in the second round twice in a row.
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05-03-2007, 08:56 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 726
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Spurs in 6.
Since Nash went to Phoenix the Spurs are 11-4 against them, including playoffs.
Last edited by DelNegro; 05-03-2007 at 09:02 AM.
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05-03-2007, 09:50 AM
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#6
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Basketball fan nirvana
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All season long I thought the Suns would take the Spurs this year, reasoning that the Spurs would be forced to go small and this ultimately would favor the Suns.....
...then again all season long I thought the Mavs were better than the Warriors.
Spurs in 6.
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05-03-2007, 09:51 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 134
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well i'll go against the grain....go Suns!
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05-03-2007, 10:03 AM
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#8
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Rooting for the laundry
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 21,342
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So stupid. Why don't they re-seed after every round?
The NHL has it right there.
It should be Warriors @ Suns
Rockets @ Spurs.
Brackets = stupid imo.
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05-03-2007, 10:28 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Waking up from a long sleep
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flacolaco
So stupid. Why don't they re-seed after every round?
The NHL has it right there.
It should be Warriors @ Suns
Rockets @ Spurs.
Brackets = stupid imo.
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I agree. 4th/5th seed shouldn't be rewarded because of a 1st seed meltdown.
Of course, all will be rectified if Mavs get their act together.
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05-03-2007, 10:36 AM
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#10
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Rooting for the laundry
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 21,342
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I hope. I hope really hard.
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05-03-2007, 11:20 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 226
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Suns in 6.
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05-03-2007, 11:28 AM
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#12
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,215
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I don't care what you think Flaco, I find Rockets @ Mavs to be perfectly justified.
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05-03-2007, 11:29 AM
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#13
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,215
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Or Jazz @ Mavs if that's what it comes down to.
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05-03-2007, 11:31 AM
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#14
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Rooting for the laundry
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 21,342
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan
I don't care what you think Flaco, I find Rockets @ Mavs to be perfectly justified.
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You're right, that would be very justified because that follows the top seeded team playing the bottom seeded team format. That all works out just fine.
But it is more probable that the 8 seed will move on, in which case the system is stupid.
The Top seeded team remaining, should always play the the lowest seed remaining, like in the NHL, IMO.
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05-03-2007, 11:34 AM
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#15
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Patient # 312412
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Asylum For Video Game Detox
Posts: 5,195
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I really dont think the spurs have a chance.
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05-03-2007, 01:48 PM
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#16
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,181
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Spurs got this, no doubt. I think it'll take 6 games.
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05-03-2007, 02:11 PM
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#17
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Golden Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flacolaco
The Top seeded team remaining, should always play the the lowest seed remaining, like in the NHL, IMO.
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Agreed - IF the Mavs lose the series, both conferences will be holding their Conference Finals in the 2nd round. Whoever wins Suns-Spurs and Bulls-Pistons will meet in the Finals, no doubt. Stupid NBA.
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05-03-2007, 03:17 PM
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#18
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Golden Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,736
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LonestarROB
I really dont think the spurs have a chance.
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replace spurs with suns and you got it on the money.
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05-03-2007, 04:12 PM
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#19
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 19,413
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I don't really care who wins this series.
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05-03-2007, 05:35 PM
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#20
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,355
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Spurs in 5 or 6
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05-03-2007, 06:04 PM
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#21
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Platinum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,313
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Spurs in 7.
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05-04-2007, 08:48 AM
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#22
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,839
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Why on earth hasn't Stern fixed the seeding yet? Its just going to be great for his ratings to have the two championship favorties to face in the 2nd round once again.
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05-04-2007, 09:04 AM
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#23
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Waking up from a long sleep
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It's pretty bad when both conference finals are meaningless.
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05-04-2007, 11:04 AM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 312
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Suns will win in 6 games.
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05-04-2007, 12:52 PM
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#25
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Planet Earth
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Spurs in 6 or not at all. I think the Spurs HAVE TO win this series in 6. I just don't think over a 7 game series this old Spurs team can keep pace with the Suns. If the Spurs don't get this done in 5 or 6 they have no shot.
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05-04-2007, 01:23 PM
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#26
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve13
Suns will win in 6 games.
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exactly suns in 6
F**K THE SPURS
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05-04-2007, 05:34 PM
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#27
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hippie Hollow
Posts: 3,128
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Since i've gotta pick a side...
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Back up in your ass with the resurrection.
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05-05-2007, 12:45 AM
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#28
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
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i hate the spurs with a passion. i guess im rotting for the suns.
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05-05-2007, 12:46 AM
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#29
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 7,031
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yeah suns in 5 games....or 6.....or 7.....or the spurs
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05-05-2007, 01:01 AM
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#30
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Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 237
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spurs in 6
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05-05-2007, 01:52 AM
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#31
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Golden Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,971
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spurs in 5
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05-05-2007, 02:59 AM
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#32
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Austin
Posts: 5
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spurs in 5 for rizzle
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05-05-2007, 03:05 AM
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#33
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,189
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Spurs convincingly in 6 games.
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"He's as valuable as anyone. The most unusual thing is that they lose last year's MVP and still get better. It's unheard of."
"For a team as good as the Mavs, the regular season is just 82 practice games until the real season begins." -G-Man
"We wanted this for Dirk because of his heart, his class, his work ethic, his humility, his sense of humor, his respect for the game, and his respect for people."
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05-05-2007, 03:49 AM
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#34
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Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 34
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Suns in 3.
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05-05-2007, 09:46 AM
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#35
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Houston (Hate the Rockets)
Posts: 3,248
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Spurs need to win this...Keep it in Texas...Because the Rockets are either gonna get killed by the Warriors or lose in G7 to the Jazz (who will then get killed by the Warriors).
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05-05-2007, 10:53 AM
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#36
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Cowboys Country
Posts: 23,336
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I wouldn't start handing out trophies just yet. I have a feeling that the 2007 NBA Playoffs have some suprises yet to come.
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05-05-2007, 10:56 AM
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#37
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moderately impressed
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Home of the thirteenth colony
Posts: 17,705
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I am so conflicted. If we don't win it I want Nash or Finley to win it. Since we can't and I have to pick.... I think I'm going with Mike (only because his team never knocked us out of the playoffs and Steve's did).
So go Spurs. Besides, it can be a Texas thing.
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05-05-2007, 10:57 AM
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#38
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moderately impressed
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Home of the thirteenth colony
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chumdawg
I wouldn't start handing out trophies just yet. I have a feeling that the 2007 NBA Playoffs have some suprises yet to come.
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Who's handing out trophies? I thought we were picking a side in the 2nd round matchup between Suns and Spurs...
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05-05-2007, 11:37 AM
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#39
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Rooting for the laundry
Join Date: May 2006
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"I'm so scared, baby"
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05-05-2007, 03:53 PM
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#40
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,839
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Bring it home to Texas. GO MIKE!! Atleast he didn't leave us for money. Spurs in 6.
Last edited by Dtownsfinest; 05-05-2007 at 03:54 PM.
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