potentially game-tying hook shot that didn’t even come close to the rim, but to me, it was Lebron’s third consecutive sub-par performance that really cost the Cavs.I wrote in my last blog entry about how Mike Brown should start Daniel Gibson and play the Gibson, Jones, Lebron, Varejao, and Marshall lineup for an extended period of time. Brown came through on both counts and those were two huge reasons why the game was as close as it was. But with the game on the line with less than five minutes to go, it was time for Lebron to take over. Lebron blew it, something that’s becoming a regular occurrence for him.
I was watching the game with Charlie last night and he made a great connection comparing this Cavs-Spurs series to last year’s Heat-Mavs NBA Finals match-up. The Heat lost Games 1 and 2 decisively and were down by as many as 27 in Game 2. But in Game 3, Dwayne Wade took over and didn’t let the Heat lose. With 5 minutes left and the game on the line in Game 3, Lebron needed to either take the ball to the hoop or make the jump shot the Spurs were giving him. Instead, whenever he got the ball he let the shot clock wind down and then rushed a bad pass or attempted a ridiculous fade away with the Spurs swarming him.Lets be honest, right now Dwayne Wade is a more complete basketball player than Lebron James. I think that if the Cavs could have had a 100% healthy Dwayne Wade for the last 5 minutes last night, the Cavs would have won. D-Wade can take the ball to the rim, shoot, and he has a reliable and remarkably consistent bank shot. Moreover, he knows when to take over a game.
I’m starting to get a headache talking about this series anymore, it’s too painful. All I have to say is congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs, the 2007 NBA Champions. But how good really is this team? In my mind, the only team I am extremely confident would beat these Spurs is the 72-10 Bulls team that featured MJ, Scottie, and Dennis Rodman.
Charlie was trying to argue that this year’s Spurs would beat that team but I’m skeptical. Let’s see what the Scrapper Nation thinks (I’ve added a little YouTube Clip of some Bulls highlights from the 1995-1996 season).
Before you make your decision, carefully examine the 1995-96 Bulls’ starting lineup: Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Luc Longley. The Bulls also had the league’s best bench with Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Bill Wennington, Jud Buechler, and Randy Brown. And along with this dynamic core, the Bulls had Phil Jackson, arguably the best coach of all-time. So Scrapper Nation, let your voice be heard.
14 comments:
There is NO WAY the Spurs beat that Bulls team or any of their other championship teams. You can't put Bruce Bowen on MJ AND Scottie.
Bowen won't be able to back off of MJ's shot. Kukoc and Manu cancel each other out. Is Michael Finley going to try and guard Scottie? yeah right.
Do you really think Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, or Bill Wennington would be able to guard Tim Duncan? The Spurs would dominate.
No one would be able to guard Tim and no one would be able to guard MJ and Scottie. Advantage Bulls. I think we are giving the Spurs too much credit because everyone thinks Lebron is a lot better than he actually is. He stinks.
Duncan/Parker/Ginobili vs. Jordan/Pippen is interesting enough and you could debate that either way, but you guys are neglecting the supporting casts. While the Scrapper says that the Jud Buechler Bulls bench was the best in the league, it didn't compare to this year's Spurs bench. The Spurs have ten guys who go out there and play near-flawless basketball. They are a defensive juggernaut. No, you can't put Bowen on Jordan and Pippen both, but you can stick him on one and let the superb team defense of the Spurs work the other one. On the offensive end the Spurs present too many matchup problems, starting with Duncan.
Duncan would tear apart Longley, Wennington, and Rodman. They would be forced to bring the double which would open up the floor for their shooters, and the Spurs would grind it out.
Again...Like i told everyone in this series, Tony parker is the key...WHO on that great Bulls team would hold Tony ?????
Starters: Bulls. I think Jordan would give Bowen fits with his fadeaway, and Pippen's impact would break the tie that Duncan's reign in the post would create. Also, I think that the combination of wennington, longley, and rodman would be more effective than anyone against jordan. Jordan and Pippen are both All-NBA Defense and Ron Harper isn't chopped liver, so I think they'd be able to silence the backcourt of the Spurs.
Bench: Tiny edge to the Spurs. Both these teams have similar benches in that they all know their specific role and execute it flawlessly. However, the Spurs have a few post players on the bench that the Bulls lack. Horry and Elson are both big guys that can contribute defensively.
Coach: I hate to admit this as a Chicago fan, but this goes to the Spurs. Popovich had impressed me during this year's playoffs and in years past. Jackson's players have made his reputation, but I think the Spurs would be much worse without Pop.
Intangibles: This goes to the Bulls. I think everyone can agree that no other player can deliver in the closing seconds like His Airness. Plus, if you want to be technical Chicago would have home court advantage.
End Result: Bulls in 7. I'd love to have a time machine and watch this series.
Scrapper, you're forgetting that D-Wade was playing against the MAVS, not the SPURS. He wouldn't have been able to do that against the Spurs, I guarantee it.
These Spurs are very very good, however, you have to look at there comp. There are a plethora of teams that could beat them such as the 2001 Lakers which is one of the greatest teams I have ever seen 1987 Lakers 1986 Celtics 1997 Bulls 1991 Pistons 1989 or even the lockout Spurs. Like everyone in basketball says these Cavs would have struggled to make the playoffs in the West which is so so true. And, this years Spurs team did very well and deserves all its praise but they did benefit from a flawed playoff system and two crucial suspensions. I picked them to win the championship at the beginning of the season and again in the playoffs because I thought that they were an excellent team. Let's put what they did into perspective and not engage in hyperbole. They played an extraordinarily weak team in the finals and there accomplishments are amplified by that. And, Bruce Bowen...cmon. He is good but he isn't as good defensively as let's say Pippen, Jordan, Rodman, the pistons' defenses, celtics, jabar, and many more. Aight I'm out. Blake the Great. Kwatra is goin down. Where's my boy Keyshawn?
okay this series would be a sweep for the bulls.....look in the Bulls championship runs, if Shaq,Ewing, Mourning and Malone couldnt survive against Jordan what makes you spurs supporters think Duncan can. and whoever said Tony Parker cant be slowed down in this series? Scottie would shut him down and cancel him out of this series. Or you can put Ron Harper on him and let Scottie shut Ginobili down as well. leaving Jordan on who? Bowen. That allows Jordan to be roaming around on D. That allows him to double down on Duncan when they need it because bowen is only good from that 3 in the corner he likes so much but the bulls teams played team d so well that they would shut that down as well. Duncan would get extremely frustrated by Rodman and maybe get out rebounded by Rodamn....as for the bench i still give the edge to the bulls because they knew their roles and Jordan taught them how not to fail. Coaching this is not even close Phil would dominate the chess game in large part he has the better pieces. This series would be a joke take Jordan and the Bulls in 4
The Popovich Spurs are the most fundamentally sound team in NBA history. Their greatest asset is their ability to execute with a very high success rate because every player is confident in their core abilities. For defense, they have great perimeter defenders and strong inside presence. So, they dare you to shoot and take the low percentage shot. For offense, it's pick your poison. The Spurs love to take high percentage shots and they have players to do that. You can have Duncan post-up and score at will, Parker shoot his highly accurate mid-range jumper, or Ginobli penetrate and draw the foul. One last important ingredient to their game is that their game plan is always to break the opponent's spirit. Having them score at will against you on offense is enough to give you a headache, but scoring against them actually can break your will as well. When an opponent scores, the Spurs show no emotion whatsoever - they literally take the satisfaction from your shot. When a team beats the Spurs, you never see them excited, grinning from ear to ear, jumping up and down. If you ever beat them, it feels like a hollow victory - you can't be excited - you've just played through hell. I don't think there is any NBA team in the league that can say, "Yeah, we have the Spur's number, we'll sweep them."
So, against Jordan's Bulls with both teams having healthy players it's the Spurs' to win for sure. The Bulls cannot do anything against the Spur's offense. Duncan can literally score at will and drop 40, Parker is near perfection with his open jumper, and Ginobli can penetrate off screens. It's not enough that a team has defensive players, you must have a good defensive style of play to even hang with them. Playing against the Spurs' defense, they will put Bowen on Jordan for sure and actually let him score at will. Against Phoenix, they worried about Amare Stoudemire, but let Steve Nash shoot all he wanted. The plan was to let him take the low-percentage shots, while they take high-percentage shots. Nash averaged in the mid-20's against them and Stoudemire averaged near 40 against them. In the end they were beat 4-1. The pattern is if you can't stop the Spurs' offense - you have a very, very low chance of winning a seven game series. Jordan and Pippen can score all they wanted, but even they would be bound to have bad shooting nights, while the Spurs have the advantage of high-percentage shots with Duncan and penetration by Parker and Ginobli.
Defense wins championships because Defense rarely misses a shot.
oh sure dennis rodman can handle tim duncan just ask karl malone
Duncan would tear apart Longley, Wennington, and Rodman?
hahaha
Oh c'mon man, you a big joke?
ok, let me get this straight. the bulls stopped stockton, but they cant stop parker? are you retarded?
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