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I like that new name for the Cavs.....
"Not ready for prime time" players
I missed this when it happened. (And didn't find it posted.)
In case anyone else did...
Love how he takes away the dynasty question.
http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=300004774
Argentina Captures Cleveland
Jun 16, 2007
Posted by Rick Kamla
Holy mismatch...
Freaks, I can't remember being more wrong than predicting San Antonio in six in these Finals.
Before the series began I guaranteed a win for the Cavs in Game 3 at the Q because the Spurs would exhale and the home vibes would carry the Cavs to victory. I was right about everything except the Cavs' inaccuracy, as they shot 37 percent in proving they were not ready for prime time. The Spurs were begging to be beaten in Game 3, but from LeBron James' botched layups to Anderson Varejao's blown bunny, the Cavs wasted more chances than Darryl Strawberry and Steve Howe combined.
Losing Game 3 meant my prediction for the Cavs to win Game 5 had no chance whatsoever, as everyone on the globe knew the Spurs were going to win Game 4. Yeah, it got tight in the fourth quarter when the Cavs went up 63-60 on the strength of a 14-0 run, but the Spurs answered with a 14-3 run of their own...game, set, match, championship.
Spearheading the decisive run was a pair of teammates on the Argentine National Team, Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto, who combined for 10 of the 14, including the last eight points in the run.
Ironically, Manu isn't a top-five player in the NBA, but he is one of the top five closers in the world.
How about Game 3, when the dude throws up an 0-for-7 from the field before hitting three of four free throws in the closing seconds to beat the Cavs 75-72. By the way, those were his only points of the game.
How about Game 4, when 14 of his game-high 27 points came in the final 5:24 of the fourth quarter, propelling the Spurs to an 83-82 win. By the way, up two with 1.9 seconds left, Manu confidently made 'em both and raised his arms triumphantly before getting mobbed by teammates at center court.
It was fitting that the Spurs began celebrating before Damon Jones hit his empty buzzer beating three because it was symbolic of The Finals being over before they were officially over. Heck, this series was over before it even began, and as wrong as I was about giving the Cavs two games, even I knew that.
Because Manu is the only player in the history of orange to win les in the NBA (three), Euroleague (two), and Olympics (one), he has to be considered the Best Winner in the World. And one of the best dudes in the world as well, which could be said about most of his teammates, especially Tony Parker.
This series was never in doubt and there was never a doubt that Parker would seize and disease the Cavs, just as he had done during the regular season in averaging 23.5 ppg on 56 percent shooting. Proving once again they had no answer for Parker, the Cavs turned into roadkill in The Finals, where Parker tortured them to the tune of 24.5 ppg, 57 percent shooting, and Finals MVP.
After the game, I asked the first European-born Finals MVP the following question in an interview for NBA TV.
RK: "You're 25, you have three rings, two All-Stars, and a Finals MVP, what's next for Tony Parker?"
TP: "More winning."
Tim Duncan, 31, said recently that he could see his body holding up for five more seasons. In other words, the Spurs will be le contenders for at least the next five seasons, just as they have been the past five seasons. And when you think back on the Spurs' dynastic run of winning three of the last five chips, it could have been five-for-five if not for Derek Fisher's shot in 2004 and Manu's foul on Dirk Nowitzki in 2006.
Assuming the third-best Big Three of all-time stays healthy and under contract for the next five years, you gotta like their chances of at least duplicating the three-outta-five scenario.
Here's where I am regarding the whole dynasty debate. Winning four championships in nine years definitely qualifies as a dynasty, but it just isn't one of the great dynasties--at least not yet. Taking nothing away from the Spurs, but their run just doesn't stack up with the Celtics of the 60s, Lakers of the 80s, Bulls of the 90s, and Lakers of the 00s.
You may be wondering where the Celtics of the 80s were in that sentence. Here's the deal.
While that Celtics' team was better than this Spurs' squad (I'd call Celtics in 5.5 games if they met in a virtual Finals), the best stretch for Bird's Celtics was three les in six years. So the Spurs got 'em in that respect in winning three outta five. Furthermore, Spurs/Duncan doubters love to point out the fact that the Spurs' dynasty lacks a repeat, but Bird's Celtics are considered one of the game's great dynasties and they never repeated, so what's up with that?
Don't worry, Spurs fans, because your team will win at least two more championships, and when they do, your team will get its due and take its place among the game's great dynasties. And we won't have to apply asterisks or make qualifying statements or any of that mumbo-jumbo I get paid to mumble.
All we'll have to say is: Duncan's Dynasty.
Freaks, I can't say the Finals were great, but it has been a great year with all you of here on NBA.com. I want to encourage you to see live music this summer, leave the cell phone at home every once in a while, and live peacefully. See ya soon...
I like that new name for the Cavs.....
"Not ready for prime time" players
I like "Duncan's Dynasty" a lot!
He's calling everyone freaks.
Who ranks as his first 2?third-best Big Three of all-time
I'll agree that the Spurs Big 3 are without question the best 3 in the NBA for the past 3 seasons. Not because they are neccesarily more talented than say the Suns trio or the Nets trio, but because they really, really complement eachothers game almost to a T, whereas other teams trios don't do that. You have duncan dominating the inside, you have parker getting the mid-range game, and Ginobili getting the outside game. More importantly, they are all consistent.......Suns trio depends on Nash to do all the work, Nets trio hardly ever shows up consistently, etc.
When you have 3 unguardable players, plus role players like Bowen, Oberto, Finley,etc and a coach like Popvich you're going to be hard to beat....
We're not winning unless we get a backup center and point guard.
Very nicely put by Kamla.
As for the "dynasty" argument, I put up exactly the same reasoning to that idiot Fast Dunk the other day.
My favourite bit was this though:
"Because Manu is the only player in the history of orange to win les in the NBA (three), Euroleague (two), and Olympics (one), he has to be considered the Best Winner in the World. And one of the best dudes in the world as well, which could be said about most of his teammates, especially Tony Parker."
Damn, I love Manu Ginobili. When he arrived in SA he made basketball fun again. He and Tony took us out of the doldrums, those horrible seasons of demoralising loss to the Lakers, and when all is said and done they should both be HoFers, along with Timmy of course. Bowen will never go to the Hall, but he should get consideration.
you worry too much, brutalis
Agreed.
Brutalis, you could have said the same thing in January - we went 50% over about 20 games, I watched us lose two to the Rockets and Lakers in SA and was rather worried. Spurschick and I discussed how Vaughn should get a go as the backup (even though she loves her Beno). And look how it turned out.
We're fine at centre - I'll take a committee of Elson/Horry/Butler/Bonner/Finley playing alongside Tim depending on matchups. As for backup PG, I wonder where Dowdell is right now. Ship Beno, bring in Dowdell as the learner, and you always have Barry and Manu as insurance in small bursts.
Given the cap position, and the 2008 plan, I don't see any moves being made beyond dealing Beno and maybe Scola's rights, but we still have the best TEAM in the NBA, and TEAMS win rings.
I'll only start to worry a little if the Suns pull their heads out of their arses and realise that Nash/KG/Marion is a lot better than Nash/Stoudamire/Marion, at least in the short term...
holla
yeah, I'm on faiyah!
Im beginning to like this guy.
Kamla has to grow on you.
My son loved him, I grew to like him over time. I think I'm older than the audience he's meant for but I like him now.
I know. He knows what he's talking about, giving props to people who deserved them. He's a fantasy freak but looks on the reality side of things as well. Is he new on NBA.com (I only began to watch him last year)?
I think he's been on NBA.com a while, his blogs go back a ways.
Rick Kamla is HI-larious.
Did anyone ever see when he called Kurt Thomas "Crazy Eyes"
it was too funny.
Yeah, I just started paying attention to Kamla this season and I thought he was an idiot at first the way he's always hyping fantasy players and guys that never even make it to the playoffs and such, but I guess you just have to realize he's paid to do that stuff, and watching his postseason coverage and hearing his comments about the Spurs has changed my opinion of him.
Kamla is the only person on NBA-TV that gives you any indication that he's not really a robot.
What? This is the same team we had last year at the beginning of the season, only they have a fourth championship since, and you cried "championship" after a dozen regular season games?
Hes been on there for years (Jan 03) doing his fantasy show. He does get annoying, but he knows his and isnt a homer, he will give props when due. He is a diehard T-Wolves fan so you got to feel for him a little
[QUOTE=Testing]Who ranks as his first 2?
IMO the other two would be the following:
Celtics: Bird - McHale - Parish - some consider this to be the best front line ever.
Lakers: Magic - Worthy - Kareem - 5 rings in the 80's
Anyone get another suggestion? Those two seem to do it for me.
Great article on the Spurs. I like it when Duncan states that he has another 5 years more in the tank. Yeah baby! Spurs rock!
Bird-McHale-Parish have to be #1.
Magic-Kareem-Worthy are almost certainly #2.
Only other contenders would be Russell-Cousy-Jones or Russell-Cousy-Havlicek (but Havlicek's prime was after Cousy retired).
Or, of course, Jordan-Pippen-Longley.
holy ing that was funny
jordan, pippen, rodman
isiah, joe dumars, laimbeer
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