Spurs/Pistons Game 3
What? The Spurs are beating the Pistons? You're kidding...
Here's why San Antonio should have not been picked against no matter their opponent. Let's consider their results so far.
First Round: Beat Denver, 4-1. This series was a fashionable upset pick by many, especially after the Spurs collapsed in Game 1 by not hitting any free throws. And Denver didn't win another game, as Kenyon Martin got outplayed by Tim Duncan in another playoff series, and Denver inexplicably turned to Earl Boykins for their main scoring threat. And the scary thing is, Denver actually sort of matched up with San Antonio, as they had some bulk inside and some guys with mean streaks. Even Carmelo was thuggin' it up, as he got called for a flagrant on Manu in Game 3. No matter.
Second Round: Beat Seattle, 4-2. This could have easily been 4-0, but Duncan missed a little twelve footer at the buzzer in Game 3, which would have probably slammed the door shut on the Sonics. Instead, Ray Allen went nuts in Game 4, and the Spurs had to close it out with a dramatic game 6 win at Seattle. The one team nobody thought could have a shot at the Spurs played angry, and San Antonio survived a surprisingly dangerous Sonics team.
Conference Finals: Beat Phoenix, 4-1. Phoenix won one game because Amare Stoudemire had the game of his life. Yes, Virginia, he can play defense sometimes. But Quentin Richardson and Shawn Marion had dreadful series (Q eventually got benched some), and Duncan pretty much matched Amare.
The point of all of this is that these teams won 163 games, while Detroit's opponents won 146. And Detroit had more trouble with their draw than the Spurs did.
Well, Detroit might win game 3, mainly because they have to, and the Spurs probably don't care if they do or not.
By the way, I read the Sports Guy's article today, and I thought two of his points were absolute train wrecks.
"If Manu Ginobili finishes the series the way he started, does he have to be considered the most dominant all-around two-guard in the league (ahead of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and everyone else)?"
Yeah, I think that Kobe Bryant didn't win three titles with LA, and T-Mac couldn't figure out how to slam home a few titles with a legit point guard and Tim Duncan. Please. I remember how we thought Jason Kidd was the best point guard ever when he took the Nets to two finals, and now we don't quite think the same way.
These players are more dominant than Ginoboli at the 2: T-Mac (did you forget his series against the Mavs, he's freakin' unstoppable), Kobe, Vince Carter (well, this one might be a stretch), and... Lebron James (I think he's a 2, anyway.) All of these guys would be perfectly acceptable guys to run shotgun for Duncan.
"Since Robert Horry has been the third-best player in the series, and he's probably headed for Ring No. 6 … do we need to start thinking about him as a potential Hall of Famer?"
Simmons goes on to put Horry in the same breath as Dennis Johnson, Michael Cooper, Dennis Rodman, and Bobby Jones as great players who didn't make the Hall.
Over his career, Horry has averaged... 9 points and 6 rebounds per PLAYOFF game, and 7.5 points and 5 rebounds per regular game. As you might imagine, he's been to zero All-Star games.
Dennis Johnson's stats: 14.1 ppg (17.3 playoffs), 5 All-Star teams
Michael Cooper's stats: 8-time all defensive, 8.9 ppg, 3.2 rebounds
and you get the point...
More thoughts later...
Here's why San Antonio should have not been picked against no matter their opponent. Let's consider their results so far.
First Round: Beat Denver, 4-1. This series was a fashionable upset pick by many, especially after the Spurs collapsed in Game 1 by not hitting any free throws. And Denver didn't win another game, as Kenyon Martin got outplayed by Tim Duncan in another playoff series, and Denver inexplicably turned to Earl Boykins for their main scoring threat. And the scary thing is, Denver actually sort of matched up with San Antonio, as they had some bulk inside and some guys with mean streaks. Even Carmelo was thuggin' it up, as he got called for a flagrant on Manu in Game 3. No matter.
Second Round: Beat Seattle, 4-2. This could have easily been 4-0, but Duncan missed a little twelve footer at the buzzer in Game 3, which would have probably slammed the door shut on the Sonics. Instead, Ray Allen went nuts in Game 4, and the Spurs had to close it out with a dramatic game 6 win at Seattle. The one team nobody thought could have a shot at the Spurs played angry, and San Antonio survived a surprisingly dangerous Sonics team.
Conference Finals: Beat Phoenix, 4-1. Phoenix won one game because Amare Stoudemire had the game of his life. Yes, Virginia, he can play defense sometimes. But Quentin Richardson and Shawn Marion had dreadful series (Q eventually got benched some), and Duncan pretty much matched Amare.
The point of all of this is that these teams won 163 games, while Detroit's opponents won 146. And Detroit had more trouble with their draw than the Spurs did.
Well, Detroit might win game 3, mainly because they have to, and the Spurs probably don't care if they do or not.
By the way, I read the Sports Guy's article today, and I thought two of his points were absolute train wrecks.
"If Manu Ginobili finishes the series the way he started, does he have to be considered the most dominant all-around two-guard in the league (ahead of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and everyone else)?"
Yeah, I think that Kobe Bryant didn't win three titles with LA, and T-Mac couldn't figure out how to slam home a few titles with a legit point guard and Tim Duncan. Please. I remember how we thought Jason Kidd was the best point guard ever when he took the Nets to two finals, and now we don't quite think the same way.
These players are more dominant than Ginoboli at the 2: T-Mac (did you forget his series against the Mavs, he's freakin' unstoppable), Kobe, Vince Carter (well, this one might be a stretch), and... Lebron James (I think he's a 2, anyway.) All of these guys would be perfectly acceptable guys to run shotgun for Duncan.
"Since Robert Horry has been the third-best player in the series, and he's probably headed for Ring No. 6 … do we need to start thinking about him as a potential Hall of Famer?"
Simmons goes on to put Horry in the same breath as Dennis Johnson, Michael Cooper, Dennis Rodman, and Bobby Jones as great players who didn't make the Hall.
Over his career, Horry has averaged... 9 points and 6 rebounds per PLAYOFF game, and 7.5 points and 5 rebounds per regular game. As you might imagine, he's been to zero All-Star games.
Dennis Johnson's stats: 14.1 ppg (17.3 playoffs), 5 All-Star teams
Michael Cooper's stats: 8-time all defensive, 8.9 ppg, 3.2 rebounds
and you get the point...
More thoughts later...
posted by mike at 1:26 PM
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