The National Basketball Association

[orly]

Don't care who wins between Spurs and OKC now (rather OKC), just as long as they beat the heat. Proper bandwagon team.

I'm very much on that bandwagon

 

[Pagan_83]

Here you are, lads in Ol' Blighty.

Bucks and Knicks will play in London next year. January 15th, 2015.

As a Milwaukeean, I apologize in advance for the team we're exporting to Europe.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/261081811.html

I heard that and my first thought was "Jesus. I thought the NBA wanted the league to succeed overseas?"

 

[SerenityNigh]

Don't care who wins between Spurs and OKC now (rather OKC), just as long as they beat the heat. Proper bandwagon team.

A lot of people who know basketball better than me have a strong dislike for the Spurs (many of them Mavs fans also, so maybe some bias) but I love what Pop has done and the way that team cycles its entire bench through games for the exact matchup they need. They may play dirty at times, but I love the selfless team play and I would be very glad to see Duncan wear another ring.

 

[Garrick]

A lot of people who know basketball better than me have a strong dislike for the Spurs (many of them Mavs fans also, so maybe some bias) but I love what Pop has done and the way that team cycles its entire bench through games for the exact matchup they need. They may play dirty at times, but I love the selfless team play and I would be very glad to see Duncan wear another ring.

The Spurs are a model NBA franchise and Tim Duncan is a class act.

Then again, you could say similar things about the Cardinals in the MLB, and I absolutely hate their guts.

 

[maverick94]

A lot of people who know basketball better than me have a strong dislike for the Spurs (many of them Mavs fans also, so maybe some bias) but I love what Pop has done and the way that team cycles its entire bench through games for the exact matchup they need. They may play dirty at times, but I love the selfless team play and I would be very glad to see Duncan wear another ring.

True, I can't help but respect them to be honest, despite them being fierce rivals. Pop does an unbelievable job, and Sugar K Leonard is a boss, so I dislike them a little less than I used to

 

[pbeyer]

Some of you may like this; I certainly enjoy this sort of thing

Spoiler: My choices

Oscar, Jordan, Durant, Duncan, Hakeem. Hard not to pick Magic, but this team will be hard to beat.

Stockton, Drexler, James, Barkley, Shaq

 

[SerenityNigh]

Stockton, Drexler, James, Barkley, Shaq

Interesting--you're the first I've seen take Clyde or Charles. Although I've seen some dopes try to take Jordan and Kobe, so maybe they're not a good measuring stick.

 

[pbeyer]

Interesting--you're the first I've seen take Clyde or Charles. Although I've seen some dopes try to take Jordan and Kobe, so maybe they're not a good measuring stick.

Barkley is my all time favorite player. Absolutely dominant on the boards despite being relatively small (6'4" IIRC) and unbelievable speed with the ball for being so strong and powerful on the drive or down low.

Clyde was an anomaly. 6'7" shooting guard who could absolutely throw down? Easiest modern day comparison would have to be Lebron (obviously not as dominant). Drexler had the power and the guile while also having the size and a nice shooters touch.

With Stockton dishing it and running the floor, lebron doing what he does, shaq and Barkley down low I think it stacks up nicely to pretty much any team ya throw at it

Glad I offered something different than the usual approach.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Barkley is my all time favorite player. Absolutely dominant on the boards despite being relatively small (6'4" IIRC) and unbelievable speed with the ball for being so strong and powerful on the drive or down low.

Clyde was an anomaly. 6'7" shooting guard who could absolutely throw down? Easiest modern day comparison would have to be Lebron (obviously not as dominant). Drexler had the power and the guile while also having the size and a nice shooters touch.

With Stockton dishing it and running the floor, lebron doing what he does, shaq and Barkley down low I think it stacks up nicely to pretty much any team ya throw at it

Glad I offered something different than the usual approach.

Not disagreeing with your picks--I like them. I haven't watched enough of Clyde, but I think he's under-appreciated. I was always a big fan of Magic, but there are many, many good players to watch over the history of the game. And too many fans are myopic--sure Kobe is a Hall-of-Famer but there are too many who think he's the greatest to ever play (he's not), or a top-3 all-time (nope), or a certain top-10 all time (not going to debate this, but I'm NEA to put him in my top-10). I didn't watch very much Barkley at all, but he was something else--as much an anomaly as Clyde probably.

 

[pbeyer]

Not disagreeing with your picks--I like them. I haven't watched enough of Clyde, but I think he's under-appreciated. I was always a big fan of Magic, but there are many, many good players to watch over the history of the game. And too many fans are myopic--sure Kobe is a Hall-of-Famer but there are too many who think he's the greatest to ever play (he's not), or a top-3 all-time (nope), or a certain top-10 all time (not going to debate this, but I'm NEA to put him in my top-10). I didn't watch very much Barkley at all, but he was something else--as much an anomaly as Clyde probably.

Oh yeah, I was just explaining the rationale behind my choices.

Barkley was definitely an anomaly. And he continues to provide entertainment now, so makes it ever better.

ESPN did a fantastic documentary//special on him. Talked about his upbringing, Highschool, college and has great film of his playing days.

 

[maverick94]

Oh yeah, I was just explaining the rationale behind my choices.

Barkley was definitely an anomaly. And he continues to provide entertainment now, so makes it ever better.

ESPN did a fantastic documentary//special on him. Talked about his upbringing, Highschool, college and has great film of his playing days.

And he's just pure gold on Inside the NBA. Taking the mick out of San Antonio girls lol

 

[Rook]

Drexler's game was style-wise more like Jordan's game. Its just that Jordan had more skill.

Hell of a game 6. Duncan just outscored the Thunder 7-6 in OT, on the road, without Parker, at age 37. Insane.

Duncan IMO is by far the best of the post Jordan players (not including LeBron-Durant) of the 90s, 00s. Something like 55+ wins every season his whole career. 4 titles. Unlike Kobe and Shaq he hasn't broke down either.

Spurs in 6 if Parker is healthy. Miami in 6 if Parker is hurt. Parker is the one big matchup problem that Miami has.

 

[Philw]

+1 for the spurs to win. haven't watched much since the Bulls went out, but gonna be all over League Pass the next couple weeks

 

[maverick94]

So tonight it begins. Who's going to win it guys?

 

[ilikecheese]

So tonight it begins. Who's going to win it guys?

Heart is with San Antonio
Head is with Miami