Is a matchup between Detroit and San Antonio a lock?

Is a matchup between Detroit and San Antonio a lock for the NBA Finals already.

I mean whos gonna stop these two teams from getting there? Miami and Dallas?

Detroit and San Antonio are the two best but i dont think neither of these teams are going to the Finals this season. Something tells me Miami is gonna go crazy in the 2nd half of the season and beat Detroit. and the Rockets gonna climb up the standings and upset San Antonio in the 1st round.

San Antonio and Detroit i think are favored a little too much, they are the two best teams but come on, the playoffs aint gonna be any fun if these two teams face off again.

Anybody with me?

 

IMO The only thing that's a lock is the Eastern Conference Finals. Miami and Detroit are bound to meet each other there. Now Detroit is pretty much the favorite to win it all this season, but remember it's not even All-Star break. A lot can happen in 32 more games.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trueplaya4real:</div><div class="quote_post">
the Rockets gonna climb up the standings and upset San Antonio in the 1st round.
</div>

If the Rockets actually managed to get into the playoffs, I think would have a chance at beating San Antonio. They'd pretty much have to replicate Detroit's winning% to get in.

 

I say neither are a lock. I dont think Miami is going to be the hurdle for Detroit, I think New Jersey poses the biggest threat, especially if they go out and get a big man before the deadline. And out west, Dallas may finally be able to put up against SA, and once Amare is back, if he gets back to form quick enough, you think SA or Dallas wants to see them? Too much has been put into Detroit's dominance thus far, and SA is always everyone's LOCK. But, I recall, they have made it twice in the last 3 years. So, they dont make it every year, and I'm not punching their ticket to the finals just yet!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KICKSDADDY613:</div><div class="quote_post">I say neither are a lock. I dont think Miami is going to be the hurdle for Detroit, I think New Jersey poses the biggest threat, especially if they go out and get a big man before the deadline. And out west, Dallas may finally be able to put up against SA, and once Amare is back, if he gets back to form quick enough, you think SA or Dallas wants to see them? Too much has been put into Detroit's dominance thus far, and SA is always everyone's LOCK. But, I recall, they have made it twice in the last 3 years. So, they dont make it every year, and I'm not punching their ticket to the finals just yet!</div>
I think you meant Phoenix. And that's what I was gonna mention. Phoenix is still playing high quality basketball, without their leading scorer and most dominant presence from last year. Once he's back, the Suns are gonna have a chance to beat SA. Out East, I also think Miami can upset Detroit. So for the second straight year, I'm looking forward to a Miami/Phoenix Finals.

 

Most predictable post-season since 2001

TRUE, upsets are possible - I think Phoenix or even Dallas can conceivably upset San Antonio and Miami can upset Detroit. Having said that it has to be the most predictable post-seasons since the Lakers of 2001. It definitely seems like it will be Pistons/Spurs in the finals.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Downtown:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you meant Phoenix. And that's what I was gonna mention. Phoenix is still playing high quality basketball, without their leading scorer and most dominant presence from last year. Once he's back, the Suns are gonna have a chance to beat SA. Out East, I also think Miami can upset Detroit. So for the second straight year, I'm looking forward to a Miami/Phoenix Finals.</div>

I agree, I think that Phoenix might be the one team that could beat San Antonio in the Western Finals...I believe they've beat them this year already or I could be wrong. I just don't see how Phoenix choked last postseason.

As for teams going up and down the standings; it's way too difficult to see at the moment. The Rockets seem like they're going to head up, but then again, they have a problem with their chemistry (I think) and if another injury occurs, they might be done for the season. I think Miami will probably kick it another notch, but not much than what they're doing now.

 

MAKEOUTCITY, Phoenix did not CHOKE last year. They got beaten by a superior team. there is a difference.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">IMO The only thing that's a lock is the Eastern Conference Finals. Miami and Detroit are bound to meet each other there</div>

I actually doubt that Miami will go that far. I'm sure if the Nets get matched up with them again, the Nets will take the series. The Heat aren't what everyone thought they would be.

 

Maimi and Detriot will probably end up in the East, San Antonio and Dallas in the West. In reality i'd rather see Phoenix vs. Dallas for an extremely high-powered, high-paced series.

 

San Antonio are certain to come out of the West. Both Phoenix and Dallas play fun ball, but San Antonio play ring winning ball.

Detroit seem safe in the East, depending on what happens with Miami. If they can get all the egos sorted and get Shaq back playing the way he can they're capable of beating anyone.

 

Phoenix COULD beat the Spurs in 7 if Amare is 100% back to his playing level of last season...they have kurt Thomas and if fit Brian Grant to deal with Duncan and a scary good backcourt in Nash,Bell...

Detroit look like a lock in the east but its all about being in shape come the playoffs...maybe detroit are peaking too soon...?

Miami with a fit and dominating Shaq are the team who might just beat them in 7

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UnLeAsHeD:</div><div class="quote_post">Phoenix COULD beat the Spurs in 7 </div>

I can't see it.

They have proven incapable in the past and their gameplan hasn't changed.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">I can't see it.

They have proven incapable in the past and their gameplan hasn't changed.</div>

Huh? Phoenix still runs, but they are effective in the half-court, and they have actually played defense this year, when last year, they let anybody by them.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">I can't see it.

They have proven incapable in the past and their gameplan hasn't changed.</div>

What it is with people who, apparently, have never watched a single Suns game this year and apparently have no knowledge of the off-season acquisitions or indeed any knowledge about any facet of the suns club this year.. weighing in with these lame opinions?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">What it is with people who, apparently, have never watched a single Suns game this year and apparently have no knowledge of the off-season acquisitions or indeed any knowledge about any facet of the suns club this year.. weighing in with these lame opinions?</div>

Translation :

You disagree with me and don't rate my team therefore you must be wrong.

But let me guess, it'll be the refs fault when you lose this year, right?

Oh and i've seen you play 7 times. Two of those were games we spanked you, something we couldn't do previously.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">Translation :

You disagree with me and don't rate my team therefore you must be wrong.

But let me guess, it'll be the refs fault when you lose this year, right?

Oh and i've seen you play 7 times. Two of those were games we spanked you, something we couldn't do previously.</div>

Me and you are irrelevant to the fact that the Suns have greatly stepped up their defense this year. Both on paper in the off-season acquisitions of Bell, Thomas and Diaw and in reality when you watch the games. When you see players like House and Nash stepping up their defense, something they're not known for. They're no DPOYs, but they've definitely improved.

But hey, you don't like me so I must be wrong, yeah?

 

I am a Spurs season ticket holder and I have to be honest. The Spurs have not played any where near their potential all season. They seem to coast through the first 45 minutes of the game and then pull out 80% of the games at the end. I have said on more than one occasion that this is the worst dominant team I have ever seen in my 25 years of closely watching the NBA. They are developing some very bad habits this season. They are settling for the 3 way too much and not going to the basket enough. Alot of this has to do with TD's foot problem and Manu's injuries, but regardless of the cause I fear the effect could be a Dallas vs. Detroit Finals. They turn the ball over alot and their offense seems to fall apart if Parker is having a less than superstar game. The scariest thing of all is how many uncontested lay-ups they are allowing. The staple of Spurs basketball is funneling the ball-handler along the baseline to the shotblocker and making the proper rotations when the opponent swings the ball, this year it has not been very crisp.

Now all this being said, it could go either way from this point on. Pop's team's usually peek at this point and the Spurs do have their best record of all time through 50 games. Where they sit in the standings honestly does not concern me very much. I am much more concerned with how they are playing going into the play-offs and whether they are healthy. As that sits right now, Duncan has been battling foot injuries all season, Manu can't seem to stay healthy, and the new guys have yet to gel, due to a lack of consistency in the rotation due to injuries.

I would hate to see Tony Parker's coming out party end in anything less than a Championship, but as things are right now it is not looking good. Do not let the recent winning streak that ended to LeBron tonight to fool you, this team has played poorly all year long. I guess it is a nice thing to be able to play bad and win 40 of your first 50 games, but come playoff time they had better be a different team. If they aren't AJ and the Mavs (or don't forget the Suns with Amare back) will knock us out in the 2nd round.

Much is still yet to be determined, as Pop usually begins to coach at this point in the season and usually his teams peak heading into the playoffs. I hope I am wrong, but I am getting the same feeling I had in 2004 when Derek Fisher broke our heart's with .4 on the clock.

I guess what I am getting at is that you have to look past the records these teams are putting up. The Spurs season record for wins came in the very short Rodman era, when we won 62 games, and we lost that year in the Conference Finals. Records and seeds don't mean near as much as momentum and hot streaks when it comes to the playoffs. The time has come for Pop to put this over-confident group in their place. I can't think of another coach that could do it better, I only hope it isn't too late.

As for the East, I would be shocked if it was not a Detroit vs. Miami series, with the edge to Detroit, but don't ever count out a team that has the 2 best players in the series (Wade and Shack) even if the next 6 best players are on the other team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting unbeliever:</div><div class="quote_post">Me and you are irrelevant to the fact that the Suns have greatly stepped up their defense this year. Both on paper in the off-season acquisitions of Bell, Thomas and Diaw and in reality when you watch the games. When you see players like House and Nash stepping up their defense, something they're not known for. They're no DPOYs, but they've definitely improved.

But hey, you don't like me so I must be wrong, yeah?</div>

I have long thought that Nash (especially) and the Suns couldn't guard anyone, but the moves they made this offseason were brilliant. If Amare comes back at 75% of his old self, then they will be much more of a threat than ever before. A team full of scorers never wins and the Suns finally realize that. Their balance of athleticism and defenders is much scarier than last year's joke of a team that played defense like a bull fighter with a red cape. No more "Ole" in Phoenix.

 

Suns are already an elite team without Amare, imagine with him in the playoffs

WEST
Phoneix vs San Antonio

East
New Jersey vs Detrioit


Finals
Phoneix vs New Jersey



Bank it.