Counting down the Elite Eight

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">This is my favorite time of the regular season.


Three and a half months of play have winnowed out the contenders from pretenders. There are, to be sure, great stories in Memphis and Denver and Milwaukee and Cleveland, and those teams will likely contend for postseason berths no one thought possible at the start of the year. But now the focus starts to shift, gradually, to the big boys, the teams with the real shot at the ring. They take inventory of themselves like a guy in a hurry for a date, patting his pockets before he leaves the house.


Car keys? Check.


Movie tickets? Check.


Veteran backup point? Check.


Defensive-oriented big man? Check.


Sacramento and San Antonio and Minnesota and the Lakers and Dallas and Indiana and Detroit -- and, again, New Jersey. They circle one another, casting wary eyes to their right and left. These are the Elite Eight, the teams that have the best chance of winning it all -- and Dallas makes the list only because of the respect I have for Dirk Diggler, Fin Dog, 'Toine and Nasty Nash. Each team has clear and present strengths -- but each has some major league question marks. And I've found that superstars are always more candid about their teams and their chances.</div>


Full Story By David Aldridge

 

Forget it , East 's turn New Jersey Nets will win it all!

 

^ No chance in that happening

The champion is coming out of the west once again, don't expect the east to be favourite to bring home to NBA title for quite a few more years yet.

 

I've said it last year and I'll say it again.

New Jersey will bring it home this year. Like what the author pointed out, one of the weaknesses of the NETS is it's outside shooting. Look at what Jefferson has been doing this season.

Nets will win two games because of talent, and two games because of luck.

 

uh ok but atleast they are in the Finals. Wolves will win it all unless the Lakers are back at full power.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">^ No chance in that happening

The champion is coming out of the west once again, don't expect the east to be favourite to bring home to NBA title for quite a few more years yet.</div>

If the Nets get the right team to come out the West, then they can win it. If they get the Spurs again this season trust me they aint losing.

 

I'm hoping for the Spurs as well. I hope they don't get the fully powered LA or Wolves.

 

Nets could win is 2 games. Just like last year, thats the best they will be able to get.

All the top west elite have improved their rosters, Nets havn't added anything woth mentioning.

You really think Nets can win without homecourt against Lakers, Wolves, Kings or Spurs? not happening.

How you suppose to beat S.A when Duncan owns your only inside scoring threat?

You are Nets fans so It's no surprise you are being baised but I will be surprised to see Nets claim more than 2 games in the finals. As most other people will.

Have to wait and see what happens, there is alot of doubt If NJ will even make the finals nevermind give the west winner a hard time.

Still way too early to talk about the playoffs at this stage, once we enter the final week of the regular season then we will finally see how the seedings shape up.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Nets could win is 2 games. Just like last year, thats the best they will be able to get.

All the top west elite have improved their rosters, Nets havn't added anything woth mentioning.

You really think Nets can win without homecourt against Lakers, Wolves, Kings or Spurs? not happening.

How you suppose to beat S.A when Duncan owns your only inside scoring threat?</div>

You really overate this years Spurs team compared to last seasons team.

Lets take a trip back to the 2003 finals, David Robinson played a big part in that series, He is retired right now. Him being down low alongside help to free Duncan up alot in that series. Well he isnt their anymore, trust me its going to be alot different with Rasho in the game alonside Duncan(Jason Collins can handle Rasho, he couldnt handle DRob, that changed the whole series around).

Stephen Jackson hit alot of big shots in that series. And his penetration in the half court set(along with Parker) broke down the Nets perimeter D. If you can break down the Nets perimeter D, then you totally change the face off the game because other than K-mart getting a shot block here & there the Nets dont have anyone that can really change a shot let alone block one. OH he is a hawk now, so he wont effect the series this year. He has been replaced by Heidu. Heidu never makes any moves off the dribble. He wont even try to penetrate the Nets D. He going to just chill out on the perimeter & take 3pters all game, hit or miss. Plays right into the Nets hands.

Malik Rose made alot of impact plays that changed games around(remember the Dunk, he had on Mutombo, when the Spurs were down double-digits in the 4th of game 6). That wes one of the many impact plays that he made help the Spurs momentum. We'll this year his role on the Spurs has been diminished. I dont even expect to see him alot this year in the playoffs & Finals.

Tony Parker will not being killing the Nets this season. The Nets have figured out how to defend Parker. When they took Jason Kidd off of Paker & put the long arm Kerry Kittles on him. Parker really didnt have aneffect on the series anymore. Thats why as the finals went on Speedy Claxton was getting the big minutes. Well guess what Claxton is not there either. He has been replaced by Charlie Ward(who hasnt played well against the Nets in the J.Kidd era). And hasnt played well as a spur this season either. This is going to put alot more pressure on Parker, knowing that he doesnt have that backup to count one if he is having a bad game.

And we could get into the K-mart/Duncan battle. But I do recall we have already done that Allnet.

Like I said if the Nets get the Spurs again this season with K-mart looking for a big contract. I think K-mart has a few things to prove to Duncan & the Nets(Rob Thorn included).

 

I'm not overrating this years Spurs team at all, it is better as a group than last year. Robinson was a big body inside and blocked shots and grabbed rebounds but even though Rasho can't bring what Robinson did as a leader he can still grab rebounds and block shots like Robinson did. Adding in Robert Horry also helps on the inside, he is a good defender and gave Duncan some problems in all of his time at the Lakers.

As for Jackson, he is my boy but he has been replaced well by Hedo. Who is currently 2nd in the NBA in 3 point %, If you leave that guy open he will burn you. As Wolves found out on sunday. He isn't the slasher that Jackson is but Manu coming off the bench, will replace that.

Malik Rose's minutes have gone down completely for two reasons

1-He has been injured, has made alot of dumb turnovers and missed lay-ups at key stages. His effort will always be there which means he can be effective against the east.

2- Robert Horry's great play has meant he has pushed Rose out of the rotation. Horry is still a very good defensive player, can hit the three and pull down important rebounds. Don't let his stats fool you.

As for Tony Parker, he has had a bad season by his standards. All because he played for France in the summer, didn't quite have his legs with him. He then got injured early in the season and only recently has he been effective attacking the basket and knocking down the open jumpers.

If Nets and Spurs meet in the finals I expect the same result as last season. 4-2 if not 4-1 for the season series. Martin will always have problems with Duncan which does not help the Nets chances at all. Their chances all depend on Kerry Kittles and Lou Harris knocking down the open shots. Spurs still have Bruce Bowen to lock up the improved jump shot of Richard Jefferson, so he won't be much of a factor if the two teams meet again.

Martin may want to prove a point but that doesn't mean he will. Martin is going to get a big contract from some team no matter how he performs in the playoffs. All Thorn has to do is match.

Saying all this, I don't expect a Spurs/Nets NBA finals.

 

Beat Kings , Lakers , Wolves away? very tough , I think they can beat the Spurs at San Antonio. I think the Lakers too then the Wolves then the Kings.

You highly overrated the Spurs of this year.TD can't do it all , They do have a great team but they are missing a guy with #50 on his jersey which makes a lot of difference.

It doesn't matter anyways since I don't think they will pass the Semi Finals.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TMac_OwNz:</div><div class="quote_post">
You highly overrated the Spurs of this year.TD can't do it all , They do have a great team but they are missing a guy with #50 on his jersey which makes a lot of difference.
</div>

Unless you know what you are talking about on the subject, don't comment on it. I have seen a lot of Spurs games this year and the team has improved and is more balenced than a year ago. More so defensively. Clearly when you take a legend like Robinson out your line-up there will be some changes but it doesn't change the fact D-rob was on the way down and struggled with injuries last season and wasn't really a factor till the NBA finals.

If Spurs don't make the finals this year It will clearly mean the other elite west giants improved their talent level that much more. Less to do with Robinson not being there.

 

lol I do know what I'm talking about , in fact I've miss a few games from the Spurs.

Not to mention that time they almost lose to the Magic ...not as good as last year or Magic is a good team and record is just bad luck?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TMac_OwNz:</div><div class="quote_post">lol I do know what I'm talking about , in fact I've miss a few games from the Spurs.

Not to mention that time they almost lose to the Magic ...not as good as last year or Magic is a good team and record is just bad luck?</div>

If you know what you are talking about why make such a statement about Robinson without even watching their games? Spurs nearly lost to Magic? So did Lakers, doesn't mean they won't be in the title hunt when it matters nor does it mean their team last year is better than their current one.

 

The reason why DUncan owned KMart is because of David Robinson. Sure, The Admiral can't do much but still, he's a presence inside the court. Twin couldn't handle the admiral so K-mart always had to look over his shoulder to see where David was. It's like he's guarding two people at the same time. Twin can box out Rasho. They will pretty much even out one another. So that leaves KMart against Duncan.

If you all can remember, KMart always does a great job against Duncan in the first half. But since he also had to guard David, he always ends up being late coz he's guarding two people. That's why he's always in foul trouble.

When KMart is posting up Duncan, he knows that there'll always be David waiting for him eventhough he gets away from Duncan. Who's more scary, David or Rasho?

KMart improved a lot this season. He developed many shots to be added to his arsenal. I'm sure you've all noticed how accurate KMart's underhanded left-handed lay-up is. He also developed a jump hook and an almost decent jumper.

There's also a probability of Zo being back.

Plus of course, Jefferson's improved jumper. They had a hard time against the Spurs' zone last year. Jefferson can help in this department.

I'm not being biased in any way. As I've said, the Nets can only win 2 games due to their talent and the reasons above. The remaining two games will be because of luck. Judging from what's going on, you can call them a lucky team.

Oh, and the points allowed between the Spurs and the Nets doesn't have that much of a difference. The Nets are giving up only 86.2 ppg for their opponents. Good for fourth in the NBA and they did this without a legitimate shotblocking Center.

Oh, and just for the record I still believe that the Lakers, Wolves and the Kings have the greatest change to emerge as the West champs. I'm just hoping that it would be the Spurs.

 

To say the Nets will win the NBA Championship is bizarre. Yeah, their playing well but when it gets down to the playoffs, they can't take down a team like Minnesota, Sacramento, or LA, or San Antonio. Don't let this streak fool you into saying they can take it all. After their next 3 games, they'll take their 4 game Western Conference road trip, that will be the ultimate test. Their still not even guaranteed out the East. Indiana, and when Detroit gets their stuff together are 2 teams who are very capable of taking the Nets down in the playoffs. And while were at it, don't count NY or New Orleans out either. Even if they do make it to the finals, the West has to much firepower who will easily take the Nets down. Like AllNet stated, I see them winning 2 games at most, assuming they will face LA, Sac-Town, Minnesota, or San Antonio.

 

I'm not saying that the Nets will win it all. What I'm saying is they have the best chance among the East.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not saying that the Nets will win it all. What I'm saying is they have the best chance among the East.</div>

Actually Pacers and Pistons have better chances because of both team's frontcourt. O'Neal/Artest Wallace/Wallace/Okur/Campbell e.t.c

Both those two teams have the size to compete, of course I don't think either will win the NBA title. It's staying in the west.

Saying you think they will win the NBA title is pure baised.

 

I've said it a while ago and I'll say it again.

If ever they reach the Finals, they have the capability to win two games against the Spurs.

If they get lucky, they can get another two wins to win the championship.

So basically, I'm not saying that the Nets will win the Championship. I'm just saying that they will win two games and I'm hoping that they get lucky to get two more.

Oh and Purple N Gold. I'm not saying that they can take down the Lakers et al. What I'm saying is among the West powerhouses, they have the best chance against the Spurs.

Judging from last year's postseason, it's not the frontcourt who'll kill the Nets. It's the guards (Bucks).

So I'm not biased. I'm just a typical NBA fan who knows that the Nets can win two games coz of their talent and I'm sure all of us agree. And I'm just a typical Nets fan who's hoping and praying that they get lucky to win a couple more.