I was looking thru the Basketball thread, when I noticed a thread Shapcity started. The thread asked who would the people of the JBB community like to see play for the NBA title. And of course I put my vote in for the wolves vs Nets. But now, Iam wondering who would the people LIKE to see play for the west title? Now that we are down to the 4 best teams in the West all season, we can only come up with excellent matchups. Every possible matchup has an underlined theme. Timberwolves vs Spurs- A series between the two teams, will finally put to bed the question of who's better KG or Duncan. Timberwolves vs Lakers- Big 3 vs Hall of fame 4. Lakers vs Kings- Rematch of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Hands down the most intense rivalry in the NBA. Kings vs Spurs- Best offense in the NBA vs the Best Defense in the NBA. Its always said that defense wins championships. A kings/Spurs series could either prove or disprove that theory. So out of these possible matchup, which one catches your eye the most? Once again, similar to Shape's thread this is a who you want to see play each other, not a who you think will play each other. Also for better conversation, please state a little bit about what catches your eye in the series you chose.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">IKings vs Spurs- Best offense in the NBA vs the Best Defense in the NBA. Its always said that defense wins championships. A kings/Spurs series could either prove or disprove that theory. </div> This is the series I want to see and I believe I will see. The Kings have playoff experience and they just came off an impressive series against the Mavs which have given them new life. I pick them to upset the Wolves. The Spurs are going to beat the Lakers in the second round, no doubt. Nothing I enjoy more than seeing the Lakers lose. The Spurs have a great defense and play great team basketball. The Spurs/Kings would make for a great series. We would truely see what prevails in a series with a potent offense vs. a potent defense. I don't think the Kings will stand much of a chance against them. The Spurs have a damn pretty good offense to go along with their great defense. With the way Parker is playing right now, I'm not sure anybody can beat them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the series I want to see and I believe I will see. The Kings have playoff experience and they just came off an impressive series against the Mavs which have given them new life. I pick them to upset the Wolves. The Spurs are going to beat the Lakers in the second round, no doubt. Nothing I enjoy more than seeing the Lakers lose. The Spurs have a great defense and play great team basketball. The Spurs/Kings would make for a great series. We would truely see what prevails in a series with a potent offense vs. a potent defense. I don't think the Kings will stand much of a chance against them. The Spurs have a damn pretty good offense to go along with their great defense. With the way Parker is playing right now, I'm not sure anybody can beat them.</div> I agree the Spurs do look pretty unbeatable, right now. I still think the way you beat the Spurs is by making Parker work on Defense. Like in today's Spurs/Lakers game, Gary Payton was getting excellent looks against Parkers defense. But He just isnt use to being affective in the Lakers offensive system, so he missed alot of easy shots. In the West Final, I dont think Bibby or Cassell will miss those type of looks. And maybe then we might start seeing some flaws in Parkers game. And maybe the Spurs as a whole.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree the Spurs do look pretty unbeatable, right now. I still think the way you beat the Spurs is by making Parker work on Defense.</div>Well Payton and Fisher are not going to make him work in this series. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Like in today's Spurs/Lakers game, Gary Payton was getting excellent looks against Parkers defense. But He just isnt use to being affective in the Lakers offensive system, so he missed alot of easy shots. In the West Final, I dont think Bibby or Cassell will miss those type of looks. And maybe then we might start seeing some flaws in Parkers game. And maybe the Spurs as a whole.</div>I agree, Payton had some nice looks but he was not able to hit his shots. I still think the Spurs have the best TEAM in the league. Cassel was getting shut down, except for game 1, by Miller and Boykins, who I wouldn't consider great defensive players. The Spurs play great team defense and they pick each other up. The great thing about having a great defensive team is that if one player has a flaw, it is not easily noticed because his teamates are always there to back him up.
I really want to see a Spurs-Kings matchup. I think that if Webber, Miller and Divac can limit Duncan, the Kings could actually come away with the win. However, I'm not even sure if the Kings will be in that matchup with the way KG and the Wolves are playing.
Payton had easy looks? Must be me but I never saw any easy looks, he always had a defender on him and throwing up floaters in the line doesn't class as easy looks when the lane is filled by Rasho and Duncan. Spurs v Wolves is what I would like to see, the debate of KG v Duncan is rather old now and whoever wins that series won't change who is the better player, even though Duncan's team will win the series It's a big help having two all-star quailty players by the side of him. Something Tim never has been able to have while KG finally has this year.
Timberwolves vs Spurs I want to see the matchup of the year, Tim Duncan (Mr.Fundamental) Vs Kevin Garnett (MVP) This should be a great series.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers vs Kings- Rematch of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Hands down the most intense rivalry in the NBA.</div>This is the series that I would want to see. There has been so much trash talk between Sacramento fans and Laker fans over who is the better team. The games beween the two teams are just as heated as the debates that go on in JBB. This game has the most drama within it and a ton of amazing matchups. Shaq Vs Divac Malone Vs Webber Rick Fox Vs Doug Christie's fist The list goes on.... I would not miss this series for the world.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Payton and Fisher are not going to make him work in this series. I agree, Payton had some nice looks but he was not able to hit his shots. I still think the Spurs have the best TEAM in the league. Cassel was getting shut down, except for game 1, by Miller and Boykins, who I wouldn't consider great defensive players. The Spurs play great team defense and they pick each other up. The great thing about having a great defensive team is that if one player has a flaw, it is not easily noticed because his teamates are always there to back him up.</div> Actually they doubled him most of that series. And playing in Denver had alot to do with that. Cassell cant play in the high altitude of Denver. That wont have an affect in the series against the Spurs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Timberwolves vs Lakers- Big 3 vs Hall of fame 4. </div> I really would like to see this series. I really hate the Spurs, and I want them to lose. I love watching great players, and watching Kobe and Garnett play would be great. This series would also have maybe the 2 most talented players in the NBA right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post"> That wont have an affect in the series against the Spurs.</div>But than again, he was facing the Spurs. The Nuggets aren't even close to on the same level as the Spurs. Don't expect Cassel to get many open looks if the Wolves and Spurs meet in the next round.
Cassell averaged 23ppg on 52.4% shooting against the Spurs this year. He can hold his own against Parker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't expect Cassel to get many open looks if the Wolves and Spurs meet in the next round</div> Why? He averaged 23 ppg, and like 5 apg a game in the regular season against the Spurs in the regular season, including one tripe double. EDIT : ahh, animus beat me to it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Cassell averaged 23ppg on 52.4% shooting against the Spurs this year. He can hold his own against Parker.</div>I know that Cassel could hold his own OFFENSIVELY against Parker. The thing is that the Spurs play the best team defense in the league. As Popovich said, this is a better defensive team than last years championship team.
I would personally like to see Lakers vs Kings....this would be a great sequel to the 2002 playoffs...In addition, it's probably the best rivalry in the NBA right now...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">I know that Cassel could hold his own OFFENSIVELY against Parker. The thing is that the Spurs play the best team defense in the league. As Popovich said, this is a better defensive team than last years championship team.</div> The same team defense that Cassell averaged 23ppg on 52.4% shooting on?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">I know that Cassel could hold his own OFFENSIVELY against Parker. The thing is that the Spurs play the best team defense in the league. As Popovich said, this is a better defensive team than last years championship team.</div> I know that what catches my eye so much about a timberwolves vs Spurs matchup. The Wolves have lived by the modo"If you stop one of the big three, the other 2 are going to kill you". And the 1st round went exactly like that as well. In game 1, Cassell & KG combined 70pts. Denver focused their defense on Cassell, so Sprewell stepped his game up. So it would interesting to see which way the Spurs handle that type of situation. And also to see if one of three big 3 gets shut down, will the other to step up to give him a lift. I think Spurs vs Wolves is the matchup I want to see. KG vs Duncan on the biggest stage with no excuses. KG finally has the help he needs. And nobody can argue that top to both the Spurs are the best team in basketball on both ends of the court. You have possibly the 2 best perimeter defenders in the west, who's main job would probably be to stop the other teams point guard. Something both can do, but arent alway ask too. So thats a matchup in its own right. See which on handles that situation the best. Manu has a little bit of the explosiveness of a young Sprewell. So their are alot of interesting matchups that can take place in this series.
