The official Spurs vs Heat, 2014 NBA Finals thread!

[SlyPokerDog]

This picture reminds me of how ridiculous it is that we have confetti fall down after regular season wins.

But... but... but we sweep up the confetti and use it for the next game. It's celebrating with an environmental friendly twist!

 

[barfo]

The good guys won.

barfo

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Some good guys won.

barfo

FTFY

 

[MARIS61]

I think it's clear we'd have probably won the title had we not had to go through the Spurs.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

they have a lot of players from different countries

mills-australia
manu--argentina
splitter-brazil
duncan- virgin islands
parker-france
boris-france
baynes- new zealand
bonner- new hampshire

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think it's clear we'd have probably won the title had we not had to go through the Spurs.

As a hopeless homer, I unironically agree with this sarcastic statement.

 

[RoyToy]

Talkin' Ball on CSNNW is a mess right now

It's just Jaynes and Fentress yelling at each other

Fentress is a dipshit

 

[Draco]

Can't the Eastern Conference just be disbanded after this embarrassment? What a joke.

The NBA needs to seed teams 1-16, the current format is a joke.

 

[Draco]

Didn't Pop refuse to foul when up 3 last year, leaving the door open for the Ray Allen 3? I think that last possession, took a little of the luster off of Pop's legacy.

Foul when up 3 with 20 seconds left? Horrible idea. They make both and you miss one its a 2 point game.

 

[Draco]

Our defense was below average this season for sure. But only a jackass would be disappointed by this season.

I think the biggest problem was again our bench. If our starters could've played the 29mpg of the Spurs starters they would've been far more effective on defense. I think Stotts was really shown the importance of the bench when we played the Spurs. If Neil can add a player and we get growth from one or two of our young guys we could make some big improvements. We were 16th in the league defensively which isn't great but its not horrific, we could reasonable move into the top10 with most our current personnel.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think the biggest problem was again our bench. If our starters could've played the 29mpg of the Spurs starters they would've been far more effective on defense. I think Stotts was really shown the importance of the bench when we played the Spurs. If Neil can add a player and we get growth from one or two of our young guys we could make some big improvements. We were 16th in the league defensively which isn't great but its not horrific, we could reasonable move into the top10 with most our current personnel.

I agree. (although 29 mpg will not happen)
One good pick up with the MLE would help.
And minutes by CJ (12.5) TRob (12.5) Freeland (14.0) Barton (9.4) Claver (8.8) have a chance to increase 4 minutes a game if Stotts develops the players so he can slide them into his system.

 

[crandc]

New Hampshire is a foreign country?

What struck me was hearing how Duncan, Parker & Ginobili have played together for 12 years, with the same coach. And I think of all the wannabe GMs on this board saying trade Aldridge for picks or spare parts, trade Batum, trade Dame for better defender, and I think the Blazers starters have been together ONE year, even it you take out Lopez, two years. In two years they went from lottery to second round. Redoing the team every year does not win titles. Players learning to play together, learning one another's game, improving their game, that wins titles.

 

[MarAzul]

New Hampshire is a foreign country?

What struck me was hearing how Duncan, Parker & Ginobili have played together for 12 years, with the same coach. And I think of all the wannabe GMs on this board saying trade Aldridge for picks or spare parts, trade Batum, trade Dame for better defender, and I think the Blazers starters have been together ONE year, even it you take out Lopez, two years. In two years they went from lottery to second round. Redoing the team every year does not win titles. Players learning to play together, learning one another's game, improving their game, that wins titles.

Rep.

 

[crandc]

Hell hath frozen over. MarAzul hath repped me.

Somehow I feel I've done something terribly wrong.

 

[Mediocre Man]

New Hampshire is a foreign country?

What struck me was hearing hocer & Ginobili have played together for 12 years, with the same coach. And I think of all the wannabe GMs on this board saying trade Aldridge for picks or spare parts, trade Batum, trade Dame for better defender, and I think the Blazers starters have been together ONE year, even it you take out Lopez, two years. In two years they went from lottery to second round. Redoing the team every year does not win titles. Players learning to play together, learning one another's game, improving their game, that wins titles.

The main difference is that none of Aldridge, Lillard, Batum or Stotts are as good as their counterparts were in there prime

They also remade the roster from lottery team to playoff team as you said, so arent you contradicting yourself?

 

[Prue]

Over simplistic approach to next year:

1) Learn from what was awesome this year:

* 3pt is better than 2 when they happen
* Determination and Effort on Defense makes HUGE differences in terms of outcome of the game
* Having some Bench players who can score a couple points is a good thing

2) Identify what was hurting us:

* Thinking we dont have to play D under the belief we can 3-shoot ourselves out of a hole.
* Not driving the OPEN lane because we've spread the court with some 3's (lost freebies)
* Not providing consistent 'intensity' at all role spots
* Playing too many minutes for starters (FORCE cut some minutes to allow bench to DEVELOP (aka the plan that was supposed to be for last year >.>) )

3) Identify new focus for next season:

* EVERYONE learns to D-it-up. Pure Lockdown (...watch Kawhi, watch Patty 2.0)
* Develop more inside out plays. We have no cutting plays, we have 1 post play (Feed LA), we have no lob plays, no back cut plays, no double screen to a boxed-out lane drive plays...nothing inside. (Ok, save when Will comes in then we get 1 lob attempt >.>)
* Early in the season, modify the starting lineup (COMIT to developing the "TEAM") 3 existing starters and 2 bench/younger guys.

A games: Rolo, Dame, LA, T-rob, Will/Mo/CJ
B games: Nick, Wes, Dame, Joel/Myers, Victor/Dorell

If you want to win a championship then you have to forego things like:

"I'm a starter and must start every game"
"I'm not going to come off the bench"

..and do so in favor of things like

"Teams wont be able to run with us if we do this"
"Taking a step back to develop the team is for the better"

 

[crandc]

Not sure how I'm contradicting myself?
My point is redoing your team every year does not make a championship.

 

[illmatic99]

Over simplistic approach to next year:

1) Learn from what was awesome this year:

* 3pt is better than 2 when they happen
* Determination and Effort on Defense makes HUGE differences in terms of outcome of the game
* Having some Bench players who can score a couple points is a good thing

2) Identify what was hurting us:

* Thinking we dont have to play D under the belief we can 3-shoot ourselves out of a hole.
* Not driving the OPEN lane because we've spread the court with some 3's (lost freebies)
* Not providing consistent 'intensity' at all role spots
* Playing too many minutes for starters (FORCE cut some minutes to allow bench to DEVELOP (aka the plan that was supposed to be for last year >.>) )

3) Identify new focus for next season:

* EVERYONE learns to D-it-up. Pure Lockdown (...watch Kawhi, watch Patty 2.0)
* Develop more inside out plays. We have no cutting plays, we have 1 post play (Feed LA), we have no lob plays, no back cut plays, no double screen to a boxed-out lane drive plays...nothing inside. (Ok, save when Will comes in then we get 1 lob attempt >.>)
* Early in the season, modify the starting lineup (COMIT to developing the "TEAM") 3 existing starters and 2 bench/younger guys.

A games: Rolo, Dame, LA, T-rob, Will/Mo/CJ
B games: Nick, Wes, Dame, Joel/Myers, Victor/Dorell

If you want to win a championship then you have to forego things like:

"I'm a starter and must start every game"
"I'm not going to come off the bench"

..and do so in favor of things like

"Teams wont be able to run with us if we do this"
"Taking a step back to develop the team is for the better"

I think the first step to improving our D is to acknowledge how bad it is. There were so many interviews I saw last season when Terry/Dame/Wes cited how we were a good defensive team because we won while shooting poorly, or how we came up to average for the second half of the year. These guys need to recognize that there is actually a problem-- and until they do that, the D will not improve. The most discouraging part of all this is that Terry needs to be the first one calling the D out, while he's actually praising it.

 

[DUB]

they have a lot of players from different countries

mills-australia
manu--argentina
splitter-brazil
duncan- virgin islands
parker-france
boris-france
baynes- new zealand
bonner- new hampshire

Baynes is Australian. He was born in NZ, but grew up in Australia, and represents Australia.

When they won, he draped himself in the Australian flag.

If you're going to give Baynes to NZ, you have to give us Kyrie Irving back.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Not sure how I'm contradicting myself?
My point is redoing your team every year does not make a championship.

Ah. I think why I differ so much from many fans is I don't think our team is set yet. Lillard is great, Aldridge is very good, but I think we need an elite wing as our first or second "star" Until that happens, we need to redo until we have one

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Ah. I think why I differ so much from many fans is I don't think our team is set yet. Lillard is great, Aldridge is very good, but I think we need an elite wing as our first or second "star" Until that happens, we need to redo until we have one

Just move MyLe to small forward. Dream come true.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Just move MyLe to small forward. Dream come true.

For other teams SF

 

[cmeese47]

A

I think it's clear we'd have probably won the title had we not had to go through the Spurs.

We probably don't beat Miami nor do we beat the Thunder not sure how's it clear we win a title without facing the Spurs.

 

[RoyToy]

The Blazers played the perfect opponent in Houston

I'm not convinced the Blazers could beat OKC, LAC, MEM, GS in a playoff series

We know they can't beat SA

Houston really was the perfect team to face in the 1st round and I said that before the playoffs started

 

[MarAzul]

The Blazers played the perfect opponent in Houston

I'm not convinced the Blazers could beat OKC, LAC, MEM, GS in a playoff series

We know they can't beat SA

Houston really was the perfect team to face in the 1st round and I said that before the playoffs started

Do you have some special power that enabled your prediction to become fact?

 

[Strenuus]

The Blazers played the perfect opponent in Houston

I'm not convinced the Blazers could beat OKC, LAC, MEM, GS in a playoff series

We know they can't beat SA

Houston really was the perfect team to face in the 1st round and I said that before the playoffs started

Yay! You can say things without the threat of being proven wrong! Welcome to S2!

 

[craigehlo]

The Blazers played the perfect opponent in Houston

I'm not convinced the Blazers could beat OKC, LAC, MEM, GS in a playoff series\

All the Rockets games were too close for comfort even though Houston was team liming into the playoffs without any momentum. I think it wasn't a great match up for most of the Blazers aside from LA.

The Warriors would have been an easy 5 game series IMHO. I think the Blazers likely lose to OKC, MEM and LAC in 6 or 7.

 

[Pinwheel1]

All the Rockets games were too close for comfort even though Houston was team liming into the playoffs without any momentum. I think it wasn't a great match up for most of the Blazers aside from LA.

The Warriors would have been an easy 5 game series IMHO. I think the Blazers likely lose to OKC, MEM and LAC in 6 or 7.

I think the final regular season stranding turned out to be pretty accurate. SA proved they were the best team all year. Then OKC and the Clippers. The Rockets and Blazers (and Miami for that matter) tied and their series reflected that. I think we would have beaten Memphis.

 

[illmatic99]

Are this year's Spurs the best team from the last 15 years? I think they're in serious contention for that title.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Are this year's Spurs the best team from the last 15 years? I think they're in serious contention for that title.

Best in the last 20, easily. I can't think of a single team that could beat them in a 7 game series. Winning 62 I a super competitive conference while effectively playing your starters like it was the pre-season every night? That's flaunting how good you are.