[Western Conference Semi-Finals] San Antonio vs. Golden State

Damn that had me literally LOL.

 

Right now, the Warriors have a significantly better chance at making the playoffs than the Blazers, Lakers, Jazz, and us.

Don't forget that Bogut missed most of the season. When healthy, he's one of the best centers in the league. Plus, Barnes/Green/Thompson should all improve.

Even at full health, the Blazers are a fringe playoff team b/c they have no bench.

Utah is on the verge of losing both Millsap/Jefferson and promoting Kanter/Favors. They won't come close to making the playoffs. I don't like the Lakers' chances either. Honestly, I think Minnesota has a better chance than LAL or Utah.

 

Sure, you laugh at it- BTW, I didn't mean the Blazers were coming in a #6- but a team with Lilliard, Aldridge, and a healthy Batum can certainly make the playoffs.

I've been following the NBA religiously since 1985. I've seen teams that grew gradually, teams that declined slowly, teams that grew rapidly, and teams that declined quickly. Sometimes due to injury, sometimes due to age, and sometimes due to...I don't know, not meeting expectations. Sometimes a team just doesn't get into synch, and they were only separated from a team that didn't make the playoffs by 4 games. Even with the Lakers' injuries to Nash and others, did you really think they were going to be an 8 seed?? All I'm saying is that they seem to be a team on the rise, but there's no guarantee of it. They won 47 regular season games, so it's not like they're the Thunder or even the Grizzlies. I would guess that they make the playoffs, but I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't- I think the West is going to be that good next year.

 

HAWT HAWT HAWT HAWT HAWT! lol!

 

so so true, funny!

 

Good win lets go DUBS!

 

OK, now that you have backed off your #6 position for the Blazers, I might read the rest of your last post.

Then you should be willing to say that Lilliard might be overrated, and a ROY who doesn't become an All-star. Dude can't go left. If you can say GSW might fade like unrelated teams in the past, then I can say the Blazers haven't proved anything and don't have a bright future at all....like many teams in the past.

You are using your own logic selectively.

Curry, Lee, Bogut and Klay Thompson and a vastly superior bench clearly have a better future than the Blazers.

I think you should just give up on your point that the Blazers have "a good chance" of being better than GSW next year.

 

Lillard had some great answers for the crew, but he seemed so nervous answering questions, what with shuffling his feet and such.

 

Synchronized Flopping Martin/Fisher made Shaq'tin a fool.

 

RUM TMC did not "regress". Mitch Richmond was traded away for Billy Owens and the team made the playoffs but were crushed by the Sonics (Kemp, Payton, among others). If anything, Run TMC did not stay together long enough.

The following season, Tim Hardaway got hurt and the Warriors dropped off. THey got Chris Webber though and Avery Johnson, Sprewell and Webber got the team into the playoffs. Of course, Webber hated Don Nelson. Webber got traded and the Warriors went into the abyss until 2007.

The 2007 "We Believe" group BARELY snuck into the playoffs. With most of the players returning, the 2008 Warriors team WON 48 GAMES but did not make the playoffs because the EIGHTH SEED WON FIFTY GAMES! Baron left after this and that was the end of the Baron era.

The difference between the previous Warriors and this year's team? The majority of the KEY players are all under contract (rookie or otherwise) in terms of Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Lee and Bogut. Jack and Landry are free agents. I would take Landry back as he complements Lee with some good offensive post play. I liked Jack during the regular sea on but his decision making and handles during the playoffs have been questionable.

In fact, as the playoffs have shown, the Warriors are doing better WITHOUT LEE. Lee is not a ball stopper like Monta Ellis. However, I think Curry and company deferred to Lee a bit during the season. Without Lee, Curry and company can fire away. Bogut / Green are just playing their roles. That is why the Warriors have taken off a bit. Lee is also slow of foot so the Warriors are quicker without him in the lineup.

 

Let's not go overboard and say GSW are better without Lee. Lee can destroy certain PF matchups. In the regular season, you cannot deny the value of having a full team with Bogut and Lee.

And if nothing else, at the very worst, Lee is a MAJOR asset for trading.

 

This.

He was an all-star averaging at 18 and 11 in the regular season. You can't possibly say they are better without him after how well he played for them in the regular season.

 

Every second round series is 1-1 now. Interesting.

 

By regress, I mean the team's success, whether through injury or trade. The Warriors have one championship to their name, and they haven't consistently been a franchise that has had long-term success like the Mavericks, Suns (with the current team excepted), Lakers, etc. Geez, people are fixated with the Warriors! Sorry to suggest that the Warriors MIGHT not make the playoffs in a tough conference, even though I said that they MOST LIKELY WILL (I changed my original post from "good chance" to chance"). Talk about hyper-sensitivity- sorry, Warriors fans, didn't mean to rain on your parade. LOFL.

 

Unlikely

 

Yes, I have. Ever since the Rockets made the Finals. Followed them through Bill Fitch, Don Cheney, Rudy T, JVG, Adelman, and McHale. Have watched every Finals since 1986- both Lakers, both Pistons, the 6 Bulls championships, Spurs, 3 lakers, 3 other spurs, pistons in 2004 (or 2005, I forget which year), heat in 2006 (particularly enjoyed that one, for obvious reasons), lakers and celtics, mavs (ugh), heat of last year. When you remember players like Granville Waiters, Derrick Chievous, Buck Johnson, David Wood, Zan Tabak, Earl Cureton, Sedale Threatt, Michael Dickerson, David Wesley, etc., yeah, you kinda know the Rockets.

Other teams, too- great teams that didn't win a championship like the Suns with Nash, the Kings from the 2000s, Blazers from 2000 with Pippen, Wallace, Steve Smith, Sarbonis, Pacers of the 90s with the Davis brothers, Milwaukee with Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, 76ers with Iverson, Mutumbo, and Tyrone Hill, Nets with Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson and Kerry Kittles, Magic with Shaq and Penny, Warriors with Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, Sonics with Payton and Kemp, Denver back in the 80s with Fat Lever and Alex English, etc. Yes, following it quite a bit.

 

No need to get defensive. Your opinion on the GSW was a bit shortsighted so you earned some ridicule. No big deal.

GSW are poised to be really good, especially in the 14/15 season when Jefferson/Biedrins/Rush all come off the books and give GSW an extra $25mm to play with.

 

Sure - but the regular season is over now. The Warriors have out rebounded their playoff opponents in every game but one I believe.

As as a trade asset, David Lee's got a big contract. Not exactly easy to trade someone unless you get a big contract back.

Don't get me wrong. I like Lee. Nicest guy around and I have his jersey. But one can't deny the Warriors are doing well (right now) without him.

 

1-1, but the Warriors are in complete control. They easily should be up 2-0. They're a young team, and have trouble holding onto leads. But playing at home should hopefully erase that.

Man the Warriors have a ridiculously great shooting back-court. Can you imagine if BOTH Curry and Thompson get unconscious in the same game? Damn.

 

I want the Spurs to win. Screw Mark Jackson and his phony ass "I'm old school" mentality. He gave the Rockets hard fouls to stop them from setting a measly 3 pt record and he can't deal with his team taking a few hard screens in the playoffs?