Screw the Spurs and their non-jumping little b*stard of a point guard!!! Robinson will forever be Hakeem's soft little b****! Sorry about the lack of commentary, but we need a little more Spur hate goin' on in here.
Enough of this "parker is outplaying payton" line of BS. Parker is practically dared by every team he faces to shoot wide open, UNCONTESTED jump shots because they do not want duncan to single handedly crush them. He is living off Duncan's dominance like Kenny Smith did off of Hakeem's. Payton is the focus of the Spurs defensive gameplan. Parker will be a good PG, but to simply look at his #'s and Payton's #'s in game 1 and say he outplayed him is flat out r****ded. Payton is facing a damn good Spurs Team D and parker is spotting up and shooting totally uncontested 3's and Jumpers because the sonics are forced to double down on Timmy. BTW, Cat, are u a closet Spurs fan? You seriously act as if you feel they are the best team in the history of the NBA. Have you forgotten the way they were butchered, torched, and humiliated in record breaking fashion in last year's WCF? Sorry to inform you, the Spurs are not 2 time defending champions, the Lakers are, as much as you hate it. And they're more than likely going to win again regardless of how much you jock the Spurs. Cat, is Duncan the best big man in the history of the NBA? Just curious.
I don't think Parker outplayed Payton. I understood those who were praising Parker's performance in Game 1 to be pointing out that Payton didn't light him up like many expected him to, that's all. Parker did show incredible poise for a 19 year old from France starting at point in a NBA playoff game. I don't get this dislike of Parker. If you don't like the Spurs, fine. But dismissing Parker as nothing is absurd. As for last year's WCF, like it or not the Spurs' perimeter has significantly improved over what took the court in that series.
Funny that you draw such a distinction between the playoffs and regular season, while at the same time hyping up the Kings. Chris Webber has only made it out of the first round once. He has consistently lowered his level of play his entire career in the playoffs. The only guy with any real playoff experience on the team is Divac. The real season is about to begin, you're right, which means Webber and the Kings will be saying bye-bye soon.
Closet? I've said for years that I am a Spurs fan except when they play the Rockets. It is possible to like two teams, you know. And I'd love to see a quote from me that even remotely resembles saying they're the best team ever. Have you forgotten the way the Lakers were butchered, torched, and humiliated in record breaking fashion in the 1999 playoffs? Every year is a new season. Sorry to inform you, but I'd like to hear where I said otherwise. And that's more than likely a judgment call on your part, regardless of how much you hate the Spurs. Again, I'd like to see where I even remotely made a statement similar to this. Watch David Aldridge, or another NBA analyst who does something besides kiss up to the Lakers. Just because you have a problem with the Spurs doesn't mean the rest of the world sees it the same way, and it definitely doesn't make it a fact.
Considering Duncan is pretty much the same player then and now, everyone forgets that team had 2 all around players better than any other player on the current Spurs (healthy D-Rob and Elliott in his prime). Plus that team had a veteran backcourt of special quality defensely. This Spurs team isn't near as balanced, talented, savvy, athletic, nor focused as that one, and the competition--a Kings team better than any opponent the Spurs faced that year and a 2 time defending champion post-Phil J Laker team-- is far superior this year. Its funny how many of you guys act like Spurshomers when (I think) only one of you is. I don't even like the Kings, I am not "hyping" them. I don't want them to win because of their obnoxious fans (as a rule smalltown fans seem to be rude and ignorant I guess because they have nothing else to invest themselves in or give them perspective) and because of Webber acting like a little baby (somewhat directed to us) on his way to bankrolling 123Mil. I am simply pointing out those of you who think the Spurs are a better team or have a better chance of beating the Lakers haven’t been objectively watching basketball the last two years . The Kings both had a far more impressive regular season, AND, if you talk about playoffs last year the Kings played the Lakers far more competitively than the Spurs did. And this year the Kings are even better than last year. I am not saying the Kings will beat the Lakers, but I assure you if someone beats a healthy Lakers team the Kings are the one's to do it. Personally, I think I'll route for the Mavs-Pups winner this playoffs--who I think have as good as shot (the Mavs, like the Spurs, have a very, very long shot, and another "very" for the Pups--but it isn't totally out of the realm of possibility one could come through) as anyone outside of the two elite teams. But barring major injuries it IS going to come down to the Kings and Lakers, and I will be darned sure to remind most of ya'll this when the Spurs lose by next round because ya'll have been so fervent in your misguidedness. I expect this about Rockets issues and maybe anti-Jazz stuff, but I don't let it slide (when I have the energy and will to post) for anything else overly positive or overly negative and completely biased. Just putting a little reality on the "spin", unless it is pro-Rocket or anti-Jazz.
Of course, the assumption being that this year's Spurs team is the same as last year's Spurs team. Yet somehow only the Kings' improvements are noted. And the Spurs played LA tougher than Sacto has in the '01-'02 regular season. Am I a Spurs homer? Just as much as you are a hater. BFD.
No, more like testy Spursprick of late. Just be sure to check back here in about 3 weeks when you are contemplating the next Bruce "Kobe-Stopping" Bowen or Savior le Sauvignon as answers to this year's long off season in SA. I don't hate the Spurs, after all the Rockets wiped them clean on their way to one of their titles, but you are certainly helping me develop a healthy dislike.
Have you forgotten the way the Lakers were butchered, torched, and humiliated in record breaking fashion in the 1999 playoffs? Every year is a new season. And that's more than likely a judgment call on your part, regardless of how much you hate the Spurs. Again, I'd like to see where I even remotely made a statement similar to this. Watch David Aldridge, or another NBA analyst who does something besides kiss up to the Lakers. Just because you have a problem with the Spurs doesn't mean the rest of the world sees it the same way, and it definitely doesn't make it a fact. [/B][/QUOTE] Umm, the Spurs Lakers WCF in 2001 set the record for largest point differential in the history of the NBA's Conference finals. The 99 sweep by SA of the Kurt Rambis, teenager Kobe team was not like that. All the games were competitive. The Spurs rolled over in an embarassing and pathetic fashion last year, LA at least played hard and not soft in 99. It was an insult to the NBA the way the Spurs just flat out QUIT in that series and served to perpetuate the SOFT stereotype the Spurs have been labeled with the past few years. You can hate on LA all you want, but they've won 2 straight titles and are probably going to be a dynasty. I dont' like them much either, but to say that the Spurs are as good of a team or imply that is just silly. they had their chance last year and failed miserably. They are not as good as last year. LA has 2 top 5 NBA players and a very solid supporting cast. SA is a good team, but not a dominant champion like LA.
Actually I think that MrSpur has been civilized and hasn't resorted to name calling. Nobody is calling Bowen's a Kobe stopper, but it's just ridiculous that you completely disregard any positives he brings to the team. I think that Bowens is a nice pick-up, Rockets fans want a defensive SF on our team and the Spurs have one so I'm appreciating that fact. Jesus you don't have to call Bowens a savior or say he's the answer to the puzzle just because people think he's the answer. The Rockets have won titles, the Spurs have a title. No matter how much people bring up that fact that Hakeem out-played David Robinson, both have rings. I'd like to have my @ss handed to me if you told me 4 years later I'd finally win a championship ring.
I still think 'Go Spurs Go' is the blandest, most inane team 'catch phrase' I've ever heard. Anyhow, the Spurs should be happy with their first round matchup. They got probably the easiest of all possible playoff opponents to face. The next closest is Utah for Sac, but then again we all know what a pain in the a$$ Utah can be. They should get past the Sonics...though the game right now could be close.
Have fun with this one for a few days... I heard the same things when the Spurs lost game 2 at home to Minnesota in the 1999 first round. Knowing Robinson's uncertain health, I predicted the Spurs to lose a game before this series started, so it's no huge surprise. Time to get David healthy.
That CHOKE JOB was sweeeeeeet, San Baloney-o. Sprewell would be jealous. *sniff, sniff*...I smell an upset! GO SONICS!! PS: That dunk by Desmond Mason....ohmydamn!
It would be sweet if the Sonics could finish them off in Seattle, but I don't see the Spurs losing 3 in a row. It's going to 5, and the Sonics will win! Go Rashard!
Man, Cat says to have fun with this one....and that's exactly what you guys do! Anyhow, I seriously doubt the Sonics will take this series. Unless for some reason the Spurs completely lose faith and confidence, ala vs. the Lakers last year. But if they do lose, I think the idea that the Spurs were better off this year than last dies a painful death.
Man...nice win by the Sonics despite some godawful officiating towards the end in favor of the Spurs. Even the announcers were talking about how the calls were being really picky down the stretch.
