Let me start off by saying, it feels good to see San Antonio lose. Penny Hardaway and Rodney Rogers were the difference. Rogers is such a bull inside. He creates unbelievable matchup problems. He was possessed controlling the boards and pretty took control at the end of the game. Hardaway has been having a a silent, very good season. He's realized he's not the athlete he once was, but he does look like he has a lot of explosiveness back. A couple of dunks in traffic really impressed me and made him look like the Penny of old. Has turned back into a very good all around player. He's focusing more of his energy hitting the boards and passing the ball again, unlike the tail end of his Magic's career when he wanted to be strictly a scorer. He showed he still has that wonderful, uncanny playmaking ability for a guy his size. When he worries less about scoring, he can be a joy to watch. He had some big games this series and is starting to put that luster and shine back to his penny. If he keeps this up, maybe he can creep back into the conversation as one of the best 2 guards in the game. This Phoenix team is good. If this team was healthy all season long with Tom Gugliotta and a healthy Rex Chapman, the could possibly lay claim as the 2nd best team in the West over Portland. But still this team can give a scare to L.A. or whomever they may play. Jason Kidd is just sooo damn fast. With his new yellow hair, it just looks like lightning down the court. He pushes the ball down the court faster than any player I've ever seen, except for maybe Isiah(actually I'll give the edge to Kidd). Wish he could play with Francis... It doesn't look like the Spurs will make the playoffs for a long time. I thought their perimeter play would catch up with them last year. It didn't, but it sure the hell caught up with them this year. Elie will leave via free agency. I think Elliot is going to retire. Daniels and Johnson are free agents. I don't see why Duncan would want to come back. I was surprised by the play of David Robinson in the playoffs and down the stretch during the season. I honestly did not think he'd ever recapture his explosiveness of old, but he's been looking very spry. He was throwing down alley oops, snatching shots, and swatting balls like he just came out of the Academy. ------------------
Houston could whoop all their butts if they were in the playoffs. Did it before, will again. BOOYAH! Rockets Rule! Francis schooled Kidd so many times. Hakeem danced on the Private. No contest. Best playeers of their respective teams taken to school so nothing stopping Rocks when they make it to playoofs later. Rockets Rule Rockets Rule Rockets Rule. *sigh* carry on ... ------------------ Cato is 7 feet tall.
Two players that really impressed me in this series were Rodney Rogers and Penny Hardaway. The knock on Rogers last season was that he would settle too much for the 3 pt shot and would not take the ball to the basket. He went to work in the offseason and developed a lean and mean body that added the quickness to his game he has shown this season. Rogers was showing excellent versatility being able to either post up or face his defender up and go strong to the basket. Also, he has added much needed rebounding to this Suns team. Penny Hardaway seems to have re-gained a lot of his quickness and explosion as DaMan pointed out. I was amazed at how well he was running the wings and handling the ball in transition. He is learning how to play alongside a playmaker like Kidd. The downfall of the Suns I have felt all along is their lacking a "banger" in the frontcourt. Jerry Colangelo loves to acquire tall versatile players but does not pick up the bangers like Dale Davis, Antonio Davis, Charles Oakley, etc. This lacking piece is what separates the Suns from the likes of Portland and Lakers imho. I think this would have shown up had Duncan been healhty and likely will show up in the following rounds. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
I'm impressed with Robinson too. Phoenix is a good team. . . but do need tall folx. Rocket River ------------------
Da Man, Keep up the reports. Fun to read. I can't wait for your SAC/LA one. Notice the order I placed those abbreviations. bwwahahahaha The whole season would be worth it to see Webber show his clutchness and Jackson state there is simply no excuse. "All I can do is get these guys ready by focusing them all season. They're men. It is up to them to fulfill their destiny come playoff time." Then Shaq. "Whatever." Then Kobe. "I was ready, dammit." Then Rice. "Told you I needed more looks." sweet mother.
During a break this past weekend, Stern was asked about having a dominant team, like the up & coming Lakers. Stern's response was "they haven't won anything yet", then "they still have to play the games". Next thing you know, the Lakers go down twice against the Kings. Hmmm... coinkidink? Je ne pense pas! ------------------
Speaking of explosiveness, how about Marion. Sheesh! ------------------ I'm sticking with Charlotte. I can't flip because I don't want to be confused with Peter Vecsey. -- Charles Barkley
the thing about robinson is, that he can score 40 points but in the end they have a loss , go back to the season and the last two games of the series. i never thought robinson was soft , but i knew he was'nt a team leader. thats the difference between robinson and duncan , robinson can score as much as duncan and rebound as much as duncan but but duncan's stats are'nt insuffcient. ------------------ johnny "red" kerr:i'm glad the bulls did'nt draft steve francis. dan roan: why!!!!! johnny red kerr:because he would forever be compared to michael jordan.
I saw a stat somewhere that David Robinson was 2-11 in elimination games ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!!
I saw a stat recently that Shaquille was 1-24 in elimination games. I betcha he's sweating bullets over the next one. Heh heh. Phil Jackson's facial expressions will be funny when they lose to the Kings! just hopin it happens RocKs KeyGrip of the sfbwc. ------------------
As a current resident of San Antonio, I am ecstatic to see the Spurs lose. As cool as it was being here for the championship, I'm very happy to see some sense finally knocked into the fans here. The Spurs got helped out by a shortened season last year. Avery Johnson is not even deserving of half of the $9 mil. he wants per season. Tim Duncan played it smart and did not risk getting hurt for no real reason. He has his championship, now he is ready for his money. I wouldn't want to stay here if I were Tim anyhow, though. There are no young playersr on this team. Antonio Daniels . . . maybe a couple of bench warmers/IR guys, but that's it. And for all of those SA fans using injuries for an excuse, I think they should look over at Phoenix: No Tom Gugliotta, No Rex Chapman and NO Jason Kidd (except last game, but he was only about 70% despite 10 assists). The Suns showed serious heart in this series. Almost the heart of a champion
YESSSS! G'bye SanAn! Last time that happened was in '84? Hahahahahahaha! To add fuel to the fire, say Duncan decides to split (and I'll bet he's *seriously* considering it), that team is screwed forever. One down, two more to go. Speaking of which, if Sac comes up big on Friday, there will be repercussions (and concussions) in LaLaLand. Watch them go down like the Titanic. I can't wait! Loved watching them Jazz fall to the SupaSonics last night. I honestly thought the Jazz would win that one. Sometimes I love being wrong! ...wait a minute, it's really three to go, counting Portland. If I'm lucky, they'll face Sac in round two. ------------------ 5..4..3..2..1.....We have lift off! Go Rockets! [This message has been edited by BlastOff (edited May 04, 2000).]
I got some comments...THIS IS IN THE WRONG FRIGGIN FORUM!! If I wanted to read about San Antonio or Phoenix or any other NBA team, I'd go to the NBA forum.....but since I'm here I just have to say I can't wait until Friday so I can see the Lakers LOSE, LOSE, LOSE!!! ------------------ We're going to miss you Chuck! Thanks for all the memories! [This message has been edited by RocketsPimp (edited May 04, 2000).]
I'll have to agree with RocketsPimp on this one...this is a good topic for NBA Dish. I'm quite peeved that Phoenix won. They're nothing more than opportunistic pretenders...if Duncan plays in that series they get swept. Phoenix will have no chance against LA, whereas SA likely would've beaten them, and that's mostly all I care about this year. ------------------ "Okay KG, next time down, you give Cousin Billy his turn, then he'll give Uncle Joe his turn, then we'll give Shaq a turn." -Rudy T, in the Dream Team 2000 huddle
