I look at the spurs team To a man. . . I cannot say they are more talented that our team I won't even go with the MYTHICAL basketball IQ I think their teamwork is better. Parker is torching Kidd. I think Kidd's foot speed is being exposed some. [BTW . . isn't Kidd the TRUER POINT GUARD? seems like yet another year where the MYTHICAL KEY TO THE KINGDOM . . the TRUE PG ain't gonna get the ring .. . when was the last time the TRUE PG lead the team to the ring .. . hhmmm Pistons? with Isiah thomas?] Parker/ Francis - I like Francis but for the sake of argument I'll call it a wash Mobley v Ginobilli - Manu hasn't done much this series Posey v Bowen - they are very similar. . . Bowen has the three advantage and posey runs the break advantage Duncan v Ed/MoT - Edge Spurs [MAJORLY Yao v Robinson/Rose - Edge Rockets I think our Role Players are better than theirs. . . once again in talent HOWEVER we lack in the one thing they have. . . HUSTLE AND HEART Malik Rose. . .we had a version of him in KT. Posey hustles like Bowen Mobley, MoT, Eddie and Francis need to hustle more on DEFENSE I know i'll get killed but YAO CAN BE TIM DUNCAN . . . he needs experience. . . If Van Gumby can get the to hustle on DEFENSE [esp by limiting their minutes] We can be a 55 win team [when our defense was kickin . .we were rollin] Rocket River
Rocket River, Right on!! I LOVE the way they play and the way they are coached: in your face defense, always making the extra pass, always hustling (or coach jumps their butt and out they come!), and everyone knows their roles. It also helps to have the best player on the planet. And somehow no "youth" excuses! Best coached team in basketball, hands down. D R
I agree with this, except for one thing. I think we need some veterans on our team. The Spurs have guys like Kevin Willis, Steve Kerr and Steve Smith on their bench. I wouldn't mind a couple veteran roleplayers on this team. I think some balance is needed there. We've got way too much youth and not enough experience. Our past championship teams were always a good mix of both young and old. I'd like to see a couple veterans added to the roster. Possibly a back up guard and power forward/center type.
Both of the teams in the finals have an identity. The Spurs are Tim Duncan's team. Period. (And with good reason, he's simply the best player on the planet.) They have other stars (most noteably, Tony Parker), but they all realize this is Duncan's team and if they play their roles well, they'll win. I think actually, that was part of the Lakers' problem this year. Early, it was Kobe's team. Later, it was Shaq's team. Then, power struggle ensues. Someone has to defer. The Rockets have a similar problem. Mobley thinks he's the man, but so does Steve. Everyone thinks Yao will be the man, but in the mean time, they're all ball-hoggin' trying to prove themselves. EG's trying to learn how to contribute on an NBA team, but ends up just jacking up outside shots. They need to develop a team identity, and each person needs to play within himself & let the game come to him, not try to be the end-all-be-all of basketball.
I just wanted to tell you that Manu isn't the starter. Stephen Jackson is. Okay. He was the guy who was sayin all this crap to and with Mo Taylor during the game... And he was supposed to go to Arizona but he wasn't eligible because he like couldn't get a high enough SAT score....and then he ended up in some junior college..and went all around the world....to New Jersey and Phoenix and finally San Antonio. He looks cool...and he's a good shooter. His shooting form is kinda weird but the ball goes in. BUT HE IS LIKE DUMB. His decision making is worse than Mobley's and Moochie's and Eddie's. He tries...but man....he has like 7 turnovers per game. He just stands there..Duncan and Parker has to tell him what to do. Mobley is way better than Jackson...even though Jackson did well against Houston this season. And Ginobili....he's a good player....but....a lot of turnovers and gambling...good bench player. Oh yeah! Anyways.....you are right...we could probably beat them...I hope!!!!
I am a ig Houston Rockets fans ever since I was a kid watching the Rockets in the 85 finals. I have been stationed in San Antonio the past few years and have had the chance to see this current Spurs team be rebuilt on the fly and the great coaching. They remind me so much of the old championship rockets. That would be a great series to watch. Today's Spurs vs the old Rockets. Anyway, I have always felt that the difference between these two current teams were defensive intensity/hustle, intelligence & discipline. These traits really come from the coaching staff's philosophy and Pop is great at it. I think that the current Rockets roster could be molded to be similar to the Spurs except that they would have a better running game and a slightly less effective half court game. JVG could possibly mold them enough to be the #6 seed.
I agree so much on this thought. This team is like a carbon copy in the type of role players and stars they have. The only star they have is duncan and everyone else feeds off him. Parker is like Smith/Cassell combo, while Jackson and Manu is like Elie/Maxwell. Off the bench you had Carl Herrera who would contribute. I think to a man alot of teams have more tlent than the Spurs, but they have a true MVP and real good know your role role players. They have what someone said is identity. This is the key with JVG over the nxt couple of yrs with the Rockets team. I think Francis wil learn quick enough that this is and will be Yao's team. Thats not to say Francis will be relegated to a role like Parker, but on just about every night, Yao has the advantage at his position. Francis on the other hand with his poor defense and the quality of pg's ,he gets played to a draw a lot. The Spurs team ,not to toot their horn is the true definition of a team. If they were dissected and compared, the Spurs would be probably 5th or 6th, but the are a team for sure.
OK, basketball is not only played by physical talent, it is also played by intelligence and disipline. That's why Spurs are going to win the NBA champion, but Rockets didn't make the playoff. Is SF more talented than Tony Parker? Absolutely. However, Parker is 10 times smarter than SF. Is Mobley talented than Manu? Probably. However, Manu is probably 100 times smarter than Mobley. So, it doesn't make any sense to talk about physical talent only. That isn't what basketball is all about.
If someone thinks that Cuttino Mobley is a better player than Ginobili, they just don't know basketball very well. Ginobilli is a tenacious defender, clutch, and a very smart player who makes his teammates better and has awesome court vision. A very fun player to watch. Mobley is a street-ballin, dumb basketball player who's more about stats than winning, doesn't play much D, and is generally a cancer.
I don't disagree with the conclusion but in term of pure athleticsm and talent, Mobley is way ahead. He just needs to get his head on straight.
Sorry, but I don't see these two as being very similar. Posey can't hold Bowen's jock on man defense. Bowen is also not the passer, slasher, and rebounder that Posey can be. That being said I would take Bowen over Posey everytime since its rare to find a guy who can guard the best player on the floor and actually lock them down or make them seriously underperform, something Posey can by no means do.
It is about hustle, discipline, and heart. Calling our players 'dumb' is ridiculous. . .they about the average in the NBA the issue is practice, repetition and discipline. I think rudy implemented the system but did not have the iron grip or precision. Rocket River
I kinda agree...but I kinda don't. Bowen would fit with us. But I like Posey.....just because he can dunk and actually make free throws! Bowen would be the perfect fit for us....but then the Rockets would be even more boring.
I would take his Manu Ginobli over Cat. I like his creativity around the basket. I love his tenacious D. And the fact that he is willing to come off the bench to jump start the O is very attractive. But Francis needs a more complementary player to partner up w/him in the backcourt. Someone like Boris Diaw.
Tim Duncan is better than any two players on our roster combined. That is the big difference between the two teams.
I second that notion. Too much youth and a laisse-faire coach are not ingredients for success. I think that Rudy T was a championship coach because of his hands-off style which appealed to the older vets. However, with a young team that needs a firm hand I think that JVG is exactly the tonic for what ails the Rockets. That and a couple of veteran roleplayers would really help the Rockets break into the top tier of teams in the West.
I second that. If we had Duncan, KG, or Shaq in our team NOW instead of Yao, we would be the beasts of the league. But we have a young foreign rookie center. Give it time. Its not fair to say we dont hustle. I dont think that was a problem most of the last few seasons. U can say undiciplined, dumb, not good.....whatever. But we werent exactly slackers and to call us that would be wrong.
