Cat, what on god's green earth makes you think the spurs could even hold a candle to the lakers??? haven't we been through this before? isn't there a bet pending on the spurs season already? the spurs are in the middle echelon of the nba - AT BEST. they are NOWHERE NEAR the lakers.
There's a bet pending already, yes, and I'm waiting for those tickets. Not only do I think the Spurs will beat the Lakers, I think they'll take them out in 4 or 5 games. That is, if the Lakers make it past the Kings or Wolves. I've been over my reasoning for believing in the Spurs plenty of times before... no need to go through it again. Look back in the archives-- I stand by the things I said this summer.
Cat thinks that Steve Smith will make all the difference. He also thinks that Robinson and Duncan will suddenly show heart and desire, and play up to their abilities. My question is, why couldn't they do that last year, when they lost by an average of 22 points? At first, I thought the Lakers were going to romp through this season, but their lack of talent around Shaq and Kobe is starting to show a bit. They are still the best team in the league, but the Kings and Mavs could be real challengers. The title this year will come down to the Lakers, Kings, Mavs, or what ever team makes it out of the east. The Spurs are too soft, and they can not handle adversity. Meanwhile, Robinson is playing the worst ball of his career. They have been a soft team ever since Ellie left. If Mario had not been on the Spurs in 99, the Blazers or Knicks would have been champs. He provided the team with fire that they sorely lack now. ------------------------------------------ I've never been a big fan of Kobe, but I am starting to respect his game a lot more. This guy is very, very good. Steve is right up there, talent-wise, he just needs to develop a scorer's mentality. He almost did the same thing against the Jazz. And at his rate, Steve was approaching 54 points on 18-28 shooting. That would have been ridiculous
The only team with a chance against the Lakers is a healthy Kings team. A Kings victory isn't likely, plus as much as I tire with Kobe commericals I don't want to hear Webber's trap and King's fans crap though either (them and the Jazz fans of the capitals of fans of teams who have never won anything talking overblown smack). McGrady is not excactly known as a character guy either. He might (might not also) be a better individual player than Kobe, but I don't think the Lakers would trade Kobe for McGrady because after all, it has been working. Pound for pound the best player in the league is AI. Kobe, McGrady and AI are the best guards in the league. I am honestly not sure who is better among these 3, though I think AI deserves mention as possibly the best guard in the league and is obviously better than say Vince or Allen. Vince, Allen, Kidd, Payton and Francis can enter the debate as the forth best guard (my pick is probably Kidd) in the league but no further.
Clutch needs to institute some mandatory message board drug testing for the Cat after predicting the Spurs in 4 or 5. Is that 4 or 5 with Shaq and Kobe on the bench with injuries!?
Cat, in my opinion, the Spurs have been so lucky this year in facing a bunch of teams with injured stars. Alas, I am a man of my word, and the bet is still on. You will still lose though. They will not win 59!
ok, i think you guys are all kidding yourselves here pound for pound, the best basketball athlete in the league is Cato get a clue guys
Last year NBA SUPERSTAR Tony Delk dropped 53 on Sacramento. One big game does not disprove the theory that Kobe without Shaq is like McGrady, Ivy, Stack, Carter, et al. BTW, our own offensive juggernaught Shandn Andersn has scored over 30 on multiple occasions.
Houston Rockets' Eddie Griffin,left, can't stop Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson who goes up for a layup in the first half in Philadelphia Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Exactly my point GB, a very good player capable of big nights on occasion. But also like Ivy, he at times will be too selfish and hurt the team. Remember when the Sixers used to lose every time Iverson scored more than forty points?
So what is your point Hyrdra? Kobe and AI are capable players but not stars? They can put up big numbers once in a while but most of the time they hurt their teams? I'm not saying you and The Cat are right or wrong, but I just want to know what criteria y'all have for players to be considered stars. In my opinion, Kobe and AI put up huge numbers, and are the main reason/ co-main reason that their teams win. Add the fact that they both have the ability and have done so many times taken over games by themselves. To me, that makes them stars, and basically the top echelon of NBA players. Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, KG, Webber, Carter, AI, T-Mac....what's so bad about calling these players the best in the NBA?
Duncan's not playing up to his ability? What more can you want? BTW, why couldn't the Lakers play up to their ability in '99, when the Spurs swept them out of the playoffs and won the championship? There have been two seasons where the Spurs and Lakers have both been elite teams going into the playoffs-- 1999 and last year. 2000 really doesn't count, cause Duncan wasn't playing. As of right now, it's tied up at one. The Spurs embarassed LA once, LA embarassed the Spurs once. This is a new season, and there's not really a historical precedent to clearly give one team the edge over the other come playoff time. I've seen them both in person this year, and I think the Spurs are simply a little bit better right now. It could definitely change by playoff time, but from what I've seen of the Spurs, Kings, Wolves, etc., anyone expecting another Laker romp through the playoffs will be surprised.
I hope you didn't put any money down on your NFL picks, then... your Super Bowl and playoff picks were virtually identical to mine.
