Bah! Finley was getting paid like a max player, but he was only a marginal max player to begin with and certainly isn't playing like one lately. The Rockets got a much bigger upgrade via the Allan Houston rule than the Spurs did. San Antonio cannot beat us on the interior this year - so they were going to rely on their perimeter players to beat us. One more spot-up shooter isn't going to change much.
Meh. All the Spurs have done is get older. If the Spurs win another ring, it won't be because of them signing NVE or Finley. They're aging has beens.
It's easy to argue that San Antonio is the best team in the league. Let's face it, they are defending champs, the team to beat, and they did just get a bit better and deeper with the addition of Finley. Finley is not just another spot up shooter. I think we all know Finley is a leader, is a clutch player, and still (IMO) has plenty left in the tank for two more solid seasons (at the very least one more). He may end up taking Bowen's starting job at some point. This gives them a matchup player that SA can utilize against teams with poorer or smaller perimeter players. We know what Finley brings. He led Dallas against us in the playoffs when Dirk was being locked down. This does in fact give SA a boost. With all that having been said, I don't think this is any reason for us to quake in our boots. They were already going to be very formidable, and the team to beat. So this acquisition doesn't change that. We need to focus on the fact that we also got better this offseason.
Oh, and I forgot one point. This does make me grin a bit that Shaq won't be as likely to get another title. Finley could have really helped Miami after losing Eddie Jones. Let's look at the positives!!
Didn't Bruce Bowen and Finley have a little feud going not too long ago? Shoving match or something? Did they ever kiss and make up?
I'm not sure this makes them that much better. Overload of talent can implode some teams. Atleast, thats what we can hope for.
The Rockets will still make it difficult for the Spurs to repeat. Let us see what the Rockets next move will be before camp begins. GO ROCKETS!!
Depends on the matchups, hoss. NVE for Parker and Finley for Bowen if warranted, then you got: Duncan Horry Finley Ginobilli NVE That is a tough cover in crunch time.
I dont think the spurs is like the fakers, beacuse in the lakers they had 4 superstars with a bad chemistry and didnt have more players good, in the spurs they have only one superstar (TD) and a lot of good players to support him and they have a good chemistry everybody knows his part in the team. And I think we are going to lose to the spurs in the WCF in 7 games. (is realistic) but in the second round we will sweep the mavs. I think the rockets are the in the top 3 of the west.
I'll take that matchup if I'm the rockets. Have they given up on defense altogether? They have a liability at the 1 with NVE, and Finley would be completely overmatched by T-mac. At least Bowen might be able to slow Tracy down. It probably won't happen anyway. Popovitch is "Defense First". So I'd expect Bowen to get the nod and NVE to see the bench during crunch time. I could be wrong, but this seems more like Pop's m.o.
M-cable and others, I am glad there is some more balance in there. While Finley is good addition, I don't think he changes the Spurs much. I think one way he really helps there chances this year is they kept Finley from Miami--who would have been the favorites with him. I totally think NVE will be a non-factor. Against the other really really good teams--Miami, Det and dare I say the Rockets now, the Spurs will still hinge on TD and Manu to generate plays for them. They can stick Finley and NVE out there to improve perimeter shooting (but it isn't like Barry or Udrih or Brown or Bowen could stick open 3s anyway)--but that would take a major chunck of their athleticism, intangibles, and defense away. You still got to play your best 5, and Finley over Bowen may not make them a tougher out--as they found out trying to put Barry in there. I stand by that we have a decent chance to beat them. All that has to happen is Yao to more dominate the Spurs bigs than TD versus Swift/JH. Over a series against two great defensive teams--here is where the higher percentage shots wil come from. Can Yao be a better player than TD outright next year, or at least be able to more take advantage of his Spurs opponents than TD versus his Rockets 4s? I think Tmac and the Rockets role players will largely cancel out Manu and the Spurs role player. Tall order (that Yao dominates more than TD), but not out of the relm of possibility in almost a year from now.
remember the 95 rockets vs the spurs. that spurs team was the #1 team in the nba with the best record, with a loaded bench and front line. but they couldn't stop the dream. what about the lakers of shaq/kobe? those other dudes except for horry sucked! i'm not worried about michael finley.
We also lost 5/6 or 6/6 to the Spurs in the regular season that year. If we play our best ball of the year in the playoffs, anything can happen.
Well, you just summed up what Pop is good at managing. He could put Manu on the bench, who still thought it was right move for the team.
Ok, I just dont see any team can beat Spurs in a 7 game series. They have added two quality vets, well really 1 and half, to their championship squad. Look how deep their bench is. Man, analyze all you want, Spurs is a frontrunner by miles for the new season. We have to avoid them until WFC.
You dont think addition of Finley or even NVE just opened up lots of options for Spurs to run offense? When we played them, scoring used to be a problem for both team, and they often pass too much. I dont think that will continue to be a problem for the Spurs.
Why has this thread gone 3 pages? Are people here scared of the Spurs? C'mon now, I rather have Anderson over Finley anyways, Finley is old(so is Van Exel). Yeah, they got better, but still... We're going to beat them in the Western Conference Finals.
