I could be wrong, but I believe we had a better team in 2005. Granted, several of our role players were in their last throws of playing well, but we had several long winning streaks, especially to close the season. We slugged it out with Dallas. The WBPS (remember what it stands for?) was fiesty and could shoot the rock. Bob Sura is sorely missed for his driving and shooting, but mostly his attitude. John Barry was a consistent shooter off the bench. David Wesley was a decent defender and shooter, although I like Shane better. As a whole, I just feel that the team played better and had more poise than our current squad. Thoughts? Ok, Rick Adelman, deliver us. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vch5t5wnwug"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vch5t5wnwug" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Despite my love of Shane Battier, I also loved the 2005 team. Sura, T-Mac, Yao? Yowzas. And it's Jon Barry. He spells his name incorrectly.
That squad was deeper (when healthy) than the current one. Problem was they couldn't keep it together because so many of them got old/injured/retired... Wesley, Barry, Sura, etc. The team lost a lot of depth with the aging, and could not withstand injuries in 05-06... they added some back in the persons of Battier, Hayes, etc... but they are not quite as deep.
Yao didn't have a broken leg in December of 2004 either... Yao didn't miss 10 weeks in 2005 either... It's no wonder he was better in the playoffs... BUT...he was no where near the player from Nov 1 - Dec 23 2004, that he was Nov 1 - Dec 23 2007 either. You are an idiot.
Are you serious? 2005/06- 18.3 ppg, 8.4 rebounds, 78.3% free throws, 55% field goals, 2.0 blocks, 0.8 assists, 2.5 turnovers. 2006/07- 25.0 pgg, 9.4 rebounds, 86.2% free throws, 51.7% field goals, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 assists, 3.5 turnovers. Some aspects were better like field goal percentage and lower turnovers. But that also could be because he wasn't expected to carry the club. Yao was clearly better this past year.
And playoffs- 2005- 21.4 ppg, 7.7 rebounds, 65% field goals, 72% free throws, 0.7 assists, 2.7 tunrovers, 2.7 blocks 2006- 25.1 ppg, 10.3 rebounds, 44% field goals, 88% free throws, 0.8 assists, 4.7 turnovers, .7 blocks Draw your own conclusions.
Sign me up. They shot more consistently, but Sura's attitude/leadership was the difference maker. Our team is marshmellow soft. We need some players with attitude. Sura and Barry made a huge impact on that team.
The reason everyone likes the 04-05 team was because of their heart and attitude. With the exception of point guard, the 06-07 was better at every position.
Don't forget Mike James. Third scorer, and could create his own shot. No tear-drop floating turds in his game.
Of course, our current team has VSpan on it. And, thanks to DaDakota, EVERYONE knows he's the greatest player of all time. Seriously! He's even better than Jon Barry!
...yeah, but I hated that damn hand symbol our guys would make after drilling a 3-point shot. I feel personally responsible for jinxing our team that year. I went to Game 7 in Dallas on my own, sat on the very top level, behind the basket, and watched us get demolished. Why? I think it is because I did that 3-point hand symbol with some random ass hick playing some country music in his truck sitting outside of the AAC a few hours before the game. Surely, I know it was a coincidence, but I just think that had something to do with it. I thought the symbol was just a tad too cocky -- surely enough, it blew up in my face later that night. I learned what it meant to be alone among 20,000 people.
The 2005 team had a healthy Yao, Mcgrady playing out of his mind, character (I loved the 3 finger shuffle), and most importantly HEART! I loved the fire and toughness of Bob Sura and the character of Jon Barry to bring out the best in Yao and Mac. It's been beaten like a dead horse but Tmac needs to lose 15 pounds and get into 04-05 form. He had so many easy drives to the basket and dunks. I think he had like 3 total dunks in the Jazz series. We also need Yao at 100% which is obvious but most importantly we need guys with some fire and character! It's been proven that a team full of "consumate professionals" will NOT get it done. We need a Sam Cassell, Raja Bell, Steve Francis, Sheed Wallace type of player to get everyone else fired up.
That 2005 season was so freaking beautiful. I had a man crush on the entire team. McGrady was so cold blooded that entire year and the team had crazy character. Both things were sorely lacking on this year's squad.
I liked it. Plus, it gave the BBS perhaps it's most adorable story when MadMax(?)'s kid did the gesture when he was dropped off on his first day of school.
This was a team that had great spotup shooters(Barry, Wesley) with one guy who could penetrate, finish, and create(Mike James). Offensively they were a superior squad. However, the backcourt was defensively overmatched with the 6'0 Wesley playing the 2 guard and having to guard Stackhouse/Finley. Also, we had no power forward that series (Flyin' Ryan)This was probably what cost us the series. Also, Yao Ming was really inconsistent due to foul trouble(he failed to break 20 pts in 3 games).
