In my opinion this is going to be one of the BEST NBA Finals in years. Maybe it doesnt have the "sizzle" of some of the more media built up marquee players, but the teams are SOOO evenly matched, well coached and disciplined. I think every game will be close and the series could go 7 games. In fact I see this series much like the NY/Houston series in the 90's. I think the Spurs win in 6 though. Detroit shouldn't have had as much trouble with Miami as they did. I thought Detroit should have won in 6 games easily. I like the Parker/Ginobili/Duncan trio to outplay the Billups/Hamilton/R. Wallace trio. And then I think guys like Horry/Barry/Mohammed will play really well as quality role players for the Spurs Incidentally, that Spurs trade for Mohammed is looking better by the moment for the Spurs. I called this one when it happened. Mohammed is giving them great production at C for them. Rasho barely even sees the court. A few years back BEFORE they signed Rasho, the Spurs were trying to sign PJ Brown to play C and PJ decided to play for his hometown Hornets in N.O. So the Spurs then looked to Rasho. But Rasho has been a big disappointment for them (although better than Kandi would have been). But what the Spurs have now in Mohammed is exactly what they wanted when they were reaching for PJ Brown. Great trade by the Spurs!
I go Pistons. For the most part, they're bigger, and more athletic. Rasheed has the length to atleast bother Duncan in a 7 game series. Prince I believe can and will limit Ginoblis effectiveness for the whole series. That leaves Parker who's as incosistent in the playoffs as they come. Basically if you play agressive defense on him, he folds. A few knockdowns to the floor will make his offensive game severely dwindle down. So that leaves the roleplayers. The Pistons are a more complete team, though not as offensively gifted. Still I pick the Pistons if only for their depth and length to disrupt the Spurs offense. It's gonna be an ugly series. I'll pretty much catch the first game of the series and if it's an ugly low 70s scoring affair than I'll ditch watching the series, and check boxscores in the newspaper.
No matter what the Spurs ownership does to make that team a first class organization or how well they sign and trade players, my all-time impression of the Spurs will be of them whining and crying and making the stupid excuses about Rodman after losing in the Western Conference Finals in '95. Then, watching those morons gift wrap Rodman to the Bulls and having to hear all the crap that goes along with that. I will NEVER root for the Spurs for any reason because of that.
I'm pretty excited about this Finals. This is probably the first time since 1993-1994 that going in, the consensus is that both teams are evenly matched. Not coincidentally, that was the last time the big show went to 7. '95 - consensus was that the Rockets were clearly overmatched, but of course it was the exact opposite. '96 - noone was picking the Sonics to beat the 72 win Bulls. '97 - everyone picked Chicago over Utah '98 - this was the year that Utah may have been a better team than Chicago and many picked them to win, but you can't honestly pick against MJ can you? '99 - depleted Knicks didn't stand a chance against Spurs '00 - Shaq and Kobe too much for Indiana '01 - many argued that THIS Laker team was the greatest ever - 76ers had no chance '02 - Nets had no chance '03 - Nets had no chance against Spurs '04 - Pistons had no chance against Lakers going in - but like in '95 was the complete opposite this is the first time in a decade where going in, you're like "damn, this is going to be a good series, i really don't know who will win." i really have no idea who will win this series.
BINGO! exactly what I was saying. Best finals matchup "going in" in quite some time. Best since Knicks/Rockets.
i'm going pistons. i'm looking forward to this series. i think the games will be close and decided by a few plays, one way or the other.
