CriscoKidd, I'm surprised by you. Why don't you give credit where credit is due? The mere fact that people on the Spurs BBS are "scared" of Yao says something. People aren't saying, Yao needs to do this, or do that to improve. They are seeing the writing on the wall. They know that he's only going to get better and better, i.e. dominate. Their Duncan, is our Yao...Not now, but it's coming. And they know it. Now, you calling Ginobli, Parker, Rose and Bowen "scrubs" is just trash taking their skills and contributions. Those guys can play!!! During many of the play-off games some of those guys stepped up during crunch time and saved the day. You can't have it both ways. One time you are putting those "scrubs" down, but then you then come back and say that you would take them on our team. Well, what's what all about? Plus, having a "star" on your team is a necessity to win a championship. But you are acting like you can get there with just role players. You say that SA wouldn't win a title with out TD, but then come back and say that the only reason that Francis/Mobley couldn't get to the playoffs (not title) was because they didn't have the role players around them....but, you just got finished putting down the role players on the Spurs? You can't have it both ways. Give credit were credit is due. To win you need both "stars" and role players. And the better the role players, the better your chances. And the Spurs have excellent role players. I think what the first poster was trying to say was that the Rockets would have gone farther with Yao and role players, than with Francis/Mobley and role players. I agree. Of course I'd rather have Yao/Francis (and maybe a 3rd guy) and role players. The more talent, the better your chances. I don't think he's saying that the Rockets outside Yao are overrated. I think he's saying that Francis/Mobley lead team is decent, but that's it (Who "overrated" us? ESPN, I don't think so). Which can be shown by our record in the last 4 years. Not much change. Add Yao (and JVG), and the our team takes off. Hakeem was more dominating than Francis has shown me. So now Yao will come in and take the reigns from Francis and Mobley. He will become the go-to guy. Having Francis, Mobley, JJ and whomever on our team is our depth. And we NEED them if we expect to get win the title in the next few years.
I agree about the absurdity of that regular season, but: 1. The postseason is what the NBA has been ALL about since they expanded to 8 teams in each conference. Until the last few years when the East/West imbalance finally reached the absurd level that a decent team actually can miss the playoffs, the regular season was really just a glorified extended preseason. Still is in the East. 2. Everybody had to deal with it. Somewhat more of a disadvantage to teams with injuries and even less practice time. But that only exaggerated things that are true every other year. Spurs won it, and looked pretty darned good doing it. Props to them. 3. As was pointed out earlier, start giving asterisks over stuff like this and it opens the floodgates. And I HATE it when people try to give asterisks to the Rockets championships because of Jordan's absence and recent return. Nobody can PROVE we would have won it anyway, but nobody can PROVE we wouldn't, either. Same with the Spurs.
The thing is, with Shaq getting old and injury-prone, Duncan is the only post big man left in the game to be worthy of Yao's rival. So get used to a 10-year rilvary in the Texas!
I consider myself to be old time Rockets fan too, maybe not as old as you. Of course, my most hated teams in the 80s were the Celtics and the Lakers. But I have always hated the Lakers more than the Celtics for reasons that are beyond me. Back when the two teams were championship rivalry, I always wanted the Celtics to beat the Lakers. I didn't like the Sonics and the Jazz either, but never as much as the Lakers. Isn't it great that the most notable players of the Jazz (Malone) and the Sonics (Payton) are now both with the Lakers. It's almost like the basketball gods put them there so that we can direct our concentrated hatred toward them all. That's why I have no hatred left for teams like the Spurs and the Mavs anymore.
give them credit for what? that they figured out Yao is good? Wow they can see the obvious, good for them. Their Duncan, is our Yao...Not now, but it's coming. And they know it. again, duh. Now, you calling Ginobli, Parker, Rose and Bowen "scrubs" is just trash taking their skills and contributions. Those guys can play!!! During many of the play-off games some of those guys stepped up during crunch time and saved the day. yeah, they can play. So can SF, KT, Motay, Mobes, JJ, Cato, etc. Give them Duncan and they'll have a few games in the playoffs when they'd shine too. You can't have it both ways. One time you are putting those "scrubs" down, but then you then come back and say that you would take them on our team. Well, what's what all about? Uh, did you even read what Gater asked? the only guy I would take off of them as a starter was bowen because he fits in with what were doing now. The other 2 I would take off their team as bench players. And I specifically stated I wouldn't give much up in trade for those guys so it wouldn't happen. That's hardly a glowing review. I could say that about a lot of teams in the nba. Plus, having a "star" on your team is a necessity to win a championship. But you are acting like you can get there with just role players. You say that SA wouldn't win a title with out TD, but then come back and say that the only reason that Francis/Mobley couldn't get to the playoffs (not title) was because they didn't have the role players around them....but, you just got finished putting down the role players on the Spurs? Argh. I said not only would the spurs not win the title w/o TD, but they would suck along the lines of Denver of last year. w/o Yao, the rox are still decent. And I didn't blame the role players around SF and mobes for not making the playoffs, I said SF and mobes did good in spite of a lack of talent(and i should have added experience as well) around them. You can't have it both ways. Give credit were credit is due. To win you need both "stars" and role players. And the better the role players, the better your chances. And the Spurs have excellent role players. they have alright role-players, but they are overrated and easily replacable because of TD imo. I think what the first poster was trying to say was that the Rockets would have gone farther with Yao and role players, than with Francis/Mobley and role players. I agree. You can agree with what you think he said all you want, but that's NOT what he said.
The difference between these players and the spurs role players is that the spurs players know their f*cking roles! No the difference is they have Duncan to make up for their deficits, so they have to do very minimum to win games, they don't have to create on o as much, they can gamble more on d, etc. We have a bunch of idiots who probably won't be able to control their egos unless they were playing with Jordan or Bird. Give them duncan and you think they can do what the spurs did last year? I doubt it. go root for the spurs and the lakers then since we have a bunch of prima donna "idiots" frikken crybaby. They'd suck like Denver if TD wasn't around? Yea...we all know you're the all-knowing basketball expert who smokes phat giant crack pipes and can predict win-losses for any team in the league right? My crystal ball and giant supply of reefer say you're a dumbass. Happy?
I like this game. How about the San Antonio Spell? (similar to Voodoo) How about the San Antonio Stealers? How about the San Antonio Swipers? How about the San Antonio Squirrels? (You know, saving for winter for when nobody else has anything saved up either) How about the San Antonio Easy Streets? How about the San Antonio Snooze? .....and the best ones: How about the San Antonio Profiteers? How about the San Antonio Sham? How about the San Antonio Asterisks? How about the San Antonio Tankers? How about the San Antonio Saints? (you know, divine intervention) Do we have any others?
You got that right. Ginobili looked exciting for half a minute and by the end of last year he looked about as "zzzz" as the rest of the team. Super-boring is more like it....
i don't get why people hate the spurs. hate them because they win? asterisks? please if that was so put some on ours b/c jordan retired (another topic to be discussed ad nauseum). hate them because they got 'scrubs' that help their best player to gain success? well whoop-tee-damn-doo. look back at 93-94. hate them because they're actually winning with only ONE TRUE star and 'scrubs'? wow that means we should exile our team that has TWO stars and said scrubs. hate them because they beat teams that had their best player out? so what. so you're telling me that you would throw games because your opponent's best weapon is out? please. and it's not like they personally killed our hopes and dreams like some other teams has (e.g. Jazz, Boston, Sonics, etc). some fans on this board dont' give much credit to any other team. starting to sound like Yankee fans in here....
I am too used to feeling pity for the Mavs since they have sucked every year they have existed except for their last couple of years. I never really had a problem with the Spers since the Rox always seemed to have their number.. besides, I am a believer in Texas Proud. If the Rox are out of the picture, I dont mind cheering for Texas teams. except in football, I cant seem to bring myself to cheer for the Cowgirls..too much bad history there for me to overcome. Also, I totally agree with your previous point...take the most hated player from the Spazz...and the most hated player from the Sonics, and put them together with the Fakers...and you get.. The team you love to hate. but like I said in a previous post today(or was it yesterday?)..I saw part of the game on TNT the other night..and the Fakers looked like they were on the same page...no egos showing thru...if that continues, and Ko-bee can stay out of jail...look out WC.
I hate the Spers because of all the ignorant sorry ass fans that I have to listen to living in Austin. They are the also the most miserable team to watch. I rather watch the WNBA than watch the Spers. They are good because Duncan took the team on his back. When he doesn't do that, they get swept like the last 3 years. BTW. F*ck the Spers.
Hehe. That's pretty creative. Selecting from your list, I coined a new name for them. The San Antonio ASSES(Asterisks, Stealers, Sham, Easy Streets, Squirrels.)
Duncan shot a whopping 5-15 FG, 7Reb, 12 points in 25 minutes of action. Yao was 8-14FG, 12Reb, 17 points in 34 minutes. Here is what spurs fans got to say about his perforamnce. They are not realizing with 7-6, 310 pound Yao, shooting at a higher FG%, Tim Duncan will be neurtralized. Parker and Manu won't bring the Spurs the Championship.
I would love to have the Spurs' role players surrounding Yao and Francis. I'm satisfied for now and so far with the guys we have...it's not too bad. But imagine the Rockets...Yao, Francis, and Mobley, along with Robert Horry, Hedo Turkoglu, and Bruce Bowen. They would be perfect for us...shooters and defense. Piatkowski and Jackson and Nachbar can be just as good though... Duncan is the best player in the NBA...lol...but he doesn't scare me. He's a nice guy! TIMMY! He da man! MVP! Yao did own Nesterovic tonight and everyone else who tried to guard him. Cato did a decent job on Duncan..but of course, Duncan isn't like trying his hardest and their team is like totally different and their leader point guard Parker didn't play. I will be happy if we beat the Spurs just once this season.
