Wow surprising results. I definitely think our 2005 squad was better. We had a MUCH better backcourt in Sura, James, and Barry. This year our frontcourt is better with Shane Battier and Yao Ming has definitely improved. However, Tmac, Juwan, and Dikembe all seem to have lost a step over the course of 2 years. I still think we will beat the Jazz, simply because they are not an elite team. However I think it will take this squad 6 or 7 games to beat them while the 04-05 squad probably would have swept them.
say what? we were 51-31 2 yrs ago. 52-30 this yr w/ 32-game injury to yao and 11-game to tmac? that 05 team is the sentimental favorite, but in no way that team was better. tmac lost a step if u look over the course of a season b/c he coasted. right now he's playing as good as he has ever been. so no. don't let the "coolness" of that team fool you. we were not very deep. our perimeter was SLOW. we didn't rebound very well.
Some of you are crazy. Starters ('07 v '05): PG - Rafer v Sura - Sura was all heart and was a leader but he was hurt in the '05 playoffs. His D suffered greatly and his offense was mostly limited to the 3...something Rafer actually does better. Rafer is not a better defender, but it more disruptive with his steals, he is faster, controls the ball etter, etc. SG - Battier v Wesley - I am cheating a bit because TMac often plays SG, but it makes sense overall. Wesley was undersized and got abused defensively. Against the Jazz, however, it wouldn't have mattered as much vs Fisher, but when Harpring or Giricek comes in? Battier is a better long-range shooter, defender, and hustle guy while Wesley was a better scorer. SF - TMac = TMac - TMac is not less healthy this year. Yes, he missed 7 more games than '05 but that was early enough to not be an issue. Looking at his recent play, he definitely seems to have been coasting most of the season (except for when Yao was out when he, again, was spectacular). TMac is more mature, and is our distributor this year so if anything he is probably better now...but I am reserving judgment. PF - Hayes v Bowen - This is silly. The Bowen gimmick "worked" a bit on Dirk at first but that was mostly because Dirk was a little girl in '05. Hayes is even more of a hustle guy than Bowen, is a better rebounder, better position defender, better cutter to the basket...hell, he is a better scorer and dribbler. C - Yao Ming v Yao Ming - not even close. Bench: Mutombo = Mutombo - both years he was both very old and a fountain of youth JL3 v James - This is the biggest difference because we really have nobody like James of '05 and, if we did, we would be in the WCF. Howard v Padgett - The only thing Padg did/does better is shoot 3's. Head = Barry - Head is a better scorer and better long-range shooter but Barry was a better leader, fast-break-runner, and both suck for defense. Snyder, Vspan, Tsak v Moochie and Spoon - Mooch and Spoon only played 8 minutes total in a 7 game series (for 0 points, rebounds, and assists). Snyder has the potential to play more in one game. The "just in case" guys are way better this year. EDIT: Intangibles are even - '05 was tougher and probably had more fun, but '07 is just as unified, younger, more versatile, and has no health issues going in.
The 05 team would sweep this Utah team, because we would limit Deron Williams activity with Sura and James. The 05 squad had Dallas on the ropes and should have finished them in 5 or 6. The only thing helping us now is that Deron has hit a wall offensively playing so many minutes in the reguar season.
Head = Barry - Head is a better scorer and better long-range shooter but Barry was a better leader, fast-break-runner, and both suck for defense. I actually would give Head, the advantage. I think Head has some really big games for this team. I think the 07 is slightly better with the new Yao, perimeter shutdown defender in Battier, and Hayes being a pretty decent power foward.
Sura could not have kept up with Williams, just as he couldn't keep up with Terry, Harris, Stackhouse, and Daniels. Sura probably would have played Fisher with Wesley and James playing Williams.
07 by miles. Bob Sura and Mike James (Ballhug and i hated those bricks) way over rate and Wesley way under sized. Rafer + Head + Kirk > Sura + James + Daivd Shane >>>> Bowen TMAC <= TMAC YAO > YAO 07 can beat 05 in 4-2
IMO we lost the 05 series to Dallas because their guards could shoot over Wesley. There just wasn't anything he could do to stop them. I say the 07 team is better for that reason alone, if no other.
I don' think that is even a question that needs to be asked. This team just has all the right tools and the chemistry to match it.
Dude, no way is Head better than 05 Barry No Way. Barry's BB IQ was so high compared to Luther who is an idiot on the floor. Barry shot the ball just as well, was a better passer, was a better team defender et. etc. etc. I am about to start a thread on Luther because he will be the key this year not Rafer, Rafer will get his job done. BTW, the 07 team is much much better. One word Battier.
tmac plays 2 now. so for a better comparison, you have to group 1,2,3 postions together. 05 sura/wesley/tmac < 07 alston/tmac/battier 4, hayes > bowen 5, 07 yao > 05 yao however, 05 benches were a little bit better guards: barry/james >head/snyder/jl3 front court: 07 deke + howard > 05 deke + padget
I know I will get flamed by saying this. But I think the 05 Yao is actually better than the 07 Yao. Yao in the 2005 playoff was more nimble, moved around better, looked faster and ran the pick and roll with Tmac almost to prefection. During the series, I saw two points everytime Yao rolled to the basket after setting a pick for Tmac at the perimeter. I don't know if the injuries have taken a toll on the big guy. He's just not the same now. My opinion is that we have seen the best of Yao in the 2005 playoff against Dallas.
Yea, you're line-up is a little off. Our line-up for the 05 year (no injuries) is Tmac, Yao, Sura, Wesley and Howard, with Bowen, James, Barry, Weatherspoon and Mutombo coming off the bench. PG Alston vs Sura - I'll call this one a push. Sura could shoot the ball from what I remember, but Alston is the better ballhandler. I remember part of the problem for our team last year was we couldn't get the ball into Yao. Alston does a much better job at this. Tmac 05 vs Tmac 07 - definately the newer version. He's still shooting at about the same clip despite, but now he's averaging carreer assist numbers. Yao 05 vs Yao 07 - definately the newer version, this is obvious. PF Howard vs Hayes - Howard is better, Hayes is a good role player but Howard was still better IMO back then. Wesley vs Battier - Battier, again this should be obvious Bench James, Barry, Bowen, Spoon, Mutombo vs Howard, Head, Mutombo, Snyder, Lucas - this bench is miles better than the 05 bench. Howard and Head alone are probably better than everyone on the bench in 05.
we had a much better backcourt in 05 with bob sura, mike james, david wesley (his last good year), and jon barry, but overall the 07 team is better. if we still had mike james i think we'd make it to the WCF without question. even though the 07 team is better i just LOVED the 05 team. bob sura and mike james were the heart and soul of that team. i just loved that team!!
