Ha. Of course the New York Times has the Clippers over the Spurs.
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The Cavs have defensive deficiencies, as others have said. And Coach Dave Blatt has never had his Princeton offense well implemented in Cleveland. LeBron goes one on one too much still, and K Love just stands around.
Nonetheless, Cleveland is the favorite because James and Irving can really fill it up. And as Red Auerbach used to say, "Shooting is the most important thing because that is how you score points and win."
Of course, it in the NBA it's all about matchups. Cleveland will be enhanced if Timofey Mozgov shows up like a talented 7 footer when necessary. Ex-Knicks Smith and Shumpert have been valuable and complemented a good team. They'll need to play well to compensate for a short bench.
Akron's LBJ wants it for Cleveland badly. It will depend how he gets everybody else involved. Kyrie Irving is a bona fide superstar. He's the best layup shooter in the NBA since his godfather, Rod Strictland. If healthy, other teams will find him extremely difficult. After playoff drought in Minnesota, I see Love doing well in playoffs.
Nonetheless, Cleveland is the favorite because James and Irving can really fill it up. And as Red Auerbach used to say, "Shooting is the most important thing because that is how you score points and win."
Of course, it in the NBA it's all about matchups. Cleveland will be enhanced if Timofey Mozgov shows up like a talented 7 footer when necessary. Ex-Knicks Smith and Shumpert have been valuable and complemented a good team. They'll need to play well to compensate for a short bench.
Akron's LBJ wants it for Cleveland badly. It will depend how he gets everybody else involved. Kyrie Irving is a bona fide superstar. He's the best layup shooter in the NBA since his godfather, Rod Strictland. If healthy, other teams will find him extremely difficult. After playoff drought in Minnesota, I see Love doing well in playoffs.
In about two hours the Raptors will be taking on the Wizards.
Raptor fans (don't be like the American fans) when Washington has the ball don't chant defense. Chant 'move the feet'. And as to the Raptor players coming off the bench don't look at minutes played or points scored. Look at rebounds and which team won that fight.
Should be fun but you just know television execs are going to ruin a terrific game.
Raptor fans (don't be like the American fans) when Washington has the ball don't chant defense. Chant 'move the feet'. And as to the Raptor players coming off the bench don't look at minutes played or points scored. Look at rebounds and which team won that fight.
Should be fun but you just know television execs are going to ruin a terrific game.
it's easy to make these picks now. well, easier. what was everybody saying last october? i had the clippers over the bulls for all the marbles, and i'm sticking to it. neither seems a likely fit for the finals at this point, but neither do i pass myself off as an "expert"….just a big fan. and a big knick fan just biding my time until they are again a relevant topic of conversation. you say years? i say years. let's play some ball!!!
ABS: no not the back "plastic" we see in the plumbing department of our (ahem) "local home center" but Anybody But the Spurs. Enough, already! Great team, great players, but life is short and take your trophies and go away, please.
The Celts will take at least one game from the Cavs, and I wouldn't be surprised if they take two.
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You may be right after all you have to keep the concession people happy.
Reminds me of my late Father. Why didn't Jean Beliveau score five goals over the two he had?
Well. Son you have to keep the beer people happy.
Reminds me of my late Father. Why didn't Jean Beliveau score five goals over the two he had?
Well. Son you have to keep the beer people happy.
I expect the Spurs and Warriors to battle it out in the Western Conference finals. The Cavs and Hawks should do the same in the East.
The Spurs know how to win, and they play as a team. They're now #2 in the NBA power rankings. Their series against the Clippers will be written on the defensive end of the floor, where the Clips are mediocre.
My Raps are a sub .500 team since the All-Star break, having had their fragile team psyche and defensive team weaknesses exposed by virtually any of the good teams they played. The Wizards will battle them to a seventh game, but the Raps will advance if Lowry, Williams, and others can do their Splash Brothers imitation.
Three cheers must shouted out for Stevens' Celts who looked Auerbach-like in their run into the playoffs. What a tremendous season for that team!
The Hawks ran away with the East, but the playoffs are a different brand of ball. We will find out what they're made of.
Regrettably, I hope the Cavs are tested and found wanting in the early rounds. Their lack of team defensive commitment could be the door that other teams open as the playoffs continue in the next round.
Let the games begin!
The Spurs know how to win, and they play as a team. They're now #2 in the NBA power rankings. Their series against the Clippers will be written on the defensive end of the floor, where the Clips are mediocre.
My Raps are a sub .500 team since the All-Star break, having had their fragile team psyche and defensive team weaknesses exposed by virtually any of the good teams they played. The Wizards will battle them to a seventh game, but the Raps will advance if Lowry, Williams, and others can do their Splash Brothers imitation.
Three cheers must shouted out for Stevens' Celts who looked Auerbach-like in their run into the playoffs. What a tremendous season for that team!
The Hawks ran away with the East, but the playoffs are a different brand of ball. We will find out what they're made of.
Regrettably, I hope the Cavs are tested and found wanting in the early rounds. Their lack of team defensive commitment could be the door that other teams open as the playoffs continue in the next round.
Let the games begin!
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I enjoyed all those Celtics titles (I remember their first one in 1957 against St. Louis). That seven-game series became a template for the heart-stoppers in 1962, 1966,1968, 1969 (my personal favorite), 1974, and 1984. The other titles had great games but little drama in the inevitable. Still, it's refreshing to see "new" teams with a genuine opportunity to take this year's title. Here's hoping the frisky Warriors will get by the Spurs to reach the Finals. The East has some good match-ups but Cleveland probably should get by Atlanta or Chicago. I've never been a fan of front-running LeBron James but he's perhaps the league's greatest individual talent. The likable, easy-to-watch Warriors in six over Cleveland.
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At the beginning of the season I saw my Bulls bringing the NBA trophy back to Chicago. Then Derrick Rose delicate reality rose again. Echoes of the NBA careers of Grant Hill, Anfernee Hardaway and Tracy McGrady. Along with injuries to Noah, Gibson and Butler the defense slumped and turnover's grew. Front office media mud thrown at Coach Tom Thibodeau was sick and sad.
I expected the Cavs to rise with LeBron but never saw the Hawks coming. I doubt that my Bulls can get by either Cavs or Hawks. All the Hawks do is mysteriously win. Now that King is back home I am cool with him. I want my Bulls to win it all. But expect either the Hawks or Cavs to come out of the East.
Unless and until the Spurs finally give up the ghost- Duncan, Parker, Ginobili- they are my perennial favorites in the West. Popovich is a genius. I love the Warriors style and class and performance at both ends of the court. The Dubs defense and ball handling control were a surprise. I expect the Warriors to continue their barbarian rampage to the end. And
I want the Dubs to win the West and the Finals too.
I expected the Cavs to rise with LeBron but never saw the Hawks coming. I doubt that my Bulls can get by either Cavs or Hawks. All the Hawks do is mysteriously win. Now that King is back home I am cool with him. I want my Bulls to win it all. But expect either the Hawks or Cavs to come out of the East.
Unless and until the Spurs finally give up the ghost- Duncan, Parker, Ginobili- they are my perennial favorites in the West. Popovich is a genius. I love the Warriors style and class and performance at both ends of the court. The Dubs defense and ball handling control were a surprise. I expect the Warriors to continue their barbarian rampage to the end. And
I want the Dubs to win the West and the Finals too.
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Good picks. Only one point-Popovich is not such as genius as the loss to Miami two years ago should not be forgotten. He took out Duncan twice at the end, and blew the series-still a mystery. I think that some coaches try things that they would not ordinarily do, and this time if backfired. Betcha he wont make that mistake again. Also, the Clippers seem to have enormous talent, but never seem to get it together. Great bench, but no ring
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Agree with all picks except Spurs-Clippers. I would not bet against the reigning Champs. The author goes on about Clippers' stars but does he realize what a remarkable player K. Leonard has become? Arguably the best all around player in the West. Spurs in 6
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Put it this way, if the Clippers fall behind at any point in the series, nearly all of us will believe it is over. Get both games in LA and they have a shot. The Clips have Doc now, but did they learn anything from 2012? Time to find out. Agree on Leonard, it's his team now. His play is helping to elevate the draft stock of Justise Winslow, too. A poor man's Kawhi Leonard? Yeah, that'll work.
Clippers have no bench. It will show. The Spurs' bench is solid.
"A championship for the Warriors or Hawks"?
Wonder if Steve Kerr is sorry now that he turned down the job as ring-master of the Knicks' circus?
Wonder if Steve Kerr is sorry now that he turned down the job as ring-master of the Knicks' circus?
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So, to repeat, and for Duncan to earn his sixth ring, the Spurs have to go through (likely) the Clippers (56), Rockets (56), and Warriors (67) to reach the Finals. No team has done anything like that since the '95 Rockets. The Clippers' talent is undeniable, but they have to lack for confidence, especially after the scarring losses to the Thunder last year and Memphis before that. Beating the Spurs might make them very dangerous going forward.
It doesn't matter if Chris Paul statistically is the best point guard of his generation (or more, if you consider the advanced stats) if his teams keep falling short of even the conference finals he won't get his due. And neither will Blake Griffin, who might be under even more pressure this spring. This series should be great with the only guarantee that none of its games will appear on NBATV, #2 v. #3 in point differential, wow.
It doesn't matter if Chris Paul statistically is the best point guard of his generation (or more, if you consider the advanced stats) if his teams keep falling short of even the conference finals he won't get his due. And neither will Blake Griffin, who might be under even more pressure this spring. This series should be great with the only guarantee that none of its games will appear on NBATV, #2 v. #3 in point differential, wow.
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Ditto the Cleveland Cavaliers. They underwhelmed with a record closer to .500 the first half of the season. Since shaking up the roster with some key mid-season additions, they've been on fire. Clearly playing the best ball in the East since the All-Star break. Aside from King James, they lack the playoff experience. But Atlanta doesn't have an abundance of it either.
The West will be brutal, and whoever emerges will be a formidable foe in the Finals. The Warriors might learn that setting a franchise record for victories while easily notching the most wins in the regular season is vastly different than winning seven game series against veteran players and teams, who can now concentrate their strategies on one team at a time. I can't see anybody beating the Cavs in the East though.