So, who will win the NBA title?

[banjosareunderrated]

I've been a Piston fan my whole life, but I won't vote because of the homer factor. So, objective b-ball experts, who will win the title?

[evlbstrd]

1. I'm not even going to vote.

The NBA Playoffs are a joke. Almost every team is in them. And they seen to last longer than the regular season. B-ball playoffs in June?

[banjosareunderrated]

2. well, an argument could be made that Tampa Bay

should not have won the Stanley Cup two years ago if we follow your argument, but did they not deserve the title? NHL playoffs in May/June?

As an aside, the baseball playoffs are, historically, the longest of all the playoffs.

[evlbstrd]

10. Yes, but the teams actually earn they way into them.

Baseball has the longest regular season, too. Most games, anyway.

[lazarus]

3. Ahem

16 of 30 teams are in the playoffs. Not "almost every team."

The playoffs do last a week or two too long. About two months. Which isn't that bad, really. Blame television for that.

And as one who is sick to death of the year 'round baseball media, I find the 4-5 months the NBA is off to be too long.

I mean, really. World Series is over, and we go into winter meetings, then hot stove league, then "pitchers report" or whatever the fuck, then about 18 months of meaningless preseason play that is so over-hyped they have their own leagues (Grapefruit League? Please.), then a 262 game regular season...

If you want a sport that's a joke, there you go. These guys can't even play without drugs, if the new home run numbers are any indication.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. I'm with you, lazurus

One sentence regarding regular season baseball is one too many for me. Yeah, 162 triumphs of organized procrastination. Play the same team 3 or 4 days in a row. Pretend a .600 winning percentage is marvelous. Big debate whether specialization is proper or even allowed, more than 4 decades after football realized its one platoon practice was detracting from the caliber of play. I'm thrilled I spit out the propogandized nonsense decades ago.

Regarding the NBA Finals, I'm very surprised the Spurs have been installed as slightly more than a 1/2 favorite. One respected offshore sportsbook I visited tonight has San Antonio -240 (bet 24 to win 10) with Detroit +200 (bet 10 to win 20). Of course, that's less than half the underdog status the Pistons faced in last year's series with the Lakers.

[kaitykaity]

12. Thems fighting words, buddy.

:evilgrin:

Real baseball fans aren't enamoured with home runs, so
don't tar us with what the owners and advertisers wanted
as far as the massive fan base who only put butts in seats
if they can see taters.

There's no accounting for obsessions. They're not rational.
Some people like to drive around looking at massive balls
of string.

I like baseball and want it year round and would listen
to 900 games if I had the time.

Anything wrong with that???

:)

[lazarus]

14. heh heh....

Not at all. I'd just love equal time for the other sports.

In the middle of the NBA playoffs, I'm still listening to more baseball news than NBA news. That's not right.

[kaitykaity]

17. No, it's not right.

But I can laugh because it's Detroit, dammit. :bounce:

I'll have to set my phone alarm to remind me to watch.
It is the Finals after all.

:hi:

I think you can sum up the NBA's decline primarily to
Jordan's retirement and David Stern.

[HuckleB]

8. Perhaps.

But they are the same as the NHL used to be, and the NFL has come a long way toward catching up to the NBA, with 12 teams making it each year now.

[H2O Man]

5. Should be a fun series to watch.

Some of the best athletes in professional sports. I enjoy watching both teams.

[jakefrep]

6. Spurs v Pistons - a sure cure for insomnia

I can't believe the talking heads can keep a straight face while spouting all their platitutdes about "teamwork" and "fundamentals."
I feel like I'm being sold a bill of goods here.

[lazarus]

15. You are being sold a bill of goods

The belief that this will be a boring series is the bill of goods you've been sold.

Do you really think a bunch of guys running up and down the court, shooting at anything that moves, is more fun? Go watch some playground ball. This is the pros.

As for slow, walk-it-up, halfcourt ball, maybe Detroit plays that, but you apparently didn't watch the Spurs/Suns series. San Antonio outran the Suns, while playing great defense. This is the most complete team we've seen since the old Jordan Bulls.

The sports media doesn't know how to market a team like San Antonio, that's their problem. For instance, did you know that there is only one player (Duncan) left over from the first title team in '99? Only three players left over from the '03 title team (Duncan, Parker, Bowen)? And during that time, the Spurs have a better winning percentage than any other pro sports team?

That's simply amazing, to maintain that level of competitiveness while completely turning over the roster. Nobody's ever done that before.

But we keep hearing about how boring this is gonna be, how it'll put people to sleep, and you've bought it. Personally, I'd rather see great fundamentals and good teamwork than a bunch of thugs or "stars" who don't understand how to play a team game.

[Wickerman]

18. Well said, Laz

this should be a fun series and I agree, San Antonio is an amazing team, and that is Team with a capital team.

[jakefrep]

21. I did watch part of the Spurs/Suns series...

...my complaints are directed more at the Pistons.

[lazarus]

23. okay, that's cool

So long as there are no complaints about the Spurs. :hi:

[banjosareunderrated]

24. I would like to officially complain about the Spurs

as they are too good and my favorite team is going to be swept. Goddammit, I complain risen man!

[lazarus]

26. LOL

Probably not swept. I see the Pistons taking possibly two, the first game (due to rust) and the fourth game (due to the Spurs' having a weird way of letting teams up when they're down).

[banjosareunderrated]

25. If you want mindless speed and points without thought

hate the Pistons and watch Nascar for Isis' sake. Bball is chess and go and the battle of marathon, not first to 105. :boring:

[HuckleB]

7. This finals has incredible potential.

Now to see if the teams live up to it.

I'm pulling for the Spurs, but can't say who's going to win.

[1gobluedem]

9. Pistons!

Dee-troit Basket-ball!

With the superstar factor eliminated in this series, maybe the officiating will be a bit more balanced. Shaq doesn't commit a foul until the second half last night while Ben Wallace gets called just for running past the guy...? Come ON.

Oops, I forgot Tim Duncan. Scratch that. Superstar factor will be in play.

Count me in with the baseball-season-is-too-long contingent. When does football start?

[LisaM]

11. I'm a Pistons homer - and I voted!

It's part of my superstitious routines - vote for the Pistons in every poll I see.

I love baseball, but they should knock off six regular season games because of the added round of playoffs, get rid of the designated hitter, ditch interleague play, and get back to a balanced schedule. Oh, and they could shorten the games by getting rid of the long commercial breaks between innings.....

[banjosareunderrated]

20. Oh lordy do you speak my language.

The DH smacks of imperialism, interleague play used to be called the World Series and a reliever only needs 20 pitches to warm up, not 40.

[LisaM]

22. Oh I know! And when did this pitch count crap start?

I don't remember anyone obsessively couting pitches until about 10 years ago. Now they act as if they need to pull out the IV machines if someone goes to 101 pitches.

[bigwillq]

13. Spurs

Tim Duncan is the most underrated player in NBA history, imo.

[drdtroit]

16. Pistons:

NBA, the only professional league where they treat their own championship team as second class citizens. :-)

[Yupster]

19. I think the matchups favor

the Pistons.

Should be a good series though.

I think the Spurs would have beaten Miami handily.

Billups - Parker

Hamilton - Bowen

Prince - Ginobelli

Rasheed - Muhammed

B Wallace - Duncan

[aaronbees]

27. I'll take the Pistons...

in seven. :)

[Awsi Dooger]

28. It pisses me off that the Spurs benefit so greatly from the rest angle

Otherwise I would wager heavily on the Pistons in game one, especially in the first half. The transition from facing Phoenix's pantyhose defense to taking on Detroit would normally shellshock a team in game one, just no way to anticipate such a massive difference. But the rest angle might nullify that completely. Plus the Pistons mentally drained after surviving Miami.

Still, I'm not inclined to dismiss the angle complelety. I know plenty of Vegas wiseguys who live for situations like that. A great example was the 2000 Super Bowl. The Giants had just hosted a pathetic defense in the NFC title game vs. the Vikings, then were asked to transition to face one of the great defenses in NFL history in the Ravens.

[Awsi Dooger]

29. Well I won my bet, 37-35 Pistons at halftime

That was the theory, San Antonio wouldn't score much in the first half against Detroit's defense. Too much of an adjustment after facing Phoenix. I should have bet more but that's always the lament when you win.

Too bad I didn't embrace first half wagering a decade earlier. All the garbage, like comebacks, happens in the second half.