Spurs versus Kings 1999-2005

[BibityBobtyBoom]

if jordan wouldn't have retired for two years in the middle of the bulls' 6 championships, houston wouldn't be in that list.And defense about covers it.

 

[quick dog]

I think it is interesting how the media and lion's share of basketball fans tout the obvious after it happens.

NBA observers concluded many years ago that "defense wins championships", but I ask you to recall that there were thousands of hardcore basketball fans and media twits that had come to believe that Phoenix and Seattle had perfected the offense-oriented, Western Conference, game. To many interested parties, unstoppabe offense was going to be the preferred style of the "new" NBA. Who was the 2005 MVP? Many people believed that Phoenix had become the legitimate prototype (actually a spin-off from the Sacramento Kings) of a winning NBA team, as I say, almost unbeatable.

It is true that a huge slug of hardcore, long-time, basketball officianados never abandoned the "defense wins" philosophy, and for a very good reason. NBA referees allow far more rough and tumble play during the playoffs.

NBA officials overlook hundreds of clear fouls in the course of a playoff series. Unfortunately, that is the culture of NBA basketball. It may not be fair, and it clearly diminishes the potential for classy offense-oriented basketball, but it is one of those ugly facts of life. Without "urban playground" officiating, pure and stylish basketball teams would do much better. That's life. After all these years, I now see the writing on the wall (an English language idiom that means "I finally recognize the unmitigated truth").

All of this said, it is also a bit inequitable for the bulk of posters here to simply assume that everyone knows that "defense wins championships". A few months ago, there was considerable uncertainty as to the validity of that axiom. I still believe that the oldest NBA axiom is a conditional statement, and can only remain valid as long as officiating allows thugs to flurish in the playoffs.

It appears that Geoff Petrie and the Kings organization has finally given up on the noble dream of creating a pure, offense-oriented, stylish, basketball team. The Kings are obliged to to seek out thugs and bangers at the expense of artful players.

To get the Kings on the road to a future championship, I hope Mr. Petrie finds the Kings an eastern European guy that is four inches taller, and 50 pounds heavier, and plays like Darius Songaila. We need a monster from the steppes of eastern Europe to take over games on the boards. We need a guy who might have to register with the police before moving into a quiet American town. No wimps need apply.

 

[D-Mass]

I think it is interesting how the media and lion's share of basketball fans tout the obvious after it happens.

NBA observers concluded many years ago that "defense wins championships", but I ask you to recall that there were thousands of hardcore basketball fans and media twits that had come to believe that Phoenix and Seattle had perfected the offense-oriented, Western Conference, game. To many interested parties, unstoppabe offense was going to be the preferred style of the "new" NBA. Who was the 2005 MVP? Many people believed that Phoenix had become the legitimate prototype (actually a spin-off from the Sacramento Kings) of a winning NBA team, as I say, almost unbeatable.

It is true that a huge slug of hardcore, long-time, basketball officianados never abandoned the "defense wins" philosophy, and for a very good reason. NBA referees allow far more rough and tumble play during the playoffs.

NBA officials overlook hundreds of clear fouls in the course of a playoff series. Unfortunately, that is the culture of NBA basketball. It may not be fair, and it clearly diminishes the potential for classy offense-oriented basketball, but it is one of those ugly facts of life. Without "urban playground" officiating, pure and stylish basketball teams would do much better. That's life. After all these years, I now see the writing on the wall (an English language idiom that means "I finally recognize the unmitigated truth").

All of this said, it is also a bit inequitable for the bulk of posters here to simply assume that everyone knows that "defense wins championships". A few months ago, there was considerable uncertainty as to the validity of that axiom. I still believe that the oldest NBA axiom is a conditional statement, and can only remain valid as long as officiating allows thugs to flurish in the playoffs.

It appears that Geoff Petrie and the Kings organization has finally given up on the noble dream of creating a pure, offense-oriented, stylish, basketball team. The Kings are obliged to to seek out thugs and bangers at the expense of artful players.

To get the Kings on the road to a future championship, I hope Mr. Petrie finds the Kings an eastern European guy that is four inches taller, and 50 pounds heavier, and plays like Darius Songaila. We need a monster from the steppes of eastern Europe to take over games on the boards. We need a guy who might have to register with the police before moving into a quiet American town. No wimps need apply.

Very true in principle. But I look to the NFL over the past few years. Now I know that football and basketball are COMPLETELY different entities, but I think that the same axiom is true in football. Look at the recent super bowl winners...the Pats, Bucs, Ravens...all defensive powerhouses with average offensive capabilities. Even the Rams, whose offense always overshadowed their defense, were effective on defense. WIthout an incredible defensive stop by the Rams, the Titans would have won the super bowl a few years ago. The point is, I don't see the NFL as a league that has the same officiating troubles as the NBA. They certainly don't allow rougher play in the playoffs. The truth is, even if NBA officials get more consistent with their calls and stop allowing rough play in the playoffs, the team that can stop the other team from scoring in the clutch is going to prevail. Hence, defense STILL wins championships. The flashier teams are just there to entertain us for awhile and make us think that maybe this is the year that old philosophy will die.

That said, we agree on the main idea...we need to get some beef up front.

 

[AriesMar27]

if I say what the truth is I think many will get mad... but purple look at ur post... also do the same for Detriot, LA, Houston, all the teams that have won in the last 15 years.

Were any of them offensive minded coaches? I love RA but honestly offensise is NOT OUR DEFFENSE as they all say.

what are you talking about? phil is an offensive coach.... he is known for the triangle "offense" not defense.... he has yet to win a ring in la by locking down someone defensively... we lost in 2002 because of our lack of freethrow shooting... not the lakers stifiling defense.... their great championship defense made mike bibby a max contract player.....

and it wasnt chicagos defense that pushed off of bryon russell either....

 

[John Galt]

Wow - you don't think the Phil Jackson Lakers were outstanding defensively, and that it was a major part of their success? That's an interesting take.

I always felt against those Jackson Lakers, that those last 4 minutes they made it almost impossible to get a freakin basket. If there's one thing his teams did an outstanding job on, it was crunch time defense!

The thing about being defensively oriented, is that you can improve at any point in the game by WORKING HARDER. Not so with shooting baskets.

 

[D-Mass]

The thing about being defensively oriented, is that you can improve at any point in the game by WORKING HARDER. Not so with shooting baskets.

So true! UNLESS...your defensive deficiency is in your TEAM defense and proper rotations have not been taught or emphasized regularly.

 

[AriesMar27]

Wow - you don't think the Phil Jackson Lakers were outstanding defensively, and that it was a major part of their success? That's an interesting take.

I always felt against those Jackson Lakers, that those last 4 minutes they made it almost impossible to get a freakin basket. If there's one thing his teams did an outstanding job on, it was crunch time defense!

The thing about being defensively oriented, is that you can improve at any point in the game by WORKING HARDER. Not so with shooting baskets.

yeah but they beat the kings in 02 because of missed freethrows and phantom nose fouls.... not shutting down bibby or webber..... they won because vlade didnt want to grab a rebound and knocked it to horry who hit a game winning shot, not block a game winning shot but nailed a wide open jumper.... i mean in 04 the kings and mavs did nothing but play defense in the 1st round.... they had games where neither team could reach 90 points... which usually happens 3 minutes into the 4th....