[UTA/SAS] Western Conference Finals discussion
- Thread starter VF21
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There's no magic here -- this is the result of the Mavs upset, no more, no less. Mavs beat the Warriors, then the beat the Jazz, in the second round, and then its Mavs/Spurs.
Utah is actually quite good for a 5 seed. Hell, they would be a 2 seed in the East. Not ready to challenge an elite team w/homecourt maybe, but how many 5 seeds really are?
Mavs would have likely won if Lakers were 8th seed and GS was 7th seed(where Suns would likely beat them). The Warriors screwed up the whole seeding.
I knew that Dallas would have problems with GS. Didn't think they'd lose, but I knew they'd have problems going by their horrible performance during the season against them.
I knew that Dallas would have problems with GS. Didn't think they'd lose, but I knew they'd have problems going by their horrible performance during the season against them.
it's not as good as the spurs/suns series. the league doesn't want a division winner lower than fourth seed.
i think the spurs were ready to beat the mavs this year anyway. duncan had ankle problems two seasons ago, and foot problems last season. people thought he was on his way down, but he's back on top of his game.
i think the spurs were ready to beat the mavs this year anyway. duncan had ankle problems two seasons ago, and foot problems last season. people thought he was on his way down, but he's back on top of his game.
Game 3
Well, at least Utah has decided to make this interesting. I'm sure Spurs' fans weren't happy with the treatment Duncan received from the officials (what with 3 of his 5 fouls being of the offensive variety), but I thought that the Jazz defense did a pretty good job keying in on Duncan in the second and third quarters, and some of the other Spurs didn't step up like they had in games 1 and 2.
Whether the Jazz will be able to repeat this performance remains to be seen. Deron Williams and Boozer really stepped up...the Jazz are going to need Okur and AK-47 to bring their A games for Game 4 (to go along with solid games from Williams and Boozer) if the Jazz want to level this series at 2 games each.
Well, at least Utah has decided to make this interesting. I'm sure Spurs' fans weren't happy with the treatment Duncan received from the officials (what with 3 of his 5 fouls being of the offensive variety), but I thought that the Jazz defense did a pretty good job keying in on Duncan in the second and third quarters, and some of the other Spurs didn't step up like they had in games 1 and 2.
Whether the Jazz will be able to repeat this performance remains to be seen. Deron Williams and Boozer really stepped up...the Jazz are going to need Okur and AK-47 to bring their A games for Game 4 (to go along with solid games from Williams and Boozer) if the Jazz want to level this series at 2 games each.
I wasn't able to watch Game 4, but in Game 3 it seemed to me that Okur's poor performance on the offensive side of the ball was at least partially attributable to the fact that he had to check Duncan on the other end (and pick up all of the resulting fouls that go with that task). In Game 3 he wasn't really on the floor long enough to get into an offensive rhythm.
I seem to recall that in the days when CWebb and Duncan were battling that they would at least try to defend each other, but in these playoffs the elite PFs that Duncan has faced have not spent much time actually trying to defend Duncan (and vice versa, albeit to a lesser extent).
I seem to recall that in the days when CWebb and Duncan were battling that they would at least try to defend each other, but in these playoffs the elite PFs that Duncan has faced have not spent much time actually trying to defend Duncan (and vice versa, albeit to a lesser extent).
Man I hate Manu... I don't think there is anyone better than him at getting inside the heads of his opponents and earning calls from the refs. He reminds me of Reggie Miller with his ability to subtly kick out his legs on jumpers and convincingly flop on drives to the hoop. The guy lived at the foul line in the 4th, most of the time on little contact, and made the refs believe it everytime. As much as I hate the guy, that was impressive. He is truly very good at his craft.
Plus- it was impressive to see him get inside the heads of both Fisher and Sloan (two of the calmest most unflappable guys in the NBA) and in the span of about 3 minutes (with the Jazz season on the line and the game still in the balance) get them to commit three technicals and two ejections.
He is the only guy in the NBA that inspires such passion and controversy. I am a pretty peaceful person, and I have no rooting interest in the Jazz, and even I wanted to punch him in the mouth last night. I can only imagine what Fisher, the Jazz faithful and Sloan were feeling...
Plus- it was impressive to see him get inside the heads of both Fisher and Sloan (two of the calmest most unflappable guys in the NBA) and in the span of about 3 minutes (with the Jazz season on the line and the game still in the balance) get them to commit three technicals and two ejections.
He is the only guy in the NBA that inspires such passion and controversy. I am a pretty peaceful person, and I have no rooting interest in the Jazz, and even I wanted to punch him in the mouth last night. I can only imagine what Fisher, the Jazz faithful and Sloan were feeling...
Game was virtually tied going into the 4th and that 25-2 free throw disparity pretty much sealed the deal for San Antonio.
I'm still convinced that SA is allowed to do alot more because of their reputation as being a great defensive team and if they actually get the whistle blown against them they act like they have never committed a foul....ever!!! Bowen can pretty much put his hands all over someone and never gets called for it. Oh Well, just glad it's not us playing SA because they frustrate the hell out of me.
I'm still convinced that SA is allowed to do alot more because of their reputation as being a great defensive team and if they actually get the whistle blown against them they act like they have never committed a foul....ever!!! Bowen can pretty much put his hands all over someone and never gets called for it. Oh Well, just glad it's not us playing SA because they frustrate the hell out of me.
I didn't beleive in the idea of fining and punishing players for flops until I saw that Manu flopped a scuffle with Fisher. That's just way too far and the refs rewarded it. Think of the future issues that could bring. NBA is so concerned with a clean image, but its rearding players for staging altercations.
[Just going to bounce off your main points to address the whole thread-cause I have too many papers to do-procrastination-woo!]
Well when Jazz play 2(Williams & Boozer) and the rest of their starting lineup(Fisher, AK, Okur) play marginally, [especially at home] vs a decent to good showing by the Spurs, Jazz will generally loose.
I think Boozer and Williams put it well. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070529
"They kept their heads," Williams said. "We were the ones getting the techs, not them. And that's why they prevailed."
"They showed their experience on us," said Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, concurring with Williams' assessment on a night when no one else in Jazz colors besides Williams and Boozer cracked double figures.
"They got to the line a great deal more. . . . [But] we took a lot of jump shots in the fourth quarter as well. And when they were getting free throws, we were taking jump shots."
Added Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko: "They take teams out of their rhythm. That's what they do. And eventually they took us [out of rhythm in] this game."
I do agree with Boozer's comment about fouls. He said there were some blatant and some tough ones. Spurs definitely got some that could have gone either way, and some that def favored the Spurs. That tends to happen when you are the aggressor.
However, to say that the refs completely handed would be inaccurate. Of course I'm bias, but Boozer did put it best. with them shooting 15 footers while Spurs attacking the basket.
When Williams is playing sick and still playing super well but Okur, Fisher, and AK, and Harpring putting out not enough at home(especially) then Jazz are more likely to loose.
I think I made some decent points. Spurs got some, but i know some are just going to look at the FTA and judge(even if they didn't see the game). And yes, like I said earlier, they did get some, some were tough calls, and some were blatant. And more of course occurred after they game was pretty much out of hand.
I could have argued the same claim last year withe Mavs-Spurs, but Mavs were more aggressive and wanted it more. And that was the real reason. There are obviously many factors, and some don't go the way and sometimes it isn't called completely the right way, but there tends to be more than one reason.
[i will try to respond back to people though-since i know i'll get someone arguing-understandably back]
Well when Jazz play 2(Williams & Boozer) and the rest of their starting lineup(Fisher, AK, Okur) play marginally, [especially at home] vs a decent to good showing by the Spurs, Jazz will generally loose.
I think Boozer and Williams put it well. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-070529
"They kept their heads," Williams said. "We were the ones getting the techs, not them. And that's why they prevailed."
"They showed their experience on us," said Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, concurring with Williams' assessment on a night when no one else in Jazz colors besides Williams and Boozer cracked double figures.
"They got to the line a great deal more. . . . [But] we took a lot of jump shots in the fourth quarter as well. And when they were getting free throws, we were taking jump shots."
Added Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko: "They take teams out of their rhythm. That's what they do. And eventually they took us [out of rhythm in] this game."
I do agree with Boozer's comment about fouls. He said there were some blatant and some tough ones. Spurs definitely got some that could have gone either way, and some that def favored the Spurs. That tends to happen when you are the aggressor.
However, to say that the refs completely handed would be inaccurate. Of course I'm bias, but Boozer did put it best. with them shooting 15 footers while Spurs attacking the basket.
When Williams is playing sick and still playing super well but Okur, Fisher, and AK, and Harpring putting out not enough at home(especially) then Jazz are more likely to loose.
I think I made some decent points. Spurs got some, but i know some are just going to look at the FTA and judge(even if they didn't see the game). And yes, like I said earlier, they did get some, some were tough calls, and some were blatant. And more of course occurred after they game was pretty much out of hand.
I could have argued the same claim last year withe Mavs-Spurs, but Mavs were more aggressive and wanted it more. And that was the real reason. There are obviously many factors, and some don't go the way and sometimes it isn't called completely the right way, but there tends to be more than one reason.
[i will try to respond back to people though-since i know i'll get someone arguing-understandably back]