NBA Finals- Who wins it all?

ShinySuitMan · Apr 12, 2004

Hello peoples, just wanted to start a post to get some insight into who people predict to be the final 2 teams standing and eventual winner of the NBA Final Series. Should be awesome!

You can state your reasonings to back your statements if you wish. I'm not hear to bash Laker fans or anyone for the matter, so who will it be? May the best team win!

For what it's worth. My final two teams are(And I will be flamed for this i know! lol)

INDY V DALLAS. DALLAS TO WIN IN 7 GAMES.

Now before you all start going crazy on me and laughing about my Dallas selection, please think before you type and give me valid reasons as to why they can't win. Defense wins championships yes and Dallas has none of that, I know! But no one can score like these bleepers. The way i see it, if you have trouble containing a team offensively and get into a situation where where you have to outscore them you will be stretched. You will be in a shootout and if thats the case Dallas will surprise everyone. I could be wrong. Totally. Have been before and will be again but I am just interested on peoples thoughts going into the playoffs as the teams to beat. I really don't think any of these teams fear anyone, it's that close! It's definately not clear cut who wins thats for sure. So go on make your cases now for your team. Good luck everyone

Drunkn247 · Apr 12, 2004

Not bashing your Dallas pick just wondering how a poor road team who continually lost to bad teams on the road will find a way to beat good teams on the road. Arco and Staples will be tough to get a win at San Antonio will be able to contain their offense easily.

ShinySuitMan · Apr 13, 2004

Good points Drunkn247

Dallas has already proven they can win at Staples and well Arco has hardly been the graveyard of years past for visiting teams, plus the Kings have their own problems defensively as well.

Spurs are easy. Collapse all over Duncan, throw like 3 or 4 different guys at him defensively (Bradley, Fortson, Walker) and let the Spurs shooters try to beat you from the outside. Parker has improved so he should be watched, but i would rather him beating me then Duncan. Steve Kerr was big last year with his outside shooting in the playoffs, someone needs to step up from the arc. Attack Duncan on offense and get him into foul trouble. These things I am sure will be tried, remains to be seen if they will work.

Dallas has been ordinary on the road i make no excuses for them. Lakers are falling apart, they have some talent in Shaq and Kobe, but they are not on the same page. Kobe is leaving the Lakers and has court case to contend with. Shaq is a monster i give the guy cred, he can take over a game at anytime, but he wont be the one the Lakers will go to in the clutch. I know they will be fighting though and you can never write them off.

I guess you can make pro's and con's about every team till you are blue in the face but it won't make a lick of difference in the end, it's who wants it more out on the court. Who do you like Drunkn247?

Also interestingly, David Stern wants the game to go Global with talk of an international franchise in the near future. Now the influx of International players into the league in recent years is hard to ignore and the quality of these players is unquestioned! Ask yourself this question, What does Stern want to happen? Does he want these teams with International players to be successful? Does he want a team who has never been successful to become successful overnight and create interest?

winkyduck · Apr 13, 2004

dallass loses in the opening round so no shot for this to happen.

tomone · Apr 13, 2004

Indiana, they play like SA who won last year a east team playing in-the west giving up 70 points a game-when inclined. Indiana deper and shoots better and A

ShinySuitMan · Apr 13, 2004

Winky, thanks for your input man, i hope your wrong, we shall see.

Tomone, I like Indy. Jermaine O'Neal is the shit and has improved out of sight to be in contention for MVP. They have the defense to get stops and towards the end of games they always make big plays. If it's not a key blocked shot, it's a key 3 point shot at the buzzer they have been doing it all season and deserve their shot.

Which brings me to the question of the Pistons. While the Stones were on their big run the books still had them at 16/1 in most places which got me to thinking they simply aint a hope in snowballs hell of winning it all. Books don't just give you such easy money like that. Everyone was raving about them and emptying their bank accounts on them but still the Stones price didn't exactly move much. Meanwhile Indy was going about their business getting it done and securing homecourt through the playoffs. I'm sure they didn't mind the Pistons getting all the limelight. Indy will steal it back when it counts!

Indy has remained at 9/1 most places for a long time, which reminds me of the Spurs towards the end of the regular season last year. I think they are holding shitloads on them!

No one wants to make a prediction of two teams? Whats wrong? Either no one cares who wins or they really can't pin point a stand out team. If thats the case i would forget the Lakers at +200 or whatever they are. No value. Can someone please state their 2 teams for NBA finals 2004.

Cheers.

winkyduck · Apr 13, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shiny Suit Man:
Winky, thanks for your input man, i hope your wrong, we shall see.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

now that dallass is the 5 seed - the one team they are praying they don't have to face - is the one they probably will - the lakers. a lakers/mave series will be like a firing squad execution - swift and VERY painless for the mavs.

ShinySuitMan · Apr 14, 2004

You love your Lakers don't you! lol gl and enjoy the show

Any prediction of who the Lakers play in the finals then Winky?

Drunkn247 · Apr 14, 2004

I'm going to say denver upsets Minny in the first round. Indiana vs. Spurs and Spurs win in 7 is my call. This is a longshot guess I would love it to be Kings vs. Hornets but that is not happening.

packer2012 · Apr 14, 2004

My 2 cents...

The Pacers will haves LOTS of trouble with the Pistons.

Until the league stops Shaq from his brutal tactics in the low post (which are absolute violations), this thing is the Lakers to lose as long as Shaq is healthy.

[This message was edited by Packer on April 14, 2004 at 01:31 PM.]

TheGeneral+ · Apr 14, 2004

I got the pacers @ 10/1

I like the chances. This team is very solid and hopefully they can keep their heads level in the playoffs.

ShinySuitMan · Apr 14, 2004

Drunkn247,

Like the upset!

Minny still yet to go beyond the first round. They have a much better team this season and should advance, but you can't write off a kid called Carmelo and tell him any different. I hope Denver get them!

Indy/Spurs seems logical selection and would be a great series! Plenty of unders no doubt

Hornets really could surprise people if Baron is ok. They could go far. Kings well i would like to think they could have it all together in time this year to win, I guess it's possible and they have great talent/depth to go deep. C-Web is the key. If he can focas and get team mates involved along with Bibby they could go from ordinary to red hot very quickly!

Packer,

How do you come to the conclusion Indy will have trouble with the Stones? Indy beat them 3 out of 4 times this year, although 2 of them were before the Wallace trade i think. Whats your reasoning behind this? I'm not saying they can't beat the pacers i would just like to hear what you think about that matchup. Cheers! I agree totally about a healthy Shaq creating nightmares for everybody. If he is focased and wants to win then nothing will stop him. But will he be the focal point on offense? If they go to the half court and dump it in to Shaq the lakers will go deep. He will create doubles and triples for the likes of Kobe to get going from the outside later in the game, spreading the floor for the likes of Payton and Malone to run a pick n roll plays slashing to the hoop and getting to the foul line. I just dont like the value the lakers represent. Good luck to all Laker fans and backers tho!

General,

Good luck with your pacer ticket 10/1 is nice! They have the defense in Artest/ONeal scoring punch and experience of Reggie, with consistant production from Harrington and Tinsley. I had doubts over the point guard position at the start of the season when for some reason Tinsley was benched and had a heap of DNP-CD next to his name. But it's all been sorted and the kid can play. He has developed a better outside shot being a constant threat from downtown and has the luxury of back ups Kenny Anderson (great defensive guard) and Anthony Johnson (livewire point who can change tempo and score, and play handy D! what a steal from Jersey he was!)ONeal has had an MVP season and has improved out of sight. Consistant scoring from down low and gets the half court game going. Extremely strong chance to win it all with homecourt throughout the playoffs. Who would have thought an eastern team being in contention at all lol Good luck to the Pacers. Go East. We been waiting so long for a winner. Haha bring it home bleepers!

tatehill2000 · Apr 14, 2004

ok,,,,, youasked forit,,,

miami and indi
vers,,,
minni and spurs,,,,

those are my 4 plays,,,,,

good luck to alll
good value with all still
and hey,,, you never know,,,,

tomone · Apr 15, 2004

The NBA power has started to shift back to the eastrn conference style of play. Iwould not be surpised to se Detrot, and Indy and MINN and SA, 2 teams that play eastern style BB. Indiana is only 3 years removed from the finals in a series that the refs. gave to LA so i do not buy this wetern domination thing the only westerh sytle team to win it has ben LA. SAC can not win a big game in the last 2v months, they are a injured team and the lakers play no defence. With Harrington coming of age Indiana has taken their game to anothe level.

packer2012 · Apr 15, 2004

Shiny,

I feel the Pistons are even better than the Pacers defensively. Also they have added quite a bit of scoring punch thru the trades.

The Pacers don't have quite the success lately that has been expected in the playoffs. May be a mental edge for the Pistons who have not carried the expectations the last few years that the Pacers have.

Also, I fell that the Pistons have the capacity to play a much more physical game than the Pacers. That is always very valuable in the playoffs.

I see great potential in the Pacers. Just think the Pistons are a more formidable opponent for them than lots of people think.

Someonebutnotme · Apr 15, 2004

Only fear I have with the Pistons winning it all is: Is Rasheed Wallace a proven commodity? Meaning has he performed to level of a Champion? But I do like Detroit's historical aspect. I don't give Indiana any chance of taking the title simply because they haven't proven it in the past with players like Reggie Miller. I think the Lakers have the edge of winning it again but I think Karl Malone will only participate in the championship by sitting on the bench. My two-cents. For what it's worth. GL.

winkyduck · Apr 15, 2004

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Someonebutnotme:
Only fear I have with the Pistons winning it all is: Is Rasheed Wallace a proven commodity?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

the only fear i would have is they play in the WNBA - as opposed to the NBA. pistons play in the east - therefore they have NO PRAYER of winning it all - and if they make the finals - should consider it a victory if they win 2 games.

Someonebutnotme · Apr 15, 2004

This could be a repeat of the year where the Pistons beat Lakers for the title? Does anyone remember the year?

ATSHotSheet · Apr 15, 2004

i dont know, i want miami in the finals, that team is got some heart. minny wins it vs mia in 7.

ShinySuitMan · Apr 15, 2004

tatehill,

thanks for your selections man, all good value! it's always good to get insights from others into what they predict. Maybe they see something i don't. It's all about winning/value. So lets help each other do that. Spurs i fear the most. Indy will be there in my opinion but more then likely they will play the Stones for the right for NBA finals and thats going to be one hell of a matchup!

tomone,
I agree Indy has gone to another level and this is reflected with the eastern team gaining homecourt throughout. 10/1 is overs. They have done it quietly and i think they have slipped under the rader a fair bit, which they wouldn't mind so much. Interestingly, Pinnacle has Indy at 10/1 to win the title, +150 to win the east. DETROIT to win title +780, to win the east +152.

Packer,

Thanks for your insight and you have to go with what you feel is best. Defensively no doubt the Stones will rock alot of teams. Physical games would suit them for sure and thats what the playoffs are all about. Billups should be ok from his injury and he really is key to their run. He sets the tone and scores gets things going for them. Pacers will have to shut him down. They have scoring punch in RIP and Rash to overcome if Billups go's quiet and they have the backups at the point to create easy transition points for themselfs. So close to call between the two sides. I am really sticking my neck out on the pacers to beat them but i am happy to do so. 7 games will be needed. Stern will love that!

Someonebutnotme,

Good points. I do remember pistons/lakers long time ago tho haha. Too long really. Lakers have the ability i would never question that. I just doubt their core group has had enough time on court together this year due to injuries and distractions. But when they have they have looked good. They are pro's and could adapt easily and win. Lakers represent little value. Gl tho for those who hold Laker tickets.

Winky,

How long have you been a Laker fan? I am not against the lakers don't get me wrong. I am not Anti anyone. I don't support anyone. I am completely un-biased when it comes to my opinions on games, which is good for me. I wouldn't want to be partial to anyone cause they let you down i find. It's ok to support a team or a player but to actually ride them with $$$ is a completely different thing. Who will the lakers play in the finals?

ATS hotsheet,

Miami are great for the NBA. They had such a good pre season and then when Riley quit it really threw some of the players. It took some time to adjust and they fought through all the mental and physical challenges that confronted them to prove to everyone that they are an excitement machine! Minny have points to prove. They surely can't be first round losers this time can they?

Great. Dallas has drawn Sacto in the opening round. Favourable matchup for them. They avoided the Lakers and Spurs due to Kobe's heroics against the jay blazers. Thanks Kobe. Now they draw the side of the bracket including an 8th seed who is just happy to be there. Well done Nuggets!!! And Minny a team who has never gone deep in the playoffs. 31/1 appears to be massive overs due to the fact that lakers/spurs will have to kill each other before the Mav's would play either of them. Opinions?