I hope watching the playoffs puts everything in perspective

[Joker]

That this is a team game. That some guys like Bynum aren't that good. In fact are on par with our three if not worse. I love the playoffs because it shows you who is real and who isn't. The OKC game was great. Westbrook killed the Lakers because the Lakers had a scrub at PG who has negative traits which almost lost them the last series and clearly help lose them this one. The biggest issue with LA is Kobe age and Lamar Odom. He made the Lakers. His ability to set up Gasol for easy shots, his ability to defend the PnR was critical. Without it, they have two lumbering bigs who can't defend the PnR and put their PG's on an island. Oh well. I will continue later.

[Duff_Man]

Oh well. I will continue later.

We'll all be waiting out here on the edge of our seats.

[Joker]

We'll all be waiting out here on the edge of our seats.

Anywoo, San Antonio is the best constructed team of all time that lacks a superstar. They have a #1 option PG in Parker who has PG skills. They have role players who play their role on offense and commit to team defense. They have an defensive anchor who has more skills than mostly over PF ever in Duncan. They use their centers for what they do and get them to commit to the system. Their bench players are used as specialists. Manu is more so all around but he is used for his strengths, for most he would be exposed for his below average BBIQ but for the Squrs he isn't. S-Jax is great in his role as a role playing scoring, but he's meh as a #1 or #2 option as a starter. Diaw is a talented player but needs to be a role player and not a starter on a team that's basis is ball movement. They just know how to build a team but it's a lot easier to do it with Tim Duncan than without him.

[Joker]

The Thunder have two of the NBA's elite in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Durant is a 6'11 Ray Allen like SF who can score at will and Westbrook who is the 6'3 combo guard who is flat out unguardable. They have a great balance of post defense in Perkins and Ibaka who is the NBA best shot blocker not to be mention defensive stopper Thebo Shefalosha. They have an elite bench lead by James Harden who is a top 10 SG in the NBA and Nick Collison who is one the of most underrated centers in the NBA. Their style is similar to the Hawks in the fact they run a lot of PnR's, iso, and motion in their sets. Like Atlanta they have a lot of ball stopping, busted plays, and what not but unlike Atlanta, they have three players who are literally #1 options and can score at will. Their defense is quite good especially when they are committed as an unit. They are an extremely talented team but they have flaws like turnovers, busted plays, poor offensive movement, and below average offensive low post production. The good thing for them is Westbrook, Durant, and Harden can score in the post and attack at will as well as draw a lot of fouls.OKC is well balanced team who wins more so on individual skill than teamwork but they have far more individual skill than most in the NBA. Their depth is really good. That is what separates them from similar type of teams.

Edited May 22, 2012 by nbasuperstar40

[Nicholasp27]

I learned that mayo doesn't step up in playoffs

[ag82]

I hate the idea of this superstar label. What exactly is a superstar? The spurs have Tim Duncan, one of the best to ever play his position and Tony Parker, one of the best currently at his position and a guy who a lot of people wanted as the mvp this year.They aren't superstars in that they are in tons of commercials and have huge endorsements, but they play the game like superstars. So what is a superstar?

[AHF]

So what is a superstar?

For me it is a guy who is transformational for his franchise and with a solid cast can take them to a championship. Parker isn't a superstar for me but Duncan is a superstar who is now in the effective but sub-prime phase of his career. Guys like Lebron, Kobe, KG (in his prime), Dwight, etc. are superstars because of their huge impact. These are the guys who you sign to a max contract and get huge value from because they are really underpaid.Most All-Stars are not superstars.

[Joker]

I hate the idea of this superstar label. What exactly is a superstar? The spurs have Tim Duncan, one of the best to ever play his position and Tony Parker, one of the best currently at his position and a guy who a lot of people wanted as the mvp this year.They aren't superstars in that they are in tons of commercials and have huge endorsements, but they play the game like superstars.So what is a superstar?

AHF explained it to a tee.

I learned that mayo doesn't step up in playoffs

Agree.

[Buzzard]

The best PG and superstar PG on the planet got swept. The 2nd Nash and 3rd Deron did not even make the playoffs. Tim Duncan is still Tim Duncan on the defensive end. Garnett is still Garnett. Indy is giving two HOF players a run for their money because of some big dude named Hibbert. OKC is rock solid and they have a awesome frontline rotation.Rebounding and D win championships. Nah....I already knew this.

Edited May 23, 2012 by Buzzard

[itsslomotionbaby]

and how did the pacers get here again. if i was a pacer fan i would catch a migrane. i just fenished watching them look so enept i turned on swamp people, granger just went down. now do they have an excuse?

[tonegully]

Tony Parker has developed PG skills. He didnt come into the league an all star PG by far.

[Joker]

Tony Parker has developed PG skills. He didnt come into the league an all star PG by far.

Nope he didn't come in the league an all star but he did have some PG skills but he was really raw overall as a player. He was blessed to play with a team like the Squrs. Tim Duncan, Coach Pop. They developed him extremely well and didn't put players in bad situations that expose them badly.TP was always a scoring PG. He just wasn't always good.

[Diesel]

I wait with anticipation to see what the NBA will do with the Heat?Both Haslem and Pittman should be suspended. I actually think Haslem should get 1 to 2 games and Pittman for the rest of the playoffs.Miami plays a dirty brand of Basketball.Even when Granger was hurt, Lebron positioned himself under Granger.

Edited May 23, 2012 by Diesel

[Joker]

The best PG and superstar PG on the planet got swept. The 2nd Nash and 3rd Deron did not even make the playoffs. Tim Duncan is still Tim Duncan on the defensive end. Garnett is still Garnett. Indy is giving two HOF players a run for their money because of some big dude named Hibbert. OKC is rock solid and they have a awesome frontline rotation.Rebounding and D win championships. Nah....I already knew this.

That should tell you not to build a team around a PG. They should at best be your 2nd most valuable player, never the first.Only Zeke and Billups won as their team's best player and those teams were purely defensive.Defensive anchors stay winning titles. KG, Duncan, Shaq, The Dream, etc.OKC do not have an anchor but they have someone to protect the rim in Ibaka and someone who can defend centers extremely well in Perk. With elite perimeter scorers.The triangle offense is the only way a perimeter based team wins titles and you need someone who is elite at attacking the paint as well have great defenders.I think the Heat should bring in Phil Jackson.The same ole, same ole.

I wait with anticipation to see what the NBA will do with the Heat?Both Haslem and Pittman should be suspended. I actually think Haslem should get 1 to 2 games and Pittman for the rest of the playoffs.Miami plays a dirty brand of Basketball.Even when Granger was hurt, Lebron positioned himself under Granger.

Agree. Edited May 23, 2012 by nbasuperstar40

[Diesel]

That should tell you not to build a team around a PG. They should at best be your 2nd most valuable player, never the first.Only Zeke and Billups won as their team's best player and those teams were purely defensive.Defensive anchors stay winning titles. KG, Duncan, Shaq, The Dream, etc.OKC do not have an anchor but they have someone to protect the rim in Ibaka and someone who can defend centers extremely well in Perk. With elite perimeter scorers.The triangle offense is the only way a perimeter based team wins titles and you need someone who is elite at attacking the paint as well have great defenders.I think the Heat should bring in Phil Jackson.The same ole, same ole.Agree.

OH Please...

[Guest]

If you thought San Antonio would be steam rolling through the playoffs at the start of the season like they are now then I give you props, otherwise this is nothing but bandwagonning now. All the experts discounted SA as old and TD as done.OKC have what we don't - a bonafide SUPER DUPER STAR and a SUPER STAR.

[Buzzard]

If you thought San Antonio would be steam rolling through the playoffs at the start of the season like they are now then I give you props, otherwise this is nothing but bandwagonning now. All the experts discounted SA as old and TD as done.OKC have what we don't - a bonafide SUPER DUPER STAR and a SUPER STAR.

Spurs fans I am sure were hoping for a monster season. As far as us Hawks fans go...Parker is a 3 time all-star PG, a finals MVP, and Duncan is a HOF everything PF/C....now throw in Gino and can you blame any of us here wishing for something even remotely close to what they have. You know, like just one NBA championship banner!

[Guest]

Spurs fans I am sure were hoping for a monster season. As far as us Hawks fans go...Parker is a 3 time all-star PG, a finals MVP, and Duncan is a HOF everything PF/C....now throw in Gino and can you blame any of us here wishing for something even remotely close to what they have. You know, like just one NBA championship banner!

Trust me I want a lot of things the Spurs have (they are my favorite team outside Atl) - I want their coach, their GM, their scouting department, their shooting coach and all their players. I will settle for their scouts. Edited May 23, 2012 by JayBirdHawk

[Joker]

Boston is oldAtlanta needs a PGPhilly can't score.These three teams should be out in the 1st round. Sadly one has to make it to the ECF.Chicago Roses season ended because of Rose.

[Joker]

Trust me I want a lot of things the Spurs have (they are my favorite team outside Atl) - I want their coach, their GM, their scouting department, their shooting coach and all their players. I will settle for their scouts.

They understand personnel grouping. They know better than playing Smoove next to Horford or Joe as a #1 option, or Teague as a starting PG.