Comments on: NYT Finals / Knicks stuff

By: johnlocke

johnlocke — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:03:57 +0000

post in the game 1 thread... we can have the debate there, just so everyone can chime in.

ruruland: Shaq /Hakeem was probably last time you had two of the best 3 players against each other in the Finals. Talent still doesn’t compare to this series.

By: ruruland

ruruland — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:03:17 +0000

Shaq /Hakeem was probably last time you had two of the best 3 players against each other in the Finals. Talent still doesn’t compare to this series.

By: ruruland

ruruland — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 01:01:54 +0000

johnlocke: In terms of hype definitely…. hopefully it lives up to it. I think it comes down to the play of Westbrooke. He needs to play stifling defense, get steals, attack the basket and not settle for jumpers, while giving up the ball to Durant in the 4th. I think LeBron will have a HUGE series, not sure it will be enough though. OKC in 7.

I don't think you have to worry about hype. This is arguably the greatest collection of athletes in a competitive format in the history of sports. I think when we put this into historical terms, it has a chance to be the greatest match-up of all time. Remember, by the time the Lakers and Celtics faced each other in '84, The Celtics core had one ring, the Lakers core had two.

By: Kevin McElroy

Kevin McElroy — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:59:39 +0000

Hey folks,

Sorry I didn’t get the Game 1 thread up before the discussion livened up here. It’s up now. Feel free to comment in either spot.

By: johnlocke

johnlocke — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:58:15 +0000

Yeh think rationale is to limit travel (for the media?)

Brian Cronin: Agreed, 2-3-2 is an awful format.

By: ruruland

ruruland — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:57:24 +0000

I’m not talkking ’08 Lakers Celtics of course.

When is the last time you had 7 of the top 25-30 players in the Finals, none with a ring, all of whom still either approaching their prime and all still in their physical primes (with Wade nearing the end of his physical prime) .

When is the last time you had the two best players in the NBA facing each other in the Finals? Had to be Bird/Magic.

We agree that Durant is clearly the second best player in the league?

By: johnlocke

johnlocke — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:56:53 +0000

In terms of hype definitely.... hopefully it lives up to it. I think it comes down to the play of Westbrooke. He needs to play stifling defense, get steals, attack the basket and not settle for jumpers, while giving up the ball to Durant in the 4th. I think LeBron will have a HUGE series, not sure it will be enough though. OKC in 7.

ruruland: Best Finals match-up since Lakers Celtics?

By: ruruland

ruruland — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:53:12 +0000

Best Finals match-up since Lakers Celtics?

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:22:55 +0000

Agreed, 2-3-2 is an awful format.

By: Z-man

Z-man — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:09:20 +0000

PS I absolutely HATE the 2-3-2 format. It makes it so that in any kind of an evenly-matched series, the team with the 3 games has virtually no chance of winning the series at home. Why should a team that won its conference, possibly over better competition, have to win in 5 in order to have a chance to win at home? Never got that, never will.