Poll: Hypothetical finals matchup

[Gradysmanldy]

I know two games is an incredibly small sample size, but based on how the matchups tend to go, are you sure that the Lakers aren't the preferred match-up in the finals?

[OldDawg]

Just not sure the Nuggets play enough D to win it all. I know they have a couple of good defenders, but as a whole, not so sure.

[papacass]

The Cavs fan in me wants to see Cavs/Timberwolves. Four games, no fuss, no muss. The basketball fan in me wants to see Cavs/Lakers.

Full-strength Cavs against full-strength Lakers would be an epic series.

[jb]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

[Ziner]

Give me Denver, I want to go.

[FUDU]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

You've avoided this forum like the plague this season and you're going to drop that take on us now?

Hilarious, in a Mastercard kind of way.

[fundamentals]

Cue Ric Flair, to be the man...................................wooooooooooooooooooooo, you gotta beat the man, and right now, it's the Lakers. Taking them down in the NBA Finals would be outstanding.

[Ea$t $ide]

Spurs - Revenge...

[davemanddd]

i would prefer denver only because it would finally give us the 2003 draft class dream match-up of 'melo vs lebron that they tried to promote/hype out of the gate back in 2003 that never really has materialized. the nba so badly wants another magic vs bird rivalry and so they were trying to manufacture one with james and anthony, but it just wasn't meant to be so far. maybe it can be??? we can only hope. go cavs!!!

[fundamentals]

LBJ wants the Lakers:

”The championship still goes through L.A., it doesn’t matter if you beat them four times, you still have to beat them in the Finals to take that trophy away from them.”

[British_Pharaoh]

Spurs - Revenge...

This

But I'd still be disappointed if it's not the Lakers

[e0y2e3]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

And our heart crushing loss in the playoffs was just sealed in January.

Thanks JB.

[jb]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

You've avoided this forum like the plague this season and you're going to drop that take on us now?

Hilarious, in a Mastercard kind of way.

I am the opposite of the advice that your Mother / my one time girlfriend gave you. You know, if you can't say something negative about a team, don't say anything at all?

This team is bulletproof since they learned how to gel early on. As long as they don't run into Charlotte, they'll be champions.

[swerb]

A Cavs/Lakers NBA Finals would be epic.

But you'd have to be insane to be cheering for it. The Lakers are clearly the best team in the West. And they have the best player in the West. And the best coach in the West. And the jewelry from last year to prove it.

I think we could beat the Lakers 4 outta 7. It would be tougher to beat the Lakers 4 outta 7 than any of these other teams in the West.

Bring on the Nuggets. I want a title. Path of least resistance.

[Triple-S]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

Be careful drinking Jobu's rum JB.

[hermanfontenot]

When asked if he enjoyed the challenge of beating New England in the 2006 AFC title game, after all the failures against the Patriots, Peyton replied that he would rather play Oakland. In that spirit, my number-one desired Finals match-up is with the Timberwolves.

But they aren't going to be available, so I'll pick the Spurs. San Antonio would have no chance against Cleveland in a series. Whether it took four games or five, the Cavaliers would end up popping the champagne at the AT&T Center- sweet revenge for 2007, and a passing of the torch from the Spurs to their offspring in Cleveland.

Unfortunately, San Antonio has as much chance of reaching the Finals as Minnesota. There are only two legit Finals contenders out West IMO- the Lake Show and the Nuggets. Between the two I'll take Denver. Better match-up for the Cavaliers and you know they're going to drag John Elway out there in a Billups jersey at some point to sweeten the overall pot.

But man, it would be sweet to meet the Lake Show. No one else in the West compares. Beating them for the first title in the history of this formerly woe begotten franchise would be like losing your virginity to the hottest girl in school.

[davemanddd]

When asked if he enjoyed the challenge of beating New England in the 2006 AFC title game, after all the failures against the Patriots, Peyton replied that he would rather play Oakland. In that spirit, my number-one desired Finals match-up is with the Timberwolves.

But they aren't going to be available, so I'll pick the Spurs. San Antonio would have no chance against Cleveland in a series. Whether it took four games or five, the Cavaliers would end up popping the champagne at the AT&T Center- sweet revenge for 2007, and a passing of the torch from the Spurs to their offspring in Cleveland.

Unfortunately, San Antonio has as much chance of reaching the Finals as Minnesota. There are only two legit Finals contenders out West IMO- the Lake Show and the Nuggets. Between the two I'll take Denver. Better match-up for the Cavaliers and you know they're going to drag John Elway out there in a Billups jersey at some point to sweeten the overall pot.

But man, it would be sweet to meet the Lake Show. No one else in the West compares. Beating them for the first title in the history of this formerly woe begotten franchise would be like losing your virginity to the hottest girl in school.

dig the metaphor, dude!!!

[jb]

If the cavs are healthy through the playoffs, and Powe can come back and give 13 mins a game, and delonte is playing, there is no way possible we don't win a title this season.

The Price - Muhownsammich teams were physiclly soft.

These latest teams have been mentally soft (cept for 23 ) .

Now they have it ll together.

Tough, no matchup weaknesses, and clutch.

The title is in the bag unless something like injuries happen.

Championship and Bron resigns. Suck it NY.

Be careful drinking Jobu's rum JB.

I do it myself.

[CAVSTRIBEBROWNSin07!]

I have 2 words for everyone counting out the Spurs.

Tim Duncan. Gregg Popovich. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili.

Did I mention Timmy or Manu?

[pup]

I have 2 words for everyone counting out the Spurs.

Tim Duncan. Gregg Popovich. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili.

Did I mention Timmy or Manu?

I count at least 8. But I isn't all that brite.

[RickNashEquilibrium]

I have 2 words for everyone counting out the Spurs.

Tim Duncan. Gregg Popovich. Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili.

Did I mention Timmy or Manu?

I said nearly this exact same thing weeks ago both here and at Basketbawful. Don't know how people can be counting these cats out. Sure they got mauled last year 4-1 but Manu wasn't playing, Parker was forced to try scoring 40+ a night on bum ankles, and their bench is significantly better this year. Much like the KG issue w/Boston, SAS's success is predicated on their health. If they can weather the Feb/Mar coastal swings, they will be right there.

[hermanfontenot]

Well, I think San Antonio is done. But I hope they aren't. I would LOVE to see Cleveland play them in the Finals. 4-0, 4-1.

[mrburns]

Well, I think San Antonio is done. But I hope they aren't. I would LOVE to see Cleveland play them in the Finals. 4-0, 4-1.

The Spurs are the NBA version of the 09-10 Patriots. A dynasty with big names that just isn't that good anymore. They're totally running on reputation at this point. Watched them get spanked by a pretty ho-hum Jazz team last week.

They might win one series, but unless the matchups really come together and Duncan and Manu start pounding HGH, I don't see them going any farther than that.

Vegas has the Lakers at 1-2 right now. That seems about right.

[CAVSTRIBEBROWNSin07!]

You clearly havent watched much Spurs basketball. Tim Duncan is having his best offensive season of his career, along with his usual stellar defense. That isnt "reputation", that's backed up by some insane numbers.

If you watch a Spurs game, you see Manu's hand all over the game, on both ends of the floor. I still feel he's a top 20 player in the NBA (I always get killed for that, but watch how much of an impact he can have without even scoring).

There is still no PG in the league that can slow down Parker.

But even beyond the Big 3, the Spurs are loaded. Richard Jefferson, Roger Mason (who played such a crucial role for them last year and yet barely cracks the rotation now), Dejuan Blair, Antonio McDyess, George Hill... These are all at least solid role players.

Count the Spurs out at your own risk. Popovich has been playing this lurking-in-the-grass game for years.

[Gradysmanldy]

They're included with the other 3 because they play good playoff tempo basketball, are coached well, full of veterans, and because (as previously noted) they are a far different team in March/April than they are in Dec/January.

I think we could beat them, but I don't count them out for a second.

Can't see the Spurs with the Size to keep the Lakers out, though. Do they have any front court depth?

[RickNashEquilibrium]

^^^^^What these 2 fellers above me said.

Yeah, they've had a bit of a rough stretch lately, especially with that blowout loss @Charlotte. Still, let them go on the Rodeo Road Trip and then get back at me in a month and half or so. Again, championship caliber defense, Duncan playing like hes 10 years younger, and a MUCH better bench than last year = legit playoff contender IMHO.

[hermanfontenot]

Yeah, they've had a bit of a rough stretch lately, especially with that blowout loss @Charlotte.

It's been a bit of a rough stretch if you consider all of last season and all of this season a bit of a stretch.

San Antonio can't beat the Lake Show- they can't even beat Dallas, actually- and that's all that matters. The only team out West with a chance to beat Los Angeles is Denver. And this is coming from someone who has been extremely reluctant to jump off the Spurs bandwagon.

[aoxo1]

Dallas can beat LA if they acquire someone.

[dmiles]

Bulls put them away tonight, did I hear the ESPN news guy say it was their 3rd straight home loss?

[papacass]

San Antonio is done as a title contender. They're still a playoff team, but they're done winning championships with the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili crew. Timmy is having another 20/10 season, but he's getting old (34 in April) and his knees are deteriorationg. As a point of reference, he was drafted just two years after KG, who is now the poster child for aging superstars beginning to break down physically.

Dallas is right there on the border, but they're probably not good enough defensively, particularly on the interior, to win a title. The Mavs are a guard/SF dominated team. Their weakest positions are PF and C. Really the same problems the Hawks have. (Yes, *technically* Dirk is a PF. but if it walks and quacks like a SF....)

Portland would be in the WC conversation if not for getting absolutely slammed by injuries. It's a shame, because they have a very nice roster. They have size in the middle and a go-to scorer, but with Oden and Pryzbilla out and Roy maybe banged up for the rest of the year, they're a first-round playoff team.

At this point, Denver is the most intriguing WC team when you talk about who might make the Finals other than the Lakers. They have enough size to play the Lakers physically, they already manhandled the Lakers once this year, they have one of the best scorers in the game and they have a former Finals MVP running the show. And with the Lakers now forced to pay the piper for all those early home dates, the Nugs could feasibly make a run at the 1-seed out west. They're only 3 GB as it is.

[Gradysmanldy]

My wet dream is watching that decimated Portland roster get the 8th seed and give the Lakers FITS in round one. The Rose Garden is cryptonite for the Lakers.