The Official Off Topic NBA Finals Thread

[muggsy]

kareem overrated...the only player in the history ofthe game with a shot that was unblockable and the all time scoring leader...how many rings?

Yeah, I know that's all true. I can't really defend my opinion with stats, it's more of a general impression from years of watching him play. Kareem's career covered most of the years I really followed the NBA, from the mid-70s through the early 90s, before I lost interest. He was incredibly consistent and he kept himself in great shape so he played at a very high level (no pun intended) for a LONG time, but...

He won one title with Milwaukee and five with LA, but those teams had arguably the two greatest guards in NBA history, Oscar Robertson and Magic. He was in LA for five years and never won anything until Magic got there.

I know he won a bunch of MVP awards, but at all the different points of his career there seemed to be other centers in the league who were better, at least head-to-head. At the beginning of his career there was Wilt, who was physically dominant like nobody before or since, even though he was probably in his mid-30s when Kareem arrived. Then there was Walton, before he got hurt. Then there was Moses, who almost won a title with no supporting cast in Houston and did win a title (sweeping Kareem's Lakers) with the Sixers in '83. Then there was Hakeem. Those guys always seemed to get the best of Kareem when they met up. Maybe it's just the way I remember it, the stats might tell a different story.

He was undoubtedly one of the greatest players in NBA history, but I don't think of him as a (physically) dominant center like Wilt, Russell, Moses, Shaq, or Hakeem. He got a lot of rebounds but Moses, for example, owned him on the boards when they played. I guess his style of play had a lot to do with it because his game was more about grace and finesse than brute force. I can't argue with his numbers, though.

At the end of his career, people may be having the same kinds of arguments about Tim Duncan. He's not physically overpowering, but he's been the best player on three (soon to be four) championship teams, and he's carried those teams when they needed him. When Kareem's teams won, I never felt like he was the best guy on those teams.

 

[leftymike]

I still think the Spurs will need 5 to take it. The Cavs will win one at home just for the fact that the SPurs almost ALWAYS give up their big leads in the fourth.

 

[nationalmanslo]

most folks dont give the cavs more than 1-2 games. tonights games is huge for them.(to make it a respectable series) I see it being a close game, i think the cavs win tonight. i think the cavs can win 2 at home. i dont think any team has won all three home games since the finals format change to 2-3-2. can anyone confirm that?

 

[Applelurker]

Muggsy,
I had to get in on this being I am a big b-ball fan. Guys like Moses, Wilt, Russell,Shaq, are all definitely tougher in the middle on rebounding and defense than Kareem was. But, they were all horrible shooters and none of them could play 20 seasons or ever be the all-time leading scorer. Kareem was fundamentally sound much like Duncan is. You can over come a lot of weaknesses in your game if you can put the ball in the basket regularly. As far as not winning anything without great players around him, nobody does in the NBA. It's a team game. Wilt didn't win until he had Baylor and West. Bird had McHale, Parrish, DJ. The Bulls and MJ didn't win til Pippen and guys like Horace Grant and later Rodman came along. Hakeem had Drexler, Cassel, Horry. Tim Duncan had David Robinson the first title, and since had guys like Tony Parker and Ginobili. That's why the Cavs will be swept in 4 games, just no help for Lebron. I love basketball but these finals have been pretty boring. Almost as disappointing as the Sopranos finale.

 

[kevin]

Muggsy,
Almost as disappointing as the Sopranos finale.

insert drum roll here

lets not forget that I'm sure Kareem helped out Magic's game as well....it goes both ways. It would of been really tough for Magic to have "as" big of an early impact as he did with out having a great scoring big man to dish the ball to.

 

[Beth]

Almost as disappointing as the Sopranos finale.

I did hear that they played Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", my all-time favorite song to sing at karaoke!

Ok, back to your stinky basketball thread....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[nationalmanslo]

well, at least it was a close game! so when does that official nfl preseason thread start?

 

[Dr Stankface]

Well, a certain sports league's draft comes up on June 22nd so be on the lookout for that.

 

[nationalmanslo]

NHL?? well, I did go to a few Kings games as a kid. Saw Gretzky play. It was fun. I just can't seem to get into watching hockey on the tube, though I did check in on NHL finals last week.

 

[Sweat]

Can anyone say sweep bring out the brooms

 

[mesaboogieman]

Can anyone say sweep bring out the brooms

+1
Go Spurs!!!

 

[kbaim]

I'm a huge hoops fan, been going to laker games since '71, so I've seen a lot of great games.

hard not to like the way the spurs play...but it's painful to watch.

I love the way the suns scoot down the court and think they got screwed with Horry's play.

 

[bovinehost]

And.......sweep completed.

Horry has seven, but even nicer - Michael Finley has one.

Nothing but class in the Spurs organization.

Parker should be the MVP. Let's see.

 

[Big Poppa]

great game happy for PJ and Popovich is a class act

 

[nationalmanslo]

congrats to the spurs, as long as it wasn't detriot, i'm happy!

 

[nationalmanslo]

though i probably would have enjoyed it more if the spurs swept the pistons. oh well, there's always next year!

 

[kbaim]

A bit off topic...but the new John Wooden book, The Essential Wooden, is an excellent read on leadership and team building.

 

[wizardchess]

POSTSEASON PREVIEW?
Steve Nash leads the Suns against a banged up Spurs squad tonight. Hear every NBA game on SIRIUS this season.