Chris Paul (photo. Mannion)Breaking from tradition, the final day of the NBA regular season wasn’t totally useless, as there was still some playoff positioning left to be done in the West. And one of the few games that meant something for both teams involved was Mavericks/Hornets. If Dirk Nowitzki and Co. won, they’d secure the 7th seed and a first-round matchup with New Orleans. If they lost, dropping to the 8th seed would set up a date with the Lakers. You could make a good argument as to why the Mavs should have tanked — they gave L.A. all it could handle twice within the last month, whereas the last time we’d seen the post-Jason Kidd trade Mavs up against the Hornets, Chris Paul eviscerated J-Kidd. But they went and won the game anyway, and Kidd (27 pts, 10 rebs, 10 asts, 5 threes) actually outplayed CP (20 pts, 10 asts) … The Spurs locked up the 3rd seed (and a matchup with the Suns) by hammering the Jazz, which was also good for San Antonio because they’ve struggled lately scoring points and beating the elite teams. Don’t let the stats alone fool you: Although Tony Parker’s 24-point, 12-assist, 3-steal stat line punks Deron Williams‘ 5 points, 2 assists and 3 turnovers, Deron didn’t play much after it was apparent the Jazz weren’t gonna win … The Rockets needed to beat the Clippers to secure the 5th seed, which they did, but Houston still gets homecourt advantage over 4th-seed Utah because of their better record (Utah only gets the 4th seed because they won their division — but it’s basically an empty honor at this point) … Playing the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in this game was Corey Maggette, who was 8-of-18 off the bench for 22 points. Would you want Maggette on your team knowing he’s locked in on the rim 99 percent of the time? On DimeMag.com we looked at NBA ballplayers whom you would hate to play with … In the post-game interview, T-Mac called Yao the Rockets’ “best player.” Better than McGrady? Really? Tell us what you think … Speaking of Yao, yesterday our friends at Reebok sent over a video of Yao putting in work in the weight room, trying to get back for the Olympics … So while a few games were worth paying attention to Wednesday, most of them more resembled Cavs/Pistons; a preaseason game that counted. Detroit’s starters played the first quarter and took the rest of the night off, while LeBron didn’t play at all. So naturally, Cleveland was brutal to watch, scoring just 74 points in a loss. Damon Jones started and went 1-for-12 (remember, he gets paid a lot strictly to be a shooter), and Boobie Gibson went 1-for-6 (he’s also paid to be a shooter, albeit significantly less than Damon) … Magic/Wizards was the same thing. Dwight Howard played one quarter, while Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler sat it out, seeing as with Washington’s luck, they really can’t risk someone getting hurt. So that left guys like Buckets Pecherov and Marcin Gortat to play big minutes, along with — wait for it — J.J. Redick! Everyone’s Least-Favorite Blue Devil logged 24 minutes and poured in 18 points, going 7-for-14 from the field and 4-for-8 from three. Say what you want, but the kid can shoot the hell out of the ball, and for that he’ll always have a job in the League as long as he’s physically able … You had a lot of that Wednesday night, guys who normally rack up DNP’s suddenly putting up great stats. Sean Marks had 16 points and 13 boards in Phoenix’s win over Portland; Aaron Gray had 19 points and 22 boards in Chicago’s win over Toronto; and Andre Brown (not Kwame) put up 19 and 13 in Memphis’ loss to Denver … Nobody told Mike Dunleavy that last night’s game didn’t matter. Once again he lit up the Knicks, hanging 36 points on ‘em to hand Isiah an L in (we’d assume) his last game on the bench. Did you know that’s the THIRD time this year Dunleavy posted 36 against New York? In four games against them he averaged 31.2 points per. That might be one big-money contract Donnie Walsh is willing take on if Larry Bird will play ball … But nobody had a better send-off than Kevin Durant. If you’re one of those who was up in the air about Durant versus Al Horford for Rookie of the Year, Durant’s 42-point effort against the Warriors might’ve swayed your vote … And, wouldn’t you know, Nellie played Baron Davis a healthy 38 minutes in the loss. Coach and player have some things to talk about in the exit interviews … We had the rare Miami Heat victory, as Jason Williams (17 pts) led the way in a win over the Hawks. Seeing as ATL played its regular rotation in this one, what does that do to their psyche going into a series with the Celtics? … Did you watch any of NBA TV’s “Gamenight” show? Was it us or was Peter Vecsey just rambling with no game plan whatsoever. Hard to describe if you didn’t see it, but trust, it was worse than some of Bill Walton’s worst stuff. Come on, PV; if Chris Webber can come in with no experience and crank out crisp TV segments, so can you … We’re out like the first 82 …
April 17th, 2008 at 2:13 am
supremeng says:
FIRST!?
April 17th, 2008 at 3:23 am
nig says:
nigger?!
April 17th, 2008 at 3:31 am
bill says:
ha ha
April 17th, 2008 at 3:35 am
foscheezeeee says:
I got in the West:
Lakers over Nuggets
Mavs over Hornets
Suns over Spurs
Jazz over Rockets
East:
Celts
Wizards
Detroit
Magic
I like Dallas because of their playoff experience over the Hornets. And I think the Suns matchup well with the Suns. On the East I think Gil is the X-factor. He gonna give Delonte buckets. The Wiz have 3 players that can get you 30 on any night. Cavs can’t match that
April 17th, 2008 at 3:37 am
foscheezeeee says:
Typo **Suns matchup well with the Spurs**
April 17th, 2008 at 3:47 am
SL says:
YEAH MAN YOU’RE FIRST. CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG!
April 17th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Flying_Dutchman says:
I hope this is a joke: I saw on Sportscenter, Kevin “Big Ticket Garnett NEW nickname is…. The Cobra…
April 17th, 2008 at 4:00 am
bill says:
Awards?
*your predictions and then your choices
mvp: Kobe……………….chris paul (better off court)
Rookie: Durant……………………Durant
6th man: Manu……………………….Manu (incredible ability to accept his role despite being a ’star’)
Defensive player of the year: Camby
Most Improved: Hedo (deserves something for improved season)……………………….*always a hard award, is it Shaq for his ‘renewed’ effort ha ha, is it someone in a Contract year for their new motivation, is it someone whose minutes have increased thus has more output (arguable whether minutes increased due to improvement as player or other factors eg injuries) is it a player that improves their biggest weakness eg shaq with free throws, amare with defence. So I would go with Hedo just because his numbers have improved and he seems a LOT more confident and is playing a bigger role.
Citizenship? Who knows, I do not believe we hear enough about this but have player’s problems with the law/wives plastered everywhere.
What about a dime Citizenship notable list!
April 17th, 2008 at 4:38 am
doc says:
Im glad we can see the real deal now.My MVP is Kobe,DPOY is KG,6th man is Manu,MI is Hedo,ROY is Durant.1rst team CP3,Kobe,Lebron,KG,Dwight.2nd team Nash,T-Mac,Pierce,Timmy,Amare.3rd D-Will,AI,Melo,Dirk,Boozer
April 17th, 2008 at 5:01 am
goofy says:
nothing on the corey brewer dunk?
that shit was hella funny!!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:09 am
ERIC says:
RUMOR: Donnie Walsh wants to bring in Billy King??? WTF? An awful GM in Philly whose young talent is finally panning out after 5+ years of ineptitude!
Why can’t the Knicks hire a young, up-and-coming star who has been an apprentice under a big name (i.e. Buck’s just hired Dumar’s guy, last year the Sonics hired Pop’s understudy).
April 17th, 2008 at 7:11 am
rangerjohn says:
ok wait, spurs and jaz play THE MOST IMPORTANT game of the nba regular season in 20 yrs and all the game gets is 2 sentences? whats up with all the spurs hate dime?
April 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Miro says:
What about Corey Brewers disgrace?
DD
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0NeQAngGLjo
April 17th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Prof. TX says:
The Jazz tanked that game on purpose. Guys weren’t even breaking a sweat, barely even jogging most of the time and certainly not putting in the effort. They knew what it would mean, getting a Yao-less Rockets instead of the rebuilt Suns.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:40 am
GEE...It ain't no fun if the homies can't haAaAave none! says:
Houston up!
First off the Rockets will beat Utah. Don’t ask me for a reason cause I don’t have one lol, but the Houston will win that series.
Moving on. A local dj on the West Coast should be offering up some cash reward for someone to slap the S#$( out of Nellie. I will say I think it’s real cool of BD not to make a big deal of all this.
Denver and L.A. I have been waiting for a minute for another A.I and Kobe match-up. If Denver actually plays to the potential of their players they could push a game seven and possibly make something happen.
Picture Kobe getting that fresh MVP and then losing in the 1st round. It can happen. L.A.’s hopes depend on Lamar Odom to me. He is the x factor.
SAN AN vs. PHOENIX This is just going to be a fight. I am thinking this will be the most teched game ever!
Atl. You play the regular rotation and still take an L. I am sorry I hope Boston whips that monkey A%& just because of that. No excuse for that ish.
Wizards gone be all over LeBron like a spider monkey (Ricky Bobby).
I got Boston vs L.A. with Boston taking it all.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:47 am
GEE...It ain't no fun if the homies can't haAaAave none! says:
Did I mention Durant goes off and Al’s team takes an L. Somewhere the engraving has started for Kevin. I still like Al’s game better.
Nice one by Durant though I won’t front. Hopefully they will get him some help.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am
rangerjohn says:
man utah got handled in the 1st half, and about halfway through the 2nd they might have given up but there was no tank in the 1st quarter, or at least half the 2nd period.
spurs put that intensity into every game (a big IF) there is not a team i nthe league that can beat them.
i personally was hoping houston would ahve rested EVERYONE last night so i could get the spurs here at houston for the 1st round.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Prof. TX says:
As a Rockets fan, I was also hoping to see the Spurs in round one. I’m just tired of the Jazz, not because the Rockets keep losing to them but that I just don’t find them interesting to watch. I would have liked Houston to have a chance at eliminating a different team this year, see if Battier could contain the South American Flopmaster, if Bowen could cleanly defend T-Mac, etc.
ESPN is saying that Utah ’surrendered’ the game last night in order to get the easier match-up. Hard to say what happened, Sloan doesn’t seem like the tanking type but the supposed experts are calling it that way.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:16 am
João says:
Lakers, Hornets, Suns, Jazz
Boston, Detroit, Magic, Wizards .
Kobe MVP. What about next year ROY ?
Rose, Beasley, Oden, OJ, ?
April 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Byron Scott coach of the year. Nobody seems to be mentioning that award.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Prof. TX says:
People keep giving coaching credit to Doc Rivers, as though he suddenly turned Pierce, Allen, and Garnett into a winning team. He probably has one of the easiest coaching jobs in the league, about one step harder than coaching an All-Star game.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:57 am
rangerjohn says:
prof that is exactly right, rivers didnt do a whole lot. i keep hearing “he had to manage all those ego’s” who had an ego? KG is supposed to be one of the most coach freindly players, ray allen knows he is on the decline, the only ego on the team is pierce and he was as happy as can be to get allen and KG after the jokes he had last season.
byron scott COTY.
and on the utah thing, the jazz did not tank anything in the 1st half, 2nd half maybe they knew the game was out of reach, what ever, i know dwill had a hip injury so maybe they wanted the extra rest for him, he was not getting anything done anyway.
now the jazz also knew if they won they would be facing the spurs in the 1st round with home court, the way they handled the spurs the meeting before, WHY WOULD THEY TANK? they have the best home court in the league, and had recently DESTROYED their potential 1st round matchup, makes no since to tank that game.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
girlybballluver says:
Byron Scott COTY.
Spurs v Suns will be interesting to watch. But I think the Spurs will come away with it…minus the controversial calls, and suspensions this time please…straight basketball.
**Allow me to mention again that I’m so glad just to be able to watch a healthy Grant Hill playing ball right now.**
Am I the only person left on the planet that thinks Boston is overrated? If they win it all, I guess I’ll have to eat my words.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:30 am
sad but true says:
When team X plays the Lakers, David Stern will step in and make sure they get to the finals. This is going to be sad.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Amar says:
Jazz flat out got beat. They wanted this game, they wanted to exorcise their demons in San Antone and get homecourt. They didn’t. Jerry pulled his guys early (like what Pop did a few games ago in SLC), and didn’t want to risk injury so close to the playoffs. Jazz got beat. The media spinning it as a ‘tactical move for a better 1st round match-up’ is nice of them, and has some merrit. It’s just not true. The jazz wanted to win. The spurs wanted it more.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
rlf says:
did you guys read what dirk said after the game? they don’t want to play the lakers, he said it, they were afraid to face them.
so i guess your assessment of the mavs ‘giving’ the lakers all the can ‘handle’ was a little bit wrong.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
sad but true says:
The Spurs thrive when they get no respect.
I can see them turning it on and getting it done.
The key to this series: Let Amare drop 45-50 a night and shut down the others.
Spurs cannot handle Amare in any way, so let him go and do his thing. It happened the same way last year and it worked out alright.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
rangerjohn says:
@ sad but true
exactly right, the spurs every year they have played the suns have done just that, let amare beat them on his own (never gonna happen) and get the ball out of nash’s hands. kill is no marion, diaw and barbosa will fade (like every year), raja cant slow manu, duncan will get his, and shaq will gt fouls AND fouled. this series i think will come down to free throws and the suns are not great with the freeby’s like the past, and the spurs are better then past yrs on the line. TD is up like 6% on his carreer average.
then the spurs get the hornets or the mavs if they beat the suns, while the lakeshow gets the jazz (rockets cant win this 1st round and i will be there) which is a tough matchup for anyone. i gotta say the spurs have about as easy a road as the lakers which is to say they both have an easier road then the other 6 teams do.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Ian says:
rangerjohn
no one has an easy road
but if u r sayin that they haver an easier road than the 6 other teams its because they dont face each other till the western conf finals
spurs and lakers are the two best teams
utah didnt tank shit last night they got destroyed
and dime what is this crap about dont let the stats fool you about deron and parker
please go recheck the first half again and u can clearly see deron was being abused by parker
haters
April 17th, 2008 at 11:03 am
rangerjohn says:
IAN
that is exactly what i am saying, the spurs and lakers have an easier road (not easy in itself but easier) then the other for exactly that they dont have to play each other. on the other hand, i would rather face the suns then the jazz regardless of home court.
spurs are still in suns head after the last 4 yrs or so.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am
sad but true says:
The way Mike denied Patrick a ring, Duncan may end up denying Nash a ring
April 17th, 2008 at 11:13 am
SAS Sizzle says:
Don’t let the stats fool you? TP9 eviscerated Deron Williams in the first half and had 11 assists at the break! OK so he was hurt but still, he did most of that damage against Deron straight up. The Jazz are in trouble b/c Kurt Thomas can hold down Boozer which leaves Timmy to reign supreme against the Turk. Everybody knows Okur chokes hard in the playoffs. Remember last year after they were eliminated when Deron called out Okur and AK-47 for acting like punks?
Oh baby, what is gonna be the SUNS excuse this year??? They come up with some new BS every season, like the ‘chip is OWED to them, it is pathetic. The reason they lost last year is because of their WHINY CULTURE which comes from D’Antoni on down; that and they played NO DEFENSE whatsoever. To say Horry cost them the series is what psychologists refer to as “transference of blame”, just another built-in excuse / defense mechanism.
Only Nash has respectability when it comes to that ish, ‘cuz he knows the deal. I mean if he didn’t flop that little hip check so hard then Amare wouldn’t have tried to go all thuggish on everybody and get suspended. Stoudemire is definitely good but he is such a punk-ass mofo.
The Suns are going to want revenge so bad, it will be that much sweeter when they get stomped out and realize they are just not a championship team, again!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:21 am
SWAT says:
W/o the bogus calls the suns can take the spurs. Shaq, as much as i’d hate to admit it, is finally a beast again. You can’t front that dude is looking to demolish the spurs. I guarantee that he is giving them new hype and confidence. And i agree tp was taking deron in the first, the jazz looked terrible. @rangerjohn i don’t get how you claim to be a rockets fan with no faith in your team. “I will be there” For what? It’s watered down fans like you that i will never understand…why not go watch the astros or something leave the seats to the real fans.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
SAS Sizzle says:
Even with bogus calls the Spurs can take the Suns because they actually know how to KEEP THEIR COMPOSURE.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ian says:
swat shaq is a bitch
and no one in the history talks more shit than that man
cant wait till he gets traded to see wat he can come up with
btw the suns are pussies and the prob is their coach
that fuckin winny face
to all the haters here that think that manu is just a role player
“Ginobili’s particularly unique impact this season defied any conceivable statistical measure until our friends at 82games.com unveiled “Clutch Stats” (fourth quarter or OT, five minutes or less, five-point margin or less) and “Super-Clutch Stats” (fourth quarter or OT, two minutes or less, three-point margin or less). In “Clutch” situations, the Argentinian (I love calling him that) averaged nearly a point a minute and shot 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3 and 93 percent from the foul line. In “Super-Clutch” situations, Manu was the third-best scorer (behind LeBron and Kobe) and shot a jaw-dropping 62 percent from the field. Throw in free-throw attempts and you could make a case that Manu was a lock to score seven out of 10 times in the last two minutes of every close game. There might be better players, but nobody’s better with the bread in the toaster. Not even Kobe”
found that kinda interesting
April 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
rangerjohn says:
@ swat,
1st i love basketball
2nd i grew up in SA so spurs come 1st
3rd i am a season ticket holder for the rockets (good business write off too)
4th i root for the rockets as long as they are not playing the spurs
5th i am realistic and know the rockets have a VERY slim chance at beating the jazz with no yao
now the spurs and the suns, shaq may want to destroy the spurs BUT he cant play the whole game, as the series goes on he will wear down, and the spurs have oberto, thomas, duncan, bonner, horry (if he makes it back and i am sure he will), and any number of guards to “hack a shaq” so with no guards thats 30 fouls combined to use IF NEED BE.
spurs dont fear shaq, or nash, or amare, they will be calm cool and collected, and own!
sua sponte!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:35 am
foscheezeeee says:
@Rangerjohn :
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t D-will DESTROY Parker in the WCF last season? Spurs are a better TEAM, and that’s why they won. Don’t get it twisted.
On another note, I think it wrong that CP3 won’t get that MVP, what more could he have done for that squad? Not to take nothing away from KB24, cuz he is the best player on the planet. But C’mon, Chris carried that team all season long.. Congrats Kobe
April 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am
foscheezeeee says:
My bad Rangerjohn, that was for #29
April 17th, 2008 at 11:44 am
SWAT says:
Ok i wasn’t gonna go there but to yall spurs fans yall will make vlade proud with how yall boys flop out there. like damn fish out of water sometimes. lol. honestly we will wait and see cuz’ shaq and co beat yall’s ass last game. and @ IAN damn, how do Manu’s kids taste? dude is clutch i said it but you said it yourself “behind kobe and bron” Then you threw in this imaginary stat ” throw in free be’s and you could make the case that manu was a lock…” c’mon son you live in fantasies!
@ranger your 4h and 5th statement is an oxymoron. You can’t root for them but think that they have a slim chance. no sir.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
rangerjohn says:
no problem foscheezeee
looking at the box scores though, dwill averaged around 25 points and about 10 assists, something like 2 rebounds, parker averaged around 21-22 points, 8 assists, and about 3 rebounds and parker i believe shot a better %
in other words it sounds about like a draw to me.
what the spurs need to do is stop taking so many jumpers and attack. when they are taking so many shot and not even trying to get to the rim they get handled lately. manu and parker need to attack attack attack (like last night) and the game will come to them
April 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
rangerjohn says:
swat
realisticly everyone thinks they have a slim chance BUT i will be thee cheering them on regardless, how is that an oxymoron?
April 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Austin Burton says:
I’m just saying that Deron would have had a better line if he’d played more than 18 minutes. Parker definitely outplayed him when they were on the floor, but by “don’t let the stats alone fool you,” it was more to say that Parker didn’t lock Deron down Bowen-style defensively and hold him to 5 points.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
girlybballluver says:
How does thinking your team is going to lose a playoff series make you a watered down fan? I think it makes you a fan with a firm grip on reality.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Ian says:
lol swat
first i didnt write that
second i rather have manu making a game winning play than bron
foscheezeeeee
what are u talkin about did u watch the conference finals
parker did play deron to a draw in that series
when u destroy someone its like parker did to deron last night
April 17th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
Yeah Deron was not right for sure, thanks for clarifying Austin.
But it is amusing how everyone gets on the CP3 and Deron debate, but really Parker is right there as an elite PG. I think he doesn’t get as much credit because he is a better scorer than distributor, but he can take it to either of those guys or Nash, Beard-Dizzle, or Kidd on any given night, too.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
control says:
SAS Sizzle, stfu about the Nash flopping shit, you are just so used to watching the master of flop himself, MANU, that you think everything is a flop. Nash got straight thugged, only Spurs fans don’t see it that way. The way that series ended was the NBA’s way of giving Timmy one more championship (on a golden platter) before his decline.
I hope Manu gets injured for the playoffs, or something happens to him so he is out. I really can’t stand watching that guy play, I just want to snap his lil’ pencil neck everytime I see him flopping around like a trout.
Ian, those stats are bs, Manu gets free throws at the end of the game because the refs in the nba are the most guliable fools in the world. Manu has NEVER in his life taken a shot that he didn’t act like he got fouled on. I’ve seen him shooting around before the game, by himself, and he’s practicing flailing his limbs around and hitting the hardwood like he was just hit by a truck. The guy is a fraud, straight out.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
SWAT says:
control, i agree to a certain extent. The sad thing is manu can hoop but he falls back on the flooping so much that it hides his talent.
@ Ian, my bad I misread your comment. I will give that tho, i would take manu over bron too.
@ girlyb-are you serious? you can’t be a fan if you already think your team is gonna lose. That’s a spectator
April 17th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
foscheezeeee says:
Deron averaged 30pts through the first 4 games of that series. If you take out Game 5 when Deron only played 23 minutes and had 11 points (because they were down 20 at the half). They weren’t going head to head though, I remember Bowen being on DW most of the time. I don’t see that a draw, but I will give TP the benefit of the doubt since he went on to get Finals MVP
April 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
control, watch the replay again and again and again. Yes Nash got hip-checked, but when he hits the ground he embellishes it like he got killed, and THEN Amare and Diaw reacted from that. Watch it again and again and again.
Your disdain for Manu fits right in with what Popovich said about him a couple of weeks ago, that he is so hated because he is just such a “dagger through the heart”. Like I said, if he was from Chicago and played on the Lakers you’d be riding his sack. He’s like Kobe, if he is on your team you love him, when he is killing YOUR team you just hate the guy. And since he is one of the best players on one of the most hated teams ever he is your easiest target.
So tell us…is Gino flopping when he is sticking treys in your EYE and driving to hoop sticking sick layups and floaters on everybody with both hands? No, he only embellishes to get the call, like most players. And if your fave player doesn’t flop when he gets hit to draw a foul then they probably bitch and moan to the refs afterwards, something Manu rarely does even when he gets murdered. See Kobe, LeBron, Dirk, Amare, etc for that.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
control says:
SAS Sizzle,
The only reason Manu isn’t whining at the refs for a call is because he’s too busy laying on the floor pretending he is dead, when he didn’t even get touched. Watch replays of the guy, there are some plays where he folds over like he just got hit by a bullet, and there is video proof that he didn’t even get touched. He has some sort of weird tourettes that kicks in only when he starts a layup.
I’m not saying Manu isn’t good, the guy obviously can ball on a world class level, but his fans are straight crazy and his flopping is out of control. His flopping totally distracts from his skills, it overrides them completely. I’ve seen his fans say he was better than Kobe. He isn’t, nor will he ever be.
As for Manu playing for my team (Raptors), I can honestly say I would hate it if he were playing for the Raps. I’d cancel my League Pass because I wouldn’t be able to watch them play…the guy’s style is so overpowered by his pussyflopping that it just makes me sick. I’d almost rather have Antoine Walker play for the Raps, and I absolutely hate that guy…
April 17th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
rangerjohn says:
well sure foscheezz, oyu cna look at the stats for any series and say “well if you only look at game such and such then he completely destroyed so and so” you have to take all the games into account (that is the point of a best of 7 series) and dwill scored 34 points, 26, 31,27,11 for an average of 25.8
last night, bowen didnt guard d will at all really, parker was on him all game (well the 1st half since he didnt come back to play the 3/4th quarters)
and swat,
a fan is someone who loves watching their teams no mater what. so if your a hawks fan and they are playing the celtics, are you just a spectator KNOWING there is NO WAY IN HELL the hawks beat the celtics?
i mean really come on man
April 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
control says:
SAS Sizzle, about the Steve Nash thing. That has been discussed endlessly so I don’t really want to get into it. Just go watch a hockey game and watch someone get hip checked so you can see what a hip check can do. Keep in mind that those guys are roughly equal size…throw in the difference between Horry and Nash as well and you got a Steve Nash ready for take off.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
GEE...It ain't no fun if the homies can't haAaAave none! says:
Dang Control Antoine Walker lol, you for real? LOL
I like Manu and even wanted him on the Rockets and would still take him, I don’t care for the flopping and then the dazed look. Still the boi can play!
You know it’s good there is some parity at each position. I do look forward to seeing someone be the most dominant guard ever like Shaq was the most dominant center at one time. Same with the power forward spot too.
That dude who is a center for Uconn I think, isn’t he the next Dikembe? Hope Houston can get him and another more offensive center, if Deke retires.
Anyway
April 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
My roommate says the same stuff. I can see how flopping detracts from the rest of the skills for non-Spurs fans for sure. He is not the only one though, see Derek Fisher, Devin Harris, Varejao, Dirk is pretty floppy, et al. I assume you are talking about his flopping on OFFENSE which is kind of expected to draw foul calls. Flopping is a terrible trend but as long as it gets rewarded it will never stop in any sport.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
control says:
“Flopping is a terrible trend but as long as it gets rewarded it will never stop in any sport.”
I agree 100%, it’s a damn shame that people work more on tricking the refs than on making the honest play. It’s hard to respect anyone who barely gets touched and they are on the ground crying until they get a call…it’s almost like watching soccer.
They really have to put in some really hard rules about flopping(offense and defense) and taking charges…it’s completely ruining the sport of basketball. With current trends, basketball games will just be a giant game of HORSE.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
rootsradical says:
i can just seem myself getting overly heated watching that suns/spurs series.
robert horry’s hipcheck and the outcome of that cheap shot drove me to a state that i haven’t been able to break away from every time i see the spurs play.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
sad but true says:
Ginobili can’t be stopped, and that’s why there’s so much hate. Flop or no flop, he gets it done - every night.
Can’t hate on the rings.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
4real says:
GEE,
Will you explain to me what “houston up” means?
April 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
“He has some sort of weird tourettes that kicks in only when he starts a layup.”
Obviously I am Manu fan but that was funny as hell. And no he is not better than Kobe, but at one time he was a better TEAMMATE. Now Kobe will get his due and the MVP so it is good to see even a egotistical dude like that come around actually. I remember one time Kobe was asked who his favorite player to watch from another team was and he actually talked about Ginobili, which changed my perception as a big Kobe-hater. So I throw Kobe in with Manu as one of them dudes you love to hate, but just because he kills your favorite team every time more than anything.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
GEE...It ain't no fun if the homies can't haAaAave none! says:
4real
Houston up! Basically it’s my way of just saying regardless they are my number 1 team even if Yao is hurt, Skip is hurt, Tracy or whoever. So I always say Houston up, also thus implicating that every other team will always be below them to me. Not that I don’t like other teams (I like Denver, Atl and Detroit. I lived all those places), just Houston has and will always be who I ride with.
Houston up! Also i think it was some pimp or Snoop who would say “Pimps up, hoes down if that b%&*( can’t swim then she bound to drizzown”
Hope I explained.
Houston up!
They need 16 wins but right now 4 will be cool!
April 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
control says:
sad but true,
Yeah, Manu has the rings, but without TD he’s barehanded. Timmy is probably one of the, if not the most consistant player in the history of the NBA. Manu was a good boy and played his role, but honestly you can replace him with even a “good” player and Spurs still win. The added advantage the Spurs would have without Manu is less people hating on them because of Manu’s antics.
SAS,
No doubt Manu is the better teammate, even now after Kobe’s epiphany. I used to hate on Kobe for his selfishness, but he has really brought it together this year…the MVP is his.
I would hate playing with Manu just because I would be like “wtf man?” after every stupid flop. I would seriously feel bad winning a game over something like that.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Lady Luck says:
rlf says:
did you guys read what dirk said after the game? they don’t want to play the lakers, he said it, they were afraid to face them.
so i guess your assessment of the mavs ‘giving’ the lakers all the can ‘handle’ was a little bit wrong.
Yeah, I’m surprised Dirk’s comment didn’t get more press. He clearly said that they DID NOT WANT TO PLAY THE LAKERS IN THE FIRST ROUND. They would rather take their chances with the Hornets. Good luck with that Dirk.
Suns vs Spurs is a killer matchup. I think it will go 7 games.
Lakers vs Denver will be very entertaining, but NO ONE ON DENVER CAN STOP KOBE…..NOT ONE!
April 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Russ says:
..most amusing thing I saw last night…..
after sessions hit that half court buzzer beater for milwaukee….on every replay angle I saw…there was absolutely ZERO reaction from any of his teammates on the floor. nothing. what the hell is going on up there?
April 17th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
rangerjohn says:
@ russ
nobody on the bucks cares about their team mates, i dont think there are any players who want to be there. bogut doesnt even want to be here in the usa, he is here because he knows he is making better money then anywhere else, hate us, love our money! (same for YI)i feel a bit sorry for mike redd, he is a stand up guy
April 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Ian says:
control
has a 6th man ever received mvp votes
i said it once but shit i have to post it again
if manu and dirk were american u guys would love them
i think i rather see manu flop than kobe and bron arguin and givin that stupid face after every call they dont get
and i still love the comments about the spurs stole the series
didnt the spurs win 3 of the other 5 games
April 18th, 2008 at 4:49 am
doc says:
Control that Walker on your team over Manu statement is out of pocket and I hope you are joking because your b-ball credibility would flop just like manu.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Joseph says:
DWill had some good stats but if I recall (and I drove up for a game from Houston) 3 of those games (1, 2 & 5 - the clincher) were over at half time.
Spurs were up 20+ in the 1st 2 games at least & DWill lead a comeback vs the SA scrubs before the starters closed it out.
I remember TP had 15p & 6a on 6-7fgs in the 1st half of game 2 in a rout. Its easy to pad stats in blowouts (not that he isnt very good).