San Antonio Spurs

Wow, this game is incredible.  Just saw a sequence where the Heat had 4-5 touches, including LeBron and Wade having the ball and it ended with an air ball at a near 24s violation.  The the Spurs half court with some real nifty passes finishing with a jam by Duncan.

 

This may even be historic sports I am watching.

A complete dismantling. And it pleases me to know that it is Wade that is completely overmatched. He's such a prick- he shouldn't and probably wont win another ring.

The Spurs will win the 5th title in 7 tries since Duncan joined the team. He's in the Mt Rushmore, IMO, and Parker is fast becoming the greatest PG of his era. Maybe he already is. They're basketball porn... purely the best way to play the game.

The Bucks are trying to do the same. Tough to accomplish with what they have, but they certainly are the greatest confirmation and antithesis to the impact Jordan's style of basketball has had on the last 2 decades of the NBA. Maybe unselfishness and team play can finally become a priority again...

lbj is fantastic, an amazing talent, but his supporting cast sucks.  

 

The he talk about him or Jordan needs to stop, MJ is the clear winner.  The better question is LBJ and Duncan.  

The difference is a Team versus a collection of talent in South Beach. Pop looks as good as Jackson, Riley, Auerbach, etc...

 

 

The thing that makes me respect James though, is that the way he plays, he could play for Pop. I don't know if Jordan has the right makeup to play for Pop.

But Jordan was the game's greatest competitor. James might be the game's most talented player, but he isn't the killer that Jordan was. And that's not necessarily bad, IMO...

Kawhi Leonard and Pop were made for each other. Two talents that wont spend 2 seconds talking about how talented they are. Nothing beats great that understands humility. 

 

How about Heat fans bailing with 8 minutes left last night. 4 finals in a row and they don't have time to thank the team. But if there's a game 6 it will be a tough ticket. I hate **** fans. 

Kawhi Leonard - what a draft steal!

Luck matters too- let's not forget San Antonio fell into Duncan the one and only year they tanked.   Without him there's no way they win these many titles. 

Portland probably wishes they could have a redo with Durant v Oden

Regarding MJ he did play for Dean Smith and he wasn't exactly John Calipari when it came to allowing players to do whatever they wanted.  I think Jordan could play for Pop and the same thing with LeBron

Duncan is what makes that team go but Parker and Ginobili are so damn solid and have been for many years and neither guy was hyped or taken early in the draft.  The Spurs are truly built like an international pro team - kind of like the old Russian hockey teams.  Guys stick together forever and it just works so well.

Tschmack:
Portland probably wishes they could have a redo with Durant v Oden

As well as Jordan v Bowie.

 

Even Walton had similarity though he gave them a title.  Portland seems the team predestined to draft a big guy whose gonna be injury riddled.

These two teams are a pleasure to watch. Probably the only teams in the NBA I can bear to watch. Love the way the Spurs move the ball. The most entertaining NBA team I have seen in a long time.

It's impossible for me to recallall the teams of the past I have seen.  That being said, to my awareness, the Spurs offense was the best team play I am aware of having ever seen.

 

Some of great teams of the past did not move the ball like that.  For example the Lakers primarily their fast break with Magic and super fast Worthy on the wing and a half court offense that often reduced to Jabbar and his sky hook.  I wonder what the championship Knicks offense looked like given they are generally considered the team with the highest basketball IQ (Frazier, Debusschere, Lucas, etc.).

 

Anyway, that is the best I am aware of ever seeing.  My praise is that high.

have you had a traumatic brain injury?

That's it in a nutshell, "no killer instinct" I agree, James IS more talented, but that killer instinct to win is what made Jordan great.   JMHO.... 

Do we believe then that Tim Duncan has a killer instinct? 

Lakers don't win as often in the 80's without Michael Cooper.

 

 

I don't get the LeBron doesn't have the killer instinct commentary.   He did his part in this series so what else is he supposed to do? 

The real problem is that the Heat bench is atrocious,  they might have the worst starting PG in the league,  and Wade and Bosh are either worn down or don't care.  When Patty Mills outplays both guys in an elimination game that says a lot. 

People forget it took a Ray Allen miracle last year to beat San Antonio in the Finals and this years result is no surprise at all.  The Spurs were the better team by far with or without LBJ

I said killer, not killer instinct. Jordan wanted to tear out your heart, show it to you, eat it while you were still standing there. Hyper competitive.

James is not the same. He does not desire to destroy you like Jordan did- and that's not all bad IMO. Jordan was not a fun guy to be around, and despite all the winning, it came with a cost.

If I had to choose a son from the two it would be James. Jordan was an a$$hole.

No way James is more talented.  Jordan had it all.  He could drive to the rim, hit the jump shot consistently, or drain the 3.  In Jordan's prime, he rarely had an off night.

 

LeBron may be the most talented today, but he is far too up and down to be compared to Jordan. 

 

Without question, Jordan was the best player in the history of the NBA.  LeBron might not even be in the top 10.

Yeah, I agree Jordan was the best and also agree that his killer instinct was off the charts and likely makes for such a guy being a doofus, even though quite useful in competitive sports.

 

I tend to think Magic is #2.  After he made that mini hook shot against Celtics and added an outside shot.

 

Yeah, outside of Jordan, I would probably build a team around Magic Johnson.

Top Tier

Jordan

Magic

Russell (never saw him)

Alcindor

Wilt

Bird

O

Shaq

Duncan

 

Tier 2

Dream

Irving

Baylor

McHale

West

Barry

 

Tier 3 (I guess)

Moses Malone, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Pippen, Isaiah, Worthy, Barkley, Garnett, others I have forgotten.

 

Not sure where to put Kobe and LeBron, but I can't argue with putting either of them in the top tier. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd add Byron Scott and Mychal Thompson as well. Cooper is probably one of the 5 best defenders in the 80's. He was relentless. 

El-Ka,

 

I'd probably throw Nate Archibald in Tier 2.  Maybe also George Gervin.  I remember Archibald once led the NBA in scoring and assists. 

 

So many players to choose from tho...

Jerry West is Tier 1.  Was utterly fearless (nose was broken more than 10 times during his career), fixture on league All-Defense teams as well as his better known scoring.  Called Mr. Clutch for a reason.  Only player from a team losing in the Finals to win Finals MVP.  As competitive as Jordan, just not as much as a prick about it.

That's a pretty good list Bong.  I view Shaq very much like LeBron.  Was such a freak of nature but not totally polished in all aspects but still deserves to be up there. 

Not as sure about Kobe.

I put Hakeem over Shaq. Waaaaay over. He's the best big man to step on a court...

how soon we forget:   Kurt Rambis

the glue to the team was in his glasses...or was that tape?