Who will win the NBA title?

[Guest_Randy]

Which team will win the NBA title?

43.8% Pistons
20.0% Spurs
7.8% Mavericks
7.8% Lakers
5.7% Heat
3.5% Suns
2.6% Cavaliers
2.4% Nets
1.7% Bulls
1.4% Kings
0.8% Nuggets
0.7% Pacers
0.7% Wizards
0.6% Clippers
0.3% Bucks
0.3% Grizzlies 

I'm not surprised by the fact that most chose Pistons over the Spurs (TD's health + Pistons home court advantage = Pistons as favorites, IMO) but I was surprised that the voting was 2 to 1 in favor of the Pistons.  

Of course, the fact that 7.8% picked the Lakers (over the Suns and Mavs) is definately proof this isn't a scientific test!   :huh:  

[Guest]

the pistons look like they are ready to take the title back.  I wouldnt be surprised to see them win it this season.  

[WayOutWest]

the pistons look like they are ready to take the title back.  I wouldnt be surprised to see them win it this season.

I would be surprised if the Pistons didn't win the title.

[0.3% Bucks]

I would be surprised if a Laker poster did not make or read or post on this thread.

[WayOutWest]

I would be surprised if a Laker poster did not make or read or post on this thread.

I would be surprised if you could figure out how many active Laker posters there are on this board vs total active posters and then be able to apply the results to your statement.  Of course I'm probably giving you too much credit in that you won't figure out how the vs part plays into your posting name.

[0.3% Grizzlies]

I would be surprised if a Laker poster did not make or read or post on this thread.

I would be surprised if you could figure out how many active Laker posters there are on this board vs total active posters and then be able to apply the results to your statement.  Of course I'm probably giving you too much credit in that you won't figure out how the vs part plays into your posting name.

That would just result in some Laker Math coming up with with some jacked figure and the number of L posters turning the thread subject into how great and to be revered Kobe is, was, or will be to be.  At a 98 percentile post.  

I say fold or go all in.

[Joe Vancil]

Honestly, now, folks:

Lakers vs. Heat:  which team has the better chance at a championship?

Can anyone really make the argument that it's the Lakers?  Considering Kwame Brown folded up shop and went home early in his first trip to the playoffs, considering that beyond Kobe the biggest part Lakers' playoff experience in the starting line-up includes a guy who spent most of his career with THE CLIPPERS, I can't see how ANYONE would pick the Lakers over the Heat.

Yet 7.8 % of the people polled think the LAKERS are going to be champs?

Against a few teams on the list, the Lakers could get 50 points from Kobe and *STILL* be in danger of erasing Utah's name from the record books for that big skinkaroo in Chicago in '98.

The Heat's chances are not good.  But they're better than those of the Lakers.

Even scarier is the fact that the Lakers are higher on the list than their second-seeded first-round opponent.

I think we can now safely conclude that there REALLY IS some basis to my oft-stated opinion that there is a significant portion of REAL IDIOTS out there that call themselves Laker fans.

 

[westkoast]

I think we can now safely conclude that there REALLY IS some basis to my oft-stated opinion that there is a significant portion of REAL IDIOTS out there that call themselves Laker fans.

Duh, they have a place for em too...its called Fanhome  

Kobe is great and all but lets be serious here, the Lakers defense has been too inconsistant the entire year to warrant them getting more votes above teams who had stellar seasons.   Heck I think all of us *REAL* Laker fans here would be very  happy if they were to make it out of the first round.

My pick?  I am going to stick with SA even with Timmy being less than 100%.  IMO they have it all and the improvement of Manu and Parker should help make up what they are losing with Duncan playing injured.  The real question is how bad is the defense going to suffer because of it.  They are a very good defensive team but like everything Silver and Black it begins and ends with Tim Duncan.  The defensive side is no different.  Mavs? Not strong enough D.  Pistons? Don't think they have the gas.  Heat?  Very good shot but I do not think they are better than even a run-down Pistons squad.

[rickortreat]

Clearly the Pistons are the favorite, but unlike many of you, I think Miami has a real chance to take them out.

A lot depends on the ability of the Heat to get through the early rounds without tiring or taxing Shaq and Wade.  If they come into the Detroit series with those two players rested, they will beat the Pistons.

Ben Wallace cannot handle Shaq.  The Pistons defense cannot stop Miami in key situations.  Get Shaq in the box, and forget about it.  Get Wade in the open floor forget about it.  The Pistons win by defense, but the Heat have two unstoppable players.  This means Detroit cannot control the game, they can try to score with the Heat, but that is not their game.

The Heat have kept a low profile this year while winning over 50 games.  Injuries to Shaq and Mourning have increased the doubters.  I am not one of those.


 

[westkoast]

Clearly the Pistons are the favorite, but unlike many of you, I think Miami has a real chance to take them out.

A lot depends on the ability of the Heat to get through the early rounds without tiring or taxing Shaq and Wade.  If they come into the Detroit series with those two players rested, they will beat the Pistons.

Ben Wallace cannot handle Shaq.  The Pistons defense cannot stop Miami in key situations.  Get Shaq in the box, and forget about it.  Get Wade in the open floor forget about it.  The Pistons win by defense, but the Heat have two unstoppable players.  This means Detroit cannot control the game, they can try to score with the Heat, but that is not their game.

The Heat have kept a low profile this year while winning over 50 games.  Injuries to Shaq and Mourning have increased the doubters.  I am not one of those.

Ben Wallace handled Shaq 3 years ago Rick and he is not nearly as fast or mobile as he was then.

[Joe Vancil]

I'd point out that it's much easier to handle Shaq when Shaq doesn't get the ball.

 

[westkoast]

I'd point out that it's much easier to handle Shaq when Shaq doesn't get the ball.

Sure is, its also pretty hard to catch the ball  when you are getting beat to your spot or letting someone run around you to poke it or steal it away.

As if Shaq got 0 touches that entire series  :rolleyes:

[WayOutWest]

Clearly the Pistons are the favorite, but unlike many of you, I think Miami has a real chance to take them out.

A lot depends on the ability of the Heat to get through the early rounds without tiring or taxing Shaq and Wade.  If they come into the Detroit series with those two players rested, they will beat the Pistons.

Ben Wallace cannot handle Shaq.  The Pistons defense cannot stop Miami in key situations.  Get Shaq in the box, and forget about it.  Get Wade in the open floor forget about it.  The Pistons win by defense, but the Heat have two unstoppable players.  This means Detroit cannot control the game, they can try to score with the Heat, but that is not their game.

The Heat have kept a low profile this year while winning over 50 games.  Injuries to Shaq and Mourning have increased the doubters.  I am not one of those.

rick,

I would have agreed with you last year but this year Flip has allowed the Pistons become a more free-lancing offensive team.  IMO with weapons like Chauncy, Rip and Wallace on the floor the Pistons should be able to score with anyone.

If anyone is going to beat the Pistons it will be the Heat, I agree that the Heat can become unstoppable in short spurts, if the Heat are right there at the end of games I'd give them the edge.

[rickortreat]

QUOTE (Joe Vancil @ Apr 21 2006, 01:08 PM)
I'd point out that it's much easier to handle Shaq when Shaq doesn't get the ball.

Sure is, its also pretty hard to catch the ball when you are getting beat to your spot or letting someone run around you to poke it or steal it away.

As if Shaq got 0 touches that entire series rolleyes.gif

Shaq was definitely underutilized in that series, particulary in the critical last few minutes, when the pressure is on and baskets are hard to come by because of intense defensive effort.

The whole point of having Mr. Unstoppable is to use him, pound the ball into the post and get points or fouls caused on the oppossing team.  That is what wins championships, as it did for several years with the Lakers.  It has been that way in nearly every NBA championship with the exception of the Bulls dynasty.  The Heat did not try to establish Shaq in the post at the end of those games, and I wrote about it at that time, ripping the Heat for wasteing an opportunity.  Riley will not allow that to happen this time!!!!

You really think Ben can deny Shaq position?    :rofl:

The only way to defend Shaq is to use multiple players on him, which leaves other people open to beat you.  I think Miami is deep enough to win that way as well now, which was not the case the last time they met, when both Shaq and Wade were hobbled.

Detroit is a very capable team, very deep and very talented and able to put up a lot of points, even against a team like Miami.  But no one can stop Shaq except himself or his body failing him.

 

[westkoast]

"You really think Ben can deny Shaq position?  "

Apparently you didnt watch the Lakers/Pistons series then.  He beat him to his spots quite a bit.  You cannot just push aside a guy because you want to.  He was whistled for many offensive fouls during that series for that very reason.  I mentioned how I felt that Ben Wallace was flopping more than usual just to keep him from getting good position on this board.    You can ask plenty of people who actually watched the series.  Randy has only pointed this out, oh say like 500 times since the beging of that series 3 years ago.