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Randman · Jun 7, 2005, 12:22 AM

Well, the title match that should have been last year is upon us. My vote's for the Spurs. Unless Tim Duncan is too hurt, I think SA has an answer for anything Detroit can throw at them.
It may not be the prettiest Finals, but I think it will be a close one.

That said, I've been a Spurs fan for some time now. And SA is a great city to visit, especially during playoff time. I lived there in 1999 for the first title run and it truly was a special time.

My pick: SA in 6 games.

ps: can a mod change my typo in the poll, from vd to vs? And also Detroit to Pistons so the team names match? Thanks.

E's Lil Theorem · Jun 7, 2005, 01:34 AM

Spurs, for multiple reasons, the biggest of which is the fact they, too, play great defense. Detroit will have to work to get points and actually play hard on both sides of the ball. That'll get them tired and the Spurs will only benefit.

alphasubzero949 · Jun 7, 2005, 02:36 AM

Spurs in 5. Their D will wear down Detroit.

Eriamjh · Jun 7, 2005, 07:21 AM

Pistons. They get no respect. 7 Games.

ManOfSteal · Jun 7, 2005, 07:26 AM

Spurs in 6. Jordan gets MVP. Pippen bitches. Paxson retires. Kerr becomes an announcer. Phil Jackson goes to the Lakers.

buggsuperstar · Jun 7, 2005, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by ManOfSteal

Spurs in 6. Jordan gets MVP. Pippen bitches. Paxson retires. Kerr becomes an announcer. Phil Jackson goes to the Lakers.

woah... i just had one of those shimmery, fadey, flashback dealies....

Randman · Jun 7, 2005, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by ManOfSteal

Spurs in 6. Jordan gets MVP. Pippen bitches. Paxson retires. Kerr becomes an announcer. Phil Jackson goes to the Lakers.

Uhh, you really need to get out more.

Also, Kerr got another ring with the Spurs in '99.

ManOfSteal · Jun 7, 2005, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

Uhh, you really need to get out more.

Why? What have I missed? Did Jordan retire or something?

Randman · Jun 7, 2005, 07:45 AM

Nevermind. You're better off not knowing about the Wizards era.

ManOfSteal · Jun 7, 2005, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

Nevermind. You're better off not knowing about the Wizards era.

scottiB · Jun 7, 2005, 09:08 AM

Gotta go with the heart: Pistons in 7.

Gonna be a great series--especially with Brown and Popovich being close friends (IIRC, Pop was best man at Brown's last wedding).

buggsuperstar · Jun 7, 2005, 09:37 AM

Spurs in 6.

DarwinX · Jun 7, 2005, 10:11 AM

My rule of thumb is always "you're the champs, until you get beat." Somehow this year I think SA will pull it off. Spurs in 7.

quesera · Jun 9, 2005, 11:44 PM

Hmm, Go Spurs Go!

Captain Obvious · Jun 21, 2005, 11:42 PM

I just want Detroit to lose

Railroader · Jun 21, 2005, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

I just want Detroit to lose

Spoken like a true Chicago fan.

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

Pistons. They get no respect. 7 Games.

Looks like it's going to game 7. Hopefully you're right.

ManOfSteal · Jun 22, 2005, 12:02 AM

Awesome series.

scottiB · Jun 22, 2005, 12:28 AM

If the Pistons win, Chauncey is MVP. Only 3 turnovers in the last 3 games. He is so incredibly smooth.

Albert Pujols · Jun 22, 2005, 12:30 AM

Psshh Detroit. Spurs are gonna take it.

Randman · Jun 22, 2005, 01:32 AM

I never would have imagined a game 7.

Alezone · Jun 22, 2005, 01:45 AM

my money is on Detriot, game 7 is gonna be interesting.

tavilach · Jun 22, 2005, 05:07 AM

The Spurs better win. Tim Duncan, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen...you can tell that they're nice guys, just from the way they carry themselves. Rasheed and Chauncey, on the other hand...

...well, have you noticed Chauncey's smirk?

By the way, I have a feeling that the Pistons will win, and that it might not even be a close game. I hope I'm wrong.

DarwinX · Jun 22, 2005, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by tavilach

The Spurs better win. Tim Duncan, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen...you can tell that they're nice guys, just from the way they carry themselves. Rasheed and Chauncey, on the other hand...

...well, have you noticed Chauncey's smirk?

By the way, I have a feeling that the Pistons will win, and that it might not even be a close game. I hope I'm wrong.

I will stand by my earlier Spurs prediction...but much like you, I have a bad feeling Detroit is going to come out rolling.

ManOfSteal · Jun 23, 2005, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by ManOfSteal

Spurs in 6. Jordan gets MVP. Pippen bitches. Paxson retires. Kerr becomes an announcer. Phil Jackson goes to the Lakers.

Wow, I actually got one of those right coincidentally.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game this evening. Spurs by 6.

nredman · Jun 23, 2005, 08:28 PM

spurs by 1 - horry hits a freaking hook shot from half court to win

ManOfSteal · Jun 23, 2005, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

spurs by 1 - horry hits a freaking hook shot from half court to win

You forgot to add..."while unguarded"...

nredman · Jun 23, 2005, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by ManOfSteal

You forgot to add..."while unguarded"...

yeah...duncan gets triple teamed, horry dunks for the win.

Randman · Jun 23, 2005, 11:58 PM

It's over:

81-74, Spurs in 7.

DarwinX · Jun 24, 2005, 12:00 AM

Was there a prize?

Great game

Randman · Jun 24, 2005, 12:09 AM

I'll have to see if I can find the photo. After the first win in 1999, the Spurs took the NBA championship trophy to the newspaper building at the Express-News. We all got shots holding the trophy. Cool stuff.

Ghoser777 · Jun 24, 2005, 12:15 AM

That was a little too anti-climactic at the end.

deej5871 · Jun 24, 2005, 12:15 AM

I don't know what game those refs were watching, but it wasn't the same one I was, for sure. I'm a Detroit fan, but I can even admit it went both ways. Being biased as I am, I thought most of the calls I thought were bad hurt Detroit, but I did notice more than a few that should have penalized Detroit but either went uncalled or were called on San Antonio. Those refs needed glasses or something.

While I'm on the subject, does anyone know why basketball refs never review a call like they do in football? I've never understood why they couldn't do it real quick on calls were they were unsure (like that out-of-bounds that, rather than find out who it was out on, they called a jump ball).

exca1ibur · Jun 24, 2005, 12:24 AM

Great game. Gino should have gotten the MVP though IMO. Detroit has no reason to have their heads down. They played like champs till the end. No shame in that at all. This series shows these two teams deserved to be there in the end.

Railroader · Jun 24, 2005, 02:41 AM

Good game. Congrats to the Spurs.

tavilach · Jun 24, 2005, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by exca1ibur

Great game. Gino should have gotten the MVP though IMO. Detroit has no reason to have their heads down. They played like champs till the end. No shame in that at all. This series shows these two teams deserved to be there in the end.

Well, most people do believe that if Dwayne Wade wasn't badly injured, it would've been Heat vs. Spurs. Detroit definetely played great, though.

E's Lil Theorem · Jun 24, 2005, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by exca1ibur

.... Gino should have gotten the MVP though IMO. ...

A friend mentioned this while we were watching the game, and while Manu had some great games in this series (the entire year, really), about half, if not more, of his offense comes as a result of Tim being in the game. The guy is incredibly talented and could probably be the star of another team, but he has it a lot easier being Tim's teammate.

Randman · Jun 24, 2005, 04:01 AM

Manu had that one game where he was a non-factor. And in Game 7, he didn't get many looks until the Pistons started to double-team Duncan. Despite his many misses in the series, Duncan still carried the Spurs.

Cubeoid · Jun 24, 2005, 04:07 AM

Pistol! Pistol! Pistol! .. darned Celtics.

DarwinX · Jun 24, 2005, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

Pistol! Pistol! Pistol! .. darned Celtics.

Pistol reference, I give you a standing-O my friend!

residentEvil · Jun 24, 2005, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by deej5871

I don't know what game those refs were watching, but it wasn't the same one I was, for sure. I'm a Detroit fan, but I can even admit it went both ways. Being biased as I am, I thought most of the calls I thought were bad hurt Detroit, but I did notice more than a few that should have penalized Detroit but either went uncalled or were called on San Antonio. Those refs needed glasses or something.

While I'm on the subject, does anyone know why basketball refs never review a call like they do in football? I've never understood why they couldn't do it real quick on calls were they were unsure (like that out-of-bounds that, rather than find out who it was out on, they called a jump ball).

They will review plays, in the last 10 seconds of each half, or some stupid rule like that. They can't do it during the entire game though; it is limited to only a specifc time of the game.

wdlove · Jun 24, 2005, 10:51 AM

I have no interest whatsoever.

MrForgetable · Jun 24, 2005, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by E's Lil Theorem

A friend mentioned this while we were watching the game, and while Manu had some great games in this series (the entire year, really), about half, if not more, of his offense comes as a result of Tim being in the game. The guy is incredibly talented and could probably be the star of another team, but he has it a lot easier being Tim's teammate.

kind of like Kobe and Shaq

exca1ibur · Jun 24, 2005, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Manu had that one game where he was a non-factor. And in Game 7, he didn't get many looks until the Pistons started to double-team Duncan. Despite his many misses in the series, Duncan still carried the Spurs.

I disagree. Time had a few bad games in there, and missed a several key free throws. Manu and Horry stepped up and carried the team in the critical last games. To me an MVP is the player that had the most factor in the critical situations. I'm not saying Tim was NO factor, just Manu was more a factor in the clutch for this series overall.

Railroader · Jun 24, 2005, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by wdlove

I have no interest whatsoever.

I would share your sentiments too, if it hadn't been a team locally to me playing. If say it was a series between Miami and L.A. I probably wouldn't have even scanned the headlines in the sports section of the paper.

E's Lil Theorem · Jun 24, 2005, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by MrForgetable

kind of like Kobe and Shaq

Hah, something like that. Though I think Manu is a better teamplayer than Kobe is. Manu doesn't pass for the sake of passing (or only when he gets trapped), but to actually get his teammates involved.

Originally Posted by exca1ibur

I disagree. Time had a few bad games in there, and missed a several key free throws. Manu and Horry stepped up and carried the team in the critical last games. To me an MVP is the player that had the most factor in the critical situations. I'm not saying Tim was NO factor, just Manu was more a factor in the clutch for this series overall.

How does co-MPV sound? It's what this dude thinks:

'Co-MVP' Ginobili anointed The Man-U of San Antonio

June 24, 2005
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO -- Argentina's Manu Ginobili is officially a household name, and the San Antonio Spurs are world champions because of it.

Before the series began, it was written here that if his status grew, the Spurs would be holding up a trophy. With chants of MVP raining down from the SBC Center crowd as he connected on free throw after free throw to help seal Detroit's fate, it was clear he had elevated himself to superstar level.

In less than a year Ginobili has earned an Olympic gold medal, an NBA championship, and ascended to All-Star status, joining Michael Jordan among the small handful of players to achieve such success.

"It's not easy to win any of them," Ginobili said. "Being a part of the Argentinean team was an unbelievable feeling. Today I'm too tired, but I bet in a month I'm going to feel the same way about this championship."

He should have added Finals co-MVP to his list of accolades. In the fourth quarter of Game 7 Ginobili took over, scoring 11 points, grabbing three rebounds, and dishing out a pair of assists -- all team highs. With 10:01 remaining, he scored his first points of the period on a memorable dunk in which he knifed through the lane and seemed to extend like Gumby to put the ball over the rim. That basket snapped a 59-59 tie, giving the Spurs the lead for good.

It's understood why Tim Duncan claimed his third MVP trophy. Despite some unimpressive shooting performances, Duncan's presence opens things up for the rest of his team, and without him out there, they're not a championship team.

I'll buy that, but the same can be said about Ginobili.

He set the tone in Games 1 and 2 with his wonderful play, and the Spurs struggled without him at full strength after injuring his thigh early in Game 3. He was back at 100 percent in the finale, and was the strongest player left on the court at the end. When it was badly needed, he seemingly found a little more.

"Manu is unbelievable. You can say that about so many people, whether it's true or not, but I think it's absolutely true for him," Duncan said. "I don't think we've even scratched the surface with him. He just plays with reckless abandon, doesn't care the time or the situation, and doesn't care if it's a preseason game or Finals game. He plays the same way."

He's going to continue to grow and we're going to continue to build around him. He was so big for us, every game, in the fourth quarter. He was the guy that took things and really made things happen, and to play besides someone like that who can do that in that situation, it takes so much pressure off myself, off of Tony (Parker). It helps our team so much."

Perhaps it's because of that winning pedigree, of consistently being the go-to guy for his former clubs in South America and Europe, but Ginobili relishes pressure situations and exudes leadership in that he'll do anything to win.

Off the court, he's dealt with all the pressures that come with being an international star. He must grant separate interviews in both languages; he has a responsibility to the Latin American world as its newest champion, and he accepts that and never lets it appear to be a burden.

He seems to be the perfect complement to the more subdued Duncan, getting on teammates and pumping them up, infusing them with his glaring fire that served as the final ingredient in the "boring" Spurs capturing a title.

At times, it appears Ginobili is out of control. His eyes bulge out; his slicked back hair looks like he ran miles in a rainstorm. That's where the "organized chaos" term people use to describe his game comes from.

At the tail end of Game 6, he lost his head, forcing shots in the final minutes when the ball should have gone to Duncan, who had the advantage of having guys in foul trouble trying to guard him. At that point, Ginobili became disorganized, and watching tape of that game only confirmed that.

"He gave himself a lot of crap over the finish of Game 6. He thought he took some bad shots," Duncan said. "He got on himself about it more than anybody else got on him and that's what he's going to do. We understand it now, and we love having him and we love what he does down the stretch."

Duncan and Ginobili have surpassed Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade as the league's top post-perimeter combo. The proof is in the rings they'll sport next season. They're what Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, and Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming hope to be, and it's only getting started.

Duncan is 29; Ginobili will be 28 later next month. They enter their prime years together, already champions twice in a three-year period. Consider that Ginobili just gets better as he gains confidence -- last summer's Olympic performance key in this year's explosion -- and you can see San Antonio is an ever-growing monster.

"I think we've really got a core here that we're in love with, and we're going to have it together for a couple of years," said Duncan. "We have a team that we be able to try to -- in years to come, try to continue to get back to this point."

Or, more succinctly, Ginobili says, "this continues, and we're going to try to repeat it."

Together -- as co-MVPs. As the greatest tandem in the world.