All purpose NBA thread 07/08

I'm skeptical about Phoenix. Traded their only decent post defender for beans, got rid of a good three-point threat in James Jones, and the only addition was yet another wing -- and an injury-prone one at that.

 

I don't know about you, but I would feel pretty confident trotting out Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Amare Stoudamire out there on a nightly basis. So they add Grant Hill. He did well last year. If he can stay healthy, he'll score 15 a night. Add that to super-sub Barbosa, who is a gunner from behind the arc, they'll be fine.

 

The Run-and-Gun, no-defense approach hasn't amounted to a championship yet, and it won't this year.

 

They were well on their way last year before Big Flop Rob and the NBA got involved. If Amare is 100 % and they can keep Marion happy, this will be their year.

 

They were close last year, Good Doc. If not for a certain hip-check of Nash out of bounds and questionable suspensions, the Spurs-Suns series is a whole different enchilada.

 

Good Doctor, are you suggesting the Bulls are going to make a championship run this year?

 

I'd be confident in them winning 60 games in the regular season, sure. But confident they'd win a championship? No. Sarver took a team that was already bad defensively and sold their only post defender. Marion's a good post defender, but they'll have to use him to guard the best point guards because Nash is such a defensive liability.

 

The Suns were at full strength and the Spurs weren't in Game 6, and San Antonio dominated. The Suns were at full strength in Game 1, at home, and lost, because Stoudemire couldn't guard Duncan and Nash couldn't guard Parker. That has nothing to do with Horry or Stern.

 

Hell no. When did I mention the Bulls?

And Xan, to your previous statement I offer my usual counter: If your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle.

 

I'll gladly take his double-double (18.6 PPG and 11.6 APG) for the small defensive liability Nash is. I will take any player that raises everyone else's game around him to a different level when he's on the court.

 

You never did mention the Bulls, but you are a Chicago sports fan from what I can tell, so logically you might think the Bulls might be primed for a run. Who do you think will be in the NBA Finals?

 

I think it'll be Detroit-Dallas.