Series Thread: 1) Houston Rockets vs 5) Utah Jazz

[flyerhawk]

Toni Kukoc was he good because he was good? Or was he good because of Jordan? Didn't Kukoc go to the Bucks after Chicago and was nowhere near as effective as he was when he was with the Bulls? Jordan was so great he made other players around him great. Rodman was good solid player before Chicago, but Pippen, Pippen was a really good ball player but again what did he do without Jordan?

He was 34 when he joined the Bucks. Still played reasonably well but he was definitely past his prime. He was never a guy that could be a No. 1 but he was a great player to have on your team. Dennis Rodman was Defensive Player of the Year twice before he joined the Bulls. He was the league leader in rebounds several times before going to Chicago.

I'll give LeBron this, much like Jordan he makes other players on the roster better. You go through a season thinking the Cavaliers have a stacked roster because of their wins and guys making shots, that's because LeBron sucks a defense to him and he dishes it to his teammates who make open baskets.

Without a doubt.

 

[OregonDucks]

He was 34 when he joined the Bucks. Still played reasonably well but he was definitely past his prime. He was never a guy that could be a No. 1 but he was a great player to have on your team. Dennis Rodman was Defensive Player of the Year twice before he joined the Bulls. He was the league leader in rebounds several times before going to Chicago.



Without a doubt.

No I was saying Rodman was good before Chicago, he was a huge asset and addition to the Bulls roster. But Kukoc was annoying good but he was only annoyingly good because of Jordan. Just like guys like Dilladova you think are good, but find out there are only good because of LeBron. Dilladova was annoyingly good in Cleveland, for whatever his role was, but he is not some star. Just like JR Smith, he isn't an all-star he isn't a hall of famer, but he's damn good on Cleveland because LeBron makes him good.

 

[Mecca]

I love me some Spida.

But, he's a professional scorer who can create a bit.

If Rubio can't go, or this issue continues to linger, Gentleman's sweep.

I won't hedge like I did in the Warriors series.

So, fuck it....Red Rox in 5.

 

[MHSL82]

If the Jazz still Game One, I think the Rockets win in six. If they don't, I think Rockets win in five. If the Jazz lose Game 1 but steal Game 2, I think Rockets in seven after a 1-2 series deficit. If the Jazz win the first two, Jazz in 7. Whoever wins four first advances.

 

[Mecca]

Why would one pay attention to the entire league before April? That's like following baseball in June.

Again, no reason to invest all that time and energy to follow a league that you know who the finals are going to be.

Do we know what the finals will be?

Because I have no idea who's coming out of the East and it's a coin flip between the Dubs and Rockets in the West.

Ps. There is a reason some of us invest in League pass.

We like to see other teams outside of our market, especially when the team you root for is not in the State you reside in.

I live in Arizona. But, I have seen 5 times as many Clippers, Cavs, 76ers, Lakers, Thunder games as I've seen of the Suns.

Yes, only 1 team can win the Chip.

But, I enjoy watching the battles * regular season * every bit as much as the War * Finals *.

 

[bksballer89]

Do we know what the finals will be?

Because I have no idea who's coming out of the East and it's a coin flip between the Dubs and Rockets in the West.

Ps. There is a reason some of us invest in League pass.

We like to see other teams outside of our market, especially when the team you root for is not in the State you reside in.

I live in Arizona. But, I have seen 5 times as many Clippers, Cavs, 76ers, Lakers, Thunder games as I've seen of the Suns.

Yes, only 1 team can win the Chip.

But, I enjoy watching the battles * regular season * every bit as much as the War * Finals *.

Yep I have enjoyed the last 3 regular seasons....especially the last 2 seeing guys like Russ, Harden, Embiid, and many others put up crazy #'s for 6 months is fun.

And I am enjoying this playoffs more than any other since the Heat last finals run in 2014 because you really don't know who will be in the finals.

3 of the 4 teams who make the 2nd round can make the finals in the East IMO

 

[DJ]

This is going to be a really good series. As I think GS-NO will be.

Rockets in 5, maybe 6 competitive games. Don't expect many (if any) blowouts.

 

[DJ]

You clearly don't pay attention to enough basketball.

Mitchell was the talk of the league along with Simmons for months so I have no idea what you're talking about.

Just because you don't pay attention to the league much doesn't mean they're not talking about these players

This.

 

[DJ]

Jazz are 36-8 in their last 44 games now.

They are rolling and probably a slightly better team than Houston at this moment.

Homecourt is tough though.

I will go Houston in 7 without much conviction.

I learned something reading the comments today......that doesn't happen all the time, despite the intelligent folks we have in here.

36-8 is very impressive.

 

[DJ]

there hasn't always been superteams.

In the 90s there were a handful of teams that had a chance, the Bulls had the great Jordan but they drafted him, got him and his greatness lead to the titles, sure he had good surrounding players, but they weren't Kevin Durant type.

Stick to college football....and you're not even that good there.

Chicago Bulls with MJ/Pippen/Rodman/Kukoc/Grant

LA Lakers with Magic/Worthy/Kareem/etc

Detroit Pistons with Dumars, IT, Rodman, and Laimbeer

I could go on but hopefully you see the point.

 

[DJ]

Toni Kukoc was he good because he was good? Or was he good because of Jordan? Didn't Kukoc go to the Bucks after Chicago and was nowhere near as effective as he was when he was with the Bulls? Jordan was so great he made other players around him great. Rodman was good solid player before Chicago, but Pippen, Pippen was a really good ball player but again what did he do without Jordan?

I'll give LeBron this, much like Jordan he makes other players on the roster better. You go through a season thinking the Cavaliers have a stacked roster because of their wins and guys making shots, that's because LeBron sucks a defense to him and he dishes it to his teammates who make open baskets.

He went there when he was 34. Past his prime.

 

[DJ]

Kukoc also went to Philly and Atlanta before Milwaukee.

 

[DJ]

there hasn't always been superteams.

In the 90s there were a handful of teams that had a chance, the Bulls had the great Jordan but they drafted him, got him and his greatness lead to the titles, sure he had good surrounding players, but they weren't Kevin Durant type.

MJ was there several years and they didn't become great till Pippen came along and PJ replaced Doug Collins.

 

[OregonDucks]

The exciting thing about Cavs/pacers is the game 7 could very well change the narrative of the last 9 seasons in the East. A Pacers win means LeBron doesn't go to the Finals.

The last 3 years has been Warriors/LeBron. The regular season provided some hope that maybe the Rockets could give the Warriors a run and may knock them off, but let's be real, the Warriors aren't losing to a team that is loaded with guys and a coach who historically don't do well in the playoffs.

So the Warriors are going to their 4th straight Finals. That'll be the case until that team breaks up or a new mega team forms in the West.

The excitement here for this playoffs is the possibility of a different outcome in the East that we are not use to seeing this decade.

 

[DJ]

I love me some Spida.

But, he's a professional scorer who can create a bit.

If Rubio can't go, or this issue continues to linger, Gentleman's sweep.

I won't hedge like I did in the Warriors series.

So, fuck it....Red Rox in 5.

With your streak as of late......Jazz in 7. maybe 6.

 

[DJ]

So the Warriors are going to their 4th straight Finals. That'll be the case until that team breaks up or a new mega team forms in the West.

Curry's injury could have something to do with that, if he comes back and it's a nagging injury.

Not to mention, the Warriors have to pay Draymond Green in 2020 and Green in 2021.

They may opt not to, not keeping the entire band together could have an effect on them winning. The lux is the only real killer to these mega teams.

So their time frame is this year and next year.

 

[OregonDucks]

Curry's injury could have something to do with that, if he comes back and it's a nagging injury.

Not to mention, the Warriors have to pay Draymond Green in 2020 and Green in 2021.

They may opt not to, not keeping the entire band together could have an effect on them winning. The lux is the only real killer to these mega teams.

So their time frame is this year and next year.

Which winning 4 titles in 5 years is impressive and will probably be acceptable for them to realize the band can break up.

Curry is fine this year, and thanks to their loaded roster even a less than 100% Curry isn't enough to derail them. Next year unless LeBron goes to Philly, Houston, or a mega team is formed in LA it'll be the Warriors again next year.

 

[Scapegoat]

Jazz may be a small market, but just like the Pelicans, the NBA has done a disservice to these smaller market teams by not promoting some great talent they have. I had no idea about this Mitchell guy until the last game of the season when Utah played Portland.

I had no idea that A.Davis was literally a Pelican amongst parakeets.

I always knew Utah had a great home court advantage and great home fans, so the Utah/Houston series will be intriguing and although I think Houston wins it in 6, I don't think it will be an easy series.

Both relocated teams. Send them back to the original cities!! Teams aren't allowed to move.

 

[OregonDucks]

Both relocated teams. Send them back to the original cities!! Teams aren't allowed to move.

LOL yes the Jazz should go back to New Orleans. And Charlotte already got the Hornets back.

Now riddle me this, how does a team leave Seattle and go to a Midwest dump in Oklahoma City? I hate most of what is in Seattle, mostly because of the fuskies, but even I have to say Seattle is a cool city and a huge market compared to OKC.

 

[Mecca]

@trojanfan12 ....

This is going to be my first year back as a full-time football fan.

I'm adopting the Cardinals.

But, hot Damn am I rooting for the Seahawks now too.

I'm so happy Shaq gets to play with his twin.

This has been the feel good story of the year and that kid can play.