Goodbye Melo, Iverson, Kobe, Camby…
Hello Amare
Well… good teams win series at home when they should. Congrats to the Suns and Spurs for moving on. It’s just a matter of the universe righting itself. Michael Finley hit 8 of 9 threes, the Suns didn’t even need to play their best, and now we’ve got a Suns-Spurs series in round 2. Two years ago, their conference Finals was short but sweet. San Antonio won it for the purists by playing defense and grind ‘em down slow ‘em up ball, but the lasting memory of that series was Amare Stoudemire making vicious love to Tim Duncan time and time again. The Spurs won the series, the Suns looked to have a bright future behind the best young player in the league, who was ahead of LeBron and Wade at that point.
There was a surgery or two, a lost season for Amare, and now he’s back. This is a revenge series for him. Oh, and the Suns are a well-oiled machine capable of outrunning anyone. Personally, I’m just bored of the Spurs. Three rings, Duncan’s the greatest… let someone else have some fun.
Denver and the Lakers, thank you for playing. The Nuggets put a little scare into people with the game 1 win, but by the time Big Shot Bob or “Rob” for those of you who get upset about those things, hit his backbreaker to make it 3-1, the series was over. Michael Finley, the forgotten former All-Star with all that saaaaaaaavy, could not miss. Kobe shot 33 times as the season ended, so there will be no talk of him giving up with his team going down. Great season for Kob, but I’m glad we have other topics to talk about than him. There were periods of time this season where I felt like I was working for Kobe’s personal website. I tried hard to move the discussion in other directions, but the mob would not let it be. Even Lang wrote a Kobe for MVP column. He was a lot of fun to debate about, what his role should be, his place in history, whatever. There are other great players in the NBA that are still alive in the playoffs.
Very excited for tonight. T-Mac can finally take that step into the second round, and Golden State and their rowdy fans have another chance to make history. As far as GS-Dallas goes, remember two years ago the Mavs lost the first two games of their first round series at home to the Rockets. Houston beat them in game 6 to send it back to Dallas for a do or die game 7. The Mavs won game 7 on their home floor by 40 points. It is a must-win for both teams tonight, cause Golden State is not winning a game 7 on the road after blowing it in game 5.
49 Responses to “Goodbye Melo, Iverson, Kobe, Camby…”
May.3 at 8:49 am
Detroit11 says:
First…
May.3 at 8:49 am
Detroit11 says:
And I’m also glad that we no longer have to talk about Kobe as well, Sam….
May.3 at 8:54 am
Decs says:
first!
May.3 at 8:54 am
Decs says:
damn, and mavs in 7
May.3 at 8:56 am
Decs says:
also michael finley is one of my all-time favourite players, and he never gets his proper respect.
May.3 at 9:10 am
Alex says:
Can someone count how many times Charles Barkley says “First of all” in one of his rants… Yesterday while giving his “analysis” of upcoming games he must’ve said that phrase a dozen times within 2 minutes. At one point he said “First of all” back to back with no other words in between. Incredible!
May.3 at 9:16 am
Alex says:
Also, should T-Mac be participating in sheep-tossing contest in that Vitamin Water commercial, considering how fragile his back is. Not very believable.
May.3 at 9:19 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
Also the word “fantastic” is the only word Barkley seems to know as a way to describe a positive performance. Also, he’s reaching the Big Pun zone where you can hear his neck fat when he talks.
May.3 at 10:00 am
Froggiestyle says:
god bless chuck - neck fat and all - hope he lives a looooong time the world would be a boring place without him
May.3 at 10:01 am
Keith says:
Ginobli/Vinny del negro (they are/were pretty much the token white guy whatever their name) or Barbosa…who’s the better 6th man?
May.3 at 10:06 am
Keith says:
Is there an age limit on fat camp? Maybe Barkley should look into it…
May.3 at 10:08 am
whooo! says:
that spurs-suns series is gonna make some real good basketball. the fact that amare went off for 37ppg whereas the spurs contain melo and a.i. to terrible shooting makes me think it was their intention. they make amare carry the scoring and guard the 3s the way no other team has tried, thus a lack of double teamming. not as noticeable as amare’s breakout was the fact that you didn’t even realize shawn marion was playing that series. will they follow the same gameplan and make 1 guy beat you as opposed to 3 or 5? the suns are a helluva lot better than they were 2 yrs ago, but i still think san antonio takes and eventually sees in detroit in the finals for a rematch.
May.3 at 10:11 am
Ryan Jones says:
I also like it when Barkley’s making a long-winded point — like when he was talking about the George Karl-JR Smith beef last night — and he says “First of all” nine different times. Does he know you can have a second of all? Can someone tell him?
May.3 at 10:16 am
Keith says:
It wouldn’t surprise me if when Barkley was talking he was still chewing some food…that’s how he sounds to me when he talks.
Phew…enough of the Barkley bashing now.
May.3 at 10:20 am
Rich says:
Let me just say this, there’s no way in the world Melo and Iverson can play together. It just can’t happen. Iverson singlehandedly lost the last two games for them, especially last night. He went 6-22!! In the playoffs!! Pass the ball, please!! That’s ridiculous. I see now why Melo looks so irritated out there. He’s playing with the biggest ballhog of ALL TIME. Seriously. They had that game last night. And Iverson stunk up the joint. Get rid of him now so Melo can breathe.
May.3 at 10:23 am
whooo! says:
^in all fairness, the series was over after game 4.the shots of melo in the lockerroom looking incredibly dejected and needing consoling said it was over.
May.3 at 10:27 am
Rod Strickland says:
Amare Stoudemire making vicious love to Tim Duncan time and time again. That’s sweet.
May.3 at 10:53 am
Sparker says:
ugh
May.3 at 10:59 am
allenp says:
How can you look at the shooting percentage and say Iverson wasn’t passing? That ignores the eight assists he had and the fact that he missed a lot of layups that the Nuggets love for him to take.
The Nuggets have two slashers and no really good spot up shooter. They’ve had this problem for four years and it has not been fixed. George Karl played his starters far too many minutes, alienated his bench and got out coached by his friend. When San Antonio decided to concede jumpers and pack it in, what was Karl’s adjustment? Popovich basically conceded open jumpers to everyone and Karl never figured out a way to exploit this, and refused to play five significant minutes to one of his better three point shooters in Kleiza.
But everybody thinks it’s Iverson. That’s funny.
May.3 at 11:03 am
Max Airington says:
I thought Kobe was gonna kill one of those refs last night. Probably one of the white ones…see ya next year homie…
May.3 at 11:40 am
white hot eboy says:
Here’s a novel idea. Why not trade Kobe..to an Eastern conference team…with alot of movable parts….that he might be able to take over the top……wait for it…..he would fulfill his dream of playing in the shadow of his role model……he would give them a true championship pedigree…..Da Bulls. Fu#k it…Lakers do not have enough talent to win it unless they got Lebron or some other high-profile player. JO or the Big Ticket would help but that’s not putting them over the top. Lakers could get back Deng, and a choice of Hinrich or Gordon. Especially if the Bulls don’t make it to the Finals this year. Why not? I know it’s ridiculous but nowadays how many franchise players stay with one team?
May.3 at 11:48 am
Derms says:
I want Kobe to come to ATL.
May.3 at 11:59 am
Chief says:
Kieth you stupid. Ginobili is not a sixth man. A sixth man is someone who comes off the BENCH, and contributes to the game. Manu is an always present threat offensively and that is what coaches think about him. “who’s gonna guard Ginobili.?”. Barbosa is a sixth man however. and he got he award so, I assume…
May.3 at 12:21 pm
Co Co says:
Spurs gotta go. If Timmy gets eliminated it will guarantee someone other than he or Shaq wins a ring. They’ve been trading Larry O’Brien’s for the past 8 years except when Detroit took one. It’s time for some of the parity Reggie Miller has been raving about.
May.3 at 12:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
First of all, I don’t want Kobe on the Bulls. They’ve (I almost said we’ve) got plenty of perimeter scoring and defense. Hook up a scorer in the post and we good. They. Dammit. (And Deng AND Gordon? Haha.)
May.3 at 12:32 pm
Max Airington says:
Russ you know good and damn well how close Kobe was to being a Bull a few summers ago. And you know you would’ve loved it.
May.3 at 12:39 pm
Reggie Evans says:
The racist refs tried to hide their racism by not calling any fouls when Kobe drove with the ball.
May.3 at 12:42 pm
white hot eboy says:
Russ, Kobe replaces Gordon and move Sefalosia (not sure on spelling, I should know considering he killed the Heat)into Deng’s spot. That Bulls lineup is DEADLY. Brown, Wallace, Bryant, Sefalosia & Hinrich. With Nocioni, Duhon and whoever else comes with Kobe (Smush maybe). Come on now, and the Lakers look strong with Bynum, Walton, Odom, Deng & Gordon. I’m setting up death to my own team.
May.3 at 12:44 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’m gonna write more on the Bulls this week—I promise—and there’s a reason I want to keep the guys they have. It’s called TEAM.
May.3 at 12:58 pm
white hot eboy says:
Russ, were you saying that when Michael was running sh*t,basically, on his own. Those Bulls were never looked upon as a great TEAM, they had two phenomanal players and pieces that fit. (And I worshipped at the Bulls altar then but turned my back on the Jerry’s for life for breaking up the boys) Spurs and Pistons are more defined examples of TEAMS that won it all. Heat last year were not a great TEAM (as they showed this year) but were led by two big-time players.
May.3 at 1:00 pm
Max Airington says:
Only a team can win 72 games.
May.3 at 1:20 pm
Dblizzy! says:
It’s a shame how Smush Parker basically talked his way out of the NBA. Very few have ever heard of him (except for me cuz I played against him in high school) and he winds up starting in an NBA backcourt with Kobe. Then he forgot to play his position, argued with Phip and now Farmar (who looks like he should be in a boy band) took his spot. What an idiot. It’s like the ugly dude who gets with the pretty girl, then he f*cks up and calls her a b*tch. You gotta play your position!
May.3 at 1:21 pm
Michael says:
I totally agree that there are other great players in the league that should be tlked about, but the thruth is no one cares about the NBA. Everyone talks about Hockey being on the downside, well has anyone looked at the ratings for NBA games there horrible. The SUNS and Mavericks got a 1. rating. The only players the mainstream media really cares about are Kobe, Lebron, and Shaq.
May.3 at 1:56 pm
J-Bird says:
Warriors win by 20 tonight
May.3 at 1:56 pm
joe says:
The Lakers are a glorified D leauge team. I cannot stand watching them outside of Kobe. Lamar played well and I give him credit for always battling. But does he ever go right?
May.3 at 2:01 pm
rob stewart says:
Iverson has been the blame for many things in his career and probably accurately so a few times, but I think you are crazy if you place the blame on him for the Nuggets losing. He took good shots but just missed them. The team needs to spend more time together. It is hard for a team that was put together (finally) in March to beat a team that has been together for years and won championships like the Spurs. A couple of outside shooters and more time together should improve the Nuggets. Suns over Bulls in six.
May.3 at 2:20 pm
DDC says:
Keith, Vinny Del Negro doesn’t equal Manu Ginoblli. Are you serious?
May.3 at 3:21 pm
StephenJacksonLovesOakland says:
Please, let’s get San Antonio out of the playoffs. Isn’t EVERYONE bored with them?
May.3 at 3:27 pm
jbn74sb says:
Sam - Not sure who’s attention to direct this, but I was checking out the niketalk forums today on Jordans. To make a long story longer, some nitwit is selling the Jordan XXI Special Slam 100’s on ebay. Asking price - $30,000. Search ebay for Jordan XXI Special and you’ll see em.
May.3 at 3:29 pm
Cheryl says:
I actually like watching the Spurs. I enjoy those rare times when Duncan gets feisty. And Sam, no mention of Lost?? That was a mind-blowing episode.
May.3 at 3:38 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
$30,000? Stephon Marbury would not approve.
Cheryl, I didn’t want to mention LOST because I don’t want to make this into every week praising heroes and Lost over and over. Another great episode, though I’d already figured out who Locke’s father is. I was proud of myself for that and everyone here that watches was like “Yeah. THat was obvious.” I still loved the episode. I want to fly to the island and punch Jack in the face.
May.3 at 3:46 pm
Cheryl says:
yeah, he’s getting on my nerves, too. but if the smoke monster can take human form, and this whole show is about not believing what you’re seeing, then maybe the dead daddy is an illusion to help both locke and sawyer get over their father issues. or maybe dead daddy was just the devil and they are in hell. hahahahaha (devilish laugh track)
May.3 at 3:49 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Russ, I can’t believe you’re selling your SLAM Jordans. That’s messed up, dude.
May.3 at 3:59 pm
Iversonbrotha says:
yeah, the spurs have to go. It’s like the Pats were in football– no one wants to see them in the finals, let alone the playoffs. Now is the time for a new reign! How about the Warriors? BTW, no one wants to see the pisstons either
May.3 at 4:21 pm
dez says:
Wait, I TOTALLY want to see the Pats. Randy Moss? C’mon
May.3 at 4:39 pm
J-Bird says:
Ill take the Suns and Chargers over the Spurs and Patriots anyday!
May.3 at 4:44 pm
dez says:
The Pats getting Randy Moss is the equivalent of the Jazz getting a fully armed Ron Artest
May.4 at 2:32 am
Shuttlesworth, J says:
I keep forgetting that the Spurs won in ‘99. THEY ARE SOOO BORING. I only liked the Spurs the year that Derek Anderson was playing (only to get injured in the playoffs)…the only thing I remember about the lockout season was that VINCE CARTER showed his rookie ASS and there was a new meaning of highlight reels. And as for Amare…I want him to SH*T ON DUNCAN! I love it when Amare plays with emotion. Am I the only one that notices it when he dunks the ball and lays it on the victim? He got a technical that way…GOOD SH*T!
May.4 at 3:41 am
James says:
Big Shot Bob or “Rob” for those of you who get upset about those things THANKYOU