Thursday, May 31st, 2007 at 8:22 am  |  67 responses

Western Conference champions anyone?

If a trip to the Finals is earned and Kobe is not involved, did it happen?

By Sam Rubenstein

KO-BE! KO-BE! KO-BE!

Sorry, it feels like I’m contractually obligated to say that. There was a Western Conference champion crowned last night. The Spurs entered the playoffs as the third most likely to get to the Finals from out of the loaded West. After much luck, dominant basketball, great defense, timely offense, their toughest competition collapsing in round 1, flopping, respect, annoyance, wringing of the hands, accusations of conspiracy, accusations of dirty play, whining from writers, dodging projectiles in Utah, and most importantly taking care of business, they are back in The Finals.

Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs. Whoever comes out of the East will have a tough task ahead of them. It looks like I will be attending my first ever NBA Finals this year, and it will be the middle games hosted by the Eastern Conference rep. So, it is a trip to Cleveland or Auburn Hills. Based on that 30 Rock episode with Tina Fey and her boyfriend, I am hoping for Cleveland.

My last experience in Ohio was when I took a six week course in music production several years ago. While there, I witnessed such marvels as cross burning, animal sacrifice, and the morbidly obese walking around the corner store in bare feet. Not to mention feeling the sweet burn of tear gas during a riot that happened on 4/20 of all days. Let’s go Cavs!

Cub has the game report from last night’s clincher forthcoming. The second half probably won’t be that interesting. I got home after halftime last night, and it was o-ver.

What is most amazing to me is that somehow the big winner is David Stern, once again. He has his coveted big name star gossip in the spotlight. People are talking about KOBE (OMG!) which is great for his league from a discussion interest standpoint. On the other hand, he enforced the rules to the letter of the law regarding Amare and Diaw, so he can also cling to the perception that the NBA is a level playing field. I don’t know how he did it, but Stern came out a winner on both the entertainment gossip front and the purist basketball front. Amazing.

This post from yesterday which went up hours before the latest round of Kobemania is the truth.

Oh wait… I just remembered writing something for the SLAM issue that comes out pretty soon about KOBE that is weirdly psychic. Nevermind. KO-BE! KO-BE! KO-BE!

HINT: When you get the new issue, it’s in the hype section.

It’s not like we’re going to stop talking about KB24. The name of the job is to give the people what they want, and this seems to be what they want. Lang and Mutoni have been doing a great job covering the latest on KOBE, and for that I am thankful.

Congrats again to the Spurs, who laideth the smacketh down. Great season Utah, who were the underdog in round one, took advantage of the biggest upset in years in round 2 to have an easy ride to the Conference Finals, and played some good games at home against the inevitable NBA champions.

No matter what happens in the East, the Finals begin on June 7th, a full week from now. Rest up San Antonio.

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  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 8:28 am
    1st

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.31 at 8:39 am
    The Spurs played a perfect first quarter last night and just tore the Jazz’s hearts out. Absolutely beautiful basketball.

  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 8:42 am
    I decided that TimmyD is the most dominant player in the league right now, yes, I just said that. Even more dominant than Kobe.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.31 at 8:44 am
    Spurs are f*cking ruthless.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.31 at 8:45 am
    And that’s not much of a statement, K22C — if you’re being semi-literal about “right now,” as in, like, this week, it’s a no-brainer, because Tim’s team is still playing. All Kobe’s dominating is the headlines.

  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 8:47 am
    They can’t be stopped. I don’t even like them. They just run their offense to perfection everytime down the court. It is sickening. You have to respect it though. Duncan pick and roll off the ball is unstoppable. At least we can look forward to all the excitment in the offseason.

  • white hot eboy Posted: May.31 at 8:49 am
    The Spurs better not fall into a malaise from having a week off and let Detroit or Clevland pull a game 1 upset. We saw how the 2-3-2 format worked for the Mavs last year.

  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 8:50 am
    The statement refer’s to the season. He isn’t a stat player, if he was he could have easily went for the MVP, but he wants the rings. Let’s just describe it this way Duncan in basketball is like Ryan in hating on people.

  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 8:52 am
    But… Ryan isn’t nearly as good.

  • Steve O Posted: May.31 at 8:58 am
    Spurs manhandled the Jazz last night, but just for entertainments sake I would love to see either CLE/DET make the Finals a series. If its a Spurs clinic it just won’t be as fun.

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.31 at 9:00 am
    Tim Duncan is almost top five ALL-TIME, if he isn’t already

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.31 at 9:03 am
    Oh yeah, it’s funny how just some days ago Lebron sucked and “was more Magic than Michael,” like that’s a bad thing, and now he’s the best player in the league, even though those guys in LA and SA have three rings apiece

  • Steve O Posted: May.31 at 9:05 am
    TD is defintely the #1 basketball playing robot of all time

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.31 at 9:14 am
    Top five all-time is rough. Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson. Forget Tim Duncan for a minute, which one of THOSE guys do you kick out?

  • white hot eboy Posted: May.31 at 9:20 am
    Russ, none of them get kicked out and that list is not including Kareem or Shaq either.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.31 at 9:22 am
    Or Karl Malone for that matter. He may have never won a ring, but he scored almost 37,000 points while shooting over 51 percent for his career. I’m doing a while separate post on this today.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.31 at 9:33 am
    I would argue that my hating is indeed Duncan-esque: Consistent, efficient and MVP-worthy. Plus I make funny sometimes.

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.31 at 9:36 am
    Good points Russ, but if Timmy gets another ring this year, I gotta say he’s better than Malone. And I should have clarified what I meant, I was going by position, meaning Tim Duncan may be the best power forward ever. If he keeps this up for another good 3 or 4 years, he definitely gets the nod over Malone.

  • Detroit11 Posted: May.31 at 9:55 am
    Duncan, top 5 PF, no question. Duncan, top 5 all-time? Not so much. He is barely in the top 15 in my rankings at the moment. Of course, he still has a good 5 years left, so he will rise….

  • AB_40 Posted: May.31 at 9:57 am
    wow the hype players get for playing one good game. I red an article this morning or a recap doesn’t matter and it said that daniel ‘boobie’ gibson was driving and shooting like a former NBA mvp who goes by the name of allen iverson. Detroit better step they game up cuzz IF they get to the finals playing like this against these spurs it’s gonna be realy tough for em. First they gotta beat cleveland though.

  • Sherri Posted: May.31 at 9:59 am
    Bill Russell said it damn straight, “if you like good basketball, you should like spurs, Anybody who doesn’t like watching Tim Duncan, Tony Parker or Ginobili play might want to seek help. They might need a therapist.”….that first quarter last night was flawless and would remain as one of the things u never delete on DVR, atleast for me.

  • Sesa Posted: May.31 at 10:02 am
    @Sherri.
    If I like good basketball, should I liked the image of Bruce Bowen putting his feet underneath jump shooter?
    I like both Parker and Ginobili because they made the Spurs less boring.
    Why did TD do a layup when he had a wide open dunk?

  • seppo Posted: May.31 at 10:04 am
    The Spurs made a big mistake by winning in 5 games. They will be rusty as hell in game 1 of the finals.

  • Sherri Posted: May.31 at 10:07 am
    lol Sesa you might as well, cause u seen it he aint goin` nowhere, well but to the finals and takin` the ring [*hopefully*], and abt TD, well thats just timmy being timmy.

  • Billy Blanks Posted: May.31 at 10:08 am
    The Spurs don’t ever really seem to get rusty too much

  • Grim Reaper Posted: May.31 at 10:13 am
    Much respect to the spurs for their dismantling of the Jazz. But I have to say if the Jazz add a 2 guard who can play a little D and stretch the defense with a jumper they will be back. Too bad Bell jumped shipped to the Suns because he is the exact player we need. I hope Pop can keep the Spurs sharp with a week off. I remember it hurt the jazz in 98 after they swept the Lakers.

  • Grim Reaper Posted: May.31 at 10:13 am
    Much respect to the spurs for their dismantling of the Jazz. But I have to say if the Jazz add a 2 guard who can play a little D and stretch the defense with a jumper they will be back. Too bad Bell jumped shipped to the Suns because he is the exact player we need. I hope Pop can keep the Spurs sharp with a week off. I remember it hurt the jazz in 98 after they swept the Lakers.

  • Sherri Posted: May.31 at 10:14 am
    they learned their lesson last year seppo, i think that team is just programmed to win the chip. no offense to Tim Duncan Robot. ;) i still love `em. lol

  • Blinguo Posted: May.31 at 10:18 am
    @Sesa – Duncan does layups instead of dunks because he’s Iceman 2000, cooler than cool(wouldn’t that be Dre3000 then?), or plantar fasciitis which isn’t as cool. Duncan and Horry could get another ring this year while Kobe would play on another planet that’s not even considered a planet anymore. Tell them to get started on Space Jam 2, his Kobe 3′s look weird enough.
    Here’s hoping LeBron trained enough in that pool and can create some more posters by rising over Duncan.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.31 at 10:43 am
    Also, Sam, linking from the link you linked to — and I don’t even know if I can legally say this — but that pole vaulter is pretty amazing.

  • Gilbert0 Posted: May.31 at 10:50 am
    Karl Malone!!

  • Nine E. Leven Posted: May.31 at 10:53 am
    John Stockton!!

  • K22C Posted: May.31 at 10:57 am
    I second Ryan’s comment

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.31 at 10:58 am
    Milk Carton: Memo and Drei. Oberto=Money. Duncan was CLEANING UP in garbage time which was the final 42 minutes of the game. Dee Brown looked completely lost. Spurs fans are spoiled d-bags.

  • Allenp Posted: May.31 at 10:59 am
    I’m glad to see people shaking off the idea that the Spurs are boring, and they play horrible basketball. Watching Tim Duncan work, is amazing. It’s like watching Magic run the one or Bird run the three. Nobody does it better.

  • Dblizzy! Posted: May.31 at 11:08 am
    I like Derek Fisher and I feel for him and everything he’s going thru, but why are people acting like he was really gonna make a difference by playing. He should just stay with his family. I know basketball is his job and this is the playoffs, but there would be no way I’m leaving my 10 month old daughter, WHO HAS CANCER!!! to go play basketball across the country.

  • Ronald Posted: May.31 at 11:42 am
    I’m sorry Dblizzy, people DO leave their family who have cancer to go to their jobs. IF they don’t they do get fired. Just like how D-Fish was being the ultimate employee, he went to work right after the operation.

  • DK52 Posted: May.31 at 11:51 am
    @ Russ- your ealier comment has 6 of the all time greats and you want to know which one to drop out. Without question Magic wouldnt be in my top 5 becasue he’s not even the greatest at his position (Stockton) but he is still in the top 10 of all time. Also don’t forge about Karim and Shaq and when it’s all said in done Kobe will be in the top 10 of all time- perhaps even top 5.

  • DK52 Posted: May.31 at 11:54 am
    My top 10
    1. Jordan
    2. Russell
    3. Wilt
    4. Oscar
    5. Bird
    6. Karim
    7. Hakeem
    8. Shaq
    9. Stockton
    10.Magic with Malone right behind Magic.
    Russell is 2 no doubt 11 titles in 13 years is amazing, and he wasn’t ever even challenged on the glass. Feel free to disagree.

  • mike Posted: May.31 at 11:55 am
    I wonder if Detroit is gonna be motivated enough to try tonight. What a waste of a good team. What happene to trying your best all of the time? I hope it’s San Antonio and Cleveland. And by the way. I thought Webber played for Detroit. Every time I start watching the game in the fourth quarter, he’s no where to be found. I like how in 2005 when Detroit played Philadelphia in the first round, they exposed Webber for the defensive liablility that he was, and now they pick him up 2 years later as a starter. Flip is a genious.

  • mike Posted: May.31 at 12:04 pm
    Too Kobe haters:
    Magic Johnson never won a championship without kareem. Kareem was already an MVP and Champion before magic ever came. Magic was never on the all-defensive first team. Magic cheated on his wife too, but he got HIV. I just don’t see why magic is so much greater than Kobe. He did have one hell of a smile though.

  • Chris Posted: May.31 at 12:06 pm
    Thanks for the props to the Spurs. Year after year they do the same thing, win. No matter if people call them ditry or floppers, they know how to win. Phoneix and Dallas don’t know how to do that yet.

  • Alex Posted: May.31 at 12:17 pm
    1.Bird
    2.Barkley
    3.Laimbeer
    4.Rodman
    5.Majerle
    6.Jordan
    7.Hakeem
    8.Kemp
    9.Walton, B.
    10.Mullin That’s a more logical list than the one above.

  • Mike Posted: May.31 at 12:34 pm
    @ Alex: You have got to be kidding, here’s the list 1. Harold Minor
    2. Mateen Cleaves
    3. Oliver Miller
    4. Isaiah Rider
    5. Christian Laetner
    6. Sam Bowie
    7. Nate Robinson
    8. Tery Mills
    9. Chris Anderson
    10. Tim Legler you know nothing about basketball

  • Brian Posted: May.31 at 12:44 pm
    What does Duncan or Malone do that McHale couldn’t?

  • DK52 Posted: May.31 at 12:45 pm
    @ Mike: Don’t forget about Chris Dudley, Shawn Bradley, and George Muresan.

  • DK52 Posted: May.31 at 12:46 pm
    McHale was more of a compliment player to Bird and those great Celtic teams of the late 80′s.

  • Brian Posted: May.31 at 1:06 pm
    A complimentary player who scored 56 points in a game, shot over 60% from the field and 80% from the line in the same year, guarded every teams best forward, could shoot 3′s and had post moves sicker than any player since. Barkley looked like a grade schooler going against McHale.

  • Dblizzy! Posted: May.31 at 2:17 pm
    Ronald, you really think they would cut Fisher for staying with his family? He doesn’t work at Walmart and this is not his 90 year old grandmother battling cancer, it’s his daughter and she 10 months old.

  • DK52 Posted: May.31 at 2:51 pm
    @ Brian: Very valid points but that doesnt make Mchale top 10 of all time. David Robinson scored 71 points in a game against the Clippers and blocked almost 400 shots that year, that doesnt make him the greatest center to ever play the game.

  • Heri Posted: May.31 at 3:46 pm
    Vinny Del Negro!

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.31 at 4:29 pm
    F*cking STOP discussing whether or not Derek Fisher should’ve have flown out to play in the game last night, or the one against the Warriors. This is his child and his family and whatever they think is best for them is all that matters. Do NOT even attempt to judge that sort of thing either way. Stop it. Now.

  • Dblizzy! Posted: May.31 at 4:48 pm
    F*ck you Ryan I’ll debate what I want! And he shoulda stayed home!

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: May.31 at 5:03 pm
    Ryan is bossy. Like Kelis.

  • Tariq Posted: May.31 at 5:38 pm
    Ryan, It pleases me that you are being “literal” in your arguments (concerning Duncan), much like the Gallic wars pleased Caesar (literally).

  • j. ellen Posted: May.31 at 6:19 pm
    As a Suns fan, I take exception to the idea that the Spurs’ toughest competition collapsed in the first round! Would Dallas really have given the Spurs any harder a time than the Suns did? And I know already that people are going to respond ‘Yes,’ but those people are full of it. And if we had made it past the Spurs and the Mavericks had made it into the WCF, we would have destroyed them.

  • kostas Posted: May.31 at 6:42 pm
    j.ellen the mavs would have given the spurs a much harder time. and that is because TD cannot guard dirk at PF and TD would have to play center. And when TD
    is playing center spurs cannot defend their basket
    properly cause thet have to keep duncan out of foul trouble- and then they are vulnerable

  • Holiday Posted: May.31 at 9:06 pm
    Well Lucky you! Cause just like in the Regular season the Jazz would have destroyed the Sun’s! Oh and Mchale is not even close to Barkley, Malone , Duncan, or even Garnett!

  • Holiday Posted: May.31 at 9:09 pm
    @ Dblizzy! Did you ever think that maybe the game could take his mind off the fact that his infant child is going thru pain and her life is in danger!

  • Holiday Posted: May.31 at 9:16 pm
    @ MIKE, Kobe never won a playoff series without Shaq, let alone a chip! Now Kobe’s great and all but you can’t just hate on great if you feel me!

  • Dillan Posted: May.31 at 9:34 pm
    Jazz had a good run. They’re still short on playoff experience and initially, not even recognized as a team you don;t want to mess with. I love the Jazz but the Spurs are the better team be it flop, foul or conspiracy. Tim Duncan-former 1st pick. Manu-part of the US beating Argentine squad. Tony-France’s best player(1 of). Finley-Former Mavs diehard. Horry-Champion and Big shot taker. Too loaded against anyone. AND they play team ball. With these guys on the team, ofcourse Bowen can do what he does. Enjoy the run Spurs. The Jazz will be back. One day…so will the Hawks. Kobe. when he talks, somebody walks. And it’s never him.

  • j. ellen Posted: May.31 at 9:35 pm
    Ha! The Jazz only wish they’d ever destroyed the Suns. They beat them in the regular season, but that would have only given them false hope of doing the same in the playoffs.

  • Clay Posted: May.31 at 10:27 pm
    SPURS WILL TAKE IT ALL .

  • Nothin_personal Posted: Jun.1 at 1:38 am
    @ Kostas I would expect from a greek Guy to know what Oberto could do. He is not an offensive threat, but he can’t harass anybody on the other end. Besides, it’s not the first time he made Dirk look bad.

  • Mike Posted: Jun.1 at 9:39 am
    kobe never got swept out of a playoff series like shaq did in 94, 95, 96, and now 07. but, yeah, i was out of line about magic’s HIV. forgive me for being agitated. i am a kobe fan who lives in michigan and the piston fans are the most annoying people in the world. i can’t wait for cleveland to win saturday, then i can buy a drew gooden jersey and shave that ugly patch of hair in the back of my head.

  • Dblizzy! Posted: Jun.1 at 3:50 pm
    You guys are crazy…

  • grim reaper Posted: Jun.1 at 4:43 pm
    Mike I think in 97 or 98 the Jazz swept Kobe and Shaq in the Western Conf Finals. I remember it because before the sieres Blount predicted a sweep. Little did he know his team would be the victim!

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