GSW and SA present the NBA with an unique opportunity...

[toxicxr6]

With these two teams absolutely dominating this year the NBA, media and sport writers really need to start embracing this opportunity as the story of the season.
When you break down the current situation you realise just how unique it is...

Firstly the Warriors and spurs are the last two championship teams..
Next the warriors are scoring at a historic pace and have the highest offensive rating of all time right now
The Spurs however are defending at a historic pace ranking second in defensive rating all time right now, and they are not far behind first either.

Then you have the warriors who have a top 5 defense to go with their historic offense...
The Spurs have a top 5 offense to go with their historic defense..

Both are off the charts in terms of net ratings and point differential.

Here we have two teams at complete opposite of the spectrum in terms of play style but both are playing their own playstyle at a historic level.

Both teams are on pace for historic winning seasons. Warriors could possible break the all time win record or at least get close
The Spurs could win 65+ games and set a franchise record and fall into the top 10 all time in terms of wins in the regular season.

The media and NBA seem to always want to push a David vs Goliath storyline ...

This year we could have a Goliath vs Goliath story.. One like never seen before.

And who wouldn't want to see two all time great teams with opposite play styles go head to head?

The NBA and media need to get on this and start building the hype..

[nothinbutnet]

Well said!

[VengefulAngel]

Agreed!, I'm pretty sure we could include the Cavs into this discussion of all time great teams if they were all healthy. I can't wait for the playoffs this year its going to be a bloodbath in both conferences.

[fragokota]

Who wouldn't want a WCF between those two teams being healthy? :rockon:

[JohnnySic]

The Cavs at full strength are just as good.

[sd3035]

Playoffs should be top 16 in the entire league

It's a shame we will be robbed of the greatest ever Finals

[el gringos]

Playoffs should be top 16 in the entire league

It's a shame we will be robbed of the greatest ever Finals
No it's not. How you getting robbed if they play each other in the conference finals. If they're both so great they'll meet up. Cleveland could be at their level by the time playoffs come

[JerrySeinfeld]

media prefers to hype up finals matchups, not those that occur before them

[FKAri]

Actually they both play somewhat similar in the sense that they don't have one ball dominant playmaker standing at the top of the key waving others off and "going to work". They play as a team.

No Kirby/Bronze ball.

[ralph_i_el]

What's crazy is that a healthy Cavs and Thunder can be on that level also. This is just a seasons with a lot of really good (and interesting) teams.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I like the potential WC standings right now.

Give me a LAC-Spurs rematch in the semis and OKC-GSW series. Then GSW-Spurs in the WCF.

OKC-SAS and LAC-GSW would be nice, too. But I still think OKC beats the Spurs and we need a Spurs-Warriors series.

[ArbitraryWater]

I like the potential WC standings right now.

Give me a LAC-Spurs rematch in the semis and OKC-GSW series. Then GSW-Spurs in the WCF.

OKC-SAS and LAC-GSW would be nice, too. But I still think OKC beats the Spurs and we need a Spurs-Warriors series.

But it will be OKC/Spurs and GSW/LAC...

and yes, OP is right.

Spurs rank 2nd highest ever relative to league Drtg, Warriors rank highest ever relative to league Ortg.

Unstoppable force meets immovable object.


What's crazy is that a healthy Cavs and Thunder can be on that level also. This is just a seasons with a lot of really good (and interesting) teams.

OKC is healthy and isn't on that level, though.

Its 3 teams for the title.

[dazzer87]

The Cavs at full strength are just as good.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[BlazerRed]

OKC is healthy and isn't on that level, though.

Its 3 teams for the title.

OKC are currently on the largest win streak in the league and are 8-2 over their last 10. They are definitely getting into the swing of it after a slow start with Durant's injury. They are also still adjusting to the new coach and his style. Mark my words.. by time end of year rolls around this OKC team will be deadly if healthy.

[rmt]

I'd rather the Spurs fly under the radar and GSW go undefeated the rest of the year - build up that hype and feel the pressure in the playoffs.

[SCdac]

in terms of "best offense vs. best defense" clashes, it's reminiscent of the 05 Phoenix Suns vs. the San Antonio Spurs

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/files/2014/06/Phoenix-Suns-2005.jpg

https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/horry.jpg

Suns at the time were the fastest and most lethal offense scoring 110+ ppg

they finished the season with a 62-20 record and Nash winning his first MVP

Spurs were the highest rated defensive team holding teams to 88.4 ppg on average but played at a slower pace

they finished the season almost winning 60 games (59-23) but they went on to beat Carmelo's Nuggets, Ray Allen's Sonics, Nash's Suns, and the defending champ Detroit Pistons in the finals

the big differences...

Warriors are legit champs (unlike the Suns) and are defending their reign of supremacy. Their best player (Curry) is a better scorer than Nash was which goes a long way in the playoffs. Spurs are older and less Duncan-centric. They don't have Bowen anymore but they do have Kawhi and Green.

All in all, a GSW/SAS matchup would be fun... Last time they met in the playoffs (a couple years ago) Parker averaged 23 ppg, Duncan averaged 20 ppg and the Spurs won the hard fought 6 game series. But the Warriors are much better since then (clearly)

[kamil]

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

LeBron* needs more help!

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

I'd rather the Spurs fly under the radar and GSW go undefeated the rest of the year - build up that hype and feel the pressure in the playoffs.


No thanks. I would rather have Cleveland and OKC and spurs take all the attention. don't put the curse of attention on GSW.

[ArbitraryWater]

No thanks. I would rather have Cleveland and OKC and spurs take all the attention. don't put the curse of attention on GSW.

Living under a rock? GSW is taking the most attention by far.. Spurs will make them feel the heat in the post-season.

[rmt]

No thanks. I would rather have Cleveland and OKC and spurs take all the attention. don't put the curse of attention on GSW.

Don't think you have a choice. That 24-1? is very impressive.

[rmt]

I miss Horry - such a high bball IQ. Picture looks like 2005 - ah, those were the days. Well, these days aren't too bad either - can't believe it was a decade ago.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Living under a rock? GSW is taking the most attention by far.. Spurs will make them feel the heat in the post-season.

I don't want the attention. Losing to the bucks is really great. I haven't seen a GSW or Steph thread for days now. And Espn isn't hyping things up more than it needs to.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Don't think you have a choice. That 24-1? is very impressive.

so is 21-5 with huge blowouts.

[rmt]

Don't worry. When GSW goes to their micro small ball, Duncan and LMA won't be able to play at the same time. That'll mess with their rotation and defense. GSW is young - Parker and Manu will be gassed in a 7 game series vs GSW.

[Lebronxrings]

a healthy heat and bulls is just as good. Potentially the raptors and pistons also.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Don't worry. When GSW goes to their micro small ball, Duncan and LMA won't be able to play at the same time. That'll mess with their rotation and defense. GSW is young - Parker and Manu will be gassed in a 7 game series vs GSW.

don't get my hopes up. I've been waiting for the spurs to disappear for a few years now and it wont happen.

[Rocketswin2013]

What's crazy is that a healthy Cavs and Thunder can be on that level also. This is just a seasons with a lot of really good (and interesting) teams.
Cavs seem like they will be the league's most balanced team. SA's offense hasn't been unbelievable, just pretty good. Cleveland's offense is as good without Kyrie.

GS has had a trade-off because of going small and. It's made their offense more potent and their defense is clearly worse than it was last year.

Also, both teams clearly want to play one style. GS wants to run, SA really wants to slow it down. Cleveland can go either way. They've had ridiculously effective small lineups and really good big ones obviously.

Cleveland's defense since Mozgov has returned to form and Shumps arrival has been unreal. Kyrie is reportedly looking like Cleveland's best player in practices these days. Their offense will be far better with him. Last year they were a 11 SRS team and 32-3 with with the rotation healthy. LeBron, Delly and Love are clearly better this year as well.

[thefatmiral]

The western conference finals has usually been where two best teams play each other.

[KG215]

But it will be OKC/Spurs and GSW/LAC...

and yes, OP is right.

Spurs rank 2nd highest ever relative to league Drtg, Warriors rank highest ever relative to league Ortg.

Unstoppable force meets immovable object.



OKC is healthy and isn't on that level, though.

Its 3 teams for the title.
OKC hasn't had Durant for 6 of their 24 games (25%) and lost three of them. Their defense started off as a bottom 10 defense, but in the 8 or so games since Durant's return, their defense has skyrocketed to a borderline top 10 defense; and if you just take that stretch of 8 or so games since Durant's return, I'm pretty sure the Thunder have had the best or second best defense in the NBA. They've also got the second best offense in the NBA right now. On top of that, everyone is adjusting to a new coach and a new system and Durant is also still adjusting to all the new players they acquired last year since he didn't get to play with any of them last year due to his injuries. And until about a week or so ago, Durant wasn't looking like Durant. But he's slowly rounding back into 2014 MVP form. He dropped a sweatless 24-7-4 on 8/14 shooting in less than 30 minutes tonight in a blowout win against the Blazers and didn't play the fourth quarter.

I'm not saying OKC is on the Spurs/Warriors healthy Cavs level quite yet, but if healthy and in proper form, they're very, very close. They've still got some issues. The bench has the talent to be very good, but they're very inconsistent right now. Kanter's defense has been surprisingly not terrible so far this year, and the 1-2 punch of Durant and Westbrook is the best 1-2 punch in the NBA which can't go overlooked, especially in a playoff series.

[WayOfWade]

I like the potential WC standings right now.

Give me a LAC-Spurs rematch in the semis and OKC-GSW series. Then GSW-Spurs in the WCF.

OKC-SAS and LAC-GSW would be nice, too. But I still think OKC beats the Spurs and we need a Spurs-Warriors series.
I would probably wet myself if that happened, it would be a dream come true. Throw in either a Cavs-GSW or Cavs-SAS finals and that would be beyond incredible no matter the result

[Paul George 24]

Don't worry. When GSW goes to their micro small ball, Duncan and LMA won't be able to play at the same time. That'll mess with their rotation and defense. GSW is young - Parker and Manu will be gassed in a 7 game series vs GSW.
IDIOT :lol

[Paul George 24]

Cavs seem like they will be the league's most balanced team. SA's offense hasn't been unbelievable, just pretty good. Cleveland's offense is as good without Kyrie.

GS has had a trade-off because of going small and. It's made their offense more potent and their defense is clearly worse than it was last year.

Also, both teams clearly want to play one style. GS wants to run, SA really wants to slow it down. Cleveland can go either way. They've had ridiculously effective small lineups and really good big ones obviously.

Cleveland's defense since Mozgov has returned to form and Shumps arrival has been unreal. Kyrie is reportedly looking like Cleveland's best player in practices these days. Their offense will be far better with him. Last year they were a 11 SRS team and 32-3 with with the rotation healthy. LeBron, Delly and Love are clearly better this year as well.
LOL :roll: :roll: :roll:

[poido123]

I would probably wet myself if that happened, it would be a dream come true. Throw in either a Cavs-GSW or Cavs-SAS finals and that would be beyond incredible no matter the result



Since when have you needed anything to initiate that?

[Jameerthefear]

Since when have you needed anything to initiate that?
You're such a ****ing creep. Stay away from kids weirdo.

[ArbitraryWater]

Since when have you needed anything to initiate that?

You're supposed to be a grown dude and this is how your fat sweaty ass talks to college students? :biggums:

Jeezus poido

[Straight_Ballin]

Dellavedova already told Curry that if the Cavs win, he's going to give his mom the ol' raccoon. He will punch her in both eyes during their next sexual encounter, thereby giving her two black eyes, and then knock over her trash cans as he leaves.