what happened to the NBA?

[ISUFan22]

The immortal Daniel "Boobie" Gibson who I think just made another three in Hilton against Wayne's 2-3 zone (remember that game )

As do I. I cursed the guy then (and our team)...yet I've been pulling for him in the playoffs.

[darts180]

One of the problems is that guys like Michael Finley (who doesn't even start) are making $18 million per year.

I would also agree about the drafting only on potential.

As much as I love Michael Finley, his days of making $18 million, if they ever existed, are long over. He signed as the middle level cap exception (think $4-5 million), he is making roughly that this year.

Tim is making close to the max because he gets that if he takes all the money (ala Kobe), you limit the talent you bring in.

Tony and Manu are next, each making around $11 million.

Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, and Finley are all making somewhere between $4-7 million.

[clones_jer]

As much as I love Michael Finley, his days of making $18 million, if they ever existed, are long over. He signed as the middle level cap exception (think $4-5 million), he is making roughly that this year.

Tim is making close to the max because he gets that if he takes all the money (ala Kobe), you limit the talent you bring in.

Tony and Manu are next, each making around $11 million.

Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, and Finley are all making somewhere between $4-7 million.

Good points - and Michael Finley does to start. Manu comes off the bench which is crazy, but true.

[cycloneworld]

As much as I love Michael Finley, his days of making $18 million, if they ever existed, are long over. He signed as the middle level cap exception (think $4-5 million), he is making roughly that this year.

Tim is making close to the max because he gets that if he takes all the money (ala Kobe), you limit the talent you bring in.

Tony and Manu are next, each making around $11 million.

Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, and Finley are all making somewhere between $4-7 million.

Actually Michael Finley does make that much. He made $16.1 in 2006 and $18.6 in 2007.
SI.com - NBA - Dallas Mavericks Team Salaries

[darts180]

I'm sorry but if the Droids...er, Spurs are what has become of the NBA then frankly I could care less if the whole league implodes. It is utterly painful to watch their methodical, vanilla style of basketball. Back in the day I loved watching the Bulls, Pistons, Lakers, Knicks and Celtics because they had some charismatic players that made the games fun and the rivalries exciting. If Lebron was not involved in this series, I'd hate to see the TV ratings.

I hate to tell you, but the Knicks of the mid 90's were more painful to watch than any other team in history. They beat people up, and scored 85 points a game.

The Spurs are what they are, the most mentally tough team in maybe all of sports, they guard you, rebound the ball, they give you nothing.

The funny part was that Phoenix could have won that series, but the psyched themselves out. They were so obsessed with Bowen, and how "dirty" the Spurs were that they didn't just let it go and play. That was ALL on D'Antoni, and the job he did in game 5, shorthanded, cost his team the game (with double digit leads, you rest Nash and Marion during the game).

And that whole Robert Horry/Nash thing was a joke. Yeah he hip checked him into the table, no excuse for that. But Nash oversold so bad, he laid there like he was dead, then when seeing his teammates involved, he jumps right up. It was sad to see the best player in the league acting like that much of a prima donna, like Jordan used to.

[darts180]

Actually Michael Finley does make that much. He made $16.1 in 2006 and $18.6 in 2007.
SI.com - NBA - Dallas Mavericks Team Salaries

That was true, except that they mutually agreed to opt out of the contract. He left that money, and signed with the Spurs for approximately $5 million (which I think is around the mid level exception).

[rd4isu]

That all may be well and true but very few non-Spurs/basketball purists want to watch the style of basketball that the Spurs play. Without Lebron James this series isn't even a blip on the national sports radar. Case in point...

Game 1 of the NBA finals drew the lowest rating ever for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year.

SI.com - 2007 NBA Playoffs - Cavs-Spurs nets lowest TV rating for*evening Game 1 - Friday June 8, 2007 8:34PM

[darts180]

That all may be well and true but very few non-Spurs/basketball purists want to watch the style of basketball that the Spurs play. Without Lebron James this series isn't even a blip on the national sports radar. Case in point...


SI.com - 2007 NBA Playoffs - Cavs-Spurs nets lowest TV rating for*evening Game 1 - Friday June 8, 2007 8:34PM

This is funny to me. For years people have decried the lack of fundementals as the reason for the NBA's demise. Now you have a team that does it right, they share the ball, defend, and rebound, and because they don't have 17 tattoos each, and don't self promote, they're boring.

I understand that we live in the era of flash, style over substance, image is everything, all that. It is just sad to me that this team isn't getting the respect that they deserve.

And yes this Spurs team could compete with many of the great teams of the past, and for one reason, they can guard you. And Parker and Ginobli can break down anyone off the dribble, add that to Tim getting his, they can hang. I am not saying that would win, but their defense would keep them in most games, giving them a chance to win.

[ISUFan22]

Good points. I think in addition to a not as exciting style of play, there are a couple other reasons th Spurs aren't getting a ton of love...

- Smaller market.
- Suns-Spurs series controversy.

Fans really wanted the Suns to win that series - especially after those couple incidents. So when the Spurs won, people hated them.

[darts180]

Good points. I think in addition to a not as exciting style of play, there are a couple other reasons th Spurs aren't getting a ton of love...

- Smaller market.
- Suns-Spurs series controversy.

Fans really wanted the Suns to win that series - especially after those couple incidents. So when the Spurs won, people hated them.

It's amazing that they are considered a "smaller market" seeing that San Antonio is the 6-7th biggest city in America. And is the third fastest growing city in the country.

Maybe it's because of the old joke that was told to me by one of my best friends, San Antonio is the northernmost city in Mexico.

Before you think that there is any racial implecations in that statement, I will tell you that the friend who said that is Hispanic, and has lived in SA his whole life.

[ISUFan22]

I'm with ya, it is odd yet when people think of big market basketball teams - San Antonio isn't on the list.

Never been there, would like to visit sometime (hint to Coach Chizik).

[LindenCy]

Good points. I think in addition to a not as exciting style of play, there are a couple other reasons th Spurs aren't getting a ton of love...

- Smaller market.
- Suns-Spurs series controversy.

Fans really wanted the Suns to win that series - especially after those couple incidents. So when the Spurs won, people hated them.

I think that last sentence says it all. I would root for the Spurs in the past, but I was not happy with that Suns series at all. The playoffs began(and the second round began) with a lot of hope for the teams left, but the 4 semi-finalists really disappointed me to the extent I was rooting for the Jazz.

[jdoggivjc]

I'm with ya, it is odd yet when people think of big market basketball teams - San Antonio isn't on the list.

Never been there, would like to visit sometime (hint to Coach Chizik).

But why? The Big XII Championship Game's never gonna be held there!