Minnesota Sports Forum

Thought I'd open this up since things kick off tonight. I'm rooting for the Bucks - they are the more likeable team overall; not that I'll be all that upset if the Suns win it. Victory has already been achieved with the Lakers and Brooklyn out in earlier rounds.

I think most are in the same boat... can't imagine too many will be THAT upset if Phoenix/Milwaukee wins... sans devoted fans for those respective teams of course.

I rooted for the Suns back when they lost to the Bulls in '93. I remember talking myself into Richard Dumas. And Steve Nash, circa Suns era, revitalized my love for the NBA almost single-handedly.

But I also think Giannis and the Bucks are a good story and good for the league right now. I'm pulling for the Bucks, but I wouldn't have a huge issue if the Suns win (even though I'm not really a Paul fan).

AbeVigodaLive wrote:I think most are in the same boat... can't imagine too many will be THAT upset if Phoenix/Milwaukee wins... sans devoted fans for those respective teams of course.

I rooted for the Suns back when they lost to the Bulls in '93. I remember talking myself into Richard Dumas. And Steve Nash, circa Suns era, revitalized my love for the NBA almost single-handedly.

But I also think Giannis and the Bucks are a good story and good for the league right now. I'm pulling for the Bucks, but I wouldn't have a huge issue if the Suns win (even though I'm not really a Paul fan).

I can't remember the circumstances, but I actually got to watch Steve Nash's pre-draft workout with the Wolves in 1996...my recollection is that it was on the second court at what was then the downtown Northwest Club. (I also was at Paul Grant's workout on the same court the following year, and I was mortified when we actually drafted him!). I have to admit I had no idea who Nash was, and he certainly wasn't anyone that Wolves' fans were thinking about with the 5th pick, but I watched him for 30 minutes and he completely blew me away. I became a huge Steve Nash fan that day. Don't get me wrong...I didn't want him with the 5th pick. But he certainly looked like he was going to be a star as he drained about 50 3-pointers in a row and made some dazzling moves in agility drills. Friends of mine ripped me when his career started out so unimpressively his first 4 or 5 years, but I eventually got the last laugh. Nobody thought Steve Nash would end up with the second highest win shares per 48 in a draft that included Iverson, Kobe, Allen, Marbury, Antoine Walker and Marcus Canby among others, but he did. One of my favorites also. I'm still cheering for the Bucks though.

Like Q, I'll be rooting for the Bucks, but no unhappy if the Suns win. I similarly view the Bucks as the more likable team and I also like the idea of an upper Midwest, cold-weather team winning the championship. That said, I generally like the Suns players and I also like them as an example of how you build a championship caliber team through the draft. I used to dislike Chris Paul, but he's become one of my favorite players. I love his perseverance, performing at an MVP level at age 36. I also love his toughness, competitiveness and love for the game. He's a throw-back player who is totally committed to the game and winning.

lipoli390 wrote:Like Q, I'll be rooting for the Bucks, but no unhappy if the Suns win. I similarly view the Bucks as the more likable team and I also like the idea of an upper Midwest, cold-weather team winning the championship. That said, I generally like the Suns players and I also like them as an example of how you build a championship caliber team through the draft. I used to dislike Chris Paul, but he's become one of my favorite players. I love his perseverance, performing at an MVP level at age 36. I also love his toughness, competitiveness and love for the game. He's a throw-back player who is totally committed to the game and winning.

Also a throw-back in that he makes a large part of his living with the mid-range jumper....absolutely deadly weaving around screens and either hitting the mid-range jumper or the roll man. You can't play drop coverage on him.

Q12543 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Like Q, I'll be rooting for the Bucks, but no unhappy if the Suns win. I similarly view the Bucks as the more likable team and I also like the idea of an upper Midwest, cold-weather team winning the championship. That said, I generally like the Suns players and I also like them as an example of how you build a championship caliber team through the draft. I used to dislike Chris Paul, but he's become one of my favorite players. I love his perseverance, performing at an MVP level at age 36. I also love his toughness, competitiveness and love for the game. He's a throw-back player who is totally committed to the game and winning.

Also a throw-back in that he makes a large part of his living with the mid-range jumper....absolutely deadly weaving around screens and either hitting the mid-range jumper or the roll man. You can't play drop coverage on him.

I'd like Paul a lot more without the cheap stuff (like many NBA players).

He is EXACTLY the type of guy who tattle-tales on arcane rules or flops ridiculously... while also punching people in the nuts.

Great player. Just don't dig him for the antics.

Pretty great that Giannis is playing. Would have been tough to watch without him.

Bobby Portis is unplayable in these finals

Boy I wonder what the shelf like of Giannis is going to be in league. He just doesn't have moves in arsenal it's all athletic ability and putting his down going to the basket.

kekgeek1 wrote:Bobby Portis is unplayable in these finals

Whatever happened to the hard hedge and then getting back to your man!? The Bucks seemed to have over-rotated from drop coverage to switching everything. It's a bit more complicated, but an advanced defense should know how to show against the ball handler and then switch back to the original defender once he recovers.