Eastern Conf scout: Spurs best in West and it isn't even close

[julius]

the 09 Blazers were also not a well coached team (in the sense of they were basically an ISO team).

not saying this team is guaranteed a 1st round win, but this team is winning differently than that team did. That team won games it had no business winning, and wasn't nearly as good as their record suggested. And Nate was a horrible coach when it came to mid game (or mid series) adjustments. That teams playoff results was as much his fault as anything else.

 

[illmatic99]

the 09 Blazers were also not a well coached team (in the sense of they were basically an ISO team).

not saying this team is guaranteed a 1st round win, but this team is winning differently than that team did. That team won games it had no business winning, and wasn't nearly as good as their record suggested. And Nate was a horrible coach when it came to mid game (or mid series) adjustments. That teams playoff results was as much his fault as anything else.

Not to make excuses for Nate, but that Rockets team was also probably the best in the west that year. With TMac injured, Yao was so dominant as their primary option, and they had Brooks clicking on O as well, while Artest and Battier were the best defensive wing duo in the league. They would have beaten the Lakers had Yao not gotten hurt (they still took LA to 7 games). It was a horrible matchup for our baby team with like 0 playoff experience.

 

[julius]

Not to make excuses for Nate, but that Rockets team was also probably the best in the west that year. With TMac injured, Yao was so dominant as their primary option, and they had Brooks clicking on O as well, while Artest and Battier were the best defensive wing duo in the league. They would have beaten the Lakers had Yao not gotten hurt (they still took LA to 7 games). It was a horrible matchup for our baby team with like 0 playoff experience.

I do agree with that. Houston was a bad matchup, experience or not. But coaching hurt that teams for any flexibility. Get that team out of it's game and they were lost.

This team has much more flexibility.