Who Wins the O'Brien Trophy?

from a website:
Grade 1 Hamstring strain
With a grade 1 hamstring strain the athlete may have tightness in back of the thigh but will be able to walk normally. They will be aware of some discomfort and unable to operate at full speed. There will be little swelling and trying to bend the knee against resistance is unlikely to reproduce much pain.

Sounds to me that Parker can play through that at reduced performance leve but....at risk of a hamstring tear.  Uggh!

MTJazz wrote:

from a website:
Grade 1 Hamstring strain
With a grade 1 hamstring strain the athlete may have tightness in back of the thigh but will be able to walk normally. They will be aware of some discomfort and unable to operate at full speed. There will be little swelling and trying to bend the knee against resistance is unlikely to reproduce much pain.

Sounds to me that Parker can play through that at reduced performance leve but....at risk of a hamstring tear.  Uggh!

Yeah, I just saw this on a golf website: 
Hamstring Injury Grade 1
A grade 1 strain will take about a week of recovery time. A grade 1 strain hurts minimally, there is no pain walking, and motion isn't hindered. But it is imperative that you not play golf or exercise your leg. Increased work and stress can be put on the leg after week one. If you jump into swinging or exercising immediately after the injury, there is a good chance of increased severity.

Last night we saw Miami with the superstar version of Dwayne Wade and it really gives Miami a different look.   I thought Wade was the MVP of the game.  He got going on both ends of the floor before Lebron did, and he brought it both halfs.  Parker's play with his strained hamstring exceeded my expectations, but there was just too much Wade and Lebron. 

There is another guy with the heart of a champion that hasn't shown up, and that is Ginobili.  The Spurs need more from him, but it remains a question mark whether we will get it.  So far he really looks shaky out there --- like a former champion whose time has come and gone.

Yea D Wade played at his old alstar level last night. MVP for the game. Spurs have a must win game on sunday because no way they go to Miami and win two games in a roll. Spurs need to make free throws and drink a couple 5 hr energy drinks before next game!

So who do you think wins pivotal game 5 tonight?

I'm sticking to my guns and say San Antonio in a squeaker, no blow outs tonight.  I expect the SA role players have some fire again and even Manu having a reasonable game.

MTJazz wrote:

So who do you think wins pivotal game 5 tonight?

I'm sticking to my guns and say San Antonio in a squeaker, no blow outs tonight.  I expect the SA role players have some fire again and even Manu having a reasonable game.

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Well, I think it all comes down to Tony Parker. Sounds like he's one step away from a tear. If he's close to his usual self, then I think San An goes up tonight.

I think Parker, Duncan, Wade and Lebron will all have pretty good games tonight, but that Parker and Duncan won't produce enough to offset Wade and Lebron.  So it will take superior play by the Spurs remaining players compared to the remaining Miami players for the Spurs to get the win.  I think the Spurs will get that good play out of some of their remaining players on their home floor tonight and get the win, but a person could do well in life betting against my NBA predictions.  LOL.

I am kinda rootin' for the Spurs because I still don't like the way the Miami Big Three got together and declared themselves a dynasty.

Odds makers have Spurs by a hair but the line is thin given Wade appears capable of being Dwade again.

Down with the Declared Dynasty!

MTJazz wrote:

Odds makers have Spurs by a hair but the line is thin given Wade appears capable of being Dwade again.

Down with the Declared Dynasty!

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I dont think Wade does it again myself. I think that was his one show. I do think however, that Manu shows up. Which at this point might even be more crazy. 

Crunch, KINDA rooting for the Spurs because of the way they got together? Man, I'm all the way in rooting against them. Would be hilarious.

re:  Yeah Crunch, I thought we both shared a longstanding respect for the Spurs instead of kinda rooting for them against the Evil Purchased Empire.

Gotta temper my enthusiasm.  After all, this is a Jazz board! 

It was a brilliant move by Pop to start Manu, to change things up and put Manu in a position where it was easier for him to get his game going.  A lesser coach might have stuck with what was not working, or perhaps given up on him and played him less minutes.

Here is a classic, funny response from crusty old Pop when a reporter asked him about the similarity between Bruce Bowen and Danny Green:

"I guess they're both similar in neither one of them has any moves."

I am trying to go to new forum to sign up and post after game 6 in the finals, but I get "problem loading page". 

Anyway, Pop looked brilliant starting Manu in game five, but he didn't look too smart sticking with Manu tonight.  Eight friggin' turnovers!!!  What do you guys think Pop should do with Manu in game seven?  If Manu doesn't get it going early and starts out throwin' the ball away again, I think Pop should severely limit Manu's minutes.

Crunchtime1 wrote:

I am trying to go to new forum to sign up and post after game 6 in the finals, but I get "problem loading page". 

Anyway, Pop looked brilliant starting Manu in game five, but he didn't look too smart sticking with Manu tonight.  Eight friggin' turnovers!!!  What do you guys think Pop should do with Manu in game seven?  If Manu doesn't get it going early and starts out throwin' the ball away again, I think Pop should severely limit Manu's minutes.

Ya, Manu was unbelievably bad last night. I think they will need him to be at least decent to win this thing though, so I think you've got to stick with him.

The host for the new forum has been working through some issues, and they have been down around midnight MTN time for the last few nights doing maintenance. You should be good to go to sign up today.

When his team loses, even the greatest active Coach in the NBA gets questioned: 

Gregg Popovich's substitutions open to second-guessing after Spurs' Game 6 NBA Finals loss

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--gregg-popovich-s-substitutions-open-to-second-guessing-after-spurs--game-6-loss-064549161.html

Folks are wondering about him sitting Duncan for a couple of defensive sets where Miami then got an offensive rebound and scored both times.  At least one of these offensive rebounds led to Ray's three to tie the game at end of regulation.  And they are wondering about no Parker on the floor for the possession where Manu drove to the basket and lost the ball --- final possession if I remember correctly.  I think Van Gundy was kinda surprised by the moves when he was calling the game, but Duncan and Parker are backing Pop 100%.  With all the success they have had, they would be crazy not to.

The old Spurs expended a lot of energy in the game 6 loss.  Too bad they don't get two days off before game seven.  That would increase the odds of old Duncan being able to bring it again.  Vegas has Miami favored by six.

Yeah, well on the odds.  I don't think there has ever been a finals series this up in the air.  Its popular to just default to the Heat on odds, but as we have seen, any night the other team can win.  Yes the old Spurs put it out there and will be on little rest...but, Wade is seriously in more pain/difficulty now that his knee has properly swelled from that hit...Manu still has the heart of a champion...Pop will get green open again...Duncan looks good.  On the other hand, the Heat have LeBron, and if he does bring it like last night, yes, Heat in seven.  But if he falters a little, the Spurs get that rebound, hit that last minute three, the refs have a moment of truth, who the hell knows? I for one have no prediction. Makes sense for either team to win. 

And, I think this is near the last post on this forum since the gang is shutting er down, lets move the conversation over to the new forum.

Post Script: Mt Jazz. 700 some-odd posts, former all star on the Romo forum do to game minutes but a slightly above meager reputation in the popularity poll.  Rookie again. But we just hired Mags as coach...all good, we will grow with the young team we are following.  Plus I have been working on my J, looking forward to my new contract, in great shape, ain't done yet.  Plus, Kanter is gonna be a star and Favors a pleasant afterthought, and I called that from day one, despite coach Mags opinion:)