2007-2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

[ALTRNTV]

*NBA on NBC theme music playing (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=195478274)*

The 2007-2008 NBA Playoffs are officially here. They start
on Saturday, April 19th.

Here are the official match ups for the 1st round:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Boston Celtics vs
(8) Atlanta Hawks

(2) Detroit Pistons vs
(7)Philadelphia 76ers

(3) Orlando Magic vs
(6) Toronto Raptors

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs
(5) Washington Wizards

WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs
(8) Denver Nuggets

(2) New Orleans Hornets vs
(7) Dallas Mavericks

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs
(6) Phoenix Suns

(4) Utah Jazz vs
(5) Houston Rockets

http://i32.tinypic.com/307x0kx.jpg

These are strictly my opinions/predictions.

My predictions:

First Round-
Boston in 4
Detroit in 4
Orlando in 5
Cleveland in 6
Los Angeles in 5
Dallas in 6 (upset special)
San Antonio in 7
Utah in 6

Conference Semi-finals -
Boston in 6 (vs Cleveland)
Detroit in 5 (vs Orlando)
Los Angeles in 6 (vs Utah)
San Antonio in 6 (vs Dallas)

Conference Finals-
Boston in 6 (vs Detroit)
Los Angeles in 6 (vs San Antonio)

Finals
http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/celtics_logo.gif http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lakers_logo.gif
Los Angeles in 6

The only real upset I see is Dallas beating New Orleans
in the first round, due to the fact that the Hornets
have zero to little playoff experience. Dallas has been
on the big stage for quite awhile now.

I love the bracket. New Orleans, San Antonio, Phoenix, and
Dallas are all on the opposing bracket, so we only have to
face ONE of them if we reach the WCF.

DISCUSS! MAKE PREDICTIONS! See how right/wrong you were.
I think this year's playoffs will be the most exciting in awhile.

[Xandy Boosts]

haha I love your intro! nba on nbc! who else is rockin it on their ringtone like me? my cousin heard my phone and started ROFLing and screaming it's game time! :bowrofl:

oh boy, I'll make predictions when I'm out of school later. But what I wanna say now, every fucking series will be a GREAT series to watch maybe except for Magic and Raptors. They've gone downhill the past few weeks. My favorite playoff of all time thus far!

[Gnnr]

Schools gonna be out for summer, so I'll be able to enjoy this. :D I'll make some predictions later...after I finish studying! doh!

[s14_legend]

playoffs are gonna be sweet...hah DnB or espn zone again?

[Phlip]

haha I love your intro! nba on nbc! who else is rockin it on their ringtone like me? my cousin heard my phone and started ROFLing and screaming it's game time! :bowrofl:

oh boy, I'll make predictions when I'm out of school later. But what I wanna say now, every fucking series will be a GREAT series to watch maybe except for Magic and Raptors. They've gone downhill the past few weeks. My favorite playoff of all time thus far!
I've definitely had it as my ringtone for a couple weeks now, everyone makes a point of asking what in the blue hell it is.
I am not about to lie, nothing coming into this season had me believing that the Lakers would be this good, Bynum's breakout helped to reverse that feeling. All in all, this has been a VERY entertaining season, with Chris Paul and Dwight Howard having great seasons as well.
My predictions are about in line with AkademikONE's, though I think the NBA Finals will be a grueling and fucking CLASSIC 7-gamer, with David Stern in his office beating off the whole time on a bed of Franklins

[s14_legend]

yeah the injuries got me worried...but lakers pulled it off woot woot #1 baby

[ALTRNTV]

My predictions are about in line with AkademikONE's, though I think the NBA Finals will be a grueling and fucking CLASSIC 7-gamer, with David Stern in his office beating off the whole time on a bed of Franklins
If the Lakers make it to the Finals, Bynum will most likely be back,
and I don't think they'll need all 7 to eliminate the Celtics. :D

I have that music on my Myspace page. :bigok:
Damn, I love playoff time. As Kobe said after their
last game, "Laker fever is back."

Time to put up my Laker flag on my car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3vmpM2FGzU

http://thelakersnation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/averylade.jpg
Bring on the Nuggets!

[Phlip]

With a fully functioning Bynum on the squad, and as-yet untested chemistry notwithstanding, there is nothing between the Lakers and the trophy, until everyone makes their off-season panic maneuvers to try and catch up.

[ManoNegra]

though I think the NBA Finals will be a grueling and fucking CLASSIC 7-gamer, with David Stern in his office beating off the whole time on a bed of Franklins

lol... now that's a mental image... lot of good match ups... go Lakers!

[s14_legend]

heck yea laker fever .... ive been having the fever lol

[ALTRNTV]

ESPN is on schedule to finish building an ESPN
center across Staples Center, in 2009.

http://www.lalive.com/images/gallery/lrg/gallery_lrg_01.jpg
http://www.lalive.com/images/gallery/lrg/gallery_lrg_02.jpg
http://www.lalive.com/images/gallery/lrg/gallery_lrg_08.jpg

[s14_legend]

place is gonna be so niceeeeeeeeee

[ALTRNTV]

Anyone know if they still show Laker playoff games at Citywalk?
On the big screen?

[Rob's S14]

I'm a little worried that with all this build up, the playoffs could end up being a let down. It's just pretty hard for something to live up to such high expectations. As for upsets, it's hard to say that any are real upsets, but the only underdogs I see winning are Washington and Toronto. I can't wait though.

[woodchuck]

well - i have to hand it to the Lakers, they have a good shot at taking it all. I'll still be rooting for the Suns, but we'll see.

If anything for this year and for the years to follow... please for the love of god, ANYBODY BUT THE BORING ASS SAN ANTONIO SPURMS.

[ALTRNTV]

I'm a little worried that with all this build up, the playoffs could end up being a let down. It's just pretty hard for something to live up to such high expectations.
True, but even if they don't win it this year, it's not going to be
a "trade everyone and rebuild" kind of summer. We aren't even
supposed to be in this situation. If anything, this season was
already the success we needed. The next 4-5 years are the
important ones, as why Bynum was kept.

[ManoNegra]

Wonder how Kwame is doing.... lol

[SimpleSexy180]

oooo wee!! i cant wait! LAKER FEVER!

haha,
spurs and suns. what a first round matchup

[s14_legend]

lmao so useless

Wonder how Kwame is doing.... lol

[fliprayzin240sx]

I still think its still up for grabs...its anybodys ball game in the west. Any of them are legit contenders in my book. East, only 2 teams really matter or have my respect. Celts have a better chance than the Pistons just cuz the pistons are starting to show their old legs. You guys noticed they slowed down alot, hell Rasheed aint even getting that much technicals anymore.

[s14_legend]

lakers vs nuggets playoff game 1 sunday 12pm pacific time channel 7

[1quk240]

SUNS ALL THE WAY!!! AND NEXT YEAR...ALL STAR GAME HERE IN PHOENIX AND ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
All you Lakers, Spurs fans:fawk:

[ALTRNTV]

:keke:

Welcome to the thread.

:keke:

[kouki_s14]

here are my predictions taken from pick n roll on nba.com

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9521/94823209oi9.jpg

[Phlip]

SUNS ALL THE WAY!!! AND NEXT YEAR...ALL STAR GAME HERE IN PHOENIX AND ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
All you Lakers, Spurs fans:fawk:

You've been paying attention, right?
Are you speaking like a fan or like someone who knows something about professional basketball?
The Suns will not make it out of the first round.

[ALTRNTV]

Judging by the way he talks, probably a bandwagon fan.

In other news:
-Knicks fire Isiah Thomas (about time)
-league ok's Sonics to move to Oklahoma City

[1quk240]

You've been paying attention, right?
Are you speaking like a fan or like someone who knows something about professional basketball?
The Suns will not make it out of the first round.

yeah you must be listening to LA radio but if you have been paying attention the suns have won 3/4 during the regular season. I know its just the regular season but it still counts. And you must be a Shaq hater

[quote=AkademikONE;1979457]Judging by the way he talks, probably a bandwagon fan.

And i know just about as much if not more than anyone that watches basketball

[Phlip]

^^^ I don't live in LA, never have and do not desire to. The fact of the matter here is that the Suns WILL have a problem getting through the Spurs, and will be so beat to shit IF they do, they'll play sacrificial lambs to whomever they get next.
I am not even addressing claims to know more about basketball than others. Shit, I know I know a lot, but I REFUSE to give myself so much credit.

[Xandy Boosts]

Goin out tonight, probably gonna get home late but I already got my alarm set at 9am.

Gotta shower n shit before the game starts or I won't be able to get up until 2 series are over :bigok:

[1quk240]

^^^ I don't live in LA, never have and do not desire to. The fact of the matter here is that the Suns WILL have a problem getting through the Spurs, and will be so beat to shit IF they do, they'll play sacrificial lambs to whomever they get next.
I am not even addressing claims to know more about basketball than others. Shit, I know I know a lot, but I REFUSE to give myself so much credit.

I've got the suns in 6. It will be a really tough series but the way i look at it is, i think Dallas will thake out N.O. due to there inexperience. N.O. is a great team this year and I'm going on my prediction that if the Suns face Dallas they will win that series, also cuz if they(suns) face N.O. they will lose.

[Rob's S14]

damn the first game starts at 9 or is it 10...either way, thanks for reminding me xandy. i probably would've missed the whole first game.

[Rob's S14]

btw, not sure if you guys heard...Rafer Alston to miss 1 to 2 games. That's going to make it a bit tougher for them.

[Xandy Boosts]

:bowrofl: arenas with a fuckn DEEP ASS tres at the end of the 1st hahahaha. fucking love watching agent zero play again

Go Wizards!

[MikeisNissan]

Let's go Wizards!

[Xandy Boosts]

holy that lebron alley oop was NASTY

[ALTRNTV]

And i know just about as much if not more than anyone that watches basketballWell, your first post sure helped out your cause.

Nice to have a Suns fan on board! Let's see how much
Shaq has in his tank for a post-season run.

[Gnnr]

I know I'm a little late, and Wizs and Cavs are already playing, but:

My predictions:

First Round
Boston in 4
Detroit in 4
Orlando in 6
Cleveland in 6

Los Angeles in 4
New Orleans in 5
San Antonio in 6
Utah in 5

Conference Semi-finals
Boston in 5 agianst Cleveland
Orlando in 7 against Detroit

Los Angeles in 7 against Utah
San Antonio in 6 against New Orleans

Conference Finals
Boston in 6 against Orlando
Los Angeles in 6 vs San Antonio

Finals
Boston in 7 against Los Angeles :p

But I think many of the games can go either way, there may be some surprises, its gonna be great to watch. :D

So many games today!!

[ALTRNTV]

Wow, you're picking New Orleans in 5 against Dallas?
Bold prediction my friend. lol

[kouki_s14]

wow, first finley, now tim duncan? fuckkkkkk i wanna be at that gameeeee

going into double OT right now.....

[OptionZero]

Lol this spurs/suns game is frickin awesome

two game-tying 3's already, one by DUNCAN no less.

The Spurs and Suns have some pretty damn good set plays out of timeouts.

[Phlip]

That was the first 3 Duncan has hit all season.
This is a good fucking game, man

[WERDdabuilder]

wow what a fucking game that was. big ups to SA

[kouki_s14]

wow

that is all i have to say

just fucking wow

i hope all their games are like that

[s14_legend]

crazy azz game between spurs and suns

[Phlip]

Personally, I would not have given the Suns THAT much in my imagination, but DAMN... I am still struck by this damned game.
The outcome does not look good for phoenix.


*edit*
Watching ESPN now... Brendan Haywood and I are from the same city, same ages, both graduated high school in 97... In fact his high school is less than a mile from my house... If he had pursued that "confrontation," he'd have gotten his fucking face chipped, if our childhoods are any indication.

[Xandy Boosts]

both games were exciting. watchin the new orleans game right now. fucking good game, good crowd (although there are some empty seats).

I did my prediction but didn't post it yet. I think I called New Orleans in 6 over dallas :keke:

[Xandy Boosts]

ugh I hate my friends, damn band wagoners, they only watch the lakers

me: holy shit, 3 games played so far today, all of em nail biters, I LOVE IT!
other: er? o_0 I don't get it
me: playoffs you fucking eeeeeediot
other: what you mean 3? cuz they're gonna sweep? haha
me: .....
me: 3 games played so far man...
me: cavs vs wizards, suns vs spurs, and right now hornets vs mavs
other: oh I dunno, i don't pay attention to other teams. so all of them are on right now? i'm just waiting for noon tomorrow
me: you let me down, damn band wagoners

:goyou: No passionate fans.

[kouki_s14]

so the finals start the 5th of June(thursday) and my class finals start the 9th (monday)

Great. :fawk2:

[Xandy Boosts]

shit I had new orleans in 7 haha

yeah yeah some of you guys will probably give me shit about the east but I'm stickin with it!

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee315/GearAddicts/Bracket.jpg

[s14_legend]

lakers 12pm...lets do this

[1quk240]

Well, your first post sure helped out your cause.

Nice to have a Suns fan on board! Let's see how much
Shaq has in his tank for a post-season run.

It was a tough game for us but you cant just BLOW a 16 point lead and expect to hold on!!! I think Shaq will be more of a factor, he will get his head on straight and stop making stupid fouls. He only played 5min. in the first half:bash:

[ALTRNTV]

That Suns/Spurs game was something else. I
watched until the 6th minute of the 4th quarter,
since I thought the Suns had it. I left and then got
home later at night, only to find out about the the
game tying 3's. Crazy game. I want Phoenix to
beat the Spurs though.

Laker fever is back in LA. I see the Laker
flags on cars already.

Game time in 20 minutes. Can't wait.

[s14_legend]

lakers doing it big

[Xandy Boosts]

ugh my head is pounding right now. lakers bein down makes it worse but at least I know that if they're down at halftime, they won't come out all flat footed with no energy after teh half. you know how they are when they have big leads.

[Phlip]

Iverson takes on 2 stupid technical fouls at the worst possible moment, I LOVE it.

[s14_legend]

iverson kicked out of the game...

[s14_legend]

lakers win game 1 heck yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[kouki_s14]

iverson knew the game was over, but it was still a stupid move on his part to get a double T

woot lakers win

[Phlip]

It was stupid to take 2 techs in any one game in the playoffs, but most especially the first game of the first round, because that will set the tone for the series.

[ALTRNTV]

I loved how Kobe and Kenyon kept talking trash.
Doesn't Kenyon know not to fire Kobe up? :nono:

Good win for the Lakeshow. Gasol was amazing.
All his points were from dunks/layups. Denver has
NO interior defense whatsoever, and this game
just justified that.

The Boston/Atlanta and Detroit/Philly game will probably
be boring, so I won't watch them. :keke:

[s14_legend]

hah just more motivation for kobe...keep it comin' :fawk:

I loved how Kobe and Kenyon kept talking trash.
Doesn't Kenyon know not to fire Kobe up? :nono:

Good win for the Lakeshow. Gasol was amazing.
All his points were from dunks/layups. Denver has
NO interior defense whatsoever, and this game
just justified that.

The Boston/Atlanta and Detroit/Philly game will probably
be boring, so I won't watch them. :keke:

[Rob's S14]

You're not a true NBA fan if you aren't going to watch those games.

I missed the Laker game but it turned out pretty much as expected. I want to hear what Chuck and Kenny have to say about the games so far too.

[ALTRNTV]

True, but I have something to do anyways.
I try to watch as many non-Laker games
as possible, to see how other teams are
playing, but some games just don't interest
me (such as the Eastern Conference playoffs).

:keke: :bigok:

[Xandy Boosts]

The Boston/Atlanta and Detroit/Philly game will probably
be boring, so I won't watch them. :keke:

:keke::keke: Philly wins game 1. VERY NICE

[Xandy Boosts]

You're not a true NBA fan if you aren't going to watch those games.

Dude...I was a bum yesterday. I got about 6 hours of sleep and woke up to watch the Cavs/Wiz game. That 2 hour break between Spurs/Suns and New Orleans/Dallas I went to go grab some Pho haha. That Houston/Utah game got boring when Utah went up by alot.

[Phlip]

So will Lady McGrady cry when they get swept out of this year's playoffs?

[OptionZero]

holy crap, the pistons lost

now i think i should root for ATL

with a disappointing postseason, I got to think Rasheed Wallace is on the block.

He belongs in oakland.

[Rob's S14]

I think there's a good chance he could be traded but not for the reasons you say. He's going to be 35 and he'll be an expiring contract. I could even see them making a draft day trade to move up in the draft. The only reason for them to not trade him would be if they won the title.

I seriously doubt Oakland would want that contract on their books...especially since they got rid of J-Rich last year.

[ALTRNTV]

How do you guys feel about the Laker fans
chanting "DUI" whenever Carmelo shot a FT?
If you don't know, Carmelo was arrested a couple
days ago for suspicion of drunk driving.

I could care less. You make the mistake of doing
something like that, when you have millions and millions
of dollars that you could call a cab, or a friend, but decided
to drive anyways and risk people's lives. This is basketball.
People are made fun at, hated on, and jeered on all the time.
It is also the playoffs, where the intensity level is high.

Now I know the Denver fans will be shouting "RAPE" when LA
is in Denver. It's only reflective of how he'll rape the Nuggets.
:keke:

[s14_legend]

yup carmelo messed up...

[Rob's S14]

they should be shouting rapist...haha.

i think booing/taunting definitely has it's place. as long as you don't get personal like about someones family. if it's directed at the player it's all good. this is why i didn't get everyone getting all bent about utah or gs (can't remember which) booing derek fisher. he doesn't play for them anymore so boo his ass.

[OptionZero]

I think there's a good chance he could be traded but not for the reasons you say. He's going to be 35 and he'll be an expiring contract. I could even see them making a draft day trade to move up in the draft. The only reason for them to not trade him would be if they won the title.

I seriously doubt Oakland would want that contract on their books...especially since they got rid of J-Rich last year.

Quite the contrary, I think it's a perfect fit. Nellie's going to be in his last year, as will Baron (he ain't opting out of shit this offseason).

One last go with Nellie, baron, and adding Sheed makes a whole ton of sense, as there's no downside. Everyone walks, we hand the keys to Ellis/Biedrins/Wright in '09-10 with a fuckload of capspace (Foyle's buyout disappears then as well, and I think Jack is in his last year too).

My package:

Harrington ($9M, $10M left in final two years)
sign and trade Patrick O'Bryant to small contract starting at $1.5-$2M
top 3 protected '09 and '11 picks

I would swap first rounders with them this year but free agency does not begin until after the draft, which makes it unworkable unless we make a handshake deal to take picks for each other. In such an instance I would be happy to throw in an additional top 3 protected future pick.

I consider that a fair package considering Wallace is 35 and given his attitude /temper/antics he is unattractive to any team that isn't interested in making a deep playoff run. Harrington replicates much of 'Sheed's offense, if not improving upon it (Sheed is mainly a jumpshooter these days, and Harrington's a good 3P shooter). There's a considerable loss on defense, but Al is only 28, a good seven years younger. Al's a mediocre PF in the West, but above average in the East (lol at Drew Gooden, Joe Smith)

Two first rounders seems to be the going pricetag for recognizable names.
Patrick O'Bryant is just salary filler, but he adds to their stable of athletic young bigs. With McDyess a free agent and aging as well, they need young bigs. If it came to it, I'd be more than happy to add a third first rounder as well.

From the Warriors perspective, this move adds only $3M in salary. If we hit the tax, I think Sheed is a sufficiently talented and recognizable player that paying a one-year hit is justified, especially since we didn't make the playoffs this year. Recall that the Warriors were in the mix for Garnett, and had that paid off, would have required a sizable extention and luxury tax payments as well.

Baron, Ellis, Jack, Sheed, and Biedrins. That gets us back in the Western Conference discussion.

I'm rooting hard for the Sixers now.

[Rob's S14]

While that may be a "fair" trade it would be very difficult to pull off.

Seeing as O'Bryant is currently making 2.2 million, I doubt he'll be willing to take a pay cut.

While Harrington is a good shooter he can't come close to the complete offensive game of Sheed. Yeah he did get 3 happy this year but he still can punish you down low, something that Harrington doesn't really do. Harrington also played in the east already and wasn't really anything that special.

2-3 first rounders...I doubt GS wants to part with that much. Plus I could easily see BD opting out for a long term deal. He knows that Ellis is going to be the center of the team and they'll build around him.

Besides all that both teams are over the cap by quite a bit. Yes some salaries come off this year, but I think both will be looking to shed payroll.

[OptionZero]

I had this discussion before the season on a Pistons blog (guy who wrote for Hoops World and covered the Pistons):

1. POB's option was declined by the Warriors, so he's an RFA. That 2.2M was the salary of a #9 lottery pick, status he hasn't justified yet. Given that he's proven nothing at the NBA level, I can't see the market for him being too hot. Amir Johnson and Andray Blatche got only around $3M annually, and they might have been even shinier prospects.

Getting him to agree to a deal might be a problem, though, as he doesn't have much incentive to help us...but a change of scenery might be welcome. We could always threaten to match any deal we can (up to the $2.2M he woudl have made in the 3rd year option). I don't see anyone throwing half the MLE at him unless they're nuts.

2. Harrington (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=308) shot slightly better than http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=883 this year, whether you use straight FG% (FG/FGA) or TS%, which includes the value FTA's and 3's. All the offensive numbers are remarkably similar.

While 'Sheed, as you said, has the ability to punish someone downlow, he really, really doesn't do it much (whether it's due to fatigue or preference or just age). He takes four 3P's per game and rarely gets to the line (only about 2FTA's). The rebounding has also declined quite a bit as well from his glory days

3. Al did play in the East. For the Pacers. The 61-21, First Place Pacers. That's 79 games, averaging 30MPG for the 61-21, First Place Pacers that went to the ECF in '03-04. The prior season, he also played 82 games for a 48-win Pacer team. It's not like he was sucking on a bad team, he was a productive part of good teams (could you really hold him responsible for the H awks sucking?). No one's saying he's special, but he is certainly capable of starting for a good team (Warriors won 42 and 48 games respectively with him as starting PF). Billups, Prince, and Hamilton would still be around, and they were already planning to give Maxiel and Amir Johnson bigger roles in the rotation anyways.

4. The picks would spaced out every other year and probably need to be lotto protected. Perhaps a better solution would be to do what Chicago did and give the Pistons the option to swap picks, which means the W's give up draft spots instead of the picks entirely.

5. There's few teams with cap space and no teams with cap space who would pay Baron anything close to $17M, or even $12M annually.

[Phlip]

Man, if Houston fucks THIS one up, they're getting swept.
"houston has lost 2 consecutive home games in thise playoffs, is it over for them?"
"IS THE POPE CATHOLIC?!!?"

... gotta love Charles Barkley

[ALTRNTV]

Houston... the most hyped up team this season.
22-win game streak was for nothing if they don't
get out of the 1st round, but it looks like T-Mac will
not make it past the first round again. Also, they are
going into the toughest arena to play in, where the Jazz
were 36-4.

[s14_legend]

true that the jazz arena is pretty crazy

[yudalicious]

Houston... the most hyped up team this season.
22-win game streak was for nothing if they don't
get out of the 1st round, but it looks like T-Mac will
not make it past the first round again. Also, they are
going into the toughest arena to play in, where the Jazz
were 36-4.

With both Yao and Tracy healthy I believe the Rockets are a contender, probably not the favorite, but a contender. They addition of a PF who wasnt completely inept on offense (Scola/Landry) added alot to this team and really changed the scheme of things when everyone was healthy. The addition pushed the Rockets, imo, over the proverbial hump with teams like Utah and GS, whom Hou has always had trouble matching up with. Last year teams would be able to front or double Yao while ignoring Hayes who couldn't make a layup. I think the change was really evident when we played the Warriors the 2nd time (I think) with Scola starting as PF when their quick double of Yao also led to a quick 15+ pt lead courtesy of Scola making short distance open shots that Hayes could not make if his life depended on it. So that was a long winded answer for basically saying barring the injury, I don't think Hou is overrated at all, it just took half the season for Adelman to start the right person at PF.

Also, the 22 game streak absolutely meant something. I watched almost every single game of the streak (and really, of the season) and it was one of the best displays of team basketball and chemistry I have ever seen at the professional level, especially the 2nd half of the streak after Yao's injury. To not give them props is just really being blind to great basketball.

If Houston could have a full season and post season of Yao and TMac + a better PG (Rafer had an absolute career year, but the pessimist in me can't help but think he'd still get destroyed by the likes of cp3, deron, even parker), I think they'd be a shoo in for the championship.

[ALTRNTV]

I'm not saying the streak wasn't great, as it was
the 2nd longest in NBA history, but after pulling
from 9th place to 1st place during that streak, and
getting home court advantage, and then losing
BOTH home games of the 1st round...

T-Mac is a great player, but he has to carry a team
out of the first round first to be considered anything
greater.

However, when Yao Ming comes back next season, I do
expect them to be a force to be reckoned with. Injuries
suck... just ask the Lakers. =p

[Rob's S14]

I think more than anything that streak may have been their peak, and they just peaked a little too early. Plus without their 2nd best player it's hard to think that they could actually win. Had they not gone on that unexpected win streak they most likely would have been at the bottom of the playoffs with no expectations.

[ALTRNTV]

I still find this Tim Duncan 3 funny.
Suns must feel pretty down after
Duncan (out of all people), hit that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kurykcptkes

[Xandy Boosts]

I hope dallas and phoenix tie up today. I want NORLEANS to go to the next round but I want to see some first round game 7's.

[Rob's S14]

when you think about it, that was actually a pretty nice play. Duncan has 20' range easily usually from the top of the key is where he likes it. They were able to give him a wide open look so why not. Definitely unexpected too.

[Gnnr]

Uhuh, that thing had a nice arc to it. First 3 of the season for him too, haha.

[yudalicious]

TMac used to be one of my favorite players... but he is who he is, sometimes I love him, sometimes I hate him, meh. The streak had me jumping up and down, but I knew there would be unavoidable heartbreak later.


I'm not saying the streak wasn't great, as it was
the 2nd longest in NBA history, but after pulling
from 9th place to 1st place during that streak, and
getting home court advantage, and then losing
BOTH home games of the 1st round...

T-Mac is a great player, but he has to carry a team
out of the first round first to be considered anything
greater.

However, when Yao Ming comes back next season, I do
expect them to be a force to be reckoned with. Injuries
suck... just ask the Lakers. =p

[Rob's S14]

Spurs win again, I think they just have the Suns #. They definitely missed Marion imo. For all that Shaq does for them, he's still not good enough to get them over the hump and they lost a very good young player in exchange for an old and slow Shaq.

[az_240]

officiating is terrible with these suns game... 3rd quarter was just retarded for the suns.

[ziptiedae86]

I think the refs did pretty well last night in SA. One of the better officiated games IMO, since they allowed a lot of non calls and very few bs calls.

The Suns lost in the 3rd due to Spurs D. Its the Spurs' strategy: 1st half allow Shaq and Amare to score, but shut down all your role players. Then 2nd half turn up the D.

Stop blaming the zebras.

If anyone is to blame its your coach and your role players. Barbs made zero buckets. Diaw disappeared in the 2nd half. Hill is more of a liability due to his injury and should sit instead of play.

Spurs in 5.

[s14_legend]

yeah the suns just arent prepared...spurs are just takin' over....woot game 2 lakers tonight

[Phlip]

Suns fans are going to continue to blame the refs against the spurs, even when they're clearly outplayed.

[TOMKAIRA93]

Suns fans are going to continue to blame the refs against the spurs, even when they're clearly outplayed.

+1 on this...Phoenix fans can't get over the fact that it takes more than talent to win championships. The Suns have talent, but lack heart! Look at the Nuggets...so much talent for what? I'll be surprise if they win a game. Props to Iverson though.

[Rob's S14]

I think Phoenix's coaching gets a pass all the time, but look at how bad their defense. Kenny kept saying it last night on TNT, they were giving up way too many easy baskets. Besides that, the alleged improved defense that Shaq was supposed to provide was exposed because he can't guard the pick and roll and he never likes to step out on shooters.

[ALTRNTV]

I like how Phoenix and Dallas' trades aren't
really working out during the playoffs. Both
teams are 0-2 in their series.

I wish the Suns would turn things around
and beat the Spurs this series.

[Xandy Boosts]

Werd, I'd love to play the Suns again if we can get past the Jazz and Suns can get past Hornets.

I can still hear what Mike D'antoni said at the beginning of the season to Phil Jackson. See you guys in the playoffs.

[Phlip]

Werd, I'd love to play the Suns again if we can get past the Jazz and Suns can get past Hornets.

I can still hear what Mike D'antoni said at the beginning of the season to Phil Jackson. See you guys in the playoffs.

Actually, that quote very much sweetens a Spurs sweep of the Suns in my mind.

[Rob's S14]

I'm not happy per se, that the trades didn't work. I just hope that teams stop making stupid trades. There were smart trades to be made, but neither team made them. I hope that other teams learn, even though I know they won't.

[ManoNegra]

Lakers about to go 2 up on the Nuggets!

[WERDdabuilder]

^well who didnt see that coming ha. the will win it in 4.

i think NO will steam roll mavs. paul MVP!!!!

[Xandy Boosts]

Damn Kobe unstoppable today. I wish Coby scored in those final 2 minutes lol

[kouki_s14]

Damn Kobe unstoppable today. I wish Coby scored in those final 2 minutes lol

LOL i wanted that too, we're evil

[94cc0rd]

go lakers!!!!!!!

[OptionZero]

I'm not happy per se, that the trades didn't work. I just hope that teams stop making stupid trades. There were smart trades to be made, but neither team made them. I hope that other teams learn, even though I know they won't.

I'd be pissed teams became even more gunshy about trading or trading for superstars than they were prior to this season.

This was one of the most entertaining seasons I've witnessed, and the flurry of player movement was a large reason why. The '06-07 deadline was a dud..."no balls association".

At least we'll have Chicago, Dallas, and Milwaukee blowing up their teams this offseason.

[Xandy Boosts]

LOL I fucking love Charles Barkley

about JR Smith

"I don't get why you talk trash to a guy who just put 49 on you."

:bowrofl:

[fliprayzin240sx]

Suns just cant defend the Spurs. Between the Pick & Roll and the penetration, they just cant fucking rotate fast enough (specially with shaq in the middle). The penetrations by Parker and Manu killed them. When Shaq rotates to help out, nobody tries to cover Duncan.

[ALTRNTV]

Bryant walked by Marv Albert and Reggie Miller in the sideline announcer seats, pulled out his imaginary six-shooters and blew them off.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith made the mistake of saying something to him, which only brought more pain. Bryant went at Smith the next time down the court, got a layup and-one to get to 49 points, one shy of the playoff career high he set against Phoenix in 2006.

"Better learn not to talk to me," Bryant said of Smith's jabbering. "You shake the tree, a leopard's gonna fall out."
What a way to fire Kobe up.

“He’s one of those players that you don’t really want to make mad. He can make shots from anywhere with people on him. I was surprised (Martin was talking at him). You never want to wake a sleeping giant. He can hit shots on anybody, on a number of defenders anywhere on the floor.
Kobe with 49pts and 10asts. Lakers up 2-0 and I
really don't see them losing a game in Denver by
the way the Lakers score so easily inside. Also, getting
Kobe fired up is not a pretty sight, and he will want to
go out and perform well in Colorado because I'm sure
fans will be chanting things at him.

__________________

Celtics up 2-0 after defeating the Hawks.

Detroit evens it up at 1 game a piece against
the 76ers.

Out of the 8 series, only the Det/Phi series has
each team winning at least once.

[Phlip]

Suns just cant defend the Spurs. Between the Pick & Roll and the penetration, they just cant fucking rotate fast enough (specially with shaq in the middle). The penetrations by Parker and Manu killed them. When Shaq rotates to help out, nobody tries to cover Duncan.

You will stop looking at things as they are and you will start blaming Phoenix's undoing on the refs, asshole

[s14_legend]

can i say heck yea....game 2 win !!!! kobe 49 points.... i love it

[Xandy Boosts]

Great game by the Wizards right now! I'm not actually sitting down and watching because I actually have work to do today but from time to time I sit down for a minute or so. Woot. Go Utah next game...err maybe I'd like Houston to win a game or 2 ;)

[kouki_s14]

WOW

WTF happened with the cavs, i get home from school and see that score

I'm speechless....

[Xandy Boosts]

WOW great BLOCK by LANDRY at the enD! GREAT GAME by HOUSTON

Omg.2 left. Will Utah beat Fishers .4???

[kouki_s14]

WTF was Scola doing?? miss and make the wrong FTs

if utah gets a shot off and makes it, everyone is gonna hate Scola......

WOW great BLOCK by LANDRY at the enD! GREAT GAME by HOUSTON

Omg.2 left. Will Utah beat Fishers .4???

Too bad they dont have Fisher anymore LOL

EDIT:
houston wins
hopefully this will turn into a real series now

[fliprayzin240sx]

Wait wtf is going on with the Rockets game? Did they win? Fox is showing 85-86 Utah winning...

NM: NBA.com is showing the final score of 94-92 Rockets...

[Xandy Boosts]

Houston won. By 2. I forgot about Landry's toof. I LOLed so bad when he smiled :bowrofl: great win by a great guy.

Is anyone else as excited as I am. I know the playoffs started a week ago but I can't get over the fact that almost all the games are exciting.

PS Back to the Wiz game. Since LBJ kinda dissed Soulja boy in a way, I kinda LOLed when Deshawn Stevenson gave him tickets to the Wiz @ Home games hahaha

[ziptiedae86]

Lots of heart by the Rockets to win in Salt Lake. T-mac choked as usual the last couple of possessions but props to Landry for the block and save.

[email protected] boy chilling at the Wizards game.

[s14_legend]

youtube.com/watch?v=NPB9gzjXTcI (http://www.zilvia.net/f/youtube.com/watch?v=NPB9gzjXTcI)
LAKERS !!! need i say more

[fliprayzin240sx]

I think Rafer Alston is one hell of an under-rated player. He reminds of Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis (who passes the ball) rolled into one. He got the streaky 3 point shooting of mobley with the ball handling of Francis without being a ballhog.

[kouki_s14]

I think Rafer Alston is one hell of an under-rated player. He reminds of Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis (who passes the ball) rolled into one. He got the streaky 3 point shooting of mobley with the ball handling of Francis without being a ballhog.

Yeah, Houston really needed his help during the first 2 games. It probably would be 2-1 Houston leading if he was healthy.

[Rob's S14]

I totally missed the dissing of Soulja Boy. What did he say? I heard them mention it at the press conference.

Alston is ok, I think his best quality is that he's not afraid to take a big shot. He will actually try and drive or create a better shot than just a jumper. I think T-mac settles for WAY too many jumpers and fade aways.

[infinitexsound]

Suns just cant defend the Spurs. Between the Pick & Roll and the penetration, they just cant fucking rotate fast enough (specially with shaq in the middle). The penetrations by Parker and Manu killed them. When Shaq rotates to help out, nobody tries to cover Duncan.

thats the truth right there +1 for u buddie..... what a shitty play off situation in the nba.. eastern conference sucks donkey ballz and shitty teams made the play off...and 2 good teams are playing each other in the first leg...

i agree nuggets are blah lakers got it locked... would of been a better ball game say if the warriors was playin them....i think the rockets won, i turned it off i got bored.... and watched pinks all out in vegas...

[yudalicious]

Go Rockets! I didnt' watch the game and they win - maybe I should stop watching. On a side note, went to a club here in DC tongiht. Lebron, Deshawn stevenson, kevin durant (heard he's in dc in summer school w/ Jeff green), andre blatche, Joe smith were there - don't think they were together though. Outside the club, I actually saw steven a smith arguing with people about basketball - steven A at a club? wth is he doing in DC? And yes, he is as loud in person as he is on TV.

[Gnnr]

I totally missed the dissing of Soulja Boy. What did he say? I heard them mention it at the press conference.

Alston is ok, I think his best quality is that he's not afraid to take a big shot. He will actually try and drive or create a better shot than just a jumper. I think T-mac settles for WAY too many jumpers and fade aways.


http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/BASKETBALL04/804190479
However, the comments from Arenas didn't bother James.

"I know him personally so it wasn't bad as I thought he was going to say," James said.

Hearing DeShawn Stevenson say he's overrated likely did.

Stevenson said it after the Wizards beat the Cavaliers, 101-99, last month in Washington. When first hearing about it, James was reported in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer saying, "With DeShawn Stevenson, it's kind of funny.

"It's almost like Jay-Z (responding to a negative comment) made by Soulja Boy. It doesn't make sense."


Jay-Z > Soulja Boy :)

[Xandy Boosts]

Hack-a-Shaq in effect!

[Phlip]

In the first quarter, no less.
It would make my week to see the suns get swept.

[ALTRNTV]

Fuck the Suns. Why can't they beat San Antonio?
They are ruining my wishes to see a LAL-PHX WCF.

[Xandy Boosts]

damn refs are weak. that a flagrant? c'mon now....

[yudalicious]

Fuck the Suns. Why can't they beat San Antonio?
They are ruining my wishes to see a LAL-PHX WCF.

because they have players whose natural tendency is to not play defense and a coach who doesn't do a good job coaching defense, especially team defense. their defensive execution down the stretch is horrible, their inability to guard the pick n roll killed them 3 times in this series. Nash is a great offensive player but he gives up alot on the defensive end as well. You need to surround Nash with smart team defenders to cover his shortcoming, unfortunately neither amare nor shaq does that. The suns are in a shitty situation, tongiht's loss almost feels like an end to this run and gun phoenix era. Nash is not getting younger or better, neither is shaq. Neither is going anywhere and Shaq's contract is monstrous. And they're sold the draft picks they have comign up. So basically the only valuable piece to their future is Amare, he certainly has all the physicals tools to be a decent team defender and a great player. I think DAntoni's time is limited as well.

edit: don't worry, as a basketball fan, I'd like to see a more competitive match up, and I think the spurs fit that bill better than the suns.

[yudalicious]

damn refs are weak. that a flagrant? c'mon now....

could be construed as a flagrant, total contact on body, no play on the ball... you sound like a typical phoenix fan... jk

[Xandy Boosts]

could be construed as a flagrant, total contact on body, no play on the ball... you sound like a typical phoenix fan... jk

that's what most people do when they draw a charge
stand in front, hands to the side, swing your body juuuust a bit to get contact

me??? a phoenix fan? HAHAHA good one

[ALTRNTV]

you sound like a typical phoenix fan... jk
What a low blow. hahahahaha

:keke:

[yudalicious]

that's what most people do when they draw a charge
stand in front, hands to the side, swing your body juuuust a bit to get contact


except shaq got there EXTRA late, haha. either way, it's not that farfetched to call that a flag1, imo.

[yudalicious]

What a low blow. hahahahaha

:keke:

hey I added "jk" in there.

[Xandy Boosts]

true, I guess refs know about the emotion of these 2 teams riding high.

I hope PHX goes out with a BANG sunday?

[Rob's S14]

it was a easy call because the baseline ref saw shaq give him like a forearm to the midsection. if he had both arms at his sides, it most likely would have been called a blocking foul, no flagrant.

the biggest display that shows how much shaq has dropped off on d isn't his lack of ability to guard the pick n roll (he's always been terrible at it) it's that he's tried to take like 2 or 3 charges, and from guys like oberto...i mean shaq outweighs him by like 100 lbs easy. he's not even trying to block anymore because he can't. the spurs totally exposed the bad defense of the suns.

[s14_legend]

less than 2 hours til' gametime for the lakers

[ALTRNTV]

I'll be at ESPN Zone watching the game.

[Xandy Boosts]

I went there last week. Could only score 28 pts on the free throw thing though :(

[ALTRNTV]

My game-high on that thing is 48pts. Feels
good to see other people crowd up and watch
you shoot.

:keke:

I like the one at Dave and Buster's better. I have
a vid of me somewhere... I'll find it.

[Xandy Boosts]

My form takes a tad too long haha. I can't just grab n throw. I still shoot pretty fast, but not fast enough.

[Rob's S14]

Game time is 330 right? I'm heading down to the block to watch it. I hope their A/C is blasting.

[Xandy Boosts]

230 I think. But it'll probably be around 3.
there's still 8 min left in 4th for the Magic/Raptor game.

[s14_legend]

gametime folks

[s14_legend]

lakers get the win!!!!!

[Xandy Boosts]

no heart from denver. kinda boring after the 1st half.

[OptionZero]

Karl and D'Antoni gonna get capped?

That would be quite hilarious. Nellie missed the playoffs, Warriors extend his contract.

[ALTRNTV]

*yawn*

I thought this series was going to be exciting.
Pretty boring, just like the Eastern Playoffs.

Nuggets are done. Lakers in 4.

EDIT: Celtics lose to he Hawks. Wow.

[kouki_s14]

how the fuck did celtics lose? im not so sure they can win a championship if they cant sweep the hawks.......

[Xandy Boosts]

damnit wizards

phoenix came out to play damn! they are not going out without a fight

looks like when lakers were up 3-1 few years ago and they came back and won...damnit!

ps. some of you guys may wonder, damn this guy posts about every game.
yes I do. do i have a life? yeah I do, but the NBA takes over me once the post season starts haha :o

[MikeisNissan]

God damn Wizards..

[s14_legend]

yeah i thought it would be more exciting also....:ughug:-faces on the nuggets

*yawn*

I thought this series was going to be exciting.
Pretty boring, just like the Eastern Playoffs.

Nuggets are done. Lakers in 4.

EDIT: Celtics lose to he Hawks. Wow.

[bboyt3nsk]

WOW

WTF happened with the cavs, i get home from school and see that score

I'm speechless....

Its ok, It was just a fluke! You didnt think the Cavs would lose two in a row to the wizards?:keke:

Go Cavs

Wally needs to step it up. Wally has been one of my favorite players for a loooong time. And the "sharp shooter" has lost his touch. Although, hes showed a few signs of regaining.

[Xandy Boosts]

atlanta is fucking vicious!

[yudalicious]

atlanta is fucking vicious!

It was only a matter of time before they realized they have youth and talent and can be a dangerous team, they're like the Blazers of the East, minus Oden. And I am SO HAPPY that Boston lost, part because I'm from the A and part because I HATE Bill Simmons, who, along with other boston fans, is turning the celtics into the basketball yankees.

[OptionZero]

wow

did not expect atl to take a single game

[Phlip]

Kenny Smith (mis)pronouncing "Vujacic" is golden

Atlanta has loosed the wind from Boston's sails... Boston will still take the series, but Doc is looking for excuses and a scapegoat (and may be praying for an injury or 6) by now.

[Gnnr]

Wow, just wow. See this is what I love about sports. Survival of the fittest. The better man/team will win. Period. No matter who you think deserved to win or should have won. Atlanta is just hungrier and delivering. Whoever put money on Atlanta is banking. haha.

[kouki_s14]

wow, Boston loses again....

anyone see a repeat of last year's Dallas vs GS series coming?

[Rob's S14]

It was only a matter of time before they realized they have youth and talent and can be a dangerous team, they're like the Blazers of the East, minus Oden. And I am SO HAPPY that Boston lost, part because I'm from the A and part because I HATE Bill Simmons, who, along with other boston fans, is turning the celtics into the basketball yankees.


It wasn't the fans that turned the yankees into what they were, it was ownership.

The best part about this series, just think how good the hawks would be if they had picked CP3.

[fliprayzin240sx]

So Jason Kidd getting suspended for that foul? I think it could have gone either way. Hooked his hand over his head, I think you can feel the difference between a head and a ball...Im still surprised the guy didnt break his damn wrist catching himself falling face first like that...

And WTF...Hawks wont a their 2nd game against the Celts...2-2?!?! NEVER SAW THAT SHIT COMING...


PS: Gooooood bye Pat Riley....and looks like Lakers gonna move on to the next round...

[Gnnr]

I don't think they'll suspend him for that. It wasn't intentional, just an awkward position he ended it up in. If you see how it plays out in non-slow-motion you see that it all happened to quickly to be intentional.

[yudalicious]

It wasn't the fans that turned the yankees into what they were, it was ownership.
Yankee fans' reputation is far from positive, and Boston fans are starting to catch up to them. I don't really have a problem with the Yankees ownership, if someone is willing to buy up all the big name players, go for it.


The best part about this series, just think how good the hawks would be if they had picked CP3.
Don't remind us...

[email protected] Iverson dribbles the ball around the front court, underneath the basket then out back to the 3pt line and launch a contested 3. Out of a time out Iverson sets up Camby for a 3 (even though he made it), but still a terrible terrible play, if that's all you get out of a time out. I don't know who exactly to place the blame on, but the chicken nuggets are a stupid stupid team.

[s14_legend]

LAKERS sweep it...:fruit:

[SimpleSexy180]

where's my BROOM AT?

[Xandy Boosts]

Denver, first time with 50 wins to get swept out of playoffs :eek:

Kobe was just magnificent in the 4th. That one handed lay in kinda at the end, I yelled assassin before he made that shot. Black mamba...

[infinitexsound]

lol, camby said "it aint over yet"... AI & Mello better get the broom and dustpan, because they just got swept...

[Gnnr]

where's my BROOM AT?

I'll do it this time for PHLIP. ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Broom_icon.svg/400px-Broom_icon.svg.png

[s14_legend]

the game got interesting especially the 3rd and 4th what can i say...
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1650/wherekopauminioq2.png

[ALTRNTV]

Atlanta amazes me. Houston and Boston
had too much hype, look what happens.

Sweep. No more to be said. Kobe is the
best closer of the game, period.

Bring on the Rockets/Jazz.

EDIT: My predictions were way off. lol

[yudalicious]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKsS-3j9sfg

apparently KG shoved a ref's hands. according to league rules intentional contact with ref is an automatic 1 game suspension. if the NBA does not suspend KG the NBA is going to lose alot of its credibility with me. If they can suspend amare for taking 1 step too many they NEED to suspend KG one game for intentionally touching the ref.

btw as a houston fan I need to defend us. hou is not overrated, despite the 22 game streak no one thought we can beat the jazz (including me). so far in 4 games (2 of which without our starting PG, and of course all without our starting center) we won 1 and lost 2 VERY close ones. if anything the utah jazz are overrated for not being able to decisively beat a team without it's most efficient scorer and its starting pg for 2 of those games.

[Rob's S14]

There is always lots of intentional contact with refs. Guys give them pats on the back/butt, grab their hands or heads (especially the bald guys). You should be outraged about all those then too right?

[ALTRNTV]

I don't think that deserves a one-game suspension.

[Xandy Boosts]

man...4 games playing tonight. I have to study too for midterms.

I think I did bad on todays midterms cause of the Laker game and Atlanta game yesterday :keke:

[yudalicious]

There is always lots of intentional contact with refs. Guys give them pats on the back/butt, grab their hands or heads (especially the bald guys). You should be outraged about all those then too right?

um... shoving a ref's hands away in anger with both hands aggressively, moving him out of the way, is different than patting a ref on the butt as a gesture of good will, though both are intentional. you're just playing with semantics, you and I both know the difference. All I'm saying is, If they suspended amare and diaw for taking one extra step in the name of order and rule, they need to suspend KG. And no, this isn't because I'm a hawks fan (I can barely call myself that), I just want to see the same treatment given to everyone, star or not, historic franchise or not.

edit: also, marvin williams and k. perks also supposedly stepped away from their benches. so according to the rule (a bad one, imo, but nonetheless still in place) they should each get 1 game suspensions, and there is a precedent for this, last year's suspension of amare and diaw. If these things get swept under the rug, the NBA can lose alot of credibility.

[Rob's S14]

I haven't seen the tape so I can't give my opinion yet, but seeing as everyone else doesn't seem to think it was that big a deal and clearly the ref didn't, it's prob not worth a suspension.

[ALTRNTV]

Two huge game 5's tonight.

Phoenix at San Antonio
Dallas at New Orleans

[yudalicious]

I haven't seen the tape so I can't give my opinion yet, but seeing as everyone else doesn't seem to think it was that big a deal and clearly the ref didn't, it's prob not worth a suspension.

It's in the youtube link I posted above. No one really thought the amare/diaw incident was a big deal, but the NBA really came down hard on them after video review. It's not about whether or not people think it's a big deal, it's not about wehter or not people think it's WORTH a suspension, it's about whether or not a rule was broken. I think in this case a rule was clearly broken. The NBA set a precedence last year with the suspension of amare and diaw, they sent the message that they want to err on the side of the rule and order. If they don't follow that this year, the NBA is going to lose credibility. I'm waiting to see if the NBA will do anything, although it seems like this whole thing is just gonna get swept under the rug, how convenient for them.

Does this look like not a big deal? Incidental contact? I know KG isn't trying to physically harm or intimidate the ref, I know KG is a fiery competitor and person, but this picture clearly shows that he did something he shouldn't do, and if the league wants to keep its credibility, it should suspend him.
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/tools/shared/mediahub/01/60/22/orignal_522601_PNSUSG0_fight.jpg

[ManoNegra]

Yeah, dude was riding KG's shoulder so what? That's the NBA, that's the playoffs. Happens all the time. Let the refs call the fouls.
KG threw an elbow to the dudes throat after the play stopped. Let alone the ref shove.
But the NBA won't do a thing, KG is too precious of a commodity.

[yudalicious]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3374218
oh well doesn't even matter anymore. NBA decided not to punish anyone. How convenient. This is about the only time that I'll agree with those fans in phoenix. Shudders. The NBA, where rules are not rules if they're inconvenient for Stern happens.

[Phlip]

No, see...
Stern needs KG in the playoffs, to make sure the Hawks don't beat the Celtics, preserving his forthcoming Scrooge McDuck plunge into the pool of cash that a Lakers/Celtics finals would net him.

[Sil-Eighty SE-K]

ATL got lucky in the 4th.... that wont happen again..... lets not forget they gott acome back here for game 6 and 7 if needed

[ALTRNTV]

The Maverick's season just ended half an hour ago.
CP3 with a triple double.

ATL got lucky in the 4th.... that wont happen again..... lets not forget they gott acome back here for game 6 and 7 if neededThat's the whole point. Game 5-7 aren't even
supposed to be necessary for the Celtics.

[Gnnr]

Wow, you're picking New Orleans in 5 against Dallas?
Bold prediction my friend. lol

Hmm, seems like I wasn't so far off. ;)

[ALTRNTV]

I give you credit for that one. I thought
Dallas' experience would triumph, but obviously
not. Many will start to question (even more) the
Kidd trade, now that the Mavericks are out.

Detroit is now 3-2 against Philly.

This SA/PHX game is pretty good.

[OptionZero]

As a Warrior fan, I cannot tell you how delighted I am.


Avery Johnson and Mark Cuban, the new faces of fail.

[fliprayzin240sx]

Fucking wish im watching the Suns-Spurs game...its coming down to the wire and Spurs up 2 with less than 30 seconds left. 89-87....


EDIT: And just like that Suns season is over...Im waiting to get home to see how he fucked up on the last play with a fucking turnover...

[yudalicious]

Fucking wish im watching the Suns-Spurs game...its coming down to the wire and Spurs up 2 with less than 30 seconds left. 89-87....

Why? so you can watch the Suns continually turn the ball over? hahaha... Suns fans can cry all they want and make all the excuses they want, but they repeatedly lose to the spurs because they can't execute down the stretch in close games.

[ALTRNTV]

7 turnovers in the 4th. That'll get the job done alright.

[Xandy Boosts]

alright houston!

i want a rematch with you mofos, better beat Utah!

[kouki_s14]

that was pretty bad, 7 turnovers in the last quarter and 17 missed free throws (11 missed by shaq) overall

Predictions for NO vs SA?
I would guess SA in 6

[markyboi]

all i know with suns vs hornets is that parker will have a hard time guarding paul

[ALTRNTV]

New Orleans in 7.

Out of Mike D'Antoni or Avery Johnson, who's job
is more in jeopardy?

[kouki_s14]

Avery Johnson because their record against .500+ teams after the Kidd trade was horrible.

After losing 2 games to Atlanta, do you guys still think Boston can make it to the finals?

[infinitexsound]

boston, hmmmmmmmm maybe... the eastern conference doesnt have the greatest of all teams tho.. its not like they played a challenging season...

cant believe 2 great teams got killed in the 1st round...

NO vs SA thats gonna be one hell of a match up, im thinkin SA will get the win...

lakers over utah, and a SA vs LA final... dont care about the east.. since most of those teams dont have a good enough record to be in the playoffs...

[articdragon192]

Eastern Conference bracket has been an interesting one to follow however. Both the 1-8 and 2-7 seeded teams are going at it hard. Something that wasn't really expected, yet is happening. They might not have a good enough record to be in the playoffs, but they sure are putting up a fight against the big dogs to stay in them.

[kouki_s14]

Most people were expecting the Western conference to play the long series, while the Eastern teams were supposed to sweep or win in 5.

Now 3 teams have advanced in the West with only 1 in the East. Things are turning out to be interesting.

[Xandy Boosts]

I think that's what happens when teams get cocky and they look down on other teams.

remember Lakers vs Kings back then when it was 5 games 1st round? They took LA to game 5 all the time. Lakers looked down on Sixers and they took game 1 of the finals. I looked down on Pacers and they took us to 5 games I think. I looked down on Detroit in 2004 and we lost :(

[Xandy Boosts]

whoa is this true?

Avery Johnson already fired? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20516-Breaking-News-Dallas-Mavericks-Fire-Avery-Johnson

couldn't they have at least waited until tomorrow (if true) haha

[kouki_s14]

whoa is this true?

Avery Johnson already fired? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20516-Breaking-News-Dallas-Mavericks-Fire-Avery-Johnson

couldn't they have at least waited until tomorrow (if true) haha

Wow that was fast, I called it!

Avery Johnson because their record against .500+ teams after the Kidd trade was horrible.

After losing 2 games to Atlanta, do you guys still think Boston can make it to the finals?

Lol, but dam i didnt think it would be THAT quick.

Billionaires do what they wanna do.

[FRpilot]

Wow that was fast, I called it!



Lol, but dam i didnt think it would be THAT quick.

Billionaires do what they wanna do.

i think it has more to do with the team than with avery johnson. he's a great coach. the team lacks emotion and confidence, and i must say they play like a team that just doesn't care. nothing a coach can do if the players quit on themselves. i wouldn't mind having avery coach the warriors if nellie decides to quit or suffers from a heart attack. warriors need to play some defense and i questioned the player rotations nelly had this year, playing pratically a 6man rotation 40+ mins a game all season.

kidd has been terrible since being traded. dirk is great, but maybe he should considering becoming a #2 guy. dirk can still hit clutch shots and be strong, but josh howard is not a good sidekick. he's probably like an odom, good third or 4th option, but being the 2nd option next to kobe didn't work well for the lakers.

[ALTRNTV]

Isn't it always the alien who probes the human?
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3117/d400bc77d7sammyww7.jpg

Damn. Couldn't Cuban wait a day before he fired
Johnson? This isn't confirmed yet though...

EDIT: Looks like D'Antoni got fired too... wow. Not sure
if these are confirmed reports though.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jack_mccallum/04/30/suns.dantonio/index.html?eref=sircrc

Found this pretty funny. This was the SA/PHX series:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/Rerisen/oops-1.jpg

[fliprayzin240sx]

Wouldnt it be ironic if the Suns and Mavs play "coach swapping" with the same result next year?

[ziptiedae86]

NO played very well vs the Spurs during the regular season. 2x SAS was blown out of the water

Expect West to go off since no one on SAS can match up with him.

I don't think Parker (or any other PG in the league for that matter) can contain CP3, but hopefully he can make CP3 work.

Spurs have the hardest road to the finals IMO. Jesus

[Gnnr]

Early game on TNT today. Wiz and Cavs play at 6PM EDT, so thats 3PM for you guys in the west. Celtics and Hawks playing after that.

[kouki_s14]

Damn. Couldn't Cuban wait a day before he fired
Johnson? This isn't confirmed yet though...


It's confirmed. i assume nba.com wouldnt post false information

http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/Avery_Johnson_dismissed_043008.html





EDIT: Looks like D'Antoni got fired too... wow. Not sure
if these are confirmed reports though.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jack_mccallum/04/30/suns.dantonio/index.html?eref=sircrc



Looks like its been denied by Steve Kerr.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3374706

The link was from nba.com as well

[Rob's S14]

I'm picking Spurs in 6.

[infinitexsound]

thatz funny mark cuban is a character forreal, i enjoy'ed it last year when the warriors oust dallas in the first round...

his face was great... id have to say just as memorable as when baron davis dunked on ak47...

[WERDdabuilder]

you know whats going to be a good game in itself? paul vs parker.

i believe this will be a very...very good series.

CP3 MVP. this guy is just so good all around. and i will go out on a limb and say his ball control is probably the best in the NBA today.

[s14_legend]

the playoffs are starting to get a little more interesting now.....

[Rob's S14]

I don't think Parker will be guarding him that much. They'll most likely try to use Bowen on him, but the Spurs have much better Team defense than Dallas did so this will be a big test for the young guys on NO.

[Xandy Boosts]

WOOT Wizards extend series to game 6 back in DC!

[imnotmatt1189]

^ boooooo. i HATE the wizards. i hate their un-classy-ness and their whole "lebron james is overrated" attitude. i hope the next game bron bron drops 50+.

[yudalicious]

^ boooooo. i HATE the wizards. i hate their un-classy-ness and their whole "lebron james is overrated" attitude. i hope the next game bron bron drops 50+.

How are they unclassy? The series has just been a really physical series, outside of that one Haywood foul there has been very physical play on both sides. If you haven't noticed, Celts/Hawks, Mavs/Hornets, etc. have all been very physical series. And the overrated thing, that was all Deshawn.

[Xandy Boosts]

unclassy? This is the playoffs man, where all the shit talking begins. That's the greatest thing about playoffs and rivalries!

[yudalicious]

unclassy? This is the playoffs man, where all the shit talking begins. That's the greatest thing about playoffs and rivalries!

And people thought the NBA of today is physical.... wait til they see tapes from games in the 90s. now THOSE rivalries were real rivalries.

[Xandy Boosts]

I remember Malone used to drive the lane with his elbows pointing out haha

[NiSmo240luvR]

WOOT Wizards extend series to game 6 back in DC!

i was surprised as hell! i think if varejao didnt miss so many easy shots the 4th quarter would have went very differently. its been a decent series so far, im anxious to see how game 6 in DC goes. id like to see the cavs advance to the next round.

I remember Malone used to drive the lane with his elbows pointing out haha

oh hell yea. in the 80's and 90's, games were ROUGH.

[WERDdabuilder]

jungle ball son. LEARN IT.

[Phlip]

^ boooooo. i HATE the wizards. i hate their un-classy-ness and their whole "lebron james is overrated" attitude. i hope the next game bron bron drops 50+.

One would need to come a little harder than that to be called "unclassy," seeing as how LeBron's jumpshot mechanics are still questionable, he stilll chokes free throws that matter and still seems to only have a passing interest in playing defense. Yet, it seems that everyone seems willing to ignore that because he is the next big thing. His game is far from complete and he will not win a finals in Cleveland until they get some real talent around him and he addresses those sore spots in his game.

[Rob's S14]

I don't need to watch tapes to remember the 90's, and they weren't even close to the 80's. The difference is imo, that there are less dirty plays. There are no more "Jordan rules" No star gets the kind of beating that he took. No more clotheslines on a regular basis. There are still the occasional excessive fouls but they get taken care of right away. The games get physical but are still under control.

[az_240]

I still cant believe some of these officials.... the suns/spurs series' are always terrible for that.
and then what nash pulls at the end... gawwwwd.... just no confidence at times.

Hornets better take care of SA for me....

[Rob's S14]

Yeah the officials are why Phoenix lost...cmon dude, they just can't hang with SA. They made a bad trade that didn't help. Worse is that they've been consistently giving their picks away for the last 4-5 years to stay under the cap, that's the real reason why they haven't improved.

[OptionZero]

suns fans are still whining about officials?

so what has to happen before they shut up? Maybe if Robert Horry won while playing them 1 on 5 next year...

...but that's assuming the Suns make the playoffs again.

[ziptiedae86]

Looks like detroit will close out tonight, can't wait for all the games tomorrow!

[Gnnr]

Complaining about officiating is pointless. Because if the team that lost would have played better offense and scored more points or better defense and kept the other team from scoring, it really wouldn't have mattered if a few calls didn't go their way. Best way to deal with officiating, play better basketball. Period.

[Rob's S14]

Well said...except for the Dallas/Miami series. That was just too obvious. When basically everyone on tv/radio agrees on it, something is wrong.

[s14_legend]

i think this is how its gonna turn out

west - lakers vs.utah = lakers = LAKERS
spurs vs. hornets = spurs VS.
east- boston vs. cleveland = boston BOSTON
magic vs. pistons = pistons

[az_240]

I never said it was the reason they lost.... But when both teams are playing good ball and the game is close you'd think the officials would be a little more careful about some of these calls. Some of them were clearly just bad calls sometimes even made up it seems in favor of the spurs and when its the same official making the calls I mean cmon It gets pretty obvious who hes rooting for...

Its sad the league lets things like that slip away... not much can be done about it....
Suns did embarass themselves a couple of times this series.... Just gotta gain confidence again, play better ball and make smarter decisions when it comes to trading players for next season. I cant wait to see what they are going to do as far as coaching goes...D'antoni needs to step up or get out....same with shaq

Either Boston OR Lakers are gona take it IMO... Hopefully Boston

[OptionZero]

If you're mike D'antoni, why would you want to stay? Your fans and management are doubting you, your roster is aging, your cap is fucked, you have no first round draft picks in 2 of the next 3 years.

Go to Toronto with your buddy Bryan Coangelo. Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Jamario Moon await you. You'll have some 3p shooters again! (Bargnani, Parker, Kapono)

[Gnnr]

Well said...except for the Dallas/Miami series. That was just too obvious. When basically everyone on tv/radio agrees on it, something is wrong.

What do you mean? :confused: In my mind it seems so long ago, and its late so I don't recall much of the series right now....

[yudalicious]

I never said it was the reason they lost.... But when both teams are playing good ball and the game is close you'd think the officials would be a little more careful about some of these calls. Some of them were clearly just bad calls sometimes even made up it seems in favor of the spurs and when its the same official making the calls I mean cmon It gets pretty obvious who hes rooting for...

Its sad the league lets things like that slip away... not much can be done about it....


Why would the league or refs want the Spurs to win? Because they want to see the spurs in the finals again, so the finals can get the lowest number of viewers once again? Or maybe, is it because that there's bad calls both ways, and suns fans just remember all of them because the Suns consistently lose to a team that just executes better and smarter in crunch time? I wonder which is a more plausible explanation...

You're absolutely right that many of the games were very very close. The spurs just play better and smarter in those few possessions when the chips are down, when it counts.

[az_240]

do you not remember last season? The ref that was betting on games.... dont think he was the only one.

[yudalicious]

do you not remember last season? The ref that was betting on games.... dont think he was the only one.
He, and if other refs are involved, reffed (and bet on) alot more games than just Suns/Spurs games. Doesn't it seem weird that the only fanbase that still has its panties in a knot about supposed biased officiating is the Suns fanbase?

But, to sympathize with you, I hated the move to suspend Amare/Diaw. Horrible basketball move. Could the Suns have won without the suspensions? Possibly. Do I personally think they would've? Based on SA's success against phoenix, no. To make matters worse, Stern suddenly decides to come to his senses and ditch the zero tolerance crap in favor of common sense when it comes to his Celtics. I sympathize with you in that I would like to see more consistency. Also, doesn't it bother anyone that the zero tolerance rule STILL exists, basically giving Stern and the NBA the right to use it when see fit and to abandon it when deemed not? If you're going to use common sense, get rid of the rule.

Like I said, I have a sneaky suspicion that the reason the Suns fans seem to remember so many "biased" calls is because they are almost always on the losing side to the same team. I've watched just about every Spurs/Suns game in the regular season and the playoffs for the past several years. Were there bad calls? Yes. Biased against the Suns? No.

Edit:
Since I feel weird for making a long rant without talking about the playoffs, here are my picks (objectivity aside):
Wiz over Cavs (since I love/currently reside in DC, and I'm intrigued by the side drama, I want to see a game 7)
Hawks over Celtics (again, game 7 would be nice, and I guess I'll cheer for my home team. Also nice to shut those loud Boston fans up, who were all but ready to crown Boston the champs when they haven't even won a playoff series yet.)
Rockets OVER the Jazz (I am an absolute Rockets fan. The Jazz are overrated, and I was guilty too of overrating them. They can't put away a team missing it's most efficient scorer and it's starting PG for the first 2 games, that's not gonna get it done in the playoffs.)

[yudalicious]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080501

Usually don't really like Simmons, but the guy has got it right about the Suns and their downfall.

[ziptiedae86]

Nash finally became mortal and aged about 20 years in the last 2 mins of the series. As a Spurs fan, I respect the hell out of the guy. I hope he has gas in the tank for another season or two before he retires.


I would love to see the Hawks upset the Celtics run.
I can't bet against LBJ so I see the Cavs over the Wiz.
I love the Rox as well and hope to see them finally make it to the second round.

[az_240]

that article brings up some very good points.
Cant wait till next year to see what the suns will bring

[Gnnr]

As if you didn't see this coming, Jay-Z responds to DeShawn Stevenson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1-l1PoMcg

[yudalicious]

I hope atl pulls this one out, absolutely hate how whiny the Boston fans are on realgm.com. A week ago they were saying sweep, meeting the lakers in the finals, championship, how great boston is blah blah blah. Now all they can do is whine and pout about the refs, citing the fact that Atlanta shoots way more FTs as evidence that the refs and the NBA are biased... I would love to see the hawks take a dump on their silly pride.

Edit: game 7 here we come. win or lose, this is already a victory for the young hawks.

[kouki_s14]

wow, Game 7 for celtics

NO ONE saw this coming....

[OptionZero]

ridiculous! That's the ideal "new age" lineup...tons of long, athletic dudes with versatile skills. Don nelson's wet dream, except they don't too many 3's

Josh Smith, Josh Childress are RFA's, i wonder if ATL ownership will spring to keep both (instead of just smith)

They didn't even play that well down the stretch, too much clock-killing on offense and they didn't foul when they were up 3. Stupid coach.

[Gnnr]

This is pathetic for Boston.

[yudalicious]

ridiculous! That's the ideal "new age" lineup...tons of long, athletic dudes with versatile skills. Don nelson's wet dream, except they don't too many 3's

Josh Smith, Josh Childress are RFA's, i wonder if ATL ownership will spring to keep both (instead of just smith)

They didn't even play that well down the stretch, too much clock-killing on offense and they didn't foul when they were up 3. Stupid coach.

And Bibby's dumb play almost threw it away. Don't really like what he's brining to the team this series so far.

[OptionZero]

he's really fallen off

a few years ago he'd probably be just what they need, a veteran pg with 3P range and some (not great) play making ability to relieve JJ from the fulltime PG duties

amazing they've done it without 3p shooting so far

[ALTRNTV]

Atlanta forces a game 7. Wow. Atlanta has 37 wins,
which would be good for #12 in the West. lmao

[kouki_s14]

Bynum announced he will not return this season, but Ariza may be cleared to play next week.

[yudalicious]

he's really fallen off

a few years ago he'd probably be just what they need, a veteran pg with 3P range and some (not great) play making ability to relieve JJ from the fulltime PG duties

amazing they've done it without 3p shooting so far

to be fair, the call on PP shouldn't have been. childress was already up in the air pretty much. the FT numbers are staggeringly in favor of Atlanta. btw, Atlanta ranked top 10 in the league in FTA iirc, and I love the fact that they, outside of bibby and marvin, take it to the hoop every single time and are getting in the bonus very early in quarters.

[OptionZero]

thats the biggest difference btw the warriors and hawks imo

we have a "speed" advantage, but are not skilled enough to slash to the hoop and capitalize

for example last year
we trotted out starting forwards of Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus (prior to the big indy trade)

Both are "faster" than your traditional "power forward". Neither, however, has any sort of ball handling ability to beat guys off the dribble. Their entire offensive contribution was 3p shooting or garbage buckets, so as a result...we were very prone to slumps. The speed was useful on defense when trapping or switching, the advantage was not nearly enough unless they were on fire from deep (not enough).

Stephen Jackson and Al harrington improved that somewhat, because they are more skilled offensively, but Jackson is still extremely turnover prone and an inefficient scorer, while Harrington isn't quite big enough to beat 3's nor athletic enough to beat 4's.

Childress, Williams, Smith, JJ...they're all better athletes with more skill as well

[az_240]

too bad the hawks are gona get stomped in boston....

[Xandy Boosts]

Im finally at a computer right now

atlanta is nuts

i thought houston had it when almost tying before half, then they blew it

damnit wizards

[ALTRNTV]

New predictions:

Los Angeles in 5 (yes, 5)
New Orleans in 7
Detroit in 6
Still waiting for the BOS/ATL outcome

Poor T-Mac

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb300/azmainframe/wvsbj6.gif

lol

http://i31.tinypic.com/25f7qes.gif

[ziptiedae86]

duncan played piss poor on both ends of the floor

i'm impressed by the hornets' defense

david west was shooting lights out

spurs cant hit a freethrow to save their lives

hopefully they can grab the next game

[OptionZero]

Wow. Spurs looked old and tired in that second half.

Chris Paul = truth.

The Hornets play some damn good team defense, even Peja is surprisingly effective. Must be healthy and spry.