NBA Playoffs Thread

[will641]

I think Washington could reak some havoc, they're playing really well.

In the West it's a toss up, but it's no secret everyone would love to play the Rockets in the first round.

wat? i think everyone would rather play dallas. but yeah, the rockets without yao is kind of like the old school lakers without shaq.

[bigspenda73]

Meh, Dallas is v v dangerous because they can play both styles of basketball well and for once, they're very much so under the radar. Guys like Dirk/Kidd don't handle the spotlight well, they might really excel in the underdog role.

I still don't think they have a single proven winner on that team, nor does Houston, N.O, or Denver (blah blah AI/Carmello, show me some rings)

LA, SA, PHO and Utah can get it done in my opinion. LA/SA from the experience standpoint and Utah due to the fact that no one is going into Mormon country and winning right now and Phoenix because they're just so streaky and as much as I hate the Suns, I love Amare.

I'm not saying those will be the 4 teams in the 2nd round, of that even 2 of those teams will be in the WCF, but 1 of those will represent the West in the NBA finals.

If I had to bet on it I'd say in order:

1. LA
2. Utah
3. SA
4. PHO
5. NO
6. Dallas
7. Denver
8. Houston

So there ya go, the Spurs homer isn't that confident. With Manu banged up and us failing to play well in the 2nd half of ball games I have no reason to believe we're playing well enough to win a 2nd round series in the West.

[Schiplt]

why does melo have to be such a dirty fuck and go do donkey shit like that

[mcatdog]

I will bet any amount up to 2K that the Mavs are more likely to get out of the first round than the Rockets. Bet would be a push if neither or both teams get out of the first round.

I'd like to see the Magic beat the Pistons, but it's probably not going to happen. If they play the Sixers I think they're more likely to lose in the first round than they are to beat the Pistons. If they play the Raptors (who are even worse than the Hawks) then I'm sure they'll win really easily. Cavs-Wizards series will be really good, Sixers-Magic could be good, otherwise the first round in the East is going to suck. I'll still watch every game though.

I'm one of the few people who watches mostly EASTERN CONFERENCE BASKETBALLLLLL so I won't comment on the West too much.

[Lukie]

Lol, you cannot be any fun to hang out with dude, I mean, you can't even take a basic ribbing about the Cleveland Cavaliers losing in the finals with out getting your panties in a bunch. Try lightening up, you're a Cavs fan, you should have already accepted your fate for the rest of your life, much like Cubs fans already have.

I could give a fuck if you went out of your way to say the Spurs were better, cuz, uh, that was already evident by the Cavs losing 4 successive games to them. You were frankly stating a fact that was proven by a sweep in their NBA finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It doesn't make you the bigger man, because it's not like there was any refutable evidence to the contrary (that being the Cavs getting rocked for 4 straight contests). Calling me a douchebag is silly too, because, just like the finals (where the Spurs won 4-0) there is no evidence that I am a nice guy, so once again, just like the four consecutive losses, you are merely stating a fact.

i'm not even going to bother reading this.. my point was that the cavs beat the spurs 2-1 in the regular season but this meant little to nothing in the post season, as evidenced by the 4-0 beatdown the spurs laid on the cavs. i was very clear about this.

[mcatdog]

Remember last year when the Mavs played the Warriors in the last game of the regular season, had a chance to win the game and keep the Warriors out of the playoffs, but instead played their scrubs and went on to lose? Tonight the Hornets have a chance to knock the Mavs down to the 8th seed, or else they'll have to play the Mavs in the first round. I kind of like the Mavs so I hope history repeats itself.

[martindcx1e]

dirk tilts me. i want to punch his face when i see him whine every 3 seconds. i know everyone else whines but his whining just gets to me.

[Lukie]

Remember last year when the Mavs played the Warriors in the last game of the regular season, had a chance to win the game and keep the Warriors out of the playoffs, but instead played their scrubs and went on to lose? Tonight the Hornets have a chance to knock the Mavs down to the 8th seed, or else they'll have to play the Mavs in the first round. I kind of like the Mavs so I hope history repeats itself.

kinda like when the colts rested their starters vs the titans...

[bigspenda73]

yikes really not excited about the Spurs path to the Finals

In fact, I'm down-right pissed off about it. The Jazz tank so they can play the Rockets. They'd rather give up home court adv. in the first round than play the Spurs/Suns. I don't blame them at all, in fact, it's obv. smart to do so.

Spurs/PHO might be epic again

[will641]

you almost have to put detroit or boston, assuming one makes the finals, to be the favorites, because whatever west team makes it is probably going to be so drained, physically and mentally. i mean in every round they are playing an elite team, that any other year could have been top 3 in the league.

[Lukie]

random somewhat related questions:

who should win the mvp this year?

who will win the mvp this year?

[Lukie]

fwiw, I think it should be LeBron, but it's almost certainly going to be Kobe. I think.

[bode]

kobe deserves MVP hands down. Chris Paul is a close second.

[Lukie]

kobe deserves MVP hands down. Chris Paul is a close second.

meh, I dunno. The Cavs without LeBron would be one of the worst teams in the league this year. Plus he has better numbers (I think?).

Then again, there's something to be said about getting the #1 seed in the west.

[mcatdog]

Does anyone want to bet on any first round series?

kobe deserves MVP hands down. Chris Paul is a close second.

"Hands down" means there is no close second. I think LeBron James played the best basketball this year but I don't really care about individual awards so whatever.

[mcatdog]

Series prices are posted on Pinnacle, as usual if anyone wants action we can split the vig. I would bet on the Wizards, the Lakers, or the Jazz. And the Celtics too since they win that series 98% of the time.

Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Wizards +155
Cavaliers -165

Toronto Raptors vs Orlando Magic
Raptors +230
Magic -250

Philadelphia 76ers vs Detroit Pistons
76ers +700
Pistons -900

Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics
Hawks +2500
Celtics -4000

Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs
Suns +155
Spurs -165

Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Hornets
Mavericks +155
Hornets -165

Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets
Jazz -200
Rockets +180

Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers
Nuggets +500
Lakers -650

[bigspenda73]

Kobe needs to get the MVP once in his career because he's going to go down as one of the best small-fowards ever and he's going to have a fistfull of rings before it's said and done. Lebron and Chris Paul have 10+ years ahead of them, give it to Kobe already.

I'd go:

Kobe
CP
KG

I don't even think Lebron's in the mix because his team had a mediocre winning record in the lEastern conference AND they were actually outscored by their opponents this year.

[Numbr2intheWorld]

Hey Kapila, will you give me 4:1 odds that the wizards beat the Cavs?

oh wait nvm, you already did dumbass

[Lukie]

Kobe needs to get the MVP once in his career because he's going to go down as one of the best small-fowards ever and he's going to have a fistfull of rings before it's said and done. Lebron and Chris Paul have 10+ years ahead of them, give it to Kobe already.

bleh, I hate this argument. The MVP is a season award and that's how it should be. Kobe was also playing with one of the greatest centers of all time in his prime and probably the best coach of all time as well when he won those "fistfull" (i.e. three) of rings. It should be a moot point anyway though considering it's not a career award.

Plus the guy should be in prison, but that's a different story.

I'll admit that he is deserving of MVP, but I still think Lebron edges him out slightly in it.

[bigspenda73]

"going to have a fistfull" not "currently has a fisftull"

NO WAI LEBRON dude, you're such a homer, which is fine, I'm one too. However, Lebron has enough talent around him that his team should AT LEAST be better than Orlando. A player on a team who played weaker competition all year (this point is not arguable) and finished with a record that would have been 10th!! in the other conference does not deserve the MVP. There's only one potential MVP from the east and that's KG, however, he has 2 perennial all-stars on his team which diminishes his individual accomplishments.

The Cavs were the 16th best team this year through the "point differential" category. 16th!!! You cannot pull the MVP from a team that mediocre.

[Lukie]

fair enough, and those are far better arguments for naming kobe the MVP than his career achievements.

[martindcx1e]

However, Lebron has enough talent around him that his team should AT LEAST be better than Orlando.

say what? orlando is no fluke. they are better than many give them credit for.

A player on a team who played weaker competition all year (this point is not arguable) and finished with a record that would have been 10th!! in the other conference does not deserve the MVP. There's only one potential MVP from the east and that's KG, however, he has 2 perennial all-stars on his team which diminishes his individual accomplishments.

KG's #'s this year are below his career average. Him getting MVP would be messed up cuz it would be based on intangibles. Dwight Howard is more deserving than KG is imo (But I don't think he deserves it over the westerners). Without KG the Celtics are still really good.

[mcatdog]

Yeah Orlando is a significantly more talented team than Cleveland.

Disagree on Kevin Garnett, he's the defensive player of the year by far and Boston is the best defensive team by most statistical measures. They wouldn't be close without him.

Like I said I don't really care about MVP but if I had to rank my top 5 it'd be
1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Garnett
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Chris Paul
5. Dwight Howard

[mcatdog]

LET US GOGOGO

[pankfish]

I think Washington could reak some havoc, they're playing really well.

In the West it's a toss up, but it's no secret everyone would love to play the Rockets in the first round.

Yeah Houston really sucks. Not like they have the best record in the NBA in 2008 or anything, what a bunch of pushovers.

[gabe]

i got 500 on all the favorites today minus the spread except the jazz +1

[will641]

im surprised no one thinks tmac should be at least a candidate for mvp. he led the rockets to the second longest win streak in nba history without yao, and it wasnt an easy schedule either. i dont think kg should really be a candidate honestly. the question is most VALUABLE player, and kg is playing with arguably two HOF'ers. also kobe has a good supporting cast of talent and veterans. fisher, gasol, odom, radmonovic, a few others. imo chris paul is mvp for obvious reasons, plus the fact that hes turned the hornets team around so much. before they drafted him they were god awful.

[bigspenda73]

I think Washington could reak some havoc, they're playing really well.

In the West it's a toss up, but it's no secret everyone would love to play the Rockets in the first round.

Yeah Houston really sucks. Not like they have the best record in the NBA in 2008 or anything, what a bunch of pushovers.

lol come see me in 5 games.......

[pankfish]

im surprised no one thinks tmac should be at least a candidate for mvp. he led the rockets to the second longest win streak in nba history without yao, and it wasnt an easy schedule either. i dont think kg should really be a candidate honestly. the question is most VALUABLE player, and kg is playing with arguably two HOF'ers. also kobe has a good supporting cast of talent and veterans. fisher, gasol, odom, radmonovic, a few others. imo chris paul is mvp for obvious reasons, plus the fact that hes turned the hornets team around so much. before they drafted him they were god awful.

Yao was there for 12 games of the streak. I think that Alston, Scola, and Landry deserve a lot of credit for that streak as well. The rockets won a lot of games playing good team basketball, and T-Mac has sort of reverted back to She-Mac down the stretch. I'm sure he'll turn it on for the playoffs though. Everyone gives T-Mac a hard time for never getting out of the first round, I don't think it's fair considering he has actually performed very well in the playoffs. He has just lost a few game sevens.

[pankfish]

I think Washington could reak some havoc, they're playing really well.

In the West it's a toss up, but it's no secret everyone would love to play the Rockets in the first round.

Yeah Houston really sucks. Not like they have the best record in the NBA in 2008 or anything, what a bunch of pushovers.

lol come see me in 5 games.......

You are picking the Jazz in 5? lol

I'm not saying that you are crazy for thinking the Jazz will win, most people seem to. But I don't understand what makes you think that the rockets are going to lay down and get beat 4-1.

[bigspenda73]

no point in arguing, let's just sit back and watch and in 10-15 says one of us can say "told ya so told ya so"

[pankfish]

no point in arguing, let's just sit back and watch and in 10-15 says one of us can say "told ya so told ya so"

Except if I'm wrong I'll never post in this thread again. pwnt

[Lukie]

Good Cavs v Wizards game going on here. It's tied at 46 right now, halftime.

Highlights:

Gilbert Arenas still has a sick shot, was draining 3's off the bench like crazy in the first quarter.

LeBron James with an absolutely sick dunk off a bad alley oop pass.

Big scuffle right before halftime.. technicals on LeBron, Antoine Jamison, and one of the other Wizards.

[IowaSkinsFan]

Anyone see that James alley oop?

HOLY SHIT

[Lukie]

Anyone see that James alley oop?

HOLY SHIT

v. v. sick

[martindcx1e]

well lebron made himself look like a punk with that scuffle vs. haywood. dude just stood up and started shoving him...what an idiot.

[martindcx1e]

also, lebron is out of his mind this quarter (3rd)

[bigspenda73]

wally better make shots or the Cavs will be fishing in early May

[Lukie]

This has been a truly fantastic game.

[Lukie]

L e B R O N ! ! ! ! !

[martindcx1e]

lol gg deshawn

[martindcx1e]

worst call ever on that jump ball. lebron is so protected.

edit: that was a really great game. lebron is pretty incredible.

[Lukie]

worst call ever on that jump ball. lebron is so protected.

edit: that was a really great game. lebron is pretty incredible.

apparantly you didn't see when lebron got jacked in the face while driving and no foul was called.

basically every star in the NBA is protected to some extent, but if you watch the cavs a lot, you'll notice that lebron takes a beating (and also gets a lot of calls).

[Lukie]

Suns 30
Spurs 20

shaq showing his age etc

[bigspenda73]

sigh I'm at work and can't watch, looks like from the box score we've turned it over a ton already

yay

[tom]

Gilbert was trying way too hard to be the 4th quarter force he thinks he is, killed the wiz offense

and TIMMY D FOR MVP

[bikes]

Skinner ....

.......
.............

[bigspenda73]

let's hope ginobili and TP don't go a combined 4 of 16 in any more halves in this series or we're gonnerz.

I'm being realistic about the playoffs this year, whoever makes it out of the West will have played 3 fantastic series, I'm just praying it's my team.

[will641]

let's hope ginobili and TP go a combined 4 of 16 in every half in this series and the spurs die.

fyp

[bigspenda73]

lol sour grapes much?

[bigspenda73]

once again the West beats the East, this time in balliness of a good game

[WildBobAA]

So I turned this game on with like 6 mins left in 4th, pretty crazy.

[Lukie]

So I turned this game on with like 6 mins left in 4th, pretty crazy.

yeah, whenever tim duncan hit's a 3 at the end of overtime to send it into double overtime in the playoffs, it's a crazy game

[bigspenda73]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

MOTHEERFUCJFDJFLKDAJSKJFJ DSAKJOEWHJROWAHEO;TJEWQARF
ASF

YEAEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIY

OMG
OMG
OMG

[bikes]

..............

[will641]

oh my fucking god that 3 by nash was crazy and death to ginobili.

[bigspenda73]

notice how we don't take the timeout and keep Shaq off the court

Pop>>>D'antoni alwasy

[will641]

also i changed my mind about mvp. you have to give it to lebron. every time he isnt on the court their offense is about as good as a good college teams offense, if that.

[bigspenda73]

and TIMMY D FOR MVP

QFT

[bigspenda73]

seriously, this has to be one of the top 2-3 rivalries in sports at the moment

[will641]

seriously, this has to be one of the top 2-3 rivalries in sports at the moment

historic rivalries >>>>>>>>>>>>> temporary rivalries. this is to say, watching the cowboys and redskins, red sox and yankees, steelers and browns, are always way better.

couldnt really think of any good nba historic rivalries....they always die after a little while. like celts and lakers used to be big rivalries, but now they could give two shits about the other. same with like, bulls pistons, or bulls knicks.

[bigspenda73]

wheeeeeeeeee good thing I said "at the moment"

[will641]

the point is thats why nba will never be an interesting as other sports, because they cant hold a fucking grudge for more than 10 years. other sports, they hold them for their entire history.

[grnydrowave2]

Can't believe Phoenix blew that game.

I don't expect Houston to get out of the west this year, but I think everyone is giving them far too little credit. Any team that wins 55 games in this conference, and bats .730 after losing their best player should be feared.

Then again, this is an era in which people are enamored by superstars, and not so much with defense. The only player on this team most people have heard of is McGrady, who has a reputation for choking in the playoffs (even though he averages 31 ppg, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, and shoots 44% in the postseason), Scola and Landry are unknown commodities to the layman, and most people wouldn't even put Battier in their top 5 defensive players.

I'm not making any bold predictions, but anyone who thinks Utah is a lock in the first round is just ignorant.

[will641]

its the same thing with any superstar or qb, they take most the criticism when they lose and get most the credit when the win, which is retarded imo, because theres more than one player on the floor, or field.

[mcatdog]

LOL at the 100 post Rockets fan who comes in here admits that he'll be talking smack if the Rockets win the series but he won't show up if the Jazz win.

[bigspenda73]

let's see if Houston can make a big comeback

already happened twice today

[Lukie]

also i changed my mind about mvp. you have to give it to lebron. every time he isnt on the court their offense is about as good as a good college teams offense, if that.

yeah, pretty much anybody who has seen the cavs play more than a couple games this year knows this.

but when a cavs fan says that, they are just being a homer.

(not directed at you)

[bigspenda73]

uh Timmy for MVP as shown tonight

pretty non-debatable really

Rockets juts came back, Scola going crazy finally

[bigspenda73]

oh HAI RAWKETS

uh, gg

[mcatdog]

I just don't see how the Rockets have much of a chance in this series, they have no offense. Hope I'm wrong, the Jazz annoy me with their strategy of committing so many hard fouls that the refs end up not calling most of them.

[will641]

yeah chris paul had a pretty terrible game for his first playoff game. god that guy sucks!

[youngsterrr]

the cavs will crush the wiz..
and boston will probably win it in 6-7 games

[bikes]

the cavs will crush the wiz..
and boston will probably win it in 6-7 games

...I lol'ed

[Lukie]

the cavs will crush the wiz..
and boston will probably win it in 6-7 games

...I lol'ed

i think he was referring to the cavs vs celtics series.. could be wrong though