NBA PLAYOFF THREAD

[kghoya]

im going to have nightmares of gasol dunking over nobody all night long

why does carter play?

when was the last time camby went up strong?

i really figured jr smith would provide nothing in the playoffs again...hes the least of their problems

denver will be lucky to win a game

[RDF]

Apr 20, 2008 20:53:41 GMT -5 kghoya said:

im going to have nightmares of gasol dunking over nobody all night long

why does carter play?

when was the last time camby went up strong?

i really figured jr smith would provide nothing in the playoffs again...hes the least of their problems

denver will be lucky to win a game

KG, welcome to the club. Unfortunately, I think AI knows this after today as well--that ejection had absolutely ZERO to do with the non call--which was correct. I'll also point out after Anthony went 1 on 3 and drew a foul with a wide open Kleiza and Iverson--notice how AI just walked away and didn't go to pick up Anthony? Until Carmelo decides to be a great player--and not just a shooter/scorer--he'll never win a thing.

MCI--that Michael Lee guy should have his credentials taken away if he honestly believes Camby is one of the top 150, let alone 15 players in the NBA. Obviously he just listens to Karl's talk and announcer speak--which is baloney--Camby is garbage. Nuggets hope to win a game is to get Nene for 15-20 minutes--and that would likely result in a closer loss-but never know--maybe they can get one game?

The scene in Nugget lockeroom had me rolling-what is more disturbing--Karl yelling out and the mosh pit starting or the fact Kenyon Martin enters the picture--looks and walks away as if this is "normal"?? ;D

Kobe talking to Martin didn't bother me-but to the crowd? Is he an unproven rookie? He's at a level higher then that behavior--but it worked to get him going---so be it.

[jacko]

Apr 19, 2008 13:29:52 GMT -5 RDF said:

Hornets over Mavs--in 7 (I hope--I really hate the Mavs--sorry to the lone Mav fan here who was on my case last year prior to Playoffs--he's a loyal good fan and if they win-happy for him but I hate the Mavs-they bore me)

Haha, you hate the Mavs? I never got that impression... I don't have access to a TV like I did last year, so I won't pretend to know what's going on since I won't be watching most of the games. I think it's a hard series to pick. I get the feeling the Mavs were trying to recapture that most-of-the-'06-playoffs magic by adding Kidd. It's a roster that can win by exploiting mismatches, but only if all the parts are clicking, and if Dirk decides he doesn't want to lose. So I think they can do well, but it's pretty obvious that it won't just happen automatically with the addition of Kidd - they'll have to work at it harder than most. But this goes for any team this year - when I talk about winning, I'm not talking about winning the championship or even the conference. The west is just too loaded for me to make a pick with any reasonable confidence. The only teams I can't see possibly winning the conference are Denver, Houston, and allllllmost Dallas. I just hope they can pull it together.

[RDF]

Jacko--I haven't hated the Mavs in past--but this particular team--I despise--from Avery Johnson's whining/control freak handling of the team, to the awful veteran pickups--Juwan Howard and Eddie Jones HELP?? How? They were a team of role players and Dirk--and now they are same--but have a washed up PG who can't play defense against elite guards or shoot well enough to help Dirk. Funny thing is--I think Dallas is a perfect team for Allen Iverson--but don't think it ever happens, and certainly not with Avery Johnson as coach. Josh Howard is NOT a star but is still in that Jermaine O'Neal grace period-where people talk higher of him then his game warrants, and he stunk Saturday Night.

Problem with Mavs this year--Kidd getting abused by Chris Paul--and any guard who is an elite player. He's still a fine offensive creator/has toughness, but he's just not in possession of the speed/quickness to defend guys like Paul--few are--but he doesn't make Paul pay for it on other end of court either.

[hoyarooter]

I wonder if we'll see a better game in the playoffs this year than SA/Phoenix game 1. That was absolutely awesome. I'm waiting to hear Duncan credit Hibbert as his inspiration for that 3. Do you think that Popovich told Parker and Manu to take it to the rack in the second OT?

I didn't see any of the Detroit/Philly game, but that was the only result that surprised me. I heard Detroit was 14 up, and I figured the only question was how bad a rout it would be. Guess not.

Huge gag job by the Wiz. They spent most of the fourth quarter taking stupid shots, and once the game was tied with three minutes left, everyone in the world knew that it was LeBron time, and game over.

As for the Lakers and Denver, I couldn't believe how completely useless Camby was yesterday. Nice call, RDF. JR Smith is the guy that worries me in this series, because he was absolutely horrible in every LA/Denver game during the season, but he is clearly playing better now. I had to laugh yesterday because some moron wrote a letter to the LA Times after the Gasol heist saying that the trade was stupid, because Gasol had never won a playoff game - like it was all his fault. How does 36/16/8 taste? I thought Kobe played really poorly yesterday (I know he had 28 in the second half, but I thought he still played poorly), and the Lakers still won easily. That doesn't bode real for the the defenseless Nuggets.

[RDF]

Grant Hill has a sore groin and will limit his minutes--good news for Suns and their fans.

Playoff time has a way of seperating the MEN from the Bo---well in some cases they don't deserve to be part of the gender--so nevermind.

BTW--if Hill doesn't play and Suns win--he gets ZERO credit for getting his "first win" in a series. That is total female dog way of handling your lack of game. There are so many guys like this--Vince Carter, McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, that it's sad this list is growing while the true competitors/stars are shrinking. Makes you appreciate those who play hard/lay it all out there be it in victory or defeat.

[RDF]

T-Mac in the 4th quarter of Games 1 and 2---a total of ONE POINT. Are you EXPLETIVE kidding me? I'm sorry, but despite what Magic, Barkley, etc....say about "when they lose--it's not Tracy's fault"--i'm not buying it. You are the guy who wanted out of the "sidekick" role in Toronto to be the "guy"--and you've delivered what? Home court or not-you have to win a series at some point to be a franchise player.

As for Garnett--he's on a team that should be in ECF at worst--and he's done a nice job blending in--but do we really need to discuss his performances in big moments to wake up the damn Gatorade people with his "Clutch" ad that is repeatedly shown? Maybe Boston is such a blessed place--it'll never come down to a close game with him needing to do anything--if it does--we'll see if he lives up to the talk/ad that is hyping him as "clutch".

[kghoya]

i really hope the jazz can beat the lakers...

[vcjack]

Well the wizards have been inspiring. Hopefully there will be some extra rally towels lying around on thursday so that if they soil themselves again they can at least clean up the mess

Hopefully I'll at least get to see Lebron do some cool stuff from my seat up in the 400's

[JohnJacquesLayup]

Apr 21, 2008 16:38:08 GMT -5 RDF said:

Grant Hill has a sore groin and will limit his minutes--good news for Suns and their fans.

Playoff time has a way of seperating the MEN from the Bo---well in some cases they don't deserve to be part of the gender--so nevermind.

BTW--if Hill doesn't play and Suns win--he gets ZERO credit for getting his "first win" in a series. That is total female dog way of handling your lack of game. There are so many guys like this--Vince Carter, McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, that it's sad this list is growing while the true competitors/stars are shrinking. Makes you appreciate those who play hard/lay it all out there be it in victory or defeat.

So wait, are you not a Grant Hill fan???

[kghoya]

imagine if the nuggets didnt have the leagues second best defensive player...they would probably give up 200 points per game

[vcjack]

Dwight Howard is on his way to AVERAGING 20 and 20 a night during the post season

Ewing should get a raise for the work he's done with superman down in Disneyworld


Oh and I'm convinced that the best point guard in the world is reigning from the Big Easy, Paul's just mutilating Dallas

[SFHoya99]

I think the best PG in the world discussion needs to wait for a New Orleans - Utah series. Paul is awesome; I'm not at all convinced he's better than Williams.

[AustinHoya03]

Apr 23, 2008 8:53:12 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

I think the best PG in the world discussion needs to wait for a New Orleans - Utah series. Paul is awesome; I'm not at all convinced he's better than Williams.

I think Paul is the better player because he gives so much effort on every play. I have never seen him take a play off. Also, he's not just one great player on a mediocre team. [/Hansbrough logic]

Going back to the playoffs, did anyone else watch the end of Phoenix/San Antonio last night? By the end of Game 2 I was convinced the Suns will win Game 3 in Phoenix. The Spurs can't play with a lead, Amare Stoudamire was eating Tim Duncan's lunch in the 4th quarter, and if Boris Diaw hadn't done something stupid every time he touched the ball, the Suns might have come all the way back in Game 2.

[kghoya]

i started rooting for the suns once the hack a shaq started in the 3rd...thats not exactly easy on the eyes

[RDF]

The problem with the Suns is--Boris Diaw does do stupid stuff--and why were the Suns going to him? Stoudemire didn't do much at all in the 2nd Half--but he played good defense on Duncan in 4th--but problem is D'Antoni went to Shaq--and the Spurs who were struggling went pick and roll and finished the Suns off with 2 hoops.

Phoenix problem is that they are a stupid team. They get stupid fouls, play stupid with a lead, and just don't have any composure. When things get out of sort--they change what they do-the fact is they should be up 2-0 against Spurs right now--but Spurs stay with what they do--and get back into the game--because they know Suns play in lulls. Spurs struggling scoring away from home--so Suns can easily hold serve at home and have things tied up going into Game 5. Barbosa has to play better, Diaw has to pretend it's '06 Playoffs and do something, and Nash has to quit making stupid turnovers at critical moments. Grant Hill has to do what he does best--sit and watch with an injury.

Jason Kidd is getting his ass handed to him. If any trade is being made to look foolish--it's the trade to get Kidd--who can't defend anyone--and Chris Paul is making him look foolish out there.

Dwight Howard---Barkley says it best "That boy is a MAN".

Tonight--the freakshow that is the Nuggets "359"--and then people mosh it up with Karl, is going to start Kleiza and bench Anthony Carter. BTW--Ron Artest was sitting near the Nugget bench for Game 1 and I'm convinced the Nuggets will get him this offseason and possibly Pac Man Jones and Chris Henry too. They don't have enough "characters" on that team. I'll take Lakers by 25 tonight. Kobe will have a huge game, Gasol won't score as much--but might shoot 90% from floor, and Luke Walton and Odom will continue to score off layups and dunks. Nuggets will have an early lead and meltdown after some tough calls and get blown out in 2nd Half. Hope I'm wrong for Iverson's sake--but I have no faith in that team and believe they lack character as an organization.

Celtics will win--but Bibby is my new hero for calling out "Bandwagon" Celtic mania. This Garnett ad from Gatorade is slowly approaching Tyler Hansbrough/Coach K status with me. "Clutch" players have more then 2 playoff series win in their career. He will equal/if not surpass that number this year--but let's wait before slurping at all things KG in the postseason until he does something worthy of the praise.

Philly is fun to watch, built as I wish they were when Iverson was there--but I credit Ed Stefanski for making the move to running more and getting up and down. Pistons are going to have to break that team up after they gag this year and Flip will be fired. After seeing Game 1--they will NOT win a championship this year. They don't have the mentality to do so--they mess around too much in games and their team this year reminds me of the attitude Laker team they beat for title had.

[SFHoya99]

Some NBA thoughts:

1. Can someone explain to me why it's so obvious to every analyst that "Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA" when it isn't nearly as clear to me. I see a lot of other contenders and it's amazing to me that people can parrot this line without even a nod to someone like LeBron.

2. Watching Lamar Odom in Game 1 must give people headaches. He can be so good and so very bad. But we should give tapes of that game to Greg Monroe because Greg could someday be that guy. (Someday -- Lamar had NBA handles before he got to college).

3. If I were a gambling man, the easiest bet this first round would have been to the Hornets. How many people picked Dallas because of experience? We all blasted the Kidd trade then and Chris Paul is proving smart people right.

4. Yes, Garnett is not a crunch time scorer but the Celts don't need him to be -- Pierce is that guy for them. This is the perfect spot for Garnett and he's been awesome this year. He's just a different style of player. He's not Duncan but he's still a great player.

5. I find the Pistons' players to be so ridiculously unlikeable that I thoroughly enjoyed the Game 1 choke job.

[RDF]

Marcus Camby SUCKS.

All that needs to be said about this series. He's worthless.

[MCIGuy]

Barkley was wrong. The most stupid team in the history of mankind are the Nuggets.

[kghoya]

im so glad i cant watch the game on saturday. i know it was my own stupid choice to watch the entire game last night...but id still like to blame the nuggets for my low energy level today...i am so tired