RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on May 1, 2010 11:36:13 GMT -5
NBA Western Conference is becoming like the NHL... 7 games separate 1 from 8 seed in the final standings, mass injuries, unpredictable upsets (did anyone have Spurs over Mavs? In 6??).
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 1, 2010 13:39:33 GMT -5
Remember last year the Lakers were taken to 7 games by Houston in Round One and they walked to title after that with Denver giving them most trouble--but too stupid to win.
See it the same as Lakers will beat Utah in 5 games max, and then blitz whomever remains to get to Finals.
Dallas did what they always do--lose in Playoffs. Most overrated organization in NBA.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on May 1, 2010 14:55:08 GMT -5
Nice to see Green show up and play how most of us hoped/know he can--if he did that entire series--this might be going to a Game 7. Durant was awful tonight--not his shooting but his overall play just sucked. His help defense, his man defense, and his lack of going to get the ball at end when Thunder were clinging to 1pt lead and he needed the ball and to shoot--instead Russell Westbrook takes 3 straight shots and they are heading home--but got the "We're great fans....our future is bright" round of applause that appeases the locals and they'll be the "young team to watch..." which I dont' buy into--because ego will play a factor and their best player hasn't accepted the role of being a great player--he just wants to be a great scorer. Durant from Game 3 needs to be the player who shows up nightly and certainly in postseason and it's a shame how soft he played tonight. When he was on weakside and rotated over only to step aside and give Bynum a layup instead of playing tough and making Bynum go through him--it was very telling--especially when Thunder had come from behind to tie game. You cannot have this attitude from your marquee player or you'll be the "team that could've" for a longtime--until someone else's time comes along. Watching him stand and not try to get open while Artest didn't do anything but get up on him--he didn't hold him--he just let Durant take himself out of the play-well that just continues to raise the questions as to whether he gets it. I saw type of effort that his hype gets in Game 3 in a 6 game series. Next step--make that the norm. Can he? Yep. Will he? That decides their fate. According to Kenny Smith Durant will be a better player than LeBron in three eyars. Idiot.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on May 1, 2010 14:56:07 GMT -5
Remember last year the Lakers were taken to 7 games by Houston in Round One and they walked to title after that with Denver giving them most trouble--but too stupid to win. See it the same as Lakers will beat Utah in 5 games max, and then blitz whomever remains to get to Finals. . Lakers will not blitz the Spurs if the two teams square off.
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Post by redskins12820 on May 1, 2010 15:21:40 GMT -5
Remember last year the Lakers were taken to 7 games by Houston in Round One and they walked to title after that with Denver giving them most trouble--but too stupid to win. See it the same as Lakers will beat Utah in 5 games max, and then blitz whomever remains to get to Finals. . Lakers will not blitz the Spurs if the two teams square off. Lakers blitzed them two years ago (4-1) and the Lakers have gotten better since then and the Spurs have gotten worse. Duncan has aged a lot more quickly than Kobe. Don't know why the result would be any different unless you think 2008 was an anomaly.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on May 1, 2010 17:48:06 GMT -5
Remember last year the Lakers were taken to 7 games by Houston in Round One and they walked to title after that with Denver giving them most trouble--but too stupid to win. See it the same as Lakers will beat Utah in 5 games max, and then blitz whomever remains to get to Finals. Dallas did what they always do--lose in Playoffs. Most overrated organization in NBA. Minor correction: Lakers vs. Rockets was the 1 vs. 5 matchup in the second round last year. The Lakers beat the 8-seed Jazz in 5 in Round One. The Mavs losing as a 2-seed isn't incomprehensible, since they did manage to lose to Golden State as a 1-seed in the '07 playoffs. The really surprising thing is that it was a long in the tooth Spurs team that did it. The Spurs top 8 players are: 34 years old (Duncan, 31.3 mpg) 29 years old (Jefferson, 31.1 mpg) 27 years old (Parker, 30.9 mpg) 23 years old (George Hill, 29.2 mpg) 32 years old (Ginobili, 28.7 mpg) 35 years old (McDyess, 21.0 mpg) 29 years old (Bogans, 19.7 mpg) 29 years old (R. Mason, 19.2 mpg) Granted, they use a lot of players (11 players over 10 mpg), but still, I'm amazed they have anything in the tank at this point.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 1, 2010 18:27:52 GMT -5
Remember last year the Lakers were taken to 7 games by Houston in Round One and they walked to title after that with Denver giving them most trouble--but too stupid to win. See it the same as Lakers will beat Utah in 5 games max, and then blitz whomever remains to get to Finals. Dallas did what they always do--lose in Playoffs. Most overrated organization in NBA. Minor correction: Lakers vs. Rockets was the 1 vs. 5 matchup in the second round last year. The Lakers beat the 8-seed Jazz in 5 in Round One. The Mavs losing as a 2-seed isn't incomprehensible, since they did manage to lose to Golden State as a 1-seed in the '07 playoffs. The really surprising thing is that it was a long in the tooth Spurs team that did it. The Spurs top 8 players are: 34 years old (Duncan, 31.3 mpg) 29 years old (Jefferson, 31.1 mpg) 27 years old (Parker, 30.9 mpg) 23 years old (George Hill, 29.2 mpg) 32 years old (Ginobili, 28.7 mpg) 35 years old (McDyess, 21.0 mpg) 29 years old (Bogans, 19.7 mpg) 29 years old (R. Mason, 19.2 mpg) Granted, they use a lot of players (11 players over 10 mpg), but still, I'm amazed they have anything in the tank at this point. You're right Rusky--my fault. I think the Lakers would kill the Spurs again. Parker is playing like garbage, George Hill is good but he's not as good as Westbrook at attacking, and Duncan can't guard Gasol worth a damn. Way Spurs played against Mavs-the Lakers win that type of series in 5 games. If Spurs play their best--it'll go 6. It's going to be Kobe vs Lebron this year. League would be smart to keep the puppet show via Nike on ice until it officially happens but they want that to happen more then NCAA wanted Duke to make the Final Four this year.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on May 1, 2010 18:45:07 GMT -5
Lakers will not blitz the Spurs if the two teams square off. Lakers blitzed them two years ago (4-1) and the Lakers have gotten better since then and the Spurs have gotten worse. Duncan has aged a lot more quickly than Kobe. Don't know why the result would be any different unless you think 2008 was an anomaly. 2008 is an eternity ago. Those Lakers were far more hungry and Kobe was still at his peak which he is not at as of now. The bench was more productive for those Lakers as well. And these Spurs represent the one team that won't fear the Lakers nor be in awe of them. Key players on the team have won multiple championships. Its coach has been the most successful coach against Phil Jackson's Lakers in the playoffs and obviously is well tested when it comes to the playoffs. This is essentially their last stand and they still have enough to beat this underachieving group of Lakers (although the Spurs would be the underdogs). Plus it always seemed as if The Spurs would beat LA in the playoffs, followed by LA beating the Spurs, followed by Spurs beating LA....and so on. It may be the Spurs time to come out on top again.
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MCIGuy
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Post by MCIGuy on May 1, 2010 18:47:20 GMT -5
It's going to be Kobe vs Lebron this year. League would be smart to keep the puppet show via Nike on ice until it officially happens but they want that to happen more then NCAA wanted Duke to make the Final Four this year. Maybe but the NCAA was smart to give Duke an easy draw. In the NBA its the Orlando Magic who has gotten the easiest path... to the conference finals at least.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on May 2, 2010 17:14:16 GMT -5
Jazz look like they have some fight in them, assuming they can avoid any more injuries. That may be difficult, since their players seem to fall down as if shot upon contact - I was certain Deron Williams was done for at least 3 times during Game 1.
Hawks/Bucks was the epitome of anti-climactic.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 11, 2010 22:41:08 GMT -5
Kudos to the Celtics--that performance from Cavs tonight was Atlanta Hawk-like. You cannot keep a nickname "KING" after a game like that. Time for Lebron to earn it back (think he will) but man does that team suck. Mike Brown had the look of an idiot--oh wait that is just how he looks--but he was lost as can be and went into panic mode with the insertion of people into the game that haven't played significant minutes all postseason. Total collapse.
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on May 12, 2010 10:09:25 GMT -5
When Glen Davis torches you inside and outside on the offensive end and continually beats your big guys down the floor something is seriously wrong.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 14, 2010 1:32:37 GMT -5
Antwan Jamison is the Captain of the all GUTLESS TEAM. Wow what a suck ass player. It was Jermaine O'Neal's for decade, but this was some of the most cowardly play you can see in a Playoff Series--and add to that-they traded for this guy to help "get them over top"-which I still don't see why--what the hell did the Wizards do with this clown?
Credit Boston for having toughness and smelling fear in Game 5-and they took series there.
Lebron is going to take heat--and he should for Game 5-but he played aggressive and hard tonight--just wasnt enough. A triple double isn't something to blow off like he was tanking--but man do Danny "t, h, e" Ferry and Mike "Weatherman" Brown have to go ASAP.
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Post by HometownHoya on May 14, 2010 9:54:02 GMT -5
Antwan Jamison is the Captain of the all GUTLESS TEAM. Wow what a suck ass player. It was Jermaine O'Neal's for decade, but this was some of the most cowardly play you can see in a Playoff Series--and add to that-they traded for this guy to help "get them over top"-which I still don't see why-- what the hell did the Wizards do with this clown? Credit Boston for having toughness and smelling fear in Game 5-and they took series there. Lebron is going to take heat--and he should for Game 5-but he played aggressive and hard tonight--just wasnt enough. A triple double isn't something to blow off like he was tanking--but man do Danny "t, h, e" Ferry and Mike "Weatherman" Brown have to go ASAP. Not make the playoffs?
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MassHoya
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Post by MassHoya on May 18, 2010 17:41:32 GMT -5
If the Celts beat the Magic again tonight, will the story still be that the Magic played poorly, or will it be that the Celtics played well? After the Cavs series, the story was Lebron losing, not the Celts beating them. Not enough respect for Rondo, et al. It doesn't matter, if they get diised all the way through the finals and get their 17th championship.
Red must be looking down and smiling.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on May 18, 2010 17:51:43 GMT -5
If the Celts beat the Magic again tonight, will the story still be that the Magic played poorly, or will it be that the Celtics played well? After the Cavs series, the story was Lebron losing, not the Celts beating them. Not enough respect for Rondo, et al. It doesn't matter, if they get diised all the way through the finals and get their 18th championship. Red must be looking down and smiling. Fixed. I think the following: Orlando will win tonight, but the Celtics will win the series, taking the next two at home and finishing them off in game 6. Then the Lakers will get their revenge for 2008 - this LA team is as good or better than that team, whereas this version of the Celtics is not nearly as good - while Rondo is much improved from that team, Garnett is 85% of the player he was (up from 65% for most of this season), Allen is a step slower (and missing some big shots/FTs), Pierce seems frustrated. For the role players, Perk is Perk, Tony Allen is improved but is no James Posey, there is no Eddie House replacement (Nate Robinson gets about 2 min/game), Baby vs. Powe is a wash, and Sheed could be PJ Brown or he could be Mikki Moore.
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on May 18, 2010 19:28:42 GMT -5
well that was unforeseen. The wizards win the lottery. Sucks to be the nets they're drafting 3rd.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on May 18, 2010 22:53:58 GMT -5
If the Celts beat the Magic again tonight, will the story still be that the Magic played poorly, or will it be that the Celtics played well? After the Cavs series, the story was Lebron losing, not the Celts beating them. Not enough respect for Rondo, et al. It doesn't matter, if they get diised all the way through the finals and get their 17th championship. Red must be looking down and smiling. I'll meet you halfway. I agree that the Celtics weren't getting their props for their performance against the Cavs. It was all about the "poorformance" by The King, and whether he was looking ahead. I also think that in general, the Celtics had somehow managed to fly under the radar in general, although what I have been fearing all along, looks like it's coming to fruition. I don't want a Celtics-Lakers. Who can I root for? I don't like either team and in fact dislike both. I like Fisher and Allen. But aside from that, the rest are unlikeable unless you have ties. (Most anyway) Now as for whether the tone will be the Magic folding or the Celtics getting the job done ... remains to be seen. I have thought all along that the Magic weren't worthy of the 2 seed from the proverbial eyeball test. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, and am admittedly only a casual NBA fan during the regular season. So I would agree that the Celtics didn't get the props they earned beating the Cavs and, although I'm not surprised at all by their control of the Magic, they might not be getting their credit there either. As for Rondo, however, I totally disagree. I will be the first to admit that I was shocked when I heard that he declared for the draft and was leaving Kentucky. Not that I liken the players at all, but I likened the decision to that of Nick Calathes doing the same thing some 4 or 5 years later. I couldn't have been more wrong in Rondo's case. He has blossomed into a total star. He did fall into a good situation with the seasoned talent around him, but don't take anything away from him. And, at least down here in SEC country, he is getting his praises daily. Also, I am hearing him getting National press. Obviously, after that one game where he did something only matched by Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson, he got his minutes of fame. But it has continued well beyond that, and to his credit, it should. Just a while ago, I zipped over to the store at halftime to get some beer, and the National guy on Sporting News Radio was talking about Rondo. In addition to outplaying Nelson in his opinion, he was quick to bring out the question now of where he is among the point guards in the league? He said obviously you think of Nash and Williams and then probably Paul and maybe a waning Kidd -- although he's not in that class anymore in my opinion -- but arguably, Rondo is at the very least, in the running for the next spot. Furthermore, another National guy ... I think it might have been JT the Brick, but not sure ... in any case, last week, after that great game by Rondo, he was debating whether he is one of the best 5 players in the Eastern conference. Obviously, people had a lot of input, but the point is that I do think Rajon is getting his props of late. And he has earned them, and I have no problem admitting when I am wrong. And Rondo has proven me, and many others who had the same opinion wrong. All of that being said, Can the Magic PLEASE win game 3? At the very least, it will make the rest of the games somewhat interesting. Otherwise ... yuck!
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 18, 2010 23:51:29 GMT -5
The story will be that Orlando overvalues a dwarf PG that killed them in Finals last year, and can't play against good teams-he's lights out against the Charlotte's and Atlanta's of the NBA--but put a team who provides resistance and sends a guy at him that makes him defend--and his midget ass gets eaten alive.
Also---Vince Carter has made Magic worse. He doesn't provide a good decision maker down the stretch and he's not a big playmaker--Turkaglou was for them last year.
Boston gets credit for stomping the Sneering Mike Browns and proving how worthless Shaq was/has been the past 4 years. Pat Riley took him out of the late game situations/4th quarter to play Zo to close games out/win with defense--and Mike Brown inserted him for "defense". Nuff said.
Doc Rivers and Rondo have been best tandem in playoffs so far.
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hifigator
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Post by hifigator on May 19, 2010 1:31:21 GMT -5
The story will be that Orlando overvalues a dwarf PG that killed them in Finals last year, and can't play against good teams-he's lights out against the Charlotte's and Atlanta's of the NBA--but put a team who provides resistance and sends a guy at him that makes him defend--and his midget ass gets eaten alive. Also---Vince Carter has made Magic worse. He doesn't provide a good decision maker down the stretch and he's not a big playmaker--Turkaglou was for them last year. Boston gets credit for stomping the Sneering Mike Browns and proving how worthless Shaq was/has been the past 4 years. Pat Riley took him out of the late game situations/4th quarter to play Zo to close games out/win with defense--and Mike Brown inserted him for "defense". Nuff said. Doc Rivers and Rondo have been best tandem in playoffs so far. Last comment of the night: I can't argue with that a bit RDF. But you touch on one of the keys that most don't mention. Boston doesn't have a Dwight Howard out there. They have guys who make their free throws. That much I can appreciate. How surprised was anyone that Vince Carter missed, not just the shot on the "continuation" ... not just the first free throw ... not just the second free throw ... but all three! I wasn't.
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