(2011)-2012 NBA Season

[Alidar Jarok]

It's hard for the Celtics to win when they're playing both the Heat and the refs.

So, is anyone else not surprised that the Hornets got the #1 draft pick? The lottery is so rigged.

The team with the worst record almost never gets it. But the claims that it was rigged has gone back to Ewing going to the Knicks in the first ever draft lottery.

And that's why there shouldn't be a draft lottery.

Anything in the top four will give you a good pick and it limits the reach of intentionally tanking. You can do it, but there's no guarantee of success. I think the Draft Lottery is fundamentally a better system.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

 

[Alidar Jarok]

It was a good win. You can see if this is going to be a "hold serve at home" type thing. At the very least, you prevented them from going undefeated in the playoffs, which they looked quite capable of.

It's weird. The Spurs remain the most likable dynasty. I usually despise a team that wins this much, but I can't bring myself to do it to Tim Duncan.

 

[Borgminister]

Duncan's a class act, that's for sure.

21 turnovers is highly uncharacteristic for the Spurs; that's the only thing that would make me nervous were I a Thunder fan. Saturday will tell if it was the defense of OKC or SA's careless play.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Thabo really, really bothered Parker and Duncan. Thabo wasn't there during the regular season. He missed 21 games because he had that cracked bone in his foot. OKC switched out on pick and rolls, showed great movement that they didn't show in the previous 2 games. SA played bad at times because OKC made them play bad. We shall see Saturday.....if....if OKC wins, they just might have a chance.

I was at the game. One of my co-workers couldn't use his ticket; his loss was my gain. What a fantastic experience. There's none better in the league than Chesapeake Arena. The atmosphere is tops. OKC was playing lights out and really giving the Spurs fits. 3-1 or 2-2 makes all the difference in the world. Will the magic spell break? I don't know. I hope not, but I won't allow myself to get too far up into the clouds over this until after Saturday.

 

[Borgminister]

I guess you beat Lil Wayne to the ticket...

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Oh God. Apparently Lil Wayne is going to root for the Spurs now, or so he proclaimed publicly as if people here in OKC are going to fall on our swords in anguish. He and James Harden are dating the same girl or some such drama and Harden didn't want him there, or so the sports radio grapevine says.

It'll be hard, but I'll find some way to deal with the devastation of losing Lil Wayne's favor. What a ridiculous idiot he is.

 

[Borgminister]

Celtics win on more than pride--their bench actually contributed. Where the heck has Marquis been...I guess his back is much better.

 

[Thestral]

I think the Draft Lottery is fundamentally a better system.

I disagree, because I really doubt "tanking" actually happens. There's too much pride to do that; "Suck for Luck" was just the Colts being really, really, terribly awful.

It's weird. The Spurs remain the most likable dynasty. I usually despise a team that wins this much, but I can't bring myself to do it to Tim Duncan.

 

[pork3]

Celtics win on more than pride--their bench actually contributed. Where the heck has Marquis been...I guess his back is much better.

One of the few criticisms weighed against Rivers is that he is often too loyal to the veterans and often too unwilling to play certain bench players eventhough they can possibly contribute.

Last night, Daniels seriously outperformed Pietrus, who has been relatively useless this playoffs, but Doc decided to sub in Pietrus in the 4th quarter. It was no coincidence that Pietrus' defense was one of the reasons why the Heat managed to claw back into the game.

I also have been lobbying for Pavlovic to start defending Lebron and Wade, so we'll see if Doc actually heeds my pleas.

Also, the outcome of Sunday's game will pretty much determine the fate of the series.

-Jamman

 

[gblews]

I wouldn't count on Pop and his staff not being able to adjust to a semi zone tonight.

But even though the Spurs look like the best team in the league this season (still), I don't think they compare to the 2001 Lakers who now have the second longest playoff win streak. The Spurs seem more like that recent Rockets team that hit a serious groove as a team and won a remarkably 22 straight. The '01 Lakers' streak was based on that team having 2 unstoppable players. The Spurs don't have even one. Not saying the Spurs have done it with smoke and mirrors, just that they are beatable -- maybe not for the Thunder, Heat, or Celts, but beatable nonetheless.

Also, the outcome of Sunday's game will pretty much determine the fate of the series.
-Jamman

Only if the Heat wins. If the Celts win, it is a 3 game series with 2 of them, including a 7th if necessary, in Miami. Now, if the Celts manage to somehow win game 6, they could be in the drivers' seat (assuming they have already won game 4).

 

[Borgminister]

How do you beat 18 of 20 by two players not considered offensive threats?

You don't.

3 game series!

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Holy Mary mother of God......the Thunder might actually have a chance to win this series. Every pundit wrote them off for dead before tonight. Ruecker what's his name over at yahoo said he'd be "stunned," that game 3 only happened because San Antonio did everything wrong. It "wasn't what the Thunder did right."

San Antonio didn't have a let down tonight. They came back on the Thunder, stared them down and dared them, but the Thunder didn't blink. Could Westbrook have been any colder on offense? Miserable performance. But it didn't matter.

 

[gblews]

Holy Mary mother of God......the Thunder might actually have a chance to win this series. Every pundit wrote them off for dead before tonight. Ruecker what's his name over at yahoo said he'd be "stunned," that game 3 only happened because San Antonio did everything wrong. It "wasn't what the Thunder did right."

"The Borg"

You'd do better by not taking what the "pundits" say as gospel (especially the ESPN guys and Charles Barkley) and watch the games and try and figure it out on your own.

The Thunder's chance to win the series, I think, will come in game 5. If they win game 5, they can come back and wrap it up at home in game 6. However, lose game 5 and I think the party is over for OKC this year (in game 6).

 

[gblews]

How do you beat 18 of 20 by two players not considered offensive threats?

You don't.

3 game series!

I don't get your point here.

 

[Borgminister]

Oh well.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Actually, I'm somewhat hopeful about game 5. The Thunder seem to have turned the corner in terms of confidence and maturity level. Westbrook wasn't trying to force up shots and hog the ball from Durant. Westbrook concentrated instead on defense to help the team, and he did. Defensively, the Thunder have risen to another level. They've figured out how to slow down Parker and Duncan and disrupt the Borg's pick and roll. More importantly, SA knows it. They'll start DeJuan Blair. I don't know why Popovich didn't do it earlier; Blair's always given the Thunder fits. Makes as much sense as Brooks not giving Thabo more playing time in game two.

Is it true that Blair has bad knees? I hope so.

 

[gblews]

Actually, I'm somewhat hopeful about game 5. The Thunder seem to have turned the corner in terms of confidence and maturity level. Westbrook wasn't trying to force up shots and hog the ball from Durant. Westbrook concentrated instead on defense to help the team, and he did. Defensively, the Thunder have risen to another level. They've figured out how to slow down Parker and Duncan and disrupt the Borg's pick and roll.

Yeah -- at home. The question still is, can OKC win game 5 in San Antonio.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

They had game one in hand, but lost their defensive intensity. They can win. You can see their collective mindset solidifying. This team believes in itself. They couldn't do shit about SA all season long. Winning breeds confidence. If Westbrook can actually get hot, and they keep the defensive intensity up, they stand a chance.

 

[pork3]

Celts pulled that win out of their asses. A lethargic second half offense coupled with some nice defensive adjustments from the Heat (i.e. trapping rondo early) made that game nerve wracking.

The Heat are the superior team no doubt, but this could go to 7.

-Jamman