NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run

[Xevious]

A Lakers/Celtics finals would be huge for the league. But I personally have no interest in seeing either of those teams win it all. The Hornets would be my second pick after the Spurs (I am from SA after all). I used to be a big Suns fan, but aside from Nash, they just come off like a bunch of whiners. Shaq doesn't help either.

I'd also like to point out that regular season games mean squat in the playoffs. The Celtics are gonna have their hands full with whoever makes it out of the west (assuming the Celtics even make it to the finals).

 

[Nerroth]

The Raps pulled one back at the Air Canada Centre, winning 108-94 to bring the series to 2-1.

I wonder if they can build on that result and level the series tomorrow night?

Well, I'll be busy watching what's happening with Toronto FC instead, but I wish them well, I guess.


(I seem to have defaulted to the Raptors - might as well have one team which plays their home games in the ACC that I don't hate!)

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Anyone watching the Sixers-Pistons series? Pistons win by 17, Sixers win by 20. It's impossible to get a feel for this series. Right now, the Sixers are up 2-1, but Andre Iguodala is averaging 10 ppg.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

As often happens to the Pistons in the postseason, they've gotten lazy. Although not as talented, Philly is playing with a lot of desire and energy, and Detroit is kind of on autopilot, as though they think they can just turn it on and win the series anytime they want. The Pistons will almost definitely win the series, but it could go to seven games and it'll leave them too worn out to play well in the second round.

 

[gblews]

Suppose the difference on this one is that in the NBA you have to win a 7 game series for the ring. It's not a one game, winner take all event where a bad day, or a fluke play (say, avoiding a sack, running BEHIND the pile, tossing up a ball that should be intercepted, guy catches it on his helmet, somehow holds on while being bodyslammed. That kinda fluke play. After that, if Samuel holds onto the ball he should have intercepted, the Giants STILL lose.

Damn, you're still hurting aren't you? Well I don't blame you, under the circumstances you have good reason.

Which team do you figure has the manpower to beat the Celtics 4 out of 7 times right now?

None.

But, even in a 7 game series sometimes manpower and schemes aren't enough (similar to the Super Bowl). The Celtics are still a very inexperienced playoff team and though I don't anticipate they will have any trouble winning the eastern conference (thanks Detroit), I think they are going to run into something different in the NBA Finals where I think they'll meet the Spurs.

And just like you argued position by position why the Pats were better than the Giants (you were right, though irrelevant), you could do the same thing with the Celts and the Spurs. However, the Spurs are a very good defensive team which can score, and won't be intimidated by playing on the road in the Finals. Instead of self destructing, the Spurs are capable of playing disciplined ball thereby forcing their opponent to beat them. And frankly, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and KG (especially KG), have all been guilty of meltdowns under playoff pressure.

But the big intangible (and I know you aren't big on "intangibles"), is that I really think the Spurs are actually seriously going for that repeat this season. They are motivated in a way the Celtics aren't.

Now, if the Spurs don't make it to the Finals, I think the C's, much to my absolute and utter disgust, will be hanging their 17th flag this year.

 

[Nerroth]

Raps drop game 4, losing 94-106 at the Air Canada Centre.


I guess all of the doses of winningness were shipped to BMO Field, for Toronto FC's win today over KCW, leaving none spare for the Raptors!

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I used to be a big Suns fan, but aside from Nash, they just come off like a bunch of whiners. Shaq doesn't help either.

WTF is the matter with the Suns right now!? Now, there's no shame in losing to the Spurs, who are a great team. But unlike previous years, the Suns don't even seem to be in the same league with them. I predicted that the Suns would at least take game 1. Typical playoff pattern for the Suns in recent years has been start off really strong outrunning the opponent all the way, followed by slowly running out of gas as the series drags on. This year, we didn't even get that early advantage in the series.

And the Shaq trade can now be considered a total bust since the ONLY reason why we added him to the team was to beat the Spurs and the Suns aren't even doing that! I'd say it's time for some heavy duty retooling in the off-season. (This time they should do what they should have done in the first place-- scour the country to find a back-up point guard that can run the team as fast as Nash can. Nash has been singlehandedly carrying this team during his entire time here simply because he can run like no other. The only reason why we haven't been able to translate that into playoff success is because the toll of playing so many minutes in so many games means that Nash conks out right when we need him the most. If we could get him a 1st class back-up, we could just speed our way right through the finals.)

 

[1001001]

Lakers are taking care of business!!!

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

Wow great win by the Hawks, shocking the unstoppable looking Celtics. It was insane when Horford shot over Peirce then yelled "what's my name bitch!?" Pretty ballsy for a rook, lets see if it doesn't come back to haunt him in the next game.

Lakers get another good win, while Denver just looks pathetic. Not just in skill, but with how dirty they've been. I guess they can't win with skill so they have to start throwing elbows and giving unnecessary hard bumps after play is over. It's amazing that a team with that much skill can play so poorly. I thought from the begginning that the Nuggets would take at least one game, I guess we'll see on monday.

 

[1001001]

Yesterday's Best NBA Quote:

“Yeah. We quit. Everybody. From the coaches to the players, we quit."
- Carmelo Anthony

 

[tomalak301]

Yesterday's Best NBA Quote:

“Yeah. We quit. Everybody. From the coaches to the players, we quit."
- Carmelo Anthony

And this is why Carmelo Anthony is somewhat overrated. You can be good in the regular season, but it's all about the playoffs and Anthony and Iverson should be carrying this team on their backs. They aren't and it will be an early exit.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

In the first game, AI had 30 points and 7 assists, Carmelo had 30 and 12 rebounds and they still lost by 14. They're just up against a very good team.

 

[gblews]

Wow great win by the Hawks, shocking the unstoppable looking Celtics. It was insane when Horford shot over Peirce then yelled "what's my name bitch!?" Pretty ballsy for a rook, lets see if it doesn't come back to haunt him in the next game.

Pierce then threw what appeared to be a gang sign at Horford.

Very humiliating loss for the Celts, but Atlanta can do that. They're very athletic and if they're having a good shooting night, can run much better teams out of the gym. They just have trouble with consistency.

Well, I wouldn't be worried about this series for the Cs, but this loss does raise a question; have the Celts raised the level of their game for the playoffs? The loss to the Hawks didn't do anything to put that question to rest.

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

Jesus, even though my team won, that was one poorly officiated game. (denver vs la) One minute they're letting insane amount of contact go, then next they're calling phantom fouls. Wow, just wow. I feel bad for Denver fans, that wasn't a clean loss to end the season.

Celtics lose again! Never would have guessed that in a million years. I guess length and athleticism is a big problem for the celts.

 

[1001001]

Yeah, that was strange game last night.

Still, Denver had their chances.

Kobe was just not going to be denied.

And have I mentioned how pleased I am with the trade for Gasol?





Looks like it will most likely be Utah in the next round.

GO LAKERS!

 

[GeorgeKirk]

Well, both the Suns and Mavericks are out. Honestly, it's really a mental thing with both those teams. The Mavs have been spooked ever since they lost the NBA championship to the Heat, and the Suns are downright scared of the Spurs. Actually, the Spurs-Suns "rivalry" reminds me of the Bulls-Pistons rivalry of the late-80s/early 90s, where the veteran team wins by intimidating the hell out of the young upstart team. The difference there, though, was that the Bulls eventually matured and were able to defeat the Pistons. The Suns will probably never grow a pair.

Same with the Mavs. They simply can't handle pressure situations. They choke every time. I feel bad for Mark Cuban. He spared no expense to turn that franchise from a laughingstock into a place where top-flight talent would want to come, but all it's gotten him is a team full of wusses. You just have to holler BOO! and they back down.

 

[Anthony Sabre]

The Mavs are one soft team. And this is coming from a Mavs fan since 91. I remember yelling at the TV when they drafted Dirk over Paul Pierce. Then Dirk started playing and I started to think I was wrong. The last 3 years have proved my initial reaction right. I blame two people for the Finals loss. You have to blame Avery as the coach. But Dirk just freaking disappeared. It's like he blew his wad during the Spurs series and showed up on empty.

It's time to take a stick of dynamite to this team and start rebuilding. They fired Avery but they don't have the guts to trade Dirk yet.

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

Hey at least Dirk isn't throwing up gang signs then making up preposterous lies to cover them up. Between that and KG's antics, the Celtics are starting to look pretty thuggish.

 

[Nerroth]

In a bit late, but I got online and saw what happened to the Raps.


Oh well - better luck next time - and here's hoping for a productive summer over at BMO Field!

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

I'm surprised there isn't much talk about the NBA. This has been one of the more exciting seasons I can remember. It stayed relevant till the very last day of the season, with playoff spots 1-8 not being settled till a couple of days before the end. One of the closest MVP races in a long time also. Lots of interesting story's going on and still going on. The sixers got creamed tonight and are officially out, (It was great that the fans still gave them a standing ovation) leaving only the Hawks and the Rockets to try to mount an underdog comeback.