NBA Playoff Thread

[new2game]

I'm a Pistons fan...

I can't believe Philadelphia is up 2-1 on Detroit. Can you imagine if they upset them? That would be huge. Dalembert (a Canadian) led the team in scoring last night. Definitely known more for his defensive prowess.

Phoenix has been a disappointment as I thought they would not be down 3-0 the Spurs.

Not too worried about the Hornets. I still think they will beat Dallas.

I am looking forward to a great day of basketball. Enjoy everyone.

...but I see this as a case of the "Fatheads" getting beat by a more hungry, energetic team. And the secret to beating the Pistons is challenge their outside shooting, because when that fails them, they have no ability whatsoever to score inside. Pistons have time and time again disrespected opponents, and feel they can turn it on whenever they need it. There is a good chance that they will lose the next game, and the series will be over, and so will the Pistons run as an upper echelon team in this league. Really a shame that with all that talent they only have 1 championship to show for it..


N2G

 

[lawyerman]

...but I see this as a case of the "Fatheads" getting beat by a more hungry, energetic team. And the secret to beating the Pistons is challenge their outside shooting, because when that fails them, they have no ability whatsoever to score inside. Pistons have time and time again disrespected opponents, and feel they can turn it on whenever they need it. There is a good chance that they will lose the next game, and the series will be over, and so will the Pistons run as an upper echelon team in this league. Really a shame that with all that talent they only have 1 championship to show for it..


N2G

The Pistons should be challenging all comers for the NBA title. They should be changes made if they go down to Philadelphia. It's still too early to tell. A team that was below .500 during the regular season should not be in control of the series, especially a team of Detroit's calibre. Enough said.

 

[Herodotus]

And will likely be judged the worst trade this year.

Nope, the Jason Kidd trade will - Dallas didn't improve AND gave up a lot more. Marion was probably leaving the Suns - who weren't going to give him another max. contract - at first chance. The Shaq trade was a calculated risk where they didn't give up as much - and it will still probably be the 2nd worst trade...

... and what the hell is wrong with DEEEE-troit Bas-ket-baaallll? (shaking head)

 

[basketcase]

I'll give you kidd though I didn't expect him to have as big an impact due to the other talent on the team. Shaq was supposed to lock down the paint for a weak inside team and give them what they lacked in their last couple playoff runs. Still, both were better trades than Grunwald's Carter trade.

 

[smart_alek]

I'll give you kidd though I didn't expect him to have as big an impact due to the other talent on the team. Shaq was supposed to lock down the paint for a weak inside team and give them what they lacked in their last couple playoff runs. Still, both were better trades than Grunwald's Carter trade.

It was a Babcock Trade.

 

[basketcase]

Too many idiot GM's to keep straight

 

[lawyerman]

The two later games last night turned out to be better than the two earlier games. Boston will put a stop to Atlanta (just a blip). Atlanta has drafted very well in the past few years and their young talent is very capable but they need the mix of some veteran players. Horford trash talking Paul Pierce near the end of the game was unacceptable. I really liked Horford when he was with Florida and he is definitely on of the best NBA rookies but trash talking a star is taboo for a rookie. He better watch himself.

Utah wins a close one over Houston although I do not see Utah advancing past the second round if they are having this much difficulty with Houston without Yao Ming.

Not a huge surprise that the Lakers creamed the Nuggets but I expected more from the Raptors on home court especially in the late stages of the game.

 

[lawyerman]

I can't believe Boston lost to Atlanta again. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith put on a clinic last night. Atlanta can be really something special in the next few years if they keep their heads on straight. They certainly have the talent. Boston needs to turn it around quickly. KG deserves a championship.

The Raptors game last night was a disappointment. There is nothing else that can be said.

The Lakers look very good. I like how Kobe is playing more of an all-around game. I'm sure the next round will be tougher than the one against the Nuggets. I can't believe that Denver had such an impressive record during the regular season. I believe they are not that as good as their record indicates. If it wasn't for A.I., they probably would not have made the playoffs.

 

[lawyerman]

I remember hearing rumours around the time of the last draft of a trade between the Raps and Hawks centred around T.J. Ford (and others) going to Atlanta and the Raps getting back Josh Smith. It might have been bullshit, and it obviously never happened (supposedly the Hawks were more keen to move Marvin Williams over J-Smooth), but boy would he not be the perfect guy for the Raptors? Tough, mean streak, can play defense, can score... Not many guys can put up 20+points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ blocks and score from beyond the arc.

I have thought all year that he is probably the most underated player in the NBA but this playoff series might open people's eyes to just how good he really is.

It's about time that these young guys were given some credit. They keep in repeating that Josh Smith is the leading shot blocker for his age in the history of the NBA. More than Shaq and Garnett!!! He is an awesome athlete.

Atlanta has a good, young nucleus and will be solid with the right coaching and if they keep the team together and not dismantle it. They need a stronger bench though.

 

[lawyerman]

And now picture that team with Chris Paul instead of Marvin Williams. What were they thinking?

It is so difficult to predict if a draft choice will be successful or not. Marvin Williams came from North Carolina and he was awesome there.

Even though Chris Paul came from Wake, and in my opinion the best point guard in the country at that time, usually point guards are not drafted right near the top. They also could have picked up Deron Williams as well.

 

[lawyerman]

That is the Boston team that I remember during this season. What a beating they put on Atlanta.

The Cavs really choked in the last minute of the game. This one might go 7 games. Tough call as there is no clear cut winner.

I am almost certain Detroit will win tonight. Philly is in over their heads but they made it fun to watch for a couple of days.

 

[lawyerman]

Funny how Wizards finally win when Gilbert Arenas decides to sit out with a injury ... Surprised the refs didn't call a foul on the last play of the game .. I think it was a clean play but Superstars often get that call .

It was a clean play. LBJ tried hard to get the foul but to no avail.

 

[lawyerman]

I think that Detroit has finally come back to life. I know it was only Philly but they do look quite good.

Boston should beat Atlanta tonight. The other two games are a tossup.

I think the Cavs should pull it off but Washington is at home. They might have to wait until Sunday.

I was very disappointed with Utah in the last game. They are in Utah tonight so we shall see what happens.

I can't wait until the next round.

 

[RTRD]

Marvin Williams...

It is so difficult to predict if a draft choice will be successful or not. Marvin Williams came from North Carolina and he was awesome there.

Even though Chris Paul came from Wake, and in my opinion the best point guard in the country at that time, usually point guards are not drafted right near the top. They also could have picked up Deron Williams as well.

...came from North Carolina and rode the bench there. Was not a starter.

It was FOOLISH for the Hawks to waste that high a pick on guy with only one year of college experience...as a sixth man....talent and potential be damned.

 

[lawyerman]

Yes it was foolish that they took Williams as such a high draft pick. He was the sixth man at UNC but he was excellent off the bench.

I would have drafted him as a second rounder, not second overall.

 

[Herodotus]

Yes but Marvin Williams had "tremendous upside potential!"

(And he was a top-5 pick in an otherwise drab draft - outside of Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Even if you did a "re-draft" three years later, h'd probably be a top-10 pick...)

 

[lawyerman]

Yes but Marvin Williams had "tremendous upside potential!"

(And he was a top-5 pick in an otherwise drab draft - outside of Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Even if you did a "re-draft" three years later, h'd probably be a top-10 pick...)

Agreed. He has tremendous potential. I do like WIlliams. I don't think a second overall pick was expected though. I would have chosen Chris Paul for if I was the GM of the Hawks. He was amazing at Wake Forest. Williams has been progressing nicely but Chris Paul would look great in a Hawks uniform now.

 

[mrcheeks]

Its funny that tonight none of the 3 games were on any of the Big 3 sports channels (Sportsnet, TSN or The Score). I would figure that the Score would broadcasts some of them because they just had WWE on.
Looks like the Hawks are giving the Celtics more than they can handle. Game 7 will be on Sunday.

 

[lawyerman]

I believe the Celtics will win at home. I can't believe they called a foul on Paul Pierce with less than 5 minutes to go. That surely was not a foul.

If Pierce did not foul out, I believe the Celtics would have won last night.

It just proves that the Boston bench cannot withstand the pressure from the Hawks.

 

[lawyerman]

They had 33 fouls. I didn't see the game but
fouls are generally the result of a weak defense.

Agreed. The end result was a tremendous amount of fouls. All I am saying is that if Pierce did not foul out, they probably would have won the game.
Like I said before, the Celtics bench is on the weaker side and fouled many times as well.