• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The NBA Playoffs Thread

#342
BassManPatsFan said:
I can sort of see where you're coming from on that one, but he has such an abrasive attitude and a bad temper so I'd say he deserves most of the calls he gets. He got a technical last night for arguing a call that wasn't even against him. I think he just doesn't know when to shut his mouth really. Great player though and he had quite a game last night.
Click to expand...

Well, you know who led the league in Techs this year? KOBE BRYANT! And I can guarantee you that Kobe Bryant hasn't been sitting on the bench for major minutes of EVERY playoff game in foul trouble. While Sheed is far from perfect, he gets more reputation techs then the rest of the league combined. I've seen him get techs walking away from an official mumbling to himself "my bad". The league has rescinded more techs against Sheed then any other player in the last ten years.

My beef is no player can get into the flow of a game when the get two quick fouls and goes right to the bench. And no big man gets called quicker for a hand check or a moving screen. Last night Ray Allen got free for one of the biggest shots of the game when Garnett grabbed Hamilton and stepped out on a screen. No call on that one. For a guy who doesn't set up and bang in the blocks, their is no excuse for the calls that are made against Sheed. And most fans don't go to the game to see key players sitting on the bench. I just wish NBA officials realized the game is bigger then them.
 
#343
It's been interesting to hear Van Gundy and Mark Jackson's discussions about the officiating. I think the key point they make at the end of most of the discussions is that we're all looking for consistency.

I liked how they compared PJ Brown's "flagrant" foul from the 1st quater to another foul in the 4th, the contact looked very similar but was called a different way.
 
#344
burk48237 said:
Well, you know who led the league in Techs this year? KOBE BRYANT! And I can guarantee you that Kobe Bryant hasn't been sitting on the bench for major minutes of EVERY playoff game in foul trouble. While Sheed is far from perfect, he gets more reputation techs then the rest of the league combined. I've seen him get techs walking away from an official mumbling to himself "my bad". The league has rescinded more techs against Sheed then any other player in the last ten years.

My beef is no player can get into the flow of a game when the get two quick fouls and goes right to the bench. And no big man gets called quicker for a hand check or a moving screen. Last night Ray Allen got free for one of the biggest shots of the game when Garnett grabbed Hamilton and stepped out on a screen. No call on that one. For a guy who doesn't set up and bang in the blocks, their is no excuse for the calls that are made against Sheed. And most fans don't go to the game to see key players sitting on the bench. I just wish NBA officials realized the game is bigger then them.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know Kobe had the most Ts in the regular season. Unfortunately Rasheed's next Technical in the playoffs will get him suspended for a game (although hopefully that won't matter ;)).

6 Threes? I'd say he got into the flow of the game.
 
#345
jongor said:
It's been interesting to hear Van Gundy and Mark Jackson's discussions about the officiating. I think the key point they make at the end of most of the discussions is that we're all looking for consistency.

I liked how they compared PJ Brown's "flagrant" foul from the 1st quater to another foul in the 4th, the contact looked very similar but was called a different way.
Click to expand...

I don't know which is officiated worse, Hockey or Basketball. Basketball is the only game I know where everyone with any knowledge will admit that their are different rules for different players. It started with Jordan, and I think it's bad for the league because it devalues team play. One of the reasons I believe the Dumars model of building a team with five very good players verse a couple of stars and role players is suspect. I just don't believe good players get the same whistle great players get. And if your someone like King James or DWade the rules are almost a different universe.

I was 50/50 on the flagrant call, The thing that bothered me is that Brown didn't appear to go for the ball, and if you knock a guy down and don't go for the ball it's usually a flagrant. The breakaway call was definitely borderline too. Having said that Tayshon or Rip get fouled almost every trip to the basket, in the case of Prince it now borders on ridiculousness. While Pierce is a great player, if he got the same whistle as Sheed he wouldn't make it into the third quater of any game. He pushes off and clutches on D as much as any player I've ever seen. I don't think he can drive to the basket without leading with the off arm.

Besides consistency, the league seems to make it harder and harder to play good D. The first thing they tell you when playing D is to get your arms up. But almost every time a shooter jumps INTO a player with his arms up they go to the line. I've always felt their should be a "plane of space" and theoretically their is. A player should be able to occupy the space their standing on (as long as their not shifting side to side) without getting a foul called when an offensive player jumps into them. That's a great time for a no call.

Some of the officials are just plain hacks, Shawn Corbin, Joey Crawford, and Steve Jave come to mind. They are arrogant arses who think the they're bigger then the game. And they have ruined many a game, because they felt they were "dissed". None of these three are any more mature then Sheed, and at least he's trying to win and involved in the emotion of the contest. It is their JOB to keep emotion and personal feelings out of it, and they are rarely successful at it.
 
#352
Congrats to the Lakers, they truly deserved the victory.
It`s obvious now (it was before anyway) that Spurs should rebuild their team. Finally "age" was the key factor that didn`t let them keep the pace.

Games #1 and #5 were clear examples, since they couldn`t keep 20 and 17 points margins.
"Experience" was the factor to beat New Orleans, but was so physically demanding for an old team like the Spurs, that they could never follow Lakers intensity.

I guess a Lakers-Celtics final will be nice to watch. I agree with Burk48327 that Boston (and Detroit too) are playing great defense right now, something the Lakers haven`t faced now, but since Kobe plays in LA, we`ll see what happens.
 
#354
If they make it there, I like Boston's chances against LA. Defensively, the only matchup of concern is (obviously) Kobe being guarded by either Pierce or Ray Allen. But Perkins if the perfect guy to guard and bruise Gasol, whose game is great but not particularly pyhsical. KG can shut down Odom and is quick enough to stay with him. Whoever doesn't guard Bryant will cover either Vuyacic, Radmonavich, or Walton, and Rondo can do a good job on Fisher.

If they get there, the Celts will know they need to win it with D. The wild card is of course Kobe, who is not only great but gets a ridiculously easy whistle. What I don't *ever* want to see again is the kind of crap that happened in the Miami finals where all D. Wade had to do was drive into the paint and act tragic to go to the foul line.... and Kobe's been getting those calls lately. Let the players make plays to win the games!
 
#355
Well, I hope the Celtics make it to the finals (my dad's from New England) and manage to beat the Lakers, so all those front-running celebrities can put their Lakers jerseys back in storage next to their Yankees caps.:D If it's Detroit/LA, ugh, I don't even care.:spit:
 
#357
Seeing a Lakers-Celtics final is halfway to being a reality. I agree that the Spurs should try to get younger. Was it Thomas, Horry, and Finley that are gonna be free agents? How many of them will be back next year?

What about that game ending three as time expired? Personally I think it was unnecessary, but then again they were playing the Spurs :D.
 
#358
StanFan said:
Seeing a Lakers-Celtics final is halfway to being a reality. I agree that the Spurs should try to get younger. Was it Thomas, Horry, and Finley that are gonna be free agents? How many of them will be back next year?
Click to expand...

Yeah, all three of them, and Vaughn, Barry and Damon Stoudamire, too.

I don't see how you can justify paying Horry anything, veteran's minimum or otherwise. He made $3.6 million this year, for about 2.5 points and 2 rebounds per game. Matt Bonner had similar stats in similar minutes (about 12 a game), and cost the Spurs roughly a million less than Horry's salary. And Bonner has six fouls to give each game, too. Hell, even this undrafted who-dat from the league worst Miami Heat had slightly better stats than Horry, and he's getting less than a million a year.

There's got to be better (and younger) options out there at power forward that the Spurs can snag for little money.
 
#359
The Spurs have many issues.

1) They badly need to keep down Duncans minutes, he is beginning to look a lot like a slimmer Shaq on the floor. His lateral movement, especially on D is suspect, as his explosiveness in rebounding. The Spurs need to add two decent big men, a back up and an starting center. Both must be reasonable defensive players, as their interior D is suspect.

2) They must keep Ginobli healthy

3) Parker must improve his outside shooting. He is a liability when he can't get in the lane. His TO to assist ratio is fair, and he can't cover bigger more physical point guards, something the western conference has a lot of. Also this team badly needs a quality back-up point guard.

4)I'm not sure Barry is a starting two but he's adequate off the bench.

5) Bowen appears to be a marked man, his style of play will be harder to get away with as he gets older and a little slower. He still would be better as a back-up/ defensive stopper then a starter at this stage in his career. Having him on the floor for 34+ minutes is a big liability for the offense.


Also Hamilton is still questionable for tonight. If he can't go 100% it may be two much for the Pistons to overcome. While Billups is still getting his points, his hammy injury is effecting him on D. The Pistons biggest advantage over any team is the strength of their back-court. I'm afraid injuries to both their starters may end their title run.:hmm:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back