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The NBA Playoffs Thread

#121
Chris Fitzgerald said:
....The Celtics haven't played their best...
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No kidding! I can't understand why though! They let the playoff atmosphere get them off their game.

I think maybe they're not ready yet to compete for a championship. They will most certainly face tougher teams IF they get past Atlanta.

I do hope that 60+ wins, the biggest season-to-season turnaround in league history and defensive player of the year award don't all go to waste. But hey, they are light years ahead of where they were a year ago!
 
#122
I think it all comes down to the Celt's guard play. Rondo is the biggest question mark as regards experience, but a lot also rests on Ray Allen's shoulders. If he's hitting his threes, they're in a completely different zone. Their front line is great with two superstars and several good role players. Defensively, they can be great if their guards do their jobs. So I'd say that it's up to Rondo and Ray to raise their games. If they can do that, I like their chances. If not...
 
#123
I can`t believe I`ve lost this thread :rollno:
Seems to be once again Pistons and Spurs are among the Top 4 of each conference. Probably 2 of the most boring teams to watch by marketing standards but also the most effective. (good luck Burk48327 :)

Hawks are just a step away from a miracle, although I still think they`ll loose. Pistons still have the experience, and #1 vs #2 still remains as my main option for the East Finals (depends on Howard and Lebron too)

The Western Conf looks much more interesting. I still think Lakers are the team to beat. Gasol and Kobe are matching perfectly well and the rest of the team isn`t not bad at all.
Utah will be a TOUGH opponent to beat.

I also believe that Spurs will defeat Hornets. If they can keep Chris Paul with a low assist performance, they`ll win. The regular series ended up tied 2-2. NO won their games by 24 and 25 and Paul had an average of 14 assists. When the Spurs kept him low to 5, they won.
 
#124
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I think it all comes down to the Celt's guard play. Rondo is the biggest question mark as regards experience, but a lot also rests on Ray Allen's shoulders. If he's hitting his threes, they're in a completely different zone. Their front line is great with two superstars and several good role players. Defensively, they can be great if their guards do their jobs. So I'd say that it's up to Rondo and Ray to raise their games. If they can do that, I like their chances. If not...
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I agree, but I'm not sure Rondo is playoff ready. During the season he looked good because everyone paid attention to the big three. In the playoffs individual weaknesses are much more easily exposed because coaches and experienced teams recognize mismatches. He definitely looked he didn't want the ball down the stretch in Atlanta. I was surprised Cassel wasn't handling down the stretch. The question for Boston is twofold, are their role players playoff ROAD ready and will the refs let Pierce get away with his physical play during the post season? In game six the answer was no.

In the meanwhile the Pistons backcourt is destroying Orlando tonight. With about 5 to go the Pistons are up 17. The problem for Orlando is Nelson and Bogans can't defend Hamilton and Billups. Up front the Pistons match up much better then Toronto, As good as Howard is he isn't going to have many 20/20 against the Pistons. The question tonight is will Orlando hit 70?
 
#125
Ugh, yeah, I root for the Magic (first city I lived in that had an NBA team at the time), but I give them very little chance against the Pistons. Their backcourt is going to get abused the whole series. Howard needs to shake off the Pistons' tactics and play like he's capable of playing. 'Sheed is a very good player, but he's such a punk.:spit:
 
#126
I wasn't even sure there was going to be games tonight until an hour before tipoff. It seems weird having the second round start before all first round matchups are completed. I can't remember if it was like this last year or in other years. Has the whole world become impatient with the Celtics? :D
 
#129
StanFan said:
I had a long day. I would have watched the entire game, but after the 19 minute delay between quarters I decided to watch one more quarter and call it a night. I'm glad the Hornets won too.
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Although I'm a huge Hornets fan, I was making this statement last season: Bruce Bowen is a detriment to his team and the NBA as a whole. I would stand up and cheer if someone would finally just knock him out. Some of the crap he pulls seriously puts other players at risk (twisted ankles, etc) and he deserves to get physically beat for it. Watching him play, attempt cheap fouls and feign innocence when he does get called is sickening.

I used to have a lot of respect for the Spurs organization, but it appears they are just as complacent as he is with that level of "sportsmanship". In my opinion, they don't deserve to be where they are.

Mike
 
#131
As a Pistons Fan, I'm torn watching todays Atlanta-Boston game. Do I want to play Boston or Cleveland in the conference finals? I don't see Boston beating Cleveland although the Pierce-James match-up will be great. They are two of the most physical players in the league. Detroit matches up better against Boston even though their a better team. Cleveland has too many whose going to show up in the playoff questions for me to be comfortable playing them.

I don't think Detroit-Orlando is a good match-up. Orlando is much more physical and less defensive and athletic then the Sixers. In other words they play the kind of game Detroit Likes. When Detroit isn't turning the ball over their awfully tough, and Orlando isn't good enough defensively to generate a lot of turnovers. Orlando will win a couple because of Howard and Turkaghlo (I'm sure my spelling isn't even close:D). But Nelson is the kind of a point guard Billups loves to play.

In the West NO just may be the team to expose the Spurs age. The reason is Chris Paul, when your point guard is a stud you can overcome the mistakes of youth by the rest of the rooster. His calming influence is priceless. For the Spurs, the guys they need to step up (Findley, Oberto, Barry, and Horry) don't seem capable of it anymore. The question for NO will be how well they play on the road in this series. I have no doubt the Spurs could steal one in NO, but can NO win one in the Spurs building? If they can they may come out of the West. I think they match up real well against LA.
 
#132
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I used to be a huge Spurs fan, but am getting sick of Bowen's cheap play, Kurt Thomas' "bulging eyeballs of disbelief", and the flopfest offered up every game by Gifloppili and Floperto. Tony Parker is a bad, bad man, though.
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Don't forget Tim Duncan's even bigger bulging eyes of disbelief.

Oh, and about Cassell not handling down the stretch last game: I'm not so sure that wasn't by design. Cassell seems to think he's in games to shoot, and he's not getting or taking good shots. He doesn't have more than two assists in any game this series. What good is a PG who can't get more than two assists in roughly 20 minutes of play?
 
#134
Celtics-Cavs will be interesting. Cleveland will not fold under playoff road pressure like Atlanta and they play better defense. The Celtics will have to take their game up a notch. Cleveland is a terrible team offensively but they do play good D. I wonder if Boston will go the "hack-a-Ben"? I think Boston will win, but I think it's a seven gamer. Good playoff teams win on the road, Boston still has to prove that.
 
#137
The Hawks are a bunch of punks, and that play was typical. The refs weren't able to bail them out this time...

They might have gotten in KG's head some but I think more so they woke a sleeping giant.

I did however enjoy watching KG set that pick on Pachulia, he had it coming.
 
#138
Eric618 said:
That flagrant during today's Celt's game made MY ass hurt. That was beyond blatant!!! :scowl:
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It looked that way at full speed, but on the replay it looked like he was hoping to catch him... I just don't think he realized how light Rondo is. The call was the right call, though.

Now that pick that KG set on Patchouli...that was pretty. :D
 

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