Hee, we had the same thought! No worries, it's all you, dog.
So, the second round's set! Disappointed to see that Chicago lost, but my Pacers are still in it! Man, I thought we were toast after blowing Game 6, but... whew!
So, um... conference semifinals. Wow. Mavs/Suns has definitely got a lot of subtext, Spurs/Sonics definitely favors the Spurs but don't underestimate the Sonics, Heat/Wizards will be interesting if Washington's big men can find a way to limit Shaq's effectiveness, and Pacers/Pistons is the greatest rivalry in the NBA today. Gonna be fun!
“You were the chosen one!" --Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
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Miami vs. Washington: It's not going to happen, but I think just to show up the Wizards, Miami should come out on the court tomorrow wearing ROUND 3 t-shirts. But then again, it's thinking like that which could cause the jinx I'm trying so hard to avoid. But I think Miami should get through this pretty handily, since the what the Wizards have in energy, they lack in shot selection and defense.
Miami in 5.
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Detroit vs. Indiana, Hell In A Cell
Only if the WWE was booking was this. There's something forgotten in the whole rivalry this year, which is Detroit has proven to be the better team even when Indiana HAD Ron Artest. But Indiana is going to be a game and plucky team, just like they've been all year post-incident. But they're also outmanned, and that makes the difference, even if Indiana will give them everything they want for a short series.
Detroit in (a hopefully very grueling and trying so that they have nothing left for the next round) 7
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Phoenix vs Dallas
And this should be your party-like-it's-1985 series of the playoffs. Expect scoring, expect up and down play and expect Dallas to be outmanned to a very on-all-cylanders Phoenix team who have had a week to rest from sweeping a Memphis team that was hapless to stop them.
Phoenix in 6
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Seattle vs. San Antonio
San Antonio's game plan to stop Seattle should be very simple: sic Bruce Bowen on Ray Allen and have him not give Allen an inch. Jerome James looked good against a Sacramento team that didn't seem to be on the same page at all times, and also didn't have anything like what the Spurs have in the low post. Seattle will have to shoot the lights out at all times in order to win this, and that's not likely to happen.
Spurs in 5
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 9.5.05 1411) "Meet the kite-eating tree you son of a bitch!"
I make it a rule never to predict the outcome of any series the Pacers are involved in, but other than that, I'll take Miami in 5, Phoenix in 6 and San Antonio in 6.
“Hey, I'm bilingual! I speak Profanity and English!" --Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA, May 8, 2005
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Washington is not going to win a game in this series. Zero, none, zip. Considering they barely beat a Bulls team that was starting Andres Nocioni and the fossilized remains of Antonio Davis, and getting significant minutes from Othella Harrington and Janerro Pargo. I honestly can't see them keeping these games even close, as Etan Thomas and Michael Ruffin could stand on each other's shoulders and not have a chance against Shaq.
Originally posted by spfWashington is not going to win a game in this series. Zero, none, zip. Considering they barely beat a Bulls team that was starting Andres Nocioni and the fossilized remains of Antonio Davis, and getting significant minutes from Othella Harrington and Janerro Pargo. I honestly can't see them keeping these games even close, as Etan Thomas and Michael Ruffin could stand on each other's shoulders and not have a chance against Shaq.
(edited by spf on 9.5.05 1016)
Yeah, but if you think I was going to predict a sweep, you're crazy, since that would be tempting the wrath of whatever from high atop the thing [re The West Wing].
Although that said, if Jameson can't go for Washington, that kills the puncher's chance that the Wiz had, since he was the one player Miami was having any genuine difficulty defending.
Despite the breakdown in the 2nd, any time you can have a playoff game where there's no suspense in the 4th quarter it's always a good thing.
Jesus Christ, all of the Round 2 games have been blowouts so far (except the Wiz-Heat game, where the Wiz cut it to five before the inevitable end). Can we just all agree that the Sonics (with no V-Rad and Ray Ray resorting to calling Bruce Bowen a fag in lieu of torching him for 45) and the Mavs (the center they essentially traded this year's MVP for was outscored by Amare 40-0 in Game 1; on the plus side, the L'il General action figure comes with slip'n'slide action) have no chance and get to the Suns-Spurs games? Now those will be fantastic.
Also, I hope everyone has been sticking around after the doubleheaders and watching Inside the NBA. Last night was just must-see TV, even with Magic Johnson prominently involved - EJ and the crew mocking Magic's Law and Order commercial and ripping the Into the West and The Closer ads. Then, when inexplicable soft jazz started playing as a segue, EJ busted out the easy-listening DJ voice while Chuck and Kenny complained about the terrible music until the break. Can you imagine Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith doing something like that? No, you can't. Inside the NBA is quality television, sirs, quality television.
I think the second round will be one of the worst rounds in recent memory during the playoffs. I fully expect Miami, San Antonio and Phoenix to end their series in no less than five games. Detroit should be ablt to handle Indy, but that may go 6.
Detroit/Miami will be a good series but I will take Miami in six. SA/Phoenix should be awesome and I hope it goes the distance with Phoenix coming out on top.
And in the finals, whiel I would love to see Phoenix win, I want nothing more than to see Shaq raise the trophy and another MVP and really stick it to Kobe then.
You can do it Otto! You can do it Otto!
Make this spare, I'll give you free gelato!
Then back to my place where I will get you blotto!
Wow, and to think that I was thinkin' about not bothering to watch the rest of the Pacers game when we fell behind so early! Great comeback by us in Game 2, and now we've got home-court advantage, let's try and do something with it.
“Hey, I'm bilingual! I speak Profanity and English!" --Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA, May 8, 2005
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Tom Tolbert is stuck in the mid-1990s. Before the start of the 3rd qtr of game three of the Spurs-Supersonics game, he said that the game was so physical that it "looked like the WWF out there."
He then went over highlights marking how people were clubbing and shoving each other and remarked "These two are like some Road Warriors out there. I don't know which one is Road Warrior Hawk or Road Warrior Animal."
Too bad about the Wiz. I know in my heart-of-hearts that it will be a four game sweep, but I'd like to see these plucky underdogs stretch out their agony to five games.
(edited by Zeruel on 13.5.05 0429)
"You want to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?" --Toby, West Wing
Originally posted by ZeruelTom Tolbert is stuck in the mid-1990s. Before the start of the 3rd qtr of game three of the Spurs-Supersonics game, he said that the game was so physical that it "looked like the WWF out there."
He then went over highlights marking how people were clubbing and shoving each other and remarked "These two are like some Road Warriors out there. I don't know which one is Road Warrior Hawk or Road Warrior Animal."
Tom Tolbert has sat very near me in the past when I was getting comped to San Jose/San Francisco WWF TV tapings. (He always got better seats/sat near San Jose Demons cheerleaders.) I reckon he's more fond of the mid-1990s WWF than today's WWE. I reckon I can't blame him.
Also, one can probably watch more wrestling when your only gig is KNBR drive-time radio, as opposed to having to fly all over the country pretending to be excited about reg'lar season hoops on ESPN. ;-)
Miami neraly let games 3 AND 4 go to the Wiz. But it's preposterous how easily Miami has had it in the Playoffs. Easier than ANY other team.
New Jersey - barely made it into the Playoffs in a conference where any team below the top 4 is pathetic(Indiana excluded because of fight night circumstances).
Washington - Beat an up and coming Chicago team, but is way too young and way to 'East' to be a threat to anyone. The Memphis Grizzlies would have swept the Wizards. Hell, the Lakers would have beat them in 6.
Now the Pistons/Pacers series will go to 6 or 7, and the Pistons will be so tired from that that they'll most likely drop games 1 & 2 in Miami.
I don't know what the answer is or what I want to happen differently but i just like to complain out loud.
Originally posted by bradbiceMiami neraly let games 3 AND 4 go to the Wiz. But it's preposterous how easily Miami has had it in the Playoffs. Easier than ANY other team.
New Jersey - barely made it into the Playoffs in a conference where any team below the top 4 is pathetic(Indiana excluded because of fight night circumstances).
Washington - Beat an up and coming Chicago team, but is way too young and way to 'East' to be a threat to anyone. The Memphis Grizzlies would have swept the Wizards. Hell, the Lakers would have beat them in 6.
Now the Pistons/Pacers series will go to 6 or 7, and the Pistons will be so tired from that that they'll most likely drop games 1 & 2 in Miami.
I don't know what the answer is or what I want to happen differently but i just like to complain out loud.
Thats the advantage you get for finishing first in the conference....
BTW, I am not so sure about the Laker comment! I am not sure they would beat anyone, which is why they didn't make the playoffs....
Where the wild are strong, and the strong are the darkest ones, you're the Darkest One.
The Lakers also had a losing record against the East this season - so that argument gets thrown out from that too.
Getting back to topic:
Steve Nash with 48(!!!!) but it looks like the Mavs have figured out how to beat Phoenix (no Joe Johnson helps, of course). I never thought this series would be 2-2 after 4 games.
Also, I have a feeling Pacers/Pistons is going 7.
(edited by Kawshen on 16.5.05 1301)
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
You know, as a Knick fan, I'm trained to hate the man. But, dammit, Reggie ended his career tonight on a high note as far as I'm concerned.
You'll be missed, Skeletor. Best damn pure shooter I've ever watched. It's a shame that it seems like the art of the mid-ranger jumper and having good shot selection is also leaving with Reggie. Not to hate on Dwyane Wade or Rip Hamilton, mind you, but still.
EDIT:
OK, Dallas is goin' fishin and I must say that the Mavs should've won tonight but poor decision making led to the game being forced to OT. And, hoo-boy, I have NEVER seen Shaggy that pissed off before. And then Nash and Matrix carried the team on their backs in OT.
130-126, Suns win in 6. And the West Finals are set
(edited by Kawshen on 21.5.05 0013)
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
Thread ahead: Yep, he's still crazy. Next thread: The End of a Surprising Season, and a Great Career... Previous thread: Owners/Players Union break off talks
The first one didn't hit the rim so that didn't count. The 2nd one he missed and used his replacement on that one. He then hit a pretty nice one for a 45 score.