I like to think the playoffs got off to a good start this year.
Naturally, you can't talk about this past weekend without talking about that amazing Phoenix/San Antonio Game 1. Both teams brought their A-game and both deserved to win. A classic start to what's sure to be a fun series!
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the Pistons dogging it yet again in the postseason. Without question, if the Sixers pull off the series win, it'll be THE biggest upset in NBA history. Sure, the Warriors knocked off a near-70 win team last year, but the Sixers are two games below .500!
I can't tell if yesterday was more of an example of the Lakers showing why they should be feared by the rest of the league or the Nuggets showing everyone why they don't belong. Denver's defense was awful and, on top of that, they fell victim to a lack of discipline. Iverson nearly got them back into the game single-handedly at the end before he got himself thrown out like a moron.
Speaking of fear, Chris Paul was nothing short of amazing in his game against the Mavs. Nearly lost in everything was Jason Kidd almost amassing another triple-double, but no one noticed because Paul was so dominant from start to finish. I still think it can be a close series, though.
I think every other team in the league that thinks they have a shot at the title is hoping the Suns and Spurs play 6 more games like Game 1, and thus the winning team will have nothing left in them. I expected that type of game from the Pistons in either Game 3 or 4, but never in Game 1 at home.
Originally posted by It's FalseIverson nearly got them back into the game single-handedly at the end before he got himself thrown out like a moron.
Did he do that on purpose? It looked like he was asking for it, but the Nuggets were only 7-8 points behind at the time and had plenty of time to fight for a comeback. The whole thing was just weird.
Originally posted by It's False On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the Pistons dogging it yet again in the postseason. Without question, if the Sixers pull off the series win, it'll be THE biggest upset in NBA history.
I don't agree. The very fact that you had to add "Yet again" to the end makes it less of an upset. This is what the Pistons do now, dog it, so it's not the biggest upset if they are a team that has a history of playing down to their opponent and they play down to their opponent. I don't think the Warriors last year were that big an upset either, or the Knicks winning as an eight seed. It's still Denver over Seattle in 94. I mean Laphonso Ellis was their best scorer. Come on.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeDid he do that on purpose? It looked like he was asking for it, but the Nuggets were only 7-8 points behind at the time and had plenty of time to fight for a comeback. The whole thing was just weird.
From what I saw, he was arguing a foul and quickly got T'd up for it. That should have been the cue to leave well-enough alone, but Iverson just kept running his mouth about it and got a second one to get ejected. I agree it was weird. Worse than that, George Karl deserves a whole lot of the blame for that debacle. He was standing INCHES away from Iverson when this was happening and did nothing to restrain him or anything.
What have we learned as of Monday? Don't piss off, LeBron. Just don't. That means you, Mr. Arenas.
With Utah taking a 2-0 lead back to Salt Lake, can we now cement Tracy McGrady as the single-biggest loser in the NBA today?
Originally posted by It's FalseWith Utah taking a 2-0 lead back to Salt Lake, can we now cement Tracy McGrady as the single-biggest loser in the NBA today?
No. In case you didn't notice, Utah have themselves a pretty handy team. Aside from McGrady, is there anyone on the Rockets that would cause great concern to any other team in the finals? I don't think so. Saying McGrady, or anyone, is a loser because he has been on teams that made it to the first round of the finals is stupid.
1. 53% of all NBA teams make the playoffs each year.
2. Tracy shot 7-21 (33%) in game 1, and then followed that with a 9-22 (41%) last night.
3. Tracy had 9 assists last night and 7 on Sunday. His average this year was 5.9. Unselfish play? All I know is that in the last three minutes of the game I saw him passing the ball waaaay too much.
Wow. Look at that starting lineup trotted out by the Rockets last night:
Tracy McGrady Bobby Jackson Luis Scola Shane Battier Dikembe Mutumbo
Really? That's a top shelf team in the NBA? I don't think so. McGrady hasn't performed particularly well on the playoff stage, but look at that supporting cast. Blech.
That was a nice comeback by the Spurs in the second half. I'm still not declaring Phoenix dead, as they had a good number of ref calls go the other way and they REALLY don't want to get sent home in 4.
I'm also thinking Dallas wakes up once they reach Texas, because they've just gotten schooled by the Hornets. They definitely realize they've been playoff no-shows since last year and I think the Mavs step it up and take the next two.
I can't comment much on Orlando/Toronto, considering it got quietly shuffled to the NBA Network. Of course, considering it's the East, I don't think a lot of people care.
Originally posted by It's FalseI'm still not declaring Phoenix dead, as they had a good number of ref calls go the other way and they REALLY don't want to get sent home in 4.
Phoenix NEVER get any calls. I'm sure there was a yahoo article about that earlier this year. Then again yahoo said today the Shaq experiment for Phoenix has failed because they've lost 2 games. I really don't think Shaq is the reason Bell, Barbosa and Hill combined to shoot 2 of 15 (8 points). And I'm pretty sure he wasn't entirely to blame for Ginobili and Parker going 22 of 42 (61 points) It's about now that relying on G Hill to cover S Marion minutes is looking like a bad idea.
Oh please. All the biased Suns' ass kissers are just making excuses yet again. If the Suns are getting all the calls then how come the Spurs (the home team by the way) had more fouls in both games? This has nothing to do with who is getting calls and has everything to do with who the better team is. Nobody can guard Duncan, nobody can guard Parker, nobody can guard Ginobili. Oh and Amare deserves a lot of credit for the game 2 loss. He was supposedly the one guy the Spurs couldn't guard and he disappeared in the second half. The Spurs are just the better team and the Suns have never and never will be a title contender with their defense and Steve Nash himself is a huge liability in that department, which is why it is a joke he won MVPs.
Ok, NOW I'm declaring Phoenix dead. That was a pretty convincing rout, which surprised the hell out of me, because the Spurs have had a tendency of playing below their skill level on the road.
Can I declare the Pistons dead too? Even if they survive this series against the lowly Sixers, I don't like their chances against a hungry Orlando team in the next round.
Dallas has shown that their series isn't over yet. I still think this one goes the full seven.
Originally posted by It's FalseCan I declare the Pistons dead too? Even if they survive this series against the lowly Sixers, I don't like their chances against a hungry Orlando team in the next round.
Pretty big assumption considering how the Raptors handled the Magic on Thursday night. Other than the two first quarters in Orlando the Raptors have been the better team in this series. We'll see what happens in game 4 today!
EDIT: I guess I can eat those words now. Poor effort at home today by all the Raps except Bosh.
(edited by haz on 26.4.08 2129) There's a World Container with your name on it, and a billion ways to go bezerk!!
Now, can the Hawks get one more? I wouldn't bet against it, but I wouldn't bet on it either. Either way, we really needed that after nearly 9 years since our last playoff victory.
Now, can the Hawks get one more? I wouldn't bet against it, but I wouldn't bet on it either. Either way, we really needed that after nearly 9 years since our last playoff victory.
Ok, what's going on here? How the bloody hell did Atlanta TIE this series 2-2?! If ANY series in the history of the NBA should have been a cakewalk, it HAD to be this one! What happened?
Seriously, is the East so bad that the top two seeds are going neck-and-neck with a pair of below-.500 teams? Do we REALLY have to pencil in LeBron for the Finals again after that abomination of a Finals series last year?
Originally posted by It's FalseOk, what's going on here? How the bloody hell did Atlanta TIE this series 2-2?! If ANY series in the history of the NBA should have been a cakewalk, it HAD to be this one! What happened?
Seriously, is the East so bad that the top two seeds are going neck-and-neck with a pair of below-.500 teams? Do we REALLY have to pencil in LeBron for the Finals again after that abomination of a Finals series last year?
(edited by It's False on 28.4.08 2005)
We all forgot that Doc Rivers still has never won a playoff series as a coach. This isn't quite reaching the disgrace of the Bucks sweep in '83, but it is quickly closing in on the 1990 Knicks fiasco. Cousy was the only one who saw some flaw early in the series. Had them dead early, let them come back, and then have them 10 down going into the 4th. Inexcusable. Had Rondo ready to come back at the 9 minute mark to attempt to stop the bleeding, then called him back to the bench until the 6 minute mark when it was a 1 point game. Very poor coaching by a potentially soon to be unemployed Doc. Where is KC Jones when you need him.
Originally posted by It's FalseOk, what's going on here? How the bloody hell did Atlanta TIE this series 2-2?! If ANY series in the history of the NBA should have been a cakewalk, it HAD to be this one! What happened?