Official Nba Thread

[Sub-Zero]

helluva game with the Hornets/Lakers. Lakers were up by as much as 28, but the Hornets came storming back and got to within 1 point late in the fourth before the Lakers pulled away. IMO Kobe just pulled ahead of the MVP race.

[neepo13]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont...n?urn=nba,76232

Kobe Bryant jumps over a moving car.

[austrianravensfan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont...n?urn=nba,76232

Kobe Bryant jumps over a moving car.

I don't think he really did that, he wouldn't risk a season or even a carrier ending injury just for promoting shoes

[neepo13]

I don't think he really did that, he wouldn't risk a season or even a carrier ending injury just for promoting shoes

When you slow it down, it kind looks like he jumped over the side of the car.

[Sub-Zero]

the whole background looks out of place to me..

[ragnorok99]

I don't think he really did that, he wouldn't risk a season or even a carrier ending injury just for promoting shoes

Yeah, if I was Phil Jackson and that really happened, I would probably explode.

[neepo13]

Whether its real or not he certainly jumped that high, which is still pretty impressive.

[Sub-Zero]

Lakers are now the number 1 seed and can clinch with a win over the Kings. Nuggets can clinch with another win or a Golden State loss. I want Denver to win their last game or the Warriors to win out (or both), that would mean for the first time ever all playoff spots in one conference would have at least one 50+ win team.

[Corvus]

And with Denver's win tonight, effectively ends the Warriors playoff aspirations this year. They were given multiple chances to grab their destiny through their own abilities, other teams lending a hand so to speak, and sheer luck and let it slip by every time. So its no one's fault but their own.

At the same time, up until the last few weeks of the season I'm proud of the progress they have made as a team, they've already tacked on 6 more wins than they had last year with 2 more games to play and they will officially become the best NBA team record wise in NBA history to not make the playoffs (kinda sad really, even more so since I'm a diehard warriors fan).

I really hope they can keep most of these core players together for next year specifically Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, and Andris Biedrins. Hopefully the cap will allow them to hold onto Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, and Michael Pietrus as well. Plus rookies Marco Belinelli, Brandon Wright, and CJ Watson already showed that they have at least adjusted to the league pretty well and all 3 will be forces to be reckoned with next season.

Warriors WILL make the playoffs next year, Dallas and the Spurs are getting old and the Warriors are a young, talented team. I just hope they learn to play a little DEFENSE by then, haha.

[Sub-Zero]

Nelly's done a super job with the Warriors and yeah that sucks that his team has improved from last year and might not even make the playoffs! But I will say this. If Nelly doesn't put more emphasis on defense and get this team in more of a half court mindset, he will NEVER win a championship. He's got some young cats on this team, who have the energy and talent to play some good defense while maintaining their sharpness on offense.

[austrianravensfan]

wow, that was a sweet block by iverson against houston, didn't think he can do such things anymore

[ragnorok99]

wow, that was a sweet block by iverson against houston, didn't think he can do such things anymore

He certainly had a better day than Anthony:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/bask...t.ap/index.html

Suspicion of DUI is kind of a big deal, but for some reason I don't think it will cripple the Nuggets.

[Sub-Zero]

I just got done watching the Sixers/Cavs game.....it was an ugly ending for sure.

to cut the story short, the Sixers thought they had won the game, but they were called back from the locker room because the refs did a review and ruled that Dalembert had committed a foul before the game ended. Dalmbert knew it, replays show that he was upset at himself right after the foul (but his teammates celebrated as if they had just won). So with .2 seconds left, Devin Brown was to shoot 2 FT's down 89-90. He drains them both, Cavs win, and to my surprise all the Philly fans did was boo (nothing was thrown on the court! ).

[Ravens_Pwn12]

helluva game with the Hornets/Lakers. Lakers were up by as much as 28, but the Hornets came storming back and got to within 1 point late in the fourth before the Lakers pulled away. IMO Kobe just pulled ahead of the MVP race.

Lebton =MVP

[Ravens_Pwn12]

wow, that was a sweet block by iverson against houston, didn't think he can do such things anymore

anymore??? when could he ever? lol jk

[ragnorok99]

I just got done watching the Sixers/Cavs game.....it was an ugly ending for sure.

to cut the story short, the Sixers thought they had won the game, but they were called back from the locker room because the refs did a review and ruled that Dalembert had committed a foul before the game ended. Dalmbert knew it, replays show that he was upset at himself right after the foul (but his teammates celebrated as if they had just won). So with .2 seconds left, Devin Brown was to shoot 2 FT's down 89-90. He drains them both, Cavs win, and to my surprise all the Philly fans did was boo (nothing was thrown on the court! ).

And that ended the Wizards' shot at the 4-seed. Not that it really mattered much for the first series.

[Sub-Zero]

Agent 0 provides the Cavs with bulletin board material:

I think everybody wants Cleveland in that first round. They've been a .500 team ever since they made that trade and everybody wants a chance at that matchup.

We want Cleveland for our own reasons, we don't think they can beat us in the playoffs three years straight. It's hard to beat a team three years straight. We want to try our luck.

Ok Gilby, do you really want fuel Bron Bron like that? Maybe he will whisper in your ear and throw you off your game. hmm where did I see this happen before?

[ragnorok99]

Agent 0 provides the Cavs with bulletin board material:

I think everybody wants Cleveland in that first round. They've been a .500 team ever since they made that trade and everybody wants a chance at that matchup.

We want Cleveland for our own reasons, we don't think they can beat us in the playoffs three years straight. It's hard to beat a team three years straight. We want to try our luck.

Ok Gilby, do you really want fuel Bron Bron like that? Maybe he will whisper in your ear and throw you off your game. hmm where did I see this happen before?

I'm really looking forward to Soulja Boy vs. Jay-Z. And I don't buy LeBron acting like he never talks.

[JonM229]

The Magic are going to take it all!!!

...Right?

[Corvus]

My 1st round predictions:

EAST

Boston (1) vs Atlanta (8) - Boston wins 4-1

Detroit (2) vs Philadelphia (7) - Detroit wins 4-3

Orlando (3) vs Toronto (6) - Orlando wins 4-2

Cleveland (4) vs Washington (5) - Washington wins 4-3

WEST

Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs Denver (8) - Lakers win 4-1

New Orleans (2) vs Dallas (7) - New Orleans wins 4-2

San Antonio (3) vs Phoenix (6) - Phoenix wins 4-3

Utah (4) vs Houston (5) - Utah wins 4-2

[austrianravensfan]

I don't think it will cripple the Nuggets.

Yeah, because they're used to it

The Magic are going to take it all!!!

...Right?

I hope Denver starts playing defense and wins the whole thing, if this doesn't happen, i hope the Hornets will make it

[Sub-Zero]

I'm really looking forward to Soulja Boy vs. Jay-Z. And I don't buy LeBron acting like he never talks.

I'm not denying that but I'll take a mad LeBron over a mad Arenas

[ragnorok99]

I'm not denying that but I'll take a mad LeBron over a mad Arenas

Yeah, especially since Arenas isn't 100% yet.

But I'll take 2 All-Star forwards+DeShawn+Haywood over LeBron's supporting cast.

[Sub-Zero]

speaking of DeShawn, this is what he had to say about LeBron:

"He

[ragnorok99]

speaking of DeShawn, this is what he had to say about LeBron:

"He

[Sub-Zero]

My 1st round predictions:

EAST

Boston (1) vs Atlanta (8) - Boston wins 4-1

Detroit (2) vs Philadelphia (7) - Detroit wins 4-3

Orlando (3) vs Toronto (6) - Orlando wins 4-2

Cleveland (4) vs Washington (5) - Washington wins 4-3

WEST

Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs Denver (8) - Lakers win 4-1

New Orleans (2) vs Dallas (7) - New Orleans wins 4-2

San Antonio (3) vs Phoenix (6) - Phoenix wins 4-3

Utah (4) vs Houston (5) - Utah wins 4-2

i've got:

EAST

Boston (1) vs Atlanta (8) - Boston wins 4-0

Detroit (2) vs Philadelphia (7) - Detroit wins 4-1

Orlando (3) vs Toronto (6) - Orlando wins 4-2

Cleveland (4) vs Washington (5) - Cleveland wins 4-2

WEST

Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs Denver (8) - Lakers win 4-1

New Orleans (2) vs Dallas (7) - Dallas wins 4-2

San Antonio (3) vs Phoenix (6) - Phoenix wins 4-3

Utah (4) vs Houston (5) - Utah wins 4-3

[minford]

Remember when Sessions was tripping n fouling Arenas' bad leg? I can't tell if Arenas is just defending himself or he legitimately likes the guys game, but hes been talking him up on his blog: http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=400032200

His blog, btw, is the only blog I've ever read and its awesome.

[minford]

Subzie, this is for you (note- not trying to rehash the ole argument. this is for sh#ts n giggles):

taken from Bill Simmons' NBA MVP Breakdown, part II found here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/080416

5. Manu Ginobili

Ginobili's particularly unique impact this season defied any conceivable statistical measure until our friends at 82games.com unveiled "Clutch Stats" (fourth quarter or OT, five minutes or less, five-point margin or less) and "Super-Clutch Stats" (fourth quarter or OT, two minutes or less, three-point margin or less). In "Clutch" situations, the Argentinian (I love calling him that) averaged nearly a point a minute and shot 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3 and 93 percent from the foul line. In "Super-Clutch" situations, Manu was the third-best scorer (behind LeBron and Kobe) and shot a jaw-dropping 62 percent from the field. Throw in free-throw attempts and you could make a case that Manu was a lock to score seven out of 10 times in the last two minutes of every close game. There might be better players, but nobody's better with the bread in the toaster. Not even Kobe.

Parts 1 and 2 are actually a good read.

[Sub-Zero]

Subzie, this is for you (note- not trying to rehash the ole argument. this is for sh#ts n giggles):

taken from Bill Simmons' NBA MVP Breakdown, part II found here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/080416

5. Manu Ginobili

Ginobili's particularly unique impact this season defied any conceivable statistical measure until our friends at 82games.com unveiled "Clutch Stats" (fourth quarter or OT, five minutes or less, five-point margin or less) and "Super-Clutch Stats" (fourth quarter or OT, two minutes or less, three-point margin or less). In "Clutch" situations, the Argentinian (I love calling him that) averaged nearly a point a minute and shot 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3 and 93 percent from the foul line. In "Super-Clutch" situations, Manu was the third-best scorer (behind LeBron and Kobe) and shot a jaw-dropping 62 percent from the field. Throw in free-throw attempts and you could make a case that Manu was a lock to score seven out of 10 times in the last two minutes of every close game. There might be better players, but nobody's better with the bread in the toaster. Not even Kobe.

Parts 1 and 2 are actually a good read.

those are some nice numbers for Mr. Gino, but I wonder how many double teams he faces in those clutch situations or if he's the defense's first priorty when its crunchtime. I don't watch enough Spurs games to know.

[ragnorok99]

Remember when Sessions was tripping n fouling Arenas' bad leg? I can't tell if Arenas is just defending himself or he legitimately likes the guys game, but hes been talking him up on his blog: http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=400032200

His blog, btw, is the only blog I've ever read and its awesome.

Yeah, his blog's pretty great. Some of the stuff he says about his kids is hilarious.