Official Nba Thread

[minford]

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.

Ditto. But I can't imagine the Spurs wanting Bowen taking the clutch shot.

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

I thought you said his blog is pretty "goat" and it made me sad when I reread it. Calling something goat would be awesome. Anyways, yeah, his blog is pretty goat.

[ragnorok99]

Well, the NBA owners have voted in favor of allowing the Sonics to move. The whole situation is pretty sickening, if you ask me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3353270

Props to Mark Cuban and Paul Allen for voting against it, though--that was pretty goat.

[Corvus]

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

Yeah, I think the Dallas/New Orleans matchup is going to be a lot closer than I had initially predicted, and I can see it going either way but I hope the Hornets win the series.

I thought I would be generous on my predictions for Atlanta and Denver and give them each a win but both could very well be eliminated in 4 games.

[Sub-Zero]

LeBron 12-19 32 points

Soulja Boy 1-9 3 points

hey DeShawn, thanks dumb@$$! hows that for overrated?!?! yup great defense on LeBron........for the first quarter!

[Ravens_Pwn12]

YES CAvs won today

[Sub-Zero]

If you missed the Suns/Spurs game, you missed a classic! It featured a comeback from a 16 point deficit by the Spurs, 3 game tying three's with under 20 seconds left, and more flopping action than a sea of fish out of the water!

and how about Pops call to have Duncan try and tie the game with a 3? it took balls to call that play, and it paid off. First shot from beyond the arc for Duncan for the SEASON, and it couldn't have came at a better time. Duncan misses it, and Popovich would be accused of "Isiah Thomasing" that move.

[Sub-Zero]

damn is T-Mac ever going to get past the first round? I know its just one game but it means they have to win one in Utah where they lost only 4 times at home all season! maybe he should change his jersey number, if that's any indication of what round he will never get out of!

[MKdave]

damn is T-Mac ever going to get past the first round? I know its just one game but it means they have to win one in Utah where they lost only 4 times at home all season! maybe he should change his jersey number, if that's any indication of what round he will never get out of!

They missed Rafer Alston alot. He was in the form of his life, and bobby jackson can't keep the tempo where skip keeps it; and against such a tough defensive team, you need to play fast paced ball. They also missed his distribution, only Mcgrady had more than 3 assists.

[ragnorok99]

Looks like I underestimated the importance of homecourt for the Cavs-Wiz series. That 4th quarter was brutal for Washington, and Cleveland's crowd was jacked out of its collective mind.

I expect the same atmosphere in the phone booth, though...it's a good series already.

[Sub-Zero]

They missed Rafer Alston alot. He was in the form of his life, and bobby jackson can't keep the tempo where skip keeps it; and against such a tough defensive team, you need to play fast paced ball. They also missed his distribution, only Mcgrady had more than 3 assists.

yeah Bobby Jackson took too many bad shots last night, but really they don't have anyone to guard Deron. Battier can't defend him because he is just too quick. But it helps to have Alston and Jackson (whose always been a great backup) to try and wear him down a little with their scoring. But what I think hurts them the most is the enforcer in the paint, and this is where they will miss Yao tremendously. Mutumbo can be the enforcer.............for about one quarter, then his old tired body gives out on him and all he can do his wave his finger!

[Sub-Zero]

Looks like I underestimated the importance of homecourt for the Cavs-Wiz series. That 4th quarter was brutal for Washington, and Cleveland's crowd was jacked out of its collective mind.

I expect the same atmosphere in the phone booth, though...it's a good series already.

Cleveland did lead the NBA in 4th quarter comebacks, and of course one of the best closers in the game. So its just the Cavs being the Cavs

[MKdave]

the Magic won the first game of their series with the Raptors.

The Magic scored 43 in the first quarter (a franchise record) and hit 9 3s, the latter being an NBA playoff record.

[ragnorok99]

the Magic won the first game of their series with the Raptors.

The Magic scored 43 in the first quarter (a franchise record) and hit 9 3s, the latter being an NBA playoff record.

It'll surprise me if Toronto wins more than one game in that series.

[Sub-Zero]

Howard is a [profanity deleted] monster! He's the modern day Moses Malone.

I think Toronto can win some games. the Magic live and die by the 3 ball, they can take a team out quickly, or be down just as fast. Toronto cut the lead down to 5 before Orlando pulled away.

[Sub-Zero]

Nuggets are so terrible on defense, that im thinking about signing up as a defensive specialist. still if they hit some free throws they might have had a chance in this game!

[ragnorok99]

Nuggets are so terrible on defense, that im thinking about signing up as a defensive specialist. still if they hit some free throws they might have had a chance in this game!

Gasol's crappy beard somehow made him look even more impressive when he was exploding for 36-15-8.

[neepo13]

Nuggets are so terrible on defense, that im thinking about signing up as a defensive specialist. still if they hit some free throws they might have had a chance in this game!

There is no way the Nuggets should have lost that game. They had Kobe in foul trouble early. He sat damn near the whole 3rd quarter. They should have been able to take that game and run with it. I am looking for the Lakers to sweep them. They couldnt even keep it close when they shut Kobe down, Kenyon Martin did a great job on him. I dont know what they are going to do when Phil figures out a way to get Martin off Kobe.

[neepo13]

Ok, I did not expect the 76ers to beat the Pistons. I was thinking the Pistons were going to sweep them to.

[ragnorok99]

You ready for game 2, Sub?

[minford]

1- Lebron IS overrated. He's ******* good, don't get me wrong, but he is allowed to travel more than most (exhibit a- Wiz-Cavs playoffs from 2 years ago)

2- The Spurs-Suns game was awesome. Notice how Ginobili dished out the two game-tying assists to Finley & Duncan? And then turned it on in the last OT?

[minford]

Well, the NBA owners have voted in favor of allowing the Sonics to move. The whole situation is pretty sickening, if you ask me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3353270

Props to Mark Cuban and Paul Allen for voting against it, though--that was pretty goat.

It'd be goat if the Sonics moved to Bmore so we could have a team again, but since that isn't gonna happen I am totally against the move.

[Sub-Zero]

You ready for game 2, Sub?

I have a night class so I am going to miss most of the game

[Sub-Zero]

1- Lebron IS overrated. He's ******* good, don't get me wrong, but he is allowed to travel more than most (exhibit a- Wiz-Cavs playoffs from 2 years ago)

2- The Spurs-Suns game was awesome. Notice how Ginobili dished out the two game-tying assists to Finley & Duncan? And then turned it on in the last OT?

aww come on saying that LeBron is overrated because he travels more than most is like saying Ginobli is overrated because he is allowed to flop more than most

btw, that was an incredible game for Gino, I don't know how he puts in those shots with his unorthodox style!

[Sub-Zero]

There is no way the Nuggets should have lost that game. They had Kobe in foul trouble early. He sat damn near the whole 3rd quarter. They should have been able to take that game and run with it. I am looking for the Lakers to sweep them. They couldnt even keep it close when they shut Kobe down, Kenyon Martin did a great job on him. I dont know what they are going to do when Phil figures out a way to get Martin off Kobe.

yeah Kenyon did a great job on Kobe, problem is the Nuggets don't really have an inside presence, Gasol and Odom had no trouble crashing the boards and posting up with their length. And it's too bad they don't have many good defenders, I think the key to beating L.A is shutting down their role players and letting Kobe and Gasol get theirs.

[MKdave]

I think the key to beating L.A is shutting down their role players and letting Kobe and Gasol get theirs.

Ronny Turiaf is my favourite laker. I love how he plays ( and sits on the bench with) so much energy. unfortunately he averages a foul every 5 minutes, so he doesnt play a whole lot of minutes.

[minford]

aww come on saying that LeBron is overrated because he travels more than most is like saying Ginobli is overrated because he is allowed to flop more than most

btw, that was an incredible game for Gino, I don't know how he puts in those shots with his unorthodox style!

Gino is a great actor! I'll be the first to admit that he does flop a bit, but at least he isn't dirty like Bruce Bowen. I hate Bowen.

[MKdave]

Gino is a great actor! I'll be the first to admit that he does flop a bit, but at least he isn't dirty like Bruce Bowen. I hate Bowen.

I love Bowen!

basketball needs more guys like Bowen!

[ragnorok99]

I love Bowen!

basketball needs more guys like Bowen!

Only if they do something this cool in every game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XhTjSrZi91Y&feature=related

[MKdave]

Only if they do something this cool in every game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XhTjSrZi91Y&feature=related

unnecessarily violent defence is the only defence that is fun to watch.

I'm actually impressed with the athleticism bruce showed on that play.

[MKdave]

This is what I'm talking about when I say the 'art' of overly physical defence:

I do this all the time when I play basketball. Guys need to be punished if they get a shot off against me.