Dan talks to himself about the NBA playoff's

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 28 Apr 2009 09:58

Ya, the LA/Utah game was the first full playoff game I've seen this postseason, and it certainly was an interesting one.

What started to happen towards the end of the 3rd quarter (After that sequence of steals including the behind the back pass from Sasha turned to alley oop via Kobe to Pau) was that the Lakers young guys started show boating. And who can blame them, they're the showtime Laker's baby. But ya, instead of moving the ball around and playing good defense they started jacking up shots and trying to gain their own glory. Combine this with the fact that every single bounce started falling into Millsap's hands on the other end, it was definitely an odd quarter of basketball to watch. Part of the reason the Jazz started gettign so many rebounds was that the Laker's bench forgot how to box out on a 3. Very odd.

But I'm not too worried about it. I said from the start that the West was the wolves den. It's obvious that the Jazz are better than the 8th best team in the West- probably more like the 5th or 6th.

As far as the Denver/NOLA series, my prediction looks very silly now. I was reaching for 1 more upset and in the process, greatly over estimated the Hornets and GREATLY under estimated the Nuggets. Byron Scott has lost total control over this team. Could you even imagine this picture last year, with George Karl loved and respected by his Nuggets and Byron Scott detested by everyone on his team.

When you determining a coaches ability, you look at his players faces during a time out. Are they

A. Intently listening to his wisdom being passed down (Popovich, Sloan, Jackson, Mike D'Antoni)
B. Pretending to listen (Carlisle, Van Gundy, Spoelstra)
C. Showing complete contempt for every word that comes out (Dunleavy, Mitchell, Skiles, Scott)

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 28 Apr 2009 10:10

One more thing about the LA game. Seeing a 19 point lead turn into a 6 point lead isn't neccesarilly such a disaster. Basketball more than any other sport is a game of rhythmn and momentum. LA is especially vulnerable to losing momentum for stretches since they run the triangle offense which is solely dependent on spacing and rhythmn.

LA will blow a lead in the 4th quarter atleast once or twice more this postseason. They will still win the finals.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 28 Apr 2009 11:27

BainbridgeShred wrote:When you determining a coaches ability, you look at his players faces during a time out.

I remember last year when Flip Saunders was coaching the Pistons, Sheed wouldn't even stand in the huddle during the timeout. He'd just kinda chill by himself at the scorer's table. Ouch.

As for the Lakers' second unit's inability to defend, I think it's a bigger deal than you make out. If I had to bet money, I'd still say they make the finals, but I don't see them beating the Cavs.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 29 Apr 2009 05:38

Bulls-Celtics is turning into one of the best playoff series I've ever seen. Can't believe this is a 2-7 matchup in the first round. Apparently, this is the first time a playoff series has had 3 games go to OT. Amazing. Did anybody else thing Rondo's foul against Brad Miller was flagrant? On the replay he clearly didn't make a play for the ball, and he hit the guy right in the head. Miller lost a tooth! Tough way to lose a game.

Rockets failed to close out yesterday, which was disappointing, since Roy was getting over the flu and it was a good opportunity for them.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 29 Apr 2009 06:26

i turned on that game with 4 minutes left in regulation... what a treat.

rondo's foul was BS. I like rondo, he's the real deal, but he should get some serious fine and/or suspension for that. like you say, he didn't even remotely go for the ball.

paul pierce. wow.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 29 Apr 2009 09:25

If you go back and read my comments on the NBA thread from last season, or if you simply rewatched the 2008 playoffs, you will start to notice a trend developing.

The Celtics are ALL a bunch of whiney, primma donna, superstars who will hack, kick, slap, and punch their way to a victory.

Now I'm not gonna say there is anything wrong with this. It's playoff basketball blah blah blah it's gonna be physical blah blah blah. Still though, Rondo straight clocked the guy in his grill. What a fucking bitch.

But like I said you gotta allow the playoffs to get a little testy. What I've never understood though is why America thinks the Celtic's are the good guys, and that the Lakers are the chippy, arrogant, showboaters. Let's be honest, the Lakers, deep as they are, are mainly comprised of a bunch of nobodies-until they came to LA.

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 29 Apr 2009 11:22

BainbridgeShred wrote:If you go back and read my comments on the NBA thread from last season, or if you simply rewatched the 2008 playoffs, you will start to notice a trend developing.

The Celtics are ALL a bunch of whiney, primma donna, superstars who will hack, kick, slap, and punch their way to a victory.

Now I'm not gonna say there is anything wrong with this. It's playoff basketball blah blah blah it's gonna be physical blah blah blah. Still though, Rondo straight clocked the guy in his grill. What a fucking bitch.

guess you should have factored that into your picks last year and you might have had them making it out of the first round...

i think if you could pretend to be unbiased for a single quarter of a single game i think youre trend wouldnt be nearly as pronounced...or existant. there are TONS of BS calls in both directions.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 29 Apr 2009 12:36

Looks like everything is turning out swimmingly...

mwhahahaha...

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 29 Apr 2009 13:46

BainbridgeShred wrote:What I've never understood though is why America thinks the Celtic's are the good guys, and that the Lakers are the chippy, arrogant, showboaters.

Probably the rape charge has something to do with it.

Slowsis · Post by **Slowsis** » 29 Apr 2009 14:19

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 29 Apr 2009 19:10

lol whats funny about that picture is the old guy apparently turning his camera away from Kobe to get a picture of the blowup doll.

And that rape charge was pretty bogus. oh wow a nba player cheated on his wife whats new.

guess you should have factored that into your picks last year and you might have had them making it out of the first round...

Lol well they damn near didn't... Plus they got to play weak Eastern conference teams last year. Even Cleavland isn't the same team they are this year.

But that is what happens when you trade the future of your franchise for 1 good year and an NBA title. The Lakers are poised to be good for a long time to come, and Boston is already slipping back into the team they were in 2007.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 30 Apr 2009 11:54

Of the eight first round series, four are done (Lakers, Mavs, Nuggets, and Cavs advance). I'm 4/4 so far on my predictions.

I originally had the Blazers over the Rockets, mostly because of homecourt, but now that the Rockets are up 3-2, I like them to advance.

I also think my prediction for Orlando winning the series will be wrong. Sixers play at home tonight, and the Magic are missing their starting SG and Center, so they should be able to tie the series up. But it sounds like Courtney Lee is out for the playoffs, so Game 7 in Orlando could be a toss-up.

Celtics-Bulls has been epic so far. I'm really hoping the series goes 7 games, and we see at least one more OT.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 30 Apr 2009 15:42

Rondo and the Celtics continue to play gayer than HIV. Little bitch is lucky Kirk didn't punch him in his ugly country bumpkin face

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 01 May 2009 04:48

that was a classic last night though any way you look at it.. bulls/celts I mean. ray allen has ice water running through his veins.. and you could literally see rose grow up from amazing rookie to veteran (at first he was a little tentative on a couple plays in overtime) - I think the bulls can really take game 7!

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 01 May 2009 05:27

Last night was huuuuuuge for the Orlando Magic. I didn't expect them to win with two of their starters out, but they stepped up and closed out the Sixers on the road. This is important for two reasons:

1. The rest of the Magic gains some confidence that they can win without Howard or C. Lee.

2. Bulls Celtics went to triple OT, and a game 7. Regardless of who wins that series, they are going to be exhausted. The fact that the Magic closed out last night, means they will have something like 4 days rest, and then they get to face a team that will be tired and beat up.

Because of this you have to figure that Orlando will be favored to make it to the ECF, and a date with LeBron.

Oh, and even if you don't like basketball, you would be a fool to miss Bulls-Celts Game 7 on Saturday.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 01 May 2009 10:44

WHAT A GAME! So many clutch plays; completely unbelievable and great for the sport of basketball. That play by Joakim Noah was absolutely ridiculous and although I don't really like him I have to give him huge props. I can't wait for game 7.

As long as boston wins, it looks like I went undefeated in the first round of predictions =D

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 01 May 2009 12:16

I can't stand Noah.. I find him so annoying in so many ways (I mean really... look at his shooting form on free throws... and that side show bob hair... and pounding his chest over every little thing... plus that run in he had with his coaches last year) but I have to agree 100%.. that steal, taking it full court, and finishing strong with a dunk.. That was exciting stuff.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 01 May 2009 14:36

I was never the biggest Noah fan either but he's really becoming a pretty good NBA player now that he's learning how to get his Varajoa on. A lot more athletic than he was the last few years too.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 01 May 2009 16:43

The NBA isn't going to suspend Rondo for game 7. That's such bullshit. A couple years ago they suspended two of the best players on my team (the Suns) for stepping off the bench during an altercation. That essentially gave the series to the Spurs. If the league is going to "go by the letter of the law" in some cases, they need to do it everytime. As a fan it's hard to take the game seriously when the rules are applied selectively. I'm not firmly rooting against the Celtics because of this, just because the NBA office needs to stop this bullshit.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 01 May 2009 17:28

I hate rondo. If you throw a guy into the scorers table, you should be ejected/suspended. F this playoff basketball argument they keep bringing up; that is not basketball.