NBA Playoff Thread

[cwilson3]

Every time it looks like the momentum is shifting, the Lakers hit a 3.

 

[MileHigh]

I expect this will merit being renamed the "Two months of slobbering over the wonderfulness that is the Cleveland Cavaliers" thread.

This postseason already feels like one long coronation.

Nah, I'm gonna try and contain myself. In Cleveland during the playoffs, we don't believe anyone can win until they do. And in my lifetime, they haven't. I'll enjoy the West a lot, though. That will be fun to watch all the way through.

Some of you guys had trouble with that whole "contain myself" thing during the regular season . . .

The West will be fun to watch. Kobe Bryant already got his post-Shaq, "F%$# you" title. Other Lakers geeks are already wailing about the fact they're not gonna win the title, but they just won the damn thing. No need for greed. So it will be interesting to see which team comes out of the West to serve as the sacrifice at LeBron's (or Howard's, perhaps) coronation.

As for Pierce and Garnett . . . Two guys, in the twilight of their careers, who carry on as if they have won in Boston at a clip similar to Russell and Cousy.

We're Lakers fans. We expect to win every year. Including this one.

 

[cwilson3]

Howard has eight blocks and there are still two minutes left in the second quarter.

 

[Small Town Guy]

Okur's done for the season with a torn Achilles. Jazz season to follow.

He apparently took a numbing injection before the game so he could play, then tore it in the first half.

The Lakers-Thunder series feels like a classic five-gamer: Lakers win first two at home, OKC takes the third, Lakers reassert authority in Game 4 and close it in 5.

Lakers have struggled, but during last year's playoffs, up until Game 5 of the Denver series, people thought they were underachieving as well. Cleveland won first eight games of the playoffs last year, all by double-figures. Lakers still have a great shot at the title.

 

[cwilson3]

KG suspended for a game for the elbow he threw. Sounds about right.

 

[Small Town Guy]

KG suspended for a game for the elbow he threw. Sounds about right.

Definitely. And I loved Noah talking about how KG's a dirty player, and he's not even playing him.

Howard now with three points and nine blocks. Nelson had 24 in the first half while Vince Carter's making Kobe and Durant look like sharpshooters: 3-for-15 so far.

 

[cwilson3]

Yea, this game is putrid but at least Charlotte hasn't rolled over yet.

 

[Small Town Guy]

This mark might end someday, but it's still worth noting. Phil Jackson's 44-0 when his teams win the first game of a series.

 

[Football_Bat]

Bonner is already working on getting into Nowitzki's head.

 

[cwilson3]

This mark might end someday, but it's still worth noting. Phil Jackson's 44-0 when his teams win the first game of a series.

That's pretty damn impressive.

 

[Small Town Guy]

Saw this linked on Simmons's Twitter. Good story about the back problems Bill Walton suffered, which had him contemplating suicide until a revolutionary technique helped him heal a bit.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/17/back-pain-nearly-drove-bill-walton-to-end-it-all/

 

[zagoshe]

I know it is only one game but I think we are now finally witnessing the official end of the Spurs as we know them.

The "window" on this group built around Duncan has closed. It is over.

 

[ucacm]

is alvin gentry homosexual?

 

[Den1983]

I know it is only one game but I think we are now finally witnessing the official end of the Spurs as we know them.

The "window" on this group built around Duncan has closed. It is over.

That's been known for quite awhile now, starting with last year's ouster to the Mavs. I'm shocked Spurs management didn't see the writing on the wall and thought Jefferson and Blair would push them back to contention.

 

[Football_Bat]

I know it is only one game but I think we are now finally witnessing the official end of the Spurs as we know them.

The "window" on this group built around Duncan has closed. It is over.

That's been known for quite awhile now, starting with last year's ouster to the Mavs. I'm shocked Spurs management didn't see the writing on the wall and thought Jefferson and Blair would push them back to contention.

Parker and Ginobili are still fine players -- when healthy. That is a big if. Duncan is done as a superstar-caliber player; his knees are shot. Jefferson just hasn't worked out. Blair is kind of interesting.

The Mavs are no spring chickens either. They're actually older than the Spurs, and before they fleeced the Wiz, they looked it. Kidd is 37, Dampier is in his mid-30s and Dirk is only almost 32, but there's a lot of miles on those wheels.

 

[Football_Bat]

Another interesting tidbit from Mavs-Spurs I heard: Vegas had the Mavs by 6 and the points at 194, and both were pushes.

 

[cwilson3]

I could still see the Spurs winning that series. Dallas was nailing 3s the whole second half. That should be a good series.

 

[CitizenTino]

Anybody know the best site for getting NBA box scores/stats?

NBA.com is pretty good for the basics, but I was hoping there was a site out there with points in the paint, second-chance points, fast-break points, etc.

 

[cwilson3]

ESPN has points in the paint, points off turnovers and fast break points but not 2nd-chance points.

 

[ucacm]

I feel dirty saying it, but Joakim Noah has become one of my favorites in the NBA.