NBA thread

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Sparky

My picks are

Utah over San Antonio
OKC over Dallas
LAL over Denver
Memphis over LAC

I feel like the east is fairly obvious, take boston over atlanta

So far I'm 2/4

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

San Antonio over Utah.
OKC over Dallas
LAL over Denver
LAC over Memphis.

Fred is 4/4

Originally Posted by eric generic

Spurs in 5
Thunder in 4
Lakers in 6
Grizzlies in 5

Bulls in 4
Heat in 6
Pacers in 6
Celtics in 6

6/8

I'm gonna predict

San Antonio over LA Clippers
OKC over LA Lakers
Miami over Indiana
Boston over Philly (game 7)

[debaserr]

SA > LAC in 5
OKC > LAL in 6 (hope I'm wrong)
Mia > Ind in 6 (hope I'm wrong)
Bos > Phi in 7 (hope I'm wrong)

Memphis shouldn't have lost G1, what a bunch of noobs.

[Sparky]

are the heat done?

[FireWaterBurn]

Heat aren't done, but I can see it going 7 games. Props to Indy but it's really more of the Heat killing themselves than Indy playing lights out, especially in game 2. I've never seen an offense look so terrible as Miami's did in Game 2, and tonight's 2nd half wasn't much better. Complete no-show by Wade, he seemed to have an attitude problem or disinterest tonight. It's really just about Miami's bad coaching and bad decisions by their stars. They have the greatest fast break finisher of all-time, and a team built for the fast break and they don't wanna run anymore. They've never had a half court offense, and they just seem unwilling to run and get easy points. I'd love a Miami vs Lakers/Thunder finals but I am seriously questioning if Miami gets out of the East for the first time after tonight's flop of a performance. Bad coaching too, a lot of it falls on Spolstra. It was so obvious that Chalmers had the mismatch as George and Granger were on LBJ and Wade. Chalmers was killing them getting into the lane off of pick and rolls, and as usual the ball eventually started going to LeBron and Wade on the wing for bad isolation jump shots.

Love watching the Spurs play. Just old vets who know how to win behind a legendary coach. Amazing how they've transformed over time. They can still go to Timmy in the post when they need to slow it down and it's just so tough to defend them when Parker is running a pick and roll and has shooters stationed in both corners. Factor in Parker and Ginobili's driving and flopping abilities and it's just impossible. I also hate the Clippers, so I'm pulling for the Spurs. Though I'll say that OKC looks like the best team right now by a large, large margin. They've built pretty much a perfect team.

[debaserr]

Originally Posted by Sparky

are the heat done?

Let's hope. Ind being up 2-1 is definitely no fluke though, they are the better team right now (I could see it being the same with Bosh in too).

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by eric generic

Let's hope. Ind being up 2-1 is definitely no fluke though, they are the better team right now (I could see it being the same with Bosh in too).

No way. I don't think Bosh is a great rebounder, but they wouldn't be getting butt****ed on the boards as badly if he was playing. And though I thin Bosh is over rated and soft, he is still a legit 15 PPG guy and with games lie tonight when Wade was awful, he would have been a huge addition. Pacers played pretty well tonight, like I thought they would, being at home and all. But game 2 Indy was terrible, Miami just found a way to be more terrible.

[Sparky]

2 baskets for dwayne wade is not okay i don't care how many floaters mario chalmers gets let him have em.

San Antonio hasn't even had to try hard yet in the playoffs, them vs OKC is going to be epic.

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by Sparky

2 baskets for dwayne wade is not okay i don't care how many floaters mario chalmers gets let him have em.

San Antonio hasn't even had to try hard yet in the playoffs, them vs OKC is going to be epic.

Indeed it will be epic. We are in a real special era of NBA right now, this is stuff we will tell our kids someday.

Damn, nobody even posted about the Lakers game the other night? A pure classic. I'm about to write a novel so feel free to respond to any part of this.

Russ Westbrook is a ****ing beast. I hope these playoffs really showcase how amazing he is, as I don't feel lie he gets the respect he deserves. I'd put him on the level of Rose. The dude is incredible athletic, fast, and strong, and when he is hitting that jumper off the pick and roll he's damn near unstoppable. I was just in awe watching him the other night shred the Lakers defense.

That OKC-Lakers game 4 was a classic. As usual, the Lakers relied completely on Kobe down the stretch and he hit some mind-boggling shots but they should have found a way to keep feeding the bigs. I know they were fronting a lot in the 2nd half, but whoever is guarded by Perkins can shoot a jump hook over him at any time. I will also say it was really well-reffed and they didn't bail Kobe out with phantom fouls like they do sometimes when he gets in the paint. Even when the Lakers went up, I knew OKC would at least make it a game. I was really surprised OKC didn't use Sefolosha more towards the end, I think he's one of the best defenders in the league and Harden couldn't guard Kobe. The Durant dagger at the end was so cold blooded and sick, it was beautiful.

Also, HUGE game for King James tonight. The Heat needed that type of performance and got it. Just a gigantic night, and Wade actually showed up. Now it's a 3 game series with 2 in Miami. I really have a hard time seeing the Heat lose the series now. I felt like whoever won game 4 was gonna take the series. I hate to look ahead, but Heat NEED Bosh back for next round. He isn't the greatest finisher, but he's a hell of a lot better than Anthony and Haslem, but they really need his little 15 foot jumper off the pick and roll.

Spurs wrapped things up tonight. Pretty easy to tell they were teh much better team. Clippers really aren't even that good in my opinion. When they aren't getting alley-oops they don't have much of an offense and the Spurs just always make the right passes, rotations, shots, etc. Should be a blast watching Parker and Westbrook go at it. Different styles and two of the best in the game. I love watching both teams but I think OKC is gonna take it. They have great defenders and length and I don't think anyone on SA can contain Durant. Spurs don't rebound well either, and I just see OKC being too much to handle in transition for them.

holy ****, i love playoff hoops!!

[FRED HALE SR.]

The Lakers are cooked, no finishing ability this year. I like San Antonio to derail OKC in the next round.

Miami just might come back and take that series, i'd love for Indiana to close em out though. Would be great for Indiana basketball in general. I'd also love to see the 76ers slap Beantown around. I'm calling Indiana and the Celtics in the next round with Indiana going all the way out against San Antonio.

San Antonio gives T-DUNC another championship.

[debaserr]

I agree that Westbrook is underrated, if he had less talent around him he would certainly have better numbers.

On G4, I thought Kobe looked as good as he had in years, then proceeded to go cold down the stretch. I don't think they have what it takes to win 3/3.

LBJ finally played his best when it was needed. He was absolutely brilliant. (40/18r/9a).

I think I like the Spurs to win the title now. OKC is too inconsistent offensively and SA is an offensive juggernaut. Miami doesn't have enough talent, I expect Boston to knock them out if Bosh can't go. But if LBJ is playing like yesterday, they could surprise me.