Eh, I think San Antonio gets knocked out in the first round. If not for Duncan three pointer...

The raps this afternoon played a game they werent meant to win. Orlando scored 43 in the first quarter and were 9/11 on 3 pt FGs.

Playoff record, right? Not really that suprising with Turkoglu, Nelson etc.

Another Raps fan? Thought I was the only one.:yeah:

Haha, I'm a huge Raps fan and an even bigger fan of Collangelo hah. Bringin in guys like Parker and Moon is what makes him the best GM in the league.

Is it just me or would the Heat be sitting on top of the world if they'd kept Odom and Butler?

They would never have won a title if they kept Odom and Butler.

True. But they'd still be a 50-win team and the most promising in the NBA.

I don't agree, A line-up with an injury prone over hyped Wade, Butler and Odum would simply make them a Washington Wizards like team at best.

Considering how good their defense has been without two of the best defensive players in the league (Wade and Marion) I'd say no. They've got a lot of good role players right now, once Wade and Marion are back with a top 5 draft pick...

If they stay healthy for full a year they might be a playoff team next season. But they have no low post presence and no point guard. Wade can create, but is not able to defend the leagues best points like CP3, D-Williams, Billups, Baron and the like.

And I'm not sure their defense has been all that great. They only won 13 games this year and spent a lot of fourth quarters playing against teams 8th-12th men.

LeBron James 23



that is all

Regardless they've consistently held opposing teams under their average without their two best defensive players. Their defense is solid the whole game, including the first half against the starters. They'll nab someone like Love or Bealey in the draft and that should cover the big man problem. Jason Williams is still solid. I see no problem there. If they had Butler and Odom that'd give them two scorers and an inside presence.

Fuck Marion, he is a selfish ignorant player and I hate him. I feel bad for Wade having to play with him.

He is a jackass, but he's extremely talented and incredibly athletic. I'd take Butler and Odom over him any day though.

My assessment of the Heat

A team in need of transition. It's time for Riley to leave the sideline for good and find a coach he trusts and Wade will respond positively to.

Off season Goals: The Heat would be best of to land Rose the pg from Memphis. That would allow Wade to play off the ball a little more and expand his mid range post game a la Bird and Jordan in the later stages of their careers. Wade is breaking down fast as an athlete. He needs to change his style of play slightly to have a long career.

If they don't get Rose they need to decide if Marcus Banks is the answer at the point. He looked good in the second half of the season with Miami. Jason Williams is now at the stage of his career where he needs to be a back-up. He can't make it through an entire season healthy and even when he is he rarely tops 30 minutes. Plus his defense is a liability against starting point guards with quickness. He's a free agent I think so they will likely have to let him go as it's unlikely he'll take a pay cut and a demotion to be on a lottery team.

Clear cap room; Ricky Davis has to go. Can't resign him; He has never been part of a team that has won a playoff series and that's not a coincidence. The removal of Davis, potentially Williams and Alonzo Morning will give Miami a chance to sign a quality second tier free agent.

Hang onto Haslem. He is very underrated nationally. Excellent role player shoots it well from the field and the line and brings toughness to the front line.

Find a Post scorer; this might mean letting Marion walk to pursue someone like Elton Brand or Jermaine O'Neal if their teams don't pick up their options.

Continue to progress the youngsters; Cook, Wright and Quinn reserve players and won't hurt you as a fourth or fifth option starter. They need to add depth to the front court through free agency and the second round of the draft.

He would be an amazing fit with the Heat. I would love to see that.

wow yeah that does sound like alot tho... but it also sounds alot like the wiz big 3 (dump, but i love LO). btw all my picks ahead 2 - 0 except for the overconfident pistons hahaha

Raps came out big tonight =)

I thought they'd pull out a few, but in that kind of blowout...

Flip Saunders has never won anything, and continues to prove that he is possibly the worst postseason coach ever.

He is a disaster in the postseason no doubt

His teams always lose to worse teams,

Well, the Hornets have looked good in the first round, but I give them less than a 5% chance of beating the Spurs in the next round-that's how important playoff experience is.
Boston stumbled tonight. I was surprised they didn't have any chemistry problems all year long. I wonder if they might experience some in the playoffs just because it's such a different atmostphere.
I love AI, but it looks like another year without getting past the first round, TMac might be in the same boat, someone who's never got past the first round, it's pretty sad. I've said it time and time again, sometimes I wonder if he even wants to win, because you go out and lose the first 2 games on your home floor. You just can't do that and expect to win the series.

agreed. Being a native T-Wolves fan i know all too much about Flip Saunders lack of coaching ability.

KG was the coach of our team when he was around.

yeah, it's like he's all X's and O's and no passion
playoffs has a lot to do with passion.

I watch the Pistons a lot and as much as I dislike Flip's style and agree he is a poor post season coach, the Pistons are probably the second best team in the NBA (behind the Spurs) and should have been professional enough to beat Miami and Cleveland the past two years despite Flip.

I pray to god that the spurs don't win.

Wooah, did you see the Spurs game JJJ? They got physically manhandled by a team that's not really very physical.

so do i, so do i

If the celts don't win it there is some serious injustice in this world

Fuck the Celtics, San Antonios takin it home again. They're the only team whos 6th and 7th players really come out in the playoffs. And by those guys I mean, Finley and Manu. Bowen even too. Another case of that this playoffs has been Kapono for Toronto.

The Spurs are too old, and they showed it against Phoenix. They'll go down against the Lakers.

Too old, yea right. They have the most playoff experience and as we've seen thats a big deal. They have some of the most talented players in the league as well as guys that knock it down under pressure. But yea, LA would be a tough series for sure.

I don't doubt their talent, grit etc, but I think a 7 game series with LA would wear them down. I think they'll handle the young Hornets pretty easily though. Hey, Phoenix could win this series though. I think they have a good shot really.

Im a huge lakers fan... so I think the lakes would take santon (w/o Bynum). The spurs are obviously legit. But Suns, Hornets, Lakers, Celtics has got to be one of the toughest roads. This year I couldn't tell if they were slipping or taking it easy.

The Spurs are not that "old". Their best three players are all 31 or under and still in their prime. Their role players are older yes, but they don't play a ton of minutes because they are so deep.And experience is much more valuable then young legs and athleticism in the playoffs. No one can or will wear them down. LA can beat them but it will only happen if Kobe elevates his game on both ends and has a bigger impact then Duncan does.

As for the Celtics, I may regret this but I really think the Pistons beat them in five or six games. They did not impress me all season in the clutch. Garnett is phenomenal but has never performed well in big games and Rasheed Wallace is the only player in the league who consistently outplays KG.

If the Big Ticket can get it going like he did when the two teams played late in the season the Celtics can and will win the series, but 35 pts from KG is the exception not the rule.

and no proggy, the Suns won't beat the Spurs, that ones over in five. Nash couldn't defend a decent D2 college PG let alone one as quick and creative as Frenchy Parker Longoria.

LOL. While I have to admire San Antonio's toughness, I doubt their chances because of the every-other-year-curse, and also if Joey Crawford ends up refereeing the finals, it should be interesting.

Hawks tie Celtics series at 2-2:confused::eek::yikes:
:whythis:

I love Josh Smith..most exciting player in the NBA hands down. And for that, I mean as players that go more under the radar. Not saying people dont recognize him, I just dont wanna put him in the same category as LeBron. Another player who deserves to be in the same category as Josh Smith is Gerald Wallace.

A little thing of J.Smooth last year. Top Ten plays.



Also, imo the best shotblocker in the league.

I wouldn't go that far....
but as far as dunking he's kind of like MJ or VC in their prime. I'd say JRich, but I rarely see him dunk in games. plus 'Nique, couldn't forget the former Hawk.

The Raps are out:(:banghead: