NBA Basketball 2004-2005 thread

Ha, that's a great picture. I wonder who the guy is to the left of Reggie, in blue jeans and the Carolina blue cap, with his hands on the side of his face. And how about the dude more to the right, a couple of rows back, slapping his forehead Homer Simpson-style!

Well, I lost a lot of interest in this season when L.A. was eliminated back in February.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love that Shaq trade? Thanks, GM Bryant.

About the only thing I am most interested in regarding the playoffs this year is if it will take 600 years to complete like last year. I know Stern said that it would be quicker than last year but that could just mean they shave 100 years off of the time it takes.

He claimed to have shaved two days off the first round, from 18 to 16. That's a real improvement...

Casey, look at the bright side, this will be the first time (since Eddie Jones?) that the Lakers have a shot at a top ten pick in the lottery! Maybe we can get a point guard like Deron Williams.

My first round pícks:


Miami over New Jersey (easy, even without O'Neal in the first couple of games)

Chicago over Washingtion (I believe less in the Wizards than the Bulls--even with their injuries)

Indiana over Boston (who qualified by winning the absolutly worst division in the NBA)

Detroit over Philidelphia (even if AI & Weber are in sync, it won't be enough to cool down the leauge's hottest team).

Suns over Memphis (easy)

Dallas over Houston (the Mavs have a better chance of stoppping Ming and T-Mac than the Rockets have of stopping Dirk and co)

Seattle over Sacramento (the battle of the wounded--the Kings the more so)

San Antonio over Denver (Karl's mid-season magic stops here)

Yeah, but the NBA draft is almost as uncertain now days as the MLB draft what with most of the kids in the draft being the type that help later not now.

I'm just going to agree with Lew's picks for the playoffs round 1 they seem on target to me.

Yes, Lew's picks seem pretty good. The only one I would think about changing is the Dallas - Houston prediction.

While I think the Suns should, and will beat Memphis, I don't think it's going to be as easy as many people think. Memphis gave us fits all season, and I expect them to do the same in the playoffs.

Would that pic on the previous page be from when Reggie scored 8 points in 10 seconds?

My first round picks:

Miami over New Jersey in 5 games.

Chicago over Washingtion in 6 games

Indiana over Boston in 6 games.

Detroit over Philadelphia in 5 games.

Phoenix over Memphis in 6 games.

Dallas over Houston in 7 games.

Seattle over Sacramento in 6 games.

San Antonio over Denver in 6 games.

My picks:

Miami Over NJ in 5
Washington Over Chicago in 6.
Indiana over Boston in 6.
Detroit over Philly in 5
Phoenix over Memphis in 5
Dallas over Houston in 6
Seattle over Sac in 5
SA over Denver in 7. I'm thinking about reversing this.

For what it's worth, I started a team over at nba.com in their "Pick N' Roll" bracket game. Team name is HT Forum. Toss your picks in and we'll see who does the best. Casey won last year, although nobody going in correctly picked the Pistons as the winners.

As for my picks, first round:

Western Conference:

Phoenix over Memphis in 5: Memphis is just overmatched and has no momentum going into this series the way they backed into the playoffs.

SA over Denver in 5: I feel crazy calling this, it's definitely my riskiest prediction for the 1st round (not the winner, but the number of games). Logic says the series should be far tighter, but from whatever reason I have flashbacks to last year's SA Memphis series where people said it would be close and the Spurs destroyed the Grizz. The key here is Duncan's ankle.

Sacramento over Seattle in 6: Both teams are hurt, but Seattle has played like crap for the last month. I don't think they've got it. Kings are weak, but experienced, and not as weak.

Dallas over Houston in 7: Close as hell series, but I think homecourt and AJ's increased emphasis on defense while keeping Dallas' offense will be the deciding factor.

Eastern Conference

Miami over New Jersey in 5: As long as Shaq is healthy, the Nets don't stand a chance. Things get more interesting if Shaq isn't playing.

Detroit over Philly in 5: The 76ers were lucky to just make the playoffs.

Indy over Boston in 6: Has anyone done more with less then season then the Pacers? Besides, with Reggie retiring, who can deny us one last Pistons-Pacers series?

Chicago over Washington in 7: I'm thinking of reversing this due to Chicago's injuries, but right now I give them a very slight edge.

To fill out the bracket minus analysis:

Round 2:
Mavs over Suns in 6
Spurs over Kings in 5
Heat over Bulls in 5
Pistons over Pacers in 7

Round 3:
Spurs over Mavs in 7
Pistons over Heat in 6

Finals: Spurs over Pistons in 6

I don't think it's a risky prediction. Denver had a very nice run in the second half of the season but I'll pick an experienced, methodical group of winners to beat a running young team in the playoffs every time. Not that Denver should be taken lightly but I can't imagine San Antonio's defense and half-court offense not grinding them down.

Did anyone set up another NBA.com Pick'em league this year?

I just did my picks. BTW, hint to you non-Indy fans...back off that feel-good Indy pick, this is not a pretty picture coming up. I have it Boston in 6.

My picks:
Western Conference

Phoenix-Memphis: Phoenix 4, Memphis 0
San Antonio-Denver: San Antonio 4, Denver 3
Seattle-Sacramento: Sacramento 4, Seattle 2
Dallas-Houston: Houston 4, Dallas 3

Phoenix 4, Houston 2
San Antonio 4, Sacramento 2

San Antonio 4, Phoenix 2

Eastern Conference

Miami-New Jersey: Miami 4, New Jersey 1
Detroit-Philadelphia: Detroit 4, Philadelphia 1
Chicago-Washington: Washington 4, Chicago 3
Boston-Indiana: Boston 4, Indiana 2 (I called this outcome after they lost to Philly last week)

Miami 4, Washington 1
Detroit 4, Boston 0

Detroit 4, Miami 2

Finals
San Antonio 4, Detroit 2


After I nearly got a lifetime ban for the Artest debate, I just walked away from AH totally. I can talk Pacers at the IndyStar without people being mad for thinking Ron got screwed.

But while we are on the subject, I was at Reggie's final game. It was incredible. I have some good photos that I will be posting, getting better with the Digital Rebel and a nice 2.8 80-200mm I got used. I was sitting against the railing of the tunnel that they brought his new Bentley out of (gift from Simons).

Bill Clinton had a vid tribute, Shaq, Jordan, even John Starks. You know who DIDN'T attend or send a vid tribute? David Stern. Way to promote the feel-good story in the NBA this year dork.

Needless to say that made him even more loved in the state. He really needs to never, ever come here again. The response would be as ugly as non-violence can be.


In the meantime, I had a 2nd row baseline for the win over the Nets and a 7th row corner for the loss to the Knicks. Here is the public Yahoo photo page I have for those (w/ the Rebel) as well as some Miami and Detroit 3rd and 2nd row seat photos before I had the faster lens. That basic 18-55mm runs 4.6-5 something and I couldn't stop any motion.

Check out the photo of Vince Carter laying in pain right in front of me! I've got one shot I didn't put up that is almost just his face filling the frame, I was that close.

Pacers Yahoo Album #1

Here we go, jump on Chris and anyone else who's doing a NBA.com bracket.

NBA.com League

HTF Year 2
OAR (password)

Here is a new photo album of 40 pix from Reggie's last game and post-game ceremony.

The first few are of the practice gym built on the side of Conseco Fieldhouse. People are at the windows watching Reggie and JO practice before the game (about 6:15, gametime 7). Then shots of them in the gym from the street window, gym is about 20 feet below street level.


People of note in some photos - Big Smooth Perkins, Peyton and Brandon Stokely all sitting front row in one, Artest on the bench next to Bender, and the people talking to Reggie are the Simons (Pacers owners), Mark Boyle and Slick Leonard (radio team) in back, Mark Jackson, sister Cheryl, Larry Bird of course, Donnie Walsh and Mel Daniels (Pacer GM and former Pacer ABA great and front office guy now).

The car at the end is the Bentley they gave him.

Reggie's Last Game photos

Understandable that OAR would be a password for an HTF group, but hey, this is After Hours, so why not "silica"?

DOH! I blew it. Man, that actually kinda bums me out.

I just hope I don't start tearing up about it, what with being out of silica and all.

Ok Seth, I signed up under my fantasy football name of Vader's Crusaders. It is nice to see you back. I think at this point we have all had time to cool down and relax and are mature enough to agree that we just disagree on some things, that why they are called opinions. We can just accept the fact that we don't have to agree on Artests suspension. I didn't have a problem with O'neil's getting reduced, and my last word on it is quite frankly Stephen Jackson should still be thanking his luck stars his wasn't longer...anyways I am looking forward to the playoffs and Seth and I defending the East v West just like old times.

And yes I took the homer pick of the Pistons repeating...

Seth, have u ever thought about selling your photos? Some of them shots are headline worthy

The only game I saw in full yesterday was Detroit v. Philly. Could the Pistons have been any worse than they were in the first quarter? Gentlemen, please, no more of that. Thankfully they found themselves in the last 3 periods, with the initial spark coming from Dice off the bench, and then the huge 2nd half from Sheed. Also thanks to Philly taking some dumb shots starting in the 2nd period, after their outstanding 1st quarter. As pissed off as I was by it, that play where Iverson ran down the court and flew out of bounds while saving the ball to Iguodala for the reverse jam was totally sweet.

Houston over Dallas, interesting, sure looks to be an up-and-down series. And while one game doesn't make an entire series, Indiana, yikes...Seth might have this one very right!

This comes as little comfort given the beatdown the Lakers suffered in the finals, and the distruction of the franchise under king Kobe.

Seth, it is good to have you back and as Brandon said enough time has passed that I think we can all admit that we agree to disagree on that particular debate.

Besides, you were my partner last year in making jokes about the playoffs lasting for an eternity.

Wow, it looks like the first major upset is about to be dealt. San Antonio officially has a series on their hands.

Nuggets representin'. I just hoping for a split in the 1st two games, but I won't complain if we take em both.

I did have a hard time concentrating on the game after the camera's kept showing all the cleavage behind the Nuggets bench.

Damn, I thought the Spurs had exorcised the demons of those 4th quarter collapses. Guess not. I still like them to win the series, but it appears that, as I stated above, I was far too optimistic in the number of games it would take. UNless they rebound to win the next four, which I doubt. This series is going at least 6 games now.

Thanks, but I've only had the Digital Rebel since Xmas and never used an analog other than basic 110's. My dad used to have a nice 35mm but I never messed with it.

Finding an 80-200mm 2.8 Fstop lens for $600 used helped a lot. I don't know much yet, but I know that was a nice find and has been very handy so far.


BTW, you should see some of my spring training photos or stuff I got of Curt Schilling here in Indy on rehab.

Anyway, if I got till next Jan getting better and getting positive reactions to some of my shots then I think I will start to try to farm them out to local papers and stuff.


Spurs loss. Doesn't worry me at all. Duncan is still getting back to speed. They will be fine. This was a close game. I have it going 7 because I think Duncan will get stronger as the series goes on. Indy won game 1 vs Detroit last year. Indy stole games in Philly in 2001 and NJ in 2002. Denver has a lot more work ahead of them and barely won this one. SA can play on the road just fine I think.

PHX - Memphis will play them that close in other games too, but a loss is a loss.

INDY - hey, I've been watching them. Actually I've been going to a ton of games (by my standards) mostly due to Reggie retiring.

Home opener, ORL game day after brawl (in suite thanks to friend), MIA in Feb, both DET games, last NYK game, last NJ game, CHI game, 2 home playoff games coming up - and most of those were close seasts (ie, $150-$170). By my standards that is a ton of money during the season. Normally I hit about 3-4, tops, then the playoffs.

So I've seen what they have and don't have, and what they have is Eddie Gill at backup PG, Reggie gone cold, JO hurt, Fred Jones hurt, Croshere hurt, Foster hurting. It's a real mess. Oh well, at least Reggie is going out with a great final run to get the 6 seed and to catch West on the scoring list, and he will finish in the playoffs which is the way a playoff hero like him should go out.


CHI - stepped up more than I thought they could, I thought they were in some trouble. Could still be a series in which the home team wins every game. I have it WSH in 7.

SEA - to me this was the surprise. I know Sacto has injuries, but Seattle was really sliding down the stretch. They don't seem like a playoff style team, but they do have that great rebounding. Of course SAC made a comeback on them in the 2nd half, so I could still get it right.



Casey, you didn't believe me when I said the Lakers wouldn't make it in.

And they did shorten the first round...from 18 days to 16 I think it is. wow. how progressive of Stern. what's the hurry.

This is one time though where I don't care how long the first round is. As Popovich put it, if something else is going on, cancel the game. Desperate Housewives, 24, American Idol, no conflicts at all. No games on at once. Stretch this series out forever, and get Duncan healthy. Of course, the Nuggets would love to play every day.

And I'm not worried about the Spurs either. It's just disheartening to see those 4th quarter droughts resume, I truly thought they'd gotten rid of their troubles with those. Ah well, as Duncan improves, so will their scoring.

GO suns!

Great find Seth!

a bit off topic, but im hoping the prices on the D70 come down as Canon introduced the new Rebel. Id love a new Rebel, but sheesh

Wow! What a barnburner in Dallas tonight. The Mavs threw everything they had at the Rockets, but the Rocks come from behind in the 4th and take the 2-0 series lead on T-Mac's game-winner with 2.2 seconds left.

The national media seemed to chalk up Saturday's game as being due to bad play by Dallas, but the Mavs played really well tonight, and still came up short. It's becoming clear that this Rockets team is for real.

Craig, I heard the same thing a few years ago as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were stomping thru San Fran, Philly, and the Raiders. "We just beat ourselves."


Heard it from the Rams when they played the Bucs during that time also....