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2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

#1
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4/26/08 at 6:46pm
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Well, I guess someone should start it, seeing as it might be June before anyone does.

Random thoughts:

Barring injuries, the Lakers and Spurs appear to be on a collision course for the Western Conference Finals. Just one number for you Spurs fans, and get ready for the decimal: .04

The Suns' abject failure in this series points to the folly of mid-season trades that fundamentally alter the thing that makes a team successful, a lesson that the Mavs will also soon learn unless they can win in NOLA, which I don't see happening.

The Pistons can and still probably will win their series with Philly, but man do they need a new coach. Can anyone say 'Larry Brown'?

The Celtics will moonwalk to the Finals. I think whomever comes out of the West will win it all, though.
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#2
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4/27/08 at 6:41pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Quote:
The Pistons can and still probably will win their series with Philly, but man do they need a new coach. Can anyone say 'Larry Brown'?

I have a better chance of being the next coach of the Pistons than does Larry Brown. There is no way owner Bill Davidson would ever re-hire Brown after the way he left last time.

The Pistons are an aggravating team to watch. They take their opponents too lightly way too often and think they are a better team than they really are. This is why they can never be considered as good as the old Bad Boy Pistons -- that team came to play every night.
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#3
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4/27/08 at 6:43pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I heard a great saying the other day. The Pistons are the best team at giving 100%, 50% of the time.
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#4
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4/28/08 at 6:39am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

If the Pistons could just maintain their focus consistently, they'd be the current championship dynasty instead of the Spurs. I can't remember the last time I saw such a good team unravel so often simply because they're not mentally into the game.

It's too bad Golden State fell out of the playoffs because they'd be a lot more fun to watch than Denver. And Marcus Camby's second place DPOY finish is a JOKE. That guy doesn't shut people down - he's a stat-padder.

I'm hoping the Rockets can get their stuff together to push Utah to the limit. They're playing hard but their lack of height is killing them inside and it doesn't help that the Jazz play more like a rugby team than a basketball team. Ugly series to watch.
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#5
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4/28/08 at 8:11am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Big problem with Larry Brown, if hired, he expects to be the GM as well as head coach.

I am surprised that the Sixers won 2 games in the series so far. I thought they would have been lucky to win 1 game at home.

Just as surprising, the Celtics losing a game to the Hawks. I thought they would steamroll their opponents, and be like "Next!"
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#6
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4/28/08 at 9:05pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

So much for the Celtics' moonwalk. I've only seen Atlanta play one other time this year, when they beat the Lakers, and I was impressed with the sheer number of young studs they have. They are definitely a team on the rise. If only they had drafted Chris Paul like they should have, they'd be perennial championship contenders by now.

I don't get why the Wizards won't shut up about LeBron. This guy is killing them, and yet they still talk smack. Guys like LeBron feed off of that stuff. Stupid.
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#7
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4/29/08 at 8:19am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Apparently Larry Brown has been hired as the new coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. What's the over/under on how many months he'll stay in the job?
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#8
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4/29/08 at 11:41am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I am shocked that Atlanta took 2 games from the Celtics. If they pushed the Celtics to a game 7, it could get scary for the Celtics.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
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#9
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4/29/08 at 1:41pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Larry Brown might be a very good coach, but I wouldn't want him near my franchise if I were an owner or GM. How many times has he thrown his team under the bus?

Before the playoffs, I thought of the Celtics as the favorites to win it all. True, the Western conference is much stronger than the East, but the Celtics and Pistons arguably were the two best teams of the league this year; plus the West teams would have to duel it out and make each other suffer. Now, both the Celtics and Pistons are in a dogfight, and the championship seems like anyone's to grab.

I'm still guessing for a Lakers vs. Celtics Finals--David Stern is praying everyday for that--but now I think that series would be very close instead of the Celtics being a favorite.
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#10
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5/2/08 at 10:41pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

The Celtics are now one game away from the most shocking upset in professional sports history since...New England lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl three months ago.

But, really, if the Celtics lose (which almost certainly won't happen), it would be the biggest upset in NBA history. Oh, well, one can hope, my admiration for KG aside.

The Lakers now play the Jazz in the 2nd round. Utah will certainly provide a sterner test than Denver, who were absolutely wretched in the first round. I'm not sure if the Lakers were that good, or if the Nuggets were that bad. We'll see.

The Pistons did what they do. They play to the level of their competition. They way the Celtics are playing, that might be good enough to get the Pistons to the Finals, but Orlando is no joke. Still, you have to like Detroit in this series.

The Wizards are the worst team ever in relation to the amount of talk they spew forth versus their results. I'm amazed LeBron was able to walk out of the building under his own power. The league should fine the Wizards' organization $100K for stupidity, incompetence, and reckless endangerment.

The Spurs/Hornets series will be a doozy! I'm looking forward to watching that series as much as my home team Lakers versus the Jazz.

This has been an incredible year in the NBA!!!
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#11
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5/2/08 at 10:57pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I'm loving the Atlanta/Boston series. I think Boston will win it but man would it be great if they didn't

Unfortunate that the Rockets lost tonight but I'm incredibly proud of the team. A bunch of cripples and rookies pushed the Jazz as hard as they could. Hell, if Alston hadn't gotten injured again in the first half, they might have even stayed in the game tonight and made it go seven. OTOH, rumor is that McGrady, Alston, and Battier might all need surgery, so it's probably for the best they're going home instead of putting more pressure on those bad legs. Heal up and hopefully stay healthy for an even better run next season.

I look forward to the Jazz trying that "physical" play with the Lakers. Somehow I don't think they'll get away with fouling the league MVP and his sidekicks multiple times every play without whistles blowing. Kobe might get 50 free throws a game.
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#12
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5/2/08 at 11:14pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Kudos to the Rockets, indeed. Byron Scott deserves Coach of the Year, but Adelman was right there on his heels, and deservedly so. Can't really fault McGrady this year. Yao would've made the difference, I think.

Go HAWKS!
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#13
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5/3/08 at 7:27am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I think Orlando will give the Pistons some problems. Detroit's big men will have trouble matching up against the Magic's small lineup. The Pistons big advantage, though, is in the back court. Orlando has no one to match up well against Billups and Hamilton. This series will go at least six games.

I cannot see Boston losing to Atlanta, but I didn't see this series going anywhere near 7 games, either. Are the Celtics starting to wear down after their starters played so many minutes in the regular season?
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#14
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5/5/08 at 9:25am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

If there is something that I am liking about the playoffs in general this year is the physicallness that the game seems to getting back to. There aren't as many free passes to the hoop, and teams seem to want to protect their home court. The Jazz where physical with Kobe, the Hawks were with the Celtics, and Detroit and Orlando were in game one, with lots of trash being talked before tonights game.

The Magic weren't much of a match up for the Pistons in the first game and hit less than 5 threes in a game for the first time all season. The Magic simply don't have a match for Detroit's guards, and that may really hurt them.
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#15
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5/6/08 at 5:34am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Man, New Orleans is really, really good. They are overwhelming the Spurs with their athleticism, depth, length and speed. They're playing the best ball of anyone in the playoffs right now and will be extremely difficult for anyone to beat. Chris Paul is flat-out sick.
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#16
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5/6/08 at 9:26am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Chris Paul is playing on a whole other level compared to the other outstanding point guards in the league. The guy is just dominating.
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#17
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5/6/08 at 12:22pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

It's amazing how far New Orleans has come in such a short time. The Hornets selected well when they drafted Chris Paul. He appears to be the next Isiah Thomas -- a little guy who plays bigger than his size and can really lead his team.
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#18
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5/6/08 at 1:07pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

It pisses me off to no end that the Hawks drafted Marvin Williams over Chris Paul 2-3 seasons ago. The Hawks still need a true point guard who can drive, distribute and shoot.

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#19
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5/6/08 at 3:03pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
It's amazing how far New Orleans has come in such a short time.

The talent was there last year, they just didn't stay healthy. They're a perfectly built team and the core should be there for at least 3 more years, unless Paul turns down a max deal to stay in NO to go to a bigger market. He doesn't seem like the type to do that, though, and has some great chemistry with his teammates.

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#20
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5/9/08 at 10:27pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Good call, Andy. Jeez, Utah just hacks the hell out of you on every play, and it really is a question of whether the refs are too tired, bored, or payrolled to call a game the way it should be called or are they just going to go with the style of the home team. The Lakers-Jazz series will go 7, if the officiating is any indication.

The Spurs-Hornets is similar in this regard. The Hornets are far better than the Spurs. Whether or not they'll be able to prove it in 5 games, 7 games, or never is the question.
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#21
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5/11/08 at 3:47pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

The Jazz are a collection of knife-wielding butchers. Now I know how Suns fans must have felt after their series with Spurs last year. The Jazz and Spurs somehow are allowed to decapitate people with impunity, whereas when a Laker (Ronny Turiaf), commits a 'hard foul,' he's ejected. Utter BS.
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#22
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5/11/08 at 5:58pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

After criticizing the Pistons when they fail to show up for a game, I have to give them their due after stealing a game yesterday in Orlando. That was a game they should have lost -- on the road, without Chauncey Billups, and trailing by 15 points. Yet, they found a way to win and take a 3-1 lead in the series. Hopefully Chauncey will be back soon. Detroit may have won Game 4 without him, but they'll need Billups if they want to beat the Celtics.
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#23
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5/11/08 at 7:38pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Well, the Celtics have to worry about beating the Cavs, Boston looks very beatable for many teams. The Pistons did step up for sure, and especially Lindsey Hunter. They just might be deep enough to give the title a good shot, though Flip has to do a better job on rotations.

Its not just you Jan, and please take no offense, but I find it comical Laker's fans complaining about getting hacked up, and officiating against them after all the years of Shaq getting away with downright murder down low. It used to drive me crazy how he was allowed to just maul people and the refs seemed to look the other way. The better teams fight through that though, and I think that the Lakers will win and make it to the Finals against the Pistons.

Think about this. Over the last 20 years only six teams have won an NBA Championship, with only one of those teams having only one title: The Heat. The six teams being Detroit-3, Chicago-6, Houston-2, L.A.-4, San Antonio-4 and The Heat-1. Of those, I feel that Houston is the luckiest, if Jordan doesn't retire, they probably win 8 straight, although if you want to talk about officiating, Miami got some of the best calls ever against Dallas.
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#24
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5/12/08 at 12:40am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Shaq was a tough guy to officiate, both on offense and defense. There were plenty of times he'd have three guys draped all over him and nothing was called, and he'd get a touch foul on the other end. Did he ultimately get the benefit of the doubt the majority of the time? Probably so, but most superstars do. No offense taken.

The Jazz do not play defense. They play WWF. I'm not averse to being physical, but what this team does crosses the line. If a Jazz had committed the 'flagrant 2' that Turiaf did, it would probably have been called an offensive foul.
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#25
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5/12/08 at 6:28am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I used to joke that the refs would act as the 6th man to a team. Who knows, we may have another Tim Donaghy in the playoffs, contrary to what Stern says being an isolated thing.

Somebody in another thread thought it made no sense when I said "taking a cheap shot and no penalty or foul being called". Clearly he has not been watching the NBA playoffs.

Looks like the Pistons will wrap up their series quickly, and the other 3 series will go 7 games with the home team winning everytime.
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#26
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5/12/08 at 5:54pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Can't believe my Lakers lost 2 after winning 2.
Home teams are 14-1 this round so maybe that is good news.
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#27
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5/16/08 at 2:22am
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

Home court advantage has been the big story this postseason. TrueHoop at ESPN had a posting on Wednesday that pointed out so far the home teams have averaged 4.6 more free throws a game than the road team. That figure actually didn't sound very extreme to me, though it is a significant advantage. Then again, so many of these games are dominated by the home team--it seems that only the Lakers-Jazz are consistently playing close games--that I wonder if any of these teams would truly be great teams. I mean, how can you be a pantheon great team when you not only can't win on the road, but often lose by 18 points?
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#28
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5/16/08 at 11:03pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

With the Lakers finishing off the Jazz, Phil Jackson is now 46-7 in playoff series in his career. That is an incredible record when you think about it.
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#29
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5/16/08 at 11:18pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

The Lakers managed to escape Utah without gurneys, which is very good news for us Laker fans. On to the Spurs or Hornets. A part of me wants the Hornets to win, just so I can keep watching the astonishing brilliance of Chris Paul. But another part of me is rooting for the Spurs, so we can kick their ass in the next round.

The Eastern Conference is utterly unwatchable. The Celtics peaked in January. The Pistons should be heavily favored now, no matter who they play. Of course, they have been before...
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#30
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5/17/08 at 10:12pm
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Re: 2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

I will tell you why I like the Pistons chances. Antonio McDyess. The guy wants it so bad and is tearing into his team when they are not playing up to there potential. I love the fact that the Boston series has gone seven games and as the playoffs go, the Pistons are actually using their bench more. They seem to have that hunger back, and this year and playoffs have a eerily similar feel to 2004.
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