2008 NBA Playoff Thread

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21

[quote]Malevolence wrote:
I am worried that the West will cannibalize itself and hand the trophy to Boston(or Detroit) on a silver platter.

This was an incredible season of basketball, and the post season is looking even better.

First round predictions:

Varsity:

Lakers in 4. Lakers have decimated Denver all season long, and they’ve been playing better than ever recently.

Utah in 6. I think Utah has been playing some really good ball recently, And they got home court, which they are historically very good on.

Suns in 7. The Spurs have not been playing very well lately, I think that the Suns acquired Shaq specifically to defeat the Spurs in the Playoffs. Additionally, all season long the Suns have edged the Spurs.

Hornets in 7. Actually, I have no clue about this one. The Hornets fell apart in the last week of the season, and Dallas has a lot more experience than they do handling Playoff basketball. Hornets do seem to have a knack for not giving up and for making surprising comebacks. This might be the most interesting Series in the first round.

J.V… I mean the East:

Doesn’t really matter, it will come down to Celtics v. Detroit in the end.

Lakers have surprised me very much this season. Kobe has become a team player, Odom is not injured, Sasha is dropping treys with the best of them. Obviously the theft of Pau Gasol has been immeasurably important, but even before that the Lakers were playing championship caliber ball.

Lakers V. Boston in the Finals does not seem at all unlikely at this point.
[/quote]

Solid post. Good assessment. The only quibble I’d have is Suns over Spurs… (Yes, I know SA took game 1) but going in, I just felt the Spurs have a mental edge over the Suns. Game 1 doesn’t do much for the Suns in that department either.

22

wow that suns spurs game was amazing, this is looking up to be the best non finals series I’ve seen since the lakers and kings.

23

Wow, Philly over the Pistons in Game 1. Those Sixers have some fucking balls. Still won’t win the series, but it’s gonna be fun to watch.

No surprises anywhere else.

Magic over Raptors… yawn.
Lakers too much for defenseless Denver.
Celtics look en route to pummeling Hawks.

24

Sunday, April 20th Recap:

  1. Magic defeat 6) Raptors 114-100: Dwight Howard had a monster game with 25 and 22, and the Magic score 43 points en route to win. Anthony Parker scored 24 and Chris Bosh chipped in 21 in the loss.

  2. Lakers defeat 8) Nuggets 128-114: Pau Gasol had a monster first playoff game with the Lakers with 36 and 16 and the Lakers win a shootout in Game 1. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson each had 30 points in defeat.

  3. Sixers defeat 2) Pistons 90-86: the Sixers held the Pistons to 35 second half points and steal Game 1 on the road. Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points in the loss.

  4. Celtics defeat 8) Hawks 104-81: The Big 3 combined for 50 points in a stomping on the Hawks. Al Horford went for 20 and 10 in an impressive playoff debut, but the C’s were just too much.

Stud of the Night: Pau Gasol. All around beastly performance, great shooting, and unselfish play (8 assists) earns him the award.

25

[quote]shizen wrote:
wow that suns spurs game was amazing, this is looking up to be the best non finals series I’ve seen since the lakers and kings. [/quote]

If Game 1 of that series is any indication of the Lakers/Kings series, with the game 7 OT, I agree. Although the Warriors beating the Mavericks last year was good, as well as last year’s Suns/Spurs matchup.

26

great to see you running things around here again, tmoney.

But cmon guys, we went over this last year: PHO was the better team (at full strength) and a silly interpretation of an even sillier rule essentially handed that series (and the title) to SA. So not only were the Suns better than the Spurs last year, but they’re also the better team this year. Too bad they might just lose again.

27

[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Sunday, April 20th Recap:

  1. Magic defeat 6) Raptors 114-100: Dwight Howard had a monster game with 25 and 22, and the Magic score 43 points en route to win. Anthony Parker scored 24 and Chris Bosh chipped in 21 in the loss.

  2. Lakers defeat 8) Nuggets 128-114: Pau Gasol had a monster first playoff game with the Lakers with 36 and 16 and the Lakers win a shootout in Game 1. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson each had 30 points in defeat.

  3. Sixers defeat 2) Pistons 90-86: the Sixers held the Pistons to 35 second half points and steal Game 1 on the road. Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points in the loss.

  4. Celtics defeat 8) Hawks 104-81: The Big 3 combined for 50 points in a stomping on the Hawks. Al Horford went for 20 and 10 in an impressive playoff debut, but the C’s were just too much.

Stud of the Night: Pau Gasol. All around beastly performance, great shooting, and unselfish play (8 assists) earns him the award.[/quote]

Good recap.
Tmoney,
What do you think of that Pistons-76ers matchup? This series could get kinda ugly before it’s all said and done.

28

I was to busy this weekend to catch any of the games. Looked like there was some good ones.

Pulling for Lakers,Suns,Hornets,Rockets

East does it matter? Just would like to see Detroit drop out, just don’t like the Pistons…

29

[quote]chillain wrote:
great to see you running things around here again, tmoney.

But cmon guys, we went over this last year: PHO was the better team (at full strength) and a silly interpretation of an even sillier rule essentially handed that series (and the title) to SA. So not only were the Suns better than the Spurs last year, but they’re also the better team this year. Too bad they might just lose again.

[/quote]

I thought the Suns had that series last year until Nash took that freak bop to the nose. It seems like it’s always something with the Suns when they play the Spurs in crunch time. Bad karma or luck, just, something…

30

As long as the Spurs or Detroit dont make it to the finals ill be happy. Teams im rooting for are N.O., Clevland,Orlando and underdog Rockets

31

Being a Torontonian I’m obviously a massive Raptors fan, which puts me in the immediate minority :o

Some general comments on the games I caught this weekend:

Cavs vs. Wiz: That game was like letting a bunch of criminals loose on one another. Did anyone see Jamison’s death stare and him mouthing “I’mma keel you mothahfucker.” All that trash talk between Arenas and James will continue to produce ridiculous 1on1 efforts.

Prediction: Cavs in 6

Suns vs Spurs: This game should have been won by Phoenix, but foul trouble on Amare basically sealed the deal for San Ant. Their goal of letting Duncan do whatever he wanted while they covered the perimeter players worked. If Nash can look for his shot as much as the pass, it should be a Suns win, finally.

Prediction: Suns in 7

Dallas vs. NO: Not sure why NO ins’t getting more credit. Chandler and West are crazy bigmen, especially since Chandler has shrugged off his ugly Bulls days and reinvented himself with CP3, who is by the way, sick. JKidd/Dirk, a solid tandem but their supporting cast of Terry/Dampier is just not enough.

Prediction: NO in 5.

UTH vs HOU: Didn’t see this game, but Utah is completely underrated and I could easily seem them winning the west. Deron Williams was unconscious this year, and if he were playing in the East, he would easily be the best PG in that conference. He may be the best PG in the West, it’s arguable. No Yao = first rd. exit.

Prediction: Utah in 4.

Philly vs Detroit: Crazy game last night. Mo Cheeks has these guys believing. Couple that with stealing a game at the Palace… Detroit is solid, no doubt, but they like to turn it on and turn it off whenever them deem it necessary. As good as Philly played down the stretch; they need big fast break/transition plays to win and big plays don’t consistently come in a 7 game set vs. the Pistons.

Prediction: Pistons in 6

As for the other games, pretty evident that Boston will sweep and I don’t like to talk Raptors playoffs, especially after a loss. Sorry if that was long, I didn’t intend it to be.

32

Great roundups thanks guys! I did see some of the Lakers/Nuggets game, Kobe was intense! Gasol was WOW! I think Odom will be the dark horse savior for the Lakers, he gets better and better. Finally Walton is performing!

I wish the Suns will decisively beat SA.

33

It’s great to see this thread back. As a San Antonian I’m a huge Spurs fan. Saturday was a great game. Duncan was phenomenal. Although I have to admit that I was saying NOOOO when he was lining up for the three. But hey. Nonetheless, the Spurs are suspect this year having been blown out in three games by playoff bound teams going down the stretch. Not very reassuring. Still I’m going with my Spurs in 7. Nash and Amare were phenomenal. Hang on to your seats.

34

[quote]Xeneize wrote:
Solid post. Good assessment. The only quibble I’d have is Suns over Spurs… (Yes, I know SA took game 1) but going in, I just felt the Spurs have a mental edge over the Suns. Game 1 doesn’t do much for the Suns in that department either.[/quote]

The Suns may very well win the series, but nobody has a mental edge over the Spurs.

35

[quote]tGunslinger wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
Solid post. Good assessment. The only quibble I’d have is Suns over Spurs… (Yes, I know SA took game 1) but going in, I just felt the Spurs have a mental edge over the Suns. Game 1 doesn’t do much for the Suns in that department either.

The Suns may very well win the series, but nobody has a mental edge over the Spurs.
[/quote]

I think you’re probably right, but the Suns seem especially mindboggled, especially in big games against them.

36

[quote]The Savage wrote:
Great roundups thanks guys! I did see some of the Lakers/Nuggets game, Kobe was intense! Gasol was WOW! I think Odom will be the dark horse savior for the Lakers, he gets better and better. Finally Walton is performing!

I wish the Suns will decisively beat SA.[/quote]

Thing about Odom and Walton is that they are finally playing injury free. Odom was a mummy last playoffs and Walton has been basically day-to-day with minor tweaks and cramps.

I have always been impressed with Lamar Odom, I am surprised he is not an all-star and does not get more credit. His drives to the rack are as intense as LeBron, his rebounding abilities are on par with Dwight and Camby, and his passing is comparable to, well maybe not quite CP3, but definitely in the upper echelon.

He nearly posts a triple double every game. Often only off by a 2 or 3 assists. And he does all of this so quietly.

Definitely one of my favorite players. When Bynum is back in the line-up the Lakers are going to be insane.

37

[quote]Xeneize wrote:
tGunslinger wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
Solid post. Good assessment. The only quibble I’d have is Suns over Spurs… (Yes, I know SA took game 1) but going in, I just felt the Spurs have a mental edge over the Suns. Game 1 doesn’t do much for the Suns in that department either.

The Suns may very well win the series, but nobody has a mental edge over the Spurs.

I think you’re probably right, but the Suns seem especially mindboggled, especially in big games against them.[/quote]

Whoopsie.

When I responded, I thought you wrote that the Suns had a mental edge over the Spurs. My mistake.

38

go warriors

39

[quote]ericbyrnesjr wrote:
go warriors[/quote]

lol… exactly

40

[quote]tGunslinger wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
tGunslinger wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
Solid post. Good assessment. The only quibble I’d have is Suns over Spurs… (Yes, I know SA took game 1) but going in, I just felt the Spurs have a mental edge over the Suns. Game 1 doesn’t do much for the Suns in that department either.

The Suns may very well win the series, but nobody has a mental edge over the Spurs.

I think you’re probably right, but the Suns seem especially mindboggled, especially in big games against them.

Whoopsie.

When I responded, I thought you wrote that the Suns had a mental edge over the Spurs. My mistake.

[/quote]

ha ha. No sweat. If the Suns can’t get past the Spurs this year, Dantoni might just kill himself.