[quote]Malevolence wrote:
There have been far too many foul calls in the conference finals. All teams involved. It has become difficult to watch. I don’t even care that they’re right or wrong at this point, there are just too many. [/quote]
That is true.
The Western Finals have seemed to devolve into FT-shooting contests down the stretch of each game. Denver was very aggressive offensively, but, what, 50 FT’s? That’s way too many. LA wasn’t very aggressive offensively, and they still had 30-35 FT’s.
It’s tough to “let the players play” without letting the games slide back into the ugly slug-fests they were in the late '80’s and '90’s, but they’ve been too far on the other extreme.
-SO dissaponted with how the lakers played last night. i cant beleive they didn’t lose by 30. I suppose this can be positive, because I don’t expect them to play this badly again, and I see them comming out of the west.
I think Orlando is simply a better team. Or maybe more accurately, they match-up better than cleaveland.
I predict a lakers-magic final. And I think it will be one hell of an entertaining finals. Also agree on there being waay too many fouls called.
-SO dissaponted with how the lakers played last night. i cant beleive they didn’t lose by 30. I suppose this can be positive, because I don’t expect them to play this badly again, and I see them comming out of the west.
I think Orlando is simply a better team. Or maybe more accurately, they match-up better than cleaveland.
I predict a lakers-magic final. And I think it will be one hell of an entertaining finals. Also agree on there being waay too many fouls called.
[quote]Kalle wrote:
How pissed will David Stern be if there is a Denver vs Orlando finals?[/quote]
Not just Stern what about Nike and all the adverstiser and the networks. they all want Kobe vs. Lebron, Oh I meant LA vs. Cleveland. I guess they will have to settle for Kobe vs. Dwight Howard.
Things look grim for the Cavaliers right now, but I honestly think they have a legitimate shot at coming back and winning in 7. More so, perhaps, than prior teams put in this situation. For starters, it is difficult to win 3 games in a row(what the Magic must do) just as it is difficult to lose 3 in a row(what the Cavaliers have to prevent). But beyond that, going back to Cleveland in this situation will undeniably fire up the Cavaliers squad who has been almost completely nonexistent in every 4th quarter of this series. The other thing is that Dwight Howard is one bad Technical Foul away from a 1-game suspension. All series long he has been frustrated by calls going against him, and he’s also only 22 years old. I believe Kobe when he says “I will not get another Technical”. I do not have that same confidence in Dwight.
Another point is that every game in this series has been historically close, so while the Magic have a 3-1 lead, it is not as commanding as a 3-1 lead that also includes blown out games and clear series dominance. The Magic won their last game largely on the strength of abnormally strong three point shooting. Rafer Alston in particular was villainous from range. They always say that the three is never there when you need it to be. The Magic may not be able to recreate that type of shooting in the games to come. Finally, Most of the Magic players have a limited idea of what it is like to play a team facing elimination. Experience, mental toughness and fingernail shredding effort is imperative for the Magic starting yesterday.
All that CLE needs to do is win strongly tomorrow to put some pressure back on Orlando.
“Malevolence” has a hell of a point. If Dwight Howard gets a tech in the next game, and Cleveland gets a win due to the confidence of home-court, they will go back to Orlando to face a Dwight-less Magic, and will return to Cleveland with home-court advantage for Game 7. I want Orlando to win the series, but as a fan I always root for game sevens.
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
For starters, it is difficult to win 3 games in a row(what the Magic must do) just as it is difficult to lose 3 in a row(what the Cavaliers have to prevent). [/quote]
Did you type this backwards? The Cavs need to win 3 straight, while the Magic need to prevent losing 3 straight.
Well, there are different ways to look at it. Yes, the Cavs need to win 3 in a row, but if I’m the Cavs I’m only concerned about winning the next game. It’s the only game that matters, so psychologically I don’t think they need to win 3 in a row, they only have to win one. While the Magic, having already won 2 in a row, might be facing that pressure to win a third(in a row). But who knows how these players think.
Malevolence – That’s a good point about Howard facing a one game suspension for one more technical. I agree I don’t think Kobe will get one and I don’t know how Howard will do with the pressure. Sure, Cleveland and LBJ can win three in a row. Still, it’s one hell of a hole to dig oneself out of. I certainly am not saying it’s impossible I’m just saying that it’s unlikely that they can do it.
They have not looked particularly good in any game yet in this series and they are only still alive because LBJ hit a three at the buzzer in 2. For me, the fact that they couldn’t convert the energy and excitement from the victory in game 2 to game 3, and the fact that they absolutely needed to win game 4 but couldn’t is telling. LBJ needs help and so far, no one other than LBJ has shown up in the clutch. Where was Mo Williams in the 4th Quarter?
[quote]Malevolence wrote:
Well, there are different ways to look at it. Yes, the Cavs need to win 3 in a row, but if I’m the Cavs I’m only concerned about winning the next game. It’s the only game that matters, so psychologically I don’t think they need to win 3 in a row, they only have to win one. While the Magic, having already won 2 in a row, might be facing that pressure to win a third(in a row). But who knows how these players think. [/quote]
Good points made. Speaking of Howard, his T was rescinded.
[quote]deputydawg wrote:
Kalle wrote:
How pissed will David Stern be if there is a Denver vs Orlando finals?
Not just Stern what about Nike and all the adverstiser and the networks. they all want Kobe vs. Lebron, Oh I meant LA vs. Cleveland. I guess they will have to settle for Kobe vs. Dwight Howard.[/quote]
A Denver vs Orlando finals is still a possibility…
Yeah, I just came here to post that! It certainly changes the dynamic of the series. Gives Cleveland even less breathing room(not that they had much to begin with…) I’m tentatively going with Magic in 6 out of some respect for Cleveland, although I honestly think they can close it out in Cleveland.
[quote]deputydawg wrote:
Malevolence – That’s a good point about Howard facing a one game suspension for one more technical. I agree I don’t think Kobe will get one and I don’t know how Howard will do with the pressure. Sure, Cleveland and LBJ can win three in a row. Still, it’s one hell of a hole to dig oneself out of. I certainly am not saying it’s impossible I’m just saying that it’s unlikely that they can do it.
They have not looked particularly good in any game yet in this series and they are only still alive because LBJ hit a three at the buzzer in 2. For me, the fact that they couldn’t convert the energy and excitement from the victory in game 2 to game 3, and the fact that they absolutely needed to win game 4 but couldn’t is telling. LBJ needs help and so far, no one other than LBJ has shown up in the clutch. Where was Mo Williams in the 4th Quarter? [/quote]
Looks like Mo’s guarantee didn’t happen. Sucks to not live up to a guarantee. Sure he had 18 points, but shot bad from the field. Guarantees can be seen both ways: either a kick in the butt for your own team, or overconfidence. I think Williams was thinking the former.
Speaking of technicals, what do you guys think about the rule of being suspended after so many T’s?
For those who don’t know the rule: ‘players receive a one-game suspension after reaching seven technical fouls and further one-game suspensions for every other technical thereafter.’
It’s huge for the Magic that Dwight’s T was rescinded, gives him a little more breathing room. This is especially important if the Magic advance.
I know this is probably going to be controversial but I’m okay with that rule. At some point there has to be a consequence beyond just one free throw for repeated flagrant fouls. But I also like the fact that the NBA goes back and reviews the fouls to see if they were truly flagrant.
On a slightly different note, I was highly offended when George Karl referred to what’s his name (the Kobe tripper) as a poor man’s Bruce Bowen. I’ve never seen Bowen stick his foot out like that and really go out of his way to obviously trip a player driving through the lane. Bowen’s better than that. Whatever it is that Bowen does that pisses off players so much you really can’t see it on TV.
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Malevolence wrote:
For starters, it is difficult to win 3 games in a row(what the Magic must do) just as it is difficult to lose 3 in a row(what the Cavaliers have to prevent).
Did you type this backwards? The Cavs need to win 3 straight, while the Magic need to prevent losing 3 straight.[/quote]
So what do you guys think will happen tonight? I think the non-Lebron Cavs will be out to prove that they are not a bunch of chumps and they will play their brains out. Cavs win game 5 at Quicken Loan tonight.