NBA Playoffs

[Ghoulish Delight]

We've got baseball and hockey covered, so for completeness' sake, here's a basketball thread (cue scaeagles talking about selfishness and lack of teamwork).

The Celtics/Bulls series was fantastic and all, and I know we're only a game in to the latest series, but if games 1 were any indication, this is going to be an entertaining round. I still expect it will be Lakers/Cavs in the finals, but clearly the Mavs and Magic aren't going to let them off easy.

Good win for the Lakers Monday. Weird to say about a sloppy game they just barely pulled out, but after their bipolar series with the Rockets where they were either 100% dominant, or barely bothered to show up, it's good to know they can grind a close one out and compete even when they aren't hitting on all cylinders.

And after last night's pathetic performance by Clevland's bench, I'm liking the Lakers' chances against them in the finals. Kobe and Lebron will take turns doing their thing, but it'll come down to the benches and the Lakers are by far the deeper team.

Am I the only one not wetting myself over Dwight Howard "breaking" the shot clock? It didn't "collapse", it gracefully folded up for storage, more like someone didn't tighten a bolt all the way when they set the basket up.

Fast forward 9 1/2 minutes to LeBron's dunk to see something really impressive. The replays look like a special effect.

[scaeagles]

Pro ball???? No teamwork, all about the individual and who it the best athlete.

didn't want to disappoint.

[BarTopDancer]

SHOOT THE PUCK!!!!!!



We caught some of the Laker game after the RW game on Tuesday. It was pretty exciting... if you like basketball.

[Strangler Lewis]

The who and the Magic?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oh you, know, the team from the city that starts with D. Whatever.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Cavs all the way.

No need to explain why.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It always tickles me when I hear the sportscasters say Szczerbiak. My frame of reference is entirely different.

[Strangler Lewis]

Cavs all the way.

No need to explain why.

Have you given it sufficient thought? There may be some very attractive injury-prone bench warmers on the Magic.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Have you given it sufficient thought? There may be some very attractive injury-prone bench warmers on the Magic.Are you referring to J.J. Redick? He's cute--I'll give you that--but he's no Wally Szczerbiak!http://www.dantasyland.com/wally/pix/pre99_shirtless.jpg

[Ghoulish Delight]

If the Lakers win this game, credit goes to Shanon Brown. Clutch 3, hustles for a long rebound on the other end, then keeps the ball alive for Odom to get possession and get fouled, Lakers take the lead back. Momentum changer.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

WTF is on LeBron's forehead?
http://www.nba.com/media/cavaliers/lbj_shot_090522_08.jpg (http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/photogallery/lbj_shot_090522_8.html)

[Ghoulish Delight]

The Celtics/Bulls series was fantastic and all, and I know we're only a game in to the latest series, but if games 1 were any indication, this is going to be an entertaining round. I still expect it will be Lakers/Cavs in the finals, but clearly the Mavs and Magic aren't going to let them off easy.
Was I right, or was I right?

Okay, it looks like I wasn't right about the Cavs. And I meant Nuggets, not Mavericks. But this HAS been a great round of playoffs to watch.

Who knows which Lakers will show up tomorrow, but last night's win was a good one. Not a blowout, but they owned that 4th quarter. Absolutely dominated.

I don't really know whether to root for Orlando or Cleveland. Either looks like a tough match up for the Lakers. It would be fun to watch LeBron and Kobe, but it's hard not to root for the Magic when they're playing so well.

Incidentally, I'm starting to think Kobe's nagging finger injury is bothering him more than he'll let on. He still tapes it, and this whole series his ball handling's been suspect (by Kobe standards). He seems to be making sloppy inside passes and losing control of his dribble in the lane a lot, two things I've never seen him struggle with.

Is it just me or

[Strangler Lewis]

It's

[Kevy Baby]

It is what?

[Strangler Lewis]

GD knows.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's
Monty Python's Flying Circus?

[Strangler Lewis]

Is it just me or

Is it just me or did your penultimate post end as above?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've been out of it, fighting a cold, floating through the day on decongestants. Apparently I started to type something and didn't delete it.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Our cheese is sad. I really wanted Him to get a ring.
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/91/fullj.be0a506cf0140c9b1f9b626a53aca0b9/be0a506cf0140c9b1f9b626a53aca0b9-getty-87746201ml052_cleveland_cav.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

Would you settle for giving him a ring?

[Strangler Lewis]

Ernie Banks. Dan Marino. Wally Szczerbiak.

Yeah, it's a shame.

[Kevy Baby]

Was I right, or was I right?You were only half right
I still expect it will be Lakers/Cavs in the finals...

[Ghoulish Delight]

You were only half right
Did you bother to read the rest of the post, where, in my very next sentence, I said I was wrong about the Cavs?


I'm betting the Lakers are a little bit nervous about having to face the Magic instead of the Cavs. The formula for beating the Cavs is pretty straight forward. Kobe and LeBron would have gone back and forth (I give the edge to Kobe and his experience). As long as they kept LeBron from having more than 1 or 2 monster games, the Lakers are far more talented, with a deeper bench, than the Cavs at every other position.

The Magic, as Cleveland learned, is a little less straight forward of a matchup. Much more balanced, the kind of team the Lakers have struggled against this season. Should be a good series.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Would you settle for giving him a ring?A googol times YES!!! :eek:

[Strangler Lewis]

. . . Ted Williams. Karl Malone. John Stockton. Wally Szczerbiak.

[Ghoulish Delight]

After game 2 I made a prediction that the Magic would only win 1 at home and the Lakers would take it in 5. Should have put money down.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hahahah (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/kobe_bryant_proves_he_can_win)! I love the Onion.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm with Bill Plashke - letting Ariza get away and picking up Ron Artest? Terrible decisions both of them.

[Moonliner]

Hahahah (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/kobe_bryant_proves_he_can_win)! I love the Onion.

Onion = Fun.

Just don't let NA see it (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/dog_breeders_issue_massive_recall).