NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

So the NBA Playoffs started here on Saturday. It should be one of the more competitive post-seasons in a long time, particularly in the Western Conference, where every team won at least 50 games.

http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/index.html

West
1. LA Lakers (57-25) vs. 8. Denver Nuggets (50-32) LA leads 1-0
2. New Orleans Hornets (56-56) vs. 7. Dallas Mavericks (51-31) Hornets lead 1-0
3. San Antonio Spurs (56-26) vs. 6. Phoenix Suns (55-27) Spurs lead 1-0
4. Utah Jazz (54-28) vs. Houston Rockets (55-27) Utah leads 2-0

East
1. Boston Celtics (66-16) vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks (37-45) Boston leads 1-0
2. Detroit Pistons (59-23) vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) 76ers lead 1-0
3. Orlando Magic (52-30) vs. 6. Toronto Raptors (41-41) Magic lead 1-0
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) vs. 5. Washington Wizards (43-39) Cavs lead 2-0

Anybody got a team they are rooting for or against? Me..I'm going all out for the Phoenix Suns. I've had season tickets the last 3-plus years for them. If they can't get at least to the Finals, my summer will suck. Their first game vs. the Spurs was a fantastic game except for the final score, 117-115 Spurs in double overtime.

--Jason

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

Not following this much, but I guess I wouldn't mind the Hornets winning because it's New Orleans, and the Celtics failing because it's Boston. But it should be good.

I remember the Bulls were hot pre-season pick for the top of the East. Yeah. They fired the coach on Christmas Eve. Then fired the interim coach at the end of season. Yeah.

I went to my second Bulls game ever a few weeks ago (and the first since the Jordan Era). Once the Bulls lost, my friend and I were happy to start a drunken "Lottery pick!" chant.

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

Spurs are a dirty, dirty team!

They are hack-a-shaq-ing and flopping all over the place like they did against my Pistons in the 2005 NBA finals. If the Suns start winning, incoming hipchecks!

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

Tony Parker had a superb game yesterday - Nash and co. got well schooled.

The pick and rolls - the movement off the ball - the accuracy from the outside - the slick passing - that was a class performance by the Spurs. Scary class.

Never a good look when you end up with Shaq marking Parker - that's some bad coaching there!

Lakers - Boston final still on!

I'm a LA fan - the team, not Kobe - but any team that gets out of the West is going to deserve it - it's intense.

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50u08tLJZk

LeBron's dunk over Kevin Garnett is so awesome, if only because the announcer says "...with no regard for human life!"

Just add that phrase to anything:
"I am posting on the internet, with no regard for human life!"
"Stop global warming, with no regard for human life!"
"I am performing CPR, with no regard for human life!"
Intense!

I've only been watching the Hornets-Spurs series, which is pretty good. But it was fun to see Hawks threaten the Celtics in Round 1.

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

It's one of my favorite lines that the announcer is known for saying. Too bad James travels all the time.

Check this photo taken from Game 5 of the Hornets--Spurs series:
Hornets crowd displays Eva Longoria picture while husband Tony Parker shoots free throws.
Tacky but damn funny.

The Hornets -- Spurs series is completely entertaining even though each individual final score isn't all that close. Chris Paul can make the Spurs 'D' look amateurish at the drop of a hat. I'm pulling for New Orleans (and Utah somewhat) because I can't make myself root for any other team left without vomiting.

In summary this round (for casual followers of the NBA Playoffs):
Western Conference
1. LA Lakers lead 4. Utah Jazz 3-2
2. New Orleans Hornets lead San Antonio Spurs 3-2

Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics lead 4. Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2
2. Detroit Pistons beat 3. Orlando Magic 4-1

-Jason

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

I'm picking the Lakers-Jazz series to go to seven games.

If only coz that Jazz arena is so freaking loud. Really - there's something wrong when the fans have to wear earplugs at a basketball game - because of the noise they're making. Evolution obviously isn't working up there for the Mormons.

Hoping Kobe's back holds out - and they can take on the Hornets. That would be a superb conference final.

Re: NBA Playoffs Thread...
 

I was hearing on Sportscenter that so far there's been a ridiculous home court advanage. So far in the semifinals I think the home team has a record of 19-1. Look at the Spurs-Hornets, they just alternate blowouts. I guess it's good that you end up with split series going to game 7 rather than 4-0 sweeps. But then you think, "Hmm, I wonder which team will win game 7." How can there be this much of a home court advantage?