NBA PLAYOFFS 2O12

[Uli]

Looking forward to the start of the real season today. Couple of potentially intriguing matchups alredy in the 1rst round. iI guess that Bulls San A Miami and Thunder are everybody's favorites and mine. I have not seen San A enough to have a feeling.

I see Lakers, Memphis and Boston as potential dark horses.

My rooting order as follows: Bulls, Thunder, Miami, Memphis Boston.

edit: fergot the Pacers. I think they will be able to give Miami a handful in the second round.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Of the teams with a legitimate shot, I'm pulling for the Spurs, perhaps because I'm of an age where I have a bias for senior citizens

But as long as the Lakers, Heat, and Celtics lose, I'm good

I'm ready for next season's training camps to start

[Mike Schwartz]

Of the teams with a legitimate shot, I'm pulling for the Spurs, perhaps because I'm of an age where I have a bias for senior citizens

But as long as the Lakers, Heat, and Celtics lose, I'm good

I'm ready for next season's training camps to start

Spurs won the title in 1998-99; a shortened 50 game regular season with a young Tim Duncan and coach Pop.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Spurs are 4-0 in Championship series

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Torn ACL for Rose, gone for the season, as are the Bull's championship hopes

[Mike Schwartz]

Torn ACL for Rose, gone for the season, as are the Bull's championship hopes

New injury he just suffered?

He's been so banged up with various things this year.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

In the closing minutes of a game that was in the bag

[Dr Dave]

Thunder/Mavs was a great game, almost college-like intensity (that crowd is something else) and Durant bouncing in the winner with a second and a half left was entertaining indeed.

[Uli]

Thunder/Mavs was a great game, almost college-like intensity (that crowd is something else) and Durant bouncing in the winner with a second and a half left was entertaining indeed.

Yep, most entertaining game of yesterday. Go Thunder!

Torn ACL for Rose, gone for the season, as are the Bull's championship hopes

Sad day for D-Rose, sad day for the Bulls. The Bull's championship hopes are not gone they have receicved a damper though.

The compressed season seem to have produced another victim. Knicks rookie Shumpert also out with torn ACL.

[steve(thelil)]

It's almost absurd how many players - and how many key players - have lost time to injury this year. That's awful about Rose.

[Mike Schwartz]

Second guessing the coach on the Rose injury is silly.

Agreed...Thunder/Mavs was a tremendously entertaining game!

[Dr Dave]

Celtics stinking out the joint in Atlanta tonight. Ugly.

[Uli]

Rondo tripped!

[Uli]

Shocker in Memphis!

I fergot the Lakers on my rooting list.

[walto]

Damn. I wish that Memphis game hadn't been on so late. What a choke job!

[steve(thelil)]

After 3 straight stimulating/exhausting days at NOLA jazz fest, caught some of the Memphis/Clips game. Fell asleep thinking about how Memphis was dominating from start to finish. As it turned out, I was finished before the Clips were.

[Dr Dave]

Rondo tripped!

You would think by now he'd realize that he needs a better lie when the scene can be repeated in slo-mo over and over again.

[Dr Dave]

After 3 straight stimulating/exhausting days at NOLA jazz fest, caught some of the Memphis/Clips game. Fell asleep thinking about how Memphis was dominating from start to finish. As it turned out, I was finished before the Clips were.

A lot of us went to be at the end of the 3rd. As they say in the finance biz, "hoocouldanode?"

[Uli]

Thunder/Dallas again very entertaining!

a highlite from prior game:

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Amare's hissy fit will keep him out of a game or two

Check out the free throw shooting from the Mavs/ Thunder game -- teams shot a combined 915 (65-71)!

[Uli]

[steve(thelil)]

Knicks and Heat was weird last night. Heat was out of their rhythm and still blew out the Knicks in the 4th to win easily. Carmelo was awful, which you would never had known from Reggie Miller's imbecilic shilling. With the Knicks depending on Carmelo's "isolation plays" (Isolation = ball hogging/chucking) and Melo stinking up the court, Miller made excuses for every bad play Melo made. That is, when he acknowledged them at all. After a bad miss on one possession, Carmello dribbled right into the defenders knee on the next, at key moment when the momentum was shifting to Miami. Reggie didn't even mention that this happened.

When Lebron blew by Melo's defense for an easy layup in the early 4th quarter, Miller's take was "that's the difference between fresh legs and tired legs."

Yet, Miller repeatedly commented that the Knicks had to go to Carmelo more and that they missed Amare because what they needed was "another guy who could score on his own".

What they really needed was another guy or 2 who could get everyone involved and effective in the offense. We now have a full season and 2 playoff routs (almost) as proof that an offense based on Carmelo and the guys providing offense on their own doesn't work. And Carmelo's career is further proof. Of all the players with more than 50 playoff games, Carmelo has THE WORST playoff won-loss percentage in NBA HISTORY, with a 16-36 career playoff record Stats don't tell the whole story and this one certainly doesn't say that Carmelo is the worst playoff player ever. But it certainly does suggest that Carmelo's game is not the answer to playoff success.

Aside from his being wrong on actual basketball issues, Miller also peppered the broadcast withe bizarre non sequiturs. A good example occurred when his broadcast partner lauded Lebron for working on his game in the off season, and calling Akeem Olajowan this summer to ask him to work with Lebron on his post moves. Reggie went into a veritable tirade about how Lebron has nothing to be embarrassed about, should be proud of what he has done and should wait for people to call him He's a moron.

[me wag]

Another fabulous gif.

[steve(thelil)]

In Laker 15 point loss to Denver yesterday, Kobe's stats were practically identical to Carmelo's in Knick's last loss. 22 points on 7/23 shooting, with 6 turnovers.

So many people talk about the importance of guys who can create their own offense and want the ball when the game is on the line.

But, all the "isolations" these guys play often result in bad floor spacing and a stagnant, impotent offense, especially when the "go to guy" shoots a low percentage. And when your team is down 15, the fact that go to guy has no reluctance to "take the last shot" doesn't mean much.

[Uli]

In Laker 15 point loss to Denver yesterday, Kobe's stats were practically identical to Carmelo's in Knick's last loss. 22 points on 7/23 shooting, with 6 turnovers.

So many people talk about the importance of guys who can create their own offense and want the ball when the game is on the line.

But, all the "isolations" these guys play often result in bad floor spacing and a stagnant, impotent offense, especially when the "go to guy" shoots a low percentage. And when your team is down 15, the fact that go to guy has no reluctance to "take the last shot" doesn't mean much.

I'd put my money on the Lakers and Kobe in this series.

[Uli]

Impressive sweep by the Thunder!

[walto]

All I saw was the last quarter. Combination of great play by Harden and lots of open lanes to the net for him by the Mavs. How bad is Perkins? I think they'll need him.

[steve(thelil)]

I'd put my money on the Lakers and Kobe in this series.

So would I. They have better personnel and the home court advantage.

[Uli]

Carmelo ends Knicks playoff losing streak since 2001!

Bulls on the ropes.

[Dr Dave]

Carmelo ends Knicks playoff losing streak since 2001!

Bulls on the ropes.

"Stoudemire made one of two foul shots with 14.8 seconds left for the final margin."

Not that it makes any difference to anyone but Woodson.

Cocktails in the TV lounge for Nowitski and Noah.

Did I forget to say THUNDER ROCK?