NBA Playoffs Thread

[slowandeasy]

Part of the downfall of having Nash so involved in Phoenix' offense is that it might retard Amare's growth as a complete player. However, I saw a number of good things from him in the last game.... namely he stepped out near the foul line and dropped a number of really nice jump shots... he got the ball a little further from the basket and drove the lane really well.

Guys were getting on Nash for lack of defense.. but I thought that Amare's defense for the most part was atrocious....

But the guy is only 22?

 

[homonger]

I said one of the best if not the best - based on his age and his ability

but i'm curious who are the 4 big man ahead of him

Yes, that's what you said, which I interpret as you are willing to put forth the possibility that Stoudamire is the best big man in basketball. I am just saying I don't agree with that possibility.

As for the 4, I'd rather go with Duncan, Shaq, Garnett, Yao, and maybe even Wallace, O'Neal, and Nowitzki. BTW, I don't know how someone can hold Garnett is such low regard. Have you seen his numbers? Have you seen him play? He is a much better all around player than Stoudamire.

S&E, Stoudamire is not a great straight up defender, but he is athletic and is a very good shot blocker. If the Suns had someone else to play the Duncan's and Shaq's of the world, he would be terrific coming from the weak side to block shots.

 

[healer677]

Off to game 7 - but without Wade, I think the Heat are done.

And as far as the "big man" discussion, at this point in time I think(in no particular order), Wallace, Duncan, Shaq, Yao and Garnett are much more polished than Stoudamire. Not to say that the Suns pivot can be a very good player - only time can tell.

 

[the_big_E]

Amare is better than Yao. Yao will be better in the future, but right now Amare is better. Dont disagree with the other choices, except maybe Wallace (amazing defensively, avg offensively)

 

[holden]

BTW, I don't know how someone can hold Garnett is such low regard. Have you seen his numbers? Have you seen him play?

My view on Garnett is that he's the most over rated player in the NBA, of course most people will disagree with me. I have seen him play many many times and I know he generally averages somewhere around 23 pts, 11 rebounds and around 5 assist, while great numbers he's never been able to carry a team. In the crucial moments of a game when they need a score, he sucks, people say he's too unselfish, I say he's not able to do it.

when he was paired with 'starbury', it was starbury who would rise up in the 4th quarter to win the game while garnett would carry the team in the first 3 quarters. After starbury left Minny, Garnett couldn't win in the 4th.

I mean for 7yrs he couldn't pass the first round of the play-offs, I know the West is alot harder but I mean if he was so good, he would be able to at least lead his team to win a series by sheer will(Iverson does it).

It was only last year they won a series with one of the highest payrolls and alot of depth and 4 semi -'star' players, they had the best record in the league but couldn't get to the finals b/c Garnett is not that type of player that wins in the 4th.

this year same salary same cast of players and same deep team couldn't even make the play-offs b/c Spree had to feed his kids. But when you think about it Garnett should be able to get his team to the play-offs with Wally, Sam, Troy Hudson and Candyman as his supporting casts minus Spree as a distraction. That team is better then Memphis's team.

I also read some outrageous article where the coloumnist thought Garnett was better then Duncan. I mean come on, I mean Duncan carried the Spurs to 2 championships. David Robinson wasn't even half the player he was when they won the 2 titles and Manu and Parker wasn't close to being the players they are now when they won. It was a decent cast but Duncan made them great. He even made Rasho Nesterovic become a better player after he came from Minny.

Even Dirk Diggler outplayed Garnett everytime Dallas met Minny in the play-offs(I even think one or two years Minny had a better record then dallas, but dirk outplayed garnett and won the series)

I just think Garnett is a good player with alot of hype(having only won 2 play-off series in his entire career)which makes him over rated. again just my opinion.

 

[homonger]

My view on Garnett is that he's the most over rated player in the NBA, of course most people will disagree with me. I have seen him play many many times and I know he generally averages somewhere around 23 pts, 11 rebounds and around 5 assist, while great numbers he's never been able to carry a team. In the crucial moments of a game when they need a score, he sucks, people say he's too unselfish, I say he's not able to do it.

Fair enough. I think Garnett, like a lot of other great players, will suffer the burden of "having never won the big one".

 

[homonger]

Amare is better than Yao. Yao will be better in the future, but right now Amare is better. Dont disagree with the other choices, except maybe Wallace (amazing defensively, avg offensively)

I don't disagree. I guess I am biased toward centers will traditional center skills. Let me ask you this, though, if you were Houston, would you trade Yao even up for Stoudamire? I don't think you do.

 

[homonger]

Off to game 7 - but without Wade, I think the Heat are done.

According to the lines I'm seeing, the Heat are favored by 2, and have a money line of -125. Is Wade playing? Does anybody know for sure, or is this going to be another one of those game time decisions?

The odds have literally just changed in the last minute. The ML on the Heat is now -130, which suggests to me there is new information coming in about Wade.

 

[Breeze]

My view on Garnett is that he's the most over rated player in the NBA, of course most people will disagree with me. I have seen him play many many times and I know he generally averages somewhere around 23 pts, 11 rebounds and around 5 assist, while great numbers he's never been able to carry a team. In the crucial moments of a game when they need a score, he sucks, people say he's too unselfish, I say he's not able to do it.

when he was paired with 'starbury', it was starbury who would rise up in the 4th quarter to win the game while garnett would carry the team in the first 3 quarters. After starbury left Minny, Garnett couldn't win in the 4th.

I mean for 7yrs he couldn't pass the first round of the play-offs, I know the West is alot harder but I mean if he was so good, he would be able to at least lead his team to win a series by sheer will(Iverson does it).

It was only last year they won a series with one of the highest payrolls and alot of depth and 4 semi -'star' players, they had the best record in the league but couldn't get to the finals b/c Garnett is not that type of player that wins in the 4th.

this year same salary same cast of players and same deep team couldn't even make the play-offs b/c Spree had to feed his kids. But when you think about it Garnett should be able to get his team to the play-offs with Wally, Sam, Troy Hudson and Candyman as his supporting casts minus Spree as a distraction. That team is better then Memphis's team.

I also read some outrageous article where the coloumnist thought Garnett was better then Duncan. I mean come on, I mean Duncan carried the Spurs to 2 championships. David Robinson wasn't even half the player he was when they won the 2 titles and Manu and Parker wasn't close to being the players they are now when they won. It was a decent cast but Duncan made them great. He even made Rasho Nesterovic become a better player after he came from Minny.

Even Dirk Diggler outplayed Garnett everytime Dallas met Minny in the play-offs(I even think one or two years Minny had a better record then dallas, but dirk outplayed garnett and won the series)

I just think Garnett is a good player with alot of hype(having only won 2 play-off series in his entire career)which makes him over rated. again just my opinion.

great post, I agree completely

 

[holden]

According to the lines I'm seeing, the Heat are favored by 2, and have a money line of -125. Is Wade playing? Does anybody know for sure, or is this going to be another one of those game time decisions?

The odds have literally just changed in the last minute. The ML on the Heat is now -130, which suggests to me there is new information coming in about Wade.

Wade is going to play for sure, they are just keeping it a quiet. I figure worst comes to worst they will inject his rib connecting tissues with a numbing agent so he can play.

 

[Kwazy]

definitely

If Wade couldn't play at all last game, I doubt he'll be able to come back and play "all out" which is what Miami needs.

Detroit vs San AN................predictions???


Detroit in 6 games. I think the Match Ups favour Detroit.

 

[the_big_E]

hey the Pistons havent won yet!

 

[healer677]

With all the rest - I think the Spurs are in better shape. Let's see who comes out of the series in the East.

I'm still not sure if Wade is playing....but personally; if he can walk, he should play.

 

[homonger]

Pretty good game tonight. I won money with the Pistons so I'm happy about that, of course. The Pistons just held it together over the last five minutes, and were able to get good shots and make stops when they had to. Wade gave it a shot, but it was clear he was hurting. Still, 20 points, and Shaq had a decent game too, but they got no help. Damon Jones and Eddie Jones might as well have not showed up. And Dooling, that guy sucks. This is a guy who couldn't hack it with the Clippers, for chrissakes. I don't feel too bad for the Heat, though, I think this was one of those learning experience things, and they will be better for it next year. I think if these teams meet again next year, the Heat win.

As for the Finals, I still like the Pistons. I just think they are an extremely well balanced, well coached, versatile team. I think the big matchups--Duncan vs. Rasheed, Parker vs. Billups, Ginobilli vs. Hamilton--will cancel each other out. And I think the Pistons have an advantage with Prince and Big Ben.

 

[ice_dog]

My hat is off to the Pistons, and Larry Brown

 

[Kwazy]

Detroit vs Miami

Have to say that I didn't mind either Detroit or Miami winning.....BUT...


my cheers went not for Detroit but against Alonzo Mourning!


never liked his taunting in the past when he was healthy, and I just can't support these LOSERS like Karl Malone and Mourning who try to jump on someone else's bandwagon to win a championship!!!...If you want to call yourself GREAT! AND If you want to win a championship then build a team around yourself, raise the level of players around you and support your franchise in getting the help you need to make your team a championship team.

I cheered against Mourning and I cheered last year against Malone and Payton!

 

[tagboy]

I feel bad for Miami (in particular, Wade and Diesel). You cannot help thinking the outcome would've been different had Wade been healthy. I was hoping for one of those MJ defying against all odds kind of performances from the kid. But I suppose that was asking for too much.

The final will feature the two best teams. Both have won it all. Both are still at the top of their game. It should be a very even series, IMO.

I've always liked the attitude of the Spurs so I'm sticking with them to take it all.

 

[homonger]

my cheers went not for Detroit but against Alonzo Mourning!

never liked his taunting in the past when he was healthy, and I just can't support these LOSERS like Karl Malone and Mourning who try to jump on someone else's bandwagon to win a championship!!!...If you want to call yourself GREAT! AND If you want to win a championship then build a team around yourself, raise the level of players around you and support your franchise in getting the help you need to make your team a championship team.

I cheered against Mourning and I cheered last year against Malone and Payton!

One could argue that many great players who never won a championship all had their shot. Malone with Utah in the mid 90's, Barkley with the Suns in the early 90's, Ewing with the Knicks in the mid 90's, Payton I suppose, last year. I think the Heat teams with Mourning in the late 90's all had their shot, but they just weren't quite good enough. I don't think the fact that none of these guys ever won detracts from their being great players. And at least they had their shot. Think about how many players never play in a Finals.

The only great player I can think of who latched on to a championship team late in his career was the Big O, Oscar Robertson, with the Bucks in the early 70's. Otherwise, I don't think this move really works.

 

[the_big_E]

I'm gonna go with the Spurs in 7.

 

[homonger]

It's a tough call, but I'm going with the Pistons to win the series at a money line of +210. I just don't see the Pistons as 2-1 underdogs, so I think I'm getting a good value with my bet.