Official NBA thread

[Rodney Harrison]

Playoff matchups:

 

Dallas vs Golden State

Phoenix vs LA Lakers

San Antonio vs Denver

Houston vs Utah

 

Detroit vs Orlando

Cleveland vs Washington

Toronto vs New Jersey

Chicago vs Miami

[Rodney Harrison]

The Warriors have snapped their 13-year playoff drought. The longest current drought belongs to the Atlanta Hawks, who haven't been to the postseason since 1999.

[schillingouttheks]

Yeah...they'll last 4 games.

[See Red]

Yeah...they'll last 4 games.

 

I think they'll win one or two, and even if they don't, they'll make Dallas earn their victories. When they're clicking offensively, they can fill up the bucket as well as Phoenix -- they do it a different way than Phoenix, though.

[YanksHater213]

I love Golden State. Too bad they don't play a lick of defense.

 

If they can control the tempo it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see them take this series. Dallas isn't a running team. If GS can step the D up a bit and keep running, I'm not sure if Dallas can beat them because their offense is so half-court/Dirk oriented.

[Manny Goes Boom]

I think they'll win one or two' date=' and even if they don't, they'll make Dallas earn their victories. When they're clicking offensively, they can fill up the bucket as well as Phoenix -- they do it a different way than Phoenix, though.[/quote']

 

Good point, and even if you throw out the last game they played against each other...Golden State won 2 out of 3. So they can play, I don't see them beating Dallas (although I couldn't think of anything better from that series...) but they should play them well.

[Rodney Harrison]

Good point' date=' and even if you throw out the last game they played against each other...Golden State won 2 out of 3. So they can play, I don't see them beating Dallas (although I couldn't think of anything better from that series...) but they should play them well.[/quote']

The Warriors/Mavs series can go either way. The first time Golden State played Dallas, it was at the very beginning of the season when the Mavs started 0-4. The second time they played, they snapped Dallas' 17-game winning streak. I just don't see the student sweeping the master.

[redsoxrules]

here's my picks

 

Dallas vs Golden State 4-1

Phoenix vs LA Lakers 4-0

San Antonio vs Denver 4-1

Houston vs Utah 4-3

 

Detroit vs Orlando 4-1

Cleveland vs Washington 4-1

Toronto vs New Jersey 4-2

Chicago vs Miami 4-3

[Manny Goes Boom]

here's my picks

 

Dallas vs Golden State 4-1

Phoenix vs LA Lakers 4-0

San Antonio vs Denver 4-1

Houston vs Utah 4-3

 

Detroit vs Orlando 4-1

Cleveland vs Washington 4-1

Toronto vs New Jersey 4-2

Chicago vs Miami 4-3

 

The west winners I agree but I give Denver more than one game in that series. I say it goes 6, possibly 7. Camby and Nene give Denver 12 fouls and two formidable big man to counter Duncan, and Iverson bests Parker so Denver should give the Spurs fits.

 

The east I kinda agree but I think the Heat will beat the Bulls. And that Toronto/New Jersey series will be a fun one to watch, that one IMO with Jersey's potential (which they never seem to fully reach in recent seasons...for whatever reason) could go either way.

 

Should be a great playoffs I can't wait for them to start.

[See Red]

The west winners I agree but I give Denver more than one game in that series. I say it goes 6, possibly 7. Camby and Nene give Denver 12 fouls and two formidable big man to counter Duncan, and Iverson bests Parker so Denver should give the Spurs fits.

 

The east I kinda agree but I think the Heat will beat the Bulls. And that Toronto/New Jersey series will be a fun one to watch, that one IMO with Jersey's potential (which they never seem to fully reach in recent seasons...for whatever reason) could go either way.

 

Should be a great playoffs I can't wait for them to start.

 

Nuggets can actually shoot this year too! And Kleiza is lights out on National TV! Nuggets lose in 7. But if they can get hot, they can win.

[YanksHater213]

Meeeh, as much firepower as the Nuggets have I can't see them beating the Spurs. They're like polar opposites though it's kind of funny. On one hand you kinda have the "ultimate team" with the Spurs, they all play together and they know their roles and shut their mouths. While with the Nugs you got Melo and AI kind of doing their thing with everyone else just kinda there.

 

Spurs in 5, 6 if the Nugs are lucky.

[TheKilo]

here's my picks

 

Dallas vs Golden State 4-1

Phoenix vs LA Lakers 4-0

San Antonio vs Denver 4-1

Houston vs Utah 4-3

 

Detroit vs Orlando 4-1

Cleveland vs Washington 4-1

Toronto vs New Jersey 4-2

Chicago vs Miami 4-3

 

 

Dallas in 6

Phoenix in 6

San Antonio in 5

Houston in 6

 

Detroit in 4

Cleveland in 4

Toronto in 6

Chicago in 6

[BoSox34]

Dallas vs Golden State (Don't be surprised if GS takes a game or two, they've had a good amount of success against Dallas recently, however the Mavericks are arguably the best team in the league and barring a miracle, will move on to the second round.)

 

Phoenix vs LA Lakers (The unity and chemistry will be too much for the mediocre Lakers and Raja Bell will be a pesky defender on Kobe yet again. Phoenix is way too strong for the Lakers.)

 

San Antonio vs Denver (Denver has won 10 out of their last 11 and they are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. San Antonio has a 700+ Winning Percentage and a playoff experienced squad that knows how to win in the postseason. This is definitely the most intriguing of the first round matchups and it's difficult to predict the winner but I'm going with the hot hand, Denver. Duncan provides matchup problems for Denver's front court but don't underestimate Marcus Camby who is rested and healthy and averaged a double double with 11/11 this season. The Nuggets have looked like a fluid team ever since Steve Blake took over the PG spot putting Iverson in a more comfortable SG role. Carmelo Anthony will shine like always and the Nuggets have good depth with J.R Smith, Linas, and Reggie Evans.)

 

Houston vs Utah (T-Mac has really gone under the radar this season for a superstar player like himself and the combination of him and Yao should be too much for the Jazz to handle in a 7 game series.)

 

Detroit vs Orlando (Detroit is just too polished and experienced to lose to such a young, unexperienced squad in the first round. Dwight Howard will eat Chris Webber up down low but Detroit's guard play is everything you'd want in a playoff team.)

 

Cleveland vs Washington (Without Gilbert and Butler, the Wizards will struggle to put up a win against Lebron and his streaky team. With Jamison being the main option, the Wizards are much less dangerous and are an almost guaranteed first round exit.)

 

Toronto vs New Jersey (New Jersey has won 8 out of their last 9 and have enjoyed 4 wins in a row which shows that they are ready for the playoffs. Toronto is a young team and they are far from playoff experienced while the trio of Kidd, VC, and Richard Jefferson are ready to show Toronto what a playoff ready team looks like. This series should be interesting and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes 6 or 7 games but the Nets' trio should be too much for the Raptors to handle.)

 

 

Chicago vs Miami (Miami will prove to be too strong for Chicago to handle. Shaq and Wade are ready to show that they're still capable of doing some damage together and Chicago will be looking back on a "would've could've should've" season. The last time these teams played was back in early march when the Heat won by 33 without their star Wade. Shaq is still a force and Wade will run circles around Hinrich and Gordon.)

[BoSox34]

Oh...and for my finals prediction.

 

Suns over Piss-a-tons in 6.

 

Also, on facebook's nba playoffs challenge thing, I picked Golden State over the Heat so GO WARRIORS.

[See Red]

Nuggets beat the Spurs in game one. Nuggets get a great all around game and dominate the boards. In past playoffs, teams have been able throw all sorts of looks at Melo and make the other guys beat them... they can't do it anymore. 'Melo and AI combine for sixty-one and they played some pretty good defense!

 

Hope they're not satisfied with this win like they were the last time they played San Antonio in the playoffs.

[Mr Crunchy]

nuggs came in going 9-1 in their last 10,a very very live underdog in this series

san antone looked old and slow and were content on shooting jump shots as opposed to trying to exploit the duncan/nene duncan/camby matchups

 

dallas??

softer than a sneaker full of puppy s*** in the august sun

8 seeds dont beat 1 seeds,i think ive seen it 1x in the nba

[Rodney Harrison]

nuggs came in going 9-1 in their last 10,a very very live underdog in this series

san antone looked old and slow and were content on shooting jump shots as opposed to trying to exploit the duncan/nene duncan/camby matchups

 

dallas??

softer than a sneaker full of puppy s*** in the august sun

8 seeds dont beat 1 seeds,i think ive seen it 1x in the nba

 

Denver beat Seattle in 1994 and New York beat Miami in 1999. I think that's about it.

[See Red]

Nuggets also came back from a 2-0 deficit to win the 5 game series.

 

http://lowpost.net/blog/images/game/mutombo-celebrate.jpg

 

Pretty memorable image for Nuggets fans... Mutombo on the ground holding the ball in celebration after the game.

[Mr Crunchy]

yeah but dikembe mutumbo was matched against mark eaton? in 94...

not nene on duncan

that was the only 1 i remembered

[Manny Goes Boom]

Nuggets also came back from a 2-0 deficit to win the 5 game series.

 

http://lowpost.net/blog/images/game/mutombo-celebrate.jpg

 

Pretty memorable image for Nuggets fans... Mutombo on the ground holding the ball in celebration after the game.

 

Ha! I remember that. I turned the TV on and I saw Mutombo on the ground and they said Denver won and I was shocked.

[Mr Crunchy]

i think they came back 0-3 in the next series and forced a game 7 as well??

i dont remember specifically

this nuggs team is a lot better than that 1 and i for 1 wouldnt be surprised to see them lay san antone in the dust here

[schillingouttheks]

I think Golden State can legitimately beat Dallas. 4-0 against them this year? Baron Davis and Jason Richardson on an 8th seeded team???

 

They're dangerous.

[YanksHater213]

SOTK... one was where Dallas rested everyone and another was when J-Rich hit this ridiculous buzzer 3. So it's legit 4-0, but 2-0 with 1 lucky win and 1 vs a team not representative of the Dallas team they're playing now.

 

Can they hang with Dallas? Most definitely if they're playing their offensive style and putting the ball in the hole, but can they beat them in a 7 game series? That remains to be seen. Will I be surprised if they upset? Nope.

[redsoxrules]

WTF Sam Mitchell coach of the year?

 

Avery Johnson should have won that hands down

[Manny Goes Boom]

WTF Sam Mitchell coach of the year?

 

Avery Johnson should have won that hands down

 

I disagree completely. Avery and Mike D'Antoni had little to no shot of winning coach of the year because when they both got the award, their teams had only just recently had great success, and this year EVERYONE expected the Suns and the Mavs to have great years. And they both did, so how Coach of the Year like is that? Your teams are expected to be #1 and #2 respectively in the league and they do that. Sure that's meeting expectations, but Sam Mitchell exceeded them. I applaud this choice. My personal vote would have went to Don Nelson, but Mitchell works.

[TheKilo]

WTF Sam Mitchell coach of the year?

 

Avery Johnson should have won that hands down

 

The talent level had to have come into question.

 

edit - MGB said it better.

[redsoxrules]

The talent level had to have come into question.

 

edit - MGB said it better.

 

than why give it to phil jackson for the 95-96 season?

[redsoxrules]

no surprise here camby named top defensive player

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6746700

[See Red]

Game two made me think the Nuggets were going to win this series, even though they lost the game itself. 'Melo and Iverson were terrible in the first half, 'Melo couldn't hit an open shot for his life, and the Nuggets were still able to rally late and make a game of it. Additionally, while the game was officiated rather well, Allen Iverson couldn't draw a foul for his life. If he gets a few foul calls that he should've gotten, you never know if the game turns out differently. He takes 25 shots, is aggressive and in the lane all night, and doesn't get one free throw? That doesn't make sense. Eh, oh well.

[See Red]

Golden State is just pouring it on Dallas right now. Almost makes you forget which team is the one seed.