2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Halx]

Eastern Conference -

Celtics (1)
Hawks (8)

Pistons (2)
76ers (7)

Magic (3)
Raptors (6)

Cavaliers (4)
Wizards (5)


Western Conference -

Lakers (1)
Nuggets (8)

Spurs (3)
Suns (6)

Hornets (2)
Mavericks (7)

Rockets (5)
Jazz (4)

--------------------------------------------------------------

My predictions (can you guess) are that the Lakers and Celtics meet in the finals. And the Lakers win it all.

It seems like every team in the West has stumbled toward the finish line except the Lakers. They've hit a stride winning 7 our of 8, have more rest than any other team to begin the playoffs, and believe it or not, but their "Big 3" have better numbers than Boston's "Big 3" AND they have a deeper bench. Andrew Bynum may not return this year, but Trevor Ariza will be back by the 2nd round. This is Kobe's time!

[powerclown]

Im psyched about the playoffs this year. The West in particular, there's not a bad team playing. Pistons are looking solid entering the playoffs this year, starters healthy, the bench has been outstanding this year. Midseason pickup Theo Ratliff looks to be a much needed quality big man for Detroit.

What's the story with Bynum? He definitely isn't playing in the playoffs? They're still my pick out of the West, with or without Bynum, and Kobe deserves MVP without question.

[Halx]

Bynum may not even play this year. It's crazy how much his status has been strung along.

[powerclown]

That would be a shame, the kid's young though and he'll be back. Still, Kobe has to be on cloud nine about Gasol. Watching the Lakers on league pass this year, I found it astonishing the difference in skill level between Gasol and Kwame Brown. It's like they're playing 2 different games. Unbelievable good luck for the Lakers.

[Sensei]

Lakers over Nuggets in 5
Hornets over Mavs in 7
Suns over Spurs in 7
Jazz over Rockets in 7

Celtics over Hawks in 4
Pistons over Sixers in 5
Magic over Raptors in 6
Cavs over Wizards in 7

Lakers over Jazz in 5
Suns over Hornets in 7

Celtics over Cavs in 6
Piston over Magic in 5

Lakers over Suns in 7
Celtics over Pistons in 6

Celtics over Lakers in 7

-----

It'll be strange to see the defending NBA champs eliminated in the first round but it's going to happen.

The Rockets have the better regular-season record but are not going to take the Jazz. Utah has an advantage at every position besides #2. Plus I think Mutumbo was considered a veteran in the NBA when Ronnie Brewer was born.

The Celtics will be rested and will win without the level of battle-testing prevalent in the West. The Pistons will give them a decent fight but not enough to wear them out.

[Ilow]

You can't knock the Celtics depth. One thing Doc Rivers got criticized for last year was not having a solid "rotation" but all of a sudden this year the team goes 12 deep with contributors of the bench. In some of these late season games different guys stepped up with 20-5 games when the "big 3" only played 20 minutes. The young guys are scared not to play hard, with KG around, they have some talent and they battle.
As for teams getting rest, the playoffs are so strung out, that it almost doesn't matter. But you would thing that the winner of the East will be a little less worn down from the season's toll.
I also pick the Celtics over the Lakers. I don't think if they make it to the Finals that they will be denied.

[coyote]

Blazers all the way, ooops sorry, that is next year. I say the spurs repeat. Unless their bodies just wear down, I think they understand playoff basketball the best.

[QuasiMondo]

Originally Posted by Halx

Eastern Conference -

Celtics (1)
Hawks (8)

Pistons (2)
76ers (7)

Magic (3)
Raptors (6)

Cavaliers (4)
Wizards (5)


Western Conference -

Lakers (1)
Nuggets (8)

Spurs (3)
Suns (6)

Hornets (2)
Mavericks (7)

Rockets (5)
Jazz (4)

--------------------------------------------------------------

My predictions (can you guess) are that the Lakers and Celtics meet in the finals. And the Lakers win it all.

It seems like every team in the West has stumbled toward the finish line except the Lakers. They've hit a stride winning 7 our of 8, have more rest than any other team to begin the playoffs, and believe it or not, but their "Big 3" have better numbers than Boston's "Big 3" AND they have a deeper bench. Andrew Bynum may not return this year, but Trevor Ariza will be back by the 2nd round. This is Kobe's time!

In the east:

Raptors with the surprise upset. Celtics over Cavs in conference finals.

In the west, Mavs will stun Hornets and take Spurs to seven in a Texas showdown. Rockets will give them a run for their money, though (remember the Ewing theory).

Spurs will win it in six.

[powerclown]

Duncan-Bot playoff mode: angry.

[QuasiMondo]

Atl: 103
Bos: 100

Ladies and gentlemen, we may be on the verge of witnessing one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history.

[QuasiMondo]

If the Celtics lose, I'd have to think that along with the Patriot upset in SB XLII, we may have to blame a Red Sox fan for this.

A deal with the sports gods? Red Sox dynasty at the sacrifice of the other Boston teams coming up short? Think about it.

[Ilow]

Originally Posted by QuasiMondo

If the Celtics lose, I'd have to think that along with the Patriot upset in SB XLII, we may have to blame a Red Sox fan for this.

A deal with the sports gods? Red Sox dynasty at the sacrifice of the other Boston teams coming up short? Think about it.

Celtics win 99-65. Everything is OK.

[QuasiMondo]

So much for that theory.

[dlish]

bumping this thread..

have anyones predictions changed yet?

i was thinking that the celtics were untouchable, but it hasnt been smooth sailing for them lately going to game 7 against the cavs.

it think that the spurs-lakers will be a thriller and go to game 7 also. spurs are phenomenal at home, and i dont see the lakers beating them at home. the question is can the spurs win a game away? they did manage that in game 7 with their backs against the wall. the sign of a championship team. but the ailing legs prevailing in san antonio, and going to game 7 will undoubtedly have an impact on how the spurs play.

though id love to see them win, i still see a lakers/celtics finals.

kobe is the bogeyman i think. if he can take control, he'll win the championsip for the lakers.

the way i see it though, is winner in the west will take out the title.

anyone else agree?

[xpistonsx]

Pistons over Celtics in 6. Lakers over Spurs in 6. Then Finally, Pistons over Lakers in 7. (I'm a Pistons fan if you haven't notice already. Also GO RED WINGS!!)

[dlish]

xpistonsx - ppft..couldnt tell u were a fan at all!

[Halx]

You can always write me in for the Lakers winning the championship. They sure looked like champions last night when they blew out the Spurs by 30 points. Good grief.

[AYHJA]

I think its pretty safe to say at this point that the Spurs are done...Providing the gravest of injuries, The Lakers just earned themselves a few extra nights rest before they have to punish whomever comes out of the east...

I'm pretty sure the Boston/Detroit series will go all 7 games, with the Pistons pulling through...Boston just seems to lack that killer instinct...

[Ilow]

Originally Posted by AYHJA

I think its pretty safe to say at this point that the Spurs are done...Providing the gravest of injuries, The Lakers just earned themselves a few extra nights rest before they have to punish whomever comes out of the east...

I'm pretty sure the Boston/Detroit series will go all 7 games, with the Pistons pulling through...Boston just seems to lack that killer instinct...

You mean that killer instinct like when they finally lost home court advantage at home and had to win in Detroit and destroyed them in their house?

[Halx]

I don't think Boston's hype can be reconciled after being taken to 7 games in their previous 2 series. They were playing against the worst teams in the playoffs. Now, they are playing against the only other team that took advantage of their weak conference and both teams will have a tough time.

I also want to state, for anyone who might claim that the Lakers were handed last night's game: 1) Duncan traveled. 2) Fisher's shot hit the rim. 3) Barry traveled. 4) Pop admitted the refs made the right call. If it were a perfect world, the game would have been won before the final shot, but that's "game fixing" for ya.

[Ilow]

Originally Posted by Halx

I don't think Boston's hype can be reconciled after being taken to 7 games in their previous 2 series. They were playing against the worst teams in the playoffs. Now, they are playing against the only other team that took advantage of their weak conference and both teams will have a tough time.

I also want to state, for anyone who might claim that the Lakers were handed last night's game: 1) Duncan traveled. 2) Fisher's shot hit the rim. 3) Barry traveled. 4) Pop admitted the refs made the right call. If it were a perfect world, the game would have been won before the final shot, but that's "game fixing" for ya.

The Cetics really took advantage of the weak Western conference. They completely molested them all year. They appear to play better when pushed. Also the Lakers won the game on a blown call even if the players and coaches do not want to make excuses (as they often do not):

League acknowledges Spurs' Barry was fouled

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: May 28, 2008, 9:52 PM ET


The league office on Wednesday reviewed the final play of the San Antonio Spurs' 93-91 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and acknowledged that a two-shot foul should have been called on Derek Fisher for impeding Brent Barry.

After falling behind by seven points in the final minute, San Antonio sliced the deficit to two and regained possession with 2.1 seconds to play.

Barry then wound up with the ball in the center of the floor on a play called for Manu Ginobili and faked Fisher in the air but struggled to get off a 3-point heave at the buzzer after Fisher came down and bumped Barry.

"With the benefit of instant replay, it appears a foul call should have been made," league spokesman Tim Frank said Wednesday.

The miss sealed an L.A. victory that moved the Lakers into a commanding 3-1 series lead entering Thursday's Game 5 at Staples Center.

But the Spurs did not protest the non-call afterward, even though a foul called before the shot would have sent Barry to the line for two free throws and a chance to force overtime.

The non-call nonetheless generated more than the usual scrutiny because the closest referee to the play was Joey Crawford, with whom San Antonio has a contentious recent history.

"That play," Barry said, "was not where the game was lost."

The Spurs, in truth, wouldn't have had a chance to tie or win the game in the final two seconds if not for a fortuitous non-call on the previous possession.

Television replays indicated that Fisher's shot with 6.9 seconds to go grazed the rim before bouncing out of bounds off of Robert Horry's leg, meaning that the Lakers should have had a new shot clock instead of asking Kobe Bryant to hurry a fadeaway jumper after the ensuing timeout.

The new shot clock likely would have forced San Antonio to foul Bryant as opposed to getting the ball back off Bryant's miss to draw up a potential game-winning play.

"It wasn't a foul. ... I think it was a proper no-call from what I saw," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Fisher bumping Barry.

Added Spurs forward Tim Duncan: "You're not going to get that call. They're not going to make that call."

The Lakers were likewise adamant that no foul should have been called on Fisher, pointing at least in part to the fact that they didn't get a new shot clock on the Fisher miss -- and that Bryant didn't earn a single trip to the free-throw line despite attempting 29 shots from the field.

"Yeah, he bumped him," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Fisher landing on Barry. "You know, games go like that."

[AYHJA]

Originally Posted by Ilow

You mean that killer instinct like when they finally lost home court advantage at home and had to win in Detroit and destroyed them in their house?

No, that killer instinct that had them up big in the 3rd and nearly loosing the game in the 4th...

To suggest that the Lakers won the game on a blown call, as if, the refs had not missed a single call the entire 47 minutes and 55 seconds is ridiculous...It was a two shot foul if anything and the refs were letting that slide all night...Duncan says it was a no call, Pop says it was a no call, and oh yeah, they lost the game...

I think the Celts will win the East, and then loose to the Lakers in 5...

[dlish]

lakers beat my spurs. good luck. i see a great finals coming up. i dont see the celts as formidable as they were two months ago.

lakers in 6 to win

[HeAtHeN]

Yeah I think the Lakers in five ftw

[Halx]

Let's not forget that the Celtics have homecourt.

Lakers in 6.

[karsten2k]

Lakers ftw!!!

[Ilow]

Celtics, with 66 wins, home court advantage and domination of a good Detroit team get no respect. I like it.

[Bear Cub]

Well, lets just watch and see who wins a game of one on three.

[QuasiMondo]

Originally Posted by QuasiMondo

If the Celtics lose, I'd have to think that along with the Patriot upset in SB XLII, we may have to blame a Red Sox fan for this.

A deal with the sports gods? Red Sox dynasty at the sacrifice of the other Boston teams coming up short? Think about it.

I'm bringing this theory back and say Lakers take it in 7. The curse was never broken, it's just been shifted around.

[evilbeefchan]

Lakers in 5!

[Halx]

HERE WE GO!!

I am so excited for tonight!

[AYHJA]

Yeah, I'm pretty gassed as well...All I got to say is that the C's need to win this game...If LA manages to get them to split their games at home, you will be hard pressed to see L.A. let a game slide through their fingers...

[Ilow]

Well, there goes the Laker sweep. The Celtics played pretty well, but they didn't play out of their minds in a way that would make you think that they could not replicate this performance. Nice balance on offense and excellent D. They sacrificed jumpers to clog the middle and limit penetration. Still with this stupid 2-3-2 series they do need both at home. On that note, can anyone tell me why there are three days between games one and two, but only two between two and three, when they have to travel to the west coast?

[jorgelito]

You know, I really don't get the attitudes that prevail (generally speaking) how the Lakers are going to blow out the Celtics. Regardless of outcome, these are the 2 best teams in the NBA. It stands to reason that the contests will be competitive. This should be a great series: historical match up, rivalry, great players, best offense versus best defense etc.

So c'mon, let's give the Celtics their due and some credit, best record and all that. If the C's lose, I will still be content knowing they gave it their all and played some great basketball. If they lose, well, then the better team won and there is no shame in that.

[Halx]

I saw two possessions from the Lakers where they actually ran their triangle offense. Those were when Kobe was on the bench. I hate to say it, but I'm blaming this loss on Kobe. I was thoroughly unhappy with nearly every offensive possession. It wasn't even the Celtics taking them out of their game... they just didn't do what they needed to do. Kobe was out of control taking STUPID shots. I can't be more frustrated. They had this opportunity and they threw it away by hot-dogging it. They didn't even adjust.

[Ilow]

Originally Posted by Halx

I saw two possessions from the Lakers where they actually ran their triangle offense. Those were when Kobe was on the bench. I hate to say it, but I'm blaming this loss on Kobe. I was thoroughly unhappy with nearly every offensive possession. It wasn't even the Celtics taking them out of their game... they just didn't do what they needed to do. Kobe was out of control taking STUPID shots. I can't be more frustrated. They had this opportunity and they threw it away by hot-dogging it. They didn't even adjust.

I don't know. It didn't seem like hot-dogging was the real problem, although I will agree that they didn't always run their offense (whether the C's D was partially responsible, who knows). From my perspective (don't always watch the lakers during the season) Kobe always takes crazy lower percentage shots, and no one ever really criticizes him because he's so talented that he usually makes a lot of them. To be honest, I was a little surprised that both teams didn't take it to the rack a little more. I think that for both teams, shooting j's is a risky proposition, because as we saw last night, you sort of live and die by them.

[AYHJA]

Yeah, Kobe didn't play out of his element, those shots he took he usually makes...The Lakers just missed a ton of open shots in the third that could have emotionally took the Celts out of the game...I figured the Celts would make this a series...I think the Celts played their game, they made their shots and played decent D, but I don't think we'll see a Celtics win in game 2...Its is clear that KG can't carry the C's...He was on fire, and then went broke...

They were feeling each other out, and the C's came out on top...Game 2 will be almost like a new series starting..

[inkriminator]

After game 1, I have to give the series to LA. kobe played shoddily, yet the Lakers were in it until the end. The one thing that might save the Celtics is they're ridiculous rebounding advantage. However I imagine that the Triangle will help overcome that advantage, and as for Boston's D, I just don't think Doc Rivers will put the right personnel on the floor.

All that said, what a hell of a game. The crowd absolutely took the game to another level, I thought they were going to blow the roof off the stadium after Pierce came back. It was just amazing to hear this whisper start, then swell to a roar after he came out of the tunnel. You lakers fans have a tough act to follow!

[Ilow]

OK, everyone who had the Lakers in 5 please pack your belongings and make your way to the nearest exit.

[Morel]

The Lakers are going to take game three though, just how the Celtics let them come back in game two. I don't know if they can win all three games at home, but game three is a definite lock for the Lakers.


-Morel