NBA Thread

[The Underdog]

Re: NBA Thread

Anyway back on topic, the Celtics beat the Cavs by 11 points without KG and their back-up centre. I know it was in Boston but kind of confirms my fear that they are a bit soft in the middle. I know they're missing Wallace but it's still a poor result.

[LostDoggy]

Re: NBA Thread

Another win for Utah, 109-101 over the Raptors.

On a real hot streak at the moment.

[G-Mo77]

Re: NBA Thread

It's out of Boston, Cleveland and LA Lakers. I can't see anyone else toppling them. Pretty much any team out of those 3 can win it all doubt anyone else can. Maybe the Spurs are an outside chance but I doubt they will get through LA.

2 East teams below .500 in the top 8. Great to see some quality teams making the playoffs again.

[G-Mo77]

Re: NBA Thread

Rose has improved this year and deserves rookie of the year? Is that a contradiction in terms or what!

He certainly has the hype - but if you look at what Lopez (Nets version) or even Westbrook playing for the 'City who must not be named' you might find a couple of other contenders.

Thank you for not naming them. I miss my Sonics

I guess you could throw Mayo into the mix for ROY. I think Rose wil get it but Mayo & Lopez will be a close.

[LostDoggy]

Re: NBA Thread

Anyway back on topic, the Celtics beat the Cavs by 11 points without KG and their back-up centre. I know it was in Boston but kind of confirms my fear that they are a bit soft in the middle. I know they're missing Wallace but it's still a poor result.

I just finished watching it. We played terrible, Perkins and Baby Davis shouldn't have been allowed to dominate us in the paint like they did. Mo created a spark in the 3rd term. After LeBron missed that dunk in the opening minutes and the crowd went crazy for what seemed like 5 mins he went in his shell a bit and didn't play anywhere near his high standards. I just wanna see one of our big guys including Lebron posting up a bit in offense to try and stretch the D a bit. Guys like Z and Joe Smith all play in the mid range which is okay but we need at least someone to threaten in the paint.

After hearing all this trade talk about teams taking big contracts to clear cap space I was wondering if you ever reckon the AFL will get like that? I personally don't think so because the difference (I'm assuming) between AFL contracts isn't as large as the NBA ones.

Just on that NBA on channel 10 how many games are on a week?

[The Underdog]

Re: NBA Thread

I just finished watching it. We played terrible, Perkins and Baby Davis shouldn't have been allowed to dominate us in the paint like they did. Mo created a spark in the 3rd term. After LeBron missed that dunk in the opening minutes and the crowd went crazy for what seemed like 5 mins he went in his shell a bit and didn't play anywhere near his high standards. I just wanna see one of our big guys including Lebron posting up a bit in offense to try and stretch the D a bit. Guys like Z and Joe Smith all play in the mid range which is okay but we need at least someone to threaten in the paint.

After hearing all this trade talk about teams taking big contracts to clear cap space I was wondering if you ever reckon the AFL will get like that? I personally don't think so because the difference (I'm assuming) between AFL contracts isn't as large as the NBA ones.

Just on that NBA on channel 10 how many games are on a week?

Didn't actually see the game but all the reports were about the domination of the Celts back ups in the middle. I like Z but he's just not a huge presence in the middle, he's a great mid range shooter for a big guy but I can see them struggling against Boston over 7 games. Mo Williams has been a great pickup and takes some reliance off Lebron which will help them. But you're right they need someone who will post up and give an inside threat on a regular basis.

I can't see the AFL ever getting to the situation the NBA finds itself in. They've always kept a tight leash on the possibility of free agency and while it will appear in some form in the next few years, unfettered free agency would be the death of real competition. They need teams to be regularly competitive or the interest in the league could drop pretty quickly and some teams would die.

2-3 games on 10 each week. 1 on Monday and 1-2 on Friday. May be more once the 24 hour sport channel starts on the 26th.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: NBA Thread

Rose was the early leader in the ROY of the year considerations, and the media will probably vote for him and Mayo second

but Mayo has been dreadful since a bright opening when they ran everything through him, and Rose is not playing in crunch time because of his deficiencies at this stage.

Westbrook, Love and Lopez are all finishing strong. Maybe Westbrook has the best form line.

[G-Mo77]

Re: NBA Thread

I just finished watching it. We played terrible, Perkins and Baby Davis shouldn't have been allowed to dominate us in the paint like they did. Mo created a spark in the 3rd term. After LeBron missed that dunk in the opening minutes and the crowd went crazy for what seemed like 5 mins he went in his shell a bit and didn't play anywhere near his high standards. I just wanna see one of our big guys including Lebron posting up a bit in offense to try and stretch the D a bit. Guys like Z and Joe Smith all play in the mid range which is okay but we need at least someone to threaten in the paint.

One name springs to mind talking about that game. LEON POWE! He was fantastic! Rebounded everything, put nearly all his shots in the basket and was just in the right place on both ends of the floor every play.

[LostDoggy]

Re: NBA Thread

Bloody joke, knew we would cough up on the road.

Bulls 127-130 Heat

Double OT & we just fell short, 43 points from Gordon & Salmons and Rose both got into the 20's.

Still wondering why we only used two players off the bench, very interesting. Some of VDN decisions this season have been worrying, i wouldn't be surprised if he is gone by next season.

Magic dropped another game, which can either be good or bad with us playing them on Thursday.

Hawks end the Hornets run, great to see Portland knock off the Lakers.

Things are really starting to heat up now.

[mjp]

Re: NBA Thread

It's out of Boston, Cleveland and LA Lakers. I can't see anyone else toppling them. Pretty much any team out of those 3 can win it all doubt anyone else can. Maybe the Spurs are an outside chance but I doubt they will get through LA.

Well....If the Spurs can hang on to the 2 seed and Ginobli comes back FIT for the playoffs, I expect that they will beat LA. I am not convinced they will hold the 2-seed though. To me the rockets are interesting with the two-headed defender (Artest/Battier) they can throw at the Kobe - plus Yao playing very well in the middle - they would be a very tough out for LA in a 7-game series and could get the 2-seed....then again, so could basically anyone in the West if the Spurs fall over it is so close from 3-7.

Out East, Orlando are better than you credit them...again, facing up to Howard in a 7-game series is not something either the Celts or Cavs would be looking forward too, and as last season showed, the Hawks match up well against Boston and if Johnson was to get 'hot' for a week...I couldn't see Atlanta beating the Cavs though...I actually dont like the Celts against the Cavs - they just have no-one to defend LeBron and I cannot see how they could slow him down, let alone stop him.

[G-Mo77]

Re: NBA Thread

Out East, Orlando are better than you credit them...again, facing up to Howard in a 7-game series is not something either the Celts or Cavs would be looking forward too, and as last season showed, the Hawks match up well against Boston and if Johnson was to get 'hot' for a week...I couldn't see Atlanta beating the Cavs though...I actually dont like the Celts against the Cavs - they just have no-one to defend LeBron and I cannot see how they could slow him down, let alone stop him.

I think Orlando have a terrific team. I just think they will struggle without Nelson come playoff time. If they still had him available I do believe they would be right in the mix.

[LostDoggy]

Re: NBA Thread

I think Orlando have a terrific team. I just think they will struggle without Nelson come playoff time. If they still had him available I do believe they would be right in the mix.

Nelsons the really good 3 point shooter isn't he? That brings me back to strecthing the D. If Orlando could have Nelson knocking down 3's and Howard dominating the paint they can beat anyone,

[G-Mo77]

Re: NBA Thread

Nelsons the really good 3 point shooter isn't he? That brings me back to strecthing the D. If Orlando could have Nelson knocking down 3's and Howard dominating the paint they can beat anyone,

Yeah he improved his 3 point shooting a lot but up until he got injured he was probably the best PG in the East. Very good clutch player too. I didn' rate him one bit up until this season, he improved out of sight.

Trading for Alston may help but I really think the loss of really solid clutch player come playoff time will hurt them.

[mjp]

Re: NBA Thread

Even without Nelson I say Orlando make it very tough for Cleveland...but even with him Boston beat them. It is a wierd thing with those teams with Orlando beating the Cavs and losing to the Celts, and the Celts beating the Mag but losing to the Cavs.

I still think it is pretty wide open in the East, but the West is unbelievable. If anyone believes in Kirilenko then even a team like the Jazz would be worth a look out West...if Carmelo got hot for a couple of games, the Nuggets could find themselves in the conference finals.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: NBA Thread

Gooden to the Spurs is potentially a huge addition out West, if he can get healthy and on the same page then lookout because that is a club that knows how to close out playoff series.

The Cavs adding Joe Smith gives them an important big to cover the injured Wallace and the Celtics added Mikki Moore for the stretch but he's not really in the class of those two. If the Celts had added Smith or Gooden they would have been my clear favourites out East, and probably to repeat, but they decided they couldn't afford to wait and see if they were bought out of their contracts.

Orlando are massively underrated and have a brilliant coach in Stan Van Gundy who seems to succeed wherever he goes. The Cavs depth at guard has improved which should provide them with more perimeter shooting in the playoffs, and less 2nd & 3rd defenders on Lebron. Surely, its a three horse race out East.

Out west its not as clear cut. I kind of see it as 5 prospects, and cant see Denver, Portland or Dallas from doing anything meaningful. The Lakers and Spurs will be up there. Chris Paul might terrorise teams and propel his plucky Hornets to the finals stage. Utah have steadily improved and have an oustanding front line, and great stability. Not sure the Rockets could win a conference final, but they're a better team than many would have predicted. If you haven't read this article about Battier and the Rockets mgt its a great read http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/ma...pagewanted=all

I'd still suspect a Lakers V Celtics finals rematch at this stage, but theres still a lot of water to go under the bridge.