NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Yeah, I agree with Rube. I think Garnett's game was more a product of the ball ending up in his lap in the fourth and he happened to hit a couple of big shots, rather than him WANTING to be the man, going and getting the ball and putting the team on his back. There's a difference.

 

However you see it, it's a good sign that KG is taking the shots instead of passing it away like he does too often.

A pressing issue for the Celtics is their lack of consistant bench play. Coming into the postseason, they looked to have the best bench in the NBA, but Detroit's bench has thoroughly outplayed them. The only guys giving them consistant play are James Posey (his defense, clutch shooting, and leadership makes him one of the most underrated off-season additions) and PJ Brown (who has been terrific, but had a terrible game last night). Posey's three were the only points scored off the bench last night. Leon Powe was an absolute beast in the last month of the regular season, but has been mostly trash in the playoffs and was a DNP-CD last night. Glen Davis is streaky and mistake-prone. Sam Cassell is virtually useless...he played just over 2 minutes last night and his only blip on the box score was a turnover. Eddie House, as evidenced by Detroit earlier in the series, can be pressured while playing the point because he's not a natural ball-handler. Where's Tony Allen?

Luckily for the Celtics, their starters played tremendous last night. Perkins probably had the best game of his career and dominated on both ends. Rondo did not shoot well at all, but still played the point position well, finding open guys and collecting 13 assists and only 1 turnover. I don't mind seeing Rajon take some of those shots because he'll usually nail them. He's an underrated shooter. Pierce did not shoot much, but Rip was playing very active defense on him, especially towards the end of the game when he typically takes over. But he passed the ball well while not forcing anything like he sometimes does. Ray Allen was on fire offensively, and KG had another great game, although I don't like the 5 TOs. Still, they need more production from the bench.

What the hell has happened to Tayshaun Prince? He looks very tentative. And why the hell did McDyess, the Pistons best offensive player in the series (besides maybe Rip), take only 2 shots in the entire game?

 

Did you watch the fourth quarter? When in the hell did KG NOT pass up a shot in the last eight minutes? I can recall at least two times where he freaked out and threw the ball right into a Piston defender's hands. The only time I recall him doing much of anything was when he hit the final two free throws of the game. Rondo's young, he gets a pass for being a little nervous -- plus he plays a risky game anyway. But the rest of them get no such pass. James Posey and Ray Allen seemed to be the only guys willing to step up and make a play.
The bench had nothing to do with Boston nearly having a monumental collapse.
Like I said before ... great start by Boston, but the final eight minutes was one of its worst stretches of the playoffs ... right up there with several other late game fiascos its been involved in.

Prince hasn't done much all series, credit Paul Pierce for that one -- not only on the defensive end, but Prince has to spend a lot of energy guarding him at the other end. And McDyess is more of a guy who takes shots within the offense, he's not really a go-to guy at all. And with Wallace hitting for the first time all series, I suspect that had a lot to do with his lack of attempts. Still, two is far too few for him the way he's been playing.

Sidenote: Hamilton left Boston last night in a sling, apparently hurt his elbow in some way. He's questionable for G6 ... I'm going to guess that if he can put up a shot, he'll play. He's about as tough -- and as durable -- as anyone in the league.

 

And on top of everything else -- I really don't think any of this series matters much in the end, because I think L.A. is going to beat either one of these teams in six.

 

If I remember correctly, Garnett had eight points in the fourth and he also missed a few shots as well. By no means was KG great in that span, but the whole team was clearly off in the fourth quarter and he shot a few that he would normally pass up. But at the end of the third/into the fourth, Rip got hot, started scoring, and the Celtics began getting lazy (and tired?). Chauncey was clutch in the fourth. And some of those Rondo passes were ridiculously careless, as Doc said after the game.

The bench had nothing to do with the collapse? I disagree. If one of the backup PG's (House/Cassell) would contribute consistently, Rondo would have gotten some rest. Instead he played more than anyone else in the game. Did he and the others tire as the game progressed and would they have benefited from some rest? I think so. PJ Brown was terrible. Posey was the only guy who did anything, in stark contrast to the regular season when a wide variety of guys proved their worth. Meanwhile, Detroit saw Stuckey play another good game and Maxiel/Hunter/Ratliff did satisfactory jobs in their limited roles.

McDyess may not be a go-to guy, but he was hitting shots with alarming consistency. You ride a guy like that on the road. But still, it wasn't offense that lost the Pistons the game.

 

It's Gasol's play in this series why I can't say with full conviction that the Lakers are the best team.
He's so fucking soft inside, it's almost as if he's afraid of contact other men. Geez. Grow a pair, dude. The only reason I don't get more upset is because, long term, he's a great complement to Bynum on the front line. But short term -- i.e., this season's playoffs -- he doesn't do the job as a center. I'd throw Turiaf in there WITH Gasol to add some muscle and take Radmanovic out.

 

I don't feel like quoting all of the essays above, so a few quick things to point out/clear up: Tony Allen hurt his Achilles in practice two days ago and is possibly done for the postseason, though it's not anything serious. I knew something was up when I saw Scal suited up.

Hamilton might be tough and I expect him to play, but the fact that it's his shooting elbow would have me concerned.

I know you are just talking about last night Rube, but I don't think anyone can question whether Pierce wants to step up and make a play late in a big game.

As for Garnett, there was that one pass that was just ridiculous that gave all of the detractors more than enough ammo, but he still did score 33 and has been the most consistent player by miles for the C's in the postseason. Maybe he doesn't "take over" games the way many would want him to, but if you watch him play he never really "takes over." He gets most of his looks in the flow of the offense and the C's look the best when the ball is moving and not just sticking with one guy. Sure I'd love for him to grab the ball in the fourth quarter and just dunk over everyone, but it's not who he is. He still is a great player and 33 in a must-win is still 33 no matter what qualifiers anyone wants to put on it.

 

Horrific officiating sequence with approximately 10 minutes left in the 4th.
Duncan fouls Bryant, who was obviously going up to shoot and they said he wasn't in the act. Then Duncan gets away with an obvious push off on Gasol, who had inside position for the offensive rebound. Then Duncan is fouled on a dubious call.

That said, Jordan Farmar looks like he's trying to take over the game ... and doing a pretty damn good job at it. Lakers up 72-68 with 9:05 left.

 

Sidebar:

Should I send my old BBD and Boyz II Men CDs to TNT to get autographed?

How did the '90s music mogul make it to TNT hoops?

 

That was an acting job by Gasol on the Duncan "push."

Doesn't Barry have to just drive the hoop, throw up some shit and just give the refs a "You owe me" look?

 

Something tells me Anderson Varejao will need to hold out next season for more money as well:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3416579

I have no idea how they'll enforce this but I'm elated by it. Even if the enforcement is difficult to do, the fact that a guy will have to think twice before flopping out of fear of a fine will probably curb a lot of this BS.

 

Kobe is putting on an absolute clinic right now. The beauty is he's had to earn 'em; no gimme calls from the refs. Those who say the mid-range game is dead don't watch this guy work. Just an unparalleled collection of shots and tricks.