NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Did you see the replay? Allen inbounded the ball, Cassell stood up top and waited for Allen to run off of three picks and then delivered the ball as soon he came off the third one. I'd say that looked like a play.

Now if you think it was the wrong play, you'll get no argument. There was so much time I don't see why they felt like they needed the 3. Typically Pierce would have the ball and penetrate there, but even without them why not get the ball into Garnett into the post. At the least you probably get a better look for Allen on a kick-out. Not sure why they rushed that shot/play and not sure why NBA teams always go for 3 when down two on the road.

 

Don't worry, he won't. And even if he does, no, it won't.

As far as the Celts go, I HAVE to think they win Game 7 by about 15. We saw what happened in Game 5, but then again, who knows. Atlanta was a tough draw for them on paper, and now that they've awoken, it's a reality.
Not to sound like a repetitive asshole here, but if Mike Bibby can show up one more time and give Joe Johnson room to breath -- this thing will be within five with under five in the fourth. Boston has no one who can stop him, and that includes Paul Pierce -- the most overrated man-up defender in the league.
Again, not to be a broken record Boston fanbois, but until you've been battle tested as a TEAM, this shit is going to happen. Detroit, Cleveland and hell, even Washington have slept through more playoff games than this Boston group has even appeared in together.

 

Funny thing is I think they match-up a million times better with Cleveland. Of course they have no one to lock down LeBron, but who does? I called you on it earlier in the thread, but you were right: the athleticism of the Hawks IS bothering the C's. (my apologies) Looking at the match-ups with Atlanta, the Hawks have the athleticism edge at every position except for PG. The Celtics have the better team, but that doesn't really matter, it just depends on who plays better on Sunday.

With Cleveland, I don't see any great athletes that are going to expose Boston. Z, Wally, Wallace (at this point), Gibson, West, Varejao (sp?)... I don't see any "plus-athletes" in that group.

 

No you're right, if Boston can get past this nightmare, on paper they should be able to get past the Cavs in about 5. But LeBron is an ultimate X-Factor. Detroit's had a better team than Cleveland hands down for the past two seasons and lost last year and should've lost the year before -- solely because of the way LeBron carries the show.
The Cavs problem is and always will be the fact that if LeBron happens to have an off night by his standards (25ish or so), then they'll always lose to a better team. You can't rely on guys like Wally and Daniel Gibson to carry you past a title contender if LeBron isn't dropping 35-45 a night.
No one's talking about the Orlando-Detroit series -- I think that thing could be pretty interesting. I'm a Pistons fanboi through and through, but knowing this bunch like I do, I'm not buying their bullshit about how they've finally decided to "turn it on." Orlando's dangerous -- could be a fun series to watch.

 

I guarantee 'Sheed gets ejected at some point in this series after doing something stupid or bitching after getting tired of getting dunked on by Howard. There's no way Orlando should win the series, but I see Howard having a BIG series.

 

Boy there's a solid bet. Orlando's problem with Detroit last year was that no one else did anything besides Howard. They're better this year, but I'm not the biggest Rashard Lewis fan in the world. He likes to disappear when it counts. And I do like Jameer Nelson at times, but Billups absolutely owns him just about every time they play. We'll see though.

 

Boobie, I should have been clearer: Rivers acted like that was not the play. Unless I was imagining that. If you want to argue Rivers drew up that play (looked like a play, no doubt about it), then blamed it on Allen, that's fine.

But the way Rivers reacted, it sure as heck looked like he was confused.

 

I've gone back and forth on the Cavs for a while, and wasn't totally enamored with the trade.

But rube, sorry, if Szczerbiak shoots 50% from 3, along with Gibson, then it DOES change the complexion of the East, completely. Can't double LeBron then, and if you do, Z, Szczerbiak and Gibson kill you.

Say all you want about Szczerbiak's D, but Butler ate him up a couple times in that series and the Cavs still won convincingly.

Boobie, I agree the Cavs don't have any overwhelmingly athletic guys, but they didn't last year, either. As rube said, if James plays well for four games out of 7, and if, like I guessed, Szczerbiak and Gibson can be on, then the Cavs are as good as -- if not better -- than the three teams seeded ahead of them.

EDIT: to say that I'm coming off like a fanboi, but I'm not trying to. Either way, it'll be interested to see what comes out of the East and if the winner can have anything left in the tank for the Finals.

 

Oh OK, maybe I misinterpreted then. Because that definitely was a play. I didn't see Rivers reaction to it.

As for the Cavs I wouldn't hold my breath on Wally. Obviously LeBron can and will take over enough to win at least a game or two against any team. With the C's they've done a better job taking away Johnson (who is clearly nowhere near the player LBJ is) the last two games, but other guys have stepped up. The Cavs would need to do the same and I'm just not impressed by their supporting cast.

All of that said this fanboi is far more concerned with just getting to Cleveland at this point.

 

Ok yeah, if two guys shoot over 50 percent from 3 then it changes things. But is that really going to happen?? If both those guys shoot over 50 percent from 3 for the remainder of the playoffs then they'll sweep their way to the NBA title. Which also won't happen.
Detroit and Boston won't straight up double LeBron, they'll try to keep him in front at the top and collapse on him -- but those two teams aren't Washington, they can recover and defend the three as good as anyone. It's called team defense. Detroit got burned by LeBron last year and Gibson made some big shots because of it, I'll agree. But to be honest with you, outside of about four or five playoff games over the last two seasons, Detroit has defended LeBron probably better than anyone else in the league. I normally rag on the Cavs a lot because I hate it when people act like they're a great team even without LeBron. But hey, they're dangerous as hell ... and THIS Pistons fanboi was pretty ok with the fact that Boston/Atlanta has to deal with him in Round 2.

 

No doubt. This would be the biggest upset in NBA history. There's a huge difference between the No. 8 seed in the West compared to the No. 8 seed in the East.

 

Oh yeah, big time. Especially with all the ridiculous hype level that handed them the trophy the day after they landed Garnett. This would be much worse than the Mavs nightmare. MUCH worse.