NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Ha! That would require Mike Brown to have a clue how to coach an offense.

 

Andddd Pierce and Allen will certainly score much more than four points in every game too. This was a fluky game. The Celtics needed to win. They did. The fashion police can come out and say it's wasn't pretty enough, but bottom line is it's 1-0.

 

True, but he's going to have to work his ass off to get points in this series. That's one of the best defensive schemes I've ever seen put on LeBron and easily the best since the Finals last year. He's at his best when he can find seams toward the basket, but other than a couple drives, he had NO ROOM to work with. When he can't attack the basket, he's not nearly as effective mixing in jump shots. That's great work by Boston.

Equally as impressive was the Celtics' ability to shut off the Cavs' secondary options. The Cavs torched Washington with shots from Gibson, Wally and Delonte West, and none of them got a whole lot of clean looks from the perimeter tonight.

Still, if the Cavs can come THAT close to winning a road game with LeBron, for all intents and purposes, crapping the bed, I like their chances of stealing a game in Beantown in this series.

 

Yep. The Cavs have to win the ones they have a chance to win against these Celtics. They can't leave them on the floor. Can't let one slip through your fingers against Boston and expect to make up for it the next day.

 

Almost reminds me of Game 6 in the 2006 Eastern semis against Detroit. You just knew that was bad news that they couldn't pull that one out. Granted that was a chance to eliminate the Pistons, but still, it's the same premise. You're the underdog, so you can miss when you have your shot.

 

If they can turn James into a jump shooter the Celtics will win this series easily. He might hit 15 one game, and Rivers would still be happy. Anytime he is not attacking the basket he is letting the opponent off the hook. The fact he's a 31% 3-point shooter this year (32% career) and continues to fire away only makes the strategy that much more effective.

I expect to see him much more aggressive next game. He'll probably get to the line 20 times. If he becomes content to settle for jumpers the Cavs will be in trouble. Tonight the problem was more with his inability to finish, which is NEVER a problem for him.

 

Lakers take a 2-0 series lead after defeating Utah 120-110 in Game 2 on Wednesday night in L.A.
The Lakers look too deep and too quick for Utah, which only seems to be able to play well in spurts against the Lakrs.
However, the series isn't over as Deron Williams showed some signs of coming out of his mini-slump. Plus, things are always much tougher in Utah, where the series' next two games will be taking place.

 

Didn't see any of the game, Tripp.

Boozer take the night off?

 

Can't ever go wrong with TNT analysis ... and especially Craig Sager suits.

 

He doesn't look like he's healthy. Looks a little overwhelmed by the Lakers' size in the frontcourt (which is pretty scary considering that it's only going to get worse for teams next season when Bynum returns). I think Williams is the key. He was not aggressive until the fourth quarter. If he gets aggressive, he can set the tempo and maybe get Boozer into the flow.
But the Lakers' depth is a huge advantage. The beginning is usually close, and then when the Lakers bring in Farmar, Vujacic, Turiaf and Walton and Utah doesn't really counter, you can see the Lakers take advantage of that energy level. I know Utah is very tough to play at, but the Lakers had some success there this season and seem VERY focused (not KG focused, but close hahaha) on the task at hand.

 

This year's playoffs have been very boring so far - few good, close games. Hell, most of this thread has been Lakers and Celtics fans bickering back-and-forth with each other. I really hope the games get better.

 

If NO and LA meet in the next round, I'm hoping a classic seven-game series where 76-72 is the score in the middle of the third quarter.

If half rooting for New Orleans because they were not an anointed team by ESPN a few months ago.