NBA '08 Playoff Thread

I think we all saw this coming -- LeBron James still hasn't had a great shooting night (which HAS to scare Boston fans), but he's been tremendous in the penetration and kick game, as well as defensively. The Celtics never showed up, and that's another thing that has to have Bostonbred and Boobie scratching their heads. I highly doubt it was a matter of them thinking Cleveland would lie down for them, but I mean come on -- you've got a shot to bury this group and you just never get off the bus.
Rondo was non-existent, Allen sucked again and Pierce has only put up eight shots.
It's playoff experience and a playoff mentality -- and, sorry to say, but this team really has neither.

 

Maybe it's the Cavs fanboi in me, but I think if Cleveland can win Game 4, this series is going 7. Boston will win, because I don't think either team is capable of winning on the other teams' court.

If the Cavs lose Game 4, though, this one is over in 5 for the same reason why it would go 7 if they were to win Monday.

 

When who nearly did what now?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-bianchi1108may11,0,2007707.column

What the heck is this all about?

 

Am I concerned? Yes. I'd call Monday's game the most important of the season. If the C's win they close out in 5. If they lose, not only do they put themselves in a tough spot for this series, but you really have to have doubts going forward.

As for the experience thing I don't think there is a more overrated and misinformed theory out there. Career playoff games:
R. Allen: 47, Pierce: 47; Garnett: 57; Posey: 44, Cassell: 125, Brown: 90. Now these guys have had varying degrees of success, but that was largely related to their supporting casts. None of them ever had a championship caliber team, unless you want to say Garnett, Cassell and Sprewell were, though I don't think they were better than LA. Admittedly the other rotation guys, Rondo, Perkins and Powe have very little playoff experience, but that's the case with most teams. Cleveland made one run last year, but for the most part their rotation is no more or less experienced than Boston's. The Celtics just didn't play well last night, and they didn't play well in Atlanta. There are a number of reasons why this is the case, though I just don't put experience that high on the list.

 

Nothing "overrated" about playoff experience.

Yay, those Celtics have played in many games. How many in the later rounds? How many under the biggest lights?

Getting to the playoffs and losing in the first or second round almost every time out doesn't constitute quality playoff experience. It means you did the same "experience" again and again.

 

It also might show that the Celtics have a lot of old legs, and the seven games they played against Atlanta was the last thing they needed.

 

Boobie I'm not doubting that these guys haven't been to the playoffs before in separate cases. But they've never done it together ... Monday will be their 11th ever. Compare that to even Cleveland's core unit and it's not even close -- compare it to a Detroit or a San Antonio and it's laughable.
It's playing with each other and having complete confidence in each other in the rough times ... and we all can't be the 2006 Miami Heat -- who didn't have a whole lot together, but more than the current C's -- and have the officials hand us a title now can we?
I'm just saying that killer teams, championship teams, they win big ones on the road. San Antonio's done it, Detroit's done it, and hell, even the Heat did it. Boston hasn't -- yet.

 

I just don't see it as losing on the road necessarily is a result of "lack of experience." I don't think the C's and Cavs are much different at all. Wally, West, Smith and Wallace have even less experience playing with this group, because at least the C's (except Brown and Cassell) have had a whole season to get used to one another. The rest of their core basically has what, one long run together? Allen, Garnett and Pierce each have one long run under their belt, albeit separately. I don't care if they lose in the first round or win it all, these guys have playoff experience. If they always lose in the first round then maybe they're not capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs, but they aren't lacking in postseason experience.

I have no idea why they are playing so poorly on the road, but I definitely don't think it's because they're rattled. Everyone has no experience until the get some. Gibson had no experience last year and then stepped up in the biggest game of his life. LeBron went from a goat in the crunch in G1 against the Pistons last year to an all-time performance four games later. My point is it doesn't take that long to learn. These guys have played basketball their whole life at the highest levels in hundreds and thousands of pressure games. If a veteran team like this is losing I think it might be something other than a generality like lack of experience.

And of course they don't have as much experience as Detroit or San Antonio, but who does? It's unique to keep your core together the way those two have. By virtue of all the moves this offseason it'd be impossible for the C's to match them in that category. But if they do lose to them, or Cleveland, I just don't think it will come to experience.

 

And just so I'm not just shooting down a theory without offering my own, here's my earth-shattering explanation: it's really freaking hard to win on the road in the NBA playoffs, particularly as the rounds progress and the teams keep getting better. Utah and the Lakers haven't won on the other's floor. Same goes for San Antonio and New Orleans. Detroit was the only team to steal one on the opposition's court this round. I've said all along winning G3 on the road up 2-0 is maybe the toughest game to win. If the C's win G4 tomorrow they end it in G5 in Boston. If they lose things get dicey. But if they win would that put to bed this talk about a lack of experience?

 

Anyone think a game seven on a neutral floor would be interesting?

 

Derek Fisher is easily one of the most clutch players in the NBA. I can't remember the last time he took a big 3 and missed. He just seems to come up huge at important times.

 

This has been the best game of the playoffs since the first game between the Spurs and Suns. 108-108 with a little under five seconds to play.