NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Exactly.
The key is to be solid in the scouting department and take some guys that can learn under the those three. You're not going to get anything high, but that doesn't mean you can't get quality. Look at Parker and Manu for christ's sake.
And you're right, he can't go all Ainge crazy -- and he won't because he has no money -- and if this team happens to fizzle out like, say, in a few days, then there's no reason to panic.
You should always go for the win now, and he's bought himself several more years in Boston so he's got to be sure to keep an eye on that future as well.

 

Umm yeah, never count the Spurs out. This team is pretty unbelievable. I don't really get the general disdain for them. I hate the flopping and whining in the NBA and they are probably one of the worst in the league in that department, but saying they're boring falls under what I was saying about the talking heads and the C's lack of experience. Watch the team play. Watch Ginobili and Parker and tell they are boring players. I think part of it comes from Duncan and Popovich not coming across as glamorous, but we always say we'd rather athletes and coaches that aren't all "look at me" and rather those that shut up and play. That's what this team does... and win.

 

I'm pretty sure Bostonbred will enjoy this, but I'm guessing most with an appreciation for NBA history will as well. I can't tell what exactly this was filmed for and if it's just a part of a longer interview, but anyways pretty cool little feature with Russell and Garnett.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3390456&categoryId=2459788&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1&univLogin02=stateChanged

 

Road teams: 1-14 this round. Something like 15-41 overall in the playoffs. That is all.

 

I'm not sure the severity of Kobe's injury, but Barkley, as usual, had a great line last night, something along the lines of "If his back is hurting, it was only hurting him on defense."

I thought this would be a great series, but after the first two games I wasn't as convinced. Now it looks like that one will go seven. Williams and Boozer is easily the most underrated duo in the league.

 

I don't know if this one goes seven. I think LA takes Game 5 and eeks one out in Utah in six. Nothing against Utah, I think they're a fine team, but it wasn't like the Jazz buried LA in three and four. Both were pretty tight games and one was in overtime. I think obviously they've gained some momentum, but I don't think the tide's changed here by any means.

 

I get the hate, I guess ... although I'm not one that hates them. Usually, a team that wins all the damn time seems to draw the ire of most of the country. People hated the Patriots, too, even before it was revealed that Belechick was a damned dirty cheater.

I guess the Spurs do whine a lot ... but guess what? That's just the NBA now. After watching this series close-up, I think Chris Paul whines more than any human being on the damn planet. He's actually whined about calls he's gotten.

It doesn't make me hate him, at least not as much as punching Julius Hodge in the nuts did.

 

The whining and flopping in the league is an epidemic right now, and I don't think that's an exaggeration. It's to the point where it's one of the first things casual sports fans cite when dumping on the league. Right now there is an almost unprecedented amount of great players and most generally seem to be decent guys and yet something as dumb as this is making the game less watchable. It might not seem as important as the dress code or wearing iPods in warm-up commish, but maybe it's time you stepped in and did something about this.

 

I'd put momentum right up there with experience. Any momentum will be long gone by the time they play G5... which is when, sometime next month? The only momentum is that now the Jazz probably have more confidence, but I'm not expecting Kobe or Fisher or any of those guys to start doubting themselves because they lost two tough games. I think the Lakers win G5, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Utah force a G7. I really like Utah and was disappointed when it looked they weren't going to put up a fight. Now that they have I'm satisfied.

 

The C's are set up for years to come. I believe Ray Allens salary comes off the book in 2 years (max salary guy) the same year LeBron is a FA. Three years from now Pierces contract ends, and Garnetts in 4 years.....

 

I think you put it well when you tied momentum into team confidence. I think most of that has to do with a team's overall mental toughness. And I suppose experience can be thrown in there to for the most part.
I was just trying to say that it wasn't like Utah pulled a San Antonio. When we looked at that series last week when the Spurs were down 0-2, you thought, wow -- they're in deep shit right here. But now, I'd have to say they'll take this in six.
Utah's obviously not on the same level of San Antonio, but neither is LA in my opinion.

 

How amazing would it be for the Celtics to win four seven-games series to win the NBA finals by being perfect at home, miserable in the road? Won't happen, but that would be something else.