NBA '08 Playoff Thread

OK, we're going to have to agree to disagree cuz this is just going to go in circles.
I'm right, you're wrong and we'll just leave it at that.

 

I guess nafselon doesn't remember the rumblings in Orlando regarding Shaq and Hardaway not getting along. Something about "being the man." Of course, the national media didn't latch on because A. It was Orlando, and B. A dude named Jordan was doing the comeback/win 72 games thing.

Shaquille O'Neal is all about Shaquille O'Neal. Look at how he left Miami. And his statements in Phoenix: Oh, NOW Shaq's "motivated" so watch out, NBA!

Sure, Kobe is selfish; many of the great ones are, including Jordan. But it is way off base to pin the Lakers' demise on him. Shaq wanted the spotlight, and he did what he could to make sure they needed a bigger spotlight every year.

The Lakers clearly made the right decision, because they lack a $20 million a year, 10 points, 10 rebounds, overweight albatross on their salary cap right now.

As for Kobe making guys better . . . . . how many of the Bulls remained close to horseshit throughout the first threepeat title run? How about every big man not named Horace Grant, and every guard not named Paxson (BJ Armstrong was a three-point jacker-upper, nothing more). Jordan and Pippen covered a multitude of sins. Scott Williams, Will Perdue, Cartwright . . . six fouls apiece, and little else.

Then Jordan came back to a ready-made team that was a 50-game winner without him. Those were very good Bulls teams; how much do you attribute to Jordan?

Heck, put Christ Himself in a Lakers jersey, and see if he makes Smush Parker and Kwame Brown become viable NBA players. My guess is no. Meanwhile, gee, looks like Walton, Farmar, Bynum, Turiaf, Vujacic, have managed to improve quite a bit and find their roles within the team. Now they're worth passing to.

Also: I agree that Kobe would not have the impact Paul has on the Hornets. And Chris Paul's talents would be wasted in the Triangle. Good thing none of that matters.

 

You've seen the Pistons play right? They think everything is going to be easy until someone slaps them in the face.
Consider their faces officially slapped.

 

Agreed, I'd be shocked if the Pistons didn't win this series 4-1, now. That said, it's not a good sign when a team thinks it can turn it on and off in the postseason, especially since the 76ers came in to the playoffs as hot as they did.

 

No Celtic choke in Game 1 ... they took care of business as expected.

On a side note, I'm a bit surprised AND disappointed that we haven't heard from BostonBred yet -- informing us to keep our eye on an underrated nacho vendor in an upper deck section of the TD Garden, thus proving that the Celtics are more than just the Big Three.

Only messing of course, solid win for the Beantowners.

 

Go Celtics. That is all.

 

You like the Celtics and the Yankees? Wow. Way to go out on a limb, 'Gola.

 

Shouldn't a Yankees fan hate everything Boston?

 

You would think ...

 

It's impossible to compare a 5-10, 160 player with Jordan because Jordan's size allows him to do things Iverson would never be able to do. That's where the comparison starts.

I thought he explained it well when he related it to boxing.

 

The Suns need to stop Ginobili during crunch time. Whenever the Spurs needed a hoop, he got it.
And much too easily.

 

I believe that great gallon drum of Fail that is the Knicks may account for this anomaly.