NBA Playoffs Thread

And triple OT.

 

How unreal would this series be if it were Seattle v. Vancouver?

 

It would be a hell of a lot of fun, that's for sure.

 

Saw this just in time for the end. Lookks grim for the Grizz down 6. Thanks thread.

 

Read much? Where do I say that Jordan is typical of class? Try again.

You can think whatever you like but your rationale fails. Like others say, send a message when you still have a chance to win the series. Why should the backups do anything for the consideration of the Lakers anyways? Barea already took a cheap shot from Artest, or did you forget that?

If you watched pro basketball, you would understand that there is a right way to give a hard foul (at least pretend to make a play on the ball then take the guy down) and a pure and simple cheap shot (see Bynum.) You're failure to understand the difference is what is enlightening.

 

As fantastic a player as Westbrook is, I would be as frustrated as Durant playing with him. Westbrook does 1 of 2 things, he either makes a fabulous individual play that either leads to him scoring, getting fouled, or a spectacular pass, or he makes a passive pass and gets out of the way.

Westbrook at the end of the 4th did almost nothing to look for Durant except on a dish on a drive. How about focusing on getting Durant the ball in a spot where Durant likes it at least a few times?

As Fratello said, after Durant sank the 30 ft for 3, Durant was so frustrated that he was going to jack up anything once he got the ball.

If OKC pulls this out, I believe that the Mavs will have enough D to smother the Westbrook/Durant combo.

Grizz can still win if somehow either Conley or Mayo find the range. Why Tony Allen thinks he's an offensive threat one on one boggles the mind. Doesn't he watch how Battier picks his spots but primarily focuses on getting the ball to the post? That's how you become a defensive fixture with longevity in the game.

 

Stupid. This whole post reeks of stupidity. Bynum is not tough. He's a punk (see: Beasley, Michael, for further evidence). He couldn't care less about winning. And Barea's been busting the Lakers' ass all series. He's not a "pest"; he's a legit point guard who made Bynum and the Lakers look foolish time and time again. It was not "piling it on", either.

Do YOU watch pro basketball? Or are you just an Andrew Bynum fanboi?

 

This isn't really about the 'retarded' comment.
Just watching that video of those two jackasses sitting up there with those looks on their faces, choosing not to do the obligated press conferences like everyday joes and, instead, keeping those sheepish looks on their faces and surely feeling all entitled and refusing to just answer the questions....Gosh, I'm glad I don't have to deal with people with shit-headed attitudes like they've got during that presser. Too many pro athletes are shit-heads.
Note to those two: check out some video of Antonio McDyess. That's a humble millionaire. And there's some more scattered around the league. Dirk's one of them.
I sure hope Dallas tears their asses up in the Finals.
Those guys really stink.

 

No, first off, I think being up 30 and taking it inside is the textbook definition of piling it on. And, I'll say it again, I applaud the move, because the winning team shouldn't have to change how it plays based on the (pathetic) performance of its opponent. However, I think the team needs to realize its risking the possibility of seriously pissing the opponent off. Its like the 2007 Patriots. I got so fed up with people crying foul whenever they ran the score up on their opponents that I actually found myself rooting for blowouts. But if an inferior team got upset, took exception, and blew out Brady's knee, I wouldn't blame them. These are professionals, and they have the right to rub it in whenever they can. But if you aren't prepared to accept the consequences -- whether they are classless or not -- then maybe you need to find another line of work.

And I'm sorry, but Barea's a pest. And he's annoying. If that makes me a fanboi of Bynum, the Lakers, or anyone else, so be it (and by the way, kudos for the use of 'fanboi' -- it was never funny when it was original 10 years ago, and it certainly isn't now). And my post reeks of stupidity? It's amusing to read that when it's followed by "He couldn't care less about winning." If you watched the Lakers' short, uninspired playoff run, you'd probably recognize that Bynum brought far more consistent intensity than, as I said, anyone on the team besides Kobe. And why does someone make a move in frustration a la the elbow to Barea? Usually because they are upset about losing. I'll try and emphasize my point in your ironic Web lingo: Your response = epic fail. (Is that the right use?)

[quote author=qtlaw]
Read much? Where do I say that Jordan is typical of class? Try again.

If you watched pro basketball, you would understand that there is a right way to give a hard foul (at least pretend to make a play on the ball then take the guy down) and a pure and simple cheap shot (see Bynum.) You're failure to understand the difference is what is enlightening." [/quote]

You essentially call Bynum a classless cheap shot artist, then contrast him with examples of Russell, Bird, and, yes, Jordan. Excuse me for reading between the lines. I'll remember not to use those handy reading comprehension skills they taught us in grammar school when I "try again."

And as for your views on hard fouls vs. cheap shots, let me get this straight. If Bynum had "made a play on the ball" then "accidentally" swung his fist down on Barea's head or neck, that's totally cool, but since he chose not to attempt a disguise of his intentions, he's a punk? Enlightening.

The only thing I'll concede to you guys is that I didn't flesh out my thoughts on the play as well as I should have. When I said "I'm not going to defend Bynum's elbow," I mean that I agree that it was a pretty classless move. But I'm also not one to view the world as clear cut and black and white in all circumstances. It was a move in frustration, and while it demonstrated how NOT to lose with dignity, it did display that Bynum actually gave a shit about the game. And these aren't mindless zombies out there. If you honestly believe that J.J. Barea is no more annoying or no more of a pest than any other player on the Mavs' roster, then we're simply at an impasse. Sure, being the recipient of two cheap shots this series was indicative of the Lakers' immature handling of adversity, but I doubt it was a coincidence that Barea was the target in both instances. If the elbows were purely based on getting torched on the defensive end, then why didn't Terry or Stojakovic receive such treatment?

Oh, and I apologize for the smugness. I realize that I've got some asshole-ish remarks here and there in this response, and while I think it's part of the fun, I'm done (at least for this topic). I pretty much hate myself in the rare instances when I resort to the 'Do you even watch (sport)' defense, so I've already ceded the higher ground on decorum in this thread. And since I'm a temperamental dick, I'm sure this won't be the last time I resort to being smug, but for now I'll play nicer (though I'm not changing my stance on Barea ).

 

You essentially call Bynum a classless cheap shot artist, then contrast him with examples of Russell, Bird, and, yes, Jordan. Excuse me for reading between the lines. I'll remember not to use those handy reading comprehension skills they taught us in grammar school when I "try again."

And as for your views on hard fouls vs. cheap shots, let me get this straight. If Bynum had "made a play on the ball" then "accidentally" swung his fist down on Barea's head or neck, that's totally cool, but since he chose not to attempt a disguise of his intentions, he's a punk? Enlightening.

The only thing I'll concede to you guys is that I didn't flesh out my thoughts on the play as well as I should have. When I said "I'm not going to defend Bynum's elbow," I mean that I agree that it was a pretty classless move. But I'm also not one to view the world as clear cut and black and white in all circumstances. It was a move in frustration, and while it demonstrated how NOT to lose with dignity, it did display that Bynum actually gave a shit about the game. And these aren't mindless zombies out there. If you honestly believe that J.J. Barea is no more annoying or no more of a pest than any other player on the Mavs' roster, then we're simply at an impasse. Sure, being the recipient of two cheap shots this series was indicative of the Lakers' immature handling of adversity, but I doubt it was a coincidence that Barea was the target in both instances. If the elbows were purely based on getting torched on the defensive end, then why didn't Terry or Stojakovic receive such treatment?

Oh, and I apologize for the smugness. I realize that I've got some asshole-ish remarks here and there in this response, and while I think it's part of the fun, I'm done (at least for this topic). I pretty much hate myself in the rare instances when I resort to the 'Do you even watch (sport)' defense, so I've already ceded the higher ground on decorum in this thread. And since I'm a temperamental dick, I'm sure this won't be the last time I resort to being smug, but for now I'll play nicer (though I'm not changing my stance on Barea ).
[/quote]

Wait, taking it inside when you're up 30 is piling on? I don't know what unwritten sportsmanship book that comes from, honestly. Now, it's one thing if you take it inside, dunk, glare at the opponent, beat your chest, jump on the scorer's table and pose, etc., etc. But if you take a layup because the defense gives it to you, you have done absolutely nothing to show the other team up or pile it on, ESPECIALLY if you are a second-teamer.

That's almost like saying if you are up 10-0 in the 9th, you are supposed to leave the bat on you shoulders while the other pitcher lobs strikes by you. No, you keep swinging the bat. You don't, however, try to stretch your double to a triple. You don't show them up with some posing while rounding the bases if you jack it across the street. You don't bunt for a hit.

To me that's all Barea was doing. He was swinging the bat up 10-0 in the 9th. He wasn't bunting for a hit. He wasn't going too slow around the bases after slamming it into the upper deck.

There was NOTHING Barea did that resembled "piling it on" or "showing them up."

 

You essentially call Bynum a classless cheap shot artist, then contrast him with examples of Russell, Bird, and, yes, Jordan. Excuse me for reading between the lines. I'll remember not to use those handy reading comprehension skills they taught us in grammar school when I "try again."

And as for your views on hard fouls vs. cheap shots, let me get this straight. If Bynum had "made a play on the ball" then "accidentally" swung his fist down on Barea's head or neck, that's totally cool, but since he chose not to attempt a disguise of his intentions, he's a punk? Enlightening.

The only thing I'll concede to you guys is that I didn't flesh out my thoughts on the play as well as I should have. When I said "I'm not going to defend Bynum's elbow," I mean that I agree that it was a pretty classless move. But I'm also not one to view the world as clear cut and black and white in all circumstances. It was a move in frustration, and while it demonstrated how NOT to lose with dignity, it did display that Bynum actually gave a shit about the game. And these aren't mindless zombies out there. If you honestly believe that J.J. Barea is no more annoying or no more of a pest than any other player on the Mavs' roster, then we're simply at an impasse. Sure, being the recipient of two cheap shots this series was indicative of the Lakers' immature handling of adversity, but I doubt it was a coincidence that Barea was the target in both instances. If the elbows were purely based on getting torched on the defensive end, then why didn't Terry or Stojakovic receive such treatment?

Oh, and I apologize for the smugness. I realize that I've got some asshole-ish remarks here and there in this response, and while I think it's part of the fun, I'm done (at least for this topic). I pretty much hate myself in the rare instances when I resort to the 'Do you even watch (sport)' defense, so I've already ceded the higher ground on decorum in this thread. And since I'm a temperamental dick, I'm sure this won't be the last time I resort to being smug, but for now I'll play nicer (though I'm not changing my stance on Barea ).
[/quote]

The bottom line message I get from you is, "you're a pest because you're still trying when I have lost" and being a pest means I get to take a cheap shot at you. Got it. That's not acceptable, and not good sportsmanship.

Bynum cares? If he really cared, he'd have kept trying to the very end, scoring 35 in a losing effort. No, he gave up and took the easy way out and you applaud him for it. Your views are crystal clear.