NBA Playoffs Thread

Will the Hawks break 70?

 

Probably a tradition that was encouraged to expand based on the fact that they knew more TV presence was going to be available to get the money shot. Just a guess.

 

Also, baseball has always had fewer rounds of playoffs, so a win seemed more monumental, even after they added a round?

 

Why?

 

Tough for a young team, even one as talented and well-coached as the Bulls, to have an answer for both Wade and James in a seven-game series.

The stars are aligned for Miami to take it all. But I'm starting to think that Dallas winning it as Nowitzki's last (OK, only) hurrah would be pretty cool.

 

I hardly think the Bulls will just walk through the Heat, but I don't understand how a team that went 0-3 against its opponent in the regular season and was in general quite bad against good teams is all of a sudden the heavy favorite.

 

Magic hugged Kareem after winning the first game of the season.

Jordan's celebration after a first-round win over Craig Ehlo and the Cavs is legendary.

Baseball teams pile on each other and break out the champagne after winning a pennant . . . and even a division.

Can you honestly draw the line between, "Ah, that's a championship celebration" and "Hmmmm, that's a second-round celebration."

Are we really going to split hairs that much to nitpick every little thing in a desperate attempt to find fault?

 

If the Heat had closed out the Celtics the same way the Bulls closed out the Heat, on the road with no drama, they would have acted like the Bulls did. They closed them out at home with a spectacular 16-0 run.

 

And Kareem all but slapped him and told him to calm the fuck down.

Because it was the deciding game and the Bulls were trailing when Jordan hit his shot. The Heat won in five.

It's tradition in baseball. And teams go batshit in hockey after winning an OT playoff game. That's not how it is in basketball. IATS.

Yes. As can (almost) anyone familiar with the sports in question.

 

I actually like the Bulls matchup against the Heat and here is why - I think the Bulls can defend Lebron James and Dwayne Wade without straining or overextending themselves and if you can do that, you can beat the Heat.

I also think the Bulls should have an advantage off the glass and I'm really not close to 100 percent convinced that the best player in the series plays for the Heat.