NBA Playoffs

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

...anyone else want to play along?

Here's some ideas:

http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

Tetris is one of my all-time favorites. Before you know it, the kids will be done with their tests and out the door, the hallways will clear out, and the janitors will lock all the doors. You'll never know where the time went...

Oh, ok, I'll play along with the NBA thing. Yep, I'd like to see the Suns/Bulls matchup, but I don't think the Bulls would have much of a chance. Besides, the Bulls need to get past Detroit first.

It would be interesting to see the reaction in Dallas if they don't make it past the first round. I wonder if the networks will show Mark Cuban's reaction live?

Another interesting tidbit I heard - the Lakers have not won a post-season series since Shaq left. Hmm...I thought I heard Kobe was the better player?...

[BBall_Junkie]

Good list. I would just move your number 3 to number 1. On second thought it should be number 1 and number 3.

[JugglingReferee]

Suns vs. Raptors final.

Is Nash doesn't get MVP again, can we get a breakdown of white/black voters and white/black candidates? Lah me...

(Uh-oh... that one might have been over the top.)

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Here's some ideas:

Another interesting tidbit I heard - the Lakers have not won a post-season series since Shaq left. Hmm...I thought I heard Kobe was the better player?...

Now this statement proves that you really don't watch the NBA. Kobe has never had anything close to D Wade or Alonzo Mourning as a supporting cast. The Florida Gators could probably beat the Lakers without Kobe.

Really random - while I watch Sportscenter.

I didn't know Tony Gwynn's son was in the majors.
Pete Sampras looks older, but he could probably still compete.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Now this statement proves that you really don't watch the NBA. Kobe has never had anything close to D Wade or Alonzo Mourning as a supporting cast. The Florida Gators could probably beat the Lakers without Kobe.

I couldn't find the smilie with the tongue in his cheek, so I was hoping the words alone would convey the slight hint of sarcasm. I don't think there's any doubt Kobe wanted Shaq out of town, so he could be "the man". However, he forgot that most NBA championship-caliber teams usually have 2 great players working together, not just one. Jordan and Pippen, Bird and Parrish, Magic and Kareem, Malone and Stockton (oops...never mind). But you know what I mean. I can't think of any "one man shows" that have ever won the championship. You almost always need at least that second great player.

Granted, I don't watch the NBA that often. But I will, on occasion, watch it this time of year (as long as the Cubs aren't on at the same time... )

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

I couldn't find the smilie with the tongue in his cheek, so I was hoping the words alone would convey the slight hint of sarcasm. I don't think there's any doubt Kobe wanted Shaq out of town, so he could be "the man". However, he forgot that most NBA championship-caliber teams usually have 2 great players working together, not just one. Jordan and Pippen, Bird and Parrish, Magic and Kareem, Malone and Stockton (oops...never mind). But you know what I mean. I can't think of any "one man shows" that have ever won the championship. You almost always need at least that second great player.

Granted, I don't watch the NBA that often. But I will, on occasion, watch it this time of year (as long as the Cubs aren't on at the same time... )

You said something about you thought you heard Kobe was the better player between Kobe and Shaq. I followed up by saying Kobe hasn't had anyone like Wade or Mourning (since Shaq left was assumed). I mentioned it being obvious that you don't watch the NBA because the Heat won their championship last year because of Wade and Mourning. Kobe's supporting cast is garbage and he got a bad rap (one of the reasons) because he couldn't get along with someone who yearly is still working himself into basketball shape when the playoffs start. Jordan didn't have that problem with Pippen, Magic didn't have that problem with Kareem and so on. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for Wade playing out of his mind, Mourning playing well in the fourth and Avery Johnson being a questionable coach Shaq wouldn't have won another ring.

BTW, Avery Johnson should get fired!

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by tomegun

You said something about you thought you heard Kobe was the better player between Kobe and Shaq. I followed up by saying Kobe hasn't had anyone like Wade or Mourning (since Shaq left was assumed). I mentioned it being obvious that you don't watch the NBA because the Heat won their championship last year because of Wade and Mourning. Kobe's supporting cast is garbage and he got a bad rap (one of the reasons) because he couldn't get along with someone who yearly is still working himself into basketball shape when the playoffs start. Jordan didn't have that problem with Pippen, Magic didn't have that problem with Kareem and so on. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for Wade playing out of his mind, Mourning playing well in the fourth and Avery Johnson being a questionable coach Shaq wouldn't have won another ring.

BTW, Avery Johnson should get fired!

I'm not sure we're entirely on opposite ends of this one. My Kobe comment was just directed at the fact he wanted to be the main attraction on the Lakers and seemingly not share the spotlight. However, almost all NBA rings are won with more than one superstar/Hall Of Famer/future HOF'er, etc. Having more than one doesn't guarantee a ring, but it doesn't seem like you can get that ring with only one. I know Shaq wouldn't win on the Lakers if he and Kobe switched places. The Lakers just don't have that second great player. The Heat did last year. Kobe got what he wanted (he's the only one in the spotlight), but because of that, he didn't get what he wanted (another championship). Is it entirely his fault? Probably not; he's not totally responsible for the players around him. But he is responsible for not having at least one other great player there.

[deecee]

Avery Johnson should get fired????? I can call you Fanboy now....

I guess its HIS fault that Dirk doesn't have that competitive fire that Jordan, Kobe, Bird, Magic had/have. He mailed it in after game 4 and game 5 was a fluke.

Its his fault that Golden State has MORE athletic players on the court who cal all dribble/shoot/and are lighting fast. The mavs dont have that big man like Biedrins/Pietrus/Harrington who are just athletic. Dirk yes but Diop no and they couldnt go with another small guy because then one of the warriors bigs would just kill them in the post.

Oh yeah -- the Warriors were on fire.....thats Avery's fault

Baron when healthy is one of the 10 if not 5 best in the league -- he can straight up get to the bucket
Richardson is a beast -- especially from outside -- OH and the guy can JAM
Jackson -- plays very hardnosed defense and is a good offensive option -- OH and he hit what like 7 3's
Harrington/Barnes/Pietrus/Biedrins -- 4 athletic big men who can cut/jump/rebound/shoot

OH and they like to run -- no matter how Dallas tried to slow the game down the Warriors wouldnt let them. they played a viscious zone and kept pushing the pace.

Avery cannot teach a team hunger.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by deecee

Baron when healthy is one of the 10 if not 5 best in the league -- he can straight up get to the bucket
Richardson is a beast -- especially from outside -- OH and the guy can JAM
Jackson -- plays very hardnosed defense and is a good offensive option -- OH and he hit what like 7 3's
Harrington/Barnes/Pietrus/Biedrins -- 4 athletic big men who can cut/jump/rebound/shoot

And yet, the Warriors finished 8th in the conference for a reason. They're not that good. They just happen to match up very well with Dallas. I'm not calling for the coach's head, but there has to have been more that he could've done to adjust. Not a good coaching job in this series, IMO. He got outcoached by his mentor.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

But he is responsible for not having at least one other great player there.

And how is he responsible for that? Are you talking about Shaq being that other player? He (Shaq) had his opportunity to be the other great player and he got fat! Even last season he was working his way into basketball shape right before the playoffs - that is idiotic.
The Heat did have two great players Wade and Mourning. Kobe was pissed because Shaq wasn't preparing to win. Can you blame him?

[Junker]

I don't watch much NBA anymore, but I was just reading that Stephen Jackson was thrown out of 2 games this series and was still able to play in game 6? Is that correct? How bad does a player have to be before he's really gone? It just kind of underlines why I won't watch that league.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by tomegun

And how is he responsible for that? Are you talking about Shaq being that other player? He (Shaq) had his opportunity to be the other great player and he got fat! Even last season he was working his way into basketball shape right before the playoffs - that is idiotic.
The Heat did have two great players Wade and Mourning. Kobe was pissed because Shaq wasn't preparing to win. Can you blame him?

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I was polishing my darts.

I don't think I'm any more than a casual NBA fan, so I don't know all the specific dynamics that went on between Shaq and Kobe. The impression I had was Kobe didn't want Shaq there, so Shaq found another team that did want him. Was it because he had grown lazy? Could be. Was it because Kobe wanted more limelight? That's my impression.

Since then, the results say: Shaq has another ring, Kobe has yet to win another post-season series. Again, just a (barely) casual fan's impression.

Now, where did I put my monogrammed blindfold?...