NBA Thread

[Monkey_Driven]

I see one of two scenarios:

1) This team is older and playing 100 games for 3 straight seasons has started to take its toll on the team, specifically some of the older veterans. Constantly playing teams at their best while playing such a frenetic defensive style has caused both physical and mental fatigue.
Other teams are starting to figure them out, beating them in the post and on offensive sets that do not include many pick and rolls. On defense they are forcing Miami to beat them with long mid range shots.

2) They are on total cruise control. They know exactly what it takes to get to the final rounds of the playoffs and they are just doing the bare minimum, similar to the Lakers in the third year of their 3 peat in the early 2000's.
They will probably go far in the playoffs, but you are right. There is cause for concern.

Agreed. I feel like they're mostly on cruise control, but I do worry that when they flip the switch they're going to discover that they simply aren't as good as they were last year. Even if that's true, though, they could still win the whole thing.

Also, the hidden downside of letting the Pacers take the 1 seed is that they basically just got a first round bye, and beating the Hawks might give them some confidence and help them get back on the same page. I wouldn't have been surprised if Washington or Charlotte put a good scare into them, but oh well.

The first round will be a breeze. I didn't realize they are going to be the 2 seed until about 3 minutes ago.

[Monkey_Driven]

First Round Predictions:

East
Indy over Atlanta in 4-2
Miami over Charlotte 4-1
Brooklyn over Toronto 4-3
Chicago over Washington 4-2

West
San Antonio over Dallas 4-2
OKC over Memphis 4-1
LA Clippers over Golden State 4-3
Houston over Portland 4-3

Let's do this...

[Lament]

Indiana over Atlanta, 4-1
Miami over Charlotte, 4-0
Toronto over Brooklyn, 4-3
Chicago over Washington, 4-2

San Antonio over Dallas, 4-1
Memphis over Oklahoma City, 4-3
Los Angeles over Golden State, 4-2
Houston over Portland, 4-2
_______________________________________
Indiana over Chicago, 4-2
Miami over Toronto, 4-1

San Antonio over Houston, 4-1
Memphis over Los Angeles, 4-3
_______________________________________
Miami over Indiana, 4-3
San Antonio over Memphis, 4-2
_______________________________________
San Antonio over Miami, 4-2


It will be amazing to look back at this in two months and see how unbelievably wrong I was.

[gems and rhinestones]

Indiana over Atlanta, 4-2
Miami over Charlotte, 4-1
Brooklyn over Toronto, 4-3
Washington over Chicago, 4-3

San Antonio over Dallas, 4-1
Memphis over Oklahoma City, 4-3
Los Angeles over Golden State, 4-1
Houston over Portland, 4-3
_______________________________________
Indiana over Washington, 4-2
Miami over Brooklyn, 4-2

Houston over San Antonio, 4-3
Memphis over Los Angeles, 4-2
_______________________________________
Miami over Indiana, 4-0
Houston over Memphis, 4-0
_______________________________________
Houston over Miami, 4-2


It will be amazing to look back at this in two months and see how unbelievably right I was.

[klehtun]

no way nets/raps goin 7

[Bammer]

no way nets/raps goin 7

Agreed. T-Ross leads the raps to a sweep.

[4/5]

Miami over Charlotte 4-1
Chicago over Washington 4-2
Indy over Atlanta 4-1
Toronto over Nets 4-2

OKC over Memphis 4-1 (every game will be really close, though)
LAC over Golden State 4-2
San Antonio over Dallas 4-0
Houston over Portland 4-2

------
Miami over Toronto 4-1
Chicago over Indy 4-3 (toss up)

OKC over LAC 4-2
San Antonio over Houston 4-2

---

Miami over Chicago 4-1
OKC over San Antonio 4-2

---

Miami over OKC 4-2

[gems and rhinestones]

no way nets/raps goin 7

Agreed. T-Ross leads the raps to a sweep.

nets may sweep the raptors

[gems and rhinestones]

Indiana right now has to be playing the worst of any number 1 seed ever. I'm not sure they could win a 7 game series with any team in the NBA. I could see the 76ers getting them in 6 games at this point.

[Monkey_Driven]

Rockets/Blazers is going to a great.

[verb_to_trust]

I hate it when teams try on defense in the postseason. The Bulls tryhardiness just isn't enough when teams start playing D...

[Lament]

THAT KEVIN DURANT FALLING OUT OF BOUNDS THREE POINTER. WHAT THE FUCK? I CAN'T EVEN...

[psychobain]

THAT KEVIN DURANT FALLING OUT OF BOUNDS THREE POINTER. WHAT THE FUCK? I CAN'T EVEN...

epic??

[Lament]

What was amazing was how pretty it was. The arc and rotation were beautiful.

[4/5]

Kevin Durant

[Monkey_Driven]

That was about as ridiculous as ridiculous can get.

[EJ]

That was about as ridiculous as ridiculous can get.

It was. Glad Memphis won that game though.

On another note - does the OKC arena pack the seats closer to the court than any other in the NBA? Its so odd watching their games on tv. Great for the fans and team. Unfortunately for tv viewers, there's a consistently high percentage of sloth in their audience.

[Monkey_Driven]

That was about as ridiculous as ridiculous can get.

It was. Glad Memphis won that game though.

On another note - does the OKC arena pack the seats closer to the court than any other in the NBA? Its so odd watching their games on tv. Great for the fans and team. Unfortunately for tv viewers, there's a consistently high percentage of sloth in their audience.

I think it is just the angle of the camera. It seems lower to the floor than other arenas.

[Monkey_Driven]

Uh oh Rockets.

[verb_to_trust]

Hibbert's stat line from tonight is hilarious