The NBA Thread

[RoyalFlush]

Seeing as there's one for the NFL I thought I'd start one up for the NBA (National Basketball Association, for those that don't already know :wink.

Now that the playoffs kick off on Saturday with the Cavs vs Wiz series (most people think the Wiz are most capable of causing an upset out of all the match-ups) I was wondering who people think will go all the way to the finals and win it. Personally I think Detroit have a strong outfit and have a really close team unit. I'm thinking another Pistons vs Spurs re-match but there are other franchises capable of causing an upset (Phoenix, Dallas, Miami, New Jersey). I think this is the most exciting playoffs for a long time, and it will be interesting to see who rises to the challenge and who will crumble.

Also any legit candidates on MVP? LeBron James is my pick. Without him the Cavs are nothing IMO and 50 wins with a mediocre roster is very impressive, and I think it's all thanks to LBJ. Any other names you think are in with a shout?

On a personal note I'm a Magic fan and have been impressed with the late run they produced near the end of the campaign. If only they put it together a little earlier, then we might have made it to the playoffs as well, but it wasn't to be. I think we'll be in with a shout next season with Dwight Howard and a lot of room with our salary cap. Any other franchises followed on this forum?

(N.B. Can any non-basketball fans try and prevent themselves spamming this thread, I'd like it to be clean and NBA-related. Thankyou. )

 

[DFF]

Spurs fan myself, no reason needed. Somehow we've managed assemble an even better team than we had last year. Finley being my favourite addition.

King James does make the Cavs a much better team, but even with him they're still weak defensively. However, they managed get in at that 4th seed in the East which is pretty good going. I might even go as far as to say The Wiz are favourites in that match-up. :?

No one wanted the dreaded 8th seed in the East and therefore having to come up against Detroit (4-3 haha, *cue celebratory dance*). But the Bucks are gonna get soundly beaten i'm afraid.

Of course you know the Spurs are gonna go all the way.....again. :wink:

 

[RoyalFlush]

However, they managed get in at that 4th seed in the East which is pretty good going.

I think this point is interesting. The different in depth and quality between the two conferences is huge. The West has so many better outfits than the East (Spurs, Mavs, Suns) whereas Detroit are really the only team running the flag for the East. So really I don't see it as a huge surprise that the Cavs managed 4th spot even though they leak a lot of points.

I too wouldn't be surprised if the Cavs went out first round. I'm not sure how LBJ will handle the post-season, this is his first playoffs, but if he performs well and leads the Cavs past the first round then I think he should definately be given the MVP award.

 

[DFF]

I'd put Miami (yes, i have a soft spot for them) up there with Detroit as a worthy team in the East. But apart from that, i'm struggling to find quality. NJ finished 3rd, so it's really no surprise Cavs managed a top 4 seeding, still not bad by their standards though. For the record, i actually want them to advance purely because i wanna see what LBJ's made of come crunch time.

I was glad to see the Clippers come on leaps and bounds this season, overhauling their inner-city rivals. Although, that wasn't really a big ask. Kobe made what could have been an embarrassing season into a passable one. One reason why i think he should have a shout in for MVP.

 

[RoyalFlush]

Kobe made what could have been an embarrassing season into a passable one. One reason why i think he should have a shout in for MVP.

Yeh fair point, I guess all the candidates (LBJ, KB, Nowitzi, Nash, Billups) have had huge influences on their respective teams, otherwise they wouldn't be mentioned for MVP. I think Kobe's 81 point game and his handful of 50-pointers gives him a huge boost, and if he guides the Lakers past the Suns (which I doubt he'll do) it will greatly improve his chances of winning the award.

Regarding Coach of the Year, the obvious choice would be Flip Saunders, but I think Avery Johnson has had an excellent regular season and has worked magic with the limited quality he has at his disposal. It all depends though on how the playoffs pan out, because this is the time where various teams' seasons are just beginning, and will reflect how good these sorts of teams (Dallas, Miami, NJ) can be when they consistently play against solid opposition.

 

[DFF]

Yeah, the 81 point game was spectacular. But when your teammates pass to you that much and you take that many shots, you're bound to put up those kind of numbers. Still a great achievement though.

Flip Saunders inherited a good team, so i'd be loathe to give it to him, even if they have looked like they've marginally improved. More so when they were chasing 70 wins. But i like Avery because of what he's done with the Mavs in such a short time. He's so unexperienced in coaching, yet he seems like a natural.

 

[RoyalFlush]

Mark Stein's Playoff Rankings

Here's an ESPN analysts' rankings of the playoff teams and how they compare when lined up. I find it interesting that NJ are placed at 5th, ahead of Miami who are 6th. I think in a series Miami would win IMO. They have more depth in their roster, whereas NJ's 'Big 3' (Carter, Kidd, Jefferson) and Kristic provide the only real backbone to their line-up. If any one of them 4 were to get injured during the playoffs I fear it will be the end of their season, whereas Miami have adequate replacements (Walker, Payton, Posey) to come and replace the likes of Wade, O'Neal and Williams if any of them were to get injured.

Also, Stein has decided to place Memphis as low as 13th out of the 16 teams, which I find surprising. I think Memphis have had a terrific season, with Gasol at the forefront of their success. When the likes of Chicago and Indiana ahead who only managed a .500 record in the regular season you start to wonder why the Grizzlies aren't placed higher. OK so they're not the best offensive team in the league, but they have one of the best defences in the L, and I think the series between themselves and Dallas will surprise a few people.

 

[furnish]

I am a Suns fan and and over the moon at the season so far. Without Amare i thought we would struggle for the playoffs but we have coped wel. Marion and Nash playing well and with players like Diaw (most improved player) finding their feet we have a good chance.

Against Lakers is going to be hard but i think in 6 we will get it. Spurs look good as do Detroit. Spurs v Mavs second round will be awesome, and hopefully they will tire so much the Suns can take the West final.

Nash for 2 time MVP, other than him i don't know who else. Bron is good/god but isn't deserving of the MVP yet, Kobe is awesome to watch but is no way near the complete player you have to be to be MVP and no one else is really up there.

A good season all round, Chris Paul was great (ROY) and the Magic look good with their young players.

 

[deathtoarsenal]

DFF - When did you pick your teams to follow in NBA and NFL? Seems to me that you have gone for glory by picking (what was last year) some of the best teams, in Philly and San Antonio. Or do you have some link to Philly and just picked the Spurs coz of the name? Answers on a postcard please. :wink:

 

[werty]

does allen iverson still play with philly? He sued to be my favourite player. Is he still any good?

 

[deathtoarsenal]

Yes he does and yes he is. Well basketball is not my subject area or interest but I think he's still pretty damn good. But when I mentioned Philly in my post I meant the Eagles NFL team.

 

[DFF]

DFF - When did you pick your teams to follow in NBA and NFL? Seems to me that you have gone for glory by picking (what was last year) some of the best teams, in Philly and San Antonio. Or do you have some link to Philly and just picked the Spurs coz of the name? Answers on a postcard please. :wink:

Always looking to have a dig. :lol:

Yes, i support the Spurs because of the name. So as i said already, no reason needed.

Philly, just happeend to be the first NFL team i ever saw play, all be it on TV. It was years ago, before their run of Conference title games. Who were they playing? None other than the Redskins. I liked the way we played (DNabbhad an 'ellish game - legend. I think it was his rookie year :? ), much more entertaining than u scummy bastards. Don't remember the score, but i think we lost... :|

If you actually played good Football once in a while, i might be the one supporting the Redskins right now.

Now if i was a glory hunter, i would be supporting the Pats. :evil:

For the record, i hate them more than anyone else in the NFL, including the Redskins.

 

[DFF]

does allen iverson still play with philly? He sued to be my favourite player. Is he still any good?

Yes, he does unfortunately. Never going to win anything with them. Brought in Webber to try and bolster their team....still not good enough. If he wants win anything, he's gonna have to move. However, Philly would be stupid to let him go, although his stock is peaking at the moment.

 

[Stifler]

When I used to like Basketball, I disliked Iverson because he took every shot. It reminded me of my school basketball team, this one guy took a shot whenever he got the ball. Everyone used to praise him for being the top scorer, even though he scored every 3/10 shots. He would get 20pts from like 25 shots and I would get about 10 pts from 7 shots or something.

My favourite player used to be Robert Horry, I have no idea why.

 

[DFF]

When I used to like Basketball, I disliked Iverson because he took every shot. It reminded me of my school basketball team, this one guy took a shot whenever he got the ball. Everyone used to praise him for being the top scorer, even though he scored every 3/10 shots. He would get 20pts from like 25 shots and I would get about 10 pts from 7 shots or something.

My favourite player used to be Robert Horry, I have no idea why.

Because he's legend. He's always 'money' when it comes to the playoffs, and he's won the NBA Championship with 5 different teams. The latest being the Spurs.

 

[Stifler]

When I used to like Basketball, I disliked Iverson because he took every shot. It reminded me of my school basketball team, this one guy took a shot whenever he got the ball. Everyone used to praise him for being the top scorer, even though he scored every 3/10 shots. He would get 20pts from like 25 shots and I would get about 10 pts from 7 shots or something.

My favourite player used to be Robert Horry, I have no idea why.

Because he's legend. He's always 'money' when it comes to the playoffs, and he's won the NBA Championship with 5 different teams. The latest being the Spurs.

I seem to remember him being very good at 3pointers from the corner. I watched him when he was at the Lakers.

 

[DFF]

When I used to like Basketball, I disliked Iverson because he took every shot. It reminded me of my school basketball team, this one guy took a shot whenever he got the ball. Everyone used to praise him for being the top scorer, even though he scored every 3/10 shots. He would get 20pts from like 25 shots and I would get about 10 pts from 7 shots or something.

My favourite player used to be Robert Horry, I have no idea why.

Because he's legend. He's always 'money' when it comes to the playoffs, and he's won the NBA Championship with 5 different teams. The latest being the Spurs.

I seem to remember him being very good at 3pointers from the corner. I watched him when he was at the Lakers.

Sorry, he's won it 6 times, with 3 different teams.

He's very good at 3's from pretty much anywhere apart from the top of D, where he's just good. :wink:

 

[yid0]

new jersey are briliant .... jason kidd and vince carter and richard jefferson

Most of all watch out for dwain wade....

Its the British Basketball finals this weekend, in birmingham, im going

 

[Trix]

I used to like the Sonics Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp quality going forward and at defence!

 

[RoyalFlush]

I'll try and keep everyone posted as to how the playoffs pan out over the next few weeks. Last weekend was the start of all series, and the only real surprise was the Pacers overcoming the Jets by a 'controversial' call with 0.9 seconds left to go, which sent the Pacers to the line and converted the game-winning free throws. Bryant had a pretty off night on Sunday in their 107-102 loss to the Suns, but coach Jackson claimed he was experimenting with other players to see how he should approach the remaining 6 games. A final note, LBJ had a playoff debut triple double against their win over the Wiz, which is just class. I said before that he deserves MVP, and those stats justify my opinion.

Match 1 of all 8 Series:

Washington 86 - 97 Cleveland

Chicago 106 - 111 Miami

Sacramento 88 - 122 San Antonio

Denver 87 - 89 LA Clippers

Indiana 90 - 88 New Jersey

Milwaukee 74 - 92 Detroit

LA Lakers 102 - 107 Phoenix

Memphis 93 - 103 Dallas

Match 2 runs across the next 3 games, so I'll post my next update then.