Hoops - NBA/Basketball Talk

[kskate2]

Bulls swept them in the regular season in 2011 3-0, but the playoffs is a different animal as we all saw how 2011 ECF played out when they had a healthy Rose.

 

[DarthFed]

Yeah I would not read too much into the sweep. Now OKC sweeping the Spurs is a different story come the Western finals if that's the matchup.

I also don't think the Nets will make the 2nd round to face Miami (and that's if Miami is the #1 seed). The Nets can and would challenge Miami but I don't think they'd win a best of 7. Pierce and KG do bring a little extra when they go up vs. Lebron but I don't think they'd pull it off at this point.

 

[the AntiPusher]

What is it about the Nets that bother the Heat so much? Nets sweep the season series. Plumlee becoming a player fast...

Muhat, Do you really think that the Nets can defeat a squad like Miami in a playoff series? Time will tell. I am sticking with LBJ, he is chasing greatness(Bird, Magic, Kobe, Jordan).

I honestly do not, but I did not expect Miami to lose ANY games against Nets either...now they have lost , what, 6 games in a row to them, including pre season. That is just weird. Also never underestimate a team with veteran players that KNOW they can beat you. I also believe , just like tennis, match-ups matter in basketball too. Nobody swept Miami in the last couple of seasons, now , Nets did. Also, Garnett and Lopez did not play. Lopez can be a handful under the basket which Miami is not as strong, and the presence of Garnett can make a bit of a difference.

I still would give the edge to Miami in a play off series but I do not believe all these Nets wins are flukes.

the wins by the Nets are not flukes but just a bit watered down, no Dwade for atleast 2 of the games

 

[DarthFed]

I saw the 2nd half of the Miami-Memphis game and Miami looks pretty bad at this point and they are playing Lebron a lot of minutes trying to eek out wins with little success. Suddenly Indy is in 1st place again, it's like neither team wants to be the #1 seed out East.

 

[kskate2]

Great win against Houston tonight by my Raps. Bulls and Raps are tied and fighting hard for the 3.rd spot in the east, which is huge. Nets can still clinch 3 as well.

It will go down to the wire Murat and Raps hold the tie.

Bulls last 7 games: Bucks, Wizards, Minny, Pistons, Knicks, Magic, Bobcats

Raps last 7 games: Pacers, Bucks, Philly, Knicks, Pistons, Bucks again, Knicks again

I hope Raps hold on...But the issue is we have Indy and Knicks twice. Kinicks just got the 8th. spot and they are playing good. They will want to hold off Atlanta. It will be tough.

Bulls putting on the pressure for sure Murat. They have won 6 games in a row. Starting Friday they have these 4 games left (Pistons, Knicks, Magic, Bobcats) and I could still see 2-3 losses.

 

[kskate2]

I saw the 2nd half of the Miami-Memphis game and Miami looks pretty bad at this point and they are playing Lebron a lot of minutes trying to eek out wins with little success. Suddenly Indy is in 1st place again, it's like neither team wants to be the #1 seed out East.

I saw the 2nd half and some of the Tues game against the Nets that they lost as well. They're trying to secure that #1 spot w/o playing Wade, but it isn't going to happen against better teams. Now the last game I mentioned early between Indy/Heat is tomorrow night in MIA. Voleg sat all his starters for last night's Bucks game. They should be well rested. We'll see if they can get it together and win tomorrow. By the way, Indy holds the tiebreaker because they have the better record in their conference.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Great win against Houston tonight by my Raps. Bulls and Raps are tied and fighting hard for the 3.rd spot in the east, which is huge. Nets can still clinch 3 as well.

It will go down to the wire Murat and Raps hold the tie.

Bulls last 7 games: Bucks, Wizards, Minny, Pistons, Knicks, Magic, Bobcats

Raps last 7 games: Pacers, Bucks, Philly, Knicks, Pistons, Bucks again, Knicks again

I hope Raps hold on...But the issue is we have Indy and Knicks twice. Kinicks just got the 8th. spot and they are playing good. They will want to hold off Atlanta. It will be tough.

Bulls putting on the pressure for sure Murat. They have won 6 games in a row. Starting Friday they have these 4 games left (Pistons, Knicks, Magic, Bobcats) and I could still see 2-3 losses.

I think Bulls will run the table. All those games are winnabull for them . Raps got to do the same.

 

[kskate2]

We'll see. The Magic and Cats are the questionable ones. But the Bulls have the uncanny knack of beating teams they shouldn't and getting outplayed against teams they should beat.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Bulls lose to Knicks, who are out of the playoffs, Raps beat Pistons to get the number 3 spot back. Pacers get the top spot again after a win over OKC and a Miami loss in Atlanta. Very tight quarters up top eastern conference.

 

[DarthFed]

Yes it is getting very interesting Murat. All Indy has to do is win in Orlando and they get the #1 seed. Even with how bad Indy has been playing you figure they can at least do that. Chicago plays @ Charlotte to end the year and it is possible that the Bobcats could still be in contention for the #6 seed (the 6 seed plays Toronto or Chicago instead of the Heat).

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

So Indy got the top spot, but if the Miami match-up happens, I am still giving that series to Miami. Miami was almost sending a message in the last match, sitting Bron and Bosh and saying " We don't care about the top seed..."

3,4,5,6,7 is still not clear in the east. All comes down to tonight. I know I don't want Raps to face Nets. Too much experience there ...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I think Jason Kid is not starting his coaching career on a good note. First that drink incident where he was out of time outs and fabricated one, and now making his team tank the last 2 matches to avoid Chicago. Well, be careful what you wish for...

 

[DarthFed]

Kind of surprised he'd do that because even if they get past the Raps they are getting Miami instead of Indiana. Indy is a legit question mark going into the playoffs with how bad they've been. Miami is playing poor but I think they'll still be tough to beat.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Kind of surprised he'd do that because even if they get past the Raps they are getting Miami instead of Indiana. Indy is a legit question mark going into the playoffs with how bad they've been. Miami is playing poor but I think they'll still be tough to beat.

That's just it. It is lame, short sighted thinking. Miami is the only team in the east that can turn it on at will. They go " Ok, we'll defend now and you will not score" and they do it. Anything can happen against the Pacers though.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Murat and Kskate2, What gives. both of you are still riding the Bulls ship to advance in the playoffs. I haven't watched a Bulls game this year but I know they still do not have any bench scoring(no little man Nate, No Marco B,) plus Deng and DRose is obviously gone.. are you gonna trust Noah to pick up the lack of scoring in the post season? I am not. I am trying to save you folks some impending Bulls heartache. Darth, speak the Gospel to these good souls

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Hey AP,
I am not saying Bulls are going to go deep or anything, but apparently Jason Kidd thinks so...he tanked two games to fall back a spot to avoid them. I did not like that. On the other hand, they will probably advance to the second round,because Washington has even more issues than the Bulls, even with all the shortcomings that you point out, but that's about it.

 

[Billie]

Not to be outdone by NFL scandals, former NBA player and NBA executive Rex Chapman was placed under arrest for several robberies / thefts amounting to $14,000. I mean really???

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

NBA is going to experiment with a 44 minute game during this pre season. Looks like there will be 11 minute quarters as opposed to 12. Nets-Celts chosen for the experiment.

Personally, I am all for it. I would even like a 10 minute fourth quarter . Anything to add some urgency to the game. The regular season is so long, anything to shorten it is welcome by me if we are not going to limit the number of games played.

 

[DarthFed]

Changing it to 44 minutes won't drastically affect the player's energy levels by the end of the year. Making it 40 might but that's too short of a game IMO. I'm not shelling out $100 + for decent seats to see a crappy Bucks team vs. a good team for a 2 hour game (for a good team and bigger city that price is way more of course).

The solution has always been to cut the # of games down to something like 66 but money talks.

 

[DarthFed]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11709451/michael-jordan-disagrees-talk-shortening-season-games

Interesting article about the length of the season. His Airness doesn't think it should be shortened!