The NBA Thread

[dumbfish]

Found: 2004 Peja Stoyakovich.
Lost: Threepeat.

[Ignatius]

If you can't stop Peja in 2011, you need to sit down anyway.

Remember that the Mavs were the best team in the NBA before Dirk got hurt, and lost two games when he came back because he refused to use his knee. Also, Caron Butler.

[dumbfish]

True and sad and true.

[dumbfish]

I was gonna say, "Not with a bang but a whimper," but those flagrants made the Lakers' end eventful, if nothing else.
I hereby throw my support behind Anyone-But-Boston.

[Ignatius]

To me, it's a shitty way to represent a coach who helped you pick up two championship rings, if nothing else. Competitive hard fouls are one thing, and frustration is another, but for a guy who's been to the Finals before, that was an extremely immature move.

But as you know, it feels real shitty when your team gets knocked out of the playoffs. At the very least, you won't feel the sting of knowing the Lakers were *this* close.

I am now pulling for the Mavs even harder, though a Mavs/Memphis WCF would be crazy fun to watch whoever wins. Dirk vs. Randolph? Would Good Gasol's offensive output and rebounding outdo Tyson Chandler's defense? DeShawn Stephenson and Tony Allen vying for the title of Shamefully Inconsistent and Moody Perimeter Guy of the Decade? JET and J Kidd's veteran savvy vs. OJ Mayo and Mike Conley?

[Ignatius]

Also I have this dream of Darrell Arthur guarding Dirk for five minutes a game and it's hilarious.

[Thermofusion]

Lakers need 2 bench gasol he havn girl problems n he playn like a biitch. Trade dat punk n get d howard to help bynum n odom soft ass sucka!

Poor Pau. It's like the Gasol Bros. got tricked by a fortune teller or something.

Also, with the Lakers out, I'll be pleased no matter who wins the West at this point.

[dumbfish]

These playoffs really showed how important Pau's superior passing is to that team. He hasn't been right since late Feb (the girlfriend rumor is gaining steam), and the team's really suffered. Bynum was plenty efficient with his touches, but he doesn't have the eye for the crisp pass just yet. Also, the Lakers utter inability to hit a three meant the Mavs could just pack the lane all day. I just hope the Lakers don't panic. Hint for Lakers GM Kupchak: Whatever Snoop advises you do, do the opposite.

Anyway, the better team won. Conspiracy theorists take note: the league "allowed" the Lakers to get destroyed by the team belonging to the commissioner's least-favorite owner. So please please please shut up.

[Thermofusion]

Hint for Lakers GM Kupchak: Whatever Snoop advises you do, do the opposite.

Everybody and his mother seems to want Howard in L.A.! I wonder how much depth the Lakers would have to trade for him.

[DCDave]

On my way to td garden to boo the celtics

[Ignatius]

holy shit GRIZZZ

[Ignatius]

GRIZZZZ DOUBLE OT!!!

[dumbfish]

Game has gone mega.

[Thermofusion]

game of the year

[Ignatius]

TIPLE OT

[DanielBurns11]

I just had like eight heart attacks.

[Captain]

Can't believe I turned that game off.  Ugg.

[Ignatius]

great game going on, btw. I like this guy, dirk

[Captain]

Can't watch this game right now, but a quick check of the stat line reveals the following: Dirk is 20-for-20 from the free throw line.  This is both absurd and easily believable.

[Ignatius]

I mean, clearly, OKC is a little beat up at this point, but the only way they can keep Dirk's shots from going in is to foul.

The other funny thing is how normally I can't stand JJ Barea but since adopting the Mavs as my playoff faves, watching him shred Nate Robinson is great fun. Where is that big guy who's supposed to block 5'10" dudes at the rim?

[Ignatius]

My favorite play of the game so far came late in the second quarter. The Mavs countered OKC's 12-4 run or whatever with a little Dirk-inspired push of their own to take a one-point lead back... So on offense, Kendrick Perkins is screaming for the ball out on the post against Dirk. I guess that he felt that a.) someone had to do something to get OKC's offense back on track and b.) someone needed to make Dirk work on D to slow him down. Anyhow, Westbrook goes for it, and Kendrick Perkins backs him down with no resistance whatsoever, gets around him directly under the hoop, only to have Tyson Chandler viciously swat his weak shot like 15 feet back up the court.

It was really funny. Kendrick Perkins is so bad at offense. Russell Westbrook gave the ball up at the top of the clock. Dirk's 'd', man a real riot!

[Ignatius]

I wanna play a Homer Simpson yoink wav every time Dirk's one-footed fallaway goes in.

[Ignatius]

I know that Dirk is a historic talent, and I have for a long time, but I don't think I recognized how far ahead of the pack he was until tonight... When you see a guy like KD who drops 30 a night and seems to score at will, and then realize how much work he still has to do before he gets anywhere near Dirk's level, it's crazifying.

[Ignatius]

PS before someone brings the defense argument, I'm not talking about that.

[Ignatius]

wow that was a big dunk. I got a hint for Jim Carrey - do not put Peja on Kevin Durant.