The NBA Thread

[dumbfish]

And those famous Southern California lakes.

[Ignatius]

I'm willing to bet Denver has a pretty legitimate weed scene, though.

[dieblucasdie]

http://www.charlottebobcats.com/

[Babar]

Securing a decent domain is the least of the Bobcats' worry. Oh, Bobcats.

[peacocks]

oh hey has anyone been watching any of the boston / miami games? I've caught all of them so far and they've been crazy! The heat lumber around clumsily most of the time and it's a wonder they have won as many as they have but I'm still rooting for them because fl pride and all.

[Babar]

Yeah, seen each and every one and it's been an awesome series. I'm a Celtics fan so I want to see Swag, a.k.a. Nine, a.k.a. The Black Lion, a.k.a. Rondo have another phenomenal game in Miami but this time get the W. The things going on in the Western series are also unbelievable. The "untouchable" and seemingly unbeatable Spurs have now lost three in a row against the young and constantly growing OKC. I love it when I am not rooting for either team at ALL in the slightest, like in the Spurs v OKC series, so I can just focus on enjoying wonderful basketball. Tonight's game was no exception. Durant's last shot was with 4:46 left in the game. Really Thunder? The leading scorer of the NBA doesn't even take a shot in the last five minutes of a close game? But they still won.

[dumbfish]

The West games have been wonderful, at least in part because the bench guys are good, too. In the East, anytime more than one of Rondo/ Garnett/ LeBron/ Wade hit the bench, ugly happens.

It's hard for me as a Laker fan to admit it, but I admire the way the Celts have continued to fight, even as they got too creaky to win. My squad can't say the same. (Still maximum dislike Pierce, though.)

[Captain]

I'm a bit surprised at how good the post-season has been... with the shortened season I was expecting a lot of injuries and fatigue. Not so, however!

I must admit I'm most interest in the Miami vs. Boston series. Rondo's near 50-point game was my highlight (but I missed most of the past couple games). I don't think Boston can pull another victory out, but I have to root against LeBron here.

Oh man, OKC vs. the Spurs has been fantastic, too. Top 2 teams in the NBA (sorry East Coast).

[Ignatius]

Spurs games are tough to watch. On the one hand, Kevin Durant is really fucking good and Harden's no slouch either - when guys like Thabo Sefolosha and Ibaka have career offensive nights, what are you supposed to do, y'know?

On the other hand, watching Nick Collison walk through the Spurs' interior d gives me the agita. The last two or three games have looked a lot like the Memphis series last year as far as opposing defensive strategy - pack the paint, watch the shooters miss, and collect turnovers on drives.

If almost any guy on that team besides Kawhii Leonard, Ginobili, or Tony Parker can find an ounce of confidence, demand the ball and make some shots the way Brent Barry and/or Steve Kerr used to, it would open up the entire offense. Jack's been oddly too meek and Gary Neal just can't fabricate the juice.

I like this team a lot, and I think the Thunder are the toughest matchup of the 3 remaining teams. It'd be nice to see someone step up and at least appear to give a shit.

[Ignatius]

In a track meet, I like the Heat better than the Thunder. They're better at half court defense than the Spurs, too. It'd be an interesting series.

[Ignatius]

LBJ defending Durant for an entire series would be extremely fascinating, in fact.

[peacocks]

I dont get the strong feelings people have about players. I used to have a crush on Derek Jeter in like 1995 but I've never hated a player for anything. What gives? Maybe it's because I don't know much of anything about the players.

[Dick]

I take it as a general rule that if I don't loathe lots of people I'm probably not paying very close attention.

[Ignatius]

Whenever this comes up I think of KG popping his Celtics jersey at midcourt in front of thousands of bewildered Minnesota fans who gave him a standing ovation only hours earlier.

[peacocks]

yeah, I figured it's because I haven't watched enough basketball

[Babar]

yeah, I figured it's because I haven't watched enough basketball

Eh, I watch a lot of basketball and I don't hate any players. Hataz gonna hate, they say. But hey, it's been decided: OKC to the Finals. First team since 1998 to be the Western Conference champions not named Lakers, Spurs or Mavericks. Changing of the guards? Lets see what happens tomorrow first.

[peacocks]

man, I think it's gonna be celtics. Miami has been so sloppy. Even though James and Wade and Miller and Bosh(?) and some other guy were doing really cool stuff that last game they didn't do as much amazing and tight shit as basically every player on the celtics.

[Babar]

I'd take your analysis of a game over Chris Broussard's or Magic Johnson's any day. Yeah, the C's were doing cool stuff. The play where Wade blocked Bass' two-handed industrial throw down only to have Rondo tip the rebound to Pietrus for a three. Daayumn. Now that's the kind of amazing and tight shit the Heat were lacking. A good job and a good effort simply aren't enough in these tough grind-out Playoffs games.

[Captain]

Anyone else catch the halftime report yesterday where Charles Barkley clearly and audibly used the phrase "Yaba-daba-doo, bitch" apropos of nothing?

[peacocks]

Whoa guess i was wrong, heat are kicking ass this game!

Re: Charles Barkley: maybe he lost a bet?

[dumbfish]

Oof. Miami needs to get the better of the Wade- Westbrook matchup. Last night it was Westbrook in a rout. So many contested Wade jumpers on a night when the actual shooters (Chalmers, Battier) were hitting.

[Ignatius]

I didn't understand why Battier and Chalmers started turning down open looks from outside in the second half. If the Spurs series showed anything, it's that OKC can and will shut down the interior absolutely unless you stretch the defense. Which does not mean Chris Bosh should be your go-to 3 point shooter.

[Captain]

It was only the second-half that Westbrook really got it going (although that's when it counts most, I suppose). The first half looked like classic Westbrook missing shot after shot. I was most shocked that Miami let anyone besides LBJ guard Kevin Durant. Shane Battier is a pretty decent defender, but Durant is simply to big for him.

[dumbfish]

Oh man was that game fun. Really looking forward to the next game, as I think both teams will play desperately hard.
Durant, Westbrook, LeBron, and Wade can all do things that look impossible. So fun to watch.

[justinh]

Frustrating officiating though.  It could be my bias showing, but Miami seems to be getting all the calls--did Westbrook even get a single +1 yesterday, despite charging the lane incessantly?  This seemed to coincide with Lebron getting a +1 on every trip to the paint...it could be that Miami is awesome at not fouling and OKC is terrible, but that doesn't really jive with the rest of the season. 

I will say that Lebron was a playmaking beast.  Some of those passes were unbelievable.  And Battier has been stone cold.