Nba Playoffs Thread

[GWCGWC 83]

Oh he sweetness of 1-1 and the stinkness that it should be 2-0. I was so tilted when I pulled up the menu on my DVR and accidentally deleted the Nuggets/Lakers game. I only missed the first half but still tilt balling. I thought JR Smith extended his knee but the announcers said it was his calf. Was Melo cramping at the end of the game?Game one line opened with lakers -7 then adjusted to Lakers -6.5. Game two had the Lakers at -5.5 which didn't adjust. What will the line be on game 3? I'm thinking Lakers -1.5.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

Jon Barry, cool it with the makeup a little bit buddy.

[Canary3 1]

I thought that Nene and Birdman were very weak defensively last night. It seemed like Nene just refused to play hard and the Birdman didn't have his normal spark. A good win for the Nuggets. It will be interesting to see how the games turn out in Denver.

[dolfan 0]

Chauncey off of Kobe's back and lay-up = best play everGO NUGGETS

Even better because espn.com had a feature on Chauncey last week that included a story where he did that in high school and apologized to his grandma later for "showing off".

Oh he sweetness of 1-1 and the stinkness that it should be 2-0.

I was on the phone with my brother last night talking about this exact point. I'm not declaring the Nuggets will win the series, but there's pretty much no reason they can't. Going in, I had this lingering feeling of, "Yeah, but they still haven't quite made the jump...something will happen and they'll break down." I know it's only two games in, but I really don't feel like that now. Game 1 could have destroyed their confidence and pretty much ended the series. The first 20 minutes of Game 2 SHOULD have destroyed their confidence and pretty much ended the series. 2-0 would be ideal, obviously, but 1-1 and knowing that you have a great chance at taking control in Denver is good enough. And, really, JR hasn't contributed yet. If we get the same production from our starters AND he has one of his games where he just starts going nuts...I'll be happy. And, LK was huge last night. Thank you, Lithuania.

[dolfan 0]

I thought that Nene and Birdman were very weak defensively last night. It seemed like Nene just refused to play hard and the Birdman didn't have his normal spark. A good win for the Nuggets. It will be interesting to see how the games turn out in Denver.

My buddy pointed out that Birdman probably spent too much time on the beach because he was all sunburned. He had one big block I can recall, but, like JR, he hasn't made his normal impact either. Nene is an enigma. If he doesn't get it going immediately, his confidence seems to plummet and he plays scared and weak.

[Canary3 1]

I was so frustrated in the first half because the Nuggets weren't playing hard. It seemed like LA was dominating the game but only had around a 10 point lead.

[nerdybuffoon 0]

Nuggets had a HUGE win last night!!! The bar I was at downtown went absolutely crazy at the end. I was so fired up. This series looks a whole lot different now. I have said this all along Nuggets in 6 if it goes 7 all bes are off but the Lakers would most likely win game 7 . If the Magic somehow win the east the winner is decided in the nugs/lakers series. Something that has not been discussed (or I have not seen) is how bad the refs are doing this series. What is up with some of these calls??? Does the NBA really want it to be a Kobe/LeBron finals?

[CaneBrain 95]

Did the Nuggets even play that well in Game 2? I think the Lakers might be in trouble.......but I am not sure if Denver's rampant immaturity will make them blow it. I dont think Denver can win a game 7 in LA so they need to finish it off in 6.

[CaneBrain 95]

Ya, but that's bc teams forced him to give it up. Lebron wasn't comfortable taking a jumper and they closed off the lane. He forced himself to give the ball up by dribbling the ball into congestion. If they come out to double him it's a different story.

so instead of settling for a contested jumper, he tried to drive and get a good shot and then instead of forcing a tough runner he found a wide open teammate who just hit the same shot a minute earlier......and thats somehow a knock on him?49,8,6 and people still wont accept the obvious. Was Kobe somehow responsible for the Game 2 loss last night? Because he passed to Fisher? This is nonsense.

[Jadaki 0]

Was Kobe somehow responsible for the Game 2 loss last night? Because he passed to Fisher? This is nonsense.

For not getting open on the inbound play and letting Fisher take a very contested fade away 3. Yea, I'd say he is a little to blame.

[Canary3 1]

For not getting open on the inbound play and letting Fisher take a very contested fade away 3. Yea, I'd say he is a little to blame.

Jackson said in the postgame news conferences that it was a set play for Fisher. He said he thought they were going to foul and would overplay Kobe on the inbounds so he thought Fisher would be open. Kobe was basically a decoy.

[KingJames 11]

I thought that Nene and Birdman were very weak defensively last night. It seemed like Nene just refused to play hard and the Birdman didn't have his normal spark. A good win for the Nuggets. It will be interesting to see how the games turn out in Denver.

All season the Bird and Nene have played so much better at Pepsi Center... I think those guys and JR will get it going in game 3 and we get the first big win of the series.

[Jadaki 0]

Jackson said in the postgame news conferences that it was a set play for Fisher. He said he thought they were going to foul and would overplay Kobe on the inbounds so he thought Fisher would be open. Kobe was basically a decoy.

Good call Phil.

[BigDMcGee 3,352]

Good call Phil.

The bulls would often do this in playoff games too, making plays for paxton and others. The thing is, they were 3 point specialists. The lakers don't have any of those, really.

[dolfan 0]

All season the Bird and Nene have played so much better at Pepsi Center... I think those guys and JR will get it going in game 3 and we get the first big win of the series.

I was thinking about that last night. I think Bird needs the crowd there, because they absolutely love him. I was thinking about it last night when I noticed again how apathetic the LA crowds are. If the crowd at Pepsi Center starts going nuts at a random time in the game it means one thing: Andersen stood up and is heading to the scorer's table. I can't imagine the crowd in LA doing something like that. My buddy and I have this thing with JR where we say he's in "FIIS" mode (Fuck it, I'm shooting). You'll know when it happens because he just starts throwing balls up from anywhere. Sometimes it's great and sometimes you want to smack him in the mouth. But when he has it going, watch out. He really needs a game like that in Game 3 or 4.

[I_fold08 1]

so instead of settling for a contested jumper, he tried to drive and get a good shot and then instead of forcing a tough runner he found a wide open teammate who just hit the same shot a minute earlier......and thats somehow a knock on him?49,8,6 and people still wont accept the obvious. Was Kobe somehow responsible for the Game 2 loss last night? Because he passed to Fisher? This is nonsense.

he lost, and he didnt miss a shot the entire game why wouldnt he shoot one more

[CaneBrain 95]

he lost, and he didnt miss a shot the entire game why wouldnt he shoot one more

he shoots a high percentage because he does not force bad shots. He is a great teammate and that is why the Cavs have such good chemistry. Orlando is not the best matchup for them but I think they will find a way.....plus the Magic are choke artists.

[Jadaki 0]

LOL @ no tech being called on Williams for throwing the ball at Howard.

[I_fold08 1]

he shoots a high percentage because he does not force bad shots. He is a great teammate and that is why the Cavs have such good chemistry. Orlando is not the best matchup for them but I think they will find a way.....plus the Magic are choke artists.

how are the magic choke artists after beating boston in games 6 and 7, and then beating the cavs in game 1.

[Theraflu 1,035]

he shoots a high percentage because he does not force bad shots. He is a great teammate and that is why the Cavs have such good chemistry. Orlando is not the best matchup for them but I think they will find a way.....plus the Magic are choke artists.

Cavs are playing like the Magic did against the Celts, can't put 'em away.

LOL @ no tech being called on Williams for throwing the ball at Howard.

Those two "blocking" calls were also atrocious. Clearly outside the smiley face TWICE within a couple minutes, and both go to the home team that everyone thinks is going to the finals? God bless NBA officiating.

[Theraflu 1,035]

Cavs are playing like the Magic did against the Celts, can't put 'em away.Those two "blocking" calls were also atrocious. Clearly outside the smiley face TWICE within a couple minutes, and both go to the home team that everyone thinks is going to the finals? God bless NBA officiating.

I will say, the reffing after those two calls got much, much better. It's all about consistency, and they found some.

[Theraflu 1,035]

oh no

[Jadaki 0]

That was one hell of a shot.

[Jadaki 0]

So the Cavs BARELY pull out a 1-1 split at home, this is going to be bad for them if they don't play any better there.

[Sam Donaldson 0]

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