Nba Playoffs

[Livaso 0]

Watching Vince Carter lay on the floor after being embarrassed by a missed lay up screaming in agony like he was just molested brings back memories. The fact it was just a charley horse cramp brings back even more.Spurs still have home court and a veteran team prized for defense makes quick adjustments. If they lose home court I expect the Suns can pull it off but my prediction still goes to the gimmickless Spurs.

[Jadaki 1]

If the Suns keep winning you think Nash will keep the nose bandage even after it heals? New signature look?!

I'm thinking he is going to land an endorsement deal with breathe-right strips.

Spurs still have home court and a veteran team prized for defense makes quick adjustments. If they lose home court I expect the Suns can pull it off but my prediction still goes to the gimmickless Spurs.

Do you think the Suns are gimmicky?

[Livaso 0]

I'm thinking he is going to land an endorsement deal with breathe-right strips.Do you think the Suns are gimmicky?

A little bit. More so without Amare. Small, running All-out offense is a gimmick. They're just a lot better at it and much more talented than other teams that use the gimmick, like Golden State. This year their defense is a lot better and probably good enough to win it all. But the Spurs shut down the Suns during the season when they came to play.

[Jadaki 1]

Guess I don't see it as a gimmick, more of a play style that best exploits their individual and collective talents. Generally speaking they are a more athletic and deeper team than the opponents they play, so they try and wear you down by upping the tempo and exploiting mismatches when you don't get back to play defense fast enough. It's a very common tactic in college that just has never been quite as successful at the professional level. I think the Suns have the talent and can create enough bad match ups that they can beat most teams in a 1/2 court game as well as the run-n-gun style they use. What they don't get enough credit for is their defense. Their defensive stats may not look dominate, but considering how many more possessions they create in a game for both them and their opponents it is extremely overlooked.I think this series comes back to Phoenix for game 5 tied 2-2, and game 5 will determine who wins it.

[princeof56k 0]

Tonights Suns-Spurs game got very physical. That really plays to the spurs advantage. The more physical it got, the better the Spurs played. I dont think the Suns want to play that way, but I dont see the physical play decreasing. With all the talk of dirty play, the series might actually get more physical than tonight (if thats possible).Extra things on the game... First, the Suns need to stop complaining so much and just play their game. They're letting all the talk of dirty play get in their heads. Second, they are going to have to double team Duncan at some point. I dont care how good of a defender you put on him, he's just too good.About Bowen's dirty play... When I first saw the video on youtube (the one with all the slo-mo), I thought it was dirty play. I now realize that was just a terrible angle. Tonight, ABC showed a replay of the exact same play from a different angle and the contact appears to be accidental. It looks like Bowen was just trying to step closer and his toe caught Amare's leg. That cuased Bowen own leg to react in a wierd way. From the youtube video it looks like a kick, but from tonight new angle, it looked accidental. I dont think that was a dirty play.

[Jadaki 1]

I don't think Bowen was being dirty earlier, but the officiating in this series needs to be looked at. Once again they (the refs) are overshadowing players.The first game was good as far as officiating, second game was a bit sloppy and tonight was horrible. They need to make consistent calls, I can' t count the number of times Duncan fouled but it was called on someone else. I don't know if this is a side effect of the Crawford incident, but it was silly watching the constant replay of him hacking someone on the way to put up a shot and a guy who is 3 feet away put up his hand and get the foul call. Some of the fouls called on Amare... wow... maybe if he was a rookie and it was a regular season game, you're talking about a guy on the all NBA first team basically getting sat out by horrid calls. If your going to let the Spurs play physical you can't call Amare for running through the lane trying to get post position, just stupid.It was also retarded watching Nash drive the lane, get both arms grabbed and not get a call. Then with 1 minute left in the game he gets a slight bump coming off a screen and they call it, and you could see the coach yelling "why you calling it now?" I disagree with them needing to double team Duncan all the time, he's not going to score 80+ points in a game and win it for them, he needs his teammates to hit open shots and if you shut them down they are more likely to struggle. Duncan got 30+ in game two and they got blown out by shutting down everyone else. Spurs other position players are too good and have to much experience to leave them open because you double Duncan. What they need to do is vary the looks throughout the game, and keep him guessing making him eat up shot clock looking at the defense when he catches the ball. They also might benefit by switching to a zone occasionally just to give the Spurs another look to worry about.

[princeof56k 0]

I disagree with them needing to double team Duncan all the time, he's not going to score 80+ points in a game and win it for them, he needs his teammates to hit open shots and if you shut them down they are more likely to struggle. Duncan got 30+ in game two and they got blown out by shutting down everyone else. Spurs other position players are too good and have to much experience to leave them open because you double Duncan. What they need to do is vary the looks throughout the game, and keep him guessing making him eat up shot clock looking at the defense when he catches the ball. They also might benefit by switching to a zone occasionally just to give the Spurs another look to worry about.

I've never seen that strategy work before, and I think the reason it doesnt usually work is more psychological than anything else. When a teams leader, in this case Duncan, is going off, it doesnt just improve his confidence, but the confidence of the entire team. The rest of the team feels invincible whether they are scoring or not. Instead of saying, "The Suns cant stop Duncan," they say, "The Suns cant stop us." Those are two very different points of view, and the second one is much more dangerous. You could see the confidence in all of the Spurs in last nights game. And playing that way basically means you wont be able to get a stop on the Spurs when you need it. All the Spurs have to do is throw down to Duncan to get a hoop.The only other case I can remember where a team tried that for an entire series was the Spurs in the 1995 playoffs against the Rockets. They decided to cover Hakeem with single coverage. David Robinson is an excellent defender (better than anyone the Suns have), but Hakeem had one of the best playoff series of all time. It was unreal, and you could see the confidence grow in the entire Rockets team as the series went on. The Rockets won the series 4-2 (showing that you can win a couple of games with that tactic), but I still think that was a huge strategical error by the Spurs.There's a reason most teams dont try that single coverage strategy. It doesnt seem to work. Maybe this time will be different, but I'm still a firm believer in making the supporting players beat you.

[Jadaki 1]

There's a reason most teams dont try that single coverage strategy. It doesnt seem to work. Maybe this time will be different, but I'm still a firm believer in making the supporting players beat you.

If your playing the Lakers it works great, the Spurs on the other hand have two other all-stars and a player who was one not that long ago, not to mention some of the best role players in the league. They let Tony parker go off in game 1, it killed them, in game two they shut him down and won. You can double team Duncan all day and he will still get his, Parker and Ginobli can be contained. I'll take Duncan going for 30 and 15 while holding everyone else to under 15 and get the win if I'm the Spurs.

[Rodney21a 1]

I've never seen that strategy work before, and I think the reason it doesnt usually work is more psychological than anything else. When a teams leader, in this case Duncan, is going off, it doesnt just improve his confidence, but the confidence of the entire team. The rest of the team feels invincible whether they are scoring or not. Instead of saying, "The Suns cant stop Duncan," they say, "The Suns cant stop us." Those are two very different points of view, and the second one is much more dangerous. You could see the confidence in all of the Spurs in last nights game. And playing that way basically means you wont be able to get a stop on the Spurs when you need it. All the Spurs have to do is throw down to Duncan to get a hoop.The only other case I can remember where a team tried that for an entire series was the Spurs in the 1995 playoffs against the Rockets. They decided to cover Hakeem with single coverage. David Robinson is an excellent defender (better than anyone the Suns have), but Hakeem had one of the best playoff series of all time. It was unreal, and you could see the confidence grow in the entire Rockets team as the series went on. The Rockets won the series 4-2 (showing that you can win a couple of games with that tactic), but I still think that was a huge strategical error by the Spurs.There's a reason most teams dont try that single coverage strategy. It doesnt seem to work. Maybe this time will be different, but I'm still a firm believer in making the supporting players beat you.

The Spurs had a in his prime Dennis Rodman on that team. They shipped him to Chicago after that season because of the "attitude" he displayed on the sidelines in that series. What should he have done when he knew he was being mis-used by the coach, Bob Hill? Yep those teams of the early nineties were a waist of talent. Goes to show how valuable a good coach could be. I remember when Pat Riley was fired/resigned from the Lakers. He and chuck Daily were having soup/interview on Inside the NBA on NBC. Chuck asked Pat, who was an analyst for NBC at the time, "what team would you want to coach if you were to come back?" He paused and thought briefly, "The San Antonio Spurs". Never got him. New York and then Miami made better offers. I think the Spurs never even made him an offer. Thus David Robinson's youth was waisted by bad wacko coaches like Hill, John Lucas and worst of all Jerry Tarkanian. Oh well, I guess everything turned out the way it should have.

[princeof56k 0]

BTW, I think the Suns rebounding problems are coming back to haunt them. In game 1 and 3 they got killed on the boards. In Game 2 they were about even. Its tough to win a series getting dominated on the boards like that. It's allowing the Spurs to get 2nd chance points and control the pace. I've heard people say the Suns need to step up on the boards, but its been this way all season. I dont think they can just start doing that now against a team like the Spurs.And the post game interviews of last game revealed a lot. Some of the comments made by the Spurs seemed like they were taunting the Suns. Like they were trying to goad the Suns into a more physical series (which the Spurs clearly want). Next game will be very interesting.

[showstopper24 0]

Cavs vs. NetsClose game. It went down to the last few seconds when the Cavs stopped Carter.The game ended right after 24-what a great couple of minutes.I am going to game 5 on Wednesday. I went to game 6 last year vs. Detroit and the Q was absolutley nuts. It was a shame we couldn't win but I feel confident about Wednesday.

[Jadaki 1]

What a game 4 between the Suns and Spurs.That has to be a scary loss for the Spurs, they imposed their play style the majority of the game and Phoenix stuck with them and pulled out a come from behind win showing some toughness in the last few minutes that they are not normally known for.Horry is probably going to end up missing a game for the cheap shot on Nash, the Suns better hope Amare and Bell didn't leave the bench. Neither of them made it up to the altercation so I don't think they will, but you never know.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

Cavs vs. NetsClose game. It went down to the last few seconds when the Cavs stopped Carter.The game ended right after 24-what a great couple of minutes.I am going to game 5 on Wednesday. I went to game 6 last year vs. Detroit and the Q was absolutley nuts. It was a shame we couldn't win but I feel confident about Wednesday.

Do you think the Cavs would get out of the first round in the West?

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

What a game 4 between the Suns and Spurs.That has to be a scary loss for the Spurs, they imposed their play style the majority of the game and Phoenix stuck with them and pulled out a come from behind win showing some toughness in the last few minutes that they are not normally known for.Horry is probably going to end up missing a game for the cheap shot on Nash, the Suns better hope Amare and Bell didn't leave the bench. Neither of them made it up to the altercation so I don't think they will, but you never know.

Diaw not Bell. I like how the Suns are using the excuse that Stoudemire was checking in, it kinda gives the league a way out so they don't have to suspend him. Although, I remember many times in the past where the exact same thing happened and players got suspended. It would really be a shame if he's suspended, it being the most important game of the season and all.

[runthemover 40]

sucks for suns because if those 2 get suspended then almost 100% they're gonna be down 3-2 having to win on the road to stay alive. But, they "broke the law" so them's the breaks.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

sucks for suns because if those 2 get suspended then almost 100% they're gonna be down 3-2 having to win on the road to stay alive. But, they "broke the law" so them's the breaks.

It's not within the spirit of the rule though. We'll see if the league basically wants to ruin the best series of the playoffs.

[runthemover 40]

It's not within the spirit of the rule though. We'll see if the league basically wants to ruin the best series of the playoffs.

If you commit homicide you should go to jail for life. If someone breaks into your house and you kill them. You should not face the same punishment.If someone breaks into your house and the police catch the guy. Then you kill them. You should go to jail for life.I love Charles. I do agree with Kenny Smith. How can they make an exception and then enforce this rule ever again? You can go onto the court only if nothing happens. You can go onto the court only if you're a star player and this happens in the playoffs.I think Stern has to either enforce this rule and say no matter the circumstance you will get suspended or change the rule (because it's dumb) and instead give a large fine for this infraction.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

I do agree with Kenny Smith. How can they make an exception and then enforce this rule ever again? You can go onto the court only if nothing happens. You can go onto the court only if you're a star player and this happens in the playoffs.

That's why the excuse that he was checking into the game is so genius, even though it's pretty lame. The league can give them the benefit of the doubt and move on, or ruin the series. David Stern is a smart guy and really cares about the good of the league and knows suspending Stoudemire would not be good. Even though technically the decision is up to Stu Jackson I have a feeling Stern will overrule if he needs to.

[Jadaki 1]

It could also be a money decision for the league, if the Spurs win the series we are really likely to see a repeat of the Pistons/Spurs finals from a few years ago which got some of the lowest ratings for the NBA finals in 20+ years. Teams like the Suns and Warriors appeal to the more casual fans because they are more fun to watch, therefore creating higher ratings. Yanking two of the top players from the Suns for getting off the bench even though they were both restrained from getting near the play would be ridiculous, especially considering all the complaints from the Suns (not to mention other players in the league) about dirty play from the Spurs.Does anyone else think it's funny that they make all the rule changes to pick up the pace of the game and only enforce it during the regular season? The league needs to pull it's head out of it's own ass and figure out that your average fan isn't interesting in watching all the holding, handchecking and boring play that dominates the playoffs.

[Livaso 0]

It could also be a money decision for the league, if the Spurs win the series we are really likely to see a repeat of the Pistons/Spurs finals from a few years ago which got some of the lowest ratings for the NBA finals in 20+ years. Teams like the Suns and Warriors appeal to the more casual fans because they are more fun to watch, therefore creating higher ratings. Yanking two of the top players from the Suns for getting off the bench even though they were both restrained from getting near the play would be ridiculous, especially considering all the complaints from the Suns (not to mention other players in the league) about dirty play from the Spurs.Does anyone else think it's funny that they make all the rule changes to pick up the pace of the game and only enforce it during the regular season? The league needs to pull it's head out of it's own ass and figure out that your average fan isn't interesting in watching all the holding, handchecking and boring play that dominates the playoffs.

I think the average fan is more annoyed by clock stoppages and light fouls and 35+ freethrows a game than by games that move. Even if that movement is stalled in half-court sets. Its unfortunate because it should be an accepted aspect of a better quality game but these hypothetical "casual fans" are fickle.The Spurs and the Pistons are both better than their parts. No superstars that a casual fan would identify (Sad considering Duncan is a hall-of-fame MVP World Champ) and like I said before are both cold and calculating and only interesting to watch to big-time basketball fans.LeBron James is a great and highly overrated player that the casual fans think is Jordan because of his over-exposure. The Cavs are a very soft team and if the Pistons are upset by them (I'm sorry showstopper, it is an upset and a massive one at that) then the NBA got their wish and conspiracy theories will be thrown around quite liberally. Not Sacremento Kings liberally, but close.Suns-Cavs is likely to be the most successful finals ever on ABC, while Spurs-Pistons will be mediocre or bad. Any other combination will be average.

[fleung22 1]

wow, I was watching the Suns-Spurs game...talk about a game with everything!!great skill, great action and the drama from Horry body checking Nash was the cherry on top. this is going to be one hell of a finish.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

I think the average fan is more annoyed by clock stoppages and light fouls and 35+ freethrows a game than by games that move. Even if that movement is stalled in half-court sets. Its unfortunate because it should be an accepted aspect of a better quality game but these hypothetical "casual fans" are fickle.The Spurs and the Pistons are both better than their parts. No superstars that a casual fan would identify (Sad considering Duncan is a hall-of-fame MVP World Champ) and like I said before are both cold and calculating and only interesting to watch to big-time basketball fans.LeBron James is a great and highly overrated player that the casual fans think is Jordan because of his over-exposure. The Cavs are a very soft team and if the Pistons are upset by them (I'm sorry showstopper, it is an upset and a massive one at that) then the NBA got their wish and conspiracy theories will be thrown around quite liberally. Not Sacremento Kings liberally, but close.Suns-Cavs is likely to be the most successful finals ever on ABC, while Spurs-Pistons will be mediocre or bad. Any other combination will be average.

Personally I think Suns-Pistons would be the best series to watch. I don't think we have to worry about Cleveland beating Detroit, Lebron is not even close to the type of player that team needs him to be to win a championship, honestly if they're in the West I don't think they get out of the first round.

[donk4life 34]

I only hope David Stern is smart enough not to suspend Amare over this.. He knows full well if he suspends Amare, ratings will sink..I think Jalen Rose made a good point on First Take today, he said that Amare did walk out onto the court, but so did Duncan when that guy from the spurs (insert name here) dunked over the suns player (insert name here) and fell on top of him.. Duncan walked out to the three point line!

[Jadaki 1]

I don't see the Cavs winning more than 1 game from the Pistons.

[showstopper24 0]

I don't see the Cavs winning more than 1 game from the Pistons.

They were very close to winning 4 games last year and they are better this year.