NBA Playoffs, Now Finals

[drothgery]

Okay, after three series went to seven games, and two teams stunk it up in game 7 (Cavs, Clippers), one stormed to a big lead (Mavs), one staged a valiant but futile comeback (Spurs), and one team just cruised from start to finish (Suns) we've got the NBA's final four (the Heat having none of this seven game nonsense, put away the Nets in five).

Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks

It would be shocking if there's a game in the series where either team is held under 100. The impression I get is that the Mavs should win, but I'm not really sure why; the Suns have more capable offensive players and the Mavs big guys won't be on the court against the Suns because they can't guard anyone and can't score.

Still, Mavs in 7.

Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons

If you thought Cavs - Pistons was ugly, well, this is going to be worse. Shaq and Ben shooting free throws. Neither team breaking 90. Not fun.

I'm going to take a wild gamble here... Heat in 7.

 

[drothgery]

For no logical reason, the hockey playoffs thread is getting far more attention than the NBA one...

Congrats to the Heat on winning the east, but they're going to have a lot of work cut out if they want to avoid getting swept*. It's hard so see a way that the Suns or Mavs don't run them off the court.

* Certain posters might point out that I thought the Spurs would sweep the Pistons last year.

 

[d20Dwarf]

I agree that the Mavs are going to crush the Heat, but I'll give a conservative Mavs 4, Heat 2 prediction, since I'm sure Stern will impose a one-game handicap on the Mavs at some point in the series.

The way the Mavs won the last two games against the Suns showed that they're never out of a game, and that they're mentally tough.

Go Mavs!

 

[drothgery]

Eh. The Mavs got the Suns frontcourt in foul trouble, and then Dirk could pretty much score at will. It was pretty much the same story in every game the Mavs won.

I agree with pretty much every commentator that says the Mavs are going to try and run on the Heat, after trying to slow the Suns down, trying to run on the Spurs, and running with the Grizzlies (except that the Griz just didn't have anywhere near the Mavs talent).

Short of Wade catching fire or the Heat managing to take the air out of the ball with an old-school slow-down game, this is going to be a short series.

 

[Balgus]

For no logical reason, the hockey playoffs thread is getting far more attention than the NBA one...

There is a logical reason, NBA fans are lesslikely to be gamers. My older brother loves hockeyt and football, but hates BBAll. There is a specific personality to liking BBall. Hockeya nd Football however has a greater crossover. I am one of the few BBall fans who dont watch Footballa nd hockey. And i game... so i am an anomoly (sp?)

* Certain posters might point out that I thought the Spurs would sweep the Pistons last year.

Well, if you think one team is better tahn the other, you cna't see them losing. That's how i felt about the suns and Lakers. But as we saw, Kobe changed on a dime and gave the suns a run for their money. And then let the series go with a 3 game slide. Damn him.

But to compare the heat and Mavs, I see the Heat winning in 7. I agree that Dirk is awesome, and maybe the best player in teh NBA, but I still like Wade, Mourning, and Oneill. Heat also has a deeper bench and more RPers.

And I am expecting the rest to be bad for Dirk. He can't keep up this lvl of play for that much longer (course, that's what I said about nash)

 

[d20Dwarf]

But to compare the heat and Mavs, I see the Heat winning in 7. I agree that Dirk is awesome, and maybe the best player in teh NBA, but I still like Wade, Mourning, and Oneill. Heat also has a deeper bench and more RPers.

And I am expecting the rest to be bad for Dirk. He can't keep up this lvl of play for that much longer (course, that's what I said about nash)

No way, the Mavs averaged 102 PPG throughout the playoffs, including an astounding 103.8 PPG against the Spurs. The Heat scored well against the pathetic Nets, but could barely manage 90 PPG against the Pistons. Meanwhile the Mavs held the Suns to a paltry (for them) 100 PPG, which includes a couple of shootouts that they lost.

The Heat can't score enough on the Mavs to beat them, and they won't be able to stop the Mavs offense enough to compensate.

 

[drothgery]

There is a logical reason, NBA fans are lesslikely to be gamers. My older brother loves hockeyt and football, but hates BBAll. There is a specific personality to liking BBall.

Even if it's true that NBA fans are less likely to be gamers (and I don't think it is) than NHL fans, there are just so many more NBA fans to begin with that you'd think there'd be a pretty high interest level.

Me, I follow football and basketball closely (both college and pro), sometimes read about baseball, and have no interest in hockey outside of team USA at the Olympics.

Well, if you think one team is better tahn the other, you cna't see them losing. That's how i felt about the suns and Lakers. But as we saw, Kobe changed on a dime and gave the suns a run for their money. And then let the series go with a 3 game slide. Damn him.

It's not just better, it's so much better that you can't see them winning one game in four when both teams are giving everything they've got (at regular season intensity, anybody in the NBA could win one game against anybody else; the Knicks didn't go 0-82). Last year I thought the Pistons were the overrated products of a weak East, who had been very fortunate to play a splintering and beat up Lakers team in the finals the year before. Whereas the Spurs were clearly the class of a deep, competive West who had shown they could play the game at any speed.

But to compare the heat and Mavs, I see the Heat winning in 7. I agree that Dirk is awesome, and maybe the best player in teh NBA, but I still like Wade, Mourning, and Oneill. Heat also has a deeper bench and more RPers.

I just don't see how the Heat score enough to beat Dallas with only two reliable scorers, one of which has a decent chance of getting foul trouble and can't make his free throws.

 

[jimbobbrowningstein]

Mavs. FTW.

 

[drothgery]

Okay, am I little bit crazy for thinking the Heat are done? They completely shut down Dirk and Josh Howard, held the Mavs to 90 points... and lost by ten. Granted, Jason Terry was on fire, but still...

 

[Balgus]

Okay, am I little bit crazy for thinking the Heat are done? They completely shut down Dirk and Josh Howard, held the Mavs to 90 points... and lost by ten. Granted, Jason Terry was on fire, but still...

Thank you. I knew there was hope somewhere- and you can't underestimate the power of Pat Riley- the man can coach y'all


Better luck next game...hopefully they can steal game 2.

My gripe is the schedule of the finals. For all the regional games, the schedule is 2,2,1,1,1. Which makes sense. But the finals is 2,3,2. I know this is because of travel cost and time, but come on. This really favors the team without home court adv.

So if home team wins the first 5 games, then that puts the team with the better record at a 2-3 disadvantage. That puts the stress and pressure of winning the last two games- where the other team only needs to win one more.

I'm done