NBA Playoffs, Round II

[drothgery]

Okay, since the server crash,
- the Suns eliminated the Lakers and went a game up on the Clippers
- the Spurs took game one of the series vs the Mavs
- the Nets took game one of the series vs the Heat
- the Pistons took game one of the series vs the Cavs, and are leading in the 4th quarter of game 2

I may have been wrong about Spurs/Mavs (I picked the Mavs last week) and Nets/Heat (I picked the Heat last week); I've got more confidence in the Mavs, despite higher-quality opposition.

 

[Crothian]

Cleveland is just letting Detriot feel good.....

They won a series, that will have to do for this year

 

[drothgery]

Okay, last night Phoenix managed to win ugly for the first time all season. That's got to be a bad sign for the Clippers.

Winning ugly is a pretty regular occurance for the Heat, though, and they did again.

So as things stand now...

San Antonio and Dallas are still tied at a game a piece. The Mavs theoretically did what they needed to in taking one in San Antonio, but they should have had game one. I'm sticking with Mavs in 6, though.

Phoenix is up 2-1 on the Clippers, in a classic demonstration of why experience matters. Without Amare and Kurt Thomas, the Suns shouldn't be in this series, but they'll probably win it in six.

The Pistons are still on track to bury the Cavs, though LeBron stealing a game seems more possible after game 2. I'm stubborn; I'm sticking with Pistons in five.

And Miami seems to want to lose slightly less than New Jersey, which is why they're up 2-1, and why I still like them in 7.

 

[DonTadow]

Okay, last night Phoenix managed to win ugly for the first time all season. That's got to be a bad sign for the Clippers.

Winning ugly is a pretty regular occurance for the Heat, though, and they did again.

So as things stand now...

San Antonio and Dallas are still tied at a game a piece. The Mavs theoretically did what they needed to in taking one in San Antonio, but they should have had game one. I'm sticking with Mavs in 6, though.

Phoenix is up 2-1 on the Clippers, in a classic demonstration of why experience matters. Without Amare and Kurt Thomas, the Suns shouldn't be in this series, but they'll probably win it in six.

The Pistons are still on track to bury the Cavs, though LeBron stealing a game seems more possible after game 2. I'm stubborn; I'm sticking with Pistons in five.

And Miami seems to want to lose slightly less than New Jersey, which is why they're up 2-1, and why I still like them in 7.

Hey droth, always good to see you hear this time of year.

I'm going to go with the hometown love and say pistons sweep. After watching the last two games, and watching the series during the regular season, I just don't see Lebron doing it by himself. The one game they did win, the pistons played very bull and lax. I dont see that happening during playoff season. Plus without Hughs, another starter will have to elevate his game.

I just dont see the clips mustering enough inside force each game to beat phoenix. phoenix in 6

San antonio has been handled by dallas these last couple of games. They should be up 2 0 if not for an poor decision to go for the win instead of the tie. He had agood 10 foot jumper uncontested. Dallas in 6

I want miami and jersey to go to 7, and at this pace it will be. Miami should win this in 6 but becaus they fail to show from time to time, i got jersey in 7. Jersy is the dark horse candiate of this playoffs. They had a couple of 10+ streaks during the season against strong teams on the road. Jefferson has a way of getting inside of people's head.

 

[drothgery]

Okay, the playoffs are officially going silly.

The two second-round series most likely to go 7 going in (Spurs/Mavs and Heat/Nets) are sitting with Dallas leading 3-1, and Miami already through to the second round. Granted, every game of Spurs-Mavs has been close, and so were most of the Miami-NJ games, but still...

Everyone though there was decent chance Pistons-Cavs would be over after four, or at least 3-1 Pistons; I haven't been watching the games, but the scores suggest the Cavs have succeeded by taking the air out of the ball.

And then there's Clips-Suns, which seems to be playing out sort of like I thought it would. The Suns have speed, shooters, and experience; the Clippers have much better inside players and their guards aren't half bad. Neither can really stop the other from doing what they want on offense, so home court slightly favors Phoenix.

 

[Crothian]

Go Cleveland!! I'm not sure anyone predicted this!! One more win and then it's on to face the Heat!!

 

[Ranger REG]

You know the world's ending if the Clippers made the final, right?

Yay, Clippers! Yay, Armageddon!

 

[drothgery]

Go Cleveland!! I'm not sure anyone predicted this!! One more win and then it's on to face the Heat!!

I'm sure noone outside of the most crazed Cavs fan predicted they'd have a lead in this series at any time, except maybe being up 1-0 after the first game if the Pistons came out rusty and/or overconfident.

I still have to think that the most likely scenario is that the Pistons get their heads straightened out and win the last two; seven game series give the better team a huge advantage (ask the Lakers and Kings about it). But I wouldn't bet on it.

You know the world's ending if the Clippers made the final, right?

Yay, Clippers! Yay, Armageddon!

Fortunately, there's the Suns and the Spurs/Mavs winner to try to hold together the fabric of reality. Last week I'd've added the Pistons to the list, but I'm not so sure of that anymore.

 

[Dungannon]

I'm not a big basketball fan, but I must admit to finding myself intrigued by this year's playoffs, especially the Sun/Clippers series. They've just been entertaining games to watch, even for a nonpartisan like me.

 

[d20Dwarf]

Yes, the games this year have all been really good, except for any train wreck that includes the Miami Heat (it's like using a cudgel in a technical fencing tournament...do they *have* skills?).

Of course, I did have to blog last night after the Mavs/Spurs game. Those refs are on crack. That is the worst officiating crew I have ever seen...it's like what they do has no bearing on reality whatsoever...it's like an improv show where nobody's paying attention to the other performers (2nd analogy!). I'm not even saying it's one-sided (although last night was decidedly all Spurs in the calls/no calls department), I'm just saying that they are completely retarded.