[OT] Basketball anyone?

[Flinx]

Okay, I know this is mostly a hockey crowd and the last NBA Playoff thread didn't generate too many reponses, but has anybody seen the last few playoff games? They've been great! As a Laker fan, Game 4 was awesome. And even though LA lost Game 5, it was still fun to watch. The Eastern Conference matchups have likewise been entertaining. It's been a while since I've felt that the NBA playoffs have been this competative.

Also, I didn't see too many Sacramento regular season games but I knew Weber and Bibby were good, but when did Divac start playing so good?!

So, anybody else watching?

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Divac's always been a pretty good passer and had decent shooting range for a big guy, as far as I can recall. I think it's more the case that he really fits in with the Kings offense more than he's wicked good all of a sudden.

Just finished watching Game 5 in the West. God, I hope the Kings can pull it out — their offense is really fun to watch (Webber's got some funky moves).

As for the East, I feel pretty good about the Celtics (mainly because the Nets don't seem to be able to keep the Celtics down — yes, the C's lost the last game, but they should never have come back like they did again. Win or lose, Byron Scott and the Nets have to be concerned about their inability to keep the C's down by large margins. Really, the way the Boston supporting cast played was terrible. Sickening. The Nets should have run away with that one...).

Not that you asked, but here are my predictions:

East: Celtics in 7
(Probably against conventional wisdom, but the Celtics owned the Nets during the season, and nothing I've seen from the Nets really tells me that they're going to pull this out. Well, maybe Jason Kidd — this just in, he's pretty good. )

West: Lakers in 7
(I just don't see the Kings winning in L.A., and in a one game, do or die playoff, the Lakers will buckle down.)

Finals: Lakers in 5
(I think the C's could pick up one at the Fleet, maybe even two — they did take two from L.A. during the season, but I'll stay conservative here. It hurts the C's too much that they have no big body to put on Shaq. Quite frankly, I don't think it matters — Boston-L.A. would be a good series for everyone involved. Minus Sacramento and New Jersey. As for, what ifs — if NJ-Sac, then Sac in 6, if Bos-Sac, then Sac in 4 — Kings and C's do not match up well.)

Just my opinion.

Best,
tKL

 

[Black Omega]

I'm a big basketball fan. It's my second sport,ahead of sumo and just behind football (Soccer to us Yanks.)

One additional thing about Divac. He's very savvy and devious. He knows every trick and is very agile getting his shot off when posted up. And he flops like a pro, which Shaq just hates.

I'm more a Celtics fan from pasrt years. And I think Boston is the better team. But the way the Celtics keep getting way down bothers me. I would not be at all surprised to see NJ win this one in 7.

AS a long time Celts fan, I don't need to give my opinion of LA. At this point I think momentum is on the side of Sac. This series could easily have been a 4-0 for the Kings, they know they can hang with the Lakers and beat them now. And past Shaq and Kobe, the Lakers have no one who can consistently step up and score.

 

[Negative Zero]

i gotta agree with Flinx. this post season has been spectacular. i'm sure no one in my building gets any sleep till the games are done, coz my apt is so loud! lol after not paying a whole lot of attention to the season, i'm glad i've gone back.

i'm a Lakers fan too. i've heard a lot of those arguments that Black Omega made about them from last year and the year before that. fact or otherwise, doesn't seem to stop them from winning! the lakers haven't really played consistently well and they're STILL in it. LA is losing those games just as much as Sac is winning them. meaning that Sac isn't really dominating. i don't see anyone who can stop LA when they'r on their game.

i hated the Divac flop even when he played for LA. there just shouldn't be any room for that mess in real games. he actually went down tonight, after a screen from Fisher. FISHER!!! the smallest guard on the lakers, supposedly knocked him down. what a waste.

and that damn Bibby. that damned Mike Bibby! i think Webber is overrated, but that boy Bibby can ball! how i hate his guts! LOL all in all it's been a great ride so far. can't wait to see the rest of it. personally, tho i've hated the Celtics, i'd rather they win the East. coz i really like Jason Kidd, and i don't want to see him dissapointed at the big dance.

~NegZ

 

[Flinx]

I really really hope your predictions hold true Kajamba, but the Lakers can't wait for a one game do-or-die playoff. They have to buckle down NOW! However, I do agree that whoever wins in the West will probably win the whole thing. Then again, I thought the Lakers would beat the Kings in 5.

Regarding Divac, its his defense that's kind of surprising me. Not only is he frustrating Shaq, that was one KEY block he put on Kobe towards the end of Game 5.

Omega, I do hope your Celts pull it out. It'd be fun to revive that LA/Boston rivalry.

 

[Black Omega]

Really, both conference finals have been great. Very competative. Jason Kidd is just willing his team into winning games, the mark of a great player. I think the Celts can win but it's always a mistake to count out NJ.

Negative Zero: I'm a Lakers fan too. i've heard a lot of those arguments that Black Omega made about them from last year and the year before that. fact or otherwise, doesn't seem to stop them from winning!

Maybe you missed that they are down 3-2 to the Kings now. And averaging 10 less points a game from last year. Last year they also had four players scoring in double figures. This year? Two.
I agree the Laker's when on their game are awesome. But they've not really been on their game all year. Were they just waiting for someone to put them down 3-2 before trying?

You can't count the Lakers out, not by any means. But they have an uphill struggle ahead of them. Against a team much much better than the Kings they played last year.

 

[Maerdwyn]

I heartily agree with the statements about this post season - this is four games in a row now that have come down to the last seconds. It's been the most entertaining conference finals in years, IMHO

I'm a die-hard Celtics fan, who thought their season was a success after the Philly series, and am just beside myself with glee now. Both my heart and head say Celts in 7. My heart says they'll take three from the Lakers, but lose in 7. My head says they lose in 5. If Sac bets the Lakers, Kajamba's right: they'll likely sweep the Celts.

 

[Boone]

, doesn't seem to stop them from winning! the lakers haven't really played consistently well and they're STILL in it. LA is losing those games just as much as Sac is winning them. meaning that Sac isn't really dominating. i don't see anyone who can stop LA when they'r on their game.

~NegZ

Sacramento not dominating.....? What games are you watching...?

The Kings poor foul shooting is the only thing that has allowed the games to be close...

And they shouldn't be called the LA Lakers they should be called "Shaq, Kobe and their tag along bitches."

Take away Kobe's incredible "bail out" shots as the shot clock runs down and the lakers are worse than a mediocre team.

LA has a walking offensive foul "Shaq", The fresh prince of Bel Air who must eat 4 leaf clover in Horry, some other bitches and then you have Micheal Jordan... ooops I mean Kobe.

Kobe is amazing, Shaq is a monster and the rest of the lakers are just......filling the roster. And phil jackson is micheal jordans play thing.

 

[Negative Zero]

wow, some people get so touchy and personal! you do realisethat it is just a game right? fun. remember fun? now go lie down, and take your heart medication. LOL (jus playin) i'm not even gonna try to respond to any of that. (draw whatever conclusions you want from it.) some people crack me up tho!

~NegZ

 

[reapersaurus]

boone, while a bit over the top, has it pretty close to right.

As an avid Kings fan since they came here in '85, I'm SO glad that the Lakers are having their insulting, arrogant words shoved down their throat with each game that this series goes on.

I'm actually quite pleased that the Kings won game 5 - they probably didn't deserve to nearly as much as they did Game 4.
But now they go back to the Staples Center, where they have pretty much owned the Lakers for all but .3 of a second in the playoffs. LOL

I've been waiting patiently for anyone to start a basketball thread to talk about these great playoffs.