The NBA Thread

[Key Loser]

Philly v Boston series should be awesome.

Im a little upset the Bulls didnt make it, but they were destined to fail without Noah and Rose.

[Mr. Spacely]

I have a feeling that the Lakers are going to win game 7 with Artest back, but it would be nice to be wrong there.

Why?! Why must you wish pain upon me! I have a kid. It's not fair to her to see Daddy like this.

[Flat1andeer]

I had the pleasure to attend last nights game in Boston. I've never seen a team show as much guts and heart as the Celtics did last night. It felt like they were down 15-20 points the entire game. Rondo hitting three straigt jumpers down the stretch was the most surprising thing I have ever seen. If Garnett can stay healthy and Ray can get on track, Miami could have a problem in the East finals.

As far as the West goes, I don't see a team like OKC beating the Spurs but look for Memphis to give them a tough series if they get past the Clips today (which they will). San Antonio lacks the ability to stop size and Gasol/Zbo could give them fits down low.

[Mr. Spacely]

Re: Lakers vs OKC

Ruh-roh.

[JON IN PHL]

Loving the playoffs so far.

Sixers are still alive which is nice (unless you like scoring) although it seems Boston is going to teach them a lesson. If they can figure out some form of reliable offense next year, they could make some strides.

OKC is so much fun to watch (especially when Laker losses are part of the equation) and Harden is easily my favorite player in the league right now. He reminds me of Mega-Man.

San Antonio looks like a Championship Team for sure. Hard to see anyone holding that offense down over 7 games.

Very interesting to see what happens with Miami. I still think they make it past Indiana, but if Bosh isn't back and contributing I don't see them standing much of a chance against whoever survives the West.

At this point, is there anyone less likable in the league than Dwyane Wade? If the constant whining, flailing, and flopping wasn't enough he has emerged as a legitimately dirty player. Broke Kobe's nose in the ASG, hit Lucas III with a really dangerous pick, and then ran over Collison like a Free Safety. I admit he is an amazing and at times transcendent player, but I couldn't enjoy watching him less. Such a douche.

[Gilly]

I used to like Wade, thought he was a pretty classy guy. I think this sums it up:

Mr. Show - Change

[gravy boat]

I, too, detest Wade but I thought that shoe throw was pretty funny and harmless.  I do think his hit on Collison was a punk move.  When things don't go his way, he is a huge baby.  Dwyane Wade flagrant foul on Darren Collison Heat vs Pacers Game 2

Good for the Pacers. Team basketball.

Let's hope the Thunder keep it moving tonight.  Harden is one of my favorite players too--he drives the lane so fast and fearless.

[Gilly]

The shoe throw would have been a lot funnier if it was done by a guy who had a sense of humor about things. Like Wade two years ago. Heck, even Lebron would have been able to play that off as funny. 2012 Wade just comes off as a jerk.

[Greggulator]

I hate D-Wade so much.

As much as I detest LeBron, Wade should get absolutely ripped for what he's done against Indiana. LBJ got torn a new one for passing up the shot in Game 2. But before that, a play -- and a beautiful one, at that -- was drawn up to get Wade the ball in the high post. Instead of trying to score, he took a dive trying to get a foul call. And when he didn't -- and he wasn't fouled -- he just had this look of disdain and then complained.

Him yelling at Coach Spo was pretty awful. Uh, Dwyane, you don't have to take fadeaway 20-foot jump shots every single time down the court, dude.

If the Heat don't win the title, there's going to be some major changes in Miami. At the very least, Spo's fired (and deservedly) at the end of the season. At the very most, we can expect a LBJ/D-Wade war of words at some point in the off-season.

My prediction: Phil jackson, next MIA coach.

[Gilly]

Does anybody else think that slashers are kind of worthless? I know Rose is considered a slasher and wins and maybe a couple other guys, but 9 out of 10 times a slasher is just basically a play stopper, and when you have a guy like Lebron who is pretty great at moving the ball around, I wonder if they would have been better off losing Wade instead of Bosh.

[Andy]

41 of the Lakers 99 points were from free throws??? And did you see the fouls called on harden? Terrible

[Mr. Spacely]

Still in mourning for this Lakers season. What a schizophrenic, stop-start mess. And it may only get messier. Next year could see a new SF, new PF, new C, new PG, and new coach.

Can't decide whether this OKC loss, or last year's Mavs loss hit me harder.

[Gilly]

I don't know if you'll see a new coach, he got an aged Lakers team to the Conference semis. The fact that they were looking at Ramon Sessions as their point guard of the future says a lot about the state of that team. They're definitely going to trade Gasol, not sure what they can get in return though. There's money coming off the books to get some depth. The question is what to do with Bynum. I think they'll pick up the option, but I wouldn't fault them for letting him go to free up salary to fill some holes. Whatever they do, they need to remain a contender because no way is Kobe going to play his final years for a rebuilding team. But, I think they can easily blow up the team, prepare for a Kobeless future and remain a contender. They are the Lakers after all even if I don't want to admit that.

[Greggulator]

GAME 7!

1 2 3 4 5 SIXERS! Philadelphia 76ers Oldschool Anthem

[Mr. Spacely]

Congrats to all the Phiadelphianites for their boys getting this far.  I'm rooting for you.

But man, I don't think you could pay me to watch a 68-62 NBA game.