So who's keeping up with the NBA Playoffs?
I'm a huge Lakers fan but I'm even a bigger generic basketball fan so I've watched a majority of the televised playoff games thus far. They have just been so exciting, from the last second winners in the Sixers/Magic series to the sunday double overtime victory by the Bulls against the Celtics.
Also, I'm not sure if any of you guys saw the Miami Heat game last night (they lost), but something happened that I've NEVER seen before. James Jones had a 4 point play where he was fouled shooting a three and then hit the free throw too. These are rare enough as they are, but then on the inbounds the Heat were able to take a charge on Bibby and get the ball right back. What do they do? Go to James Jones and AGAIN he gets fouled by Bibby while shooting and converts on the 4 point play. 8 points in about 30 seconds, back to back 4 point plays.... never seen that before.
Reminds me of T-Mac's 13 points in 35 seconds to come back and beat the Spurs a few years back but that's in a league of its own...
So yeah I think everyone is anticipating a Lakers / Cavs finals, I got the Lakers in 7 if it gets there. What do you guys think?
Also, I'm not sure if any of you guys saw the Miami Heat game last night (they lost), but something happened that I've NEVER seen before. James Jones had a 4 point play where he was fouled shooting a three and then hit the free throw too. These are rare enough as they are, but then on the inbounds the Heat were able to take a charge on Bibby and get the ball right back. What do they do? Go to James Jones and AGAIN he gets fouled by Bibby while shooting and converts on the 4 point play. 8 points in about 30 seconds, back to back 4 point plays.... never seen that before.
Reminds me of T-Mac's 13 points in 35 seconds to come back and beat the Spurs a few years back but that's in a league of its own...
So yeah I think everyone is anticipating a Lakers / Cavs finals, I got the Lakers in 7 if it gets there. What do you guys think?
Comments
I'm a Ray Allen fan myself, so I'm hoping the Celtics can pull it out somehow..
But if they can't, I'd love to see the Cavs win it all..
actually as long as a team other then LA wins the title, I'll be happy, sorry Jone!
I got the Cavs winning it all this year. Pretty sure they can take the Lakers. Especially if they continue to have "easy" series. A well-rested Lebron is scary. Any team that can stretch the Lakers out is doing the Cavs a huge favor.
I'm not too worried about Lebron beating us, it's their bigs that I think would wear down Odom / Gasol and Bynum would have to step up and play with with some passion. You expect Lebron to have his 30 point games, but it's the supporting cast you need to shut down. The same can be said when playing against Kobe.
I don't think rest is going to be an issue at all unless the Lakers take a 7 game series into the finals and the Cavs just coast in with a 4 game sweep. Even if you want to play the "rest" card, that'd only really matter in the first game.
The bigger issue is Cavs having homecourt. Cavs were 39-2 at home this year, one loss was last game of the season when starters were being rested, other loss game to the Lakers when the Lakers had back to back wins @ Cleveland and @ Boston back in Feburary...
Should be fun, Lakers fizzled last year without Bynum and if Bynum even plays to 75% of his potential then it should be a Lakers win no questions asked.
I am actually questioning my sexuality due to Lebron James, I'm on the edge of love with this kid.. I mean he is my age! WTF! My brother in law is a HUGE Lakers, fan.. and I love the Cavs. to death. Nothing would make me happier if it were Lakers/Cavs in the Championship.
Oh, and to make the JJ thing that more impressive.. it was 8 points in 11 seconds!
Bynum annoys the crap out of me. I love him as a player, and I've had him on my fantasy squad two years running. Thing is, he is either hurt or not playing to his potential. He COULD be a top-three big man in the league. He could easily be a Tim Duncan, even better, if he really, really wanted it. I've watched a bunch of Laker ball this year, and he just seems so lackadaisical. There were times (his 42 point explosion, and the handful of games before he got injured) that he flashed his abilities, and he was unstoppable.
He's only 21 too, so compare his numbers to people of his age group like Greg Oden who are all hype and no play. It's unfair to expect your young center who has never averaged more than 30 minutes a game to put up ridiculous numbers. He still was good for a double double average (10 boards / 13 points) last year in the injury shortened season...
I love his physical play and he fits perfect with the team. I don't want my big man out shooting 3s (Dirk), I don't want him playing soft in the paint and shooting fadeaway hooks (Gasol), and I definitely want him to finish strong with a slam rather than some soft layup (Kwame Brown / "Big Baby" Davis). Bynum has all 3 of those qualities, is very young and has the likes of Kareem-Abdul Jabarr and Kobe Bryant to teach him.
He'll develop, just give him time
He's only 21 too, so compare his numbers to people of his age group like Greg Oden who are all hype and no play.
ill bet you a thousand dollars that oden ends up with more all star appearances than bynum. once the rookie ticky tack foul crap stops and he can stay in for 35 minutes, its all over i promise you.
ill bet you a thousand dollars that oden ends up with more all star appearances than bynum. once the rookie ticky tack foul crap stops and he can stay in for 35 minutes, its all over i promise you.
This is an easy bet. I know both guys have had injury problems, but Oden doesn't stand a chance of being better than Bynum in the long run. All you have to do is look at Oden. He doesn't have the type of body that can withstand NBA games day in and day out. Bynum's injury was a kind of freak thing, but Oden simply isn't built for that type of wear and tear. Not to mention Bynum is the superior athlete. Oden has been successful for years because he was simply the biggest, strongest guy. Not so in the NBA. I'd put my money on Bynum any day.
What exactly about his body makes you think its not durable? i think its more his posture and his face that mislead people. Oden will strike fear in to the NBA in 2 years. Casual fans in maine wont even be safe.
http://www.slamdunkcentral.com/2009/03/04/will-odens-fragile-body-ever-allow-him-to-reach-greatness/
He's only 21 too, so compare his numbers to people of his age group like Greg Oden who are all hype and no play.
ill bet you a thousand dollars that oden ends up with more all star appearances than bynum. once the rookie ticky tack foul crap stops and he can stay in for 35 minutes, its all over i promise you.
lol, I'm not even going to start a hypothetical argument, it's pointless.
But as of right now, Oden has done nothing except rebound and block shots. He's uses too much finesse on the offensive side of the ball rather than being aggressive and putting it down with authority.
I'm not sure if you play basketball or if you just watch as a fan, but have you ever heard of someone "playing heavier" than their weight? Apparently Oden and Bynum are exactly the same height and weightwise (7 feet, 285 lbs), but Bynum plays "heavy" and Oden doesn't.
Plus who is mentoring Oden? Bynum has worked directly with Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Magic Johnson and has the winningest coach of all time to teach him. I'm not sure who's teaching Oden, but when you are mentored by greatness then you definitely have a better potential of living up to your talent rather than being a dud.
Bynum will be a 20 point 10 board guy in the future, I cannot say the same with Oden. Sure we could argue his "potential" but there's been so many people that have fallen well short of the bar that was set for them (Kwame Brown, Penny Haradaway, etc.)
what is the writers argument there? 48 minutes a day is so hard? (and its every other day actually). Mutumbo was 50 years old and he ran the same distance at like 240. then he wraps up his article with the genius notion that because portland has had bad luck with big men, we should now choose based on superstition? cmon, now.
Watching my Bulls, they are surprising in the Playoffs, very intense games. However even if they beat the Celtics, they still won't get that far.
Word is Ben Gordon's hamstring is flaring up bad to the point he won't be able to play. If that is so, the Bulls may be in trouble, but i would LOVE to see them beat those cocky Celtics.
I'm intrigued with the Chicago/Boston series this round, though.
I think they have a legitamit chance if they can squeeze it out tonight.
Go Bulls!!
Bulls. I was at the last game. Great game to be at.
....you little bitch
LA/Cleveland final. I'd love to see Cleveland get a win, but with how LA dominated us in the regular season, I have a hard time truly believing we can win.
These games have been kicking ASS over time 4/5 games!
ITS CRAZY!!!
Lets hope we pull it off tonight
Jeremy.
its crazy!!!!!
Jeremy.
Boston Vs Bulls has been crazy