The Swamp

Figured I'd start a new thread for the playoffs. Barring an injury to LeBron, I don't see how anyone beats Miami. But at least the West playoffs should be interesting. I have a feeling that the Celtics are going to have a last hurrah and upset the Knicks in the first round.

The West will be hugely entertaining.

Too bad Gallinari tore his ACL, because at full strength with that ridic home court advantage, they had a real shot to make the Western Finals.

Cs look good so far. Theyve got a much better shot than most 7 seeds. Still, barring injury is Miami. Doesnt have to be lebron though.

Are the Pistons in the playoffs?

On Derrick Rose not playing... I understand not wanting to rush back but hasn't he been medically cleared to play for a month now? I even see sitting out the regular season but not giving it a go in the playoffs seems to be the height of selfishness to me.

Rams Fanny wrote:On Derrick Rose not playing... I understand not wanting to rush back but hasn't he been medically cleared to play for a month now? I even see sitting out the regular season but not giving it a go in the playoffs seems to be the height of selfishness to me.

Agreed. And it's underscored by the fact that his team is getting annihilated through two quarters (so far).

Steph Curry shoots 7-20, scores only 19; David Lee injury causes him to miss the 4th quarter; Nuggets have the best home record and rabid fans.

Dubs lose by 2. I like this team. Hope Lee's hip flexor strain heals fast.

A couple idle thoughts after I flipped on Grizz-Clippers...

How bad would Del Negro look if Hubie was at his old job coaching instead of doing color commentary?

Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups were a a possible backcourt combo for Team DSafetyGuy in the All-Time Swamp NBA Draft. Also, my final pick in that draft (it crapped out in the middle of the next-to-last round) is Pau Gasol. He joins Charles Barkley, Bob Pettit, Paul, Dave Bing, Walt Bellamy, Drazen Petrovic, Billups, Larry Nance, Bruce Bowen, and so on (Terrell Brandon?), coached by Chuck Daly at Pauley Pavilion.

Paul/Billups not a bad second team backcourt. Which they clearly are, on that squad. Cause you don't need great assist men to feed chuckles, Petit and Bellamy.

My starting backcourt for Team DSafety would be Dave Bing and Bruce Bowen. Bing had experience trying to get Bellamy to focus on the game, after Detroit's fateful trade that sent Debusshchere to the Knicks, completing their legendary championship team. This was said to be no easy task. Bells was one of the great wasted talents in NBA history. Bowen was a tremendous defender, which is nice to have in a league of superstars. And you may as well have a non-shooter in one slot as even if they played with two balls there wouldn't be enough shots for the frontcourt of this team.

Mark Eaton was my back-up center, as well.

Btw, Lakers will not win the 2013 NBA championship. I just now figured this out.

Weatherfrog wrote:Btw, Lakers will not win the 2013 NBA championship. I just now figured this out.

Neither will the Rockets. I'm scared to look up the most lopsided series in playoff history because I won't be surprised if the Rockets beat it.

At certain points, NBA basketball is beautiful. Unfortunately, to get some of that beauty, you have to put up with a lot of Vinny del Negro decisions.

DSafetyGuy wrote:At certain points, NBA basketball is beautiful. Unfortunately, to get some of that beauty, you have to put up with a lot of Vinny del Negro decisions.

If one is a basketball purist, this Clippers/Grizz game is hideous. But, damn! This is a great game so far.

Why does Dr. J find it necessary to hawk booze for a paycheck? Crap booze at that (Crown Royal). Not as bad as Kareem selling beer, but unnecessary.

Vinny still trying to figure out rotations?

Scottie wrote:

DSafetyGuy wrote:At certain points, NBA basketball is beautiful. Unfortunately, to get some of that beauty, you have to put up with a lot of Vinny del Negro decisions.

If one is a basketball purist, this Clippers/Grizz game is hideous. But, damn! This is a great game so far.

The Clippers may be the greatest "Free Darko" team in the history of the NBA, if only that website still existed. Paul, Bledsoe, Crawford, Griffin, Jordan, Hill, Barnes, Billups...

ETA: And Odom and Turiaf.

howard wrote:Vinny still trying to figure out rotations?

He is in the glorious position of having too many guys he can trust who also do him the favor of being injured a few at a time so the hard work is out of his hands.

One of the best NBA games of the year? How about one of the best NBA games in years?

Giff wrote:

Weatherfrog wrote:Btw, Lakers will not win the 2013 NBA championship. I just now figured this out.

Neither will the Rockets. I'm scared to look up the most lopsided series in playoff history because I won't be surprised if the Rockets beat it.

Well, shit. Had a great chance to steal one last night. McHale's adjustments last night were really spot-on. Patrick Beverley was a revelation in the starting lineup. I loved him going right at Westbrook. Lin going out at half really hurt especially when Beverley went out with his ridiculous 4th foul early in the third. It also helps to get wide-open threes when you're up 1 late the in the ball game when the man coming out to defend the shooter has his arm held by Kendrick Perkins. Just an awful no-call right in front of the official. Oh well, a three-point loss is certainly easier to take than 29.

I know it is only the first round, but I am dismayed by the coverage the Pacers are getting. They have looked extremely well these first two games. Roy is playing big again (as he has since the All-Star break) and George is showing how much he has improved. Since I don't have NBAtv I only got the highlights on SportsCenter and TBS. Little to no coverage of the game. I am so sick of the Lakers. They lost. Again. They are old. We get it. Enough already.

Hey Duff:

That is disturbing. Very disturbing.

Lakers will be starting Darrius Morris and Andrew Goudelock for game 3. Blake, Nash and Meeks all out.

Worst backcourt Lakers have ever started. Ever. This is not an exaggeration. Look it up.

Isn't it too late to tank for lottery position?

Weatherfrog wrote:Lakers will be starting Darrius Morris and Andrew Goudelock for game 3. Blake, Nash and Meeks all out.

Worst backcourt Lakers have ever started. Ever. This is not an exaggeration. Look it up.

Weirdly, the Lakers are a mere +3 tonight.

EDIT: At 3:00 AM on CBS Sportsline that is.

howard wrote:Isn't it too late to tank for lottery position?

IIRC the Suns own the Lakers 1st rounder.

Keg wrote:

howard wrote:Isn't it too late to tank for lottery position?

IIRC the Suns own the Lakers 1st rounder.

I thought it was only if it was a lotto pick (and I'm sure top 3 protected or something).

And wow, Westbrook out indefinitely with a torn meniscus.

Now we'll see if Durant can score 50 a night, i suppose.

hate to see one of the other teams best players taken out. I didn't want to lose that way.

Best moment of the playoffs Grizz/Clips wasn't that ridic game-winner from Paul in game 2, it was the moment when everyone wasn't sure in Game 3 if Z-bo was about to kill Matt Barnes. The look on Barnes' face was priceless. He wasn't sure either.

3OT coming up in Chicago. That (and diminishing returns) got me to switch off the Zep.

For the love of Jesus and all things holy, never let Mark Jackson's wife sing the National Anthem again.

That was deplorable.

Steph Curry was amazing during last nights third quarter. He lit up Denver.

Is the other NBA thread where the playoff discussion is happening?

Sorry to see SA do what they do last night to Golden State. They are just so damn good, even in their old age.

Yeah, guess this thread dropped too far back in the pages.

How bout dem Grizz?

Enjoying the run. More so enjoying all those national idiots who brayed that without Gay their year was done. So myopic. That team so much better without him.

Yeah, I remember Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo was crushing John Hollinger after the Gay trade. Trade looks fine in retrospect. Not sure the Grizz will make it to the Finals, but I think they match up the best against Miami. Z-Bo and Gasol could create some mismatches inside.

Hoping against hope for Golden State to find a way to upset SA. The grizzlies certainly can beat the Spurs (2011) but it is a nasty long series if it comes to pass and Duncan/Splitter are a fine match for Gasol/Randolph. And on the perimiter, its the Spurs. Although Conley taking a leap helps matters at PG.

In any event, not having Gay chucking up shots on 40% shooting while grinding the offensive flow to a halt has been huge.

tennbengal wrote:Although Conley taking a leap…

heh. nice one.

Are we watching Curry become the best point guard in the league?