Alrighty, It's the 2012 NBA Playoffs Thread

[whomario]

Originally Posted by molson

I'm surprised more countries haven't been more aggressive doing this for basketball.

The reason why it´s not done more often is very simple : You can´t have more than 1 such "naturalized" player on the roster in all the official FIBA tournaments.

Also, even the US did it with Olajuwon.

[Desnudo]

nice clothesline by world peace last night. Dick Butkus would be proud.

[MrBug708]

Former UCLA start, JR Henderson played in Japan for a while and even changed his name to become a citizen

[korme]

Worst drawing ever?

[korme]

Miami 2nd possession: Ball goes in post to Pittman, he puts his head down, dribbles ineffectively a couple of times, goes under the hoop and gets rejected by Hibbert. I think they're done trying that experiment

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by korme

Miami 2nd possession: Ball goes in post to Pittman, he puts his head down, dribbles ineffectively a couple of times, goes under the hoop and gets rejected by Hibbert. I think they're done trying that experiment

I don't know why they are hesitant to start Joel Anthony. On offense he's a negative but he's the only guy big enough to deal with David West or Hibbert on the other end.

[CleBrownsfan]

I've never been such a fan of the Pacers

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

I've never been such a fan of the Pacers

The way that Miami can automatically make me a fan of whatever team they are playing is amazing.

[Groundhog]

dola

I even bought a Dirk jersey following the Finals last season.

[stevew]

Assuming Indy wins this, Joey Crawford or another Stern Flunky has to be in for game 4. Can't have Miami go down 3-1.

[ColtCrazy]

When I bought my tickets for Game 4 on Sunday, and then watched game 1...I was hoping I wouldn't be there for a close out game. Instead, I'm extremely pumped about this game. Going to be huge. Pacers win that, and I think they win the series. Going to be a crazy arena that afternoon. I can't wait!

[Racer]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

When I bought my tickets for Game 4 on Sunday, and then watched game 1...I was hoping I wouldn't be there for a close out game. Instead, I'm extremely pumped about this game. Going to be huge. Pacers win that, and I think they win the series. Going to be a crazy arena that afternoon. I can't wait!

I think whoever wins game four wins the series.

[Arles]

I really enjoyed watching this Indiana team. After what I've seen of Wade these playoffs, I'm just not sure he's that great a player. He can't hit 3s at all (0 for the playoffs), his mid-range shooting is average and unless he gets to the free throw line or fast break chances - he's not a great offensive player.

He's reminding me a ton of Iverson in that he's a volume scorer that basically ends up with one point per shot taken. Lebron is Lebron, he's going to get you 20+ points on 50% shooting with a bunch of rebs, assists and steals. But if you can't run and he's not getting touch fouls, I'm not sure how Wade scores in the halfcourt. I honestly think they would have been much better off without Wade but with Bosh. I mean, Wade had twice as many turnovers as FG made during a night where his best was needed for them to have a chance.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by Racer

I think whoever wins game four wins the series.

I would agree with this.

Although if Joey Crawford is there, and some crazed fan attacks him prior to the game, can anyone here provide an alibi for me?

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by Arles

He's reminding me a ton of Iverson in that he's a volume scorer that basically ends up with one point per shot taken. Lebron is Lebron, he's going to get you 20+ points on 50% shooting with a bunch of rebs, assists and steals. But if you can't run and he's not getting touch fouls, I'm not sure how Wade scores in the halfcourt. I honestly think they would have been much better off without Wade but with Bosh. I mean, Wade had twice as many turnovers as FG made during a night where his best was needed for them to have a chance.

Wade's best skill has always been his ability to attack the basket and either finish in traffic or draw fouls. It's hard not to imagine that he's going to decline rather quickly now that he's on the wrong side of 30.

With LeBron's ability to handle and pass, he'll be able to play as long as he likes even once his explosiveness is gone.

[Julio Riddols]

I love seeing this. If the Pacers win this series it will be one of the happiest moments of my life as a sports fan. Love seeing the Heat fall on their face in the absence of the member of the trio who many consider to be the least valuable to the team.

[Neon_Chaos]

Go Pacers!

[RomaGoth]

lol @Miami Heat

[Neon_Chaos]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Wade's best skill has always been his ability to attack the basket and either finish in traffic or draw fouls. It's hard not to imagine that he's going to decline rather quickly now that he's on the wrong side of 30.

With LeBron's ability to handle and pass, he'll be able to play as long as he likes even once his explosiveness is gone.

I always thought of Wade as a taller version of young Baron Davis.

I fully expected him to go down Davis' path with injuries et al.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

I always thought of Wade as a taller version of young Baron Davis.

I fully expected him to go down Davis' path with injuries et al.

Davis was a much better perimeter player and could post up. It seems like Wade's entire offensive game is to bull-rush the rim and hope for a whistle. His mid-range and 3-point shooting is terrible and he rarely moves without the ball. If Lebron isn't scoring, he can help you in other areas (defense, rebounding, assists...). If Wade goes 2-13 like tonight, he just kills your team.

I would hate to see what the national media would do to Lebron if he had a 2-13 night tonight, but Wade seems to get a pass for some reason. He'll get some criticism, but not nearly as much as Lebron for tonight - who finished with 22 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl and shot nearly 50%.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

Although if Joey Crawford is there, and some crazed fan attacks him prior to the game, can anyone here provide an alibi for me?

I suspect the NBA has several cloned Joey Crawfords and Dick Bavettas to back up the originals, just in case. The Pacers have no prayer.

[Matthean]

In other news, the Spurs are kind of good.

[whomario]

Anybody remember when "Lebron at PF" was all the rage ? Yeah, well ... The Dexter Pittman experiment was pretty entertaining. Feel sort of bad for him, but damn was that predictable.

Another small example of why Hibbert has actually gotten really good. Not the greatest talent but he works really hard (there´s been a terrific Grantland article detailing how he basically needs to put in hours and hours of work to get his coordination up for the task) and actually has the mentality to accept challenges, sth many big guys don´t have. He saw Pittman out there and basically went "wait, are you serious ?" and immediately put the breaks on that.



@ Matthean : They are and i hope they end up winning it all, the way they play is just fun to watch. Picking up Diaw could end up being huge and with OKCs not-exactly offensive minded frontcourt he can expect many minutes as well, then OKC has to decide if they put Ibaka on him and be drawn outside the paint or put Ibaka on Duncan who´ll make him pay if he leaves him to block shots (as the spurs are pretty much brilliant when it comes to dumbing the ball off against the help)
The Lakers would pose a bigger threat with their frontcourt theoretically, but since they (read "Kobe") refuse to utilize them ... Plus Parker would have a field day as aparently getting Sessions didn´t change the fact that the Lakers can´t defend scoring PGs at all.

Hope Manu stays healthy for another couple of years, hope to see a fully bald Manu still juking and faking his way around defenders


@ Arles : There´s no denying though that he was a great player in his prime. That he isn´t now is a statement i can live with, but over his career so far he was.
And that him and James have skillsets that don´t 100% overlap is clear.

[whomario]

Rajon Rondo is incredible. I get he can be frustrating for Boston Fans and sure he has his limitations, but as a neutral basketball fan with a general "glass half full" mentality i can´t help but be amazed by his passing ability (he literally puts every pass right where guys need it) and vision.

He´s also one of those players where i´m not sure another "version" will come around anytime soon.

[SirFozzie]

Nice to see the reds are doling their best to keep the sixers in the game, (although the Celtics should have put them away before now)

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Nice to see the reds are doling their best to keep the sixers in the game, (although the Celtics should have put them away before now)

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Nice to see the reds are doling their best to keep the sixers in the game, (although the Celtics should have put them away before now)

[SirFozzie]

Give me a break. I'm not saying the C's havent let the sixers back into it.. but there is NO way the sixers should be +18 on free throws

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Give me a break. I'm not saying the C's havent let the sixers back into it.. but there is NO way the sixers should be +18 on free throws

What game have you been watching? I'm surprised the Sixers haven't been mauled by a tiger yet on D.

[SirFozzie]

That's the third time ttheyve tried the back door cut to Allen and each time its been a to

[Desnudo]

Celtics should be up by 30. No one to blame but themselves. The refs are calling a shitty game all around that's ruining what is already a bad tempo.

[SirFozzie]

And even the espn folks are questioning the refs

[EagleFan]

lol, waaaaaa waaaaaa waaaaaaa

[SirFozzie]

Looks like a free throw competition will decide this one

[EagleFan]

those damn refs must have just caused that turnover....

[SirFozzie]

You're ignoring what ive said that it doesn't excuse the ceeltics letting them back in it

[SirFozzie]

And the celtics are doing a SHITTY job on the defensive rebounds

[SirFozzie]

And now it looks like the refs have changed teams.. celtics only have one team foul while they are shooting the rest of the way

[EagleFan]

Damn commies

[Lathum]

WTF, Boston was just winning bu 16. Thee really is no point to watching basketball until the last 2 minutes

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

You're ignoring what ive said that it doesn't excuse the ceeltics letting them back in it

I'm just messing with you. I don't really care about the Sixers. I'm a complete bandwagon fan there. Will enjoy it if they win but them losing won't affect me.

[Eaglesfan27]

Iggy!!

[SirFozzie]

Big shots made by the sixers. I still like our chances in a best of three with games five and seven at home

[EagleFan]

That seemed like a really poor shot choice.

[ColtCrazy]

Why do I continue to read Bill Simmons? If you didn't already know, you'd have no idea the Pacers were even in the playoffs after reading his article. He counts the Celtics as contenders, but not the Pacers? I really need to stop reading his articles.

Although, I won't be a homer when I say this...the real championship is going to be the Western Conference Finals. The actual Finals will be an after thought, regardless of who win the East.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

Why do I continue to read Bill Simmons? If you didn't already know, you'd have no idea the Pacers were even in the playoffs after reading his article. He counts the Celtics as contenders, but not the Pacers? I really need to stop reading his articles.

I'm trying to figure out whether he's gotten way more annoying in the last couple of years, or whether I've just grown as a person. I really don't think I've grown as a person at all, but was I really missing this for all those years? Because he is just obnoxious now.

[Groundhog]

I don't actually read his stuff a great deal anymore, but grantland has gotten lots better lately.

[Young Drachma]

That 3 was a bit deep from Durant. Lakers pull it out thanks to making all of those shots on the line.

[ColtCrazy]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

I'm trying to figure out whether he's gotten way more annoying in the last couple of years, or whether I've just grown as a person. I really don't think I've grown as a person at all, but was I really missing this for all those years? Because he is just obnoxious now.

Interesting thought. You may have something there because it seems since grantland, he's gotten worse as a writer (his sophomoric comments have increased, as have his biases in his writing). He's not even the best writer on his own site, maybe not even top 3.

[Desnudo]

i think he's gotten older and more cranky. Plus he's more management now than content.