2007 NBA Playoffs Thread
 

The Toronto crowd seems pretty happy that Vince Carter is back. Ha. He's got 15 points.

The Nets lead 94-88. It's kinda nice to see Toronto into the playoffs, that team has really do a number for that city and the audience is in all red.

But I think the Nets should be able to pull it out.

Watching the Bulls game, Shaq looks great and would be even better if the refs weren't calling some tough fouls on him.

The Bulls have to be pleased to be where they are at this point with one three and Heinrich playing five minutes because of foul trouble. That offense really does not run well at all with Gordon at point.

Deng is going to score 30+ this series if they leave Wade on him - I'm expecting to see an adjustment on that matchup. And I'm pretty surprised with how good Sefalosha has looked guarding him, although the Bulls are going to be in real trouble if they have to go with that look for more than 10-12 minutes a game - would imply that Heinrich is still picking up idiot fouls.

Refs are all over Hinrich today but he's really got to keep his emotions to himself. That technical hurt.

The Heat have to be real aggressive now. Get the ball in the paint on every possession.

And Tyrus shows just what kind of playmaking potential he has. He has had flashes of them all year long, I only hope he's able to sustain that kind of energy and become a smarter player as his career progresses.

Shaq has 5 fouls, D-Wade has 5 fouls, Kapono has got 4 points. And the Heat are only down 6 with 6 to play. I'll take it.

Dola, and the Bulls should have traded Luol Deng when they had the chance. He is KILLING the Heat.

Luol Deng is en fuego!

Gotta get that rebound there!

Damn!

I can't wait for tonight. God how I hate the Jazz...

The refs really impacted that game, with silly calls on both teams the whole way. That said, the Bulls should have put that one away, winning by 15+ but instead had to sweat it on in the final minute.

I'm definitely looking forward to Jazz/Rockets this evening - haven't gotten many opportunities to see either team all that much this year and they both feature former Illini playing big roles in their 2nd year.

The Bulls - Heat series is going to be a struggle the entire time. The two teams flat out hate eachother and it could get very physical as frustrations pile.

The Bulls are one of the youngest teams in the league but I am hoping the last two years have provided the playoff experience they need to take it to the next level now. They certainly aren't afraid of the Heat.

Great...Rockets starting PF Chuck Hayes' girlfriend went into labor today and Chuck's availability for tonight's game is up in the air.

It looked like the refs were trying to set the tone for the series by calling the game really tight. No I am not blaming the refs for the loss, just calling it like I see it. Eddie Jones has to play better D on Deng and he has to make Deng work on th defensive end of the floor. Two points and four shot attempts is not going to cut it.

Jones doesn't have the athleticism anymore to do either. He shouldn't be on Deng defensively at all. And Jones isn't going to make anyone work on his own. At this stage of his career, he is a jump shooter (like Kapono, only older and slower) and needs to be set up within the frame of the offense. Of course, with Shqa and Wade and Walker to attract attention, that still means he can get open when double teams inevitably break away. Obviously, he has to hit those shots when he gets them.

Eddie has been taking the ball to the glass frequently since he came back to the Heat. I am not expecting him to drive 95% of the time. Hell, I am just looking for it 25%. The main reason for Jones being back in Miami is for his defense. That is why he played 30 MPG in the regular season. If he can't stay with Deng, they might as well put Posey back in the starting lineup.

crap. i hope he shows up anyways

Sweet...he's gonna play!

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/04/t...me_of_the.html

As a Bulls fan, I was delighted with the decision early to put Wade on Deng. Deng struggled against Miami this year and doesn't have a good playoff track record (very small sample set, but ...) so I was really happy to see him go aggressively at Wade from the outset.

The Heat were really aggressive in sending a second man at Gordon, which is a big part of why he got all of his assists, and a few stupid turnovers as well. I'm wondering if they would keep that same strategy up for a full game if Heinrich is also in the lineup, or if it was just something they did to attack Gordon's handle when he had to play more point today.

T-minus 10 minutes to launch...

F'ing Magic and Pistons...end already! :mad:

Nice start, Rox... :)

Way to end the first quarter, Juwan!

TMac needs to come to play in the second half if we're going to pull this game out. One freakin' point? Come on, Tracy!

Derek Fisher...LOL!!!! :D

Edit: For those of you not watching the game, he just botched a 3 on 1 layup...

Hahaha. Did I just see a 3-on-none end in no basket??

I LOVE TMAC!

so this is how Jeebs gets so many posts...

Luther Head

:)

It's not my fault that no one else is conversing about the game with me... :(

Have I mentioned yet that I love TMac?

because basketball sucks :p

The Rockets have two of the most underrated players in the league in Hayes and Battier..

I LOVE Chuck Hayes. Scrappy as hell, and almost went to UTEP before deciding on Kentucky...

Heh, that wound up on YouTube QUICK!



Way to come back, Rockets! Lets get another win on Monday!

D Fish still has one of the greatest shots ever made

Well, yeah, I can't think of any other critical shot in a key NBA playoff game where the space-time was warped to allow a one second shot take only 0.4 seconds. :D

When the very physics of our universe are affected, have to give love to that shot.

I love how someone who hates basketball clicks on a thread entitled "NBA Playoffs Thread". Not trying to start an argument, but you wouldn't catch me in a NASCAR discussion thread.

My Magic could have held the Pistons closer yesterday if only they'd hit some free throws. Probably gonna get swept, might stretch it out to a 4-1 defeat.

Worse than Fisher's ...
 

That Derek Fisher blown lay-up was bad, but this one is definitely way worse than that ...

Shoulda layed it up with the left, there. Elementary basketball is lost in the NBA...

I don't know if it was him not practicing fundamentals or if his original intention was to dunk it, then changed his mind for whatever reason in mid-air and decided to try to lay it in, but either way, Christ dude at least hit the rim ... :p

He did hit the rim...the bottom of it! ;)

Edit: Crap, that was actually the bottom of the glass, wasn't it? Even worse! :eek:

I don't think I'm allowed to laugh at Fisher. In an all star game a few years back in high school, I picked the pocket of the guy I was defending and had a layup all to myself. As I went up, I slipped (I swear it was a slippery part of the floor) and completely botched 1 on 0 free two points.

Those in attendance never let me forget about that one, to this day.

Yeah, I was just about say "watch it again" because he doesn't even hit the net, much less the bottom of the rim. :D

Ugh, two teams that I thoroughly dislike. Who root for, Fakers or Puns?

Puns. at least then we dont have to see the circle-jerking the media do over Kobe

Yeah, lol, i hate david wesley.

I know, we're not even on the second page so complaining about how long the playoffs is might be a tad premature, but I hate how the games are every 2 days. I'd love to see another Rockets game tonight.

SI