Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

[Scottie Pippen 33]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

The Hawks are a better team than the Pacers, yet most people think it'll be a 4 game sweep. I think the Hawks will break the franchise playoff ceiling and beat the Bulls in 6 games, especially now that Woodson's not the coach

I doubt it. If Boozer doesn't play much, the Bulls will win. Gibson, is a better player than Boozer if you ask me. With Gibson on the court, the Bulls defense are amazing.

[Weeks]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I doubt it. If Boozer doesn't play much, the Bulls will win. Gibson, is a better player than Boozer if you ask me. With Gibson on the court, the Bulls defense are amazing.

Tom Thibodeau won't change the lineup. If any change were to happen it would be Korver over Bogans. We will need Boozer's scoring sometime during these playoffs, which is something that Taj doesn't threat.

I'm just hoping Booz can earn his paycheck and step up when we need him. Basketball is played with five people, D. Rose will need help somewhere, and thats the reason we signed Boozer.

[jfsolo]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Why is Stan Van Gundy getting off scot free for the Magic's recent disappointment since getting to the Finals

Last year they lost to the same team they beat on their way to the NBA Finals with homecourt and a chance to get back to the Finals

This year they lost to the same team they beat last year.

I don't think he's going to get off scot free, in fact I think he may get canned. The question is, how much input did he have concerning the moves that were made during the last two years? The trades they made were never going to get them any further then a first round win at best, and as we see, the moves weren't even good enough to accomplish that.

[NDHOU24]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Because their team isn't good enough to be contending for anything?

But Van Gundy has a spotty big game history

2005 - The Heat lose a Game 7 at home (granted it was the defending champions)
2006 - He got fired by Riley, then without any roster changes Riley was able to coax out a championship.

I contend to this very day that Jeff has always been the better coach of the 2, and were it not for Dolan's stupidity and arrogance, he'd still be a Knick coach right now

[Scottie Pippen 33]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Tom Thibodeau won't change the lineup. If any change were to happen it would be Korver over Bogans. We will need Boozer's scoring sometime during these playoffs, which is something that Taj doesn't threat.

I'm just hoping Booz can earn his paycheck and step up when we need him. Basketball is played with five people, D. Rose will need help somewhere, and thats the reason we signed Boozer.

I DRose needs help, he has Louol, and Gibson could hit those 15 footers. Boozer doesn't hustle, has horrible transition defense, and is usually in places he shouldn't be.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

But Van Gundy has a spotty big game history

2005 - The Heat lose a Game 7 at home (granted it was the defending champions)
2006 - He got fired by Riley, then without any roster changes Riley was able to coax out a championship.

I contend to this very day that Jeff has always been the better coach of the 2, and were it not for Dolan's stupidity and arrogance, he'd still be a Knick coach right now

WTF? How does that even add up? You basically just ruled out what happened in 2005, because like you said they lost a Game 7 to the defending champions. Then in '06, the guy gets fired out of the blue in mid-season. How did he have any control over that and how are we supposed to know if Stan wouldn't have gotten them to the same spot Riles got them?

I find it funny that you failed to include this:

2009 - Takes Magic team to NBA Finals and gives Lakers a good run, when not many people expected either of those things to happen.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

You get rid of Van Gundy now and you might as well be prepared to move Duhwight the second a new CBA is in place, whenever that is.

So yea, you want Superman to leave then go ahead fire Van Gundy so you can speed up the process.

[NDHOU24]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

WTF? How does that even add up? You basically just ruled out what happened in 2005, because like you said they lost a Game 7 to the defending champions. Then in '06, the guy gets fired out of the blue in mid-season. How did he have any control over that and how are we supposed to know if Stan wouldn't have gotten them to the same spot Riles got them?

I find it funny that you failed to include this:

2009 - Takes Magic team to NBA Finals and gives Lakers a good run, when not many people expected either of those things to happen.

Well 2005 was more for "big game" emphasis and the fact they were at home with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

2009 to me showed what would've happened in 2006 if Riley didn't have the vision to pull a power play. The 2-0 deficit in the Finals would not have turned to 4 straight wins because when the big decision came Stan would've failed where Riley succeeded

[Weeks]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I DRose needs help, he has Louol, and Gibson could hit those 15 footers. Boozer doesn't hustle, has horrible transition defense, and is usually in places he shouldn't be.

Luol and Taj can't create their shots consistently. Earlier in his career and the season Boozer has shown he can do that, he is are ONLY low post threat.

If you look at the most recent champions, all of them have had low post scoring.

[phenom1990]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

But Van Gundy has a spotty big game history

2005 - The Heat lose a Game 7 at home (granted it was the defending champions)

That Heat team was really banged up, I think their entire starting lineup played hurt.

But back to the Magic, Van Gundy can't do anything about possibly having the worst set of perimeter defenders by any team in NBA playoff history. When life gives you Quentin or Jason Richardson as your best perimeter defenders, all you can do is just pray you play WNBA players.

[Scottie Pippen 33]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Luol and Taj can't create their shots consistently. Earlier in his career and the season Boozer has shown he can do that, he is are ONLY low post threat.

If you look at the most recent champions, all of them have had low post scoring.

Yep, hes washed up now though.

[jfsolo]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

You get rid of Van Gundy now and you might as well be prepared to move Duhwight the second a new CBA is in place, whenever that is.

So yea, you want Superman to leave then go ahead fire Van Gundy so you can speed up the process.

Are you sure that VG is Dwight's guy? I'm asking that legitimately. I never got the sense that Howard would be too broken up by Stan's departure. With those toxic contracts of Hedo's and Gilbert's probably Shawshanking the team from making any other big moves, Dwight may have already circled his calendar in anticipation of the Summer of 2012.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Well 2005 was more for "big game" emphasis and the fact they were at home with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

2009 to me showed what would've happened in 2006 if Riley didn't have the vision to pull a power play. The 2-0 deficit in the Finals would not have turned to 4 straight wins because when the big decision came Stan would've failed where Riley succeeded

You're overrating the whole home court thing and you're forgetting what city you're talking about. Miami has terrible fans. They can barely fill the seats to see 2 future HOFs play together.

Also I'd love to see this crystal ball you're gazing into. Feel like sharing who's going to win the title this year? No one can say whether or not Stan would have led that Heat team to a chip.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

I would assume he is since SVG has gone to bat for Duhwight alot of times and never got the vibe that he and Van Gundy had any issues that would cause him to think twice about not staying in Orlando.

That being said, Deron needs to be getting his tampering on with Duhwight right about now

[Weeks]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Yep, hes washed up now though.

He's 28.

His problem has been inconsistency, he still isn't totally accustomed playing alongside Joakim Noah considering that they barely played together during the regular season.

Granted, he's been having a TERRIBLE post season, but I'm still not ready to write him off for the rest of the playoffs.