Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

[BlueNGold]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Any predictions for the Celtics/Miami (most likely) series?

Eh, doesn't matter. You guys, just like everyone else, are never right when it comes to the Celtics.

I think it goes 6 or 7 with the Celtics winning. Unless by some stroke of Miami luck Boston gets an injury to one of the Big 4 or LeBron and Wade are getting to the line a ridiculous amount of times.

IMO it'll be a similar situation to the NY series in that Boston's team D will keep Wade and LeBron somewhat in check, but of course Miami actually knows how to play defense unlike NY and they're supporting cast is slightly above the Knicks.

Also I think there's gonna be 1 or 2 games where LeBron just goes off. Not exactly a shocking prediction or anything, but I get the feeling he wants to redeem himself for last year's series against the C's. As a Cavs fan I know I'm really going to appreciate that if it happens.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Hopefully Boston, because Miami would get rocked by LA.

[Po Pimp]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Hopefully Boston, because Miami would get rocked by LA.

How can you say that when the Lakers have yet to beat Miami?

I agree with Jason... But I do understand where Ex is coming from.

Is there anyone in the leagues history that is comparable to Rondo? The only guy that really comes to mind is Magic (without the defense).

So Rondo is Magic except Magic doesn't play D like Rondo? No disrespect, but Magic is the best PG to ever play the game, and Rondo isn't even the best PG right now. If you would've said Jason Kidd...I could see that (even if I believe Kidd was MILES better), but Magic??? Anyway, Fat Lever was another PG who was a triple double threat.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

How can you say that when the Lakers have yet to beat Miami?

Regular season means jack. Either way, I hope and pray that this doesn't come near happening. The overload would be literally unbearable, and would quite possibly put the final stake through the heart of my NBA Giveadamn Meter

[jeebs9]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

How can you say that when the Lakers have yet to beat Miami?


So Rondo is Magic except Magic doesn't play D like Rondo? No disrespect, but Magic is the best PG to ever play the game, and Rondo isn't even the best PG right now. If you would've said Jason Kidd...I could see that (even if I believe Kidd was MILES better), but Magic??? Anyway, Fat Lever was another PG who was a triple double threat.

Wow... wow... lol What I said was a "light" comparison. I didn't say Rondo was Magic. He threw fancy Magic passes. Their overall offense game are similar. Yes you can say Jason Kidd is probably in the game box as these guys. But Kidd recent ability to knock down the open 3 has change my opinion of him. You can't just go under the pick anymore with him. Where as in Magic and Rondo you can still go under the pick without a second thought.

[PrettyT11]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Rondo's name doesn't belong anywhere near the same sentence as Magic. Their offensive gams aren't similar at all. Eventhough Magic didn't have a much of a 3 point shot until late in his career his scoring abilities are way beyond Rondo. Magic could score when he wanted to and had a damn good post game. Magic was also capable of playing pretty much every position on the court. Magic had multiple season when he averaged well over 20 points a night. I don't see Rondo doing that anytime soon if ever.

Teams still dare Rondo to shoot in the half court and basically play 4 on 5. That would never ever happen with Magic. Magic could take over a game and dominate it anyway possible. You could say Magic we need 35 tonight and he would go get it. You can't do that with Rondo.

[jeebs9]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Again... Light comparison... lol I didn't say he was Magic.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5m1SUaAXR5Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Cool video. Bad song. lol

[wwharton]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Again... Light comparison... lol I didn't say he was Magic.

You did say their offensive games were similar though which is a huge, huge, huge (did I say huge?) reach also. Kidd is the closest comparison to Rondo imo, and Rondo still has a ways to go before he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Kidd too. I love the improvements he's making but teams had more respect for the jump shots of Mugsy and Avery Johnson and he still shoots FTs like Shaq (some color worse than red for the flag of a PG shooting that bad from the line).

[TMagic]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

<IFRAME title="YouTube video player" height=390 src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5m1SUaAXR5Y" frameBorder=0 width=640 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>

This one is wee bit better if you ask me...lol

http://youtu.be/EhPXdbjGLTc

[jeebs9]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

You did say their offensive games were similar though which is a huge, huge, huge (did I say huge?) reach also. Kidd is the closest comparison to Rondo imo, and Rondo still has a ways to go before he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Kidd too. I love the improvements he's making but teams had more respect for the jump shots of Mugsy and Avery Johnson and he still shoots FTs like Shaq (some color worse than red for the flag of a PG shooting that bad from the line).

My point really was that, Did defender play up on Magic? Most defenders played around the free throw line. And allowed him to do whatever he wanted out there.

[Dice]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

Looks like Scottie Pippen wants to see some retaliation from this Bulls team due to the hard fouls administered by the Pacers. I say, let it go. The Bulls don't need to retaliate. As long as they're winning, that's all they need as an act of vengeance. And plus, why is Scottie encouraging this? I don't remember the championship teams retaliating against the hard fouls they had to endure. The Pistons in 91. The Knicks. There was no need because the Bulls back then was going to beat them playing basketball and not prison ball. Now if you can remember, before the championship years when the Bulls used to get pounded by the Pistons that was the years the Bulls retaliated against the rough house ball. And it took them right out of their game. And the Pistons kindly took the Bulls right out of the playoffs from 88-90. So it's kind of odd Pippen would condone this.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/5003999-417/bulls-derrick-rose-likely-to-play-despite-sore-ankle.html

One thing they apparently need to do is listen more to Thibodeau than Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen on the subject of hard fouls.

In light of the way the Pacers have been hammering Rose, Pippen is among the fans and media who believe the Bulls aren’t matching Indiana’s rough stuff.

‘‘You don’t give up layups in the playoffs,’’ Pippen said. ‘‘You knock a guy down and you make them go to the foul line and earn it. That’s what Derrick’s doing for the Bulls. And to me, it’s an eye for an eye.’’

Thibodeau is counseling against that.

‘‘In this league, you can’t do that,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘Nowadays, you look at the fines, the technicals being called. You can’t afford to lose players late. Thibs has been telling us to play with aggression. Don’t worry what the fans are saying. Just play our game.’’

Pippen, though, wants to see Rose backed up by his teammates.

‘‘They’ve all got two legs and two arms,’’ the six-time NBA champion said. ‘‘You’ve got Carlos Boozer out there who’s spending fouls and a lot of his fouls are not needed at the time that he’s giving them. Those could be hard fouls. Those could be fouls that you knock a [Darren] Collison to the floor, you knock a [Jeff] Foster to the floor.

‘‘Utilize your fouls and make them more valuable for you and your team.’’

Thibodeau wants to see all-around aggressiveness, rather than retribution.

‘‘It’s playoff basketball,’’ the coach said. ‘‘You have to play hard all the time. You have to have great urgency. And we have to be ready at the start of the game. That’s the big thing. We have to do a better job of starting the game.’’

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

$20 says Thibs wasn't preaching that same thing while he was in Boston.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round Discussion Thread

^^^

LOL, hey, would you sick Carlos Boozer on anyone?