NBA Playoffs?

[Manu]

Who's your pick? Who do you like? Watch any of the awesome games this weekend?

As much as it pains me, I think it will be the Heat's to lose. They have such an easy path to the finals now with Rose going down, Boston losing Rondo for a game (and already down against the Hawks) and NYK not having their act together.

SAS or OKC look good in the West. I always have hope that the Lakers pull it out, but I don't have a ton of faith in the new coach. I think if Bynum continues to play D like he's been and everyone stays healthy, they have a chance. But Miami is just so good at those top 3 spots.

[KillZone]

Who's your pick? Who do you like? Watch any of the awesome games this weekend?

As much as it pains me, I think it will be the Heat's to lose. They have such an easy path to the finals now with Rose going down, Boston losing Rondo for a game (and already down against the Hawks) and NYK not having their act together.

SAS or OKC look good in the West. I always have hope that the Lakers pull it out, but I don't have a ton of faith in the new coach. I think if Bynum continues to play D like he's been and everyone stays healthy, they have a chance. But Miami is just so good at those top 3 spots.

Yes. Great games. The playoffs are fun because it is win or go home, a sharp contrast from the boring regular season.

I still believe that defense wins championships. In baseball (pitching is included in that), football and basketball. It has for decades and will remain so, with some exceptions, but not many.

Chicago would have won the East had they not lost a key player in the first round, Rose. Their defense would have beaten Miami, a team that plays no defense because their players had rather shoot from mid-court.

But now, Miami is my pick for the East.

I am not so sure about Okie City. Keven Durant is the best offensive player in the league. If one covers him outside, he is so quick he simply goes around them. If one leaves him open, he makes them pay. He is dynamite to watch, he is so quick. But that team could not spell "defense."

The Lakers, after losing Odom (one of the more idiotic things they could have let happen) and getting off to a not-so-brilliant start, have "come on" of late. Beating the Thunder in that double-OT game had to have helped their confidence. I thought early in the season they might not even make the playoffs, and they showed how little I know about the NBA. Their coach has done a good job with them.

Yet my pick for the West is San Antonio. They are deep and no longer have to rely on Parker and Duncan as much, yet they still have Parker and Duncan, and those 2 know how to win big games; like those deep in the playoffs; like game 7s. They also play defense.

FINALS: Miami vs. the Spurs. It's a toss-up, IMHO. I would like to see James FINALLY get a ring, and I also like the Spurs because I think Duncan is one class act.

[Manu]

I think your Miami / Spurs prediction seems very spot on. I think SAS may have too much dept for Miami, but at that level, you can get away with running your top 3 guys 40mpg, so we'll see.

The injury bug has really decimated this years playoffs.

The clippers/memphis series has been incredibly entertaining at least.

[KillZone]

I think your Miami / Spurs prediction seems very spot on. I think SAS may have too much dept for Miami, but at that level, you can get away with running your top 3 guys 40mpg, so we'll see.

The injury bug has really decimated this years playoffs.

The clippers/memphis series has been incredibly entertaining at least.

Yes, injuries have really hurt a couple of teams.

I truly believe the Bulls with their great defense (which isn't so great now) would have beaten Miami and won the East had they not lost Derrick Walker.

The Lakers have played badly vs. OKC.

I still sort of admire them for having virtually given away Odom, having a terrible start this season, and made it this far.

Kobe Bryant is at good as his position as we've seen in...well, maybe as long as I can recall.

The Spurs are old but if they make the finals they've done it so often they'll be hard to beat.

I would like to see James win a Ring he so richly deserves. And I still like the Spurs. I've mixed emotions if that is the final.

Then again, someone has to beat OKC. They ain't lost yet in the playoffs.

It has been a strange year, in some ways. A good year regardless.

[Charles]

Tonight is it for OKC. They have to win. I think they will. Anyone else notice OKC simply missing a ton of easy, open 15-18 foot jumpers? Very uncharacteristic. Nerves? Also, their free throws are horrible and they led the NBA. Nerves? They make the easy shots and free throws and they're up 3-0.

[RS1723]

I'm in such a dilemma. I do not like James and how he left so arrogantly but to say he doesn't DESERVE a championship is quite harsh. He is probably the best player in NBA and is easily the villain that everyone loves to hate. I want OKC because I think Durant is absolutely ridiculous and is such a talent at a young age. I think if Miami wins this one its fine but then OKC will eventually dominate the league as they mature. OKC in SEVEN!

[KillZone]

Tonight is it for OKC. They have to win. I think they will. Anyone else notice OKC simply missing a ton of easy, open 15-18 foot jumpers? Very uncharacteristic. Nerves? Also, their free throws are horrible and they led the NBA. Nerves? They make the easy shots and free throws and they're up 3-0.

It is a shame Chicago lost Derrick Rose. With him their D had a good shot at beating Miami. Injuries are part of the game, so...

It's over tonight, imho.

Durant is a remarkable offensive player, but neither he nor the Thunder play defense. Durant was a scorer in high school and a scorer for the one year he played at the University of Texas. Coach Rick Barnes didn't have the time to even begin teaching the kid to play D.

Last year the Mavericks had a thousand open 3-pointers against the Heat. Some of them the player could have counted to 20 before he shot. This year the Heat is getting those 3-pointers. Some of Miami's shots have been so wide open that it is almost comical.

Miami has experience in the Finals. I think that's important. The shots you allude to that they miss could be a product of them being in the Finals for the first time. Experience, I think, in huge series does matter. But hell, what do I know.

I do love to see Durant play. Cover him outside and he's by you. Don't and you pay. He's a remarkable athlete. For offense, I'd take him over anyone in the league, including James.

I'll be pulling for the Thunder. I'm really sure that'll help. Right. Indeed, I should pull for Miami, for I seem to jinx wherever I pull for.

I think Miami wins tonight, maybe by 15. Maybe by more. The Thunder seems to me to be mentally whipped. I hope I am wrong.

[KillZone]

Manu:
I think your Miami / Spurs prediction seems very spot on. I think SAS may have too much dept for Miami, but at that level, you can get away with running your top 3 guys 40mpg, so we'll see.

I sure missed it. I don't bet on sports because I bet with my heart. Those that bet with the heart can "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here.” Okay, so I gave in to Dante. It seemed appropriate.

As I mentioned, I wish the Bulls had not lost Rose. I think their D had a very good chance of beating the Heat. But not without Rose.

The Spurs are old and are not as quick as the Thunder was, but it still surprised me that they did not find a way to win.

Duncan should retire. His career and his personal life have been stellar. He has nothing to prove. He's already done that.

[Charles]

It is a shame Chicago lost Derrick Rose. With him their D had a good shot at beating Miami. Injuries are part of the game, so...

It's over tonight, imho.

Durant is a remarkable offensive player, but neither he nor the Thunder play defense. Durant was a scorer in high school and a scorer for the one year he played at the University of Texas. Coach Rick Barnes didn't have the time to even begin teaching the kid to play D.

Last year the Mavericks had a thousand open 3-pointers against the Heat. Some of them the player could have counted to 20 before he shot. This year the Heat is getting those 3-pointers. Some of Miami's shots have been so wide open that it is almost comical.

Miami has experience in the Finals. I think that's important. The shots you allude to that they miss could be a product of them being in the Finals for the first time. Experience, I think, in huge series does matter. But hell, what do I know.

I do love to see Durant play. Cover him outside and he's by you. Don't and you pay. He's a remarkable athlete. For offense, I'd take him over anyone in the league, including James.

I'll be pulling for the Thunder. I'm really sure that'll help. Right. Indeed, I should pull for Miami, for I seem to jinx wherever I pull for.

I think Miami wins tonight, maybe by 15. Maybe by more. The Thunder seems to me to be mentally whipped. I hope I am wrong.

OKC has been in the games at all only because they have had some good one on one plays. Otherwise, team wise, they haven't produced.
Nerves? Probably, they have missed a lot of easy shots AND, more importantly and indicative of nerves, their free throws have been horrible (they lead the league in the regular season).
Still, if they win tonight, it is just about an even series with two back in OKC.

It isn't over.

[KillZone]

OKC has been in the games at all only because they have had some good one on one plays. Otherwise, team wise, they haven't produced.
Nerves? Probably, they have missed a lot of easy shots AND, more importantly and indicative of nerves, their free throws have been horrible (they lead the league in the regular season).
Still, if they win tonight, it is just about an even series with two back in OKC.

It isn't over.

It is now.

In one of my posts above I said it would not surprise me if the Heat won by 15 or more. The Thunder didn't "quit." But the last game, before the one last night, seemed to hurt their confidence. W/O confidence teams don't win.

Grudgingly, I say Hail to the new Champions!

I am glad James finally won a Ring. He ain’t Jordan. He ain’t clutch and he does not play D like Jordan did (not yet). Jordan was selected for the NBA All-Defensive team 9 times. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year once. James has a long way to go to catch Jordan defensively, but he does have time.

[Charles]

It is now.

In one of my posts above I said it would not surprise me if the Heat won by 15 or more. The Thunder didn't "quit." But the last game, before the one last night, seemed to hurt their confidence. W/O confidence teams don't win.

Grudgingly, I say Hail to the new Champions!

I am glad James finally won a Ring. He ain’t Jordan. He ain’t clutch and he does not play D like Jordan did (not yet). Jordan was selected for the NBA All-Defensive team 9 times. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year once. James has a long way to go to catch Jordan defensively, but he does have time.

I can't believe how wrong I was. This was very surprising. The Heat seemed to want it more. OKC seemed nervous. OKC didn't "click".

[Manu]

OKC was a different team in the finals than the 1st 3 rounds. The poise was gone. They seemed scarred. I'm sure part of that was the Miami defense and intensity, Lebron and Co really wanted it. But also, outside of KD and Westbrook, OKC kind of disapeared. That's the issue with young, deep teams, the bench can be hard to predict.

[KillZone]

OKC was a different team in the finals than the 1st 3 rounds. The poise was gone. They seemed scarred. I'm sure part of that was the Miami defense and intensity, Lebron and Co really wanted it. But also, outside of KD and Westbrook, OKC kind of disapeared. That's the issue with young, deep teams, the bench can be hard to predict.

A repeat of Miami last year.

Maybe the experience of getting to the finals will help them, like it has other teams that got there and lost. Miami had no experience in the finals last year and they played miserably.

Maybe OKC will never get back to the finals. When Dan Marino was a rookie, I remember thinking, "It ain't will he win one, it's how many will he win." None was the answer, so I was wrong about him. Sometimes, teams get one chance.

Kevin Durant is a wonder on offense; one of the hardest to cover in the game at his position. Leave him open and he'll drill it. Cover him and he is so quick he's around you. Lots of fun watching him play offense. He will need to learn to play defense; or, it would benefit him if he did. He didn't awe in the finals, but that takes nothing away from what he did all year.

I wonder if Miami would have made the finals had Chicago had not lost Rose. I think the Bulls beat Miami more than Miami beat them this past season. Well, we'll never know.

[Manu]

I definitely think if not for Rose's freak injury they would have been playing in June and not the Heat.

[KillZone]

I definitely think if not for Rose's freak injury they would have been playing in June and not the Heat.

It is part of the game, but that injury was a bad one at a bad time, and I wanted to see if the Heat could "go through" the Bulls. That would have been a matchup of a great offensive team that plays virtually no defense, the Heat, verses the Bulls, a very very good defensive team. Well, we'll never know.

The Heat:
Chris Bosh did not get a lot of credit virtually all season, but without him, I think the Heat would have bowed out of the playoffs early. The Mavericks wanted him and I bet a slew of other teams wanted him. He ain't flashy, but he gets the job done. He shows up every night (he is consistent; you know what he's gonna bring to the table).

Jordan, with one year of college, was a defensive demon. James doesn't play defense at anywhere the level Jordan did. James has the athletic "tools" to do so, but that part of his game either doesn't interest him or he just never "got." But James is a great talent, and although I don't care for him, I'm glad for him that he got that Ring.

I'm not a Mavericks fan, but I was glad to see Dirk, Kidd, and Terry get a Ring a couple of years ago; especially Dirk. Without him, the Mavericks would have had a hard time breaking even for a decade. Perhaps no single player is as important, or has been as important, as Dirk has been to the Mavs in recent years.

Those MVP awards are great, but I bet Barkley and Nash and others would trade them for the Ring the never got.

How About This? Jordan in his prime vs. James in his prime, one-on-one. That would be interesting.

[Manu]

1 on 1 matchups are tough to predict. It'd be fun to watch, but James is so much bigger than Jordan and still quick beyond belief. It's amazing Lebron hasnt' developed a real psot game. With his size, quickness, and shopping ability he could be absolutely devestating (more than he is)