EAST
#1 - Atlanta
vs
#8 - Brooklyn
#2 - Cleveland
vs
#7 - Boston (GO CELTICS!)
#3 - Chicago
vs
#6 - Milwaukee
#4 - Toronto
vs
#5 - Washington
WEST
#1 - Golden State
vs
#8 - New Orleans
#2 - Houston
vs
#7 - Dallas
#3 - LA Clippers
vs
#6 - San Antonio
#4 - Portland
vs
#5 - Memphis
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Comments
I really hate that the first round is 7 games instead of 5 like it used to be. Especially with the crappy lower seeds in the East.
I like the fact that the NBA went back to the standard 2-2-1-1-1 Finals format instead of the 2-3-2 but I would also liked if they switched the first round back to 5 games as well. I'm sure the players would be all for this as well.
Not the players who lost a series 3-2.
NFL players would call those guys crybabies.
It's weird not seeing OKC in there.
And Miami.
If Bosh hadn't been injured, they would've been in. Another thing I'm not used to, Bron Bron absent headband.
The Wizards/Raptors game yesterday was nearly unwatchable until the Vazquez 3 at the end of regulation, and this is coming from a Zards fan. At the risk of being Captain Obvious, I really can't wait til the Spurs/Clips series. I don't like LA and think San Antonio wins in 7, but regardless it's a shame one of those teams are eliminated after a hellacious first round matchup like that. Two hottest teams in the league right now face off in what really should be the conference finals.
As a fellow Bullets fan, it was encouraging to see Washington compile a lead with good bench play and Pierce's shooting. But then Wittman decided to put the playbook away and run Isos for John Wall in an effort to run down the clock. That was hard to watch. But all in all, it was a good win.
Beal has got to be better. He's the X factor IMO. He ended up with 16 and 9 yesterday so on paper it sounds great, but actually watching him yesterday, I thought he looked rusty. He shot like less than 20% from the field, but then again so did Wall. I gotta say though, you have to feel good if you're Washington coming out of that. I didn't think we played well at all (aside from Pierce; he was outstanding like you said), and still ended up with the W on the road. Held them to 4 pts during OT. That was pretty crazy
I'm not blaming Wittman for that. Wall needs to know that he should get it to the hot hand, The Truth. And the coach is the one who shot terribly. That was Wall and Beal.
What makes me mad is that the most hyped up series is starting at 10:30 ET on a Sunday night. Ugh.
The Finals are not going to be the same without Stuart Scott.
I think Cleveland may well sweep the Celts. (sorry LT_3)
I dunno, Brad Stevens is such an insanely good coach. I think the Celts win a game or two.
You're right, he is a heck of a coach. I'm just overreacting to the part of the game I saw today. Cleveland just looked really focused and on point.
Either of you guys think New Orleans wins a game? I know they made it close late in GS yesterday, but I'm kinda feeling a sweep in that one.
had the same thought watching that game.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if New Orleans stole a game at home but I could easily see them getting swept. GS just has too much firepower.
I don't know, from what I saw yesterday I have a good feeling we can get one in Boston.
Nba is just blah! I would rather watch tennis than the nba!!!!
then go watch tennis
I take it you don't like tennis either?
that would be correct
Not every thread has to cater to you specifically.
Not saying it does, just stating my feelings on the NBA in general.
Typically when people see a thread that they have no interest in, they just gloss over it. There's really no need to comment for the sole purpose of letting everyone know that you don't like or enjoy what everyone else came here to discuss. Not trying to be mean or anything, just blunt I guess.
I'm pretty sure Blake Griffin just dunked over Aron Baynes again.
That was pretty bad, don't get me wrong. But I've never really understood why in today's NBA culture it's so unacceptable for a player to get dunked on. Fans treat a guy who got posterized like he just crapped his pants in the middle of the game and give him grief about it for months. We act like it's the biggest cardinal sin in the book to get jammed on, but at least Baynes didn't back down and let Griffin just get whatever he wanted without putting a hand up. Idk, everyone in their right mind knows BG is ten times the player Baynes ever will be, but I tip my hat to the guy for actually contesting and not letting him just get whatever he wants without ever putting up a fight. Just my two cents
I agree, at least Baynes tried to contest them. You see a lot of guys just get out of the way for the sake of not being embarrassed.
Yeah, he tried, but it kinda reminds me of that defender that Ryan Williams dragged into the end zone. He tried too.
Craig Ehlo from the Cavs back in the 80s-90s said that he would go for every dunk that he possibly could because it was his only shot at getting on a poster.
I just want Houston-Golden State as the Western final. And also baby Bron Bron not to win anything ever.
I'd much rather see Bron Bron win another title before I see Houston make it far in the playoffs. I respect Harden and everything, but I absolutely hate his style of play. But you are right, Houston vs Golden State would be an epic series. I just can't stand watching Houston's offense. There's no flow whatsoever; it's literally either iso-Harden or a chuck and duck from no man's land by either Terry, Ariza, or Brewer. Yuck.
Seems to be working though. I'm just enjoying the fact that both my home teams (Wizards and Rockets) are even in the playoffs. If only that could happen in football.
Euro fight!
I swear the Bulls are trying so hard to be this century's version of the Bad Boys. Name a decent eastern conference team they haven't gotten into a fight with
Can't think of one.
I was gonna respond, but then I saw "decent." Unfair, because half the East is not decent!
Klay Thompson has been an absolute beast this 4th quarter!
Big game for the Wiz tonight. Would be HUGE to go up 2-0 coming home. Huge night for for DC sports actually. Wiz trying to go 2-0, Caps trying to tie up series... again, and Nats game as well. Wiz can afford a loss, but its definitely a must win for the Caps.
I don't understand the people who are more worried about the NFL draft right now. We've got 2 teams in the playoffs for like the second or third time this century
Without googling it, I couldnt remember the last time both the Caps and Wiz were in the playoffs at the same time.
Plus, what exactly is there to be optimistic about in terms of the Skins? Right now all I care about as a DC sports fan is tonight's game 2 in Toronto. Sorry, I'm just not much of a hockey fan.
Hey, that's fine: to each his own. At least you're choosing a live sporting event over the offseason wanderings of a bad team.
So much Wiz talk!
Anyone rooting for Houston over Dallas!?
Red Leader, standing by
This makes me cry, then laugh, then cry some more:
When Winning Feels Like Losing: Seven Tips for Life With Randy Wittman
The implied 8th tip is realizing that the best articles about your team will focus on how bad everything is, and embracing the writing anyway
That was an excellent article. Author was a little harsh on Beal, but aside from that I agreed with everything else 100%.
Also gives me an excuse to post Randy Wittman not understanding how playboards work:
"the best part is Beal's face throughout the sequence. It looks like he's about to curse at the beginning, and then it just turns into a blank stare."
If we beat Toronto tonight, I think we take the series in 5 games. Wall and Beal better have shaken off the jitters, because we need them to step up.
If you remember though, Wall and Beal shot pretty poorly the first two games of the Chicago series last year too. I agree we need to get them right going forward, but as long as they're at least getting opportunities to score, I think we're in pretty good hands, assuming we just get something from Nene and Gortat.
Also, Nene was a boss in the last game. He barely played though because we decided to go small. He had 12/13 in 21 minutes with 7 offensive rebounds. He was feasting out there.
Wall just absolutely destroyed Lou Williams soul. Good lord.
Wall's just toying with em now.
DC Trifecta tonight!
I could care less about the Nats, but man oh man, that Wiz and especially Caps game were something else. First time Caps and Wizards have won an away playoff game on the same night in I think forever. Please correct me if Im wrong
For as much as I have screamed Wittman needs to be canned immediately, it is pretty tough to deny the guy's track record in the playoffs. 7-1 on the road is unheard of. Great win last night for the WizKidz. Haven't seen us play that well as a team in a looooong time.
Playoff Randy, baby! I don't know how I feel about taking this long to throw the Wall/Beam/Porter/Pierce/Gortat lineup for solid minutes, but they looked great. I guess I just need to embrace the Wittman
Has anyone ever noticed Gortat wears vaguely Hokie colored shoes?
SWEEP THE NORTH
Is that a Polish sausage in Gortat's pocket, or is he just happy to see us?
Campbell's Soup to heat up for a post-game meal?
Didn't get to catch the Wiz game, but just saw the score. Let's get it!!
Well I was wrong about my Celtics I thought we would take at least one win in Boston oh well at least yesterday's spring game was the best in years.
Even though the Cavs won, it almost felt like they lost with Love getting injured and Smith possibly being suspended.
Since my Celtics are eliminated GO WIZARDS powered by The Wall The Beal....... & THE TRUTH!
It's still weird seeing Pierce not in a Celtic jersey.
Does this help or nah?
The Raptors just got Wiz'd on
Wiz making like Arya and sweeping
Even as a Heat fan, Stephen Curry is one of my favorite players to watch. The NBA has never seen anything like him. I just can't get over not seeing him in a Tech uniform though. It's sickening.
I haven't seen it discussed much, so I'll ask here.
Did Kelly Olynyk injure Kevin Love on purpose or nah? I strongly suspect that he did.
Did he pull on his arm on purpose? Definitely. Did he mean to injure him? I don't think so. From what I know about Olynyk, he doesnt really seem like that kind of player. Hopefully Love recovers quickly, though. I want to see Bulls vs Cavs at full strength.
I just want to say that Clips/Spurs game 7 was the best basketball game I've watched pro or college all year. Truly heroic performance by Chris Paul.
Yes. I really wanted San Antonio to win, but the Clips definitely deserved that W. They're easily the favorite to win the West right now IMO. Golden State will be a tough out, but right now my money is on LA.
In the future when I hear anybody tell me that the NBA is boring I will just show them that game, truly one of the best first round series of all time.
People who say the NBA is boring are usually the same ones who enjoy watching UVA basketball
You know you're for real when even ole' stick-in-the-mud Skip Bayless is giving your team props. Motivational W with the injuries to Wall and Beal. Thought it was awesome (yet really saddening when it happened) when Beal left the game in tears after stepping on Horford's ankle. For a 21-year old, he's really matured into a legitimate playoff X-factor.
I think that Memphis doesn't get enough respect, they just punched GS in the mouth on their home floor (where they only lost twice this season) with their point guard playing with basically one eye. I think they may be the greatest threat to Golden State left in the playoffs.
Memphis will win this series. They're not scared to double up on Curry/Thompson outside, because Gasol/Randolph are down low.
You're exactly right about the disrespect though. Memphis has a sweet core group intact, that has been deep in the playoffs a few times, but everybody wrote them off. All they needed was to get Conley back, and everything was going to be OK.
OH GOD NO WHYYYYYY!?!?!?!
Another great day in DC sports...say whaaaaaat?!
So many buzzer beaters
This Cavs/Bulls series is shaping up to be an all timer. Such intense basketball.
I'm a Wiz fan so I'm obviously not but so huge on the Bulls, but it almost makes me mad to just watch Chicago's offense collapse for such long periods of time. They were up 11 in the 4th and you could just tell they weren't going to be able to sustain that lead. Granted the Wizards nearly blew a 21-pt lead late yesterday, but this is becoming expected for the Bulls. I would love nothing more than for King James and the overrated Cavs to never even reach the ECF, but something just tells me Chicago doesn't have the offense to keep that hope realistic. They definitely have the grit, but not sure they have the know-how. You never know, but after such a deflating loss like today, I gotta feel like Cleveland has the edge at this point.
And in a twist of irony (regarding the Bulls-Cavs)...
The Rockets stink man. You can have Harden and that atrocious floppy offensive game he plays. How do you give up 103 in three quarters during the playoffs? They definitely are not playing up to their no. 2 seed in the West. Sheesh.
Harden is a nice player, but he needs help. Dwight Howard is not that help... too aloof.
I liked Ariza, but 2008 was a long time ago.
They have been bad, but the Clippers look like they're on a mission this year. Normally this has been the time of the year in the past few years where they cave under the pressure. This year they just seem to have a different mindset. Locked in and ready to win a championship.
STOP FOULING HOUSTON YOU'RE EMBARRASING YOURSELVES
I still think Wiz can get to the ECF's even without Wall. I have pretty much gotten used to the Wiz blowing 4th quarters leads, but they usually find a way to win. I think this will go 6 or 7, but we'll see.
Had Pierce hit that 3 at the end of regulation last night, I would agree with you because we would have had all the momentum going into OT. But we're simply not as good as Atlanta without Wall at this stage in the playoffs. Especially since 2 of the next 3 games are in Atlanta. I hate the guy that usually says this but I'm gonna be that guy this time; the officiating thus far in that series has been God awful. Terrible no-call at the end where Korver obviously traveled, as well as a few off-ball fouls called on Gortat. And it's not just all Washington who's getting hosed either. Nene clearly set an illegal screen on the Pierce shot, and there were a few others escaping my mind down the stretch that should have been called against Washington.
The officiating has been terrible in the playoffs period.
I don't watch a whole lot of NBA basketball, but I caught the 2nd half of the Cavs-Bulls game Sunday. I know Lebron ended up with the game winner as it was, but I have no idea how the contact from Noah was not a foul before that last play even happens.
Because down the stretch, NBA officials swallow their whistle and want the players to win the game, not the refs. But I don't agree with that approach at all. As much as it pains me to say it, LeBron clearly got fouled on that drive and it went unnoticed by the refs. But the right call would have been to send him to the line. Also didn't hurt anything that the game was being played in Chi-town, and there would have been a riot if they called a foul in favor of LeBron in a city that notoriously hates him.
Considering they had no Wall, turned it over 17 times, and got dominated in the paint 2-1 (where that is where they have the advantage), Teague playing one of his best games of the playoffs (only averaging 13 ppg), Hawks' silly shooting in the first half, and still only lose by 3/had the chance to tie at the end, I still believe they can pull this off. Turnovers is what killed them the most though
Dayum, shit be goin down in this game Cavs-Bulls game 5
Washington has fallen apart in the past 2 minutes hopefully they can pull it together for the final 3 minutes.
This has not been a great night.
great caps are out and wiz kids are down 3-2. I guess getting to the playoffs is an achievment but washington sports know how to fail big in the playoffs.....at least the caps do.
Next spring, someone remind me to just take a bunch of cocaine and jump off a cliff
Lmao, aw c'mon. It can't really be THAT bad.
How can it not be that bad? That's literally the absolute worst way to lose. Pierce gets that shot off .0005 seconds earlier and we're heading to OT. Game 5 came down to the last second of the game, and Game 4 was for the taking also. Hawks got lucky 3 out of their 4 Ws. And if our best player and arguably best PG in the game right now didn't get injured in the opening game, it's a completely different series. It doesn't get any worse than going out like that for us Wizards fan. Brutal.
/end rant
Ok. All valid points for cocaine to be sure. But-think of how disappointed all the Cleveland fans are gonna be when the Cavs choke in the ECF or in the finals.
I don't think it would be a choke if they lose in the finals, you could argue that all of the teams left in the West would be favored over them.
Well they're definitely not choking in the ECF. They'll beat ATL with relative ease. And like HokiesFTW said, it really wouldn't be a choke at this point. It would be disappointing for sure, but if they get beat by whoever comes out of the West, it's not like there's any shame in that.
Hawks fan here. Don't count us out just yet. We have home court, won 3 out of 4 in the regular season, and Demarre has played great D on lebron. Add in no k love and a hobbled kyrie, and we may surprise some people. We may not win, but it's not going to be an easy series for CLE.
The regular season record between teams is meaningless come playoff time IMO. Toronto swept Washington in the regular season and look how that ended up working for them in the postseason. No offense to you or your team or anything, but if a banged up Wizards team could beat the Hawks twice and come so desperately close to beating them a few other games, I see no reason why a much better Cavs team would struggle with Atlanta. Yep Irving is dinged up and no Love definitely hurts, but they made a good Chicago team look bad despite injuries, and the Hawks didn't exactly run away with the Washington series. The better team won the ATL/WAS series, but I truly believe LeBron and those boys won't be stopped short of the Finals by an Eastern conference opponent.
I agree that regular season records don't matter in the playoffs, I just included it to point out that we do match up well. Specifically, Demarre is very adept at slowing down Lebron, and if Kyrie isn't 100% the Cavs will struggle offensively. At different points in these playoffs, one of the 2 guards has helped carry the scoring load (Delladova, Shumpert, JR), but Korver is an extremely underrated defender. Even though he's struggling from the field, the reason he's playing so many minutes is because of his defense. In addition to this, I think he finds his shooting rhythm this series; only Shumpert can check him, JR and Delladova will struggle to fight through screens and contest his shots (Beal was very good at this in the WSH series). Also, one of the reasons the Lebron's teams are successful during the playoffs is down the stretch Lebron will lock down the best player (D Rose, P George, T Parker, P Pierce, etc). Who will Lebron guard down the stretch? Jeff Teague makes sense, he runs our offense. EXCEPT, we have been running a lot of 2 PG looks. Schroder has been handling the ball while Teague plays the 2. Like I said, I'm not sure we win the series, but basketball is a game of matchups; I think we will surprise some people.
Again no offense to you, but no way am I convinced that Carroll is as good as a defender as Jimmy Butler. And even he couldn't stop LeBron down the stretch during the Bulls' series. He was keeping him in check the first couple of games, but LeBron just wears out defenders the longer the series goes. Only guy I remember who could consistently stay with him was Kawhi Leonard the past two Finals, who was of course the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year. With that said, I do believe that your Hawks have the upper hand when it comes to defense (the Cavs can't guard a barstool), but I still believe this series is probably over in 5. The Cavs have more talent than the 2010-2014 Heat, and the Hawks aren't as good now as the 2012-2014 Pacers' teams. Of course, just my opinion. This is a good discussion.
Ok, scratch that and redo. Think about how disappointed LeChoke fans are gonna be when he drops it and continues his sub .500 streak in the finals. He's 2-3 for finals ya know. Plus, as the Hokie Hawks fan pointed out, no Love.
I never really understood that argument. I would rather make it to the finals five times and win two of them instead of making and winning it twice while getting bounced in the first round all other years.
As a competitor I don't think bron bron shares that sentiment. Plus he has to deal with all the comparisons to MJ & Kobes.
Is that you Skip?
Haha well played
I just hope The Truth doesn't retire and go out like that. Washington is going to be even better next year and so are The Celtics so I hope he returns next season to either team.
I've been saying this since the start of the season; Paul Pierce needs to find a coaching gig with the Wiz once he decides to hang it up. Not head coach or anything, but he just gels so well with all those guys. I loved how he questioned Wall, Beal, and Porter's drive for greatness before the playoffs, after he made the infamous Raptors "it factor" statement. You can just tell everyone on that team respects the heck out of him. And let's face it; none of the guys on the Wizards roster have any deep playoff experience other than Pierce. Even if he never laces up ever again, we need his motivation just to stay focused throughout the duration of the season.
There's nobody on the Wiz roster from the '06 and '07 playoff teams??
No. It's very rare that a player stays with the same NBA team for 8-9 years.
I only asked because I seem to remember them having some pretty competitive team against the Cavs in the playoffs those years with Arenas and a few others.
They did have some competitive teams back then, but again that was like 8 or 9 years ago. After those playoff runs (if it even counts as a run since they got knocked out by Cleveland in the first round like 3 years in a row) and Arenas' run-in with the law, the Wizards resorted back to their old ways of dwelling in the Eastern conference cellar. Do the names Nick Young or Javale McGee make you cringe? Because they should. Those were some of the darkest days of being a Wizards' fan, and that's saying something.
Funny story, I had lunch the other day with a coworker that used to work for the Wizards in PR. She had a number of funny stories, least of which was about how she had to tell the media that, no, they can't talk to Gilbert Arenas because he brought guns to work, but here's Jerry Stackhouse. Also, it might not surprise many people, but Kwame Brown cannot read.
Leave it to Rovell to ruin everybody's fun. Jeez, what a buzzkill. Hey Darren, IT WAS A JOKE. I'm far from a Cavs fan, but only Darren Rovell tweets this kind of crap.
Bet a healthy Love and Irving would really come in handy right about now. Lol! Warriors in 5-6.
If you look closely, you can see Curry's game 2 shooting in the background
What a game.
I disagree this game has been crap. Officials are killing it late and Cleveland's offense killed it early.
Officials were terrible but it didn't take away from the intensity and constant momentum shifts.
Lebrun: RINGLESS FOR LIFE IN CLEVELAND!!! In other news: water is wet.
What happened with the Dubs over Cavs is what happens when you send in boys to play against men.
Being a Celtic fan nothing pleases me more than seeing a sad Lebron and Cleveland losing.