Am I the only one that is interested in them? They have absolutely crazy so far, from the Pacer's coach job on the line to LaMarcus Aldridge playing like the MVP. This has been probably the most surprising playoffs yet, in fact the only home team to lead 2-0 right now is the Heat over the Bobcats. In every other series the road team has won at least once and in some cases twice (Blazers and Wizards.) I can't remember the last time the first week of the playoffs have been so exciting. Normally they are pretty boring, but not this year thus far.
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I'll get killed for this, but the NBA playoffs are my favorite professional sports postseason (probably second favorite post season behind CFB bowl season). This is the most interesting first round we've seen in a while (since that bulls/celtics series that went 6 or 7 games with like 5 OT games).
As a huge basketball fan, the NBA is horrible until its the playoffs. Then its one of my favorite sports. It is a complete turn around in the playoffs. Hopefully the Wizards continue to cast a spell on Chicago and advance! They look like a team that is hot at the right time.
I think both the NBA and NHL regular season are too long, which detracts from the importance of each individual game. Obviously there are some games that are great because of the match up, but both feel like completely different sports to me in the postseason.
Agreed. I wish the NBA would go to 32 teams (16 per conference, 4 per division), then adopt the following schedule:
4 games (two home, two away) against each other team in their division (3 other teams = 12 division games)
2 games (one home, one away) against each other team in their conference (12 other teams = 24 conference games)
1 game (a 'home and home' as we say in CFB) against each team in the other conference (16 other teams = 16 games)
This way you play every team every year, can establish divisional/conference rivalries, without it being excessive (looking at you MLB). I'd also shrink the playoffs to 12 teams. Wouldn't mind making the league 24 teams, keeping the same schedule, and only letting the top 10 teams in the playoffs.
Problems with that, though - which two cities do you give new teams? Sure, Seattle seems like a good pick, and obvious. The problem is who would be the second pick? When you make the pick, look at TV market, other pro teams in the city, ability to build an NBA-ready arena and likelihood of support. Then you have to pick a third city that matches Seattle and the other in terms of desirability. Why? Because you need to have some city eager for an NBA franchise that you can use as a threat to move to when the residents of a city refuse to fund a new NBA-ready arena. Meaning it has to include lots of suites & club seats, as well as be large enough outside the bowl to provide logistical ease and consumer friendly attractions. See Seattle for an example. They still can't agree to upgrade Key Arena (built 1962) or build a new arena for the NBA team they think they deserve. That's just a portion of the problem of expanding. The number of playoff teams will never contract.
It'd be nice if Hampton Roads eventually got some sort of pro team other than the Admirals and Tides.
Seattle and Baltimore come to mind. Baltimore is arguably one the top three/four basketball cities on the eastern coast (NYC, Boston, Philly and Baltimore, in no order). Of course the Wizards would be opposed, but one obstacle at a time. They could play in first mariner arena.
Like I said, I also wouldn't be opposed to cutting the league to 24 teams, 3 divisions in both the east and west conferences. NBA would never do this, but I think it would create a far more competitive league.
It would also get rid of the majority of one and done players coming from college because they wouldn't have the number of player slots to make taking the risk worth it.
I think a league somewhere in the 26-28 range would still hold a solid product and would generate just as much interest, outside of TV market numbers - i.e. the number of households with cable subscriptions.
I always thought St Louis would make a great NBA city.
I'll start pulling for Charlotte again next year when they are the Hornets again. Well I take that back, I looked at their roster. Maybe when they get rid Josh McRobberts, (who I thought was just some guy from Europe at first) and re-sign Muggsy Bogues.
dude yes
It's gonna be nice to have an Nba team again. Was a hornets fan as a kid and it's warm and fuzzy knowing they'll be back
I have watched the Wiz most of the season because they are a surprisingly good team when they don't play down to their competition. The two playoff games so far have been drama filled. Both teams had a double digit lead in the second game at one point. The Bulls were up by 10 with six minutes to go and the Wizards managed to hold the Bulls scoreless for almost six straight minutes to send the game to overtime. It was an incredible effort with surprising contributions from bench players that you wouldn't normally expect. I am trying to go to Game 4, still waiting for a buddy to get back to me on a ticket.
I've never been much of an NBA guy, but I moved into a house with 2 of my buddies and have gotten more into it. I'm admittedly jumping on the Wiz bandwagon since I support all DC teams, but have really enjoyed the playoffs so far.
Still prefer baseball and hockey, but it's nice to have 2-3 games each from MLB, NHL and NBA that I can flip back and forth to right now.
Only thing that is missing from this playoffs is Craig Sager. Hope he gets better soon. The interview between his son and Pop on Sunday during the Mavs-Spurs game was awesome. Pop is classy but hilarious at the same time, gotta love him.
How about the Atlanta Hawks, up 2 games to 1 on Indiana right now. Not sure what to think of the Pacers problems at this point.
The Pacers are a mess. I wonder if they peaked too early. They spent all year telling anyone who would listen about how their goal was the one seed in the east so they could get that game seven against the Heat. Problem is, you gotta get to that game seven in the first place. Now you got guys fighting before games, Bird is publicly threatening Vogel's job, and they've played exactly one good quarter of ball in three games in this series.
Perhaps they anointed themselves champs a little early a la the Jets a few years ago?
I love the NBA playoffs but being a Celtics fan its hard adjusting to not seeing the Green on the court this time of year. But I'm sure by game 4 of most of the first round match ups I'll get the hang of it. The most surprising thing to me is Houston down 2-0. I knew Portland was a good team but I never knew Aldridge could put up 40 like that in consecutive games... On a side note am I the only one who thinks LaMarcus Aldridge and Logan Thomas look similar in the face?
Bradley Beal and John Wall are bad men.
That is all
#HouseOfGuards
Anyone catching the wire game tonight?
I'll be honest, I'm an LBJ fan (even though he can be a real douchass).
PI don't hear no sh*t talk from Pierce now.
Is Kerr covering the Blazers-Spurs game?
Edit: Nope.
Nope, he took the Golden State job so he has a few other things going on.
Yeah I know but I know he was scheduled to announce the game and was wondering if that still held up but I guess not.
Besides, you could call that game with your eyes closed. San Antonio played after losing a game. They won. (Will of course look foolish if the Spurs let me down)
what a choke job by Brooklyn. what were they up 9 with 1:15 left? sheesh.
heat and spurs round 2 come june.
So, anybody think the Heat make it past Indy this year?
Not if the officiating continues like it did in game 1. Hibbert was getting away with murder under the basket all game with no calls and then on the other end if a Heat player sneezed on Hibbert he was going to the line. I really cant stand the Heat but bad biased officiating I have the ultimate disdain for and its been all over the place in the playoffs so far this year.
The Pacers shots 37 free throws in game one and the Heat only got to the line for 15 attempts. Hibbert went 9 for 13, George went 7 for 8, Hill was 6 for 6 and West was 3 for 4. Even Watson off the bench was 4 for 6. Why is this a big deal? The most any Heat player went to the line was for 2 attempts.
If the Heat win this game by 10+ points then I think it will take all the wind out of the Pacer's sails and they will fall back to their old selves. If it's a close game or the Pacer's win, then I think it's pretty much a toss up and will go to at least 6 games, most likely 7.
So KD, Westbrook & Thunderbutts finally got one over the Spurs.
Yep. Different team with Ibaka.
Or when Ibaka chooses not to choke.
i'm just gonna leave this here
For those who missed it:
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.
LeBron: did he really just do that?
Stephenson: that's right. who's the king now?
After last night, looks like LBJ still sitting pretty.
No that's just freaking weird.
That's just inappropriate on a Michael Jackson level.
Is it just me or does Stephenson look like he's trying to seduce the camera after the ear blow?
Stephenson is perhaps the worst flopper I've ever seen. He makes it way too obvious.
Stephenson with a punk move slapping Cole in the face. Playing pretty good though.
i think ol' lance is playing his last game in a pacers uniform
Yep. No way Larry will be willing to pay him the big bucks after this series.
Mike Breen: "Jeff, if you're Frank Vogel what do you tell your team at halftime?"
JVG: "We had a nice season."
Hahahahaha.
Whelp that asskicking in payment for game 5.
Whelp, looks like the cHeats season may be arriving to a conclusion tonight.
It seems like nobody other than LeBron cares any more.
What sucks for him is that he'll be 2-3 in finals. Right now he's 2-2 right at .500. That's abhorrent for a champ that has drawn so many comparisons to the greatest champ (MJ).
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he joins Harden and Howard in Houston this summer. Now that would be a big 3.
You mean in size, right?
I saw a piece of an interview with LeBron earlier and he had NO answers to anything. He started going way off topic. Seems like he's already defeated.
Seems like '10-'11 all over again (sigh). Call me crazy or whatever, but really wanted him to get that 3rd consecutive title so that he'd be above .500.