Cleveland Cavaliers & The NBA

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:19 pm

Woot Woot!

Tribe playing well and the NBA playoffs rolling? Best time of the year for sports (hell, I'll even watch a little hockey).

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:48 pm

PS: The Pacers are feisty right now, real feisty.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:03 pm

One a two possession exchange the Bulls just scored and Barry yelled about the awesome D and laughed. Pacers followed it right up with a score and he was dead silent.

Jon Barrry is a fucking joke. This is the worst called game I can remember. He is literally cheering for the Bulls.

by **Orenthal** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:31 pm

I have trouble finding a more douchey guy then Barry in the NBA TV talking head world. Webber? Marc Jackson?

by **Triple-S** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:36 pm

Tim Legler is pretty unlikeable.

TNT has Chuck and Kenny Smith, and the best that ESPN can find is some guy that was an undrafted NBA journey-men, who's biggest accomplishment was winning a three-point contest?

by **Orenthal** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:38 pm

Didn't Macphisto have a hard on for Granger? I was so hoping Miami would be playing Indy...

Ah, Granger for 3, and Tommy T calls an early timeout in the 3rd quarter.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:07 pm

Webber is awesome.

Miller and Jackson are the two douches that give Barry a run for his money.

And this is playoff hoops, effing great game.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:18 pm

FWIW: Carlos Boozer collapsing in the playoffs is becoming as reliable as the Christmas coming every year. Fucking terrible today.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:23 pm

e0y2e3 wrote:FWIW: Carlos Boozer collapsing in the playoffs is becoming as reliable as the Christmas coming every year. Fucking terrible today.

Boozer usually has one big 25-and-20 style game and a bunch of terrible ones. And he's a turnstile even in the one big 25-and-20 style game.

Chicago is probably just a little nervous. This group has never been in the position of being favorites- they haven't even won a playoff series together.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:28 pm

If you are watching I wouldn't say Chicago is nervous is the root cause. They are pressing a bit as a team and not playing at their A level for sure but damn......

I would say Boozer is, well, collapsing. Rest of the team is a little jittery but Psyco T is bitching Boozer all over the floor (just picked his pocket at the 3 point line, beat him down the court for the dunk and Boozer fouled him - 5th foul - after he had clearly scored.

Noah and Deng are trying down the stretch to get this thing going.

And I swear to god Boozer failed to stay in front of Josh McRoberts twice.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:34 pm

And Rose just did Rose. Bulls first lead of the game with 48 seconds left.

Nothing better than playoff basketball. I have freaking chills right now.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:42 pm

I don't know, I think Derrick Rose has a chance to stick in this league.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:42 pm

This "white-out" in Miami is going to annoy me all game long.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:44 pm

They did that in '06 too. Actually looks like as many white seats as spectators dressed in white right now.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:46 pm

There is clearly an empty section. And I am pretty sure I just heard a beer hit the floor someone dropped in the lower deck.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:46 pm

76ers are all over the Heat right now. I'm tempering my enthusiasm.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:49 pm

yeah - I had to root for the Bulls in that game as hard as it was. As much as I enjoy playoff hoops, watching these fucks in South Beach go home is priority one.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:51 pm

And to clarify I really like this Bulls team outside of Boozer. But you always root for the eight over the one when it has a chance.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:52 pm

I know I shouldn't, given the history and the fact that they're in Cleveland's division, but I kind of like the Bulls. Rose is a throwback- doesn't prance or showboat, just balls. Even Noah is starting to grow on me a little bit.

Yeah, Boozer is pretty much a bitch, but overall I like their makeup.

by **e0y2e3** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:43 pm

Eat a dick Orlando: http://twitpic.com/4ls901

by **leadpipe** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 12:07 am

e0y2e3 wrote:Eat a dick Orlando: http://twitpic.com/4ls901

No need for Atlanta to phone in their shots before game 2. They'll be wide open when they get there.

Christ, the Heat are disjointed on offense, Boston's trying to get things together, the Spurs aren't healthy.....but none of that compares to the mess Orlando has. Who the hell knows what's goin' on down there. Not great having no identity and no defense.

by **Orenthal** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:16 am

Fat slob jock sniffer, Cuban, pisses me off, and will make it hard to watch my favourite slow paced efficient team, Portland, in the playoffs.

by **noles1** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:47 pm

The Round 1 storyline is going to be the officiating. That was brutal throughout yesterday and one has to wonder how much worse it can get.

McMillan touched on it after the game but I felt like Portland got jobbed big time. I won't even comment on the Philly-Heat game. I knew heading into it what that was going to be like but the Dallas-Blazers FT numbers were staggeringly lop-sided.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:00 pm

Honestly watched every second of that Dallas - Portland game and I didn't really think the officials were the root cause of that lop sides number.

Portland reminded me of the Bucks of last year yesterday and just did NOTHING to get to the line. Sure there were a few missed calls (the Kid steal on LA was terrible) but not nearly enough to make up that absurd difference.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:00 pm

And LBJ and Wade live at the line, so goes the NBA playoffs every year.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:45 pm

San Antonio is as vulnerable as a passed-out chick in Abram Elam's dorm room.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:47 pm

Yep, especially without Manu.

That said, Z-Bo has quietly turned into one of the biggest forces in the league. He's a fucking monster.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:49 pm

All of a sudden Chris Wallace doesn't seem like such a moron anymore. He has very quietly built a nice team, although I'm not so sure it has a fantastic ceiling.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:50 pm

I dunno, Gay was something special before he got hurt.

As was pointed out elsewhere, he got real lucky, but this team is legit.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:56 pm

Oh and I do agree that I don't know if they have Championship ceiling.

This game has been awesome.

Memphis should have this clinched but can't hit effing FTs.

by **hermanfontenot** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:01 pm

I know they didn't have Manu but even with Manu the Spurs don't pass the eye test.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:03 pm

Not if their front line is going to get shit on like that, that is for sure.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:06 pm

Trey Johnson and DJ Mbenga getting meaningful playoff minutes. This is almost as weird as the Indians and Royals playing for first place.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:16 pm

Today Chris Paul, playing for a team owned by Stern made Aaron Gray and Willie Green valuable NBA players. Best PG in the league. Best comparison between him and Rose I read called out comping him to Rose like comping Hakeem to Dewey.

And if you are busy being bitter about LBJ and not watching these playoffs get with it. The last day and half has taken March Madness' best, chewed it up and spit it out. Between the playoffs thus far and the Tribe I am on cloud nine.

by **JJN** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:43 pm

JO's corpse with 10pts, 3 boards, 3 blocks on 5-5 shooting. Am I going to be the only one sleeping with a gun under my pillow worrying about zombies?

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:49 pm

As I said after the Perk trade, it makes sense if they can wheel the O'Neal's out against the Heat/Magic.

This is a huge sign.

And no, I didn't see this coming. After Shaq couldn't run on Friday I thought the C's were done.

That said I also saw CP3 make Aaron Gray into a great NBA player today.

My heads just spinning.

by **e0y2e3** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:45 pm

If I ever again read that basketball doesn't have x's and o's from FUDU my head may explode.

What Doc just did on those last two inbounds was a coaching clinic.

Fucking unreal.

Eat my dick NCAA tourney.

by **JJN** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:51 pm

Great Thunder-Nuggets game. Westbrook and Nene both playing out of their minds.

by **Kingpin74** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:14 am

If I ever again read that basketball doesn't have x's and o's from FUDU my head may explode.

What Doc just did on those last two inbounds was a coaching clinic.

Fucking unreal.

Eat my dick NCAA tourney.

Don't you wish the first round was still best-of-five though? It would give all these great upsets and near upsets more weight.

by **hermanfontenot** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:28 am

Kingpin74 wrote:Don't you wish the first round was still best-of-five though? It would give all these great upsets and near upsets more weight.

Disagree. Too many flukes in a best-of-five. In a best of seven the cream rises.

73 combined points for Durant and Westbrook. Talk about the value of having two superstars.

by **Orenthal** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:33 am

e0y2e3 wrote:As I said after the Perk trade, it makes sense if they can wheel the O'Neal's out against the Heat/Magic.

This is a huge sign.

And no, I didn't see this coming. After Shaq couldn't run on Friday I thought the C's were done.

That said I also saw CP3 make Aaron Gray into a great NBA player today.

My heads just spinning.

Just a fantastic day of games. The big slow physical presence of Memphis that just ate SA alive, and who the f here said having bigs in the playoffs was no big deal? From the superb traditional PG play of Paul, making former Bulls fan favorite, and tall stiff white guy Aaron Gray, not so much a tall stiff. The basketball nirvana that was the Nuggets V Thunder, the OKC fanbase, and a nice finish to Boston vs New York.

Perkins while not filling up the stat sheet, gave them the physical player they need against Nene and Martin. Like I said all along Boston was dealing from what they perceived as a surplus of big slow defender types. Didn't watch much of the Boston game, from the looks of the box, doesn't seem like he had much effect. Again, only from the stat sheet.

Tomorrow is IMO 2 of the lamer series, unless the underdogs can steal a game, and take momo home.

by **e0y2e3** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:34 am

^ bingo

Good basketball doesn't mean you have to have upsets.

by **Orenthal** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:38 am

hermanfontenot wrote:
Kingpin74 wrote:Don't you wish the first round was still best-of-five though? It would give all these great upsets and near upsets more weight.

Disagree. Too many flukes in a best-of-five. In a best of seven the cream rises.

73 combined points for Durant and Westbrook. Talk about the value of having two superstars.

Can they keep pulling that off? Denver is the antithesis of what OKC did tonight.

by **hermanfontenot** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:38 am

e0y2e3 wrote:Good basketball doesn't mean you have to have upsets.

Actually, the fewer upsets early, the better the later-round matchups tend to be. Works that way in the NCAA Tournament as well.

This weekend belonged to the young point guards. Rose, Paul and Westbrook were redonkulous. As if it wasn't obvious enough who the Cavaliers ought to take if they get the top pick.

This is going to be an unbelievable spring. If there's one good aspect to the Cavaliers being on the sidelines, it's being able to just sit back as an impartial fan and enjoy great basketball.

by **e0y2e3** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:42 am

hermanfontenot wrote:
e0y2e3 wrote:Good basketball doesn't mean you have to have upsets.

Actually, the fewer upsets early, the better the later-round matchups tend to be. Works that way in the NCAA Tournament as well.

This weekend belonged to the young point guards. Rose, Paul and Westbrook were redonkulous. As if it wasn't obvious enough who the Cavaliers ought to take if they get the top pick.

This is going to be an unbelievable spring. If there's one good aspect to the Cavaliers being on the sidelines, it's being able to just sit back as an impartial fan and enjoy great basketball.

Oh I was talking on a taking a few games aspect, not series.

Although I think right now we have the shortest gap between 1 and 8 we have had in over ten years.

by **hermanfontenot** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:45 am

I don't remember the field being this wide-open since the lockout year.

by **Kingpin74** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:12 am

Disagree. Too many flukes in a best-of-five. In a best of seven the cream rises.

Fair point, but I think basketball is stable enough that you still don't have too many crazy results in a best of five series (baseball is a different story however). The only big upsets I can think of are Nuggets-Sonics '94 (where the Nuggets almost won again the next round) and Knicks-Heat '99 (where the Knicks went to the Finals). I also think the momentum of the playoffs slows down a bit as first round series drag on for upwards of two weeks. Obviously personal preference but I think the upset/urgency element of a best of five is worth the tradeoff.

And e0's point about Doc's inbound plays was spot on. The one with 36 seconds left essentially won the game. It turned a likely situation where the Knicks had the ball up one with 28-30 seconds left (they either grind the game clock down to near nothing or get fouled) to Boston getting a perfect 2-for-1. Hell, even if Garnett had missed the shot or they screwed up the pass, it still gave them time for a full defensive cycle without fouling and 12 leftover seconds for a tying 3. Just great.

Denver-OKC was a good game as well but I don't know how they missed that offensive goaltending call (Carmelo's late charge in Knicks-Celtics was iffy too as was the Heat's free throw marathon yesterday). I bitch about refs every year but it might just be time to accept that it's a necessary evil. Basketball's a really hard sport to officiate and home crowds have more of an effect than in any other sport. I'm just not sure what the solution is beyond maybe phasing out some of the older refs. College refs aren't any better beyond actually enforcing travels and double dribbles (and I'm guessing NBA refs are perfectly capable of doing the same if they didn't receive suggestions from above to let them slide).

by **e0y2e3** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:24 am

1) what you want isn't changing the best winning (which the best of 7 does in hoops) what you want is the TV schedule to stop being so selfish and spreading the games out so thin (after this weekend of course, which is the best sports weekend of the year).

2) As for the calls, you are dead on re: it being the hardest sport to defend. But for a Cleveland fan to talk about LBJ and Wade getting to line is like a crack addict bitching about drug dealers existing. So goes the playoffs. There are three bad calls that stick out in my mind this weekend and all were big calls, but all also can be excused because it is an impossible sport to call. You say college regs aren't any better and I answer with college refs are WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY worse. As shark jumped as Simmons is, his idea about bringing up and training young refs is the best solution to the problem I have seen.

by **comish** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:03 am

An absolutely incredible day of basketball. Without having a rooting interest whatsoever, I still was riveted.

Watching both the Lakers and Spurs go down on their home floors was great TV and will make the rest of those series a viewing priority. Didn't somebody on here say that the Griz were an upset pick? We shall see..

Now if we can get lucky enough to witness a Sixers upset tonight I will be real smitten with the Association playoffs.

I still think the regular season is a complete joke and low on the food chain when it comes to watching sports, but the playoffs are LEGIT, and I agree with Eye, if you aren't watching, please turn in your sports fan card. You can probably make a case for 5 or 6 of these teams winning it all this year.

Good stuff

by **fundamentals** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:32 am

This weekend's games were entertaining.
This weekend's announcers were not.
I am tired of hearing how guys use to do things "back in the day".
The face licking of certain teams and players is also not pleasing.
I just want to see a new champion, just not the Heat.

Cleveland Cavaliers & The NBA

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