Official NBA Discussion

[kartanym]

Anyone keeping up with the playoffs this year? It's tight in most of the early rounds so far, making for some exciting moments. If anything it's great to see some 'new' teams making a name for themselves this year, namely the Thunder pushing the Lakers to six games at the least.

I'm a Magic follower, so right now I'm relatively happy. Looks like we're going to sweep the Bobcats!

[Moistflaps]

Yeh im watching it all like a hawk, also being a magic fan. The thunder are going to be a great team in another year or two, will be interesting to see what they get up to in the post season!

Theres almost a feeling that the playoffs are just getting in the way of the massive free agency period coming up! Cant wait to see if any of the big guys move around!

Also managed to catch the magic v cavs in orlando late last year, am heading back in november again to catch more games. Cant wait!

Be magic peoples!
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Kill each other nicely please.

[kartanym]

You're going there?! I envy you! Buy me some merch, yeah? I'll be your friend for life

I'm really hoping Orlando can go all the way this year, even with Howard playing into foul trouble so often they're still hard to beat.

The offseason will be very interesting. D.Wade seems like the most likely move, possibly to Chicago. That's what I'm betting on, you can tell he's frustrated with the players around him right now, he took it upon himself to keep them in that series with Boston.

EDIT: Magic sweep Bobcats!

[JunkInTheBox]

I'm a huge basketball fan and have been a big Spurs fan from the late 90s (because they drafted Tim Duncan) and have obviously been keeping up-to-date with the season and of course the playoffs.

Obviously the supposedly 'washed up' Spurs going up 3-1 against Dallas yesterday was awesome to watch as they've shown their poise and championship mettle is still there. George Hill should've won Most Improved this year because Aaron Brooks was already doing well the year before but I digress.

The Thunder are going to be a great team and have the potential to knock off the Lakers this year, especially if Durant keeps playing the way he's been playing. They're young and have got nothing to lose so they're always exciting to watch. Their couple of games on OneHD this year have been great to watch too. No suprise, the team's run by Sam Presti who used to work for the Spurs

The top 4 seeds in the West have been really really shakey in the opening round so it really is pretty much up for grabs at the moment!

As for the East, I'm just sad Bogut got injured because that Bucks team really could've upset a top seed in a 7 game series!
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[NaTe]

I'm following closely.

I'm a lakers fan myself, and I also have a good mate who follows the magic.

Lakers have been in a slump for the last few months, no surprise to me that the thunder are putting it to them. I think they've been pretty much 0.5 since march, which is obviously well below expectation, being 57-25 or there abouts at the end of the regular season, and a high number of those losses coming in the back end of the season, including a loss to the clippers...enough said.

Credit where it's due to the thunder though. Russell Westbrook and of course Kevin Durant are playing very well, and Kobe is carrying a knee and finger injury, and as such he's been hesitent to attack the rim and hasn't drawn many fouls at all. The lakers are a team of stars though, coming back to the staples centre for game 5 should lift them, and I'm hoping they run out winners in 6 games. If it comes down to a 7th game in Oklohoma I won't be too confident.

The magic seem to be playing well. They need Vince Carter to perform, and they need Howard to stay in every match, they can't afford for him to foul out. I just get the feeling the cavs might get the better of them this year though. LeBron has stepped it up again this year, and I believe he's a shoe in to win his second MVP running. For me, he's head and shoulders above the rest as the best in the NBA. I don't like him, but damn he can play. They've also been without Shaq for the last 25 odd home and away games, and while he isn't the force he once was, he's been chipping in with decent performances off the bench. They also did well in the trade deadline to pick up Jamison, he's added another defensive headache to opponents, with Mo Williams capable of putting up big numbers as well. I think they'll certainly be better for the loss to the magic last season.
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[JunkInTheBox]

For me, the thing with the Cavs is, how much more stacked does this team need to be for Lebron to win a title? It's not like the other players on his team are washed up and has-beens.

But that's just me, trying not to buy into the Cavs hype. Lebron is an amazing physical specimen of a basketball player though.
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[kartanym]

I just can't see the Cavs knocking off the Magic. I'm trying not to be biased here obviously, but I look at Orlando right now and they have the most depth of any squad in the league at the moment. They won that series against the Bobcats without Howard. The Cavs wouldn't come close without Lebron.

Which is why the Lakers are struggling, something's up with Kobe. He just isn't playing with the same intensity as Lebron or Wade. There's every possibility he's hiding an injury.

I'm hoping the Spurs carry on. Any team with Parker coming off the bench HAS to be a contender.

[Moistflaps]

The cavs bench could almost be a competitive team in its own right. You know life is going ok when you dont even need to suit up players like Telfair.

Dwight needs to stay on the court for more than 26 minutes if the magic are to get it done though i just cant see any answer for the length of the lakers, they are just such a big team.

Bogut going down was a real shame, i agree!

Anywho gonna throw this photo up again...just umm cost i can hahaha



Happy days, be magic people!

PS: Yes i was too scared to touch her!
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Kill each other nicely please.

[kartanym]

Nice.

The one and only time I went to a Magic game was back in the days of Penny Hardaway. Man, that brings back memories. It was the original arena too. Just goes to show you how they love building stadiums in the US (take heed Perth!)

Sounds like James is struggling with an injury. The Celtics will be a tougher act than Chicago, so that could be an interesting series.

Bogut's injury was shocking. I feel sorry for him, but if the Bucks get up over Atlanta, that might ease the pain slightly.

[Cro]

Spewing.. I told my mate that all the home teams would win today, and I don'tt mind the odd bet on the NBA, but didn't put it on for some reason. So of course..

I'm a Suns fan, and pretty confident we'll go on to face the Spurs in the semis. Can't believe how well the team has played this season. The West is that tight that it almost didn't matter where you finished, though.

If only internet wasn't filtered at work.. box scores just aren't doing it for me.
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[Tooki]

I'm a casual fan. I'm following the Blazers after the Sonics got moved.

I don't think we have much of a chance against the Suns .
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Year Of The Husky 2010

[JunkInTheBox]

[Tooki]

[JunkInTheBox]

Ahh fair enough I was silly and didn't realise it was the reasons behind the move that put you off.

Anyway, how about those Bucks?! That Brandon Jennings kid sure knows how to play!
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[Tooki]

[JunkInTheBox]

Go Spurs Go!!

George Hill has really turned a corner and has come up big in the first round. Here's hoping that he can keep it up in the next round.

Spurs play winner of Phoenix/Portland. Personally, I'm more scared of Portland than I am of Phoenix. Either way, go Spurs go!!
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[NaTe]

Well, it's looking like suns will progress. Watching at the moment, lead is 10 with 25 seconds remaining. It'll be interesting to see how they go against the spurs. The spurs have a great record on the suns in play offs, and have won their last 4 playoff outings against Pheonix.

Was great to see the lakers bounce back the other night. They really gave it to the Thunder, which I expected given they were back to Staples Centre. Hoping for a repeat performance in game 6.

Also speculation Phil Jackson is going to leave the club. As the highest paid coach in the NBA ($12m/yr), I'm sure he'd be in high demand, perticularly since he boasts 10 NBA titles. I'd rather not see him coach against LA though.
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[Ciel]

Well since my team (Detroit Pistons) isn't in the playoffs haven't been following it as closely as previous years. I can only hope for a good lottery draft position (I don't hold too much hope for next year either unless some major trade happens - but they're my beloved Pistons so I'll keep on trucking).

I do still follow play offs and I'm barracking for the Lakers (back to back) since they're my favourite team on the West side. I do like Cleveland for the East but they're only going to go as far as LeBron can take them (mostly likely just the ECF).

I have a feeling it'll be the Magic that comes out of the east, they just look like a better overall team and they play better defense with Howard (DPY - again and well deserved) in the middle. My sentimental pick has to be the Bucks (FEAR THE DEER!), I would like to see them go far but as we all know the East is pretty much a 3 horse race (Celts, Cavs and Magic).

West, going for Lakers, but I like the look of the Jazz, Suns and Spurs. Not sure how Denver will pull up in the end without their head coach, they're still in it with a chance since Utah is missing a few key players but being 3 - 2 down is not a position any team wants to be. Suns just knocked out the Blazers as expected and are looking good. I like the Spur's chances even with the aging team, they might have it in them to go one more - you can never dismiss Pop's team easily.
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[kartanym]

As much as my team winning big is a good thing, I feel sorry for the Hawks. Two days rest since game 7 against the Bucks and they have to travel to the hardest place to win a game in this season. To make matters worse, Howard was out to prove a point after a poor opening round, and we had more than a week to prepare.

It's the biggest playoff win I can remember from memory, but even I had to double take when I read the result. 43 is just crazy! Just gotta keep this momentum going.

[Smurf80]

Suns are sitting pretty comfortable at the moment, Hopefully they can pull off a demoralising revenge sweep of the Spurs.....
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Thanks to segax for the sig!

[Ciel]

I think the Spurs are too good of a team to be swept. I am hoping the Suns win that series, but the series now turns back to San Antonio and it could easily be 2 - 2 tie.

I'm really surprised that Boston managed to even the series at 1 - 1. I was expecting Cleveland to go up 2 - 0 with the league's MVP in their team (Lebron carrying an injured elbow is better than most even on their best days).

Waiting for Atlanta to show up, that first game was just plain embarrassing.
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[Tooki]

[JunkInTheBox]

[kartanym]

I can see the Spurs getting close, but this is a different Suns team. They're going to be hard to stop.

You can't imagine my relief with game 2 out of the way. Orlando gave me a scare, credit to the Hawks for pushing the Magic most of the way. They're a far better team than that game 1 result suggests, so I'm glad they came to play today. As much as it was close for a while, we really closed it off well. All but one starter notched more than 20 points, that's the team effort I like to see. More of that, and we should compete all the way to the top.

Fingers crossed Boston get the job done tomorrow, push the Cavs all the way.

[Ciel]