What's new

2012 NBA Playoffs

MKF30

Fujin and Ermac for MK 11
Yeah you make a lot of good points. Gasol is not playing up to par and that's really hurting the Lakers. Throw in Bynum's offensive struggles and Kobe's solo hero mode and you got yourself a big problem. Anyways they're struggling to keep pace with OKC and I don't see them winning tonight's game. Obviously if they lose tonight it is over. I've always maintained that the Lakers are most effective when Bryant is setting up the big men. The Lakers have to use their size advantage down low over other teams. It's simple strategy yet they never do it, and as you pointed out, it doesn't help that Gasol neglects to operate closer to the rim. Anyways should be interesting.

On the subject of Miami I dunno what to expect. Bosh is clearly more valuable than a lot of people realise. Bron needs to step it up big time because D Fraud looks like he's on his period at the moment. I'm losing a lot of respect for this guy. Anyways they have no excuses. Bosh or no Bosh, Miami are clearly the better team and they have to act like it. Would be amazing though to see the Pacers in the Conference Finals. Pacers-76'ers anyone? Who would have thought that was possible?

At the moment the Spurs look like the best team. It's do or die for another LA team (the Clippers) but unlike the Lakers there is no chance in hell of them salvaging something from this series anymore. With the way it is looking now the Spurs are my favourites to win the whole thing (unless Miami somehow step their shit up).
So what do you think? If Kobe gets hurt, chances of Lakers winning are what?

We've seen other key injuries with other teams and it's effect. Same with with Lebron, if he misses games you wonder how much that will hurt them. But yeah, Spurs>>>Lakers, if I was a betting man.
 

Mt. Mutombo

Asshole by nature
So what do you think? If Kobe gets hurt, chances of Lakers winning are what?

We've seen other key injuries with other teams and it's effect. Same with with Lebron, if he misses games you wonder how much that will hurt them. But yeah, Spurs>>>Lakers, if I was a betting man.
If that happens they get worse no doubt, but it won't be any better than when he's trying to do everything. I've said this since the 06 playoffs where kobe for the first time post-shaq trusted his teamates. That series they were a 7 or 6 seed against Phoenix which in those days was a powerhouse and with kobe trusting his crappy ass teamates they made a 3-1 series for themselves. I mean by playing the distributor role he made Kwame look like Wilt in that series, i remember the Stapls Center chanting Kwame! Kwame! Kwame! during the game lmao. And you wanna know why they lost after that 3-1 lead? He reverted to his "I only shoot mode" for the remaining games and if i recall had a 50 pt game and two 40 pt games. Not saying that scoring is bad, but the way Kobe scores tends to monopolize the ball for him.

Kobe distributes the ball efficiently, i don't see how the Lakers can be beat. That's why Phil Jackson was so good in his career, he managed to keep in check all of those players who had some crazy tendencies. I like Mike Brown, he's made the lakers defend but he needs to keep kobe on a leash.
 

NKZero

Noob
Wow the Spurs comeback vs the Clippers. Game set and match! What is CP3 doing? It's sad how he's struggling so hard vs SAS both now and in the regular season. Parker MVP of the playoffs so far. Amazing.
 

Mt. Mutombo

Asshole by nature
Kobe screws the game up once again... how you gonna keep chucking shots up, when bynum is the one who got you that lead? Doesn't he fucking get it?

Bynum got 1 shot up i believe in the 4th quarter...kobe went 1-8 shooting crazy ass shots. They play through bynum and gasol and series would be 2-2 or 3-1 lakers. So fucking disappointed in him right now...
 

MKF30

Fujin and Ermac for MK 11
Lakers are overrated. So are the Spurs, just wait and see.
While I agree about the Laker comment, Spurs at least are more of a "team" effort instead of relying on that one man...

If that happens they get worse no doubt, but it won't be any better than when he's trying to do everything. I've said this since the 06 playoffs where kobe for the first time post-shaq trusted his teamates. That series they were a 7 or 6 seed against Phoenix which in those days was a powerhouse and with kobe trusting his crappy ass teamates they made a 3-1 series for themselves. I mean by playing the distributor role he made Kwame look like Wilt in that series, i remember the Stapls Center chanting Kwame! Kwame! Kwame! during the game lmao. And you wanna know why they lost after that 3-1 lead? He reverted to his "I only shoot mode" for the remaining games and if i recall had a 50 pt game and two 40 pt games. Not saying that scoring is bad, but the way Kobe scores tends to monopolize the ball for him.

Kobe distributes the ball efficiently, i don't see how the Lakers can be beat. That's why Phil Jackson was so good in his career, he managed to keep in check all of those players who had some crazy tendencies. I like Mike Brown, he's made the lakers defend but he needs to keep kobe on a leash.
I think personally, B-ball relies too much on "one or two guys" as oppose to a team effort. Jordan you could do that because, well he was Jordan. Nobody even today is near his level. It's like if you make more of a "team" effort you'd win more, as someone who has coached partially in sports myself and played, I'd tell my team to play a team effort and not rely on one guy to bail us out. It's become a one man game more or less, when in doubt give the ball to the Kobes, Lebrons, Anthony's etc, etc.

I hope the Spurs go all the way, for an aged team they're very disciplined and play as a team more so then other teams to me anyway.
 

NKZero

Noob
Kobe dropped 42 and they still lost by 16. That's gotta hurt.
Yeah Gasol and Bynum on the whole were hugely dissapointing in this series. Add that to some mental lapses for Bryant and they never really stood a chance in the end. If they got consistent production (which was pretty much the case for OKC's big 3), then they could have easily been 3-1 up or at least 2-2 heading into game 5. Oh well I'm excited for OKC vs SAS. Have a feeling Spurs will win in 6 though.
 
Yeah Gasol and Bynum on the whole were hugely dissapointing in this series. Add that to some mental lapses for Bryant and they never really stood a chance in the end. If they got consistent production (which was pretty much the case for OKC's big 3), then they could have easily been 3-1 up or at least 2-2 heading into game 5. Oh well I'm excited for OKC vs SAS. Have a feeling Spurs will win in 6 though.
Yeah OKC vs SAS is going to be a good series. Even though I want to see OKC do well, I agree that the veteran team SAS will win. The entire second round had interesting match-ups. They were all veteran teams vs young teams. Spurs/Clippers, Lakers/Thunder, Heat/Pacers, Celtics/76ers
 

NKZero

Noob
Yeah OKC vs SAS is going to be a good series. Even though I want to see OKC do well, I agree that the veteran team SAS will win. The entire second round had interesting match-ups. They were all veteran teams vs young teams. Spurs/Clippers, Lakers/Thunder, Heat/Pacers, Celtics/76ers
Yep. Out East we'll probably see MIA-BOS. Miami need Bosh back asap. They might struggle heavily without him. Anyways I think they'll win in 7. I anticipate a great series.
 

Gimmick

Noob
Im from Texas, so i'm pulling for the Spurs. I really think the winner of the Western Conference will take the championship. Can't see anyone from the Eastern Conference putting up a real threat
 

NKZero

Noob
Im from Texas, so i'm pulling for the Spurs. I really think the winner of the Western Conference will take the championship. Can't see anyone from the Eastern Conference putting up a real threat
Not Miami?

Anyways game 7: Philly vs Boston. I'm taking the Celtics.
 

NKZero

Noob
Wow it's been almost a week so I thought I'd bring this thread back to life.

I thought the Spurs would steamroll another opponent but the Thunder have finally broken the Spurs streak. 2-1....anyone's game. Also Miami look in cruise control but the Celtics still have home court to defend so I wouldn't count them out yet. Who are we predicting to make the finals from both conferences?

Let's re-kindle this thread guys...
 

M2Dave

Zoning Master
The Celtics got screwed by the referees in game 2. In over time, Rondo got whacked in the head on a drive and no foul was called. The Heat got two easy points on the other end, and the game was basically over. Stern is trying hard to get the Heat into the finals.
 
Wow it's been almost a week so I thought I'd bring this thread back to life.

I thought the Spurs would steamroll another opponent but the Thunder have finally broken the Spurs streak. 2-1....anyone's game. Also Miami look in cruise control but the Celtics still have home court to defend so I wouldn't count them out yet. Who are we predicting to make the finals from both conferences?

Let's re-kindle this thread guys...
The thunder are a force to be reckoned with. Especially when they share the ball. Durant going to the rim strong ,then mixing in some jumpshot/3 pointers. Harden doing his thing,Westbrook actually passing it,and Perkins getting his shit together. Lets not forget Ibaka was even hitting some shots ,while blocking some too! Sefolosha had one of his best playoff games of his career. I just don't see how they WOULD lose that game.
 

NKZero

Noob
The thunder are a force to be reckoned with. Especially when they share the ball. Durant going to the rim strong ,then mixing in some jumpshot/3 pointers. Harden doing his thing,Westbrook actually passing it,and Perkins getting his shit together. Lets not forget Ibaka was even hitting some shots ,while blocking some too! Sefolosha had one of his best playoff games of his career. I just don't see how they WOULD lose that game.
They played a great game but I don't think they can sustain it against a team of this calibre. I still have the Spurs winning in 6. Miami will win in 5. Heat-Spurs final imo.
 
The Celtics got screwed by the referees in game 2. In over time, Rondo got whacked in the head on a drive and no foul was called. The Heat got two easy points on the other end, and the game was basically over. Stern is trying hard to get the Heat into the finals.
The Celtics need to play through that shit. I mean no one even making an effort to chase Lebron on that layup? What kind of BS is that? I know it was bad ,but the Celtics are more than good enough to beat the Heat in this series.
 
They played a great game but I don't think they can sustain it against a team of this calibre. I still have the Spurs winning in 6. Miami will win in 5. Heat-Spurs final imo.
I think they can TBH ,but I have Thunder winning it in game 7 ,and I had Celtics beating Miami in 6. It's not looking like that for Celtics....

Though I still have hope for Thunder. They can do it if they don't get so emotional over every little thing. Like Perkins was from the beginning of Game 2
 

NKZero

Noob
The Celtics need to play through that shit. I mean no one even making an effort to chase Lebron on that layup? What kind of BS is that? I know it was bad ,but the Celtics are more than good enough to beat the Heat in this series.
Still cannot deny the Celtics were kinda screwed over. I disagree with your saying that they are good enough. Miami are on another level imo if Wade and James keep this going. Plus for the first time in a gazillion years they are actually getting acceptable bench production. Plus all this without their third best player and arguably their glue guy: Chris Bosh.

Whoever Miami plays in the final it will be intriguing for sure.
 

NKZero

Noob
I think they can TBH ,but I have Thunder winning it in game 7 ,and I had Celtics beating Miami in 6. It's not looking like that for Celtics....

Though I still have hope for Thunder. They can do it if they don't get so emotional over every little thing. Like Perkins was from the beginning of Game 2
Thunder can only hope that the Spurs big 3 are not on point and they seem almost flawless at the moment. I think game 3 was just one of those games I guess. The Thunder were more hungry for it. But trust me the Spurs will not want to prolong this series because I agree then it is advantage Thunder potentially. Pops will get them motivated to win game 4 and close it out. It could be 5 or 6 but I just do not see the Spurs losing this. Experience matters at this stage and the Spurs have it in abundance.
 
Thunder can only hope that the Spurs big 3 are not on point and they seem almost flawless at the moment. I think game 3 was just one of those games I guess. The Thunder were more hungry for it. But trust me the Spurs will not want to prolong this series because I agree then it is advantage Thunder potentially. Pops will get them motivated to win game 4 and close it out. It could be 5 or 6 but I just do not see the Spurs losing this. Experience matters at this stage and the Spurs have it in abundance.
I agree ,but everyone knows Thunder will win a championship within the next 5 years easily. Even if its not this one ,but I am bias as they've always been my favorite team <3. The best chance is if that last game was the spark that the Thunder need to win this.


Edit: Regarding Celtics they have arguably the best PG in the NBA who scored 44 points just last game ,but Heat is also arguably the most stacked team in the NBA.