2008 NBA Playoffs Thread

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Yep, and here is the Zen Master not complaining about the reffing:



http://www.faniq.com/blog/Phil-Jacks...ting-Blog-9445

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...fference_N.htm

That is after the game in the press conference and did you watch the game, I want KG to win a title but some of the calls in that games were horrific, 2 specifically come 1 mind.

1 - against boston, player is lying out of bounds and Odom bounces ball off him and its called lakers ball

2 - Kobe drives to basket down the middle and Pierce blatantaly grabs onto his arm and there is no call.

Reffing in the NBA has always been pathetic but those 2 calls in particular were horrific.

[SebC]

Awesome half-time interview, here's the gist of it.

Michelle Tafoya: You're getting to the line, what are you doing differently?
Kobe Bryant: Nothing, we're playing the same way.
Michelle Tafoya: Okay...

[OILFAN #81]

Lakers win game three 87-81 to cut the Celtics lead in the series to 2-1. Paul Pierce was simply awful for Boston (Garnett was for the first 30 minutes of the game as well) and Lamar Odom was brutal for the Lakers (Gasol was pretty bad too). Kobe Bryant and Sasha Vujacic got the Lakers this win. Both players made key shots down the stretch. Allen was great for Boston but had no help.

It's funny how where the game is played determines the amount of fouls (Game 2 and 3). These teams should just play game 7 in Boston on Thursday because that's what it will come down to.

[Iggyscoresgoals]

Gasol and Odom are just horrible this series, Gasol is being a real big women right now. Once they get going we should be able to wrap this thing up, with Garnett being the worst clutch player of all time, and PP being a real big wimp.

Showtime in 6

[killer_carlson]

gasol still led his team in rebounds so it's tough to say he's awful.

In the first half there were two consecutive posessions where he was wide open, uncovered under the basket. Both times Ko-me had the ball and took on 4 boston defenders.

I'd be pissed and probably hammer someone on defence.

boston will win this series because Kome does not know how to pass the ball.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

It's funny how where the game is played determines the amount of fouls (Game 2 and 3). These teams should just play game 7 in Boston on Thursday because that's what it will come down to.

I'm pretty sure David Stern and his chronies have already determined with the officiating crews that the series will be decided in seven games with probably Boston coming out on top. This isn't the NHL, MLB, or NFL folks, this is WWE with basketballs.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm pretty sure David Stern and his chronies have already determined with the officiating crews that the series will be decided in seven games with probably Boston coming out on top. This isn't the NHL, MLB, or NFL folks, this is WWE with basketballs.

That's what Tim Donaghy alleges:

Donaghy alleges that games have been fixed, stars favoured, and explicit instructions given by the NBA to its officials to determine a favourable outcome for the league.

Perhaps the most explosive allegation was that two unnamed referees that Donaghy refers to as "company men" refereed a Game 6 in the 2002 playoffs with the explicit intention of forcing the series to seven games, which is what occurred.

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...e-b844d276dacc

I guess the question is: what reason does he have to lie? He is already going to jail, so why risk lawsuits, etc. to lie to give the NBA a black eye?

The Suns/Spurs series last year also seems suspicious, but who knows.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

That's what Tim Donaghy alleges:





http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...e-b844d276dacc

I guess the question is: what reason does he have to lie? He is already going to jail, so why risk lawsuits, etc. to lie to give the NBA a black eye?

The Suns/Spurs series last year also seems suspicious, but who knows.

Coaches and players in the NBA have longed to have the NBA referees a private entity from the NBA because they know that there are company men that call the game in the best interests of the business not the game. It seems logical but has always fallen on deaf ears. Probably for a reason. The only reason we haven't seen these types of shenannigans in the NHL is because Bettman doesn't have complete control like David Stern does. It's not ethical but the NBA is miles ahead of where it was before Stern came aboard so you have to give him credit. You have to remember that it's a business first and when money is involved integrity usually takes a back seat. Really the NBA is now more about the big stars and the off-court drama than the game itself which is why it has more in common with the WWE than the NHL, MLB, or NFL.

[D to the iddy]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

1 - against boston, player is lying out of bounds and Odom bounces ball off him and its called lakers ball

Call me curious but I fail to see how this is a bad call on the refs part. That was great presence of mind by Odom. Just wondering why you think it's a bad call.

And about the series, I think Boston is going to win in 7 with all the home teams winning. Home court advantage is going to win them the series because I think that the Garden/Staples Center give each team a 10 point advantage to start the game automatically.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

That's what Tim Donaghy alleges:





http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...e-b844d276dacc

I guess the question is: what reason does he have to lie? He is already going to jail, so why risk lawsuits, etc. to lie to give the NBA a black eye?

The Suns/Spurs series last year also seems suspicious, but who knows.

I believe he was working that series, and he's under investigation in Arizona right now and will face further criminal charges there if he's found to have affected the outcome. If that's the case, he's not going to be naming that one as having shenanigans.

I can certainly think of reasons why he would lie: he can save something of what little is left of his reputation by trying to make the problems seems more systemic. And I think there's certain influential organizations that he's been involved with in the past who would probably like to see the heat shifted to the league.

That said, I think there's at least a thread of truth in what he's saying, and it's entirely possible that it's all true. The NBA is awful in terms of transparency, and in a lot of ways they've brought this on themselves by scoffing every time the issue of questionable refereeing and preferential treatment has been raised.

[StrayBullet]

If by chance any CP-ers are at Staples Centre tonight, holler at me!! I'm in Section 112, Row 14.... GO LAKERS!

[Machiavelli]

What a comeback by the Celtics. Down as many as 24 points (in the second quarter), they take Game 4 with a score of 97-91 to lead the series at 3-1.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Whoooo!!!
WHAT A COMEBACK!!!

Down by 24 in the 2nd quarter, and 20 at the half, the Boston Celtics stuck with it and punked Kobe and the Lakers, up 3-1, Celtics can hopefully finish the series off next game!

[OILFAN #81]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

What an amazing come back from the Celtics! Down 24 pts and they come back to win 97-91 and take a 3-1 series lead. That was the largest comeback by a team after the 1st quarter in NBA Finals history! Paul Pierce was awesome tonight, especially with his defense on Bryant. Garnett, Posey also made some clutch shots in the 2nd half. HAHA stupid Fakeshow.........one more win Celtics.......do it on Father's day!! BEAT LA, BEAT LA!

EDIT: And LOL at Van Gundy. He said he'd go out on a limb and pick the Lakers to win when they were up by 17 in the 1st quarter! Sorry Jeff, the only losers tonight were you and the Fakeshow.

[ResAlien]

Hope that the Celtics close this out on Fathers Day. I'm not a big fan either way, but I've got to cheer for Ray Allen. The guy is such a class act it's nice to see him on the brink of finally winning a ring.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Hope that the Celtics close this out on Fathers Day. I'm not a big fan either way, but I've got to cheer for Ray Allen. The guy is such a class act it's nice to see him on the brink of finally winning a ring.

Speaking of Ray Allen, he played 48 of 48 minutes tonight which is nuts! He should get the finals MVP in my opinion. He's been the most consistent player all 4 games.

(Pierce was brutal in game 3).

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Speaking of Ray Allen, he played 48 of 48 minutes tonight which is nuts! He should get the finals MVP in my opinion. He's been the most consistent player all 4 games.

(Pierce was brutal in game 3).

I loved watching him blow by Vujacovich or whatever his name is for the killer layup late in the 4th....

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

I loved watching him blow by Vujacovich or whatever his name is for the killer layup late in the 4th....

Sasha Vujacic. That was good but the better part was watching Vujacic cry on the bench right after that play, (after a trainer went to console him and gave him a towel). He pushed him away and said something like "######, leave me alone".

[killer_carlson]

well LA's goat horns have to like squarely on 6-18 shooting Ko-me. Gasol and Odom had similar stats with 50-66% of the shots.

There was some terrible defence down the stretch as well by the Lakers. During a run like that in the third quarter, they should have laid out someone like PJ Brown and sent a message, but they didn't.

In any event, this thing is over next game I think.

[fredr123]

What an odd ball game to watch. Both teams should be embarrassed: the Lakers for blowing that huge lead and the Celtics for getting down that far in the first place. I look forward to a spirited affair on Sunday with the Lakers pulling one out. Kobe can't play like that two games in a row, can he?