2009 NBA Playoffs

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

Change the first game to L.A and play a 2-3-2 series to make up for it

What? The first game IS in LA. And that wouldn't fix anything about Game 4.

[mykalberta]

The need to resked the NBA game. I dont see what the fuss is about. The building is booked for another event. Just play the game on a different night.

Seems like egg on face of NBA of skeding the Monday game when they knew the arena was booked.

[StrayBullet]

Game 1 for the Western Conference Final starts tonight. Denver v. Los Angeles. Denver is definitely a sexy pick right now with how well they played against Dallas, coupled with Houston going all the way to 7 with LA. It'll be a hard fought series. Nene is easily tougher, stronger and more athletic than Bynum and Pau, but he lacks the overall skill as Pau. I think Lamar and Carmelo are a scratch, but I'd like to see what Chauncey does to lift these guys.

[StrayBullet]

Since the Draft Lottery was done just before tonight's game, I'll just add it in to the overall playoff discussion.

NBA Draft Lottery

#1 - Los Angeles Clippers
#2 - Memphis Grizzlies
#3 - Oklahoma City Thunder
#4 - Sacramento Kings
#5 - Washington Wizards
#6 - Minnesota Timberwolves
#7 - Golden State Warriors
#8 - New York Knicks
#9 - Toronto Raptors
#10 - Milwaukee Bucks
#11 - New Jersey Nets
#12 - Charlotte Bobcats
#13 - Indiana Pacers
#14 - Phoenix Suns

Blake Griffin will absolutely help the Clippers... He'd help every team in the lottery by at least 10 games. 50 bucks says, The Clips mess this one up.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Nuggets in 6.

Billups will be huge.

[malcolmk14]

I said it before and I'll say it again. Chauncey is great but he is not the type of PG that is super effective against the Lakers. The Nuggets need to find a way to shut down Kobe, but they don't have a Battier/Artest type defender to slow him.

Kobe dominates this series, and the Lakers take it in 5 or 6.

Chauncey is a factor, but no more than usual. You need a lightning-quick point guard to really effectively attack the Lakers.

The Nuggets real advantage is inside.

[Sinatra]

Anthony played amazing, Billups was meh. Had a clutch shot at the end and a couple key 3's. Nene taking too many stupid fouls. Some phantom calls at the end.

[JohnnyFlame]

As a fan of neither team I watched the Cavs/Magic game last night purely because well there was nothing else on. Basically I just sat there and could not believe the bogus reffing in the game. Cavs hacking like crazy and called for zilch. Meanwhile ticky tacky calls on especially Howard. I was thinking A --another ref scandal or B man they really want the poster boy to win a championship.

The lo and behold despite being down 16 pts largely in part of having to sit Howard on the bench half the game and with their players being hacked at will they still come roaring back. They passed the ball much quicker to avoid the hack attack and starting draining three's. Meanwhile the Cavs who really had zilch going for them other than James slowed right down.

I do very much like seeing the bogus nonsense being overcome. Literally in one sequence they called Howard for putting his shoulder into a guy on an offensive move and the ball came down the court and James did exactly the same with no call. The NBA at it's worse.

When the refs at least toned down the crap it was a pretty entertaining game.

[StrayBullet]

The Magic also shot +60% from the field in the second half and Cleveland, as a team took their foot off the gas. They were too busy watching LeBron and expecting him to make baskets and win the game for them during too many sequences. He had another monster game and was working hard on defense all night - You could see him cramping up after the game.

[malcolmk14]

Doubt the Cavs will have another game like that where they let up and let the Magic back into it. Magic might win one more, but I'd be very surprised if they win the series.

[OILFAN #81]

Great game tonight. Nuggets win 106-103 and tie the series at 1. Denver now has home court and it's a best of 5 series. Go Nuggets!

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Great game tonight. Nuggets win 106-103 and tie the series at 1. Denver now has home court and it's a best of 5 series. Go Nuggets!

Denver certainly has that "air" about them since Billups arrived. They have learned how to compete(yeah they could win meaningless games before) in tough games. Billups timing is so good--really knows when to step up his game. They have a lot of battlers on that team and their uncommitted types are following Billups lead. The games in Denver should be very good.

[HOOT]

LeBron proving why he is the MVP tonight!

That shot was sick, I was in shock for about a second and then screamed. Unbelievable!!!

[IceMan]

^^ No doubt man that was sick. What a game. Thinking the Magic are going up 2-0 in the series and then Lebron does that. Unbelievable!!! As not a fan of either of these teams, i was jumpin up and down screaming at that last shot. Amazing.

[JohnnyFlame]

Good to see the Magic win in face of yet another game of total bogus reffing. The crap on Howard is getting ridiculous. Nothing fouls, techs for nothing, clearly blocked shots as a foul. Meanwhile they so much as breath on James and he sits at the foul line all night long. Considering he is only one doing anything for the Cavs if he isn't pouring in 40 they are getting blown out.

I'm beginning to dislike the Cavs just watching the rubbish. Gortat doing an excellent job as Howard's replacement. Good game by the Magic.

[Philly06Cup]

Round 3 of the NBA has a refreshingly competitive alternative to the NHL.

Re: the refereeing. Of course the NBA would like to see a LA-Cleveland Kobe v Lebron final. They provide more star power. And naturally Denver and Orlando are the more well-rounded teams

[Imported_Aussie]

Denver vs Lakers series now at 2-2.
a few technicals coming in last night, as this series started to get a bit more antsy. I see this going to game 7. As a nuggets fan, my heart says nuggets, but the way kobe can take over in the 4th quarter makes me worry. I have liked how J.R. Smith has played on Kobe though, between Smith and Jones, the Nuggets can keep Kobe from taking over if they stay disciplined.
There is a real balance to the nuggets, they finally have their PG, between smith and jones they have both a stopping and scoring option at SG, 'melo is a pure scorer, martin is staying fit and is a good (albeit overpaid) option at PF and Nene has been the revelation of the season at C. Off the bench there is a solid, no frills, backup PG in Carter, a scorer in Kleiza (a little too hot and cold though) and balkman and anderson in the PF/C slots, two guys who get in there and play hard, good energy guys off the bench.
The Nuggets proved last night, when 'melo was having an off night, that they can do it without 'melo firing (and win by 19pts). The key to this team is Billups. He is a top 5 PG in the NBA and IMO, the best PG left active in the playoffs. The Lakers will win if they can solve Billups, they can down 'melo all they want, but if they do, Smith/Martin/Kleiza or even Balkman can grab points with quality playmaking from Billups

Game 6 goes tomorrow. Can't wait!

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Denver vs Lakers series now at 2-2.

Game 6 goes tomorrow. Can't wait!

When's game 5?

[Machiavelli]

Thank god for the NBA. The NHL post-season has been full of craptacular snoozefests.

This Magic/Cavs tilt is just another one to add to the list of great '09 NBA playoff games.

[Regorium]

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person that thought the 40 footer was going in at the end there after Rashard missed the FT.