The NBA . . . . . gone and forgotten

[Senator Clay Davis]

LeBron was great yesterday no doubt. Pretty sick line too. But I think even people who hate LeBron acknowledge he's a great player, he's just made himself infinitably hateable. He's had great playoff games before of course, the game against Detorit where he scored something like 29 of the final 30 points for Cleveland comes to mind.

[octothorp]

Yup, no question James was awesome yesterday, and the passing between him and Wade was something that any basketball fan should be able to marvel at, regardless of allegiances. Problem for them is that they need that sort of performances out of those two in two-out-of-three of the remaining games to win this series. James has never had a problem coming up with one or two epic games in a playoff series, but just like when he was in Cleveland, he'll need to carry this team on his back if they're going to go anywhere.

[Drake]

Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith are both fired as coach and GM in Orlando.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/79...ger-otis-smith

[bluejays]

So...Stan Van Gundy fired. Who didn't see this coming? I'd gladly welcome him on the Raps as an assistant. He definitely got short changed, but the writing was on the wall when he called out Howard for trying to get him fired. Still a likable character though, and he is smart. Doubtful he'd take a backseat up north, but he's a good coach and there'll likely be a lineup for the guy.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I wouldn't be surprised to see SVG coaching either of the LA teams next year. If the Clippers were smart (obviously big time assumption there), they'd fire Del Negro now and go for SVG.

[OILFAN #81]

Thunder win game 5 pretty easily and win the series 4-1 over the Lakers. Bryant is a good player but as many expected, the Thunder have a much deeper team. Durant/Westbrook/Harden are the best 1-3 in the game. Spurs-Thunder should be a great series. 8-0 vs 8-1. Spurs will be the favorites but I want to see what Durant can do against them.

[PeteLFan]

Gasol was trash all playoffs long. Sessions was non-existent.

David stern bitch ass ruined everything.

We need a shakeup big time. Gasol must go.

[Sylvanfan]

So the NHL is potentially looking at a New York LA final while the NBA could be like Indiana vs. Oklahoma City or San Antonio. I don't follow basketball too closely, but I'd have to think the folks at ESPN will really be rooting for the Heat. At least people love to hate them.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So the NHL is potentially looking at a New York LA final while the NBA could be like Indiana vs. Oklahoma City or San Antonio. I don't follow basketball too closely, but I'd have to think the folks at ESPN will really be rooting for the Heat. At least people love to hate them.

Boston is up 3-2 in their series and should get to the East finals by winning 1 of their last 2 games. I think Miami gets by Indiana as well (currently tied 2-2) but 2 of the remaining 3 are in Miami.

Boston or Miami vs San Antonio or Oklahoma City will be the finals. Those would be 2 good conference finals. I think for ratings a Miami-OKC finals would be good. Arguably the 2 best players in the game going head to head would make a lot of people tune in.

[Hockey]

I don't follow NBA as much as I used to but when I did a few years back I hated the Spurs. Now I wonder how are they still this good when they still have the same core guys?

I really hope the Thunder can take them out.

[Drake]

OKC has hasn't won a game after the All-Star break in San Antonio since 2008-2009. They are 2-8 in the last 3 years against San Antonio, 1-5 in the last two seasons.

I really think OKC has to steal one of the first two games in San Antonio to even have a sniff of taking them out.

San Antonio is so deep..... its almost like they are flawless.

[trackercowe]

It would be funny if the Spurs and Devils win the Championship's this season.

Instead of the world ending in 2012, we'd just be turning back the clock ten years!

[octothorp]

Yeah, amazing how the Spurs continue to put together one great team after another, despite no homerun trades and no super-high draft picks. I thought that Leonard was the steal of the draft last year (well, maybe after Valanciunas, but we'll see), and a perfect fit for Popovich's system. They were patient with letting Splitter develop abroad, which looks like a great decision now. I hated them back in the Bruce Bowen years (he was such a dirty player), but now that he's retired, I'm finding I actually like the rest of these guys. OKC and SA have been the two teams I've been rooting for thus far, and I can't pick between them, I'm just going to enjoy what should be a great series. But if I were betting, I'd definitely bet on SA.

[PeteLFan]

All that matters now is that Miami loses, and lechoke remains ringless.

[saskflames69]

Some OKC d-bag made these t-shirts.. what a prick.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

Some OKC d-bag made these t-shirts.. what a prick.

Don't see that as being a prick.

Last year when OKC made the West finals, they interviewed thousands of Seattle fans who were cheering on the Mavs and bashing the Sonics (Thunder) for going to OKC. Too bad if Seattle fans feel bad after what they did last year.

[saskflames69]

If Coyotes fans did the same to Winnipeg (had they not recieved the Thrashers this year), Canada would have lost it. They're sort of rubbing salt in the wounds.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Don't see that as being a prick.

Last year when OKC made the West finals, they interviewed thousands of Seattle fans who were cheering on the Mavs and bashing the Sonics (Thunder) for going to OKC. Too bad if Seattle fans feel bad after what they did last year.

I think Sonics fans are pretty justified.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The thing that makes the OKC shirt a low blow is that the Sonics were essentially stolen from Seattle by Clay Bennett. I was reeeeeeally hoping they were going to choose Bandits as their name (it was in the final 3 conisdered names).

[trackercowe]

Horribly officiated games tonight from what I saw. Haslem should have been tossed for his flagrant on Hansbrough. I know Stern wants Miami to get to the finals, but tonight was a bit much.