Sport: 2007 NBA Play-Offs Pool

[Guy Berger]

The Pistons will not win this series...

...with a margin of 20 pts per game.

Guy

[Guy Berger]

My prediction for the Warriors-Jazz series -- assuming that Baron's healthy enough to perform as well as he did against the Mavs, the Jazz will in this in 5-7 games (so let's make it 6). If Baron's not healthy enough, Warriors will struggle to win more than a game.

Guy

[Jim R]

W's and Jazz were 2-2 against each other this year, both holding serve at home. So... I'm not going to make a prediction.

Even if health (Baron, Barnes) is no issue, then I would still expect a 7 game series. Obviously it will be tough if the injuries come into play (and I can't help but expect them to). Basically, the W's have to continue to feel confident, share the ball, and make shots. Otherwise, Utah beats us up down low.

Pistons look like they mean business.

[md655321]

Pistons look good, but there is no way their shots keep fallin like that forever.

Chicago's depth, the way the young kids will feed off the crowd, and their utter dismantling of the Heat still scare me a bit. The need a win in the next two, i hate being nervous in round two.

[Jim Alfredson]

The Pistons just need to win one in Chicago and this series is done.

[md655321]

Indeed. And I wont be happy until the series is done.

Just noticed an interesting stat, Pistons won by 21, but Bulls had almost 30 more free throw attempts. Can you imagine if the game had been called more evenly? (not to say the foul calls weren't fair, just that clearly the pistons got called alot more often.)

[Jim Alfredson]

The refs were doing their best in both Game 1 & 2 to give the Bulls a fighting chance. Some totally bullshit calls against the Pistons in both games. The fouls have really been one-sided so far.

[md655321]

Well we all know Sheed will never get a fair shake (6 fouls in 18 minutes, including a few 'standing is now a foul' calls)

[Guy Berger]

Oh well... it looked like the Warriors had a chance to win that one. Lots of 3 point chucking near the end. Nice to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle awaken from his slump to score 21 pts, though he did his usual 4th quarter disappearing act. Deron Williams outplayed Baron Davis.

Matt Barnes had another great game.

The Booze did not get 15 assists.

Guy

[Jim R]

Too many turnovers by the W's. Baron's second half was the worst I've seen him play in a long time. I don't understand why we went to the one-v-one, Jazz-tempo offense for much of the second half.

Coming that close to beating them at their place feels kind of good, but it's also a big blown opportunity.

I like the way Barnes has been playing, but damn, he's an awful passer. I get nervous every time he brings the ball up the floor.

[Soulstation1]

i think the heat wore out the bulls, i mean it was a tough series and all.......

[Guy Berger]

Too many turnovers by the W's. Baron's second half was the worst I've seen him play in a long time. I don't understand why we went to the one-v-one, Jazz-tempo offense for much of the second half.

Coming that close to beating them at their place feels kind of good, but it's also a big blown opportunity.

I like the way Barnes has been playing, but damn, he's an awful passer. I get nervous every time he brings the ball up the floor.

Stephen Jackson turns the ball over a lot when he drives into the key.

Guy

[Patrick]

I don't understand why we went to the one-v-one, Jazz-tempo offense for much of the second half.

I guess I had the opposite reaction. Why was Utah running up and down playing Warriors' style? Lots of fast breaks, and at least the part I saw, not enough touches in the paint for Boozer. Definitely a lost opportunity, but there was a similar feeling after a close loss in big D, no?

[Jim R]

Too many turnovers by the W's. Baron's second half was the worst I've seen him play in a long time. I don't understand why we went to the one-v-one, Jazz-tempo offense for much of the second half.

Coming that close to beating them at their place feels kind of good, but it's also a big blown opportunity.

I like the way Barnes has been playing, but damn, he's an awful passer. I get nervous every time he brings the ball up the floor.

Stephen Jackson turns the ball over a lot when he drives into the key.

Guy

Absolutely. At least he finishes pretty well when he does make it to the tin.

Everybody was turning it over last night. Barnes, Jackson, JRich... Baron also got picked clean a few times, which is unusual. He also forced some passes (like that one he threw at Biedrins' ankles which took a lucky bounce for us). But Barnes... when he gave the ball away on one of those casual behind-the-back bounce-passes at a point in the 4th where we were fighting to hang on to the momentum, I came out of my chair. I was listening to Tim Roy and Jim Barnett's call on radio, and Barnett made the point over and over from the get-go, the Warriors needed to value their possessions- especailly with it being an away game. At one point in the 2nd half, he mentioned that Utah had 28 points off turnovers. And that was well before the game was over. That game was there for the taking.

[Jim R]

I don't understand why we went to the one-v-one, Jazz-tempo offense for much of the second half.

I guess I had the opposite reaction. Why was Utah running up and down playing Warriors' style? Lots of fast breaks, and at least the part I saw, not enough touches in the paint for Boozer.

Oh, I agree with that too. I think the Jazz were trying to take advantage of Deron Williams ability to push it when they had numbers. But the Warriors were so deliberate going 1-v-1... they used to do that a LOT, especially Baron, and especially late in games. But last night he started doing that in the 3rd, when we were having success moving the ball, and driving to the hoop. I suspect that Baron was really tired last night (he said in an interview that he and some other players had flu symptoms).

Definitely a lost opportunity, but there was a similar feeling after a close loss in big D, no?

Yep. No need to panic yet, it's just frustrating to lose a chance like that.

[Soulstation1]

IF the suns lose tonight, it's over in 4 games

-_-

[Guy Berger]

IF the suns lose tonight, it's over in 4 games

I wouldn't be so sure about that -- in 2005 the Suns lost the first three to the Spurs (including two at home) before coming back and winning game 4.

That said, yes, a loss tonight puts them on life support.

Guy

[Soulstation1]

tonight's spurs / suns game in a nutshell

suns come out early and get up 12-15 pts

spurs pull within 5/6 at halftime

spurs down 2/3 pts after 3

spurs take over in 4th

[Guy Berger]

Did not watch the Cavs-Nets game, but LeBron had a monster game!

Vince Carter chucked his way to 26 pts.

Guy

[Patrick]

LeBron had 36 pts and 12 assists (only 1 rebound). Cavs shot 45% from the field, Nets 53%. All five Cavs starters in double figures including Pavlovic with 17. Pavlovic, who has no business guarding Carter, did a decent job through 3. Carter got it going toward the end, but boy is he a prima donna and a crybaby... Lower the shoulder, plow through the defender, and then cry after the foul is called against the defender. Please. Next time the ref will have to giftwrap it for you. And we all know it is physically impossible for VC to commit a turnover without being fouled. Please. Game 3 not until Saturday, so LeBron can get his rest.

Staying up watching these western conference games, ...I'll need to get my rest.

[Guy Berger]

Tim Duncan is a frickin (mild mannered) beast. If I was building a team from scratch and had to choose between him and Amare I'd take TD every time.

edit: The Beast finds himself getting blown out in Phoenix!

Kurt Thomas is having a great game.

Guy

Edited May 9, 2007 by Guy

[Guy Berger]

Normally you don't want to go on the road with a 1-1 tie. But if I'm the Suns, I'm actually feeling pretty good! The Suns showed that they can compete and broke through a mental barrier. I'm still picking the Spurs to win this series, but it wouldn't surprise me if this series goes long.

Guy

[Guy Berger]

While coaching the Knicks for an abbreviated 59 games in 1995-96, Nelson told me a story involving John Starks. He said a fan approached the former Knicks guard after a game and asked him to sign a pennant for his brother. "His name is Marc. Marc with a 'C.' "

When the fan got the pennant returned, Nelson said, it read, "To Cark." Marc with a "C," get it?

Nellie delighted in telling that story, prefacing it with, "This is how stupid John Starks is." He wanted Starks traded and was prepared to give up any information that might lead to that end.

[Noj]

[Soulstation1]

these should be $5 now...