2008 NBA Playoffs

[elvin]

I think Celtics VS Cavs will be a very great match-up. Game 1 goes to Boston but the score is so tight so we really do not know who will win the 2nd game.

[djwhokid]

Lakers take care of bizness at home.

Even better news: Trevor Ariza might be able to suit up this weekend. Not that they need him for this series, but he could provide valuable minutes as a defender or if Vlade is really struggling.

[Zen653]

The Conference Finals are set:

Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

While a lot of experts predicted that this would be the final four, I doubt that many expected the Celtics to struggle as much as they did to make it this far. I similarly doubt that anyone thought the New Orleans Hornets would pose the greater challenge to the Spurs than the overrated Phoenix Suns.

Although Paul Pierce had a sensational Game 7 performance that resurrected his sagging Celtic legacy (scoring 41 points and setting up plays to outduel LeBron is no easy feat), I get the feeling that Boston's run is about to come to an end. 0-6 on the road isn't going to get it done, especially when you get blown out half the time. What happens if the Celtics finally drop a home game? Will they quit? Where's the emotion with this team? One would think that Garnett, Allen and Pierce would be going all-out on a nightly basis in an effort to win that elusive NBA Championship ring. Yet the team looks flat at the start of every game, and the Celtics can't seem to get more than one good performance a night. In Game 5, Rondo was the man. In Game 6, it was Garnett in a losing effort. In Game 7, it was Pierce with some help from P.J Brown. At no time was it Ray Allen. At no time did more than one starter carry the team. I don't know if it's nerves, exhaustion, age, coaching, or what, but the playoff edition of the Celtics is nowhere near as good as the regular season version. Boston needs to wake up. The Pistons are a very well-balanced team, and they gave the Celtics a hard time even while Boston was at its regular season apex. It would be nice if Ray Allen could actually show up for a game or two.

In the Lakers-Spurs series, anything could happen, really. Both teams are very evenly matched. The series will come down to whether or not the Spurs can contain Kobe Bryant. If they can, then the defending champions will return to the Finals. If not, I think Bryant could will his team to victory. The referees will probably help the Lakers out as well, should they need it (remember when the referees completely robbed Sacramento and Portland in the WCFs against the Kobe-Shaq teams?)

I think the league would love to see a Boston-L.A Finals. Pistons-Spurs would be a snoozefest that doesn't generate ratings. Lakers-Pistons would be alright, as would Celtics-Spurs.

[elvin]

The Boston Celtics drew first blood on the Detroit Pistons.
The Celtics now are in a groove thanks to their all-stars Garnett and Pierce.

[djwhokid]

If the Lakers can win, I say this cements Phil Jackson as the greatest coach in NBA history. 10 NBA titles? Goodness.

4 rings for Kobe. If Bynum comes back healthy next year, he may catch up to Jordan sooner rather than later.

[Zen653]

With the Lakers going up 3-1 on the Spurs, I think the Lakers can make plans for an NBA Finals appearance. I don't see the Spurs winning three consecutive games in a row, two of which would be in Los Angeles.

The Celtics-Pistons series, meanwhile, is too tough to predict. The Celtics have owned the odd numbered games and the Pistons have owned the even-numbered games. Both teams look great one game, horrendous the next.

Curiously, bringing a consistent degree of effort has been difficult for both teams. It's almost as if they don't realize these are crucial playoff matches. They treat some of these games as if they were pre-season affairs.

[djwhokid]

Ray Allen - MIA.

If the Celtics get to the finals, he needs to show up. When he was with Seattle, he always had big games against Kobe.

[aingaran]

Horrible officiating at the end of the Lakers/Spurs game where Fisher elbows Brent Barry on the top of the head. Spurs should have 2 free throws and game should have gone to ovetime, but the refs gave the game away to the Lakers with the no call.

[aingaran]

The Lakers will likely finish off the Spurs in game 5 at Staples Center. If the Spurs (by some miracle) can win game 5 in LA, the series goes 7 and the Spurs have shown they can win a game 7 on the road vs. the Hornets.

[CaptiveCoyote]

Originally Posted by aingaran

Horrible officiating at the end of the Lakers/Spurs game where Fisher elbows Brent Barry on the top of the head. Spurs should have 2 free throws and game should have gone to ovetime, but the refs gave the game away to the Lakers with the no call.

The Spurs should never have had that possession in the first place. The ball hit the rim before the shot clock expired and deflected off a Spur at the other end. The officials let the Spurs get away with some hard play in these last two games. They won't get those calls back in Lakerland. The Spurs have no one to blame but themselves for not levelling the series. It was deservedly won by the team that controlled the game from tip off.

[djwhokid]

What about the Machine tonight?

Lakers better lock him up long-term. IMO he is more valuable to the Lakers than Luke Walton.