NBA Playoffs 2006

[neglet]

Mmmm, love those Pistons. They look to be a solid bet for the Finals, while the winner of the Mavs-Spurs series will probably be their opponent. I may be a homer, but I really think the Pistons are so focused this season they will be hard to beat. Any of you think otherwise?

[omicron]

I haven't watched much of the east, but I have seen a couple of the PissedOns/Cavs games and geez, are they waxing their asses or what? Last night's game wasn't NEAR as close as the score would suggest.

In the other series, I see NJ pulling it out, as Shaq looks old and tired. But I don't see Detroit losing.

In the West, the best series looks to be Mavs/Spurs. Last night's good ole fashion Texas ass-kicking of the Spurs makes me feel good, but I don't think the Mavs will be able to easily win this series. It really depends on who's bench steps up. Mavs have alot of young energy guys, while the Spurs have alot of older, playoff experienced guys.

Suns/Clippers? Anyone want to play defense? Anyone?

Omi

[syphon2006]

Detroit over Cleveland in 6
Miami over New Jersey in 7

Detroit over Miami in 5

Dallas over San Antonio in 7
Pheonix over LA in 7

Dallas over Pheonix in 6

CHAMPIONSHIP
Dallas over Detroit in 7

[omicron]

Well, so much for my Nets over Heat prediction. :p

I see the Mavs winning in 6. I also see the Pistons winning in 6, although they had better watch out. I still think their the better team.

Not sure about the Suns/Clippers. Whoever wins is going to be REALLY tired when they have to play the Mavs in the WCF. :)

Omi

[neglet]

Yeah, I'm not sure about the last two Pistons-Cavs games. Is Detroit having a let-down, or have Lebron and the Cavs figured out a solid strategy to beat them? If Detroit focuses on defense and taking good shots, they should capture the series. It'll be tough, though.

I'm not even paying attention to Suns/Clippers, as I doubt they'll get past the Mavs/Spurs winner ... and now that series doesn't look as close as we thought it would be.

[Asonokirk V 2.0]

Cleveland - 86
Detroit - 84

Cavaliers lead the series, 3-2
Die Pistons, Die!

(As an L.A. fan, especially the Lakers, I harbor resentments against the Pistons, especially since the 80's Bad Boys were represented by Bill Laimbeer, a guy from my neighborhood here in LOS ANGELES! His parents and family are still here, too. I haven't kept up with him, since he's a traitor.)

[omicron]

Wow, looks like the Pistons might have gotten a little too confident. :D

Omi

[omicron]

Big games tonight! The Cavs can stun the world by knocking off the Pistons. Will it happen? I'd say no, but LeBron might just will it to happen.

Mavs can close out the series against the Pistons, but they will have to do it without their second leading scorer, Jason Terry. He got suspended for a jab to the jewels of Michael Finley. It's going to be hard, but not as hard as winning a game 7 in SA. GO MAVS!

Honestly, I have no idea who will win the Clippers/Suns game, but I would take the over on the score. :)

Omi

[omicron]

Wow, just wow. What a game 7 against the Spurs. I thought for sure the Mavs were going to blow it. 20pt lead, shooting 70% in the first half, I knew it was too good to be true.

However, when it came down to crunch time, the Mavs stepped up while the Spurs faded. The atmosphere in the bar was ELECTRIC last night. It was so loud, I think my ears are STILL ringing!

Bring on the Suns! And let's try to not let Steve Nash have an uncontested 3 at the end of the game now...

:jump2:

Omi

[omicron]

ESPN sportsnation poll has the mavs favored to win the title 37% over Pistons at 33%.

Omicron

[syphon2006]

That was one hell of a game. Talk about a Texas showdown... During the 4th quarter I thought the Mavs were going to give the game away, with a ten point lead with four minutes to go, the Spurs kept coming but the Mavs fended them off long enough in overtime. Jason Terry really did make a big difference. How come Michael Finly couldn't play like that when he was with the Mavs?

I my predictions will stay the same, i'll change the amount of games they play though...

Detroit over Miami in 7
Dallas over Pheonix in 6

Dallas over Detroit in 7

[omicron]

Wow, talk about an MVP performance. Dirk just put the team on his shoulders in the 4th and outscored phoenix BY HIMSELF. That's what it takes to win, to not accept defeat. Scored a Mav's playoff record 50 points.

The question is, which team will step up on Saturday in Phoenix? Do the Suns have anything left? Will the fold or cowboy up and take game 6? I don't know, but I will certainly be watching! :)

Omi

[neglet]

I'm confirming my black belt tonight, so I'll miss part of the Detroit-Miami game. That should be sooo interesting; the theory is, the pressure is now on Miami for the first time in the series, because if they don't win tonight it will be hard to win a Game 7 on the road. Did you know Detroit is now 11-2 when facing elimination in the last three playoff years? If they focus on slowing down Wade defensively and passing the ball around offensively, I really think they can take Game 6 and 7.

[omicron]

Woohoo! The Mavs are in the finals. I really thought it was going to a game 7, especially since they were losing by 12 at the half. The Mavs picked up some early fouls, and couldn't make a basket to save their lives. They were like 0-12 in 3pt shots in the first half. However, the Suns were in foul trouble and with their shallow bench, they just couldn't overcome.

Game one of the finals starts on Thursday. Mavs are 2-0 against the Heat this season. Can Shaq continue his rejuvenation? Or will Nowitzki continue to play like an MVP? I guess we will see on Thursday.

Omi

[neglet]

Although I'm sad the Pistons are out, this should be a good series.

[omicron]

Ok, if the Mavs can beat the Heat tonight, then I will say that this series will go 5. I don't know if the Heat have anything left in the tank.

Omi

[omicron]

Damn, I can't believe they blew a 13pt lead with 6 minutes left. Guess I jinxed myself yesterday with the post :)

Omi

[kah]

What a disappointment. After game 2, I thought the Mavs had it all wrapped up. Then they looked like crap at Miami, but I thought- hey, they're away, they'll get it back when they go home. Well, they didn't. They didn't play like a finals team, and they lost because of it. How sad for Miami, as well, to win the Finals, and have only a few hundred "booing" fans stick around to see them get the trophy.

[omicron]

Bah, if Dwayne Wade wouldn't get EVERY goddamn foul call, the Mavs might have had a chance. When I saw the phantom call he got on Daniels in the second it was simply amazing. The replays show that Wade wasn't even TOUCHED, moreless fouled, yet the refs gave him the 3point play. And don't get me started on the foul in overtime in game 5.

Still, if Dallas had attacked the basket, they might have gotten this game and series. For whatever reason they decided to go back to the old run n gun Mavs in the fourth, when both Shaq and Mourning were on the bench and in foul trouble. Instead of attacking, getting the fouls and shooting the bonus, they tossed up threes early in possesions that missed and wasted a possession.

This was the Mavs series to lose, and they did. Dirk didn't play up to potential, and Wade was unstoppable with help from the officiating. You know it's not good when the Heat only shot 62% on FTs, and still had more makes then the Mavs had attempts.

Omi

[kah]

Wade was unstoppable, when he actually started shooting. The Mavs did a great job defending Shaq- he was barely useful. However, the Mavs committed way too many fouls in game six, and drew almost none. They were doing a hell of a job stealing the ball, but when they got it, they couldn't put it in the basket. It's a bad sign, when after the half- Wade had 19 pts, 7 of which were from free throws, and Dirk had 17 pts, none of which were FTs. If they had actually drawn some fouls, they probably could've won. I didn't see the ends of games 4 or 5, but I heard all about the end of game 5. My bf has played basketball his entire life, and he is pretty sure that Wade should've been called on a foul, but he also said he's never heard of that actually happening the way it did. It's done and over with now, but I am still disappointed. Wonder if Payton, Mourning, and Shaq will retire after this?

[sickness]

I could definitely see Payton (?... Peyton?... the dude who played for Seattle for so long, right?) retiring after this, Mourning seems pretty likely, too, as he's never been a franchise player but has always been good support. There's always a good support guy coming up, though. Shaq's only 34, I think, so he's got 3 or 4 more years if he wants to keep playing. He certainly would be a good anchor to build the rest of the team around and bring up a new center in the next few years. With a good attempt at building the team to stay strong beyond Shaq's years and Pat Riley sticking around, I could see Miami being a force to be reckoned with at least in the East and probably the who league for the better part of the next decade.