Official 2012-2013 NBA Playoffs Thread

[dougp]

I only missed the Nuggets/Warriors myself.

Western Conference:
1) OKC Thunder vs. 5) Memphis Grizzlies
2) SA Spurs vs. 6) GS Warriors

Eastern Conference:
1) Miami Heat vs. 5) Chicago Bulls
2) NY Knicks vs. 3) Indiana Pacers

 

[zerocool84]

If Memphis beats OKC, the Spurs are going to dread it. The Grizz knocked out the Spurs in the first round a couple seasons ago and I still think they can do it. They're too tough on the inside for almost any team and will beat you up. This year the Spurs have better outside shooting and no Rudy Gay on the Grizz but they can definitely take on any team in a series.

 

[DesiPower]

I only missed the Nuggets/Warriors myself.

Western Conference:
1) OKC Thunder vs. 5) Memphis Grizzlies
2) SA Spurs vs. 6) GS Warriors

Eastern Conference:
1) Miami Heat vs. 5) Chicago Bulls
2) NY Knicks vs. 3) Indiana Pacers

I cheer for the Grizzlies too, they came really close yesterday but failed. OKC is good at closing games, I wouldn't write them off yet...

 

[DesiPower]

If Memphis beats OKC, the Spurs are going to dread it. The Grizz knocked out the Spurs in the first round a couple seasons ago and I still think they can do it. They're too tough on the inside for almost any team and will beat you up. This year the Spurs have better outside shooting and no Rudy Gay on the Grizz but they can definitely take on any team in a series.

iirc, Spurs lost a couple of regular season games to them too . Either way, Spurs days are numbered, they will loose in the western finals.

 

[dougp]

If Memphis beats OKC, the Spurs are going to dread it. The Grizz knocked out the Spurs in the first round a couple seasons ago and I still think they can do it. They're too tough on the inside for almost any team and will beat you up. This year the Spurs have better outside shooting and no Rudy Gay on the Grizz but they can definitely take on any team in a series.

And this year the Spurs have an emerged Splitter, a Duncan playing on younger legs, a healthy Manu and a Parker that looks to be returned to form - not to mention Leonard, Green & Neal who weren't in that series. Bonner apparently found out the season ends in June, not April. We can go both ways on this, but I'm not scared of the Grizzlies, sorry. They barely lost to a hurt OKC team.

 

[dbk]

Dang i forgot about Gary Neal. Theyre all the same!

 

[bigpimpatl]

The rose situation reminds of Nelson's injury in the '09 finals.

There was no question that year (all star jameer) was better than Rafer Alston, but the whole thing felt like a distraction. And Alston ended up pouting his way out of town. Now I don't think the Bulls players would ever pull such an act, but to say Rose who hasn't played in MONTHS, who WILL be rusty, is going to positively impact the game is a stretch.

Bottom line is, this is the group that Chicago has. They've gotten this far without him, and they should just play to the best of their ability. This is a chance for the young guys like Butler, Gibson, and maybe Teague to get some real experience because those guys are the future of the team along w/ rose.

 

[dougp]

Dang i forgot about Gary Neal. Theyre all the same!

NM, he played, just not much. LOL

 

[007ELmO]

I'll be mainly negative here.

With so many players injured on the Bulls, their team looks HORRID! Nate Robinson is not a starting PG caliber (runs the ball to 5 seconds every possession). I don't know why Boozer is in the NBA, without muscles - he has absolutely no skill? Constantly offensive fouls for push offs, Vaseline hands, etc. Bulls have stepped out of bounds 3 times, this is like a highschool team.

The Heat look rusty too. Shane Battier - almost 95% of his shots taken in the regular season were 3 pointers. He doesn't even attempt 2s. This team is probably the most annoying in the NBA...wherever LBJ goes, he will win.

 

[dbk]

Lol its tied!? That layoff was too long

 

[HendrixFan]

Western Conference:
1) OKC Thunder vs. 5) Memphis Grizzlies
2) SA Spurs vs. 6) GS Warriors

Eastern Conference:
1) Miami Heat vs. 5) Chicago Bulls
2) NY Knicks vs. 3) Indiana Pacers

Seems like the consensus choices. I'm rooting for the Warriors even though I don't think they make it.

The Knicks should pull it out against the Pacers but their sloppy play is troubling. The Pacers really couldn't have played better than they did in game one, and they only run 7 deep! The Knicks need to move the ball and make the Pacers run to wear them out. There just aren't enough bodies to keep up with NY. The Knicks finished the season 16-2 mostly on the back of great ball movement and teamplay on offense. None of that was present in game one. If (if if if...) they go back to that they win.

BTW: The Bulls don't have the horses to keep up with the Heat, just like the Pacers/Knicks series. The Heat are smart enough, or well coached enough, to exploit that fact.

 

[007ELmO]

looks like old man wade used those 9 days to reset

 

[Miramonti]

I've never seen the bulls run some of these offensive sets and curls. Awesome stuff.

It's tough getting good shots against miami, but they're getting them. Just gotta cut down on the turnovers trying to thread the needle.

 

[dbk]

I've never seen the bulls run some of these offensive sets and curls. Awesome stuff.

It's tough getting good shots against miami, but they're getting them. Just gotta cut down on the turnovers trying to thread the needle.

Yes, it's also odd when Noah handles the ball into the lane.. so out of control..:biggrin:

 

[Miramonti]

Yes, it's also odd when Noah handles the ball into the lane.. so out of control..:biggrin:

He's gotten stronger every year. Still can't shake that klutzy look tho.

I don't know how much non-bulls fans can appreciate this, but this is some of the best coaching in the history of the game (maybe an exaggeration )

Just about nothing on offense has come one-on-one, everything thru teamwork, running plays, and reading the defense. And the defensive teamwork goes without saying.

 

[007ELmO]

The heat are not fun to watch. I'm sur ethey're rusty, but they're a bunch of pieces and parts. This team wins because of Lebron, point blank, they wouldn't be in the playoffs. The dude made a point to not score in the first half, trying to get his team involved.

This game is so close and the Bulls are playing with scrubs! They have got to pull this one out. Boozer is always inconsistent to me, he has missed way too many shots. Boozer: 3-11. He is not an NBA player.

 

[HendrixFan]

I don't know how much non-bulls fans can appreciate this, but this is some of the best coaching in the history of the game (maybe an exaggeration )

Just maybe.

 

[HendrixFan]

The heat are not fun to watch. I'm sur ethey're rusty, but they're a bunch of pieces and parts. This team wins because of Lebron, point blank, they wouldn't be in the playoffs. The dude made a point to not score in the first half, trying to get his team involved.

This game is so close and the Bulls are playing with scrubs!

Heat are missing wiiiiiiiiiide open threes (rust) and the officiating is, uhm lets call it uneven. You know the biggest difference between Jimmy Butler and Lebron? Butler attacks the basket more and is unable to be defended without fouling when doing so. Or at least the FT disparity between the two players will have you believe.

It isn't often you see a home team (always gets the calls) come up short in the FT dept when they attack like the Heat are. The Bulls are deluding themselves if they think they will get a better shake than tonight.

If they don't win this they get swept.

 

[007ELmO]

i'm not a bulls fan, but it is. the bulls are playing with absolute scrubs, no other way to put it. 3rd string PG starting/etc.

 

[Miramonti]

Just maybe.

Give players structure and specific expectations for each situation, set the bar high, and hold everyone accountable to that very high standard. That's what great coaches do and why top coaches are so consistent with different rosters.

 

[007ELmO]

Heat are missing wiiiiiiiiiide open threes (rust) and the officiating is, uhm lets call it uneven. You know the biggest difference between Jimmy Butler and Lebron? Butler attacks the basket more and is unable to be defended without fouling when doing so. Or at least the FT disparity between the two players will have you believe.

It isn't often you see a home team (always gets the calls) come up short in the FT dept when they attack like the Heat are. The Bulls are deluding themselves if they think they will get a better shake than tonight.

If they don't win this they get swept.

Nothing matters except the game that's being played. Even when the Heat are winning, they are not fun to watch. How many Bosh jumpers and Battier/Allen 3s do you enjoy? At least Allen still drives the lane, Battier is exclusively corner 3s, 95% of his shots are outside the 3 point arc (check his season stats). It's hilarious. Classic floppers too (battier, haslem, wade). Bullshit team, all LBJ just like in Cleveland. Except people knew the Cleveland team mates were scrubs, here they're hall of famers.

Only Lebron is fun to watch, and he is fun to watch on any team.

Bulls up with 80 seconds to go with Scrubbies. Nice "championship" team knowing how to shake that rust off.

 

[HendrixFan]

Only Lebron is fun to watch, and he is fun to watch on any team.

The offense runs through Lebron and is exactly how a basketball team should play. The entire offense is a beauty to watch.

 

[Miramonti]

i'm not a bulls fan, but it is. the bulls are playing with absolute scrubs, no other way to put it. 3rd string PG starting/etc.

I think something that's going to come out of this post season is that Jimmy Butler isn't just a good defender, he's able to play great defense. Staying in front of James, not giving anything easy away, what a fantastic contribution.

 

[007ELmO]

The entire offense is Lebron, you're hanging on him dude. This team would totally miss the playoffs without LBJ. I guess you can say their offense is beautiful if you think LBJ is.

The offense is the most boring thing to watch. Everyone is a role player, and Wade occasionally forgets his age. The funny part is the Bulls are winning and their offense looks worse. Losing to scrubs, saying it again.

 

[007ELmO]

Yeah, you hang on james shoulders a couple times he's going to cry. It's amazing, give him some hard fouls he is still afraid even though he's roided up.

Lebron, airball. Never better than Michael.