NBA Playoffs 2009

[El Coconuto]

Couple of observations i have about the general lay-out of the Finals. One, am i the only one that thinks the 2-3-2 format disfavours the the team that has those 3 straight home games in the middle. Why does the NBA go with a 2-2-1-1-1 format for the whole playoffs, the come Finals time, change things around. Imo its asking alot of a team to win 3 straight home games, which the team with the lower seed has to do to realistically have a chance of winning the title.

Excellent point!

The NBA adopted the 2-3-2 system back in the mid-80's because commercial flights hadn't even been thought of as a viable reality yet. The league was in financial trouble and taking the bus cross-country was a financial burden of its own. Of course, THAT WAS THE BLOODY MID-80'S DAMNIT! Commercial flights are as common as catching the bus to the local supermarket.

I guess six hours (which it was from L.A. to Orlando) is still a long way to have to lug your whole team around, potentially adding up to twenty-four hours of total travelling for a seven-game series and even longer if it were a Lakers vs. Cavs/Celtics Finals. Still, hardly seems like a price to pay for an equal footing.

If the road team doesn't win one of the first two games on the road, it's a HUGE ask for them to win three in a row at home, and even still they have to go back on the road. I think the only team to do it succesfully was the Wade-Shaq heat who went down 0-2 to Dallas and then won the next 4. Crazy crazy. I wouldn't mind seeing the 2-2-1-1-1 system implemented in the Finals just like the rest of the playoffs.

 

[Ridders]

The upcoming off-season will be a vital one for both teams in terms of their chances of coming back to the Finals.

For LA, the big question is what to do with Ariza and Odom. Personally i am split on this one, as their are great advantages for keeping both guys. As hard it is to decide, if it came down to it, i would take Odom over Ariza. Main reason for this is that Odom is a great insurance policy for Bynum, with him and Gasol perhaps being the most talented front court in the NBA. In saying that, Ariza's athleticsm and great defense has been a breath of fresh air. Losing Ariza would be a big step back.

Orlando's problem comes down to what to do with Hedo and Gortat. This is where Rashar'd Lewis's MASSIVE contract will come back to bite Orlando. Will be interesting to see how they proceed. Hedo wo0ld be a massive loss, he is the Magic's clutch guy down the stretch.

 

[Ridders]

Excellent point!

I guess six hours (which it was from L.A. to Orlando) is still a long way to have to lug your whole team around, potentially adding up to twenty-four hours of total travelling for a seven-game series and even longer if it were a Lakers vs. Cavs/Celtics Finals. Still, hardly seems like a price to pay for an equal footing.

I guess you could say the travel time might be excessive, but then why not extend the Finals over a longer period of time. If travel time is indeed the main issue, why do we need a ridiculous 4 day gap between Game 1 & 2 (both in the same freakin arena) and then only a day's break before Game 3, where players have to fly half way across the country. I know it seems like i'm harping on this point but i find it absolutely mind-boggling.

 

[Big Tim]

Congrats to the Lakers. From all reports they were superior when it counted.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Congrats to the Lakers. At the end of the day, the ball bounced their way when it mattered most (throughout the playoffs) and the experienced gained from the 2008 Finals proved to be the difference. The Magic should be a lot better next year, so hopefully they can climb the mountain again.

In terms of off-season moves, putting my Magic GM cap on, I'd definitely re-sign Gortat & Turkoglu and maybe try to hire a big man coach that can teach Howard a few freaking post moves! A healthy Nelson, a more experienced Lee (and Gortat) and they should be back better next year.

If I'm the Lakers, anything more than the full mid-level for Ariza is too much. He's a talented defensive player but a limited offensive player. There's any number of young guys around the league that can replicate what he can do so you don't need to go all out to re-sign him. Odom, as I've said before, when he's on, he's a top 15 talent in the NBA. There just aren't too many 6'10" forwards that can influence a game the way he can (scoring, playmaking, rebounding etc). He's where the Lakers' priorities should lie. Expect to see them back in the Finals next year.

 

[Ridders]

The media is truly an amazing thing. The same people who have ripped Kobe for so much of this decade for his selfishness and claimed he would never win a title as the franchise guy are now venerating him and annoiting him as a top 10 player all time, of all things. Talk about getting carried away :crazy:. There is all this talk about Kobe being a more willing team-mate, better leader etc. Seriously what a load of bs. Kobe's hasn't changed all that much, more that he's finally been given a great team to play with. Why isn't this the major story of this Lakers run? Sometimes i think to myself that you don't actually have to understand sports to be a sports writer.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

I swear I curse out Derek Fisher every year, but in the end he still manages to do the right thing. Have a look at his game! Simply the worst defender of the pickandroll there ever has been....

Yet... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWabHLi2rJY&feature=fvsr

 

[Ridders]

I hope Lakers management don't get swayed by Fisher's performance in Game 4 and think the PG spot is fine. Lets be honest, LA carried him through alot of these playoffs and been owned by D. Williams and Brooks. If Jameer Nelson had of been healthy, i really do believe that Orlando would have either won the series or taken it to 7. He absolutely killed Fisher in the regular season match ups. Would like to see Shannon Brown and Farmar get more time at the spot.

 

[natheel]

Congrats to the lakers

How did new Orleans go this season????

 

[Ridders]

Congrats to the lakers

How did new Orleans go this season????

Pretty poorly. They were the definition of a one man team. No one else but CP3 turned up. Without Chris Paul, i don't think they win fifteen games this season. It was one of the great jokes that he didn't make the All-NBA First team.

 

[Streamlet]

At last, Lakers won.