NBA Playoffs 2009

[Ridders]

Nene needs to stay out of foul trouble. Billups is a monster. Denver will still take this series.

Nuggets chances really depend on Melo. When he is feeling it, ala Game 1 and 2, denver are nearly unbeatable. If he performs another vanishing act, like he did in the 2nd half of Game 3, nuggets will struggle. Lakers aren't exactly in a great position either, basically playing a three man rotation of Kobe-Gasol-Ariza. Everyone else on the LA team has disappeared this series.

 

[El Coconuto]

LBJ will be the GOAT by the time he's finished

A sure-fire way to know LeBron isn't quite MJ: after nailing the miracle three at the end of Game Two (shout out to Stan Van Gundy for handing the game to the Cavs by putting Hedo on LeBron for that final play #-o. I don't even think Hedo jumps when he shoots the ball and HE gets the LeBron assignment? Ugh!) LeBron jumped/hooned around like it was the biggest shot of his life. After the Ehlo shot, you never got that out of MJ. By the fourth year of his career, Jordan EXPECTED himself to nail those game winners. Everyone in the crowd expected them to go down. Everyone watching at home expected them to go down. LeBron never makes you feel like he has the clutch factor. It's always up in the air with him. And you know what, he's in his SIXTH year of his career. And how did he follow up his heroics? By putting in a performance that lead ESPN.com to lead off it's recap with this;

"In the final 5 1/2 minutes, Dwight Howard was an 80 percent free-throw shooter and LeBron James shot 60 percent at the line."

Yup, we are all witnesses alright.

(Go Magic!)

 

[Ridders]

Lol, i think Lebron needs a bit more time before he can assert his clutchness. If my memory serves he correct, that miracle 3 was the second buzzer beater of his career. Speaking of clutchness, it still amazes me how little credit Melo gets in the argument. He has by far hit more buzzer beaters than Lebron and i think statistics show he's even been better than Kobe when its mattered most.

I'm happy to see Orlando do well, especially SVG. The guy gets ripped alot, which takes away from the fact that he is a brilliant coach. I know it sounds crazy but if LA made the finals, i would rather see us face Cleveland rather than Orlando for ths simply fact that Orlando gives us nightmare match-ups. Without a 100% Bynum, we have no answer for Howard. Also if Odom's back problem's don't heal, i think Rashard Lewis would run riot on us. Not to mention that SVG would simply out-class Phil (he's been in cruise control for a while now) in coaching.

Today's Game 4 should be interesting. IMO i think LA will give this game away and look to maintain home court, ala how they did in the Houstin series. Would be happy to be proved wrong

 

[McLovin]

You can't really judge a players 'clutchness' on one game. Lebron IS the most clutch player in the league. Look at these stats...

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT3.HTM

It's not even close...

 

[McLovin]

BTW, i hope the Magic can win their series. As much as i love Lebron, there is nothing more i hate than cockyness...

 

[Ridders]

Not a bad list but i don't really buy it. Its obvious that the teams with great records are going to have multiple players high on that list. The fact that Fisher and Varejao are in the Top 6 kinda point that out. According to the list Mehmet Okur is more clutch than D. Wade

 

[El Coconuto]

You can't really judge a players 'clutchness' on one game. Lebron IS the most clutch player in the league. Look at these stats...

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT3.HTM

It's not even close...

I think this is where stats are very deceiving. There is NO WAY that Anderson Varejoa is more clutch than Paul Pierce. I've seen LeBron miss five potential game-winners this season. I think I've only seen Kobe miss one.

In my opinion, Kobe is THE clutch performer of the NBA, and that's coming from someone isn't particularly endeared to the guy. If I were starting a franchise, I'd take D-Wade if only because he doesn't have the ego of LeBron or Kobe.

 

[El Coconuto]

It should also be noted that on the West Coast I am pulling for a Lakers victory. I want Kobe to win a title without Shaq. I really really do. Ten years on, I still haven't forgiven Shaq for screwing us. Hahaha! Go Magic and Lakers!

 

[andrew057]

Nuggets chances really depend on Melo. When he is feeling it, ala Game 1 and 2, denver are nearly unbeatable. If he performs another vanishing act, like he did in the 2nd half of Game 3, nuggets will struggle. Lakers aren't exactly in a great position either, basically playing a three man rotation of Kobe-Gasol-Ariza. Everyone else on the LA team has disappeared this series.

Nugs did it very easily today without Melo inseting himself much. Billups is the catalyst on the Nugs team imo.

 

[Ridders]

Can't really argue with that, the entire nuggets team is stepping up this series.

 

[McLovin]

Although the Lakers have two of the longest 7 footers in Bynum and Gasol, they seem to be getting bullied in the paint. Bynum can't stay out of foul trouble. Second chances are really hurting the Lakers atm. If they manage to get through the series and face the Magic, it could be brutal...

 

[Ridders]

RASHARD, What a three. Better not be another miracle shot from Lebron.

 

[Ridders]

Wow, they give Lebron free throws with 1 second left, who woulda seen that one.

 

[Ridders]

Tied at the end of regulation. I'm sorry but this league is a joke. Why are the refs the ones deciding the game. Lebron is turning into D.whistle Mark 2. I could not be rooting for Orlando any more right now.

 

[Ridders]

Basketball gods delivered today, with Magic winning 116-114 in OT. Taking nothing away from Lebron, who was big time, but the nba refs make me sick. How bought D. Howard carrying his Magic through that 4th quarter. Orlando with a 3-1 series lead :shock:. After the first 2 rounds in the East, did anyone expect anyone but Cleveland making the Finals.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

You can't really judge a players 'clutchness' on one game. Lebron IS the most clutch player in the league. Look at these stats...

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT3.HTM

It's not even close...

those cant be right how is telfair more clutch than foye wtf ??????

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

Basketball gods delivered today, with Magic winning 116-114 in OT. Taking nothing away from Lebron, who was big time, but the nba refs make me sick. How bought D. Howard carrying his Magic through that 4th quarter. Orlando with a 3-1 series lead :shock:. After the first 2 rounds in the East, did anyone expect anyone but Cleveland making the Finals.

always thouyght magic would win they are a real team
and i knew when the going got tough lebron team would go missing

 

[McLovin]

If it's a Magic/Lakers finals series, Dwight will dominate and make the Lakers frontline look like a bunch of scrubs. It will be like Shaq back in the early 2000's finals campaigns...

 

[Ridders]

always thouyght magic would win they are a real team
and i knew when the going got tough lebron team would go missing

I have to admit i picked Cleveland to take this series. Makes you wonder how good they really could be with jameer nelson. I feel for Lebron, he's kinda facing a similar situation that Kobe is, perhaps on a larger scale. His entire team has vanished on him this series.

 

[Ridders]

If it's a Magic/Lakers finals series, Dwight will dominate and make the Lakers frontline look like a bunch of scrubs. It will be like Shaq back in the early 2000's finals campaigns...

Could not agree with you more. Look at the the current Denver/LA series. Our front court is getting dominated by the likes of Kenyon Martin, Nene and the Birdman ffs. What happens if LA face a real beast like Dwight. This post season really could be the making of D12.