NBA Playoffs 2009

[ByRd]

Bynum can put a bigger body then what Igulakas did for the Cavs, Dwight cant be stopped but if we can limit his play then its a job well done

 

[Mr Saab]

Lakers in 6.
Jackson gets title number 10

IF the Lakers lose then massive questions have to be asked.

 

[Ridders]

After Lebron stormed off the court without shaking Dwight's, SVG's or any of the other Magic's players hands, following their Game 6 loss, i cut the guy slack because he was obviously shattered to not make the NBA finals. I figured he would come out the next day and release a statement saying he should have shook Howard's hand, but his emotions got the better of him. I would have accepted that.

Than i read the first interview Lebron took after the Game (i think the day after), and it simply blew me away. His arrogance is amazing.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/06/01/lebron.future.ap/index.html

LeBron still happy with Cavs

Story Highlights
LeBron James addressed his future plans ... sort of

He said he hopes the Cavs "can go forward next year"

The MVP said he'll take time off to finalize his decision

The Cavaliers can offer LeBron James a contract extension on July 18.
Elsa/Getty Images


INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) -- LeBron James finally talked about not making the NBA finals, and insists Cleveland's loss to Orlando will not impact his future with the Cavaliers.
James stormed out of Amway Arena without speaking to the media Saturday night after the Cavs were eliminated with a 103-90 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. The league MVP, who also did not shake hands with Olympic teammate Dwight Howard or congratulate any Orlando players as he left the floor, said Sunday that he's happy in Cleveland and feels the Cavs made major progress this season.
"I'm great. I feel great about this situation that's going on," James said. "You want to continue to get better, that's all you can ask. We got better and I feel this team will be better next season. You don't want to take a step backward. I think we went forward from the Boston series (a Game 7 loss in the semis) last year."
"Hopefully we can go forward next year."
The Cavaliers won 66 regular-season games and their second Central Division title this season.
James, who averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists against Orlando, said he hasn't given any thought to signing a contract extension with the Cavs this summer.
Cleveland can offer the extension on July 18 -- the three-year anniversary of him signing his previous deal.
"I don't know," James said when asked if he'll sign. "I haven't thought about it just yet. I'm just going to take time off from basketball and not think about contracts or the game period. I'll relax with my family we'll figure out once it comes from them."
James said he sent an e-mail to Howard following Saturday's game.
"It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them," he said. "I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand."
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

I think deep down he knows he made a mistake but is too full of himself to admit it.

 

[McLovin]

The Lebron hate bandwagon will depart soon. He'll be right up there with Kobe in the hate stakes imo...

 

[Mr Saab]

Lebron did come across as a jerk.

 

[Joker's Wild]

I was very disappointed in LeBron both after the game and with the interview above. Cant help but feel that America's idea of sportsmanship is vastly different to our own (Australia/NZ), they mostly seem to think that this sort of thing is no big deal.

 

[El Coconuto]

Although it may seem as though I slander LeBron all the time, the truth of the matter is that I cannot believe the double-standard that is set for him. It drives me nuts. Now I know how Jazz fans felt about Jordan all the time. If Kobe had said what LeBron said in his first post-series interview, the media would've crucified him. ESPN didn't even have one columnist with the balls to call him out on it. Not just a half-assed call out either. I full fledge sledge. It's incredible.

As for LeBron's comments, that's the first time I've ever looked at him and thought what a lahooooooooooooser! He's obliterated the league all season and people haven shaken his hand. Not even Ron Artest had so little class. Haha!

 

[Ridders]

The more i look into the regular season matches between these two teams, the more i'm grateful that Jameer Nelson isn't fully fit and in the lineup. If Fisher could make Aaron Brooks look like Allen Iverson what would Nelson have done to him...

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I'd take 2009 playoff Mo Williams in a heartbeat.

You are deadset kidding. Mo Williams over Odom? Odom only shows up every second game maybe but still, Williams is a one dimensional player. He can catch and shoot, that's about it. And Williams' disappearing act in the series against the Magic is worse than anything Odom has ever done.

I intimated it before but I'll state it clearly now: Lamar Odom holds the key for the Lakers this year. He is the only player that can match-up against Lewis effectively. Talk about Howard vs Bynum / Gasol or Kobe vs Pietrus / Lee all you like, but if the Lakers get 4 good games out of Odom, they win the series. A switched-on Odom playing alongside Gasol, as long as they're both getting touches and Kobe isn't going 1 on 5, poses a lot of problems for the Magic:

* Dwight has to step out to guard Gasol. When matched up against Bynum, he'll be able to stay home and protect the rim a lot more.
* Odom has the size and quickness to stick with Lewis. Lewis has no post game, nor a great handle so staying at home on him is vital.

Biggest concern for the Lakers has to be spotty career shooters can't keep shooting so well - Odom is shooting the three at better than 50% in the play-offs, while Ariza is bang on 50%. With Howard playing goalie, the need to collapse isn't there so the Magic perimeter players should stay at home on these guys and dare them to shoot 20 footers. Utah, Houston or Denver didn't have shot-blockers - Magic have the best in Howard.

Suppose the same could be said about the Magic though - whilst they have better shooters, the Lakers should use all 18 of Bynum's, Mbenga's & Powell's fouls to send Howard to the line. Hack-a-Howard has to be the strategy, and stay at home on the Magic shooters.

 

[Ridders]

Biggest concern for the Lakers has to be spotty career shooters can't keep shooting so well - Odom is shooting the three at better than 50% in the play-offs, while Ariza is bang on 50%. With Howard playing goalie, the need to collapse isn't there so the Magic perimeter players should stay at home on these guys and dare them to shoot 20 footers. Utah, Houston or Denver didn't have shot-blockers - Magic have the best in Howard.

Chris "Birdman"Anderson averaged 2.46 blocks in the regular season (20 mins per game lol) and 2.5 in the LA series. But yeh, Howard is definitely a step up. I really hope we don't eventually resort to what Cleveland did and doubling Howard. Seems to be that each team will live and die by the three point line. As you alluded to, no doubt Orlando will let Ariza shoot 3's all day. Personally i want to see Shannon Brown get more minutes, i really like the impact he's had on the team.

 

[McLovin]

Man...LA just dominated Orlando. Kobe's first half was probably the best he's played all playoffs. Bynum and Gasol both did quality jobs in the post...Good all round game shown by the Lakers...

 

[McLovin]

On a side note... Bynum's foul trouble is starting to get rediculous. It's like he can't stay in a game for longer than 5 or 6 minutes a piece because he's always fouled up. It never used to be like this with him. Is it poor discipline or are the refs giving it to him and making him pay his dues because he's young?

 

[Ridders]

Pretty dominant performance to take Game 1. Your right, Kobe was awesome although i was a bit disappointed that he came out in the 4th quarter and starting throwing up bricks. Bynum played short but significant minutes.

Have to be wary of Game 2, no way Orlando shoot as bad as they just did.

On a side note... Bynum's foul trouble is starting to get rediculous. It's like he can't stay in a game for longer than 5 or 6 minutes a piece because he's always fouled up. It never used to be like this with him. Is it poor discipline or are the refs giving it to him and making him pay his dues because he's young?

No idea but it is incredibly frustrating. Discipline would be a factor although i've also seen him pick up fouls because someone else has blown their defensive assignment and he's stopped the player from making an easy 2. I think Phil has told Bynum that while he is on the court, he's primary objective is to not allow people getting to the rim and make easy baskets, and if it means picking up fouls, so be it. If the guy could stay on the court i would almost guarantee an LA win (thinking of Mo Williams and shakes his head).

 

[Ridders]

On another note, if you were a LA fan inside Staples, Josh Powell's 3 point buzzer beater right at the end of the 4th would have to be one the great playoff moments. Free Taco's :lol:

 

[Tiger Hawk]

A couple quick thoughts:

1. Magic won't keep missing the easy looks they got, just like how eventually in the Boston series (which carried into the Cavs series) they started hitting their open shots.
2. Kobe hit some ridiculous shots........but still shot under 50% and took 34 shots to get 40 points. Magic played him quite well, so they shouldn't worry too much about that.
3. Dwight / Hedo / Lewis won't shoot a combined 6 of 27 again.
4. Odom had a big game with a double double off the bench.
5. Nelson started brightly but lost his legs early, but he'll be better for the run.

Looking forward to game 2.

 

[Ridders]

At the end of the third, Kobe was shooting above 50%. Never should have come back on and jacked up shots when the game was decided.
The one positive for Orlando, like you said, would be Nelson getting significant minutes, which might not have been the case if it was a closer game. Hopefully LA don't get complacent and think Orlando will perform like this again.

 

[Ridders]

Now thats more like Finals basketball. LA were a bit lucky to pull that one out. Lets be honest, Orlando should have won that at the end of regulation. Courtney Lee...

 

[Special K]

Odom really stepped it up today..

 

[Ridders]

He was massive in the 4th. Man when we is on, he is a great player. He is really making up for Bynum's inability to stay on the court. Rashard Lewis was definitely the best player on the court. Great stat-line off 34 points (12-21) 11 rebounds and 7 assists.

 

[Ridders]

Bynum again getting into foul trouble. I'm starting to come around to the fact that refs are gunning out for him. D.Howard got the ball stolen from him too many times in the post, then again Kobe had plenty of turnovers as well. Speaking of Kobe, while he had a good game, he got away with being selfish at then end of regulation by not passing the ball to an open Laker when 4 Magic players had collapsed on him. Gotta give credit to SVG, that last play for Courtney Lee was brilliant, if only he finished...