Can't believe Denver are in second in the West
Nba 2008-2009
- Thread starter Alex
- Start date
That's what im saying... keep it up and they have home court and avoid the lakers until a potential conference final.
Are they really THAT talented though?... Turns out they got the better of that deal with the Pistons after all.
They are and they did get the type of guard they wanted. Pistons should stop complaining that AI doesn't setup plays like Chauncey. Have they never watched him play before ? They should use him as the scorer that he is much like Cavs using Mo.
Yeah they needed a true point guard for a while, theywere better off with Andre Miller than Iversonn. Billips is great though totally turned them around had a shit start until the trade.
The Magic are up by 34 midway through the 3rd v Cleveland
Took them too for tonights 6-pack, im on track so far, just need a Golden State upset
Today's game actually shows why the Cavs may not make it to the Championship unless Lebron is phenomenal in the playoffs. They arent that good against top teams with their slow walk the ball to the other end style exposed again by the Magic. Stan Van Gundy was repeatedly telling his players that if they push the pace, Cavs wont be able to live with them.
Even when the Cavs were on a brilliant run this season, Chuck has been commenting that this weakness will get exposed when they play the Celtics or the Magic in the conference finals.
Even when the Cavs were on a brilliant run this season, Chuck has been commenting that this weakness will get exposed when they play the Celtics or the Magic in the conference finals.
LeBron will be phenomenal in the Playoffs, I have little doubt they will make the Finals, plus if things go right for the tops seeds Boston-Orlando in the second round will be a killer death match, while Cleveland will probably sweep Atlanta and give King James some rest. I am excited to see a LeBron-Kobe Finals, so will the NBA, especially in 2 years when LeBron is in New York.
BROOKLYN SON !!!
the playoff matchups in the East right now are so tempting it's insane... infact, I would go on a limb to say there's 9 teams in both conferences with a shot at the title, and 6 of them are in the East
The West has alot of pretenders despite the stronger records.
I'd say there are three legitimate contenders, one of the three will win I am 99% sure, LA Lakers, Cleveland, and Boston in that order. Although Orlando was impressive today, they take too many 3s and perimeters shots and Dwight Howard although quckily becoming the best center in the NBA is not a great go to option in the 4th especially when you can foul him as he is a shit free throw shooter.
I dont think they will make it to the finals if Ben Wallace doesn't return. Is there a chance or is he ruled out ?
Big Z and Varejao are lumbering, very slow and poor during transition. Neither of them are good enough to defend against Howard or KG. Rondo should be also be happy looking at the way Alston blew past Mo Williams.
Big Z and Varejao are lumbering, very slow and poor during transition. Neither of them are good enough to defend against Howard or KG. Rondo should be also be happy looking at the way Alston blew past Mo Williams.
I think he will be out for the first round, but as of right now it's all still up in the air, yeah he is a serially underrated player.
If Boston have KG fully fit, I would pick them to be champions again. Ray Allen and Rondo are even better than last season while Pierce is generally very good in the big games.
If KG isn't fully fit, its a toss up between the Lakers and Magic but LA would be strong favorites.
But then again there is no saying what Lebron can do...Cavs have the X factor. Their lack of a true point guard might hurt them, not even Lebron can setup most of the plays and also be the top scorer all through the playoffs.
If KG isn't fully fit, its a toss up between the Lakers and Magic but LA would be strong favorites.
But then again there is no saying what Lebron can do...Cavs have the X factor. Their lack of a true point guard might hurt them, not even Lebron can setup most of the plays and also be the top scorer all through the playoffs.
No and Yes. LeBron gets better every year, and also he has his best team behind him they have the best record in the league, the only team that has beat them twice are the Lakers I believe
Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, All legit... Atlanta or Philly could shock given their depth and how well they've played against the big clubs this season... and I FAIL to count Miami out with D-Wade playing the way he is... thats 6 potential contenders in the East.
The West has LA, then I give San Antonio and Houston chances... a slight one for New Orleans as well, but I think they get gutted out by such tighness in the standings between 2 and 7
The West has LA, then I give San Antonio and Houston chances... a slight one for New Orleans as well, but I think they get gutted out by such tighness in the standings between 2 and 7
No to Philly, No to Atlanta, No to Houston, No to New Orleans, and Maybe just Maybe to San Antonio because they have done it so many times
LeBron is just brilliant and has been carrying the side but the team around him is largely overrated. Everyone talks about how good Mo Williams has been but that only about as good as AI in his worst season this year. There is a reason why AI didn't win titles in spite of being a potential hall of fame player - a guard should do more than just shoot.
I would be surprised if the Cavs made the finals, let alone win it.
Not when you have a player like LeBron who averages almost 8 assists a game, in addition to near 8 rebounds, and almost 30 ppg. His efficiency rating in the modern game is only surpassed by MJ, that's how good he is.
For the sake of knowing:
Cleveland 3-1 Atlanta (All games were close)
Cleveland 1-2 Orlando
Cleveland 1-2 Boston (Game remaining)
Cleveland 3-1 Miami (Battles)
Cleveland 2-0 Philly (2 games remaining)
Cleveland have a sick record, but they're succeptable to a strong opponent
But they WILL have HOME COURT
Once again, LeBron as great as he is, can only do so much. Good teams and coaches will find a way to stop him.
This would my top 10 seeds for the playoffs:
1. Celtics
2. Lakers
3. Cavs, Magic
5. Spurs
6. Nuggets
7. Hornets
8. Heat
9. Rockets
10. Pistons
This would my top 10 seeds for the playoffs:
1. Celtics
2. Lakers
3. Cavs, Magic
5. Spurs
6. Nuggets
7. Hornets
8. Heat
9. Rockets
10. Pistons
Best ever at it as well.
Safe to say maybe a Cleveland loss (or 2) at home will be demoralizing to their chances.
Wouldn't count on it, my money is on the Lakers overall, but I think it will be over Cleveland as opposed to Boston or Orlando
Cleveland 1-2 Boston
Cleveland 1-2 Orlando
Cleveland 0-2 Lakers
Cleveland 1-1 Hornets
Cleveland 1-1 Rockets
Against the top 3 other seeds (Celtics, Lakers, Magic) , they have lost 6 and just won 2 games.
They will still have homecourt v the Lakers which will help them make it a series, but yeah they have lost against the best teams, but no team has swept them besides the Lakers.
I dont think they will get to the finals and even if they did, they wont have home court against the Lakers. Cavs still have to play Spurs, Celtics, Wizards and the Sixers twice. The could easily lose 2 or more of those games.
Atm they would although the gap is down to one, although the Lakers have a couple big games coming for Denver and Portland, and Cleveland v Boston so we shall see, but right now Cleveland has more wins and less losses
Sixers clinch play off spot defeating the pistons. Curry should be fired for mismanaging a hall of fame player like AI and the big ego's like Rasheed need to be kicked out before they start to rebuild. They have criminally under peformed considering the talent they have and were blaming AI for it.
Yeah it really shows you what a great player Billups is though, look at what happened to Denver and what happened to Detroit. Talk about a leader, he certainly is one
Billups is good but not as good as AI. Its just that his style suits Denver better but they also have other talents and an exceptional one in Carmelo Anthony.
Playing AI and another shooting guard like Rip wont work that well - its like Gerrard - Lampard. If there is a defensive guard who can setup plays beside AI, the team would do well.
Denver are struggling to put points on the board and they decide to rest a player for the rest of the season who averages among the top 5 in the nba in the regular season and only behind MJ in the playoffs as a scorer.
Playing AI and another shooting guard like Rip wont work that well - its like Gerrard - Lampard. If there is a defensive guard who can setup plays beside AI, the team would do well.
Denver are struggling to put points on the board and they decide to rest a player for the rest of the season who averages among the top 5 in the nba in the regular season and only behind MJ in the playoffs as a scorer.
the dallas mavericks have a better record than three of the teams mentioned above with the hornets probably missing the playoffs. dallas will get bounced in the first round though when they play the lakers.
Billups is a better point guard, Iverson isnt a system player, he is a me player, it doesnt work for him anymore because he is getting old. In his prime he was one fo the best scorers ever and for his height one of the best if not the best of all time
i'd rather have billups.
I would too, he is just more of a leader and great defensively has totally turned Denver around.
1. Dallas are only in the playoffs because the team chasing them for the final spot are dire.
2. For the hornets to miss the playoffs they have to lose every game and the Suns have to win every remaining game
3. How can the Hornets miss the playoffs and Dallas play the Lakers in the first round unless the Suns leapfrog Dallas too ?
Another stellar performance by the Nuggets reckon they will make the Western Conference Finals this year and lose to the Lakers in 5-7 games
James and the Cavs bounce back with a strong performance against the Spurs
Good for the Nuggets too as the Spurs are chasing them for the No 2 spot
LeBron's first half was the thing of GREAT leaders... he knew this team were on a bit of a fluff and he took the game by the scruff and that allowed for more open play for Delonte and Mo
Blake Griffin declares for NBA Draft will certainly be the No 1 pick