razazteca 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 Right now the only thing that matters is the team's position in the playoffs. Looks like the Lakers need a top 4 spot more than others in the West. If the Lakers get the #4 spot they would play the #5 Mavs which would be a good thing from my prespective as I don't want to see the Spurs play the Mavs in the 1st round. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 As a Kings fan, I will admit they are in big fucking trouble right now. They've dropped 5 of their last 8, including to Milwaukee at Arco where an Eastern Conference opponent hasn't won since forever. Webber is still trying to work his body and game into the offense and the Kings are just flat out not rebounding the ball. Tonight they couldn't put the ball in the hole in the first 3 quarters and it was good night from there, but the other losses have me greatly concerned. Losing to LA in LA is one thing, but some of these other losses is something else. Kings better shape up or they are looking at a first round exit from one of these young upstart teams like Memphis or Denver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 As a Kings fan, I will admit they are in big fucking trouble right now. They've dropped 5 of their last 8, including to Milwaukee at Arco where an Eastern Conference opponent hasn't won since forever. Webber is still trying to work his body and game into the offense and the Kings are just flat out not rebounding the ball. Tonight they couldn't put the ball in the hole in the first 3 quarters and it was good night from there, but the other losses have me greatly concerned. Losing to LA in LA is one thing, but some of these other losses is something else. Kings better shape up or they are looking at a first round exit from one of these young upstart teams like Memphis or Denver. do you think Kings fans were just too spoiled this season so far though? I mean the Lakers went throught their Rut, so did the Spurs and Mavs(still kind of there). I think the Kings are definately hurting, trying to work a 50% Webber back into the offense. I mean what has me so alarmed is how the Kings are just not coming to play in the first quarter. Usually this year they come out and set the pace in the first quarter, lately they have put themselves in a hole in every single game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. S£im Citrus 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 No worries, fellow Kings fans; the team will get right. They'll finally get a few days at home to actually practice together, for basically the first time since Webber came back. We'll be fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted March 25, 2004 I officially feel kinda bad for Webber. He's getting trashed by his own hometown fans at this point and he seemed reluctant to shoot all last night out of fear of missing. And the crowd behind the bench begging them to put Miller in place for him has gotta sting too. But yeah, how bout those Miami Heat? Eh? Eh? They're good dammit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 Another thing to consider is that in the 2002 playoffs, when the Kings/Lakers went 7 games. Peja was basically rushed back from an injury to early and that is why Rick Fox was successful shutting him down a lot. EVERY GAME since then, pretty much Peja has gone off all over Rick Fox, so I wouldn't count on Rick Fox being any kind of factor come playofftime this time around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spicy McHaggis 0 Report post Posted March 25, 2004 Chris Webber is the same surly loser he's always been, and their team chemistry is better without him. NCM, the difference b/t last nite & the first 2 games is that every player on both teams was available to play except Bobby Jackson. Also, I can't believe how whiny the Kings and their fans are. I guess you missed Malone's 2 early fouls, Webber's flagrant being charged to Peja, and Shaq shooting 3 FTs the entire game. BTW, the Kings had 4 less fouls and shot 2 more FTs than the Lakers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted March 26, 2004 Right now the only thing that matters is the team's position in the playoffs. Looks like the Lakers need a top 4 spot more than others in the West. If the Lakers get the #4 spot they would play the #5 Mavs which would be a good thing from my prespective as I don't want to see the Spurs play the Mavs in the 1st round. Lakers are safely in the Top 4. Their only a 1/2 game back of Minnesota for 2nd overall in the West, and like 2.5 behind Sacramento for first overall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted March 26, 2004 The Spurs beat the Pistons in a game that had the refs call 5 technical fouls with Ben Wallace getting 2 in the 3rd quarter for argueing because Ginobili and Rose double teamed him so well. The Spurs won the game because of the bench as Manu Ginobili was the player that did everything to win. Not only did he play great defense and generally pissing off the Pistons he was an offensive threat as he made some 3 pointers and started fast breaks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted March 26, 2004 Whoda thunk the Heat and Grizzlies would be making serious pushes for HC in the first round? Miami = 6 straight wins, 2.5 behind NO Memphis = 20-5 since Feb. 1, 1.5 behind SA Miami won't be *too* much of a threat, but I don't care what team I'm on, I DON'T want to play Memphis in a series. I truly believe they can beat any team in a 7-game series save for MAYBE the Lakers. As for the LA-Sac thing, I didn't see the game, so I can't really comment, but nothing's been proven on either side to me, the loser on every occasion this year has either been 1) on the second game of a back-to-back or 2) injured, or both. April 11, in Sac, both teams will have a day's rest, hopefully Jackson's back by then and there'll be no excuses on either side. BTW, magic number for the Pacers to clinch homecourt throughout the east is down to 3. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted March 26, 2004 Miami can beat any team in the east in a 7 game series IMO, Odom, Wade, Eddie Jones, Rafer Alston and Caron Butler is a pretty damn respectable starting lineupwith, with Jones, Odom and Wade all averaging 17 a game. They can all score just enough to get buy a team like say Detroit that goes cold for minutes on end on the offensive side of things, they may not win a series but they'll put up a pretty damn good fight. The Memphis Grizzlies are incredibly dangerous though. They'll NEVER run out of gas because of Hubie's rotation, when the big guns for teams are about to pass out, Hubie's got a second line of good but not great players waiting to come in and harass their every move. It really is a brilliant scheme and I expect a lot of lower tier Eastern Conference teams to adapt that way of thinking next season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted March 27, 2004 HOLY FUCKING SHIT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Could God be ... black? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Rafer Alston just bitchslapped Dallas about 4 times in a 6 minute span. Seriously, what the HELL is with the Mavs? The one in overtime I can forgive, it was a tough shot but he got 3 straight on looks with Nash kinda flipping his hair in his general direction as a means of defense. I mean that was just absolutely pathetic on their part. Great great game though, maybe the best one I've seen this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Mavericks are pissing me off. Dropping games to the Pacers, Sixers, and Heat??? Weak. Weak, guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Whatever happened to the "Mavs will score 120 every night" thing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted March 27, 2004 The mavs get close to 120 it seems. The team they're playing just tends to get 122 or so is all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted March 27, 2004 well they traded for Walker for one thing. why am I not suprised that the TWolves are getting fucking owned? You just get the feeling that despite their record they cant really hang with the top teams (LA, Spurs, Kings) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted March 27, 2004 I'm talking about after the Walker trade; every TV head was saying since they had five 20 ppg scorers (Nash, Dirk, Finley, Walker, Jamison) that they'd be like the teams of the 1980s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 I tend to agree. I expected the Mavs to be averaging like 108 points per game, instead it's closer to 102 ppg. Still alot, but with scoring talent and style Nelson uses it's kind of disapointing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 well they traded for Walker for one thing. why am I not suprised that the TWolves are getting fucking owned? You just get the feeling that despite their record they cant really hang with the top teams (LA, Spurs, Kings) They can't. Even though they beat the Spurs, the Spurs were the better team if that makes sense. They worked harder, the hustled for lose balls with more determination. I fully expect the Spurs to pass Minnesota, and Minnesota to fall to 4th and be lucky to beat Memphis in the first round. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Plus Walker and Jamison only scored so much because everyone else on thier team was awful Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shanghai Kid 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Memphis is 2 games behind Minnesota and they still play Minny 2x this season. Memphis is definetly the team nobody wants to play come playoffs. They've not only broken into the supposed "big 5" in the West, but they're pushing for homecourt advantage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Jerry West should be executive of the year for what he has done with the Memphis Grizzlies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Kamala 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2004 Is it wrong for me to say I don't want my team, The Celtics to make the playoffs as an 8 seed? I don't think it is, if they're an 8 seed they're probably gonna get swept and get stuck with the 16th pick in the draft, if they don't make the playoffs the get somewhere between the 8th and 12th pick. You can pick a future big time player with those kind of picks. I hate siding with Ainge but I think he's right when saying he doesn't want the Celtics to make the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2004 Is it wrong for me to say I don't want my team, The Celtics to make the playoffs as an 8 seed? I don't think it is, if they're an 8 seed they're probably gonna get swept and get stuck with the 16th pick in the draft, if they don't make the playoffs the get somewhere between the 8th and 12th pick. You can pick a future big time player with those kind of picks. I hate siding with Ainge but I think he's right when saying he doesn't want the Celtics to make the playoffs. That's kind of how I feel with my team, the Jazz. I would love to see them reach the playoffs, since everyone expectaed them to win 5 games this season. But we all know they'd get clobbered. But on the other hand, maybe they could trade out a lower draft pick, someone else, and cash and start rebuilding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2004 The Jazz will take over the Longest Consecutive Playoff Streak In The Big 4 spot if the Blazers and Blues don't make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted March 28, 2004 During the Sonics-Blazers game they showed a list of Most Improved Player candidates. Zach Randolph was on there, as was Yao Ming, Corey Magette, Michael Redd, Joe Johnson and some other people. Absent was Rafer Alston, who I think deserves some votes. Last year he was one of those 10-day contract types, and now he's a key player on a talented Miami team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2004 Guys I'd mention other then the aforementioned are Stephen Jackson, James Posey, Kirilenko and Kwame Brown. And I wouldn't be terribly shocked if Memphis wound up winning the Midwest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted March 28, 2004 Dallas vs Orlando today in a matchup of the two worst defensive teams statwise in the NBA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
