NBA Playoffs

[Guest Vitamin X]

This IS where the Elite seperate from the rest. Wow. Usually you might've expected some lesser teams giving big teams a fit in what's being called one of the more "wide-open" playoffs in years, but it doesn't really seem like there's much outside of Phoenix, San Antonio, Miami, and Detroit. I thought Seattle had it in them at least, and that Indiana might be able to take the Pistons to the limit.

[razazteca 0]

It's "wide open" because neither LA or NYC made the playoffs?

[Guest Vitamin X]

No, I'm just saying that's what I've been hearing for a while.

 

And where'd you get NYC from? I could understand if you were talking about the Lakers, but I haven't heard anyone talking about the greatness of the Knicks as a powerhouse in the East..

[razazteca 0]

NY teams are suppose to make the playoffs in every sport just because....ya know it is the center of the universe.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

to be fair, the series' are just starting. A *lot* of playoff series suddenly get competetive after one team goes up 2-0 at home (or even on the road a la houston/dallas). I think dallas/phoenix and detroit/indiana have the best chances of getting competative in game 2 or 3.

[Guest news_gimmick]

I do think Dallas and Indiana were affected by having just played game 7's and not really prepared for entering a new series. Of course I could be wrong and we could get even more uncompetitive games, but thats not what I'm hoping for. So let's hope Dallas and Indiana can get something going and give us some wortwhile basketball to watch.

[Dangerous A 0]

I think the Miami and SA series aren't going to go past 5 games.

 

The Detroit/Indy and Phoenix/Dallas series may still have life if both teams can tie their respective series up tonight. I am not giving up hope on those series going to 6 or 7 games.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Suns will probably end up sweeping the Mavs, Dirk or no Dirk. I'll make the bold statement. Before I thought it was going to be Suns in 5, now I'd be surprised if Dallas even takes one from them, but I'll watch tonight and see what happens to make sure.

 

Detroit/Indy and SA/Seattle have the best chance of going extra games.

[razazteca 0]

Craig Segar had a Tony Shiavonie moment early in the game when discussing the Defensive Player of the Year award going to Ben Wallace.

 

"Ben Wallace won the award for the 3 time averaging 15 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and could be considered THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO EVER BE IN THE PLAYOFFS!"

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Great Win for the Pacers!!!

 

Foster was a beast with 14 and 20

 

Reggie was clutch in the 4th

[Brett Favre 0]

I never thought i'd be rooting for the Pacers. Big win. Foster was incredible during the final stretches.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Joe Johnson just went down HARD in the Mavs/Suns game. Dallas is surprisingly playing Phoenix in a halfcourt game and leading them at the moment, Johnson went down the court against stackhouse on the break and apparently got "fouled" by Stackhouse when it seemed his feet just kind of went out from under him and he came down hard on the floor, apparently he's getting treated in his right eye right now. OWCH.

 

Looks painful.

[iggymcfly 0]

Yeah, that was a long ways from being a flagrant foul, but it was still a really solid first half for the Mavericks. They didn't put away the game or anything, (and they had a decent chance to), but if they come out in the second half the same way they did in the first, they should take the game.

 

I've actually been really impressed with the way that Dampier responded after getting called out by Dirk. That first quarter (10 points, 5-5 FG) was probably the best basketball that he's played in his life.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Wow, Phoenix WAKING the fuck up at the beginning of the 2nd half and making it a one-possession game. Dampier going back to his usual self right away looking confused as the ball was getting passed right at him, and past him.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Mavs beat Suns 108-106

 

Nowinski with a shot with 6 seconds to play to give them the lead

 

Q misses three at buzzer to win

[Guest Vitamin X]

Phoenix's defensive strategy is the strangest thing ever. They seem to work best when they play a fullcourt press, but they make really strange matchups, like putting Nash or Richardson on Nowitski, or Stoudamire on Stackhouse. The winning bucket by Nowitski was made by Richardson guarding him. I was like, WTF? Why not put Stoudamire or Marion on him?

 

And Finley really ripped them a new one tonight, pretty much out of nowhere. Dampier played like his usual self in the second half, and the Suns had probably about 16-20 points that they would have usually made (how many times did Stoudamire or any random Sun getting a pass from Nash fuck up an alley-oop dunk or mess up gimme buckets? It was getting a little ridiculous seeing that kind of inconsistency). Dallas wanted it more tonight it seemed, putting up a good fight after getting whipped in Game 1. At least we know what to expect out of these series.

[iggymcfly 0]

Huge win for the Mavericks tonight, tying up the series. They would have had a tough time coming back from 2-0 against Phoenix, but they're in good position going back to Dallas tied.

 

Finley absolutely carried the Mavs for most of the game there. He was drilling every jumper he took at a time when no one else could make a shot. Dirk was there for the game winner, but he was pretty much a non-factor for most of the game, and if Fin hadn't been there to provide the offense, the Mavs would have got blown out.

 

Really, I think the reason that the Suns are vulnerable in the playoffs is that so much of their game is based on out-hustling the opponents. They get open dunks when the other team's playing lax defense, but they don't really have anyone that can create instant offense when they need to. This is going to be a hard-fought series, but I think the Mavs will take it in 6 or 7.

[Ripper 0]

Huge win for the Mavericks tonight, tying up the series. They would have had a tough time coming back from 2-0 against Phoenix, but they're in good position going back to Dallas tied.

 

Finley absolutely carried the Mavs for most of the game there. He was drilling every jumper he took at a time when no one else could make a shot. Dirk was there for the game winner, but he was pretty much a non-factor for most of the game, and if Fin hadn't been there to provide the offense, the Mavs would have got blown out.

 

Really, I think the reason that the Suns are vulnerable in the playoffs is that so much of their game is based on out-hustling the opponents. They get open dunks when the other team's playing lax defense, but they don't really have anyone that can create instant offense when they need to. This is going to be a hard-fought series, but I think the Mavs will take it in 6 or 7.

Amare Stoudimire creates his own shot, Marion can and if you don't collapse on Nash he creates his own shot.

 

The Mavs got alot of help from Joe Johnson landing on his face to win this game as he is the Suns best perimeter defender outside of Marion.

 

And yeah, that was a strange defensive matchup at the end of the game, as it should have been marion on Dirk, but I have to rewatch it because there might have been a switch or something.

 

Jim Jackson is going to have to have a big game 3 for the suns. I predict a phoenix blowout though.

[C Dubya 04 0]

So it seems that at least there will be two competitive series. That's better than it looked yesterday.

 

I can't believe that Detroit got taken apart by Jeff Foster. He played out of his head down the stretch.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I had a feeling that yesterday's game was much like the Suns-Grizzlies Game 2, just with a different outcome. Playoff experience REALLY showed at the end when Dallas was able to fuck up left and right and Phoenix didn't take advantage of it like they should have.

[Ripper 0]

I had a feeling that yesterday's game was much like the Suns-Grizzlies Game 2, just with a different outcome. Playoff experience REALLY showed at the end when Dallas was able to fuck up left and right and Phoenix didn't take advantage of it like they should have.

Or the guy that is averaging 25 points a game against dallas and their best perimeter defender and shooter fell on his face in the first half. I think that had something to do with it too.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Yeah losing Joe Johnson like that was hell. I hope he'll be alright for the rest of the series. Though you can't deny that Phoenix just looked kind of.. off in comparison to the last 5 games.

[Guest Vitamin X]

And the answer:

Johnson undergoes surgery, to be sidelined for a week

By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer

May 12, 2005

 

PHOENIX (AP) -- Phoenix Suns guard Joe Johnson underwent surgery Thursday to repair a displaced fracture in the bone around his left eye.

 

The starting guard, who has played in all 287 games since coming to the Suns in his rookie season, will miss at least the next two games of the team's Western Conference semifinal series against Dallas and probably Game 5 in Phoenix as well, Suns president Bryan Colangelo said.

 

``He underwent reconstructive surgery for an orbital fracture,'' Dr. Edward Joganic, who performed the operation, said in a statement.

 

``Surgery went smoothly and he is expected to recover fully,'' Joganic said. ``We will continue to evaluate Joe and assess his ability to play in the remainder of the playoffs in one week.''

 

Colangelo said the team wasn't going to be more specific about how long Johnson could be out.

 

Johnson was injured when he was fouled by Jerry Stackhouse on a drive to the basket late in the first half of the Suns' 108-106 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-7 guard hung on the rim briefly, then crashed face-first to the floor, and lay there for several minutes while receiving six stitches to close a cut near the eye.

 

Johnson climbed to his feet and made one of two free throws before leaving the game.

 

Stackhouse was called for a flagrant foul, but the NBA rescinded it Thursday after reviewing the play.

 

Teammate Steve Nash visited Johnson in the hospital after the surgery. Johnson, who also sustained a mild concussion, had no memory of the game, Nash said.

 

``He seemed pretty good this morning. He didn't seem too depressed,'' Nash said. ``His friends and his family were there. His agent was there. He's doing OK. He had a lot of support so he's fine.''

 

Johnson has averaged 19 points a game in the playoffs, third-highest on the team. He has shot 57 percent from 3-point range (13-for-23), best of any player in the postseason.

 

``Joe's been an iron man for us,'' Nash said after the Suns practiced Thursday before leaving for Dallas. ``He never misses a practice. He never misses a game. He's been such a huge part of our team. He's had a great year, and he's a great guy. It's really tough for us. We're just going to have to rally together and get it done for him.''

 

Jim Jackson will move into the starting lineup for Game 3 on Friday night. Coach Mike D'Antoni said the team's biggest concern is for Johnson.

 

``I think everybody really feels sorry for Joe,'' D'Antoni said. ``We're not down as a team. We know what we can still do, but for probably the nicest guy around, to not be able to participate, we feel sorry for Joe.''

[Just John 0]

Big win for the Heat tonight. I don't think many people realize how deep the Heat are. A lot of people I talked to said it's all Shaq and Wade, but Haslem, Mourning, Dooling, and the Joneses are solid role players.

 

Shaq'll get plenty of rest heading into the Eastern Conference Finals now.

[Guest news_gimmick]

That was a very devestating win, considering the Wizards had a great chance without Shaq. I've gotta give Zo credit for being a hell of a rebounder still, although his scoring ability is greatly diminished. But everytime the Wiz made some form of comeback, the Heat always had an answer. Definately looking at a sweep here, especially with Shaq returning for the next game I'm sure.

 

 

As for Seattle and San Antonio, I've lost interest really...I'm gonna go out and get some drinks instead.

[Just John 0]

Nah, I bet they rest Shaq again for Game 4, and why not? They already showed they could win without him, and they don't want to risk aggravating his thigh injury in a series that won't go but two more games at the most. They definitely want him healthy heading to the ECF.

 

Hey, it's halftime and the Sonics aren't losing by 20 points! Amazing.

[razazteca 0]

WTF was Glen Robinson thinking when he pushed one of the Sonics onto the ref?

[Guest news_gimmick]

Wow, Seattle isn't rolling over tonight, I'm shocked. Good to see some competitive basketball here.

 

 

As for Shaq resting, I can see it I guess. But I'd rather see him play at least a little bit so he isn't going into the Detroit series without any playing time. I mean get him in there for a little bit just to get Miami off to a great start, and then rest if the game isn't close. But they are in the drivers seat now, so they can do as they please I guess.

[Guest news_gimmick]

Damn, Seattle leaving it wide open for another Robert Horry playoff moment...

[Guest news_gimmick]

And theres your ballgame, Seattle over San Antonio 92-91. Ray Allen and Bruce Bowen trash talk was taking center stage for a second there. Duncan suprisingly tookt he last shot and came up short. Great game though.