This week in the NBA

[alfdogg 0]

Sun, Mar. 5

Indiana @ Philadelphia, 1:00 ABC

Sacramento @ Washington, 1:00

Golden State @ Minnesota, 3:30

Phoenix @ Dallas, 3:30 ABC

Boston @ Toronto, 6:00

Chicago @ Cleveland, 7:30 ESPN

Portland @ Houston, 8:30

Memphis @ LA Clippers, 9:00

Utah @ Seattle, 9:00

 

Mon, Mar. 6

Miami @ Charlotte, 7:30

Sacramento @ New Jersey, 7:30

Phoenix @ NO/OK, 8:00

Memphis @ Denver, 9:00

Orlando @ Utah, 9:00

San Antonio @ LA Lakers, 10:30

 

Tue, Mar. 7

Boston @ Washington, 7:00

Golden State @ Atlanta, 7:00

New York @ Indiana, 7:00

Toronto @ Cleveland, 7:00

Houston @ Minnesota, 8:00

New Jersey @ Chicago, 8:30

Portland @ Dallas, 8:30

San Antonio @ LA Clippers, 10:30

 

Wed, Mar. 8

Cleveland @ Toronto, 7:00

Chicago @ Detroit, 7:30

Golden State @ Charlotte, 7:30

Philadelphia @ Boston, 7:30

Washington @ Miami, 7:30

LA Lakers @ NO/OK, 8:00 (first pro sporting event in New Orleans since Katrina)

Sacramento @ Milwaukee, 8:00

Indiana @ Houston, 8:30

Minnesota @ Utah, 9:00

Memphis @ Seattle, 10:00

 

Thu, Mar. 9

Denver @ Philadelphia, 8:00 TNT

Dallas @ Portland, 10:00

Phoenix @ San Antonio, 10:30 TNT

 

Fri, Mar. 10

Cleveland @ Orlando, 7:00

Denver @ Toronto, 7:00

Golden State @ Miami, 7:30

Milwaukee @ Boston, 7:30

Indiana @ NO/OK, 8:00

LA Clippers @ Chicago, 8:30

LA Lakers @ San Antonio, 8:30

Memphis @ Sacramento, 10:00

Minnesota @ Seattle, 10:30

 

Sat, Mar. 11

Chicago @ Atlanta, 7:00

Detroit @ Washington, 7:00

Golden State @ Orlando, 7:00

New York @ Charlotte, 7:30

LA Clippers @ Milwaukee, 8:30

Dallas @ Utah, 9:00

Minnesota @ Phoenix, 9:00

[Guest Vitamin X]

What, neither Lakers-Spurs game gets any national love but games like Chicago-Cleveland and Denver-Philly do? Sucks.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing Phoenix-San Antonio this week, though.

[Guest]

Fuck. Double dose of the Spurs.

[Precious Roy 0]

With Dallas-Phoenix, San Antonio-Phoenix and the Dallas-San Antonio game the other night we're getting some great WC playoff previews. That Spurs-Suns game is huge.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Webber choked again. Twice.

[Ripper 0]

Win or lose, the Phoenix bench has me more and more confidence about our chances to win it all this year. It will be tough, but goddamn. They are SO much deeper than last year.

 

Tim Thomas, James Jones, Eddie House, Barbosa(a more confident one at least) are such a upgrade over...well...Jim Jackson.

[jwpeer 0]

This Dallas vs. Phoenix game has been awesome, and it's even better late. I want some OT!!!

[The Electrifyer 0]

Phoenix is amazing... I don't know how they pull these odd talents out of nowhere, but when Amare gets back from injury and gives them a big, nobody is going to want to play them in the playoffs.

 

And looking from the standings and the playoff format, Phoenix is going to be the team who is really going to benefit from the new format. If the playoffs started now, instead of playing either Dallas or San Antonio, they would get playing either Denver or Memphis.

[Just John 0]

Denver will probably win that weak-ass NW division and be a gift for the 6-seed. They're so inconsistent, I don't know how they can win one 7-game series, let alone four. I think the Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, and Lakers round out the 5-8 spots in that order.

[alfdogg 0]

Here are the matchups as of right now

 

(1) San Antonio vs (8) LA Lakers

(4) Dallas vs (5) LA Clippers

(3) Denver vs (6) Memphis

(2) Phoenix vs (7) NO/OK

 

(1) Detroit vs (8) Milwaukee

(4) Cleveland vs (5) Indiana

(3) New Jersey vs (6) Washington

(2) Miami vs (7) Philadelphia

 

If the seeds went by strictly records, the Nets would be the 4 seed in the East, and the Nuggets would be the 7 seed in the West. I have read that there may be changes in the playoff format next year, as far as those seedings go. I'll look for some articles.

[alfdogg 0]

Sonics SF Rashard Lewis trashed his organization last week, saving his harshest criticisms for majority owner Harold Schultz and his parsimonious ways. Lewis implied he will opt out of his contract after the 2006-07 season.

I don't know what that word means, but this obviously can't mean too well for this franchise.

 

EDIT: And I'll take this time to reiterate that Bender and Croshere both come off the books that summer, which frees up approx. $15 million. Also the same year that the '04 draft class are scheduled to be FA's.

[Guest]

Good as gone.

[Precious Roy 0]

parsimonious = cheap

 

I hope Lewis actually used that word and it wasn't just an overzealous sports writer, that's like some shit Mike Tyson would say

[Guest]

If he actually used that word, he got the most out of his high school education.

[Dangerous A 0]

As far as the West goes, I still am not sure NO/OK will hold on. I'm not saying I don't want them to go to the playoffs, because I think they are one of the best stories in the NBA this season. I guess I'm just not sure about an unproven team during this stretch run. The Lakers are gunning for the 6th seed because that gets them the Nuggets, who they can definitely beat in a series. Against any of the other teams (Dal, SA, or Pho) and I think the Lakers get bounced in the 1st round. The Clippers will get in and Memphis should get in, barring a total collapse or Gasol season ending injury. I am not sure if Amare comes back this year. They are only 3 games off of last year's pace, so they may not be in a rush to get him out there and risk re-injury. Dallas just lost to SA and to Pho at home, so I'm not sure if they are going to get it done in May again. Barkley called Dallas the Colts of the NBA and that analogy is not far off. SA is still the team to beat and I don't really see any teams out in the weakened West beating them in a series. I can see some teams making them sweat a little, but there is too much experience there. Tim's plantar fasciatis is something to keep an eye on because he isn't 100% and won't be for the rest of the year since he cant take time off and the homecourt probrably won't be decided until the final 2-3 games of the season with Dallas.

 

Out East, I think Cleveland will finally make the playoffs. They may not stay in the 5th position, but I don't think they'll miss it this year. Not sure about J. O'Neal's status, but if he doesn't come back this year, I think the Cavs can eliminate the Pacers if the seedings stay the same. Realistically, it's the Pistons and Heat unless there is a significant injury to either team's top guys.

[alfdogg 0]

The difference between the Mavs and Colts, though, is I don't think anyone actually expects the Mavs to win. Thus, if they lose to the Spurs or Pistons or Suns, they won't be letting down legions of fans and experts across the country.

[alfdogg 0]

Power Rankings

 

1. San Antonio

2. Phoenix

3. Detroit

4. Dallas

5. Miami

6. Indiana

7. Denver

8. New Jersey

9. LA Clippers

10. Memphis

11. Cleveland

12. NO/OK

13. Philadelphia

14. LA Lakers

15. Washington

16. Sacramento

17. Houston

18. Minnesota

19. Milwaukee

20. Chicago

21. Utah

22. Toronto

23. Atlanta

24. Boston

25. Seattle

26. Golden State

27. Orlando

28. Portland

29. New York

30. Charlotte

[Guest]

Thought I should mention that the Lakers waived SLAVA MEDVEDENKO and signed Jim Jackson. Called that signing.

 

Also, Amare's right knee has fluid buildup. Considering that it's not the one he had surgery on, that's not good.

[Guest Vitamin X]

`bout fucking time, really. They should've waived him years ago.

[Ripper 0]

Suns lose Nash to a sprain ankle tonight. Not good. Not good.

 

I still think that with Diaw running the offense and recent signings, they should be okay.

[Guest]

Tim Duncan's hurt. Bad. Wasn't really paying attention to what it was.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Tim Duncan's hurt. Bad. Wasn't really paying attention to what it was.

William Parker poked him in the eye.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Nash hurt, Duncan hurt, problems with Amare, if any of them are serious things in the West just swung heavily in the Mavericks favor. They might get a chance to be the Colts of the NBA after all.

[Guest]

Duncan hasn't came back yet. I was too busy waiting on this stupid impending trade in the NHL. Fuckin news services report shit without saying where the player is going. Didn't even see it.

[Just John 0]

I don't know about the Mavs. The Suns and Spurs always give them trouble (Spurs are too strong on D, while the Suns are too strong on O), but the Mavs have the most solid team they've put on the court in the last few years. They seem to be trying on D, and they can still score when needed. I think they can hang with the best of them.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I really hope Nets make an effort in the off season to bring KG here.

 

That's the only way Kidd will win a ring, I don't care if he have to get rid of Carter or Jefferson to get him.

[alfdogg 0]

This is a fucking disgrace. I hope this game means for the Knicks that they're actually gelling and getting better, instead of them losing another 11 in a row after winning against us.

[SpikeFayeJettEdBebop 0]

Argh. Wizards just lost to a Paul Pierce. Motherfucker was even doubleteamed and falling down, and still somehow made the shot. Well, they're only 1 under .500 but certainly a better team then they were at the beggining of the season.

[alfdogg 0]

Jamaal Tinsley - 6 points in 9 minutes.

 

Eddie Gill - 5 points in 3 minutes.

 

Fred Jones - ZERO POINTS IN TWENTY-TWO MINUTES.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

It was great to finally have the Clippers beat the Spurs after they had played them tough for 2 seasons.

 

Brand with 30 and Sam with 15 points and 11 assissts.

 

The Clippers match up well against the Spurs and should have won the first meeting between the two this season as well(OT loss). This a playoff match-up I hope we get to see because it would be a good one.