This week in the NBA

[alfdogg 0]

Sun, April 1

Miami @ Detroit, 1:00 ABC

Chicago @ Atlanta, 2:00

Memphis @ Golden State, 3:00

Washington @ Milwaukee, 3:30

Dallas @ Phoenix, 3:30 ABC

Cleveland @ Boston, 6:00

Charlotte @ Toronto, 6:00

Minnesota @ Orlando, 6:00

Utah @ Houston, 6:00

San Antonio @ Indiana, 7:00

Denver @ Seattle, 9:00

Sacramento @ LA Lakers, 9:30

 

Tue, April 3

Washington @ Charlotte, 7:00

Detroit @ Indiana, 7:00

Toronto @ Miami, 7:30

Phoenix @ Memphis, 8:00

Seattle @ San Antonio, 8:00

Cleveland @ Minnesota, 8:00

NO/OK @ Milwaukee, 8:00

Dallas @ Sacramento, 10:00

Denver @ LA Lakers, 10:30

 

Wed, April 4

Charlotte @ Washington, 7:00

Toronto @ Orlando, 7:00

Atlanta @ New Jersey, 7:30

Philadelphia @ New York, 7:30

Chicago @ Detroit, 7:30 ESPN

Boston @ Milwaukee, 8:00

Seattle @ NO/OK, 8:00

Golden State @ Houston, 8:30

Sacramento @ Denver, 10:00 ESPN

Utah @ Portland, 10:00

LA Lakers @ LA Clippers, 10:30

 

Thu, April 5

Miami @ Cleveland, 7:00 TNT

Phoenix @ San Antonio, 9:30 TNT

 

Fri, April 6

Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7:00

Indiana @ Charlotte, 7:00

Miami @ Boston, 7:30

Minnesota @ New York, 7:30

Milwaukee @ Atlanta, 7:30

Cleveland @ Washington, 8:00 ESPN

Golden State @ Memphis, 8:00

Phoenix @ NO/OK, 8:00

New Jersey @ Chicago, 8:30

Portland @ Houston, 8:30

Utah @ Sacramento, 10:00

Dallas @ Denver, 10:30 ESPN

LA Lakers @ Seattle, 10:30

 

Sat, April 7

Memphis @ Orlando, 7:00

Boston @ Indiana, 7:00

Washington @ New Jersey, 7:30

Golden State @ San Antonio, 8:00

NO/OK @ Minnesota, 8:00

New York @ Milwaukee, 8:30

Portland @ Dallas, 9:00

Seattle @ Utah, 9:00

Denver @ LA Clippers, 10:30

[Ripper 0]

Good win for Phoenix. I think that Diaw is starting to adjust to his role which is important.

 

What disappoints me is that Jalen Rose and Marcus Banks were given more minutes the last few weeks, both played EXTREMELY well, and both have gone back to the zero minute brigade with Eric Piakowski(who also played very well during a stretch this year then suddenly got no minutes) and Pat Burke....nothing else to say about Pat Burke.

[alfdogg 0]

Holy shit. The Pacers actually won.

[alfdogg 0]

And without Jermaine O'Neal, no less!

 

And what do you know...Ike Diogu actually gets some real minutes, and goes for 18/13.

[Ripper 0]

It is funny. I know when I heard the big trade I thought that the Warriors were insane for giving up Ike, then I thought the Pacers were going to start winning immediately because his time would go up.

 

I personally can't figure out why he keeps getting glued to the bench. I mean seriously the guy always produces whenever he gets time.

[alfdogg 0]

Sadly, this was probably an isolated situation, as well. Not only was O'Neal out, but Foster had to leave early, as well. That's probably what led to Ike getting so much time.

 

Anyway, Caron Butler broke his hand today. Probably done for the year. Which means the Wiz are probably one and done again, if they weren't already.

[World's Worst Man 0]

The Raptors clinch a playoff spot and I am happy. I like them over anyone in the East outside of Detroit and Chicago, the latter of which could go either way. All hail Bryan Colangelo, and may Rob Babcock be banned from ever setting foot near a basketball court for the rest of time.

[Guest]

Kobe's friends finally showed up to play and the Kings got blown off the court.

 

I like it when this happens rather than watching Kobe score 50 every night. It's much more satisfying. Now why can't the rest of the team do that every game?

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Because you don't play shitty teams that can't play defense every game?

[Just John 0]

I think the Spurs/Suns game this week will be a good barometer of the playoff picture. I think Phoenix at full-strength can knock Dallas out in 5 or 6 (look how easily the Suns always score on the Mavs so-called improved D), but the Spurs have always been a problem team for them. The funny thing is, I think Dallas has the edge on San Antonio because they're deeper offensively, so you kind of have a rock-paper-scissors thing going on at the top of the West. It'll either come down to luck, or someone's going to have to overcome their demons.

[Ripper 0]

See I think that the Suns match up very well against the Spurs, especially with Raja Bell there so we can see a flop off between him and manu. I imagine it will be like that time Rodman and Malone kept falling down while running up court that one time.

[Guest]

Because you don't play shitty teams that can't play defense every game?

Save one game, we've been playing teams like that since March 11th.

 

A healthy dose of Nuggets, Blazers, T-Wolves, Grizzlies, Hornets, Warriors, and Kings should always help teams with struggling offenses. Well, it helps any team really.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

With the exception of the Grizzlies, every one of those teams you mentioned is substantially better defensively than we are.

[Ripper 0]

Come on now. The Warriors are easily the worse defensive team in the history of anything. They literally don't try to play defense at all.

[Just John 0]

See I think that the Suns match up very well against the Spurs, especially with Raja Bell there so we can see a flop off between him and manu. I imagine it will be like that time Rodman and Malone kept falling down while running up court that one time.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. The Spurs can score with the best of them (though they seldom have to), and unlike the Mavs, their D actually works against the Suns from time to time.

[Ripper 0]

See I think that the Suns match up very well against the Spurs, especially with Raja Bell there so we can see a flop off between him and manu. I imagine it will be like that time Rodman and Malone kept falling down while running up court that one time.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. The Spurs can score with the best of them (though they seldom have to), and unlike the Mavs, their D actually works against the Suns from time to time.

 

Di...did you see the last time they played?

[Just John 0]

No, that's why I'm looking forward to this week.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Come on now. The Warriors are easily the worse defensive team in the history of anything. They literally don't try to play defense at all.

At least the Warriors can get rebounds; that automatically puts them ahead of us defensively.

[Ripper 0]

No, that's why I'm looking forward to this week.

 

 

That last 16 point win, and I know it was regular season, just showed that they can do it. I still think you could take the Suns/Spurs/Mavs, and have series between them and a different team would win every time. They are that evenly matched in my eyes. I wouldn't be suprised if any of them won. I just don't see one of them being that much better than any of the others.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Because you don't play shitty teams that can't play defense every game?

Save one game, we've been playing teams like that since March 11th.

 

A healthy dose of Nuggets, Blazers, T-Wolves, Grizzlies, Hornets, Warriors, and Kings should always help teams with struggling offenses. Well, it helps any team really.

 

The Blazers won the season series against the Lakers and it took double OT and Kobe scoring 65 to win the third time.

[Guest]

That doesn't make them good. Plus, we've had problems beating Portland in the regular season ever since I've been alive. It's very hard to play there.

 

I dislike them more than any team not from San Antonio, btw.

 

EDIT: Well, we aren't very good either, by my standards, so I shouldn't be talking. All I care about are rings, something this team will not be receiving on Opening Night.

[iggymcfly 0]

Speaking of the Lakers, I was looking at their roster today and they have so much young talent, it's ridiculous. Think of what the upgrade's going to be at PG from Smush Parker now to Jordan Farmar when he's in his 4th or 5th year in the league. Imagine Bynum, Turiaf, and Walton all entering their prime and splitting time with an improving Kwame Brown down low. And with all that, Kobe's still only 28. He's got another 5 or 6 years before he even starts to decline.

 

Looking at it the potential, I can see why Phil came back. The franchise is really put together perfectly to become a legitimate force 4 or 5 years down the line. Coincidentally, that's right about when Nash and Duncan should be getting ready to retire or at least be declining greatly and be dipping out of any sort of championship contention. Really, Dallas is the only team that seems to be standing in the way of multiple Finals appearances for the Lakers.

[Precious Roy 0]

Don't forget about the Rockets. Yao is 26, T-Mac turns 28 next month, Battier is 28, and they've got a couple good young role players in Luther Head and Chuck Hayes. They're in prime position to contend for the next 5-6 years.

[Brett Favre 0]

Probably more like 2-3 years, because McGrady said he'll retire after his contract expires.

[Ripper 0]

McGrady's back is like 40 though.

 

I think that the team that will be incredible in a few years if they keep them there is Portland. Seriously, Aldridge, Jack, Sergio, Martell Webster, Outlaw, Roy, and Ime Udoka all have a chance to be very very very good players.

 

Although I still say they are retarded for not trading Zach Randolf before the allstar break this year. he was having a career year coming off a shaky one with that knee, hadn't done anything mind numbingly stupid and they have Aldridge waiting in the wings. The could have moved him for a lottery pick, or for help at any position they needed or packaged him with Miles just to get rid of him. But no, the keep him. Then he ends up asking for time off for a funeral, goes to make it rain on strippers first, then gets hurt for the rest of the year dropping his trade value about 10 billion percent.

[Guest]

Charlotte. If not for that Sean May pick, they'd be ready for the playoffs next year.

[Brett Favre 0]

I think that will depend on what happens with Gerald Wallace. They have to resign him, then you add Noah, Horford, Wright, or Green to Okafor, Felton, Morrison, and Wallace and you have yourself a squad.

[Ripper 0]

Outside of injuries (and I know there have been a lot) why do people keep calling Sean May a bust? Check out his game logs for when he did play. 12 and 7 aren't exactly bust numbers.

 

Outside of David Lee and Monta Ellis, who drafted after him has done anything to say "Charlotte really should have taken _________ with that pick."

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

It's near impossible to predict what teams will be good in 4-5 years because so much can change. It all depends on what moves they make in free agency, who they acquire in the draft, who matures and who gets injured. You can't extrapolate future performance based on the quality and age of the players they currently have.

 

You know who will probably be the best teams? San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, New Jersey, Indiana, Detroit, etc. These teams are run well from top to bottom with good decision makers in important positions. They are more likely to develop and maintain good squads than some young, upstart team that has a GM that doesn't know it's ass from a hole in the ground (New York, Boston, Atlanta, LA Clippers, Golden State).

[Ripper 0]

I don't see how you can count New York in that list. Their GM is probably the best draft guy in the league. They should bring in another GM to do trades with already established players, but if New York was to fire Isaiah, would you honestly say you wouldn't want you favorite team to have him as a draft consultant?