NBA Playoffs 2008 - Round 1

[Maztinho 0]

I was going to say one of the teams that came back from 0-3 to win it in 7, but no, this is the worst.

 

I didn't think that any team in the NBA has come back from 3 down. Denver almost did in the mid-90's the same year that they were the first 8 seed to beat a 1 seed in a series. I'd consider that more of a choke... well, no, losing to a team that lost 30 games more than you did is more of a choke.

 

So, yes, this would be the biggest choke in all of the NBA Playoffs.

[Boon 0]

This team will not make it past Cleveland if they don't get their shit together.

They have to get past Atlanta first.

[teke184 0]

Just throwing this out for discussion, if the Celtics lose on Sunday night is that the greatest chokejob in the history of the NBA playoffs?

I'm not sure... at least they went to 7, which is more than can be said about the 2006-2007 Mavericks.

 

It would certainly be one of the bigger disappointments of all-time.

 

 

I'd personally find it hilarious that 99% of the commentators in the known universe agreed that the Hornets would get bounced in the first round due to playoff inexperience, yet they've moved on but the "sure-thing" bet Celtics could get bounced by one of the worst playoff teams, record-wise, in NBA history.

[Ripper 0]

Some quick math has the Hawks taking 71 more free throws than the Celtics this series. 71. Let that sink in.

 

 

Stop shooting jumpers. Atlanta has ONE jumpshooter on the team. And the Celtics have been doubling him to take the ball out of his hands.

 

So basically, every other guy on the team just goes to the rim, over and over and over and over again. they are going to get more freethrows.

[KingPK 0]

Well obviously. But should they, I would think playing in Cleveland is a hell of a lot worse environment than Atlanta is.

 

EDIT: Addressed to Boon.

Edited May 3, 2008 by KingPK

[Guest College Party]

In the span of four years, Boston teams will (potentially) be involved in the biggest chokejobs/comebacks/upsets of three major sports. That's insane.

In the span of seven years, Boston teams won five world championships, so suck it.

[KingPK 0]

Hey look up there Czech, there goes my point.

[Boon 0]

Some quick math has the Hawks taking 71 more free throws than the Celtics this series. 71. Let that sink in.

 

 

Stop shooting jumpers. Atlanta has ONE jumpshooter on the team. And the Celtics have been doubling him to take the ball out of his hands.

 

So basically, every other guy on the team just goes to the rim, over and over and over and over again. they are going to get more freethrows.

Obviously the Celtics are largely to blame for not taking the ball to the hoop more, but in six games for one team to be averaging 12 more foul shots a game is pretty ridiculous.

[cabbageboy 0]

While I think the Celtics have been embarrassing in this series on the road, they should squash the Hawks in Game 7. I'd like it to be close though, just to see how Boston reacts. This isn't the same as the Mavs/Warriors from last year, where the Warriors had the Mavs' former coach and beat them 3 out of 4 in the reg. season.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

L.A. Times reporting that Kobe is the MVP

[Damaramu 0]

This team will not make it past Cleveland if they don't get their shit together.

They have to get past Atlanta first.

 

The Hawks haven't showed any ability to not get blown out in Boston so I'm not really worried.

 

I just hope they don't lose to the Lebrons. That would just turn me off to the rest of the playoffs.

[Damaramu 0]

L.A. Times reporting that Kobe is the MVP

 

Shocking! Shocking! Not really. I think we all knew this when they got the No. 1 seed and ESPN began the media push to give it to him.(not saying he doesn't deserve it or anything)

[Ripper 0]

Some quick math has the Hawks taking 71 more free throws than the Celtics this series. 71. Let that sink in.

 

 

Stop shooting jumpers. Atlanta has ONE jumpshooter on the team. And the Celtics have been doubling him to take the ball out of his hands.

 

So basically, every other guy on the team just goes to the rim, over and over and over and over again. they are going to get more freethrows.

Obviously the Celtics are largely to blame for not taking the ball to the hoop more, but in six games for one team to be averaging 12 more foul shots a game is pretty ridiculous.

 

You aren't seriously suggesting that the refs are favoring the Hawks, are you? Because....dude.

 

If KG stops taking fade away jumpers, and if Powe could guard the hawks bigs, then you guys would have more freethrows(because Powe could stay on the court), but he can't and KG won't.

 

Are you saying that the hawks should have less freethrows, because I hope you aren't suggesting that the Celtics should have more.

[Ripper 0]

Tracy McGrady is cursed. Not really him, but he curses his teammates.

[naiwf 0]

I'm glad Kobe's finally getting one but I think they've gotten the last 3 wrong for sure and possibly 4 straight have been head scratchers. I think CP3 should have won it this year, Kobe last year and Dirk the year before that with Shaq/Nash in '04/'05 being a coin flip. At the end of the day only Paul misses out with winning the award but it's ridiculous he didn't get it this year given the Nash precedent set a couple of years ago. Paul led the league in assists and steals, averaged 21+ PPG AND his team won 17 more games than the prior year taking a division with FOUR 50+ game winners. I'll never understand the "experts".

[teke184 0]

I'm glad Kobe's finally getting one but I think they've gotten the last 3 wrong for sure and possibly 4 straight have been head scratchers. I think CP3 should have won it this year, Kobe last year and Dirk the year before that with Shaq/Nash in '04/'05 being a coin flip. At the end of the day only Paul misses out with winning the award but it's ridiculous he didn't get it this year given the Nash precedent set a couple of years ago. Paul led the league in assists and steals, averaged 21+ PPG AND his team won 17 more games than the prior year taking a division with FOUR 50+ game winners. I'll never understand the "experts".

I think a lot of people threw behind Kobe because:

 

1. The Lakers had their best post-Shaq finish, ending up with the best record in the West

 

2. Kobe got a lifetime achievement award because a number of people didn't like that a guy with his numbers had never won the award

 

3. The thought is that Chris Paul is young enough that he'll compete for another MVP down the road, so they can justify screwing him this year and handing it to him a different year where he isn't the best player

[Boon 0]

Are you saying that the hawks should have less freethrows, because I hope you aren't suggesting that the Celtics should have more.

I'm saying the disparity is a large story in this series.

[Rendclaw 0]

When you take the ball to the basket and are aggressive, you tend to get the foul calls. If KG did that more, it would be more even. Allen and Pierce are jumpshooters, although Pierce should take the ball to the basket a bit more himself. The disparity is for a reason, and its not because the Celtics are being screwed. They are doing a wonderful job of screwing themselves right now.

 

That game 6 by the Pistons is what SHOULD have happened. Come out early, punch them in the face, and make them try to come back on you. Play defense and not allow them to have a lot of easy shots.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Are you saying that the hawks should have less freethrows, because I hope you aren't suggesting that the Celtics should have more.

I'm saying the disparity is a large story in this series.

Well, you're wrong. Jump shooting teams don't get free throws. The Hawks are a team of athletic slashers who attack the basket, and that's why they have a lot of free throws. The Celtics are a team of finesse jump shooters, and that's why they don't have a lot of free throws. There is no story.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

[Boon 0]

I must've missed when I said the refs were screwing the Celtics. Somebody want to point that out? Thanks for knowing what I'm thinking though.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm glad Kobe's finally getting one but I think they've gotten the last 3 wrong for sure and possibly 4 straight have been head scratchers. I think CP3 should have won it this year, Kobe last year and Dirk the year before that with Shaq/Nash in '04/'05 being a coin flip. At the end of the day only Paul misses out with winning the award but it's ridiculous he didn't get it this year given the Nash precedent set a couple of years ago. Paul led the league in assists and steals, averaged 21+ PPG AND his team won 17 more games than the prior year taking a division with FOUR 50+ game winners. I'll never understand the "experts".

I think a lot of people threw behind Kobe because:

 

1. The Lakers had their best post-Shaq finish, ending up with the best record in the West

 

2. Kobe got a lifetime achievement award because a number of people didn't like that a guy with his numbers had never won the award

 

3. The thought is that Chris Paul is young enough that he'll compete for another MVP down the road, so they can justify screwing him this year and handing it to him a different year where he isn't the best player

 

Well it's not like Kobe is some old man in the twilight of his career.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

All right Ripper. You see where this is going. You can lose game 7 and maybe still have Woodson go, or you can lose game 7 and maybe get a new coach. Shoot the hostage?

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

All right Ripper. You see where this is going. You can lose game 7 and maybe still have Woodson go, or you can lose game 7 and maybe get a new coach. Shoot the hostage?

[Ripper 0]

LOL. I know what you mean.

 

I think he is going to get resigned regardless because I am convinced that the owners haven't watched one fucking game this year, and he will get an extension either way.

 

However, I think that the expectations for the Hawks are going to be so high going into the offseason(win or lose) that after a slow start next year (which they will have because he fucking blows) they will finally fire him. They won't just be getting pressure from the hometown fans. They would be getting pressure from the national media.

 

So I am just hoping for a win.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

That's like my either my worst typo or my most distracted post ever. I'm totally leaving it. You got the point though, so that works.

[Guest College Party]

Are you saying that the hawks should have less freethrows, because I hope you aren't suggesting that the Celtics should have more.

I'm saying the disparity is a large story in this series.

Well, you're wrong. Jump shooting teams don't get free throws. The Hawks are a team of athletic slashers who attack the basket, and that's why they have a lot of free throws. The Celtics are a team of finesse jump shooters, and that's why they don't have a lot of free throws. There is no story.

The star system is making sure the Atlanta Hawks get lots of free throws.

[alfdogg 0]

I don't think you could have gone wrong with Kobe or Paul as the MVP. As I said before, I think the thing that puts Kobe over the top is that he had to overcome a lot more adversity, with all the controversy in the offseason, the trade talk at the start of the year, Bynum getting hurt, having to work in Gasol, etc., whereas the Hornets were able to fly relatively under the radar. If someone wants to give it to Paul, I won't argue that, because he had a mind-blowing season, but I don't see how you can argue against Kobe getting it, unless you just don't like the guy.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Cindy Brunson: "With Kobe winning the MVP, he relinquishes the title of most points scored by an active player who's never won an MVP. That title now goes to Ray Allen."

 

You've got to believe that Walter Ray holds that 'title' until he retires.

[Guest College Party]

Ugh, I forgot all about that "Kobe controversy." I mean, I knew there was some reason that the Bulls lost 49 games and replaced a qualified head coach with the Michael Scott of basketball, but with so many things going wrong, it was hard to remember what precipitated it.

 

Mike d'Antoni has been rumored to be the new Bulls head coach, by the way. Carlisle, too, who is probably the best fit, but Pax's hand might be forced here: there's not a lot of patience left for the Paxson way after this disaster. Fundamentals and defense don't sell season tickets when they're being executed well, let alone poorly.