NBA Hit List: The Contenders
Who has more to prove than ‘Melo?Going into the games that truly matter, we rank the playoff teams from strongest championship contenders to the first-round fodder…
16. Atlanta Hawks (37-45) — You have to give Billy Knight a lot of credit. He passed on Mike Conley to draft Al Horford, who no one thought would be this good (10.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg) this fast, even though the Hawks would have been killed in the media if Conley had turned in a monster rookie season. Then he basically jacked Mike Bibby from Sacramento for nothing, a move that propelled the Hawks into the playoffs.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) — Yes, they got robbed against the Cavs, but the fact remains Philly is backing into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. On a positive note, Willie Green put up 21 shots in the regular season finale, hopefully getting it out of his system before quality shots become the priority in the postseason.
14. Toronto Raptors (41-41) — As bad as they played down the stretch, Toronto has reason to be optimistic in its first-round series with Orlando. Why? Chris Bosh generally owns Dwight Howard. In the two meetings with Orlando for which he was healthy, CB4 dumped 26 and 40 points, respectively, on Howard.
13. Denver Nuggets (50-32) — You don’t think Phil Jackson is gonna employ whatever tools he has to get into Carmelo’s head in Round 1? ‘Melo is already in a vulnerable place; because of the DUI arrest he knows some blame will come down on him if the Nuggets under-perform (him being the “distraction”), so he could try to do too much. We’ve already seen Carmelo lose his cool once against L.A. when he throat-checked Sasha Vujacic.
12. Washington Wizards (43-39) — The usual suspects (Arenas, Jamison, Butler) will get theirs. What will ultimately push Washington into the second round is getting production from guys like Andray Blatche and Nick Young, potential matchup nightmares for the Cavs. And we’re not telling DeShawn Stevenson to shut his mouth as not to piss off LeBron; if DeShawn helps the Wiz walk into that series with some more swagger, that’s a good thing.
11. Orlando Magic (52-30) — Rashard Lewis has been good this year. Not great (18.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 40% 3PA), but good. The reason he’s pulling down Diddy money, though, is to be great for these next two months.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) — At the time, did anyone think the eventual key of the 11-player trade for the Cavs would be Joe Smith? When he’s on the court gives them a legit low-post scorer who’s got more bounce than Ilgauskas and some semblance of a clue offensively; more than you can say for Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao.
9. Dallas Mavericks (51-31) — With so many compelling storylines in the League this year, especially in the West, everyone’s forgetting one major thing going into the playoffs: Dirk Nowitzki feels he has to prove himself after the ‘07 postseason debacle. Just watch what Dirk’s been doing since he came back from that ugly knee/ankle injury. On a less-than-100% wheel he dropped 32 on Phoenix (plus the dagger) and 32 on Utah (plus the game-winner).
8. Houston Rockets (55-27) — Just to add more on T-Mac’s plate, Rafer Alston is expected to miss at least the first two games of the Utah series. Too bad Houston doesn’t have their three-time All-Star with his career 19-ppg numbers. Yao Ming? Nope, we were talking about Steve Francis.
7. New Orleans Hornets (56-26) — Even at the end of a 7-game series where David West has nailed approximately 75 wide-open jumpers from the top of the key, you know some team is still gonna leave him unguarded to hit a dagger on ‘em. West averaged 29.3 points a night in the season’s final three games. (If you’re wondering why the 2nd seed in the West isn’t ranked higher, it’s because 99 percent of the time, teams don’t go from Lottery to real-deal championship contender in one year. There’s got to be a lumps-taking process, like we saw with the Magic last year, and New Orleans is in line for theirs. Not saying necessarily that they lose to Dallas, but can you really see a team with so little playoff experience going all the way?)
6. Phoenix Suns (55-27) — Suns over Spurs is unquestionably the most probably first-round upset in these playoffs. No one, not even Duncan, can physically match up with Amare right now, and a motivated Shaq showed a couple weeks ago that he can still give Duncan the business.
5. Utah Jazz (54-28) — We can’t forget the savaging that Carlos Boozer unleashed on Houston in last year’s playoffs, when Yao Ming and Chuck Hayes had absolutely no answer for him. Now the Rockets have a few more options (and fouls) to throw at him with Luis Scola, Hayes, Carl Landry and Mike Harris, but we still don’t see any of those guys making much of a difference.
4. Detroit Pistons (59-23) — Good thing Flip Saunders had enough foresight to give Chauncey, Rip, Tayshaun, ‘Sheed and McDyess extended breaks in the last couple weeks of the regular season, because you know they’re gonna be run ragged now. Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo are great, but they’re still rookies and Flip’s job is basically on the line.
3. San Antonio Spurs (56-26) — Forget those stretches late in the season when they looked washed-up. The real San Antonio Spurs is the team we saw DESTROY the Jazz in the regular season finale. One thing to be wary of, though: Bruce Bowen is declining, which could be the Spurs’ eventual downfall if Pop doesn’t realize it soon enough adjust.
2. Boston Celtics (66-16) — Yes, it’s their first year together. But it’s hard to pick against a team whose crunch-time lineup features proven shot-makers Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell. And while Kevin Garnett might not be the #1 guy you go to in a clutch situation, he gets the rebounds that lead to clutch possessions and will lock down any premier big in the fourth quarter. It’s not all about making shots, after all.
1. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) — As strong as the West was this year, you have no choice but to give the team that emerged with the #1 seed status as the championship favorite. The Lakers finished the season on an 8-1 run, and with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom playing like they’ve been teammates for years, they might not even need Andrew Bynum to carry this momentum all the way to a ‘chip.
April 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
G says:
love the willie green mention. the question is why is it in his system to begin with?
April 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
aj says:
Spurs over the Pistons in 6.
Bron will knock the Celts from their perch in Rd 2 as a side-note.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
I’m pulling for the lakers hard, obviously…but I’m DUMB scared of Phoenix. I feel like Shaq went to that team ONLY to stop Kobe from getting a ring. And if they beat San Antonio in that series, it’s gonna be a tough battle for LA, watch.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
HAWKS—need a new coach. maybe they should shave van gundy and bring him in.
76ERS—Philly sux and they did what they were supposed to; make the plyffs iin a weak conference. out in 5 games. andre miller will show his real age.
MAGIC/RAPS—dwight howard doesnt guard chris bosh nor versa vice; correct urselves dime. this is a series of two punkass shaky backcourts and 3pt shooting. and why dont the magic run any offensive plays for dwight? yall eva watch a game?….they NEVA throw the ball into him. eva.
NUGGETS—-have no business in the plyffs. iverson is gonna flop on every OFFENSIVE play when he’s dribbling; love the dude, but tired of seeing him flop on offensive. carmelo is the new glenn big dog robinson. LAL defensive isnt consistent, so expect the Nuggs to light em up. and someone keep an eye on kobe’s telly room at night when the series shifts to colorado.
WIZARDS—Play time is over for the Wiz; they need to actually start beating teams that matter when it matters. cavs are perfect; they suck. l train is the shit but the rest of the squad aint shit.
MAVS—are going in reverse. avery was coach of the yr 2 yrs ago and was even hearing his name in rap lyrics; he gonna get voted off if he dont win. its alright tho…he gonna end up coaching in detroit. u heard it here 1st.
ROCKETS—that win strk seems like yrs ago. hows that steve francis signing working out?
HORNETS–challenge their heart in game 1…lay chris paul on his ASS on the 1st pick-n-roll. see how they respond.
SUNS–overrated. but i hope they win. is leandro barbosa still on the roster?
JAZZ—they can win, or they can lose, but it’ll always be close. wonder is ak47 will cry again? wonder if deron will pass him the rock after all the talk last summa
PISTONS—they never take games seriously until its too late. the got clobbered by the bulls last yr after being up 3-0. they had to win in 6 games. they cakewalk after they get a series lead.
SPURS—they need tony parker more than ever; without him, they dont know what a fastbreak is
CELTICS–they earned they spot. love the team, hate the fans
LAKERS–they never did need andrew bynum and kobe never wanted to be traded; yall some gullible fools if you believe that. he just wanted other star plyrs. well…kobe, ya got it. now what ya gonna do with it?
April 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Joe says:
Ok so a team that won a gazillion games with their 3 starters averaging career low minutes and which has an overwhelming record against the West gets a #2 seed?? Seriously, since you guys separated from foxsports.com, the quality of the articles and their content is hitting rock bottom…
April 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Juanito says:
lakers 1st? That’s plain ignant
April 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Tim says:
Pistons vs Lakers is gonna be a fun finals to watch…
Pistons in 6 btw…
April 17th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
What is this!? says:
*ATL Hawks & Sixers = any team that is in the playoffs under .500 in the Eastern conferense does not deserve any attention. Its a crime that a team like the Warriors that have 48 wins will be sitting at home while these teams will be in the playoffs. SMH!
* Denver= The hate for Denver always seems to be at an all time high, and something tells me that even if that team would have won 6 or 7 more games and was sitting on top of the West, people would still be hating. I will say that if Denver can play even half way decent defense (and thats a big IF), they could make it a series. I feel like the stars will come out and shine, but I do count on seeing Coach Karl get out Coached by Phil Jackson unfortounatly. And “yallalreadyknow”…any team that wins 50 games deserves to be in the playoffs, period. I’m tired of the hate now (and Denver is not even my team). And Dime is the biggest hatin’ suspects half the time…Denver does not deserve to be anywhere near Philly, Atlanta or the Rapters in this countdown…they should be above Cleveland and Washington as well.
*WIZARDS: I actually think the Wizards have a good shot at advancing against the CAVS. Last year the Wizards put up a pretty good fight, and they didn’t even have Gilbert or Butler.
*ORLANDO: I think they will advance to the second round, I just don’t take the Raptors seriously.
* Cleveland: Will be lucky if they got past the first round, even with Lebron. I wonder if Ben Wallace regrets leaving the Pistons now….
*Dallas: I think they will get past the first round against the Hornets, but they aren’t going anywhere past that. I feel like they should have just kept Devin Harris and whoever else they traded off for Kidd, I just don’t see how they are any better or more dangerous.
*Houston: They aren’t getting out the first round again…NEXT! Sorry T-Mac.
* New Orleans: They aren’t getting passed Dallas. CP3 has had a great year and can take pride in that.
*SUNS: I think the Suns can take my beloved Spurs out. Mainly because of the reasons mentioned and thats that they have no answers for BOTH Shaq and Amare. Maybe for one, but not both. This will be the most interresting series.
*UTAH: Even with the payback @ss whoopin’ the Spurs put on the Jazz lastnight, I think the Jazz can make it to the Western conferense finals again. And could possibly pull off an upset in the WCF.
*PISTONS: Its going to come down to the Celtics and the Pistons in the East…duh. I think with their combined experience that they have what it takes to come out on top…but we shall see
*Spurs: My beloved Spurs and Timmy! LOL! Well, I think that the Suns will give them problems, but if they can pull out that playoff magic that they have over so many seasons, they can advance… I just don’t see them getting knocked in the first round and if they do thats how you know the West is crazy.
*Boston: Boston has been all about business since day one. I have to comend them for that. I, like most think it will come down to them and the Pistons…with the Pist9ons out on top. But really if they won I wouldn’t be surprised either.
*Lakers: The Lakers do not have any business being first and you folks are killing me. There are 7 games seperating 1-8 seeds in the West. Any team in the West win a few more games and they would be first. I think the Lakers have a good team, but they are NOT dominate and their defense is shaky at best as well. I honastly don’t see them going anywhere past the 2nd round without Bynum…and even with Bynum, its going to be a hard task. If some way shape or form they make it to the Finals, they will get their @sses handed to them by the Pistons or Celtics. I would trust the Spurs, Jazz…hell even the Suns (with their reluctant defense) to give the Celtics and Pistons a harder faught series then the Lakers. Kobe will probably get his MVP (that should be going to CP3 or KG) and he best be happy with that.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Joe — What the hell does Fox have to do with anything? Ain’t nothin’ changed.
And keep in mind that it’s much easier to win 66 games when you play in the East. AND keep in mind that Dallas won 67 games last year, so what’s your point?
April 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Nick Barnes says:
Who’s getting swept? I can see Atlanta and Philly. Maybe the Raptors but Bosh could win them 1 game by himself if he really kills Howard like that. Could every West series go 7 games?
April 17th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
What is this!? says:
The Celtics are also 25-5 against the West though….i’m just sayin’.
And Nick Barnes…I think there is a chance that we could see probably the most crazy Western conferense series of games in recent memory. I honastly think that it will be that bananas in the West.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Kobeef says:
@Bust Jlaze
Totally agree about the potential for a Lakers/Suns matchup. All that talk about Kobe and Shaq being cool will go out the window if they meet in the playoffs…. it could get ugly.
@Dime
Joe Smith the key? I think the truth here is that Joe might be the only player the Cavs got that has any value on the court. I said it months ago and still think that trade was the beginning of the end of The King in Cleveland.
Most dangerous teams (sleepers) coming into the playoffs? The Mavs in the West and the Wiz in the East.
Kidd and Dirk are deadly when they are on and Dirk has something to prove. If Agent 0 is on form for the Wiz they are a threat to take ANYONE in the east in a series
April 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
K Dizzle says:
I’m not even blinkin when the suns-spurs series start. You know the team is fillin Diesel in on how san an been doin them dirty since 05. Robert Horry ain’t tacklin nobody this year and amare cannot be stopped right now. No double team needed on Tim with Shaq so Raja’s gonna be on Manu like wet drawers. This might be payback time and Shaq and Timmy goin for the title of best big man of the era tied at 4 chips goin for 5 but one of them won’t get past the 1st round, just nasty and hell yeah, Lakers are the top seed. Stop hatin. They go into the playoffs beastin New orleans and San An with Kobe being casual and everybody else rainin shots. I appreciate Boston being 25-5 against the west but now it’s the playoff so let’s see what’s up cuz ALL the pressure’s on boston
April 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Markail says:
Sleep on the Pistons if you will. Just don’t forget that when they are motivated and rested, not only do they beat the best teams, but they will put a whoopin on them!!!
One call says it all. Deeeetroit Basketbaaaaaall!!
April 17th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
sans says:
The Pistons are always rested, so much so they lose their instincts and play like tired, lazy fools two weeks into the playoffs. Five years of being bridesmaids and only once getting the chip, that’s rough. Dime, LA deserved the one-seed, anyone who thinks differently is high on a substance other than life. Yeah, Boston went 25-5 versus the West, but they lost 11 games in the East, twice to the Bobcats. C’mon, the only Western conference playoff team to lose more than that to the East is Dallas. If you’re gonna throw around useless numbers, at least throw them both ways.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
daquest?on says:
i agree with what is this.. yall are disrespecting denver by putting them higher than the cavs and wizards.. they are way better than them.. all the hate comes because they are scared because they all knw denver can light up anybody and if jr smith is playing denver is almost unbeatable.. im not saying they are the best team but yall should respect denver a lil more
April 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
What is this!? says:
I’m so tired of Lakers fans….why should the Lakers get the one seed over the Celtics? A team with the best record in the NBA? Even if they play in the East, their record shows that the Celtics are pretty dominate against the Western teams as well….including the Lakers. The Celtics lost 11 games vs the East, so. LOL! They had to lose some games didn’t they? That Celtics team has lost 16 games all season. Thats a hard feat regardless of what conferense you are in.
Boston has the best record in the entire league, has been consistent from day one and I think exceeded the expectations (people thought they would win games, but damn)… to me that is more impressive then a team that barely got first place in a Western conferense where only 7 games seperate teams 1-8. Yes this is the toughest Western conferense in years (and thats saying a lot), but there is really no 1 dominate team in the West…if there were, the race wouldn’t be as close as it is. Theres a bunch of really good teams out there and come playoff time it could be just about anyones game. So, no i’m sorry, I don’t think the Lakers are the handsdown favorite even if they are in the position they are in right now.
I swear, this forum gets more and more bananas by the day, always going with the flavor of the week, next week people will be piggy backing on someone else like people have been doing all season long. I don’t know why I get involved, my team is the Spurs anyway so i’m finished sticking up for the Celtics. Dime made their list and i’ll respect that…as I always do.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Willis says:
Teams that should be on this list but aren’t. Golden State, Portland, and Sacramento. If the league took the top 16 teams, GS and Portland would be in, and Sacto wouldve played their money makers knowing they had something to earn rather than sit their best players over the last 10 games. They wouldve finished .500 at least. SO maybe not, but still. Hopefully the league fixes this, or it may just be a fluke year.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
What is this!? says:
That last comment was towards “sans” #15
April 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Complexx says:
The playoffs are all about heart, who wants it the most…….I think the Suns are hungry. I can see them being a cinderella story foreal.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:16 am
mattyboi says:
How can you have the Cavs before the Magic…No seriously…We own them in every sense of the word
This is the only rankings that has Cavs in front of Magic…Therefore you loss credibility
April 18th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Austin Burton says:
LeBron = Been to the Finals.
Dwight = Never won a playoff game.
Good enough for me…
April 18th, 2008 at 2:22 am
word says:
of course I thought Joe Smith was the only decent player they were getting and I questioned why Chicago would let him go since he was one of the rare productive ones on the team, but the trade ended up good for them. Come on who was supposed to be the key, Wallace? lmao
i think the mavs will upset the hornets for exactly what yall said dime, dirk is gunna go off as he has been since that injury which may have actually been a good thing for that team.
its going to be detroit v boston and lakers v suns
lets goooo !
April 18th, 2008 at 4:41 am
kb24! says:
Whatisthis? your a Laker Hater. go somewhere. give them some props for pulling the best rec in the WEST where the EAST is the JV league.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Suciniac says:
I think this year the Championship is going to the East.Whoever comes out of the West is going to be EXHAUSTED (to say the least).Every series has the potential to go 7 games.Boston only has to worry about Detroit and are going to have a lot easier time to finish series quickly and just wait to see who they have to face from the West.Yeah and LA over Boston is just WRONG.Just because they finished the season 8-1??That doesn’t come nowhere near going 3-0 against the big 3 of Texas ON A ROAD TRIP.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Celts Fan says:
I like the list. Your top 5 are my top tier group of teams I think should be the favorites. I think Boston’s earned the top seed, but I’m terrified of LA in the Finals (assuming both get there) so I can’t knock that pick. This is finally gonna be settled on the court, so we’ll get a true list settled by mid-June. Let’s go Celtics!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Celts Fan says:
and you’d think Pop should be able to figure out what to do about a declining Bruce Bowen. They DO have Ime Udoka (presumably) for that exact reason.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:09 am
stophatin says:
Denver should be #8 or 9 on the list they have beaten Cleveland, Orlando, Cleveland, Rockets, and Dallas several times this year and I would take them in a series against any of these teams. Denver plays no D but for example Phoenix doesn’t either really and noone said they shouldn’t be in the playoffs the past couple years. The matchup versus the Lakers was the worst Denver could get so all the haters will be out even more. They did win 50 games…
April 18th, 2008 at 8:23 am
D Reezy says:
Even if we had Steve we wouldnt have “Steve Francis” just this shell of a former player, if the last 2 years are any indication of what he would bring…
April 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
PALakerFan says:
East
Celts in 4
Pistons in 5 - could they show less interest? for a team that won one ring they sure act like they won 5
Orlando in 5 - Hedo will be the difference
Wiz in 6
Celts beat Pistons in 7 - note to Celts fans - you had major trouble with the Wiz this year so don’t overlook them.
West
Lakers in 4 - AI is an under-appreciated talent, one of the all-time greats.
Mavs in 6 - Dime nailed it.
Spurs in 6 - Should be great but Nash and Amare can’t play D, and once Shaq’s in foul trouble it’s over.
Jazz in 6 - As dumb as it sounds, Rafer being out 2 games is going to be the difference in this series. It will allow Utah to take one of the first 2 on the road and of course they’ll win their 3 home games.
Lakers over Spurs in 7, although I’d rather see them hammer Phoenix. Nancy Nash, Look At Me Amare, Whiny Dantoni, and that piece of crap Shaq are a completely unlikeable team. Love Grant Hill though.
As a devout Laker fan, Celts should’ve been #1. They beat the Lakers both times this year. The Finals between these two will be AWESOME!!! Lakers in 7.
Side note: This has been one of the best years the NBA has had since the Magic-Bird era. Loads of talent, tons of scoring, and great rivalries. Team basketball is back.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Michorizo says:
NBA party at Ralph’s house tomorrow
April 18th, 2008 at 9:37 am
girlybballluver says:
Please oh please, let the Wizards give the Cavs the beating they deserve. That squad has absolutely no business in the playoffs. If the Wiz’s big 3 can keep their egos in check and work together I think they can pull it off. I absolutely HATE watching the Cavs.
Denver doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs either. I’m upset I don’t get a little more Monta Ellis this year. I’m officially a fan of this kid.
I hate detroit, for no real reason though. They’re just the team that I can’t bring myself to like no matter what. I think the finals would suck if they win the east.
Let’s go Lakers, Spurs, Hornets, and Magics!! (if they play each other I won’t route for either team, I’ll just watch happily) I don’t really care about any other team. I hope TP wipes the floor with Nash…hahahaha
April 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Celts Fan says:
Not overlooking the Wizards. I just think this team is too focused to lose to the Wizards or the Cavs in a 7 game series. We missed key guys in 2 of those Ls, so we were 1-1 when we were both at full strength (we won the season opener, then lost to them a few weeks ago, the 2 Ls mid-season we were without one of the Big 3 and they were without Gil, so both were different teams than how it could be in Rd. 2)
Trust me, I know our road to a ring is hard (it’d be: Atl, then Wash/Cle, then presumably Det, then whoever wins the West) but I think this team is too locked in right now. We’re relatively deep, focused, and hungry. These guys haven’t been a position like this in their entire career (Cassell excluded of course.)
Despite the trouble we had with the Wizards in the regular season, when we can just focus on them and only them for a week or 2, I think we beat them in 6 or 7 in a very hard-fought series.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
QQ says:
Hey, wait.. Isn’t just two weeks ago when everyone was saying that Chris Paul is the MVP, with NO getting the no.1 seed? What’s up with the fallout? They didn’t get the top seed, but did anything really changed? It’s in this scenarios where you’ll see the bandwagoners from the true fans.
New Orleans in 5.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Celts Fan says:
not necessarily true though. CP3’s biggest edge was having the #1 seed out West. Since it ended up going to his main competition for MVP, that COMPLETELY changes things.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
QQ says:
But it’s not like they’ll play poorer because they got the no.2 seed, with Chris Paul resembling Damn Jones. They’re still the same team that surprised all of us by decimating other teams (make that GOOD teams) throughout the season.
And Chris Paul is sick. And STILL is, maybe even more so because of the playoffs.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Austin Burton says:
While it does happen (see Utah last year), teams usually don’t go from Lottery to legit championship contender in the span of one year. CP and the Hornets will have their time, but I just don’t see it being this year. Maybe they don’t lose to Dallas, but I’d take San Antonio over them in the 2nd round easy. BUT…if Phoenix knocks of San Antonio, the Hornets kind of own then, so — just like Utah getting a favorable 2nd-round matchup with Golden State — the Hornets wouldn’t totally surprise me if they made the Western finals. But then they’d likely have to face the Lakers or the Jazz, and both those teams could make quick work of N.O.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
srb says:
celtics 16-0 in the playoffs
April 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Celts Fan says:
that’d be nice, but umm, last time we in Boston were talking about 16-0, it didn’t end too well…
April 18th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
jay smooth says:
i’m really tired of everyone sayin the celtics went 25-5 in the west. people lets remember they did the majority of that BEFORE all the big trades. dont forget that so they really haven’t seen anybody. now what they didi is remarkable they still have to get through the east. they didnt excactly blow out the top seeds in the east orlando beat them cleveland split detroit split so this is not a team that dominated their compitition. they will sweep the hawks no question but after that they not sweepin noone else period.
i dont buy the wiz beating cleveland lebrons not gon let that happen sorry he just wont they have enuf to beat them the real upset i think is orlando and toronto
boston fans heres some stats 4 ur ass the lakers went 22-5 since pau came 22-5 and while they were mostly home games thats exactly wat they will have now that they locked up the nuber one seed do they have flaws hell yea but u cant argue with numbers they will not lose 2 denver period the nuggets have no answer for kobe none melo will be thinkin bout gettin drunk and it pains me to say it but the real iverson left when he left philly im sorry but he is not the same player he was as far as the spurs-suns thats the best series matchup whise gon be fun
hornets will win so what about experience so what about dirk provin something chris paul has something to prove he has to keep up wit deron willams who carried his team to the confrence finals last year dont think cp3 didnt notice
jazz will win t-mac plays 4 the rockets nuff said lol(sorry)
lakers-jazz
hornets-suns
boston-lebron
pistons-raptors
lakers-suns
lebron-pistons
lakers-lebron
if this happens i will watch but the nba is fixed lol but who wouldn’t wanna see this
April 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
bigdoggchad says:
Why is every one on the Lakers nuts? Gasol hasn’t won a playoff game ever, Kobe hasn’t won a playoff series without the Big Cactus, Lamar usually disapears in the playoffs, and they haven’t played the Nuggets with Gasol yet, when they did play K-Mart and JR Smith weren’t playing at the level they are playing at now, and any other year this would be a 4-5 series or a 3-6 series. They probably will beat the Nuggets but it won’t be no 4-1.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Nick Barnes says:
There’s no way the Nuggets are beating the Lakers. They gave up 140-150 points to the Sonics; what do you think Kobe, Odom and Gasol will do to them? This could be a sweep - maybe the Nuggets steal one game in Denver.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
What is this!? says:
“KB24″…I could care less about the Lakers, i’m just telling it like it is. I like what they are doing with that team,but they are not as dominate as people are trying to make them out to be (if they don’t go far in the playoffs..people will go right back to bandwaggoning on some other team). And I respect Kobe as a b-ball player…but the dude just fails at life completely.
“Nick Barnes” i’m not sure if the Nuggets will beat the Lakers either, but keep in mind while everyone is so quick to talk about the Nuggets defense, the Lakers defense isn’t exaclty Spurs-esue themselves, so I really don’t know why people are on here acting as if the Lakers will be able to take on a team like the Spurs, Jazz, Celtics or Pistons in a 7 game series. Again, i’m just sayin’. I don’t think its going to be a sweep though against the Nuggets, you folks are talking things too far. Just flat out disrespectful. SMH
April 18th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
QQ says:
The Laker’s D is not ‘Spurs-eque’ as you put it, true, but at least the effort is there. Have you seen their defensive rotation, with guys closing out almost every open opposing player? Meanwhile, Denver is THE epitome of bad defense. (except Camby, of course). And Carmelo Anthony is the epitome of that epitome. That bitchass.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:30 am
What is this!? says:
Yes, QQ, i’ve seen Denvers defense. They have the ability to play actually decent defense in spurts, but seem unwilling to play it full time. If that team put in at least half the effort on a regular basis on defense as they do offense, they could be a top 3 or 4 team in the league. My point is that people are just being flat out disrespectful though. Its one thing to pick a team to win a series, but for people to act as if Denver is just going to get ran over, as if they aren’t a 50 win team themselves, is over the top to me. Especially when they are all in a conferense where there are just 7 games seperating teams 1-8. To me, when it comes to the media, some teams get constructive criticism…and some teams like Denver just get flat out hate and thats it. And thats not right. Like I said, even if they were to win 6 or 7 games (which they were more then capible of but lost those games due to being undisciplined) and were sitting on top of the West people would still have something crazy to say.
I agree with you about Carmelo. I, like many, started watching Denver closer when they got Iverson (because thats when Denver became more interresting). And i’m not going to say Carmelo is overrated…because he is a good player, but he has been disappointing to me. I thought he was more mature (both mentally and his b-ball game) then what he really is.