The Playoff Discussion Thread

[Donald Kaufman]

Well, it's set: Heat vs Mavericks. 2006 Finals replay. Can't wait. Should be a hell of a series. I got the Mavs in 6. Win one of the first two in Miami, two of three at home, then wrap it up in South Beach.

[batmana]

Heat in 4 or 5. Dallas is about the last team I wanna see win the title and I hope Wade pours 40+ on them again.

And I don't think there is anyone I hate more than Dirk and want to get a title less than him.

[Nolan]

^
As much as I hate Dallas i'd rather see them win it all. Dirk's a hell of a player and he deserves to win at least one chip. Plus the Heat stand for everything thats wrong with the NBA.

[Donald Kaufman]

The Heat winning shows that the "superteam" concept works. This is definitely not good for the NBA and the people that follow it.

[batmana]

Probably a bit off-topic but I can't stop thinking we would have kicked Dallas' ass had we met in the playoffs (and with a healthy Ginobili of course). The problem with the West this year was that every team 1 to 8 was dangerous and everyone had their match. Thus, I don't think Dallas were the best team, they were just lucky to go through the rounds. Miami, on the other hand, completely dominated the East and there is hardly any team they could have met that would have given them more problems than Chicago so they eliminated the best. And I would love to see Dirk choke like he did in '06 and '07. Priceless...

[Black_Jack21]

I tend to agree, but dirk has been superhuman this offseason. I keep thinking had we got past Memphis we would have gotten by the thunder as well. But I don't think we would have stopped dirk he has been crazy.
But unfortunately we didnt get by Memphis so who cares.
I hope dirk doesn't choke... I really don't want Lebrun to get a ring, not this way, the superteam concept bugs me and I don't wanna see it pay off in the first season.

[Donald Kaufman]

This has been Dallas' year. They beat the Blazers in the first round after most predicted they wouldn't. No one gave them much chance against the Lakers, and they crushed them. Then they made OKC look amatuerish. I don't think we would've beat them, not this year.

It's weird to say that Dallas were lucky while Miami dominated, yet both went 12-3 and the Mavericks IMO had a tougher road to the finals than Miami.

We were unlucky to draw the Grizzlies in the first round, but the way we limped into the postseason, I'm not sure we could've beat the Hornets, let alone Dallas.

[batmana]

It's weird to say that Dallas were lucky while Miami dominated, yet both went 12-3 and the Mavericks IMO had a tougher road to the finals than Miami.

I feel that Dallas were lucky because they avoided a team that could match up against them. I think Portland were amazingly overblown - they were a doomed team because of multiple injuries and IMO couldn't win a series against any of the teams with home-court advantage in the West, probably with some of the others as well. It's just that they are awfully tough and they will always steal a couple of games and make it appear like they have a chance.
The way we dominated Dallas in the regular season makes me believe we would have beaten them with a healthy Ginobili. Basically the key to beating Dallas is not allowing them to have a second scorer and accept that Nowitzki will score whatever he scores. Don't forget George Karl also wanted Dallas. Denver are a matchup nightmare for Dallas and probably a slight injury away from eliminating them like Memphis eliminated us.
The Thunder were flawed because they were trying to run an offense with 2 and often 3 guys who were absolute stiffs and couldn't hit a shot to save their lives. Dallas had no problem defending against that. I know many of you feared the Thunder but we had no problems against them in the regular season as well. I feel that Memphis were our worst matchup and we lucked into them, with the addition of a serious injury to Ginobili that, unlike a Kobe Bryant hurt finger doesn't get publicity, and in the end we come to Jeff Van Gundy's ridiculous conclusion that Memphis had more talent than us which completely dumbfounded me. Especially when you completely disregard players' 10-year careers and judge based on a 6-game series. Well, obviously Memphis were better in that 6-game series but noone can claim they have more talent than us. I can't help thinking we would have gotten out of the West without that injury to Manu. Dallas just lucked into the Finals due to the lack of a better team and I absolutely expect (and hope) Miami sweep them.
On the other hand, Miami got all the teams in the East with real ambitions and dominated them. No team could claim Miami lucked into not playing them. Orlando, I have to admit, are a team that would have played them tough but I don't see Orlando winning more than 2 games against Miami. Same goes for New York, who ended up with injuries and would have been swept by the Heat with the same injury problems. Basically a healthy Knicks team was, IMO, the worst matchup for Miami because Melo always plays LeBron well, and Amare gives them an advantage in the paint. But a banged-up Knicks team was a joke like we saw.

[Donald Kaufman]

Well a lot that happens along the way to a title involves luck in some form or another. The point is that Dallas were tipped to lose their first two, arguably three playoff series and they stepped up to the plate every time. They've been really impressive in this run, they've kept their cool late in games and performed like a veteran team. No one expected them to beat the Lakers, let alone sweep them. They were two time defending champs and they got dismantled by Dallas. That was the single most impressive thing I've seen in the playoffs so far.

Miami's run was okay but let's face it, Philly weren't that great, Boston were never the same after the Perk trade, and the Bulls run the most simplistic offense in the league and Boozer is just awful.

We beat Dallas 3-1 in the regular season but Dirk didn't play in 2 of the wins. And regular season means very little anyway. Dallas beat Miami 2-0 in the regular season, Chicago swept Miami in the regular season -- didn't matter.

And it hurts to admit, but Memphis were and are more talented than we are. That's a fact and it was proven pretty comprehensively in the playoffs. They were missing their best scorer as well. Had this series been played in January, when we were rolling, well maybe things would've turned out differently. But that's the way the cookie crumbles.

I don't think a healthy Manu would've made much difference. Just my take on it. TD was awful in the playoffs, after Pop said he was "saving him" for a postseason run; Parker was embarrassingly bad and got torched by Conley; we had no identity with our bigs; Pop was thoroughly outcoached by Hollins. It just wasn't out year.

[batmana]

The fact that Memphis outplayed us and were a better team is unquestionable. But there is hardly an argument about who has more talent. Sam Young thouroughly outplayed Jefferson but he is nowhere near as talented. Greivis Vasquez played better than George Hill but there is hardly a conversation there. Darrell Arthur was worlds better than DeJuan Blair but from past performances you could expect it to be the other way around. How about Mike Conley playing near to the level of Tony Parker. Does that make them equally talented? Memphis beat us despite having less talent. They were a better team at this point. They were a team as opposed to a combination of talents. They fit together perfectly and we had a square peg in a round hole (Jefferson). BTW, I already said it once (and it is only my opinion, of course) but Memphis were actually a better team without Rudy Gay than with him.
I'll give it to Dallas for playing great basketball in the Playoffs and that noone expected them completely obliterating the Lakers. But I had the feeling the Lakers had it coming and someone was bound to eliminate them - us, the Mavs or the Thunder.
Boston blew themselves from the inside with that ridiculous trade that still leaves me scratching my head... They were my top favorite before the trade and the minute that trade happened I knew they aren't going to the Finals. Funny thing is, that trade made not only them worse, it made the Thunder worse as well - imagine having Perkins, Ibaka, Mohammed and trying to play an offense through them. As improved as Ibaka's jumpshot was in the playoffs, it was still a torture watching them on the offensive end.

[Donald Kaufman]

Talent is kind of pointless if you can't put it together. The Lakers are probably the most talented team in the western conference but that means nothing if you can't make it work as a unit. So maybe the Grizz aren't as talented as us but they proved themselves to be the better team when it counted.

The trade for Perk was mainly to compete with the Lakers and their bigs. Turns out they didn't need him for that, Dallas did the hard work for them. Perk had no chance against Chandler and Haywood, so OKC was forced to play Collison and Ibaka more as a result.

[Donald Kaufman]

Caught Game 1 of the Finals late. It was a disappointment. Didn't even feels like a finals game IMO. One of the most boring finals games I've seen in recent memory. Hopefully it improves but I get the feeling this could be over pretty quickly.

The Mavs played with the least amount of confidence I've seen all playoffs.

[batmana]

One thing I found shocking about game 1 was how I caught myself several times realizing Nowitzki was not on the floor and when I summed it up it meant more rest than I am used to. In retrospect, I can't tell if the finger had anything to do with it (probably didn't) or those were just moments when I didn't expect to see him on the bench and he got his usual playing time nevertheless.

IMO, game 2 will decide whether this ends quickly or Dallas get back in it and make it a long series.

[Nolan]

What a game last night. One of the most amazing playoff comebacks i've ever seen.

[Donald Kaufman]

LeBron laid an egg in Dallas in G4. The MJ comparisons stop here. No way he gets 8 points in a finals game. Even Kobe is better in the finals than LBJ.

Dirk played okay despite the 102 fever. Nice shooting from DeShawn.

[Black_Jack21]

Totally agree with the MJ comment. Lebron didn't even look to play his way out of it, he just submitted and did nothing... He was being guarded by Terry for substantial periods down the stretch, if Jordan had that type if advantage over his defender he'd be screaming for the ball, regardless of how he had played, lebron just faded into the background.

Now dallas have won game 5 and got themselves 2 cracks at winning it all in Miami and I really hope they do as much as I don't like them they deserve it more than lebron. Dirk didnt jumpship to go play with next available superstar, he and the rest of the mavs sweated it out worked hard and dragged themselves to within 48 good minutes of their maiden championship.

Rivals or not, I have a lot of respect for that mentality. So as much as I don't want the mavs to get the win so we can still rub it in I fully hope they embarrass Miami at home and then where will lebron go, will he demand more help off pat riley

[Donald Kaufman]

Is it just me, or do these Mavs not have that dynasty feel about them? They very well might get this championship, but it wouldn't surprise me if they followed it up next year with a first or second round exit. Not to downplay what they've done, they've been incredible in these playoffs and they deserve to be called champions if they do clinch it, but I don't think they're world beaters.

Not that we ever did, but I don't see them defending a title. I think they're a one and done sort of unit.

You know Miami, not matter what happens in these next one or two games, will be contending for titles for years to come. How many they win is debatable, but you know they'll be right there every year. These Mavs? Flash in the pan.

[Blame Rasho]

Is it just me, or do these Mavs not have that dynasty feel about them? They very well might get this championship, but it wouldn't surprise me if they followed it up next year with a first or second round exit. Not to downplay what they've done, they've been incredible in these playoffs and they deserve to be called champions if they do clinch it, but I don't think they're world beaters.

Not that we ever did, but I don't see them defending a title. I think they're a one and done sort of unit.

You know Miami, not matter what happens in these next one or two games, will be contending for titles for years to come. How many they win is debatable, but you know they'll be right there every year. These Mavs? Flash in the pan.

I agree with you... they are the oldest team in the NBA if I am not mistaken.

Much props to them nonetheless if they win the championship.

It is amazing pathetic how big of a mental midget Lebron is. A player of his size, skill and ability should be able to impose his will, but he has proven time over time.. that he just isn't that type of player.

Him joking about Dirk being sick, is just a reflection of his douchebaggyness and stupidity. YOU LOST THE NEXT **** GAME CUZ YOU JUST SHOT JUMPERS IN THE 4TH. Yet Dirk has won two games with him driving to the paint and getting it done.

[Donald Kaufman]

Well, it's set: Heat vs Mavericks. 2006 Finals replay. Can't wait. Should be a hell of a series. I got the Mavs in 6. Win one of the first two in Miami, two of three at home, then wrap it up in South Beach.

^^^ Written on May 28...damn I'm a genius.

[Black_Jack21]

Wow well said, if you told me that lebron James would play like a pre pubescent girl i would have been super impressed lol.

Nice call regardless : )