The Official Playoffs Thread

Post #3161 » by **paulpressey25** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:30 am

RJ might have helped here. Too bad the Cav's weren't willing to make a fair deal at the deadline. If they have offered up Hickson with Wally's contract, that deal probably gets done. Or a future first.

Now they probably have to wait until the trade deadline and try to add some big name with Ben Wallace's expiring next February. (Redd...Redd....Redd....). They just need to add a #1 with it IMO.

europa · Post #3162 » by **europa** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:31 am

REDDzone wrote:
europa wrote:
REDDzone wrote:Its pretty crazy to think that the Magic have done all this (destroyed the Cavs without HCA, now going to the Finals) without their all-star point guard.

Rafer's nothing special but he's solid. That was an outstanding move by Otis Smith. When it's all said and done that could end up being the best move of the year even if Rafer wasn't the most talented player acquired. I'm not sure the Magic get to the Finals with a Johnson-Lue PG duo.

Agreed. They needed a PG and they got one. Rafer is one of those guys who won't kill you but won't win it for you either. I loved the move but no doubt Jameer is better. But my point was that the Magic just completely outplayed what was considered the best team in basketball without their all-star at a premium position. Very impressive.

Yup. It's kind of been forgotten how good Nelson was playing before he got hurt. That could've been a devastating loss. It's not easy to replace a player having an All-Star season but the Magic were able to get Rafer and stabilize.

REDDzone · Post #3163 » by **REDDzone** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:32 am

paulpressey25 wrote:Big guards (Pietrus, Lee and in a sense Hedo) >>> little guards (Mo, Delonte, Gibson)

They could have used Larry Hughes here....(only half joking)

Size is huge. A big reason why I'm not really on the Flynn bandwagon and would really like to keep Ramon.

But also, athleticism. I still long for the days when the Bucks have more starters who can dunk the basketball than my high-school's team had. Start Ramon and/or get a new SG and that finally happens.

I'm through with small and/or average athletes in the backcourt.

rilamann · Post #3164 » by **rilamann** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:33 am

rilamann wrote:I think the Cavs are the ones who are under more pressure in game 6.

The Cavs are the team with the league MVP,the Cavs are the team with the best record in the league and the Cavs are the ones down 2-3 facing elimination on the road in game 6.

I understand the thinking that maybe Orlando is feeling pressure because if they lose game 6 they have to play game 7 in Cleveland.If you look at it from the Cavs perspective though the Cavs are the ones under more pressure in game 6.

And last night's game actually wouldn't give me much confidence if im the Cavs because Lebron and the Cavs as a team played about as well as they could play and the Magic really didn't play well at all.Yet the Magic had the lead going into the 4th and still had a chance to win in the final minutes.

Alston was 1-10,Rashard Lewis was 4-13 and Dwight was in foul trouble all while the Magic missed 13 free throws and yet the Magic where still right there in the final minutes in the Cavs house.

That's not a good sign for the Cavs going into Orlando for game 6.

I think the keys to the game for Orlando in game 6 are simple,play your A game and hope the refs actually let Dwight Howard play and not call him for ticky tack fouls.If Dwight gets into foul trouble and or the Magic play a B or a C type of game they likely will lose and I look at like this,if you can't bring your A game in a close out game at home to go to the NBA finals then you don't deserve to win.

It's going to be a great game.

Magic sure looked like they where under pressure and nervous tonight,what was I thinking.

:lol:

europa · Post #3165 » by **europa** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:34 am

REDDzone wrote:Size is huge.

That's what she said.

Post #3166 » by **paulpressey25** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:35 am

REDDzone wrote: I still long for the days when the Bucks have more starters who can dunk the basketball than my high-school team had. Start Ramon and get a new SG and that finally happens.

Mo and Redd were never athletic enough players. Skilled yes. Athletic enough no.

jerrod · Post #3167 » by **jerrod** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:35 am

i don't really think it was the individual players that were the problem with the cavs' defense other than no one person being able to stop howard one on one.

it's not that complicated, if the other team has an unguardable post player you make the decision to let him beat you one on one or double and make the other team swing the ball and take jumpers.

the cavs doubled, the magic swung the ball and made jumpers.

REDDzone · Post #3168 » by **REDDzone** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:36 am

europa wrote:Yup. It's kind of been forgotten how good Nelson was playing before he got hurt. That could've been a devastating loss. It's not easy to replace a player having an All-Star season but the Magic were able to get Rafer and stabilize.

17, 3.5 an 5.5 seems good but not great, but then add in over 50% from the field and over a steal a game and he was pretty great for them in the first half of the season.

europa · Post #3169 » by **europa** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:38 am

REDDzone wrote:
europa wrote:Yup. It's kind of been forgotten how good Nelson was playing before he got hurt. That could've been a devastating loss. It's not easy to replace a player having an All-Star season but the Magic were able to get Rafer and stabilize.

17, 3.5 an 5.5 seems good but not great, but then add in over 50% from the field and over a steal a game and he was pretty great for them in the first half of the season.

Plus if you watched the Magic play you could see the improvements Nelson made and the impact he was having. He did the things you want a PG to do; he made the sure ball went where it needed to and when he was asked to score he did it very effectively. And he was an active defender.

REDDzone · Post #3170 » by **REDDzone** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:39 am

paulpressey25 wrote:
REDDzone wrote: I still long for the days when the Bucks have more starters who can dunk the basketball than my high-school team had. Start Ramon and get a new SG and that finally happens.

Mo and Redd were never athletic enough players. Skilled yes. Athletic enough no.

How many times have you and I have this conversation since 2006? How many times did we watch teams with versatile/big/athletic guards whether it be Billups/Rip or Baron/Jackson/Ellis or whoever destroy our backcourt on offense and on defense?

Then we make that unathletic backcourt even less athletic by trading Mo for Ridnour. :evil:

europa · Post #3171 » by **europa** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:40 am

REDDzone wrote:
Then we make that unathletic backcourt even less athletic by trading Mo for Ridnour.

But got better defensively.

REDDzone · Post #3172 » by **REDDzone** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:41 am

europa wrote:
REDDzone wrote:
europa wrote:Yup. It's kind of been forgotten how good Nelson was playing before he got hurt. That could've been a devastating loss. It's not easy to replace a player having an All-Star season but the Magic were able to get Rafer and stabilize.

17, 3.5 an 5.5 seems good but not great, but then add in over 50% from the field and over a steal a game and he was pretty great for them in the first half of the season.

Plus if you watched the Magic play you could see the improvements Nelson made and the impact he was having. He did the things you want a PG to do; he made the sure ball went where it needed to and when he was asked to score he did it very effectively. And he was an active defender.

Yes, he was really good running the offense, giving players open looks from the perimeter. He scored well and didn't force much (as is shown by his great fg%) and his playing off Howard and the other offensive weapons got him a ton of open looks in return.

rilamann · Post #3173 » by **rilamann** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:45 am

With KG healthy next season & Nelson back and healthy with the Magic along with both teams having young guys who are going to continue to improve the Cavs probably don't even make it to the ECF next season.

Then after that it's back to the old Cavs and back to the glorious ''Ricky Davis off his own backboard'' days in Cleveland haha.

Post #3174 » by **paulpressey25** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:45 am

REDDzone wrote:How many times have you and I have this conversation since 2006? How many times did we watch teams with versatile/big/athletic guards whether it be Billups/Rip or Baron/Jackson/Ellis or whoever destroy our backcourt on offense and on defense?

I know. It seemed obvious we needed an athlete there. But no luck. Add in "the gimp" in Charlie Bell and we're really screwed.

I would say this game pulled me away from eyeing up the Johnny Flynn bandwagon from earlier this morning. He fits the athlete part, but at 5-10" aren't we just asking for more problems? I think I'd rather pay the price if needed to move up for DeRozan or Holiday.

trwi7 · Post #3175 » by **trwi7** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:52 am

WEFFPIM wrote:With this logic, because last year Celtics fans watched an NBA championship team means they have more basketball knowledge than, say a Bucks fan.

If we're using Wise as the barometer for the average Bucks fan, then I would agree with that.

Wise1 · Post #3176 » by **Wise1** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:53 am

WEFFPIM wrote:
Wise1 wrote:Well Magic and Kenny have Kobe. Coincidently, Magic and Kenny have rings were Reggie and Charles do not. Yeah, I'd say Magic and Kenny have a better understanding of what being the best means.

I know I'm late to the game and all, but I wanna keep this post around just to show how truly stupid it is.

With this logic, because last year Celtics fans watched an NBA championship team means they have more basketball knowledge than, say a Bucks fan.

What???

REDDzone · Post #3177 » by **REDDzone** » Sun May 31, 2009 4:55 am

paulpressey25 wrote:I would say this game pulled me away from eyeing up the Johnny Flynn bandwagon from earlier this morning. He fits the athlete part, but at 5-10" aren't we just asking for more problems? I think I'd rather pay the price if needed to move up for DeRozan or Holiday.

When I'm in a conservative mood I think someone like Flynn/Blair would be a decent fit.

But when I'm frustrated and really think about it, I think I like a guy like Tyreke Evans. He's very high risk, but also very high reward. Over 6'5'' with over a 6'11'' wingspan with the ability to play some point guard. Tough to pass on IMO.

He's a good athlete with the ability to get to the hoop. He shot over 45% at Memphis despite a tendency to shoot some questionable jumpers although he has no jumpshot to speak of.

Again, I don't even know how I feel about it yet, but I do know that his size at the PG position is ideal for me.

Or we could just tank next season for John Wall. 8-)

MikeIsGood · Post #3178 » by **MikeIsGood** » Sun May 31, 2009 5:00 am

paulpressey25 wrote:I think I'd rather pay the price if needed to move up for DeRozan or Holiday.

If they aren't going to fall, then "yes, please."

I'd be happy with either but I'd love to get DeRozan.

MikeIsGood · Post #3179 » by **MikeIsGood** » Sun May 31, 2009 5:01 am

By the way, I think the finals could be fun as hell. Can't wait.

Post #3180 » by **paulpressey25** » Sun May 31, 2009 5:02 am

REDDzone wrote:I think I like a guy like Tyreke Evans.

His background situation is what scares me off. I think I'd rather try and dump RJ to the Warriors for Jamal Crawford in order to get a 6-5" guy in the backcourt.

RJ for Jamaal Crawford and Brandan Wright anyone? Would the Warriors do that? Saves us $2mm this year and $5mm next year. This would not be a favorite move for me, but I think I like this better than standing pat if Hammond can't find anything.