"Official" Western Conference Playoff Thread

[closg00]

Amare beasted last-night, but the Suns will not be able to escape their fate.

[verbal8]

Amare beasted last-night, but the Suns will not be able to escape their fate.

I agree that it looks like the Lakers will win the series. I forget who it was but somebody says "that the play-offs don't start until the Home team loses". The Lakers did have issues with the Thunder, and I think the Suns are a better team. If the Suns win the next game, it basically turns into a 3 game series.

[closg00]

Amare beasted last-night, but the Suns will not be able to escape their fate.

I agree that it looks like the Lakers will win the series. I forget who it was but somebody says "that the play-offs don't start until the Home team loses". The Lakers did have issues with the Thunder, and I think the Suns are a better team. If the Suns win the next game, it basically turns into a 3 game series.

You think the Suns are better than the Lakers??? The Suns only will have a chance if Bynum continues to be hobbled.....and they probably could still beat the Suns.

[Benjammin]

^^^^
My reading of verbal's comment is that the Suns are a better team {than the Thunder} since his first comment is that it "looks like the Lakers will win the series", but I'm sure verbal knows what he meant and can clarify it if he cares to do so.

[verbal8]

^^^^
My reading of verbal's comment is that the Suns are a better team {than the Thunder} since his first comment is that it "looks like the Lakers will win the series", but I'm sure verbal knows what he meant and can clarify it if he cares to do so.

Yeah sorry if it was confusing. My point was not that the Suns will win, but I can see them taking the series to 6 or even 7 games.

[closg00]

I have been absolutely loving the way that Gentry has been coaching the Suns; the way that he talks to the players calmly after they committed a bone-headed mistake and tells them what they did wrong while offering encouragement. He discusses team strategy as-well witht he guys through-out the game. I love this guy.

[LyricalRico]

^ Yeah, Gentry has been the anti-SVG and it's really paying off for Phoenix. IMO the two biggest things he did were to switch to the zone and to stick with Frye. The zone is giving LA real problems and Frye has finally broken out of his slump. If the Lakers don't solve that zone and if Frye really is back to his normal self, I like the Suns' chances.

[Kanyewest]

Looks like Magic/Celtics has become a series. Perkins picked up two techs and could be suspended for game 6 in Boston. Orlando is playing much better defense and their offense is playing much better as this series is progressing.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have been absolutely loving the way that Gentry has been coaching the Suns; the way that he talks to the players calmly after they committed a bone-headed mistake and tells them what they did wrong while offering encouragement. He discusses team strategy as-well witht he guys through-out the game. I love this guy.

He's also been the anti-early season Flip Saunders. Gentry does things I've wanted to see coaches do for years.

I've never bought into the thinking that a short bench made sense in the playoffs. I've never liked coaches that lock in on short bench. Guys like Jamison would play 40+ minutes, regardless. No defense. Conserving energy on defense just to last the game. Getting outrebounded in the fourth due to the other coach bringing in fresh players. I've also dislike a short bench because I've always felt a team would get a synergy from playing as many guys as possible. Get everybody involved and have team first. Not veteran player's minutes first. Most of all, I've always felt that NBA players are good from the 1st down to the 12th man.

Gentry has Dragic play no matter how good Nash plays. He subs in Dudley, Frye, Amundsen, and Barbosa all good minutes. Nobody complains. Conversely, coaches like Jordan and Saunders tend to only afford opportunity to their favorite eight guys and they make sure somebody's left out.

McGee and Young could have been playing from the first games, when the Wizards couldn't score over 90.

Alvin Gentry simply knows how to get everybody off the bench and into the game physically and mentally. More than that, Gentry is always so positive and supportive of his young players. That game Dragic exploded for 23 in a quarter was after Gentry stuck with him. Frye went 1-20 but Gentry stuck with him. Gentry NEVER throws his guys under the bus. Things are so positive with him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

^ Yeah, Gentry has been the anti-SVG and it's really paying off for Phoenix. IMO the two biggest things he did were to switch to the zone and to stick with Frye. The zone is giving LA real problems and Frye has finally broken out of his slump. If the Lakers don't solve that zone and if Frye really is back to his normal self, I like the Suns' chances.

SVG coached like CRAP the first 3 games. Man, I was upset about Bass not playing and about him seeming to make no adjustments from dump it in to Howard and pray he makes it. But the last two, he's done just what he needed to do.

SVG brought in Ryan Anderson and Bass in the game three blowout. He stuck with Redick and even benched Carter for him. Most of all, his players responded to playing harder. Now that Howard and Nelson are confident, Redick's in rythm, Lewis seems to be out of his slump, and SVG had sense enough to put a banger, Bass, in there the Magic might take the Celtics.

Everybody was counting on a Celtics/Lakers and it still might be that but I don't think so. I think Orlando can take Boston. I don't see Phoenix getting all those free throw attempts again--I still like LAL.

But I don't think it'll be Boston/LA now. It would be a trip if Phoenix and Orlando BOTH came back!

[FAH1223]

The Suns bench outscored LA by 30 something and LA still only loses by 9

LA has been shooting at the 50% range, has as many assists, and not many turnovers

The Lakers are getting soft (besides Kobe), its pretty pathetic how they got outrebounded and outworked when they have the length and size to get every board

[Kanyewest]

The question is if Phoenix's bench can play on the road. LA's bench played much better at home during the first 2 games of the series.

[fishercob]

I have been absolutely loving the way that Gentry has been coaching the Suns; the way that he talks to the players calmly after they committed a bone-headed mistake and tells them what they did wrong while offering encouragement. He discusses team strategy as-well witht he guys through-out the game. I love this guy.

He's also been the anti-early season Flip Saunders. Gentry does things I've wanted to see coaches do for years.

I've never bought into the thinking that a short bench made sense in the playoffs. I've never liked coaches that lock in on short bench. Guys like Jamison would play 40+ minutes, regardless. No defense. Conserving energy on defense just to last the game. Getting outrebounded in the fourth due to the other coach bringing in fresh players. I've also dislike a short bench because I've always felt a team would get a synergy from playing as many guys as possible. Get everybody involved and have team first. Not veteran player's minutes first. Most of all, I've always felt that NBA players are good from the 1st down to the 12th man.

Gentry has Dragic play no matter how good Nash plays. He subs in Dudley, Frye, Amundsen, and Barbosa all good minutes. Nobody complains. Conversely, coaches like Jordan and Saunders tend to only afford opportunity to their favorite eight guys and they make sure somebody's left out.

McGee and Young could have been playing from the first games, when the Wizards couldn't score over 90.

Alvin Gentry simply knows how to get everybody off the bench and into the game physically and mentally. More than that, Gentry is always so positive and supportive of his young players. That game Dragic exploded for 23 in a quarter was after Gentry stuck with him. Frye went 1-20 but Gentry stuck with him. Gentry NEVER throws his guys under the bus. Things are so positive with him.

It's about coaching, CCJ, but it's also about management and talent. Yes, Gentry deserves credit for developing and trusting his bench. But KERR deserves credit for acquiring, talented, high-character role players like Lopez, Amundson, Dudley, and giving Gentry real options off the bench.

Their bench is worlds better than the Wiz have had the past couple of years. It underscores to me how important the next couple drafts will be; we need to stockpile talent of course -- but we also need to focus on guys who have been productive and show a willingness to sacrifice for team goals. To me, that means eschewing high-upside "projects" in favor of guys who will be ready to produce within a year or two max.

[montestewart]

Artest! WTF! Get the long offensive board off his own miss, Lakers up by three with about 90 seconds left, and immediately launches another 3.

Suns tie w/ 3.5 seconds left.

[montestewart]

Artest! WTF! Get the long offensive board off his own miss, Lakers up by three with about 90 seconds left, and immediately launches another 3.

Suns tie w/ 3.5 seconds left.

And then Artest wins the game at the buzzer, putting Bryant's buzzer beater miss back in. Man, did he need that redemption. He was 1-8 and would have been the goat of the game

[queridiculo]

Anybody catch Artest in the postgame interview? Dude's mind is somewhere in outer space.

[montestewart]

Anybody catch Artest in the postgame interview? Dude's mind is somewhere in outer space.

I had to walk the dog (no, literally) but we already knew about Artest's mind. I remember last year in the playoffs, he was returning to the locker room (ejection or injury, can't recall) and he began removing his uniform immediately. He was still on camera and down to his underwear. Hilarious.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have been absolutely loving the way that Gentry has been coaching the Suns; the way that he talks to the players calmly after they committed a bone-headed mistake and tells them what they did wrong while offering encouragement. He discusses team strategy as-well witht he guys through-out the game. I love this guy.

He's also been the anti-early season Flip Saunders. Gentry does things I've wanted to see coaches do for years.

I've never bought into the thinking that a short bench made sense in the playoffs. I've never liked coaches that lock in on short bench. Guys like Jamison would play 40+ minutes, regardless. No defense. Conserving energy on defense just to last the game. Getting outrebounded in the fourth due to the other coach bringing in fresh players. I've also dislike a short bench because I've always felt a team would get a synergy from playing as many guys as possible. Get everybody involved and have team first. Not veteran player's minutes first. Most of all, I've always felt that NBA players are good from the 1st down to the 12th man.

Gentry has Dragic play no matter how good Nash plays. He subs in Dudley, Frye, Amundsen, and Barbosa all good minutes. Nobody complains. Conversely, coaches like Jordan and Saunders tend to only afford opportunity to their favorite eight guys and they make sure somebody's left out.

McGee and Young could have been playing from the first games, when the Wizards couldn't score over 90.

Alvin Gentry simply knows how to get everybody off the bench and into the game physically and mentally. More than that, Gentry is always so positive and supportive of his young players. That game Dragic exploded for 23 in a quarter was after Gentry stuck with him. Frye went 1-20 but Gentry stuck with him. Gentry NEVER throws his guys under the bus. Things are so positive with him.

It's about coaching, CCJ, but it's also about management and talent. Yes, Gentry deserves credit for developing and trusting his bench. But KERR deserves credit for acquiring, talented, high-character role players like Lopez, Amundson, Dudley, and giving Gentry real options off the bench.

Their bench is worlds better than the Wiz have had the past couple of years. It underscores to me how important the next couple drafts will be; we need to stockpile talent of course -- but we also need to focus on guys who have been productive and show a willingness to sacrifice for team goals. To me, that means eschewing high-upside "projects" in favor of guys who will be ready to produce within a year or two max.

fish, I don't think Frye is any better the McGee. Frye hits threes but McGee blocks everything in sight, throws down dunks, and rebounds better. Dudley is a very sold player, but Nick Young's had more 30 point games and is a good defender. I grant you that Dudley's a sharp dude and a very hard worker, but Nick can start at SG. Amundsen is a rugged, solid rebounder and good role player. The Wizards paid a lot more for Oberto. Blatche was a bench player for the Wizards--you can't tell me he wouldn't be killing the Lakers with Nash, Richardson, and Stoudemire. Where Phoenix has great bench players is a PG. Wizards don't have a Dragic or a Barbosa. But I wouldn't so far to say Phoenix bench is inordinately more talented than Washington's was (prior to trade). They're more experienced--but all McGee did is have a 25 point/15 rebound game in 31 minutes.

I stand by it being coaching, fish. Flip had personnel that he could have been using early in the season when he kept losing the same way--with a short bench.

Phoenix' bench is better, but if you put Flip on the Phoenix bench in place of Gentry I guarantee you Dragic never plays. Lopez or Frye would own the C spot and the rotation would be short. Flip would probably only play Barbosa and Dudley and he wouldn't have a powerful bench with the very same players Gentry has.

Gentry's much more positive and IMO is flat better than what I saw from Flip last season.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Artest! WTF! Get the long offensive board off his own miss, Lakers up by three with about 90 seconds left, and immediately launches another 3.

Suns tie w/ 3.5 seconds left.

And then Artest wins the game at the buzzer, putting Bryant's buzzer beater miss back in. Man, did he need that redemption. He was 1-8 and would have been the goat of the game

First game I've watched in a sports bar in quite some time. Wow, what an exciting finish!

[pancakes3]

as of right now, mcgee isn't a bench player