Official NBA Playoffs Thread

[hands11]

It's not like many players have much success guarding Bynum this season but once McGee was put in the game to guard him, Bynum went from playing really well to pure domination. Not even number-wise, but the sheer power and physicality Bynum is subjecting McGee to just seems...unfair.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=320501013

McGee did end up with 9 rebounds and 6 blocks.

I think the trade will end up being good for both teams and all players. McGee and Nick needed to move on and get plugged into more establish teams. I think that provides them a better chance to learn and grow. I always liked the idea of McGee coming off the bench while he was developing. Problem here was there was no Nene to put in front of him and his head was to big for a team of mostly rookies and past their prime vets.

After next year of winning more games and getting established, then the Wizards would be able to add a player like McGee was this year. The timing just didn't work out. He contract came do to early and he was starting here so he would have demanded starter money.

I hope things work out for both McGee and Nick.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

In Los Angeles, with Kobe scoring 38, and with "the great" Andrew Bynum on the court; the Nuggets had the score 91-95, with 2:21 to go. Javale was on the court.

Javale did block a lot of shots, hands. I think he and Faried are going to get their lob city dunks in Denver. If they could get to within 4 in LA, they can beat the Lakers in Denver. I'm not so sure McGee won't go to another team besides Denver this offseason. I still think he can play, miller.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Nick got the break he needed, Caron's broken hand.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1ti1RbdAg

Young Likely To Start For Clippers In Place Of Butler

Nick Young will likely start at small forward for the Clippers in the place of the injured Caron Butler.

Young started just three games for the Clippers after his March 15th arrival. Young has been an effective scorer off the bench.

"He had a big role for us in Game 1 and he's going to have a bigger role now that Caron is out," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said Tuesday.

hands, that historic comeback in game one is going to get Nick paid IMO. He was the Clippers' leading scorer.

[verbal8]

hands, that historic comeback in game one is going to get Nick paid IMO. He was the Clippers' leading scorer.

I think before this series he was looking at getting offered something around what Foye and Morrow are getting($4 million/year) although maybe someone would sign him for 3 or 4 years. If he gets minutes and points, I think he gets to the MLE level if they don't make it past Memphis. I don't think there is any way he gets $10 million/year, but if he helps them win this series - $8 or $9 million isn't inconceivable.

[verbal8]

So if the Heat sweep the Knicks, does the fire extinguisher get the series MVP?

[FAH1223]

JaVale's postioning is still bad on defense, but he was much more active in Game 2.

Nuggets should win Game 3 but they aren't winning this series. They are -17 when Bynum is on the court.

[dobrojim]

It's not like many players have much success guarding Bynum this season but once McGee was put in the game to guard him, Bynum went from playing really well to pure domination. Not even number-wise, but the sheer power and physicality Bynum is subjecting McGee to just seems...unfair.

It seemed strange to me for Barkley to pick DEN to win their series with LA
when McGee has basically never beaten Bynum, except with us this year
when Seraphin actually was a key player in our comeback. Bynum destroys
McGee to the extent that it would be really difficult for Bynum's team to
lose a game when McGee is his matchup.

[miller31time]

I still think he can play, miller.

I agree, CCJ. But there hasn't really been a change since being acquired by Denver (though I'm not sure many thought either player would change much). Watching the game yesterday, every single time a guard would try a P&R with McGee, JaVale would set the same ol' terrible screens he was setting in DC and the guard would predictably have to back out of the play and reset because he could do nothing.

I'm still dumbfounded that McGee hasn't either been told that the way he sets screens is idiotic and hurts the team or HAS been told that and doesn't have the mental makeup to fix a very correctable problem.

I felt bad for Lawson and Miller. I really did.

[go'stags]

Javale actually played really well in the 4th quarter last night. The Nuggets needed to keep the ball in Andre Miller's hands rather than Lawson/Afflalo.

[hands11]

Nick got the break he needed, Caron's broken hand.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1ti1RbdAg

Young Likely To Start For Clippers In Place Of Butler

Nick Young will likely start at small forward for the Clippers in the place of the injured Caron Butler.

Young started just three games for the Clippers after his March 15th arrival. Young has been an effective scorer off the bench.

"He had a big role for us in Game 1 and he's going to have a bigger role now that Caron is out," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said Tuesday.

hands, that historic comeback in game one is going to get Nick paid IMO. He was the Clippers' leading scorer.

How many x Wizards are in the playoffs this year.

The first group are starter. Well, Nick is about to become one. He wasn't

Kirk Hinrich
Nick
Foye
Caron Butler
Josh Howard
Brendon Haywood

Bench
McGee
Mark Miller
Steve Blake
Rip Hamleton
Gilbert

Extended Bench
Jerry Stackhouse
Juwan Howard
Ronny Turiaf
Brian Cardinal
Yi Jianlian
Mike James

Did I miss any

[montestewart]

^'Yeah, Nick Young didn't become a starter. Former Wizard Bobby Simmons started instead.

[closg00]

Leonard Playing Like Veteran In First Two Playoff Games

Kawhi Leonard has had an excellent first two games to help lead the Spurs to a 2-0 series lead against the Jazz.

"Kawhi is someone who, I guess it’s fair to say, surprised us. Because you don’t really know when you draft someone. … In Kawhi’s case he’s absorbed information really well," Gregg Popovich said. "He performs his role, he plays defense, he runs down the floor, and he’s got a way about him where he’s not so anxious to show us that he has every move in the world. … He’s level-headed and takes things when they come."

Leonard is averaging 11.5 points on 66.7 percent shooting, while hitting 4 of 7 3s and pulling down 2.5 rebounds.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1tnmFmDw9

Ok, they can stop bragging now about Kawhi.

[nate33]

Wow. The Clippers shot 57% from the floor and 56% from 3-point range (9-16) and still lost to Memphis by 7. Memphis shot 48% from the floor and hit just 2-12 from 3-point range.

That's a real bad sign for the Clippers.

[montestewart]

Look at the RB, TO, and FT differential. Grizzlies dominated in most areas.

Other than their outstanding shooting %, Clippers looked very much like the team that fell behind 27 points in the first game.

[FAH1223]

Wow. The Clippers shot 57% from the floor and 56% from 3-point range (9-16) and still lost to Memphis by 7. Memphis shot 48% from the floor and hit just 2-12 from 3-point range.

That's a real bad sign for the Clippers.

Grizzlies dominated the boards, got turnovers, and 21 more FTs

I think they can win the first two categories in LA and get a W.

[montestewart]

^ I should have called dibs on "dominated"

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

^'Yeah, Nick Young didn't become a starter. Former Wizard Bobby Simmons started instead.

Another guy I will always root for. Bobby, not "Bobbie" Simmons, the way his jersey was spelled when I had a brief chance to speak with him.

The Wizards haven't had a lot of wins or playoff success, but they sure have had a bunch of good dudes where the uniform who have gone on to represent themselves well. Bobby Simmons has been around a long time and he's still a prolific basketball player. Other guys have been around a while. Juwan Howard is probably a grandpa by now. Rip is still playing well and he's in his "Mr Clean" years as an NBA player. Boykins played some NBA ball last season. Big Ben credited Wes Unseld, and before him (briefly Wizard) Charles Oakley for his success. I love this current team and what Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld did to bring back Roger Mason, Cartier Martin, James Singleton, on Mo Evans. Thanks to those guys, this current group of young Wizards are going to have a sense of pride and loyalty to this organization.

When I watch playoff games and see Gil on one team, Nick on the other, Javale playing on another; I still feel good for those players.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wow. The Clippers shot 57% from the floor and 56% from 3-point range (9-16) and still lost to Memphis by 7. Memphis shot 48% from the floor and hit just 2-12 from 3-point range.

That's a real bad sign for the Clippers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_y ... 2012050229

You saw things as half-empty. I see what you're saying. That looks bad. The late Paul Harvey would say, "And now, the rest of the story."

Free throws in Memphis: Clippers 13-18, Grizzlies 31-39 Two starters for LAC, Simmons and Foye had a combined 2 FTs. Five bench players shot a COMBINED 2 FTs.

Assists to Turnovers in Memphis: Clippers had 15 assists with 20 turnovers.

I don't know but it seems to me officiating favors the home team. No way the Grizzlies will get more free throws than that at LAC. Likely, the Clippers will get the breaks.

Also, I would think the physical play of the Grizzlies and the newness of Simmons in the lineup added to the Clippers turnover problems. I think in LA they will be smoother and the Grizzlies will be called for fouls. Just the opposite of in Memphis.


What I think is the refs and fans watched the Grizzlies melt down and lose game one. No way could that happen again in Memphis. I think the Clippers will probably split with Memphis, or they could win both.

We'll see.

[queridiculo]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1tnmFmDw9

Ok, they can stop bragging now about Kawhi.

Was really hoping for Leonard at 6 last year... To think that we could have drafted him and Faried.

[montestewart]

Wow. The Clippers shot 57% from the floor and 56% from 3-point range (9-16) and still lost to Memphis by 7. Memphis shot 48% from the floor and hit just 2-12 from 3-point range.

That's a real bad sign for the Clippers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_y ... 2012050229

You saw things as half-empty. I see what you're saying. That looks bad. The late Paul Harvey would say, "And now, the rest of the story."

Free throws in Memphis: Clippers 13-18, Grizzlies 31-39 Two starters for LAC, Simmons and Foye had a combined 2 FTs. Five bench players shot a COMBINED 2 FTs.

Assists to Turnovers in Memphis: Clippers had 15 assists with 20 turnovers.

I don't know but it seems to me officiating favors the home team. No way the Grizzlies will get more free throws than that at LAC. Likely, the Clippers will get the breaks.

Also, I would think the physical play of the Grizzlies and the newness of Simmons in the lineup added to the Clippers turnover problems. I think in LA they will be smoother and the Grizzlies will be called for fouls. Just the opposite of in Memphis.


What I think is the refs and fans watched the Grizzlies melt down and lose game one. No way could that happen again in Memphis. I think the Clippers will probably split with Memphis, or they could win both.

We'll see.

I saw a study (which I posted on the board at some point) that compiled data on fouls in the NBA and found foul calls slightly favoring the home team, and also favoring trailing teams in a game or playoff series. I can't remember whether the data was from full seasons or playoffs only. Memphis fell into two of those favored categories in game two.