Every time I see Kobe he bricks. I swear, he must shoot 30% lifetime when I'm watching. Especially when the game is close. If the Bulls are playing the Lakers, I'm yelling at the TV for Kobe to shoot rather than pass.
Come playoff time, Kobe's a different player! I'm waiting for a Heat fan to say LBJ's the best closer..
Wade's the number two option on the Heat. You'd think they would learn after so many bricks from Lebron.
Man Boston has fallen off the planet. Yeah I know it's dangerous to read into the regular-season form of a veteran playoff team, but they're going to need to move up about 3 gears just to be competitive. I'd be surprised to see them in the East finals. If it happens, the OKC/Denver series should easily be the best of the first round matchups.
We're almost to the playoffs, time to get your picks in. In the West I think it's wide open and we'll see some upsets (based on seeding) early. I don't see both LA and SA making the conference finals, so I'll say LA beats OKC in the conference finals. In the East I think only the top 4 seeds are relevant and I don't see any first round upsets. But I think Orlando beats Chicago and Miami beats Boston in the conf. semifinals. I have LA over Miami in 6 in the finals, and I'm hoping the reverse jinx is on. JohnR, if LA does meet up with San Antonio, please watch every game so I can see that JohnR --> Kobe Bryant butterfly effect thing you're talking about.
Based on the current standings and projected play-off meetings: Chicago over Indiana in five games Miami over Philadelphia in six games Boston over the Knicks in six games Orlando over Atlanta in six games San Antonio over New Orleans in six games Dallas over Memphis in seven games Lakers over Portland in seven games OKC over Denver in six games Chicago over Orlando in six games Miami over Boston in five games OKC over San Antonio in six games Lakers over Dallas in six games Chicago over Miami in six games OKC over the Lakers in seven games Chicago over OKC in six games.
From your keyboard to God's ears. At this point, I'm expecting a Bulls-Heat Eastern Conference Finals, but haven't decided who I expect to advance.
Strike that. Reverse it. We're hot right now. I think we take out Dallas in six and make it to the second round for the first time in team history.
I hear you about the dangers of reading into the regular season with a veteran team, especially the Lakers and Celtics. What strikes me is that three most veteran teams, Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs, are the least hottest teams at this moment, while the younger and newer teams are on a hot streak. I have always maintained that Boston is the team that will win the championship. However, that was before the Perkins trade, and I now do not see them winning the whole thing. I can picture them winning the conference and into the NBA finals, but I can easily picture a western team beating them. Speaking of which, I maintained that OKC had zero chance of making to the conference finals, but that Perkins trade really did sway my original projection. OKC added some much needed size in the middle and they have greatly improved their defense this year, even at the beginning of the season without having obtained Perkins. The Northwest division is on fire, as is with Miami and Chicago. I just cannot imagine any first round upsets happening. The western conference is competitive all around, while the the east has the La Liga RM and Barca type of 4 team headed horse race. Even so, The Bulls should roll easily to the conference finals. I am in full agreement with JohnR about the illogical Howard's contribution to playing the Bulls. If it did come out to these two teams, my gut says the Heat will advance. Haha not love for Dallas.
I'll make that pick as well. Memphis will give SA trouble as well if they meet up in either the first or second round.
Soooo my Spurs amigos on this board... SA vs Lakers tonight on TNT. Well with the first seed already wrapped up and both of our teams in a slump, this game has not really turned into a "must watch" game as I wished. Nonetheless, this game means more to the Lakers in terms of taking the second seed, which we should have locked in a long a$$ time ago, and getting out of the losing streak and building some sort of streak and confidence going into the play offs.
Aside from the Orlando game, the 7 in a row wins were not against good opponents. Even the Spurs fans think they are in a slump in the midst of a 4 game winning streak due to their recent wins against non winning competitive opponents. I will reserve my judgment until after the Bulls and Celtics games in the next two days. Even so, it may not be an accurate judgment because Amare is out until the play offs.
It technically means as much to the Spurs as they need to hold off Chicago who are playing a Knicks team likely resting their starters.
Now you have me thinking. Say the Bulls win their final 2 and the Spurs split. They're both 62-20. Tiebreaker? Head to head. They split. Tiebreaker? Record against the opposing conference. The Bulls are 23-7 against the West. The Spurs are 23-7 against the East. Tiebreaker? You got me.