***Official NBA Thread***

[duffer]

Iggy!

What a game that was. Expected the East to be a bit chalk this year but a real promising start so far. Only 1 game in though, plenty of time for things to settle down.

Nervous for NOH v Denver today, so big for Denver to win this series, could be a turning point for the franchise either way.

EDIT: This is nasty by Atlanta so far. Up 23 and cruising. Proper clowning going on at this moment. We'll see if the Heat can turn this around.

 

[Anil]

the heat and the hornets crushed, the lakers cruise....

 

[duffer]

Speaking of clownings, the Hornets sure got one today as well. Chris Paul pissed me off a couple of times today though, his flopping around was reminiscent of the best Varejao or Ginobli could come up with but the game was otherwise well reffed.

But Chauncey took them all to school today, Melo was off but he stepped up and got it huge and the bench was as good as they have been all down the regular season stretch. Peja needs to fire up for the Hornets to have any chance because with Chandler playing hurt Paul can't win them a series all by himself.

 

[Anil]

melo played much better in the 2nd half, billups was just raining 3s, 8/9 3 pt shots!

 

[duffer]

He kept them in the game though when everyone else was off in the first though.

But they won it playing D all 4 quarters, that's the encouraging thing. They have enough scoring to go off anytime but their issue was taking possesions off on D and today they kept that to a minimum. Very encouraging win.

 

[Anil]

oh i know i was just mentioning his most extraordinary stat from tonight's performance....and they did play excellent defence, chris anderson had 4 blocks or something, the nuggets also had a big edge in rebounding...

 

[duffer]

Yeah, Denver generally isn't a great boarding team but they've got lucky in getting the Hornets who are probably the worst rebounding playoff team right now along with Dallas.

If they get past this round, they need guys like Balkman and Anderson to clean the glass for them off the bench. they might get lucky and draw Dallas the next round(who they are 4-0 against this season) but the Lakers will destroy them inside.

 

[duffer]

Hmm, Rondo joins the injury list now too it seems. Bulls up 3 at half time in game 2. This could be huge here.

EDIT: Insane game, absolutely crazy. Ray Allen and Ben Gordon's clutch shots down the stretch were crazy. Serious jawing between the two of them. This series will be crazy.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

What a finish in the Celts/Bulls game.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

This Celtics/Bulls series is awesome.

 

[Anil]

rondo is well it looks like, great effort from him(triple double), allen(30, game winning 3) and "big baby" davis(!)

 

[Anil]

the spurs playing much better so far in game 2, tony parker lighting it up..

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Parker is on absolute fire here. Could have 50 if he doesn't get iced in the 4th (which is likely).

 

[Anil]

they are up by 25, if the mavs don't do something soon, the entire 4th qtr could become garbage time...

 

[Anil]

duncan quietly putting up very good all-round numbers - 13 pts, 10 boards, 5 dimes and 3 blocks so far....

 

[duffer]

I miss the days when Kidd could lockdown any guard in the league. He is so slow off his feet I could do him on the dribble. Sad watching him at times this year.

 

[nightprowler10]

Just got done watching the Bulls-Celts game. What a ridiculous performance by Rondo and Ray Allen and BG, not to mention Davis, Tyrus and Miller were great too. Hope Gordon doesn't go quite for the next couple of games as he usually does, and Rose needs to figure out a way to get in the paint more often. Boston's offensive rebounds killed us, and the poor use of timeouts at the end didn't help. Best series going on right now.

 

[Johnners]

Just saw some highlights of the game.....wow is about all you can say about Allen and Gordons last quarter efforts from beyond the arc.

 

[Jono]

Again, for the uneducated, why are Houston such underdogs against Portland? Simply because they're playing away?

 

[Anil]

lebron and the cavs simply destroying the pistons, 77-50 at the end of the 3rd...25-10-5 for lebron, he probably will sit out the 4th so will miss out on a potential triple-double....