NBA Playoffs

[entropy13]

Here's my predictions, the winners are in bold.

Western Conference 1st Round
#1 San Antonio vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies 4-3

#2 LA Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets 4-2

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers 4-2

#4 OKC Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets 4-3


Western Conference Semi-Finals
#4 OKC Thunder vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies 4-2

#2 LA Lakers vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks 4-3


Western Conference Finals
#4 OKC Thunder vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks 4-1

-----------------------------------------------
Eastern Conference 1st Round
#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #8 Indiana Pacers 4-0

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers 4-2

#3 Boston Celtics vs. #6 New York Knicks 4-3

#4 Orlando Magic vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks 4-3


Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #4 Orlando Magic 4-1

#3 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers 4-1


Eastern Conference Finals
#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #3 Boston Celtics 4-3
------------------------------------------------------
NBA Finals
#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks 4-3

[Wile E]

Nobody gives a shit about the NBA anymore. Bunch of low talent ass clowns that only care about their image, instead of the game itself.

[Reventon]

Well, some of them are like that. Some of them are actually good.

[Wile E]

Well, some of them are like that. Some of them are actually good.

Yeah, but they are so few and far between, they can't override the image the rest of the assclowns have given the NBA.

[Reventon]

Idk. I like watching NBA games, especially playoff games. But I see your point.

As far as predictions, I picked Chicago to win over LA.

[DaveK]

I want the Lakers to win, but the last few games they've played were terrible and as a result they lost. But I can't watch them anyway as I don't have ESPN or money to buy the NBA League Pass and if I did, wouldn't be able to watch many of them live lol

I do like basketball though, it's a lot more fast paced than football/soccer...

[erocker]

I want the Bucks to win... They aren't in the playoffs so as far as the playoffs are concerned I don't care. I'm a Bucks fan, not a NBA fan.

[jmcslob]

I haven't seriously watched an NBA game since Mark Price played for the Cavs.....
It was shortly after his generation retired that the NBA was filled with ass clowns...

[Reventon]

I think it's a few people that really give the NBA a bad name. The NBA is still great, but those few people ruin the image of the sport as a whole. People like LeBron and Gilbert Arenas.

[twilyth]

I want the bastard children of all NBA players to win.

[entropy13]

The NBA Finals start next week!!!

BEAT THE cHEAT!!!

GO MAVS!!!

[Triprift]

Somebody underestimated Miami.

[entropy13]

Somebody underestimated Miami.

:confused:

"Experts" were unanimous in picking Portland over Dallas.

Almost all "experts" (there were 2 who picked Dallas winning - one was a writer for a "funny" basketball blog, another was from Dallas) picked the Lakers over Dallas.

A majority of "experts" chose the Thunder over Dallas (out of 24, 13 picked the Thunder).

Now it's another majority (around 16 out of 24) picking the Heat over Dallas.


If there's a team that's being underestimated, then it's the Mavs, not the Heat.

[Triprift]

Lol i was talking about you prediction Philli to beat them.

They got Lebron, Wade and Bosh if there all fit and healthy there hard to beat.

[entropy13]

Lol i was talking about you prediction Philli to beat them.

They got Lebron, Wade and Bosh if there all fit and healthy there hard to beat.

It was more of a wish so that the Miami cHeat and Queen James (or LeSis James), Christina Bosh and Divane "even if I push you you'll get called for a foul, not me" Wade don't get to the Finals. But now they did and suddenly Miami are "the best team in the NBA" LOLOLOLOL

While the Mavs got here because "Portland was weak", "the Lakers were tired", and "the Thunder are too young."

[Triprift]

Dirk's the key if he fires up then Dallas have a chance. One things for sure there will be no love lost between them after there last finals showdown.

[Screaming Beaver]

Ehhh, no Celtics means I don't care.


The Lakers lost though so that makes up for some of it.

[ProgressiveTokyo]

The Heat will win it all. Ive been supporting them all year. I just noticed this thread.

Im mostly a Labron James fan. The man is the greatest basketball player (overall) Ive ever seen (and I grew up as a kid watching Jordan). Im so happy that he persevered over all the hate thrown at him this year. Shit all he did was do what any free man is free to do: choose where he wants to work. And announced it in a TV special which benefited the Boys and Girls Club of America. WTF.

Kobe raped some girl and pays her off: No problem, still loved.
Other B-ball players get arrested...attack fans in the stadium... no problem.

But LBJ gets all this hate.

Labron is the man. Fuck the haters, I cant wait to see him lift the O`brien Trophy.

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Great article that summed up my feelings on the hate and the Heat:

LeBron James’ decision — and by extension LeBron himself — has become the most polarizing figure in the NBA.

That can be good for business. Heat game television ratings are through the roof — because half the people tune in to root against them. Not that ABC cares much, they just want you to tune in for the finals. But the Heat are celebrity basketball players now.

I’m not sure I get why all the LeBron hate. Because he dared go team up with other stars? As if Magic Johnson didn’t have Kareem and Worthy, or Larry Bird didn’t have Parish and McHale, as if Jordan didn’t have Pippen and a bevy of others.

Maybe it’s because LeBron, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade inverted the NBA power grid — they had the temerity to decide to team up of their own accord, rather than having some GM or rich owner do it for them? That doesn’t bother me, I like the players having more power, but maybe that’s it.

Maybe it’s that the way LeBron handled The Decision, because for some it was egotistical? It was. It left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. But if you’re going to pick your favorite sports stars based on them not having an ego you’re going to have about two to cheer. Across all sports.

Whatever the reason you hate them doesn’t really matter. Go ahead. Having heroes and villains and playing out the drama of sports through that lens is at the heart of being a fan. Arrange people in those categories however you wish. But you had better also do this:

Respect the Heat.

Because while it took most of a season they have figured it out. They have gone from playing next to each other to playing off each other. They are playing smart, good basketball. They are a team, and potentially a special one playing beautiful basketball.

Did you watch LeBron the distributor in Game 4 against the Bulls? He made smart decisions with the ball virtually ever time down. It felt like Magic at times. Did you watch him on defense shut down Derrick Rose at the end of games? Shutting down the opponents best was like Jordan. When the moment called for it, did you watch him drain three pointers? That felt like Bird.

Beyond LeBron, Bosh has figured out how to step up when the other two are defended well or have focused on other tasks, he has figured out how to mesh with them. Wade remains as good a penetrator as there is in the league, as good a leader as the league has now.

Now you see the Heat going to a LeBron and Wade pick and roll at key moments. You see Bosh working hard off the ball and slashing to the rim. You see them all trusting Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller (and even Mike Bibby). You see LeBron and Wade taking on rebounding when the Heat needed it after Game 1 against the Bulls.

You see a team. All three are versatile. All three can play at both ends of the floor. All three — and by extension the Heat — have evolved into a dangerous team. Not a collection of stars, but a team.

You don’t have to like that. But you have to respect it

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/27/nba-finals-go-ahead-and-hate-heat-but-respect-them/related

[entropy13]

2010:

Superstar free-agent A
-Was the one big superstar in that team
-Reached Finals once, but lost
-did not get "enough help" from teammates in the past few seasons
-criticized of not playing good enough in a playoff series his team lost
-now a free-agent, he left the team he played for since his rookie years for a chance to a championship
-he also demanded the maximum contract possible ($96million) from another team

Superstar free-agent B
-Was the one big superstar in that team
-Reached Finals once, but lost
-did not get "enough help" from teammates in the past few seasons
-criticized of not playing good enough in a playoff series his team lost
-now a free-agent, he chose to stay with the team he played for since his rookie years for a chance to a championship
-he also offered a reduction in his contract ($80million) from the initial offer of the team ($93million)

[ProgressiveTokyo]

2010:

Superstar free-agent A
-Was the one big superstar in that team
-Reached Finals once, but lost
-did not get "enough help" from teammates in the past few seasons
-criticized of not playing good enough in a playoff series his team lost
-now a free-agent, he left the team he played for since his rookie years for a chance to a championship
-he also demanded the maximum contract possible ($96million) from another team

Superstar free-agent B
-Was the one big superstar in that team
-Reached Finals once, but lost
-did not get "enough help" from teammates in the past few seasons
-criticized of not playing good enough in a playoff series his team lost
-now a free-agent, he chose to stay with the team he played for since his rookie years for a chance to a championship
-he also offered a reduction in his contract ($80million) from the initial offer of the team ($93million)

Dirk has WAAY more weapons on his team than LaBron in CLE ever had. And you dont think Jason Terry is a superstar? Mark Cuban has filled that bench with more weapons than even the Heat have from the bench (look at the stats).

In Cleveland LaBron gave them 7 years to build a team around him, and the best they could come up with is Mo friggen Williams and a washed up Shaq? I dont blame him a bit, if he is to be judged by his championships (which is the current media meme) then he went where he could get them. I dont blame him. He is doing what Kevin Garnett should have done years ago instead of at the end of his career.

Not to mention all members of the Heats Big Three took less than the max contract so there would be salary cap left to pick up role players, so I dont know where you are coming from with the salary comment.

Dirk is a great ball player and a good guy (seemingly) but he is nowhere near as talented as LBJ. Noone in the league is (and the way LBJ owned Rose he showed what a fraud this years so called MVP was) as good as him. No one.

And with the team they have built in Miami they will dominate the league with championship after championship. Starting with this year.

Go Heat!

[Triprift]

Thats not a given mate Dallas aint no mugs id say Miami would be favorites but im sure Dallas will have some unfinished bussiness from the last time they played them in the finals. Let's put it this way i would of had Laker's in 04 with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton easily beating the Piston's and look what happened nothing's a given.

[entropy13]

Dirk has WAAY more weapons on his team than LaBron in CLE ever had.

Goes to show you haven't really watched the NBA, since you're obviously just basing this on the Dallas of this season (yet mention LaBron (sic) in Cleveland). LOL

And you dont think Jason Terry is a superstar?

Of course he isn't a superstar. Are you actually telling me he's in the same level as Wade and Bryant? Because those are the superstars. He's a great player, but he's not a superstar. If Jason Terry is a superstar, is Lamar Odom a superstar for the Lakers then?

Mark Cuban has filled that bench with more weapons than even the Heat have from the bench (look at the stats).

Uh, because the Heat overloaded in 3 players, they OBVIOUSLY won't be able to get "better" players for the bench. LOLOLOLOL.

Only Dirk has matching salary compared to those three. The next highest-paid Mavericks player, Haywood, have a lower salary compared to those three. An exception would be Chandler since that's an expiring contract which matches LeBron's first year salary (exception because it already went through three 8-10% increases, which would make it an unfair comparison). Even Butler's current salary, which have also went through such increases already, is still less than LeBron.


In Cleveland LaBron gave them 7 years to build a team around him, and the best they could come up with is Mo friggen Williams and a washed up Shaq? I dont blame him a bit, if he is to be judged by his championships (which is the current media meme) then he went where he could get them. I dont blame him. He is doing what Kevin Garnett should have done years ago instead of at the end of his career.

Irrelevant point, unless you're saying that having Dampier and an inexperienced Harris and an inconsistent Josh Howard was better. LOL


Not to mention all members of the Heats Big Three took less than the max contract so there would be salary cap left to pick up role players, so I dont know where you are coming from with the salary comment.

Nope, Bosh and LeBron both got max contracts possible, while Wade had a slightly lower salary (by around $200k). That's why after those three, Miller is the 4th highest paid player in the payroll, whose salary is just around 1/3 of Wade's.

And Miller's contract is a mid-level exception (worth around $5m that won't count against the salary cap).

The others are minimum multi-year contracts, veteran expiring contracts or rookie contracts.


Dirk is a great ball player and a good guy (seemingly) but he is nowhere near as talented as LBJ. Noone in the league is (and the way LBJ owned Rose he showed what a fraud this years so called MVP was) as good as him. No one.

And with the team they have built in Miami they will dominate the league with championship after championship. Starting with this year.

Go Heat!


Because LBJ is the most talented, he should win the championship...?

Great, why have the playoffs then? Just give them the trophy then.

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Great, why have the playoffs then? Just give them the trophy then.

They will...in about 1 week ;)

Great post. I dont follow basketball as much as baseball so you are definitely more knowledgeable, but I watch the NBA highlights every night on my PC.

I just could really never understand all the hate re: LBJ. I guess I dont buy into a lot of the sports writers who never played the game and get paid by the hits their stories generate (or sell newspapers for whoever still buys those).

Gonna be a hell of a Finals.

How do you watch the live games? I dont wanna pay just to watch a few games in the early AM and my favorite sites have Seized notices now. Send me a PM if you have any advice in that regard.

Good luck to both teams. Heat in 6

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Oh and I thought you were comparing Dirk to LBJ, not Kobe. Sorry my train of thought is lost sometimes.

[Reventon]

The two teams I hate the most in the finals. Debating whether or not to even watch it.

[entropy13]

F**K YEAH!!!!

MIA 93-95 DAL

Wasn't it supposed to be 4-0 Heat "fans"? Wasn't it supposed to be that the Heat are unbeatable at home?


GO MAVS!!! GO DIRK!!!

[Triprift]

Yep and it's going to Dallas next all over a sudden the series got a hell of a lot more interesting. :D

[JC316]

Fuck an A. I hate basketball, but since Dallas sports teams haven't won anything, I am rooting for the Mavs.

[entropy13]

Fuck an A. I hate basketball, but since Dallas sports teams haven't won anything, I am rooting for the Mavs.

ESPN Dallas had an article about it. The Rangers tried (and fell to the Giants), the Stars' and Cowboys' successes were in the past and the Mavericks failed to win in 2006.

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Entropy you still gonna say that the refs are favoring the Heat?? 3rd quarter right now and Miami has 21 PFs versus 9 for Dallas. And Ive seen a TON of uncalled fouls on Miami.

Of course when Miami wins in spite of that, Im sure you will have new excuses.

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Here come the refs with 3 minutes left trying to give it to the Mavs. How many bullshit fouls are they gonna call??

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Heat win! Final count 27PF for Miami 14 for Dallas.

The refs did all they could, but Dirk couldnt make that final shot.

[yogurt_21]

Heat win! Final count 27PF for Miami 14 for Dallas.

The refs did all they could, but Dirk couldnt make that final shot.

dirk blew it before that shot, who the hell just throws the ball into the crowd?

[Reventon]

I really hate the Heat more than the Mavs, so I'm rooting for the Heat to lose, moreso than the Mavericks to win.

[Triprift]

3-2 to Dallas could the Mavericks do the unthinkable and beat Miami.

[Reventon]

I pray to god Mavs win. If Miami wins then everyone will hop on the Big 3 bandwagon, and soon every team will have a Big 3, and so the rest of the bad players will be on the other teams, and all balance is lost. FML.

[entropy13]

Hoping for the win on Monday (here)/Sunday (there) to avoid extending the series.

GO MAVS!!! BEAT THE HEAT!!!

[ProgressiveTokyo]

I pray to god Mavs win. If Miami wins then everyone will hop on the Big 3 bandwagon, and soon every team will have a Big 3, and so the rest of the bad players will be on the other teams, and all balance is lost. FML.

I would rather have fewer teams with more talent concentrated (which results in some epic basketball) than more teams and diluted talent.

Thats why we had so many epic battles between so many epic teams before expansion got so far along. Now its weak tea with the exception of the big market powerhouses which can afford to stack the talent (or owners who can spend like crazy).

[Triprift]

I actually want Dallas to win because i think it's wrong that the Likes of Boston could win a title by having 3 NBA allstars in the one team. Miami have basically done the same and in my mind have underachieved with the lineup they have. Remind's me of mega bucks Chelsea in the English premier league buying the best player's and still not winning the titles they should of. But in the NBA were you have salary caps and drafts wich are meant to create an even comp it just screams out joke. The only good thing is the teams like Boston were not built to last and Miami will be the same two or three seasons at the most before the opposition have overtaken them.

[Reventon]

I would rather have fewer teams with more talent concentrated (which results in some epic basketball) than more teams and diluted talent.

Thats why we had so many epic battles between so many epic teams before expansion got so far along. Now its weak tea with the exception of the big market powerhouses which can afford to stack the talent (or owners who can spend like crazy).

I don't like that. Then it makes everything so predictable.

As long as Miami falls, I will be happy. I wish both of them would lose, then I'd be even happier.

[JC316]

Woot! Dallas takes it.

[Triprift]

Dallas win 4-2 bad luck LeBron.

[entropy13]

Dal 105-95 mia
2011 nba champions, the dallas mavericks!!!

Go mavs!!! Los mavs!!!

[ProgressiveTokyo]

Good series! Mavs were awesome. LaBron seriously choked. What was with him constantly passing the ball when he had the lane and the easy shot? Man he disappointed me!

[SK-1]

His 8 future championship rings will have to wait another year.

[SK-1]

A pretty well executed satire with some profanity mixed in.(toast)
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