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Arena The NBA Thread

Discussion in 'Community' started by KnightWriter, Nov 16, 2006.

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Which team is the favorite to win the title?

  1. Boston Celtics

    10.5%
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Dallas Mavericks

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Denver Nuggets

    42.1%
  5. Los Angeles Lakers

    5.3%
  6. Miami Heat

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Milwaukee Bucks

    36.8%
  8. Phoenix Suns

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. Other

    5.3%
  1. Baron-Soontir-Fel

    Baron-Soontir-Fel Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 15, 2005
    The Warriors' regular season dominance of the Warriors aside, I don't see any upsets in the West in the first round. San Antonio will slow down Denver, Dallas should outlast Golden State, Phoenix will annihilate Los Angeles and Houston should handle Utah pretty easily.

    The East is a little more open at least, especially if New Jersey can grab the 6th seed and square off against Toronto.
     
  2. DarthTunick

    DarthTunick SFTC VII + Deadpool BOFF star 10 VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Nov 26, 2000
    The difference in my hopes/expectations for the Lakers in the first round from last year to this year is sickening. :( :p
     
  3. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    FSN just had its "Best Damn Dunks ever", a top 50 countdown of them. I was pleased to see three Suns players featured (in order: Stoudemire, Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers). I saw two of them as they happened (KJ's and Stoudemire's).

    Doctor J was, for my money, the most graceful player in NBA history. His dunk in the 1983 NBA Finals was truly spectacular, along with his unbelievable reverse layup in the 1980 Finals (a move that made Magic Johnson unsure if he should keep playing, or ask for a replay, as it was and remained the greatest move he had ever seen, in his words).
     
  4. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    They didn't dress Dirk, Howard, Damp, or Stackhouse, and the bench players got limited minutes. It was basically 2nd stringers and rookies vs. Golden States starting lineup. Is there any wonder they got stomped?

    As far as integrity, I don't think that's fair in this case. The Mavs clenched the first seed weeks ago, and have only rested Dirk, and Stack one game other than this, and Howard was only out for a rest in this game. Dampier has had a nagging shoulder injury, so they're just being cautious with him.

    Plus, when would be a better time to give his rookies minutes, then when the first seed is already clenched? They have to get experience sometime, and they need to be as prepared as possible, should they have to sub for an injured starter.

    I believe that Johnson is having everyone dress tonight, and will be playing his starters, so I really don't see this as a red flag.

     
  5. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    I thought last night's game was their last. My mistake :).
     
  6. LordPullus

    LordPullus Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 6, 2006

    While I Believe that Dallas will handle Golden State the other games shall be contested pretty heavily.

    Phoenix will face a full Lakers Squad which hasn't been this way all season, and I see another seven game series. San Antonio will have its hands full against a hot Denver team which has won upwards of eight games in it's last nine or ten I think even with home court advantage it's going to be a good match up with Carmelo and Iverson coming in hot.

    The Utah vs. Houston series is the one I'm most anxious to see despite Utah's lack of real marquee names on their team they play the old school style of ball with which we all know Houston's offensive focal point Yao Ming isn't the most fluent in. Yes McGrady will score, but I think a match up with Andrei Kirelinko one of the NBA's most efficient defender's and shot blocker will be a good one to see.

    Homecourt Advantage here will play a factor as Utah is the higher seed, and Yao nor Mutumbo will be able to play in the key much cause Utah's Mehmet Okur will stretch the floor with his outside shooting leaving the paint open for Carlos Boozer and Devin Williams to run their two man game which looks somewhat like the old Stockton to Malone.

    It will come down to who's bench steps up, and who's style of basketball is played most. But I think Utah will take this one.
     
  7. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    I would have agreed with Utah, the first half of the season, but Houston has been way hotter down the stretch. It'll be a good series, though. :)
     
  8. LordPullus

    LordPullus Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 6, 2006
    I agree that it will be a good series as the four/five match up is always suppose to be the most interesting in the first round. In the East Miami vs Cleveland should be a good one as well, but I think Miami's experience and depth will be what prevails them over LeBron and whatever surronding cast he might have for the series.
     
  9. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    Ain't no way the Lakers win more than two games, and even that is really pushing it. I say they win a game at most. This isn't like last year, when the Suns backed into the playoffs, and then compounded that by taking the Lakers lightly. They'll be going all out, and I expect a sweep or a 4-1 series.
     
  10. Baron-Soontir-Fel

    Baron-Soontir-Fel Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 15, 2005
    Bring on the Raptors. Vince will be ready. :cool:
     
  11. Boba_Fett_2001

    Boba_Fett_2001 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 11, 2000
    With all that booing? I sure hope so. :p Should be a great series, though.
     
  12. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    Thank you, Nets.

    What an absolutely perfect night for the Cavs. Get to 50 wins, get the 2nd seed, get a much easier path to the Finals.

    Almost makes me believe it didn't happen. Call it Cleveland syndrome.
     
  13. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    Lakers are trailing the Kings, with halftime approaching [face_worried].

    Kobe, please score 90 tonight. Thanx.
     
  14. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    Lakers won, so that means it'll be Suns vs. Lakers again. The Suns manage to avoid both the Nuggets and the Warriors in the first round.
     
  15. LordPullus

    LordPullus Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 6, 2006
    Yeah I know the odds are stacked heavily in the favor of the Suns, but the Lakers are a team that always manages to give the Suns fits. Yeah last year they might of taken the Lakers lightly, but who takes a team so lightly that they go down 3-1 before having to crawl their way out.

    This year they might be set, but it's been a long time since the league has seen a pure scorer like Kobe, and I look for him to dictate this series and possibly the outcome in the favor of the Lakers.
     
  16. Armenian_Jedi

    Armenian_Jedi Force Ghost star 7

    Registered:
    Mar 14, 2003
    Suns had no big men last year in the playoffs... at all.


    No Amare or Kurt Thomas.


     
  17. KnightWriter

    KnightWriter Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2001
    I respectfully state that you're way off the mark, and that you'll soon see how things really are.
     
  18. ApolloSmileGirl

    ApolloSmileGirl Jedi Knight star 8

    Registered:
    Jun 18, 2004
    David Letterman's Top Ten from last night:

    Top Ten Signs Your NBA Referee Is Nuts

    10. Keeps nude photos of NBA Commissioner David Stern in his wallet.

    9. Refers to the ball as "Peggy" -- now that's nuts

    8. Refuses to let substitutes come out of the game unless they give two weeks notice

    7. Puts ball under his shirt; claims he's carrying LeBron's baby

    6. Every time someone makes a basket, he screams "Goooaaaallll!"

    5. Thinks the Knicks rebuilding plan is working

    4. He has a 24-second clock over his bed -- that's worse than calling the ball "Peggy

    3. Well, he's the only one out there on ice skates

    2. Allows players extra free throw if they give him a cigarette

    1. Asks Kobe for tips on maintaining a monogamous relationship
     
  19. epic

    epic Ex Mod star 8 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 1999
    horrible, horrible night for the Bulls.

    1. lose to the Nets, which mean we drop from #2 to #5 and now face the Heat in the first round.

    2. Knicks win a nail biter, last second tip in by Curry of all people... drops our potential seeding. damnit.

    another re-match against the Heat, then. they're not the same team as last year, and we have Big Ben. could have been a lot better scenario, however.
     
  20. Baron-Soontir-Fel

    Baron-Soontir-Fel Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 15, 2005
    Told ya the Nets would show up if they had a shot at the 6th seed. :p
     
  21. epic

    epic Ex Mod star 8 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 1999
    instead of Wizards/Raptors/Pistons - Finals

    we have

    Heat/Pistons/Cavs - Finals

    all because of one game!

    at least now we can beat the best.
     
  22. DarthIntegral

    DarthIntegral JCC Baseball Draft/SWC Draft Commish star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA VIP - Game Host

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2005
    instead of Heat/Pistons/Bulls - Finals

    we have

    Wizards/Raptors or Nets/Pistons (or Heat or Bulls) - Finals

    All thanks to one game!

    (actually, thanks to 82 games ... it came down to a one-game difference)

     
  23. epic

    epic Ex Mod star 8 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 1999
  24. Boba_Fett_2001

    Boba_Fett_2001 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Dec 11, 2000
  25. epic

    epic Ex Mod star 8 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 1999
    my icon schedule:

    black icon until my joke thread in JCC dies out

    New Zealand Black Caps icon until Wednesday, or the following Saturday, depending on whether NZ lose or win

    Bulls icon until they win the NBA title

    :p