** Official NBA 2002 Thread **

As a recent convert (last 5 years or so, mostly because I want to be able to converse with my husband in the fall/winter months) to basketball fandom, I must say that I am really excited/nervous/hopeful for the season to come.

That being said, it sure is a bumpy start for the teams I most enjoy watching and following.....Lakers are trudging along, Clipps have some serious healing and contract-settling things to deal with, and Kings.....three losses in a row?

 

Very surprised to see the Knicks get their first win against the Kings. I didn't start watching them game til the second half, but the Kings didn't look good at all. If they want to challenge for the title this year, that'll have to change.

The Bucks-Nets game that is on right now is pretty entertaining. Kukoc is lighting things up from the 3-point line and the Bucks have been playing very well. And are only up 7. The Nets are just plain tough this season so far. I'm starting to agree with people who say that they are capable of winning a title this year. Still pretty early in the season, though.

 

The Hornets hand the Sonics their first defeat of the season 84-86 in NO.

 

The Celtics haven't looked good so far this year, but they have absolutely given it to the Bulls today.

And a great comeback from Phoenix over Atlanta. Anfernee hardaway could be back and Shawn Marion had another big game.

Good to see New York get up too. There's some good players there and with Sprewell to trade off, surely they look promising. The Kings aren't having a great trip so far.

Thought Philly were pretty lucky too.

 

I think Philly got very lucky. I thought Brand's shot was in for sure but he left it just short. Then the tip by Olawakandi (how bad did I butcher that?) almost dropped. Of course, those are the kind of games veteran teams win and the Clips aren't quite there yet. Sure wish Elton was still wearing a Bulls uniform instead of Tyson Chandler.

Nets are handed their first loss of the season by the Bucks, 99-93. Only undefeated team left is Dallas. They just keep outscoring teams so it would seem that one cold night is all it will take for that to end.

 

If they want to challenge for the title this year, that'll have to change.

So we get 3 losses in a row and were not contenders anymore, Bah. Obviously were going through a rough time with most of our players banged up. Lakers our going through the same thing with Shaq out, I mean the 3 time champions I would think would be able to put up a decent record even with shaq out. Until december when we get Bibby back well probably have some more rough patches but will pull through.

 

Lakers are now saying that it will probably be a bit longer til Shaq returns. Good news for the rest of the NBA, I guess.

 

Well, it appears Shaq will be making his first appearance of the season tonight against the Bulls. We'll see if he can help the Lakers rebound from their slow start.

Mavericks are still unbeaten, but for how long? They've got some tough games coming up against Seattle and Detroit.

Will Memphis ever win?

 

It certainly has been an.... interesting season. Well, as usual my Nuggets suck, so I'm counting the days till the NBA Draft...

 

I'll up this since there seems to be some interest in the NBA again.

So who's your MVP?

I would have to go with Kevin Garnett. Putting up great numbers and is leading his team to their best record ever. Also he doesn't have as much help as some of the other MVP candidates (Kobe, Duncan, Kidd). T Mac has also done a lot with a little, but his team's record isn't as good as the T-Wolves and he plays in the East.

 

I'd say Kevin Garnett for MVP too.. Three weeks ago I would have said Kobe Bryant, but he's been sucking it up hardcore on the court the past three or four games. And his team has suffered.

So, my vote will go to Kevin Garnett, I don't particularly watch his team, but he was amazing in the All-Star game.

 

The Celtics have a definitive stretch of games coming up against Eastern contenders Detroit and Indiana, division leader New Jersey twice and Lakers in LA. I'm really looking forward to this gut check heading into the latter stage of the season. The C's can build on it for the playoffs despite how they fare record wise.

 

It looks like Indiana is headed for an early playoff exit if they continue to play at their current level. They've lost 12 of their last 13 now I believe. Not the way you want to be wrapping up the season.

 

They've got Jermaine O'Neal and a playoff veteran coach. The first round series are now seven games also so anything could happen.

 

I'm rather pleased with how well Portland has done in February and March. Now if Sacramento would just roll over and lose a few games, then the proper team will be on top in the Pacific Division.

 

Negative Sacramento IS the better team!

In fact, this year they migth become NBA Champions!

 

What's going on in Portland? Is Wallace really "behaving" this year? It seems like the only time I hear anything about the Blazers anymore is when something bad happens and there hasn't been as much this year.

It'll be interesting to see who ends the season on the biggest roll. If the Mavs can get going like they were early in the season, they can be very tough to outscore. Kings-Mavs Western Conference final would be very entertaining.

 

I think if the Mavs meet the Lakers in the playoffs in an early round, it could be an early exit for them. And don't look now but the Sixers have risen from the dead and are only three games behind Detroit for the top seed in East. Should be an interesting end of the season for the top six in the East, who are all vying for the #1 seed.

 

The Sacramento Queens will not be NBA champions this year. For two main reasons.

#1... They are an offensive team. Sacramento couldn't play defense to save their lives. Vlade Divac is the biggest flopper of them all and Webber is just a cry-baby. Remember that third regular-season match-up between Dallas and Sac? What was the final score? 120 to 115 or something like that? All of Sacramento's games are high scoring games because they know they can just out-shoot the other team and win. Come playoff time, offense alone will get them to the second round if they're lucky.

#2... If they meet the Lakers in any round, see ya next year. Sacramento is scared to death of the Lakers, everyone knows it. And I would think that the three past playoff seasons would speak for themselves. Sacramento has been eliminated by the Lakers in the past three post-season match-ups. They just have no one who can guard either Shaq or Kobe.. and that's what it will boil down to in the Playoffs... The Lakers will only be stopped if a team has an answer for Kobe and Shaq... Period. And Sacramento is definately not that team.

 

Do we really need the name calling?

You seem to forget that the Lakers and Celtics of the 80's weren't exactly defensive teams. Outscoring your opponent is the point of this game, doesn't matter if its 80-75 or 120-115. The Kings do play better defense this year, though I certainly wouldn't classify them as a defensive team. And we all know about the Mavs defense.

The Spurs are a team that has a great chance to make it out of the West. They play great defense and have the nearly unstoppable Tim Duncan. They're also on a nice roll coming into the end of the season.

And does anyone in the East have a chance?

 

Just upping this thread since the playoffs are nearby.
And does anyone in the East have a chance?
I doubt that they do.. Pacers looked good, the other 'good' teams there are the Sixers, Pistons and the Nets.

I'm a Laker fan, they're doing good as of late, wonder who they'll be coming up against, mavs or the timberwolves?

edit: markup.

 

Lakers suck big donkey ****. They've become the Yankees of the NBA, the best money can buy. That being said, nobody can stop Shaq. The rest of them, Kobe included, are fluff.

Kobe Bryant:
G: 81
FG: 852
FT: 592
P: 2417
PG: 29.8

Paul Pierce(Celtics, your team):
G: 78
FG: 658
FT: 602
P: 2036
PG: 26.1

Here are my picks for 2002-03:

Atlantic champs: New Jersey
Central champs: New Orleans
Midwest champs: Dallas
Pacific champs: Sacramento

Got the atlantic and pacific right, and looks like your team is the one leading the Central division.
NBA Finals: Sacramento over New Orleans

No way

Atlantic: New Jersey
Central: Indiana
Midwest: Dallas
Pacific: Sacramento

Same with you, atlantic and pacific correct.


Tomorrow will decide whether it is Lakers v. Timerwolves or Lakers v. Mavs.

 

Well, the regular season ends tonight and the final playoff pairings will be decided. Now we get 2 months of playoff games...

Jordan will play his last game tonight. Will it really be his last?

 

Playoff pairings are now set.

East:
#1 Pistons vs. #8 Magic
#2 Nets vs. #7 Bucks
#3 Pacers vs. #6 Celtics
#4 76ers vs. #5 Hornets

West:
#1 Spurs vs. #8 Suns
#2 Kings vs. #7 Jazz
#3 Mavericks vs. #6 Blazers
#4 Timberwolves vs. #5 Lakers

Timberwolves get their first home-court advantage playoff series and are rewarded with the Lakers. I could see the T-Wolves winning the series, but only if they play very well and the Lakers falter. Not likely.

I also think the Bucks and Celtics could pull off upsets in the East and I wouldn't count out the Blazers in the West.

 

It's gonna be another West victory in the NBA finals this year. The #1-6 seeds in the West all have the same or better record than the top team in the East.

I just hope the Lakers don't win again. Give the Kings or Mavericks a chance.