The 2010 NBA Playoffs - Page 9

Yeah, I really don't know why Orlando always seems to get big men who can't make free throws.

You shut your whore mouth!

This was a horrible game for Boston and they still had 2-3 chances to win it. I think their chances in game 5 are pretty good.

You could say the same thing about the Magic in Games 1 and 2.

Hey... going back to their building, that crowd going nuts, season on the line... stranger things have happened. All they have to do is win one at a time. Game 5 is winnable, game 6... well, cross that bridge when you get to it.

All signs point to a game 6 blowout imo, but you never know.

I wouldn't say I'd be happy, but I'd feel a lot better about losing 4-2 than 4-0.

Steve Nash High Five!!

Listening to Hubie Brown on the radio is greatness. He never shies away from pointing out a bad play or a bad call.

That Suns second unit is a trip. Nothin but skinny hustle dudes and Sideshow Lopez.

Fuck. Yes.

Suns obviously play like shit in LA, but at least they put the pressure squarely back on the Lakers for game 5. The winner of game 5 wins the series.

Unless the Lakers win. Then I'll convince myself it wasn't that important.

Looks like one of those series where the home team wins each game. As much as I'd love to see Phoenix pull it off, I don't see them winning in LA. Good for them in protecting home court, though.

I see that perspective, but there are two X-factors that haven't really shown up in LA yet - Jason Richardson and the Suns 2nd Unit. Either one of those comes to play in LA, then they have a chance.

As long as the Basketball Gods remember to "Unleash The Dragon!" in L.A., the Suns will have a fighting chance.

Redick aint playing around, is he?

Awesome job so far, Magic.

I love Jeff Van Gundy calling games. It's nice to hear someone who isn't simply an NBA mouthpiece.

That's a terrible call and a terrible technical foul called. Somewhere Donaghy is laughing.

What, it's fixed because the league doesn't want a Lakers/Celtics final?

Don't want to get T'ed up? Don't yell "That's bullshit, man!" after the ref calls a foul on you.

Just saying, that's some terrible officiating.

I know you're a Magic fan, but that T was non-sense. Guys bitch about calls all the time, and have done much worse afterward without getting T'ed up.

Hey, we're not down on the court. Perkins may have been warned about mouthing off previously.

It's one less body to bang Howard, but I don't think we'll be pointing to this as the reason the Magic win if they hold on.

Yeah, on one hand I do think that was a tad excessive, but as a Magic fan I was happy to see him go.

And he's out game 6? Yeah, that's big.

The fuck is up with Big Baby?

Looks like the Magic will probably pull it out. After game 3 it looked like they were completly finished. That they're even forcing a game 6 is a victory in itself. Boston should win game 6 but, if the Magic can somehow win, holy shit..., a Game 7. Miraculous!!

Are we witnessing the beginning of one of the most spectacular collapses in NBA Finals history?

Short turnaround too, so those injuries could be huge.

Perkins suspension better be overturned. What a joke.

Don't defend calls like that, that's one of the worst calls I've seen since Rondo slapped Brad Miller in the face and it was just a shooting foul. Awful, awful T. They'll both be rescinded, but the second was especially bullshit.

Play a good game 6 Magic and anything can happen.

And congrats on your zone d Phoenix.... it shouldn't be allowed, because it's a joke, but since it is you might as well take advantage of it.

lol you guys need to calm down... The Suns were headed for a sweep after 1 game, now they might win, the Magic were done for now they'll probably pull it out and the Celtics will collapse.

You're worse than Around the Horn.

Why is zone defense a joke?

We'll see. That's what people said last year about Game 7 in Boston.

It seems to be working. I know LA is entitled to another championship and all, but maybe they should work for it a little bit.

Zone d is a joke, it should've never been allowed in the NBA, it's a college defense and the crutch of mediocre defensive teams. The NBA has rules that are about requiring more of their players, not less. That's why there's no possession arrow, no 35 second shot clock, and there is a restricted area under the basket among other things.

LA "entitled" to another ring has nothing to do with zone defense. Not that that even matters, because if they see the Celtics in the finals and both teams are playing the same way the Celtics are going to win anyways... zone defense is lame for other reasons. It belongs in college.

If it's a lame defense, the Lakers should be able to solve it, right?

Cynic, you're starting to sound like a typical Lakers fan now. Just FYI.

To solve the zone defense you need only slashers and shooters. Unfortunately for the Lakers they only have 1 of each and he's the same guy.

Personally, I just think it's awesome that one week ago everybody was bitching about how horrible the Finals were on both sides, and now both series are riveting.

I think it's sad it takes a week to play 2 games. The NBA playoff format sucks.

I fail to see how my hatred of zone d has anything whatsoever to do with the Lakers. I haven't brought them up, you have. But the zone d isn't even the sole reason the Lakers are losing, they are playing crappy defense themselves as well. Phoenix isn't the only team that's used it over the years, and if they went back to 2000 illegal defense rules it would be better for the league on the whole. Kobe could break his leg tomorrow and lose every remaining playoff game, or be in the lottery next year and my opinion on this wouldn't change one bit.

And yes, the NBA playoff format is horrible.

It's that bizarre 3 day layoff in between games 2 and 3 that doesn't make any sense to me.

As for LA, they got suckered into playing Phoenix's style and lost 2 games - I expect Phil to figure this out eventually.

Tell you what, point me to the posts you made about zone defense not belonging in the NBA prior to it putting the Lakers into an even series. It's one thing to not like zone, it's another thing to not mention it for 9 years until your team is being eaten alive by it. That sounds like sour grapes.

The funny thing to me is that all of the quotes from Phil and Kobe and the Lakers in general are to the tune that they don't need to change anything and just playing better D will swing the series back their way. I'm kind of assuming that's all misdirection, because if they keep attacking the zone the same way they're going to be down 3-2 and if that happens there's a very real chance that Kobe shuts down to prove a point.

The triangle is just not built for a zone defense. Or maybe it is but the players are just not excecuting properly.

Excellent point, if I haven't made a post on the internet about something I probably haven't ever believed it. Although come to think of it I don't know who I'm talking to right now... please provide posts dating back at least a few years proving that you don't worship Satan, to put my mind at ease.

Eaten alive? Let's not go crazy here, the Lakers were up in the fourth in a must win game for Phoenix. They scored 106 and shot 50 percent shooting mostly jump shots with a lot of mediocre jump shooters on the team. In case you didn't realize, the Lakers' gameplan isn't exactly penetrate and kick out to open men for long 2s. It's 2-2, 2 of the remaining games are in Staples where the Suns haven't won all year, or even kept it all that close. They hit a bunch of threes and pulled it out, if they hadn't they'd be pretty much done at 3-1.

Part of what they are saying to the press is a bit of bullshit, because the zone is fueling Phoenix's secondary break and is pulling the Lakers out of their gameplan in general... but you'd have to be willfully ignorant about the situation to not see a difference in transition defense. The Lakers defense in games 1 and 2 fueled their offense in stretches -- a better defensive effort with the refs more on their side in Staples will see the Lakers up 3-2, if not, yes Phoenix will be up with a chance to win at home.

And none of this has anything to do with how I particularly feel about zone defense. And yes it was a brilliant adjustment on the coach's part.

Kendrick Perkins' second technical foul was rescinded by the league, so he won't be suspended for Game 6.

You have got to understand why it sounds like sour grapes. You're normally pretty reasonable, but suddenly taking shots at the zone which is the cause for this even being a series is interesting timing.

The Lakers were up in the 4th, and maybe I'm alone in this but there wasn't a moment in the second half where I wasn't convinced the Suns were going to win. Kobe's shooting percentage was out of his gourd. The guy is good, but him essentially making everything that went in the air was the only reason the game stayed close. The zone is eating the Lakers up. Pointing to points scored is pretty misleading as any team playing the Suns will put up more points than usual. It's the nature of falling into their rhythm. Watching the game though, seeing how the Lakers just look OFF on offense you see how bothered they are. I haven't seen that many yellow jerseys staring at Kobe in 4 years.

Actually yes I can understand the reaction. I'm just saying, asking for post proof is a little high school for my tastes. I don't have the post proof, because the zone has rarely if ever been a talking point with any team the Lakers have faced in a series. But now we're going to see it for 40 minutes a game for at least 2 more games. So, this is an opportune time to talk about the zone.

Lakers are a pretty mediocre road team this year, they lost 2 to the Thunder after all. We'll see what Phoenix can do with 2 of 3 remaining at Staples.

Since getting Gasol, the Lakers are 8-0 in game 5s.

You say "they lost 2 to the Thunder after all" like it's some horrible black mark to lose to the Thunder.

Well, when you're that stacked you shouldn't be losing two in the first round.

The Thunder are young, inexperienced, and mediocre defensively. Phoenix is better than the Thunder, they should expect to win games 3 and 4 at home after losing games 1 and 2. Even against the "stacked" Lakers.

The more impressive stat is the Phil Jackson led teams in the playoffs being 46-0 after winning game 1. I honestly can't even believe that.

Again, good start, shit finish.

At this point I just want this series over. I can't stand watching it anymore.

Lakers up at the half, should be up by a lot more than 8 though. Suns are a tough team and are giving the Lakers everything they can handle. But in all honestly, sorry to break the news to some of you, if its the Magic vs. Suns in the NBA Finals the drop off in viewership would be catastrophic for ABC.