EPTNBA Regular Season 2011-2012 - Page 311
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Holcan
Canada2593 Posts
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jeeeeohn
United States1343 Posts
I MISS YOU AL HORFORD | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
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andrewlt
United States7702 Posts
I think no. 8 (guy clearly missed) is the funniest, though props to 13 (flopping in the wrong direction) as well. | ||
XaI)CyRiC
United States4471 Posts
I know the Spurs have the 2nd best record and are playing great basketball, but I don't see that team making it to the Finals. I admittedly have not watched them play much this season, but it's quite apparent that they've relied a lot on their roster depth, which becomes a much smaller factor in the postseason. Parker is the only one of the big 3 who has consistently played like an Allstar this season, and I can't help but doubt a team that gives significant minutes to players like Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, etc. They are quality players, but untested and unproven in every sense. Plus, their defense has not looked very good and it's hard to make it far in the postseason with just great offense. The Grizzlies are, IMO, a very scary team. They have one of the best frontcourts with a solid rotation of Marc, Z-Bo, and Speights, one of the best (if not the best) perimeter defender in the league in Allen, a dynamic Allstar-level wingman in Gay, a quality PG in Conley, and a quality 6th man in Mayo. The team can defend and score, and play fast with their athleticism (Conley, Allen, Mayo, and Gay) or slow with their bigs (Marc and Z-Bo). A lot depends on Z-Bo getting back to his Allstar-level form, but I think they can still do a lot of damage with him even at his current level. The Lakers are looking even scarier right now with both Bynum and Gasol (their greatest strengths against most teams, particularly in the slowed-down playoffs) playing so well, Sessions playing up to his high expectations, Artest showing signs of contributing on both ends of the floor, the bench improving (Barnes and Blake), and Kobe getting some much-needed rest. There's the obvious issue of whether or not Bynum and Gasol can continue to play so well once Kobe comes back and starts dominating so much of the offense, but I think the team is experienced and smart enough to figure it out when a championship is on the line. Plus, they're not the favorites for the first time in a while, which I think is a much better position for them considering their particular weaknesses (i.e. focus, effort and motivation). I think the Clippers have very little-to-no chance of making it to the Finals, but I just can't count out CP3 with an above-average roster when remembering how scary he was with just David West on his team. Still think Del Negro is the weakest link on this team. My Eastern Conference Postseason Rankings: MIA, CHI, BOS, whatever... The Heat still boast the best top 3 in the league, especially if Bosh is dialed in like he has been at times this season. The team has really fallen off in the second half of the season, but I kind of agree with Simmons in thinking that they're having a bad case of just coasting until the postseason starts. The team plays scary-good defense, and features two unguardable guys who can score against any defense single-handedly. Their key role players are older and experienced (Haslem, Miller, and Battier), so it's not hard to imagine them stepping up in the playoffs after being lackluster in the second half of the regular season. Rose's health concerns are a huge question mark for Chicago, but this is a team that can still beat the best without him, so they could arguably afford to have Rose work himself into Superstar shape in the first round or two. It's mind-boggling to me that they still managed to get the best record in the league despite missing Rip all season (who was supposed to be a key addition), missing Rose for a significant number of games, and having Deng suffer through injury concerns and not being 100% for much of the season. Still have concerns about their ability to consistently score against elite teams like MIA in the postseason though since Rose is their only guy who can really dominate a game offensively. Boston is a team designed for the postseason with their stingy defense, half-court savvy, veteran players, and great coaching. Like the Lakers, they're peaking at the best possible time and we know they're capable of making it to the Finals with that core. I could easily see them taking down either MIA or CHI in a 7 game series. I see no other serious contenders to make the Finals amongst the rest of the East. I don't by the Knicks hype. Their defense has been great recently, but the three teams above do it better and more consistently. Melo has been playing incredible ball, but MIA has Lebron and Wade, CHI has Rose, and BOS has their big 3(4). I can't imagine a team that has Baron running the show, and relies heavily on guys like J.R. and Novak being a serious threat. ORL is a mess for obvious reasons, IND and PHI don't have the experience, savvy or superstar talent, and ATL... is ATL. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
On April 17 2012 07:44 andrewlt wrote: http://www.cnnsi.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1204/nba.flopping/content.1.html I think no. 8 (guy clearly missed) is the funniest, though props to 13 (flopping in the wrong direction) as well. GINOBILI!!!! http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings The Knicks are #5 in Hollinger's Power Rankings. How is that....I don't even... | ||
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cLutZ
United States19574 Posts
On April 17 2012 07:44 andrewlt wrote: http://www.cnnsi.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1204/nba.flopping/content.1.html I think no. 8 (guy clearly missed) is the funniest, though props to 13 (flopping in the wrong direction) as well. For every 1 ridiculous flop you point out by the defense, there are probably 5 for players on offense. | ||
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slyboogie
United States3423 Posts
On April 17 2012 03:51 Holcan wrote: pretty sure that stern is not going to put noh as the #1 just to prove he isn't crooked, don't be surprised if they get two in the top 5 though. Patrick Ewing thinks you're being naive. | ||
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MassHysteria
United States3678 Posts
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ecstatica
United States542 Posts
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
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slyboogie
United States3423 Posts
On April 17 2012 07:59 XaI)CyRiC wrote: My Western Conference Postseason Rankings: OKC, LAL, MEM, SAS, DAL, LAC, whatever... I know the Spurs have the 2nd best record and are playing great basketball, but I don't see that team making it to the Finals. I admittedly have not watched them play much this season, but it's quite apparent that they've relied a lot on their roster depth, which becomes a much smaller factor in the postseason. Parker is the only one of the big 3 who has consistently played like an Allstar this season, and I can't help but doubt a team that gives significant minutes to players like Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, etc. They are quality players, but untested and unproven in every sense. Plus, their defense has not looked very good and it's hard to make it far in the postseason with just great offense. The Grizzlies are, IMO, a very scary team. They have one of the best frontcourts with a solid rotation of Marc, Z-Bo, and Speights, one of the best (if not the best) perimeter defender in the league in Allen, a dynamic Allstar-level wingman in Gay, a quality PG in Conley, and a quality 6th man in Mayo. The team can defend and score, and play fast with their athleticism (Conley, Allen, Mayo, and Gay) or slow with their bigs (Marc and Z-Bo). A lot depends on Z-Bo getting back to his Allstar-level form, but I think they can still do a lot of damage with him even at his current level. The Lakers are looking even scarier right now with both Bynum and Gasol (their greatest strengths against most teams, particularly in the slowed-down playoffs) playing so well, Sessions playing up to his high expectations, Artest showing signs of contributing on both ends of the floor, the bench improving (Barnes and Blake), and Kobe getting some much-needed rest. There's the obvious issue of whether or not Bynum and Gasol can continue to play so well once Kobe comes back and starts dominating so much of the offense, but I think the team is experienced and smart enough to figure it out when a championship is on the line. Plus, they're not the favorites for the first time in a while, which I think is a much better position for them considering their particular weaknesses (i.e. focus, effort and motivation). I think the Clippers have very little-to-no chance of making it to the Finals, but I just can't count out CP3 with an above-average roster when remembering how scary he was with just David West on his team. Still think Del Negro is the weakest link on this team. I don't understand the Memphis Hype. They're, almost shot for shot, a worse version of Lakers. I'd even say a bad version of the Lakers. Still, the Clips need, desperately, to win the division so that they can avoid Memphis and play Dallas. | ||
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scaban84
United States1080 Posts
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
Nets got a 5 second violation on the inbound, lol. Lebron made 2 last free throws for last 17 points for Heat. | ||
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krndandaman
Mozambique16569 Posts
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
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XaI)CyRiC
United States4471 Posts
On April 17 2012 10:47 slyboogie wrote: I don't understand the Memphis Hype. They're, almost shot for shot, a worse version of Lakers. I'd even say a bad version of the Lakers. Still, the Clips need, desperately, to win the division so that they can avoid Memphis and play Dallas. Agree with your characterization of the Grizzlies as similar to the Lakers, but with less talent across the board (generally, Kobe > Gay, Artest ~ Allen, Pau/Bynum > Marc/Z-Bo, Sessions ~ Conley). However, that only matters if the Lakers are playing the way they should be and to their potential, which was definitely not the case last year and at times this year. The Grizzlies, while having a lower ceiling, can do just as much damage if they play to their potential and recapture some of the magic they found last year. I think that Z-Bo is going to be the biggest factor because they need a reliable and consistent offensive threat, and they don't have one if he's not 100%. | ||
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XaI)CyRiC
United States4471 Posts
On April 17 2012 11:11 Jerubaal wrote: I have a plan. Just put Lebron out there by himself. He'll be forced to score. Less extreme version: have his teammates all turn their backs on him and hide behind defenders while on offense. | ||
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
On April 17 2012 11:20 XaI)CyRiC wrote: Less extreme version: have his teammates all turn their backs on him and hide behind defenders while on offense. kinda funny how this is the exact opposite of kobe. hehe | ||
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