NBA playoffs 2008

[jon abbey]

starting to heat up now, looking forward to the San Antonio/New Orleans matchup.

[surfer]

Steve Kerr did not look comfortable at last night's game.

I hope he doesnt get canned.

[jon abbey]

Steve Kerr did not look comfortable at last night's game.

I hope he doesnt get canned.

if someone has to go, it should certainly be him over D'Antoni. the most amazing thing about them giving away Kurt Thomas (admittedly under direction from the owner, but still) is that they sent two number #1s along with him, jawdroppingly stupid at the time and still now.

[Captain Hate]

Nash finally looked like he's coming to the end of the road; iirc Mone predicted that would happen two years ago, as in two MVPs. And the question remains of how good would the Suns have been with the Matrix still there and Shaq not; my guess is they would've still lost but maybe not have looked as bad. Still with Portland gettin Oden back next season and Durrant with another season under his belt the West will still be crazy next season.

Regarding Kerr, I'm convinced that the Matrix was disliked by everybody on the team and a move had to be made. I think with Amare, Barbossa, Diaw and Bell you've got a reasonable nucleus to build around; not great (except in Amare's mind) but reasonable. Plus you lose Hill and a few other players you can't count on. I like Kerr; I think he was in an impossible position and made an iffy decision. If Shaq had any sense of honor he'd retire and take the team off the hook for the pay that he won't come close to earning over the next two years (although they still may be stuck with it on their cap; I'm not that great in how that stuff works).

[jon abbey]

I think with Amare, Barbossa, Diaw and Bell you've got a reasonable nucleus to build around; not great (except in Amare's mind) but reasonable.

I agree with this, and with Nash's window coming to a close, I can kind of see trying to load up with former superstar role players like Hill and Shaq. the Kurt Thomas move was simply inexcusable on every level, though, whoever's fault that really was, and one would think that Marion would command more value than Shaq, I'd think maybe Utah would have gone for a Kirilenko swap assuming the Phoenix owner could live with his deal, and that might have improved both teams.

[washline]

Wow! The NBA on IHM. A whole new meaning on postproduction!

[washline]

I saw that Detroit waxed Philly today finally in game 6. Is there a more Jekyll and Hyde team in the playoffs these days than the Pistons? I can't see them getting too much further along, though I think they'll handle Orlando. then it's lights out for Motown.

I think the Spurs will beat the Hornets but I hope NO gives them a hard a long series. If the Jazz end up moving on, I'm intrigued by that matchup with LA.

[Captain Hate]

one would think that Marion would command more value than Shaq, I'd think maybe Utah would have gone for a Kirilenko swap assuming the Phoenix owner could live with his deal, and that might have improved both teams.

I may be missing something but I don't see what advantage Utah gets out of that deal; I can't imagine Sloan being happy with it or are you talking about cap room with the Matrix's expiring contract? I don't argue that the talent exchange for Phoenix was wildly out of balance in favor of Miami but Riley has a lot bigger problems with that team and now that he can devote all his attention to that as president. Again Kerr was faced with some pretty large looming problems with the team and had to act to maximize their short-term interests; you're quite correct imo that having Kurt Thomas woud've put them in **much** better position to have made an advantageous strategic move for the future. Who knew that Zeke was the last person (before Pop) to realize the true worth of Kurt by signing him to that whopper contract.

[jon abbey]

well, Marion shows up more consistently than Kirilenko, could have been a similar athletic defensive stopper at 3, would have been sick on the fast break with Deron, and if he chose to opt out (dubious IMO, since no one has the cap money to give him the huge deal he wants), they'd get the cap space where Kirilenko's deal has a few more years still. moot point now...

Bill Simmons went through all of the personnel moves Phoenix has made since Nash showed up, pretty interesting:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/080501" onclick= "window.open(this.href);return false;

Bill A, the interesting thing about the Piston/Orlando series is we can see just how good Dwight Howard has become. Detroit has shut him down pretty well in previous meetings, but he seems to be getting better every day.

[Harold Baines]

Orlando-Detroit should be a great contrast and a very watchable series.

[jon abbey]

Songaila suspended for game 6 tonight, not that he plays much anyway.

[Captain Hate]

Songaila suspended for game 6 tonight, not that he plays much anyway.

Stu Jackson must've felt like acting significant. I think that's really some weak sauce, Marv's initial reaction to the contrary.

[Harold Baines]

Screw Steve Javie.
LeBron old time tough at the end of that half. All around!

[washline]

I've been rather surprised in seeing the eastern conference series' being so competitive, even though 18-25 games separated the top two teams from their opponents in the first round. In contrast, the western conference first round, even though 6-7 games separated all eight teams, was not that competitive. I'm hoping for a better conference semifinal round.

I was disappointed to see the Suns trade for Shaq this season. I didn't think he fit well with their system, not to mention he's not the player he was three years ago. I felt that they should have kept Marion since they were only perhaps a suspension away from possibly knocking off the Spurs last year. This trade was an overcompensation. It slowed down their offense as well.

[jon abbey]

I've been rather surprised in seeing the eastern conference series' being so competitive, even though 18-25 games separated the top two teams from their opponents in the first round.

Philly and Atlanta are both very young and incredibly athletic teams with nothing to lose, and Boston and Detroit have been coasting for months now. also, Detroit has had motivation problems for years now (partly due to their awful coach, partly due to the fact they've been there so much and think they can turn it on whenever necessary). also with Boston, we're seeing why Garnett has only won two playoff series IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER, he's not a premier crunch time scorer.

anyway, awesome to see Atlanta win again tonight, I hope they can somehow keep it close on Sunday.

[jon abbey]

Kobe's the MVP. you could make a good case for any of the top four guys, I would have voted for Paul, but certainly it's very debatable.

[jon abbey]

rough turnaround for Utah, playing in LA tomorrow afternoon a day and a half after closing out Houston.

[Captain Hate]

Fucking NBA; drag out round one forever and a day and then make the Jazz start round two against the Lakers with no rest. The only good news is that teams often respond well to that.

Go Hawks!!!

[user_5440]

Bill Simmons went through all of the personnel moves Phoenix has made since Nash showed up, pretty interesting:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/080501" onclick= "window.open(this.href);return false;

Bill A, the interesting thing about the Piston/Orlando series is we can see just how good Dwight Howard has become. Detroit has shut him down pretty well in previous meetings, but he seems to be getting better every day.

I just read the Simmons piece today. I didn't realize that Kerr was Sarver's buddy prior to getting hired as GM. I hate Sarver. If Walsh hires D'Antoni back as Knicks coach I'll be very excited even if it means being shitty for two more years, clearing cap space.
Even in 2010-11, they will still be paying Randolph, Curry, Jeffries and Crawford, the latter turning 31 that year and making $10M.

[jon abbey]

what a putrid last minute or two for Orlando. that three by Turkoglu with 48 seconds left was a brilliant decision.