I love the Celtics but they might gettin too old to make the finals...then again, maybe with the luck of the irish they can win the whole thing!
 

That was a good play by Harden. He stood his ground, straight up. No foul, I disagree. You know J-Dub, I keep looking for reasons to doubt the Thunder and they keep blowing them out of the water. Last night was incredibly impressive. The team had never won a road playoff game and were at one the league's loudest arena's. Of course, the Nugg's started out hot. Then OKC's big men played the whole game with fouls. KD was at the 4 most of the second q. Also, the Thunder didn't shoot well. Add it all up. How did they win? Well, that's what really good teams do. When things aren't smooth, they rely on D and the stripe to get playoff W's. I thought while ugly, it was a great, great win. 
 
The Heat are toying with the 76'ers. Anyone else wonder why Wade and Bron don't run more pick 'n roll? Maybe they're saving it for the Celtics. 

j w said:

Portland seems like it's making a bid for "team of destiny." They certainly have the right tools.

The Okc/Denver game was terrible. I mean, the ending was terrible. The middle was terrible. The start....I wonder if it was the inexperience at work. Perhaps it was the air after all?

Finally, basketball is a non contact sport and ideally James Harden would have been called for a foul at the end, but this is the playoffs -- you don't call that a foul. Really nice defense by my boy with all things considered.

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The problem with Portland vs Dallas is neither team won on the other team's home court. That 23 point comeback was pretty darn dramatic but unless they can win one in Dallas they'll be hanging out in their mansions and driving to the Plaid Pantry in their Bentleys after next week instead of playing the NBA version of basketball.

There was a story on Wallace before the game. He was in a rather modest apartment with his family. So they don't all live up to the stereotype you put forth. 

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Looks like the Cs will have the first sweep. They need those extra days off before their battle with the Heat.

 Many basketball purists will tell you that any contact whatsoever warrants a foul. I don't think what Harden did in guarding JR deserved a foul call, but I can see why some people --even non Denver  fans -- would have wanted a call. Also, JR's histrionics were obvious but I can't blame him for trying.
 
Also, Viro, I agree. I thought the same thing in regard to the thunder last night. There's a lot to like about this team. They have something this year that they didn't have before. I don't know if it's Perkins or what. RW is an amazingly special player. I sure hope we can get him signed long term.

')
-Celtics Sweep.
 

Problems in Van Gundy-Howardland, it looks like the Hawks are for real while the Magic may have been an illusion.

Yep, good call by fuang. I didn't see this coming. Orlando swept Atlanta last year! Amazing what a few moves can do to two teams.
 
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 J-Dub, fair enough, I agree it was a foul if you're going to take that approach. To be fair in the this purist universe, Smith should have never even had the chance to attempt the three. Because Harden fouled him before the shot or was it Smith that pushed off? Either way, one of them should have been at the line to shoot two. Also it was a moving screen by Lawson. So they should have called that as well, which would have been Thunder ball. 
 
Oh it was Perkins without a doubt. That trade, well actually two trades were huge. Perk is a much tougher interior defender than Kristic. Instead of an undersized Green, Serge was able to move to starter at the four where he has flourished. Things even got better for Nick because Nazr is a true backup 5. Overnight, a weakness became a strength, as OKC can now claim one of the deeper interiors in the league. It's not real potent scoring wise, but with KD,  Wess, and JH, that's not what was really required. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, but the parts are there to be a deep playoff team, maybe not this year but definitely next. 

virometal said:

There was a story on Wallace before the game. He was in a rather modest apartment with his family. So they don't all live up to the stereotype you put forth. 

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I was mostly being facetious Of course not all professional sports players live in mansions and drive Bentleys but I'd guess a higher percentage of them do compared to other non-sports people who are that rich. I don't know much about that Wallace guy but he does seem to be a more level-headed person than many of them.

The Lakers went through both the Thunder and Perkins last year on their way to titletown. Together they will be tougher but this year we have Bynum. And the Heat and Celtics should beat the holy crap out of each other and then the winner will have to deal with the Bulls, so it's looking good for a three-peat. Am I getting ahead of myself or what?

If I were a Laker fan, I would hope for either San Antone or Memphis over OKC. I'm not joking. I would still pick the Lake Show but would love, love to see that series. 

You know, I don't think CP3 and the Mamba like each other very much. If Chris Paul were in a larger market, he would be one of the most hated players in the league. Seriously, the guy is ultra-competitive and does all those little things that get under players' skin. 

I agree, I'm a Laker fan and definitely hope for Memphis or SA over OKC.  And (as a Laker fan) I hate to say this but the Celtics are playing out of their minds right now.  I can see them slicing through the Heat and Bulls if they keep playing at this level.
 

Guh Lakers.  Just guh.