****OFFICIAL 2013 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD****

[-King-]

2012-2013 NBA Champions:

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by -King-

Like Hootie said. With Kobe off the team, there's no stopping this team.

well that works real well considering they don't have a PG either and are playing guys I've literally never heard of because of it

a healthy Nash and they could have been competitive

shit, even with Kobe they probably would have been swept...at best they may have won 1 game

[Hootie]

also, Colin Cowherd agreed with me that the Lakers with D'Antoni are better without Kobe. He said the same damn thing.

I think Colin's knowledge is greater than a few ChiefsPlanet Lakers homers.

[KC_Connection]

We never got to see the a healthy Lakers team without Kobe. Either way, they weren't beating this Spurs team. Just so much better than them...especially defensively.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Hootie

also, Colin Cowherd agreed with me that the Lakers with D'Antoni are better without Kobe. He said the same damn thing.

I think Colin's knowledge is greater than a few ChiefsPlanet Lakers homers.

Lakers don't even make the playoffs without Kobe.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by -King-

Lakers don't even make the playoffs without Kobe.

Disagree. I think with Nash facilitating and the team focusing on the big men like they were without Kobe they could have won 50 games.

Clearly, Nash was never going to be able to be healthy so it's a moot point.

Howard needs to go sign with Houston.

[Hootie]

Honestly...

the Spurs are my pick to represent the Western Conference now.

I think they are the one team that may be able to give the Heat a bit of a run as well.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Honestly...

the Spurs are my pick to represent the Western Conference now.

I think they are the one team that may be able to give the Heat a bit of a run as well.

I agree. Durant will be in tough to beat this Spurs team by himself.

The Spurs are also capable of winning a few home games against the Heat. I don't know about the entire series, but I think it would be very entertaining to watch.

[Simplicity]

Knicks will close it out next game in series. Melo had 2 attempts at hitting go-ahead shots to win it but just didn't get it done today, it'll happen next. We missed J.R. today too.

[-King-]

Derrick Rose may return to the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the NBA playoffs, according to his brother, Reggie.

Speaking with the Chicago Tribune (via NBC Sports' Rotoworld), Reggie said that Rose is close to 100 percent and could return in the second round against the Miami Heat:

He has been working hard and getting a lot of shots up every day. Most of all, he is getting his mind ready, getting comfortable with his body. I think (his mind) is probably at a good 90 percent now.

Reggie isn't being presumptuous about Chicago advancing past the first round. The Bulls are now up 3-1 on the Brooklyn Nets and appear fated for a second-round date with LeBron James and the Heat.

He is, however, being rather audacious in his assessment of his brother's immediate future. Rose has been cleared to play since March, but he's been reluctant to return until he's mentally ready. Reggie appears to believe that his brother's mind is almost right, but Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said it was unlikely his point guard would return during the postseason.

Though some would be inclined to believe that Rose's brother would have an inside track on what the floor general plans to do, this is the same brother who ripped Chicago for not making any moves at the trade deadline, insisting that would play a factor in whether Rose returned.

Has Rose suddenly changed his mind? Perhaps. The Bulls have won three straight games over the Nets in convincing fashion. That could be enough to make both Reggie and Derrick believe there's something more than an early exit to play for.

But is it worth reading anything into Reggie's most recent sentiments? Absolutely not. Rose has been close to returning since the All-Star break. He's been officially able to return since March.

But he hasn't.

Rose himself could tell us that he will return for the second round, and I wouldn't believe him until I saw him run out of the tunnel in his uniform. That's the kind of roller coaster his year has been.

Everyone, including Rose's own family, has an opinion, and it's imperative we remember not to recognize any speculation as fact—especially from Reggie.


Nothing against the man, but he asserted Rose may not return because the Bulls didn't have enough pieces to win, something Rose himself refuted. Now he's changed his tune, and there's really no telling if that's because Derrick has changed his.

Reggie could be telling the truth, he really could. But his evaluation of the situation could also be fabricated or merely a personal opinion—without a trace of fact—or even some combination of both.

Even if his take was an accurate one, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Who's to say Rose goes from 90 percent to 100 percent by the second round?

Derrick may return for the second round, and he might not. We just don't know. Everything we've heard up until now has played off that.

Reggie Rose's latest offering is no exception.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by -King-

Derrick Rose may return to the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the NBA playoffs, according to his brother, Reggie.

Speaking with the Chicago Tribune (via NBC Sports' Rotoworld), Reggie said that Rose is close to 100 percent and could return in the second round against the Miami Heat:

He has been working hard and getting a lot of shots up every day. Most of all, he is getting his mind ready, getting comfortable with his body. I think (his mind) is probably at a good 90 percent now.

Reggie isn't being presumptuous about Chicago advancing past the first round. The Bulls are now up 3-1 on the Brooklyn Nets and appear fated for a second-round date with LeBron James and the Heat.

He is, however, being rather audacious in his assessment of his brother's immediate future. Rose has been cleared to play since March, but he's been reluctant to return until he's mentally ready. Reggie appears to believe that his brother's mind is almost right, but Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said it was unlikely his point guard would return during the postseason.

Though some would be inclined to believe that Rose's brother would have an inside track on what the floor general plans to do, this is the same brother who ripped Chicago for not making any moves at the trade deadline, insisting that would play a factor in whether Rose returned.

Has Rose suddenly changed his mind? Perhaps. The Bulls have won three straight games over the Nets in convincing fashion. That could be enough to make both Reggie and Derrick believe there's something more than an early exit to play for.

But is it worth reading anything into Reggie's most recent sentiments? Absolutely not. Rose has been close to returning since the All-Star break. He's been officially able to return since March.

But he hasn't.

Rose himself could tell us that he will return for the second round, and I wouldn't believe him until I saw him run out of the tunnel in his uniform. That's the kind of roller coaster his year has been.

Everyone, including Rose's own family, has an opinion, and it's imperative we remember not to recognize any speculation as fact—especially from Reggie.


Nothing against the man, but he asserted Rose may not return because the Bulls didn't have enough pieces to win, something Rose himself refuted. Now he's changed his tune, and there's really no telling if that's because Derrick has changed his.

Reggie could be telling the truth, he really could. But his evaluation of the situation could also be fabricated or merely a personal opinion—without a trace of fact—or even some combination of both.

Even if his take was an accurate one, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Who's to say Rose goes from 90 percent to 100 percent by the second round?

Derrick may return for the second round, and he might not. We just don't know. Everything we've heard up until now has played off that.

Reggie Rose's latest offering is no exception.

If he does, it would be insane for the Bulls fans but really he isn't going to have much of a role in the games just coming off a year without playing in an NBA game.

[KC_Connection]

Would certainly make the Heat/Bulls series more interesting that way.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Would certainly make the Heat/Bulls series more interesting that way.

I actually kinda hope he comes back so the attention is taken from the Heat. ****ing hate hearing about James, Wade, and below average NBA player (Chris Bosh).

[Fritz88]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

If he does, it would be insane for the Bulls fans but really he isn't going to have much of a role in the games just coming off a year without playing in an NBA game.

Not so fast, the guy has been cleared by doctors more than a month and a half ago (if I am not mistaken). It might be his first NBA game after the injury, but it wouldn't be that big of a transition since he's been preparing post injury for a while.

I think he will make a difference. Is it big enough to win the east? I don't know.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Fritz88

Not so fast, the guy has been cleared by doctors more than a month and a half ago (if I am not mistaken). It might be his first NBA game after the injury, but it wouldn't be that big of a transition since he's been preparing post injury for a while.

I think he will make a difference. Is it big enough to win the east? I don't know.

He's not going to go out there and drop Durant-like numbers (un-fair to compare the 2 but doing it anyways). I don't think he would do any better then what Robinson is doing for them right now.

[Fritz88]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

He's not going to go out there and drop Durant-like numbers (un-fair to compare the 2 but doing it anyways). I don't think he would do any better then what Robinson is doing for them right now.

You might be right. But I'll wait and see, Rose is good enough to be that difference maker.