****OFFICIAL 2012 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD****

[dirk digler]

Great sports weekend with the draft and now the NBA Playoffs starting today

First Round Matchups Today:

76ers vs Bulls
Knicks vs Heat
Magic vs Pacers
Mavs vs Thunder

Sunday:

Jazz vs Spurs
Celtics vs Hawks
Clippers vs Grizzlies
Nuggets vs Lakers

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by lcarus

I lost respect for Kobe Bryant last night. I have no dog in this fight. I'm simply watching as a fan of basketball. I'm not a big fan of Kobe or the Lakers anyway, but after what happened in the closing seconds of that game, I just lost respect for him.

Blake gets the wide open 3 in the corner. Fine. He misses. Kobe is under the basket throwing a tantrum. What was Blake supposed to do? Not shoot it? It was a perfect play. Can't ask for a better shot than that. Did Blake or any of Kobe's teammates throw a tantrum after Kobe took an off-balance, fading 20 footer and airballed it with a minute left?

So after the shot misses, Kobe throws his tantrum under the basket. THE GAME IS NOT OVER DUDE! If he would have followed that missed shot, he could have fouled the guy with 2.5-3.0 seconds left. You're only down 1. If you can foul with 2.5 seconds, you have a chance to get the ball up to your half of the court again down by 2 or 3. Instead Gasol (or whoever) had to run over and foul with 1 second. 1-1.5 seconds is precious in a situation like that.

And there was literally no talk in the aftermath of the game about this. Kobe didn't even go for the rebound after the Blake miss when there was still three seconds left. He was too focused on his own frustration and questioning Artest/Blake for a perfectly fine shot. Such a disappointing ending.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

And there was literally no talk in the aftermath of the game about this. Kobe didn't even go for the rebound after the Blake miss when there was still three seconds left. He was too focused on his own frustration and questioning Artest/Blake for a perfectly fine shot. Such a disappointing ending.

Kobe has 5 rings to cover up the scrutiny. LeBron would have been destroyed for doing the same thing, but he has no rings and counted them before he had them. You can't really feel sorry for him.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

And there was literally no talk in the aftermath of the game about this. Kobe didn't even go for the rebound after the Blake miss when there was still three seconds left. He was too focused on his own frustration and questioning Artest/Blake for a perfectly fine shot. Such a disappointing ending.

Kobe knew he threw away the game and then was angry when he didn't get the last chance to win it back and let his ego get the best of him. IT sucked. I will say this much though, I have never seen Kobe laugh after losing any game much less one of the magnitude Queen James just had. Kobe is one of the all-time greats, LeBron will never be.

[dirk digler]

Heat canceled their practice and all media today. Apparently the team is melting down.

Steven A Smith is saying if they lose this series they will move Wade or Bosh or both in the off season

[KC native]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Heat canceled their practice and all media today. Apparently the team is melting down.

Steven A Smith is saying if they lose this series they will move Wade or Bosh or both in the off season

This paired with both LA teams being 0-2 is making for an awesome playoffs. GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Heat canceled their practice and all media today. Apparently the team is melting down.

Steven A Smith is saying if they lose this series they will move Wade or Bosh or both in the off season

I don't know that they're melting down. However, if they lose this series or any other in the East I expect Riles to make changes (and not those like a beatdown Shaq or Jamison a la Cleveland).

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I don't know that they're melting down. However, if they lose this series or any other in the East I expect Riles to make changes (and not those like a beatdown Shaq or Jamison a la Cleveland).

Probably go after Dwight but they will have to move one or both of the big 3 not named Lebron.

Series is a long way from being over though so I wouldn't count them out yet.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I don't know that they're melting down. However, if they lose this series or any other in the East I expect Riles to make changes (and not those like a beatdown Shaq or Jamison a la Cleveland).

Riley needs to step in now but let's hope he doesn't.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Riley needs to step in now but let's hope he doesn't.

He won't step in as coach but I'd bet he's going to be more involved these next 48hrs behind the scenes.

[Bump]

I want to see Pacers vs Celtics. Bird vs the Celtics would be cool and to hell with the heat

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

He won't step in as coach but I'd bet he's going to be more involved these next 48hrs behind the scenes.

Meaning he is going to have to soothe Wade's inflated ego.

I used to like Wade but anymore I think he is one of the biggest babies in the NBA.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Meaning he is going to have to soothe's Wade's inflated ego.

I used to like Wade but anymore I think he is one of the biggest babies in the NBA.

I totally agree.

Wades ego combined with Queen James thinking this is all funny I gotta give the edge to the Pacers.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Meaning he is going to have to soothe's Wade's inflated ego.

I used to like Wade but anymore I think he is one of the biggest babies in the NBA.

His play this entire season (and especially in the post season) has worn on me. He's not the same guy he was a few years ago. He stays behind the play whining to the ref instead of hustling back on defense, his FT shooting doesn't have any arc to it, he takes stupid 3's, etc. Before when he got angry he'd go off and play spectacular. Now when he gets angry he broods and takes stupid shots and commits turnovers.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

I totally agree.

Wades ego combined with Queen James thinking this is all funny I gotta give the edge to the Pacers.

I understand you dislike the Heat and especially Lebron. Fine. I don't care. But you claiming that LBJ thinks this is all funny just shows your ignorance and/or foolish bias. He wasn't laughing/joking during last nights game. I was actually impressed for once in the way he acted. He was encouraging his teammates and being a leader going to each one of them letting them know that it was one game, not to panic, and to stay positive.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I understand you dislike the Heat and especially Lebron. Fine. I don't care. But you claiming that LBJ thinks this is all funny just shows your ignorance and/or foolish bias. He wasn't laughing/joking during last nights game. I was actually impressed for once in the way he acted. He was encouraging his teammates and being a leader going to each one of them letting them know that it was one game, not to panic, and to stay positive.

He was laughing on the sidelines just before the end of the game, look again. YOu might of had your eyes on the Cheetos bag at the time.