New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[steve williams]

Cnnsi.com's Power Ranking:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...5/playoff.power.rankings/index.html?eref=sihp

Chicago is top seed.

Very interesting indeed

OKC as number 3 and Dallas at number 10 behind Portland, Memphis and Denver

Miami number 4 behind OKC

What a series it would be b/n OKC and Chicago and I would lean towards Chicago

The power rating also made clear what we all know, and that the Lakers as good as they are, are an aging team so rebuilding will take time

 

[rblnr]

Miami number 4 behind OKC

I think this underrates the Heat, and as a Bulls fan, they're who I'm most worried aviit in the East

 

[steve williams]

Well Bob

you lucked out

For 46 of the 48 minutes it looked like the Pacers were going to steal one from the Bulls

 

[steve williams]

So here's something interesting

Sixers 31-Heat 19 end of ist

Not sure any series East or West that will be a pushover

 

[jadis]

It's just a little past 5am local time here and in time for the 3rd q of the Sixers-Heat game. Read about how the Pacers gave a great fight to Chicago. Wow. And the early lead of Philly but now down by 10. Yes Steve, no top seed will look down on any opponent in these playoffs, that's for sure. The young teams are looking to spoil the party of the biggies.

 

[steve williams]

The Dallas-Portland series might yield the first upset

 

[jadis]

The Dallas-Portland series might yield the first upset

I feel that too. Can you imagine had Chicago lost this first game to the Pacers, it would mean that the Pacers would have taken over home court advantage, something Chicago worked for the whole season winning 62 games and then losing the edge on its first game? The pressure is big on Chicago to hold serve again of Game 2. Indiana is playing with a mentality of having nothing to lose, and the urgency of coming back from a big deficit to win the game shows Chicago is capable of withstanding such pressures. What an opening game of the playoffs! Opponents of Portland better be ready. I'm imagining what they would be like with a healthy Greg Oden in their team.

 

[Ron Party]

Game 1 traditionally is the road game to steal. That is why the first 2 games today played out as they did. Games 2 in both of thoses series will not be as dramatic.

 

[jadis]

Game 1 traditionally is the road game to steal. That is why the first 2 games today played out as they did. Games 2 in both of thoses series will not be as dramatic.

True, Ron. And Atlanta right now is up at the 3rd over Orlando. Tomorrow we'll have more drama.

 

[steve williams]

That is why the first 2 games today played out as they did. Games 2 in both of thoses series will not be as dramatic.

not sure I agree Ron. It's all about winning whether its the 1st, 2nd game etc

Atlanta had the first upset

 

[Ron Party]

Of course it's about winning. But Game 1 on the road historically is, IIRC, the easiest road game to win in the playoffs.

 

[steve williams]

why would that be so?

 

[jadis]

IMO, there is so much expectation amid the crowd roar and adrenalin that sometimes it does not work to the advantage of the home team, as in Game 1 home jitters. Uptight. And too much pressure to perform well and ultimately win. But we all know that being at home does not mean an automatic win for the home team just bec the fans are cheering for you. And the main hope of the visiting team is to quiet the crowd by padding up a lead, with little pressure to win as they are not favored anyway. By Game 2, the home team, whether win or lose on Game 1, will have settled down and get back to their routine (though there were a few times too that the road team stole Game 2).

Some Finals Game 1 road wins:

'88 - Det @ LAL
'91 - LAL @ Chicago
'93 - Chi @ PHX
'95 - Hou @ Orl
'01 - PHI @ LAL

 

[rblnr]

Well Bob

you lucked out

For 46 of the 48 minutes it looked like the Pacers were going to steal one from the Bulls

Yep, very lucky. Odd thing was that they were tight on defense, not just offense. A lot of breakdowns that you didn't see in the regular season. Boozer has to wake up too. He's got to be the #2 scoring option and should be able to push around Hansbrough in the post. He's a much better player when he's physical.

Was glad to see Philly give the Heat a bit of a scare toward the end. If Ginobli's out, the Grizz have a shot today.

 

[jadis]

It's a good sign that there were no empty seats at Miami's arena in Game 1. A sea of white shirts, nice sight.Their Big 3 seems well locked in. Good sign for them too. And finally, they are closing games properly in the homestretch.

 

[steve williams]

I thought the Sixers held their own for 3 periods yesterday and just ran out of steam as did the Blazers vs the Mavs

IMO however the Mavs look beatable. Hopefully so to rid us of the constant belly aching of their owner Mark Cuban who is always animated on the side lines

 

[steve williams]

Watching the Spurs Grizzlies game with Griz leading at end of first. This could corroborate Ron's post about the first game being the one to steal. I also feel that watching all of yesterday's games and now this one that the play reflects the huge parity between 1st and 8th position. Nothing IMO will beat experience however these bottom tier teams are young, energetic and beyond belief fast with each team having a multitude of accurate 3 point shooters. No doubt they will grab some games and I think it is safe to say that all of us here also think some upsets are possible.

All in all the games have been darn good

 

[steve williams]

First upset of the Western finals

Memphis 101 San Antonio 98

 

[steve williams]

did you se Kobe's 3 pointer at the half time buzzer

 

[Ron Party]

Artest's.