The Spurs are 2007 champs!(much more inside)

[Andrew]

I don't think it's ever happened to a defending champion but a quick glance at the NBA Encyclopedia confirms it's happened to the runner up (Washington in 1980 after falling to Seattle in the 1979 Finals).

[K0beStar]

So Miami is going to be the first team in history? Ouch.

[Matt]

Miami can probably steal 2 games, but they do look finished.

[Andrew]

So Miami is going to be the first team in history? Ouch.

Well, they could be.

[K0beStar]

So Miami is going to be the first team in history? Ouch.

Well, they could be.

They will be. If they cant win one game in 3 games, how are they gona make a 4 game run.

[Andrew]

I was talking about a sweep which certainly isn't a given (neither is a Bulls victory though history is certainly on their side). They wouldn't be the first defending champion to lose in the first round; the Spurs in 2000 and Sixers in 1984 both bowed out in the first round after winning the championship the previous season. Neither were swept though.

[K0beStar]

If Miami wins 1 game, i will go out to footlocker,buy myself a dwyane wade jersey, and wear it for the rest of my life..

[Anthony15]

I guess Warriors are for real and Game 1 wasn't a fluke. Won by 18 points in Oakland, Dallas better come out strong in Game 4, otherwise with 3-1, will be quite hard to win it.

[j.23]

jason kidd is such a narcissist. he's doing everything but scoring..

I don't think that was the word you were going for there...

i was going for assassin, i don't know why i thought they meant the same thing.

[hova-]

Weak game by Dallas. Dirk better comes up big in the next game. I cant see those games but how do they defend him ? Or is he just not confident .. only 15 shots taken ... I mean the Warriors have no one who can match up with him and when they double him he should find an open Jet or whoever.

So this will be kinda hard and I am not too sure if the can manage to win one game @Oakland ....

Miami is pretty much over ... for the case they will get sweeped it will be interesting what roster movement they will make.

And the Nets ... Holy cow. They aint too good and wont win against any team with a big inside presence BUT J-Kidd is playing so sick I cant believe.
16/16/19 ....

[Matt]

Weak game by Dallas. Dirk better comes up big in the next game. I cant see those games but how do they defend him ? Or is he just not confident .. only 15 shots taken ... I mean the Warriors have no one who can match up with him and when they double him he should find an open Jet or whoever.

Theoretically they have no one that can match up with him, however Nelson has taken away ALL of Dirks money moves. So, it doesn't matter who is guarding him.....in fact, every single warrior has gotten a chance to guard Dirk in the 1st quarter of each game. The primary defender is in his face, and as soon as he puts it on the floor another guy is rushing at him...he spins, oops, small guy already there swiping at the ball.

Putting it on the floor and drving doesn't really work either since GSW mug him easily with their quickness. So he just shoot's J's and misses.

GSW defence has been thus far excellent. As a team they are playin superb and displaying a high and consistant effort which more than maks up for their 1-on-1 deficiencies. Dallas dependence on iso's and lack of motion means that Warriors can easily dbl tean and rotate out to shooters.

On the other end, GSW are simply getting anything they want. Simply put, they are playing with a passion and a purpose (like running a 4 on 1 break, missing the layup, recovering and scoring). Add that to the fact that Nelson is SERIOUSLY outcoaching Johnson and you have the reason for Dallas failures. It is important to note that GSW are running the show and Dallas are trying to copy, instead of trying to impose their will on the game. If nothing changes then GSW will win this series.

[hova-]

Youre completely right. Nelson knows everythin about the Mavs and about his man Dirk.

I do think the Mavs still got something in the tank. But they need to win the next game to hold up their chances.
The key should be really tough defense. Forcing turnovers. The Warriors are a team that looses confidence quickly in my opinion. Some players just do not have the head for those games. But with the Mavs playing that weak they do not get mentally challenged.

I really hope the Mavs bounce back. I tend to say I am not a fan of any team because I simply like a lot of players on different teams. But in the Playoffs Dallas is my main team

[---]

Golden States defence has been really amazing. I watched the Warriors every time I got the chance during the season and always thought the talk about Golden State having terrible defence was a bit over the top, but they never showed they were that good, just average. Still, not terrible.

Then in the playoffs, they have been amazing. They are like a swarm that just covers all threats before they can do anything about it.

Someone other than the big 3 needs to step up and hit some big shots for Dallas to build confidence. Dirk is drowning in this defence, he is shooting 35%. Josh Howard has been pretty damn good but he has been forced to play big minutes with the lack of much help other than Terry. Jason has been playing well, but where are the three balls? I don't remember him hitting one in this entire series off the top of my head.

Someone needs to step up, someone like Jerry Stackhouse who can still put points on the board. They need someone to get hot and make it a little easier for Dirk.

[NBAFanatic23]

And the Nets ... Holy cow. They aint too good and wont win against any team with a big inside presence. BUT J-Kidd is playing so sick I cant believe.16/16/19 ....

I find that ironic. Wouldn't Bosh be more of an inside threat than Ilgauskis or Gooden from Cleveland? Jason Kidd is playing arguabley, the best basketball of his career. I can't believe the numbers he's putting up in the play-offs, with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 19 assists. I like Golden State right now, and I'd love it even more if they pulled off an upset against the Mavs.

[Matt]

I watched the Warriors every time I got the chance during the season and always thought the talk about Golden State having terrible defence was a bit over the top, but they never showed they were that good, just average. Still, not terrible.

actually for a stretch in the season, especially that road trip they took East, they were terrible on D. Then the last 15 or so games they turned it up a notch and i guess that has carried over. It's all about playing your best ball at the right time i guess.

[Dan's Brain]

Bulls and Pistons both on the verge of sweeps. Should make for a very interesting second round matchup.

[hova-]

And the Nets ... Holy cow. They aint too good and wont win against any team with a big inside presence. BUT J-Kidd is playing so sick I cant believe.16/16/19 ....

I find that ironic. Wouldn't Bosh be more of an inside threat than Ilgauskis or Gooden from Cleveland? Jason Kidd is playing arguabley, the best basketball of his career. I can't believe the numbers he's putting up in the play-offs, with 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 19 assists. I like Golden State right now, and I'd love it even more if they pulled off an upset against the Mavs.

Actually I was thinking about that. But they have Bosh .. and then ?
Gooden and Ilgauskas are more of a threat. Ilgauskas can score very well and Gooden is a beast at the glass.

Bosh is also a player who likes to take the shot from outside. And dont forget that LeBron is also a player who can post up.
So when Bosh plays like he does at the moment, solid, but nothing special, the Raptors are only mediocre under the basket I think.

[DanteDolge]

What the hell happenedto Miami i love Ben Wallace but damn its not looking good fo them down 3 i think miami might win two but it will be hard to four in a row

[maes]

Weak game by Dallas. Dirk better comes up big in the next game. I cant see those games but how do they defend him ? Or is he just not confident .. only 15 shots taken ... I mean the Warriors have no one who can match up with him and when they double him he should find an open Jet or whoever.

They didn't really stop him, he had 16/8 by the half or something. But he got tired running around chasing Baron Davis as he walked into the paint at will, boarding the other Mav's misses (6 offensive boards), and defending (5 fouls).

Mavs aren't stopping peneration at all, they look like the no-defense version before Avery.

Quite surprising.

I find that ironic. Wouldn't Bosh be more of an inside threat than Ilgauskis or Gooden from Cleveland?

Bosh scores quite a bit from the outside, he gets about 40% of his points in the paint. A C like Big Z scores 56% in the paint. Bosh is a scoring threat but not necessarily an inside threat like Shaq.

I like the Raps, but this is Jason Kidd. He's like 2 boards away from averaging almost a trip doub in the playoffs.

[K0beStar]

Orlando's playoff run is over. Nice try though but Detroit to tough. Swept!

[Andreas Dahl]

Orlando was close to win that one, but wouldn't have done much more in the series anyways. Nice to see Darko hit some big shots in the 4th though

It'll be a very exiting series between the Pistons and the Bulls. And I hope that Chicago wins that match-up, but it seems like the Pistons have a slight advantage, especially now with their extra week of rest.

[Matt]

assuming the Bulls actually win their series......

Detroit didnt have to do too much against Orlando. Orlando just does not have the personnel and cannot finish games.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

If the Warriors go on to beat the Mavericks, they will beat the winner of the Jazz-Rockets series especially if its the Rockets because they don't have enough firepower to contain G.S. So, the Warriors could possibly go to the West Finals at least and I would love to see Chicago make it to the East Finals, but the fact that they would have to face Detroit the next round (if they move on) hurts them. I'm just glad to see my prediction come true with Miami not winning another championship and I will go on to say that they will not win another one in a LONG time.

[K0beStar]

Ya and when the Pistons make it to the Finals which they will. They are gona have to go against the Lakers
Lmao leave ma alone..

[---]

If the Warriors go on to beat the Mavericks, they will beat the winner of the Jazz-Rockets series especially if its the Rockets because they don't have enough firepower to contain G.S

I disagree, I think if GS upsets Dallas, Houston has a free ride to the conference finals. Houston is far to strong defensively and there is no one on that Warriors team capable of coming close to guarding Yao Ming.