The Spurs are 2007 champs!(much more inside)

[The X]

I think the Jazz-Warriors series might suit AK47....his length, athleticism & ability to cover the perimeter defensively will be sorely needed by the Jazz if they are to advance....

[Indy]

1Cent, the defensive skills of Biedrins is what makes him as good as he is right now. He'll give Boozer a tough matchup. However I think Booz is unstoppable right now. I really love this Jazz team which is why I'm rooting for them to win it.

Matt, I wish you had taken me up on a bet for this series.

[BZ]

Absolutely heartbroken that the Rockets lost... first my Canucks now my Rockets....

But there's always next year

[joejam999]

Yup, sadly, this loser will probably never get out of 1st round haha.

T-Mac 0-6
Carmelo 0-4

Hell of a series. Now how to beat GS is the question. After 7 games of Yao in the paint I think Boozer might go off. It will be like being able to breath again.

[---]

Man, that game was hard to watch. I feel for Tracy, he played well but I think he almost deferred to his teammates too much. When hes healthy he is one of the top players in the game, he has to be a little more aggressive. Yao kept moving away from the hoop until about halfway through the fourth which was really frustrating, he needs to use that size. When he moves away from the hoop like that he isn't using his best asset.

Boozer was fantastic, those two rebounds at the end of the game sealed it. Why the hell the Rockets didn't foul the first person to get the ball is beyond me. I don't care if he's their best free throw shooter, put him on the line, give yourself a chance, especially when theirs barely 9 seconds to go.

Next year hopefully Tracy makes it to the next round, he deserves it. I want to see this man win a ring so bad. Houstons front office needs to surround Yao and Tracy with some quality players this offseason. Shane Battier is nice, but they need a point guard. They need a little scoring punch.

[hova-]

Warriors - Jazz will be so interesting. Im really looking forward seeing Davis and Williams match up. I think in the paint the Jazz will have huge advantage but they will also have problems to keep up with the speed like the Mavs.
Actually Im rooting for Utah, Boozer is simply amazing and Williams suprised me so much this season. The Warriors were very likeable but since Harrington and Jackson arrived I do not like them that much.

[Andrew]

Oddly enough the results of the Bulls/Heat, Cavs/Wizards, Nets/Raptors and Rockets/Jazz series each reflected the outcome of their respective opening night games, thus the season came full circle for the Heat, Wizards, Raptors and Rockets.

[shadowgrin]

Did yall see Tmac almost cry at the post game conference just a min ago?

During the series T-Mac let out a statement that if the Rockets don't advance to the 1st round he's going to put all the blame on himself.
Guess he can't back himself up.

[frenchy]

Cavs won game one !

YESSSSS

[K0beStar]

Did yall see Tmac almost cry at the post game conference just a min ago?

During the series T-Mac let out a statement that if the Rockets don't advance to the 1st round he's going to put all the blame on himself.
Guess he can't back himself up.

He went out there tried his best, and failed, then cry. I have to respect someone like that that loves the game so much and helps his teammates the best way he can and when he fails he cries. Just shows so much emotion he has for the game. Most players dont show that kind of emotion they just thnk of it as "another loss" and dont care much abuot it. But i dont thnk he should of put all the blame on himself its not all of his fault that his team lost the series.

[shadowgrin]

Just because he cried doesn't mean he deserves sympathy.

From a different standpoint, T-Mac's case is no different from Kobe or KG.

[jonthefon]

Hmm, I have to feel kinda sorry for Houston, I suppose.

Battier, 0-3 in playoff series
Howard, 0-3 in playoff series
Yao, 0-3 in playoff series
McGrady, 0-6 in playoff series

[K0beStar]

Anybody watchitn this the Suns vs Spurs game?? This is unbelievable, Nash is a warrior. Nowitzki needs to learn somethnig from him. Good game.
lol he cant stop the bleeding.

[shadowgrin]

FUCKING BLOOD IS RUINING A GOOD GAME!!!

[K0beStar]

Its like a fountain!! I cant believe Parkers head did that to Nash's nose lol His shorts and jersey all have blood on them. I hope the Suns can get this win though.

[Dro]

Fucking whiny ass Spurs can get the Refs on their side even when they're on the road. Un-fucking-believable.

I love how Tony Parker was the one on the ground crying for a couple minutes while Nash is bloody as sin and just walks away from the play. There's the French for ya...

[The X]

ahh, so that's why they pulled Nash out of the game, I was reading gamecast & couldn't understand why they would pull their only chance to win the game out of the game....unfortunate for the Suns, but these are the breaks....

[K0beStar]

Fucking whiny ass Spurs can get the Refs on their side even when they're on the road. Un-fucking-believable.

I love how Tony Parker was the one on the ground crying for a couple minutes while Nash is bloody as sin and just walks away from the play. There's the French for ya...

Parker abrley got a bruise on his forehead and is on the ground crying while Nash just walks away acting like nothing wrong. What a warrior, he kept wanting to come back into the game.

[shadowgrin]

Nash's nose was like a fountain of blood.

I like the Spurs with their game but fuck that flop by Parker on Barbosa. I hope Nash makes Parker his bitch in the next game. Bell should get in to Parker's head like he did with Kobe.

[Matt]

and so it is, the Spurs take game 1. They can play at any pace!

[Axel]

You mean the Spurs can flop at any pace.

The Spurs are the absolute most frustrating team to watch. It's so blatant. Parker, Bowen, and Ginobili are flailing on literally every other play. Duncan is constantly complaining if a foul is called on him even though the refs are almost always officiating in favor of the Spurs. The amount of contact "great" defenders like Bowen and Duncan get away with is unbelievable when you compare it to the amount of contact it takes to put a player like Wade or Kobe on the foul line.

Yeah I guess as a Suns fan it sounds like I'm just whining about game one, but really, this is why I've always hated the Spurs. If Vlade Divac would come out of retirement he would fit in great on the Spurs.

For the Suns, what a disappointing loss. I don't think things could have possibly gone against them more than they did. Contact was allowed throughout the entire game (which obviously benefits San Antonio), except on the last play where Barbosa got hosed and called for the touch foul on the Parker flop. Then Nash develops hemophilia in the last 3 minutes and bleeds like a stuck pig. I gotta give him a lot of credit though, he was so determined to get back out on the floor. The gash was so big it was obvious what he really needed was stitches, but he was determined to get the win. I think that competitive spirit though will help the Suns get a game back in San Antonio. Plus Amare can't possibly miss any more close shots than he did.

[Lamrock]

You mean the Spurs can flop at any pace.

The Spurs are the absolute most frustrating team to watch. It's so blatant. Parker, Bowen, and Ginobili are flailing on literally every other play. Duncan is constantly complaining if a foul is called on him even though the refs are almost always officiating in favor of the Spurs. The amount of contact "great" defenders like Bowen and Duncan get away with is unbelievable when you compare it to the amount of contact it takes to put a player like Wade or Kobe on the foul line.

Yeah I guess as a Suns fan it sounds like I'm just whining about game one, but really, this is why I've always hated the Spurs. If Vlade Divac would come out of retirement he would fit in great on the Spurs.

For the Suns, what a disappointing loss. I don't think things could have possibly gone against them more than they did. Contact was allowed throughout the entire game (which obviously benefits San Antonio), except on the last play where Barbosa got hosed and called for the touch foul on the Parker flop. Then Nash develops hemophilia in the last 3 minutes and bleeds like a stuck pig. I gotta give him a lot of credit though, he was so determined to get back out on the floor. The gash was so big it was obvious what he really needed was stitches, but he was determined to get the win. I think that competitive spirit though will help the Suns get a game back in San Antonio. Plus Amare can't possibly miss any more close shots than he did.

I completely agree with that post. This game pissed me off, since the Suns played pretty well. I still think they will win the series though. They will probably take Game 2, and San Antonio always loses one of their first 2 home games in a playoff series.

Anyway, though most Game 1's have been played, I have more predictions. Hopefully I do better than 4/8...

#4 Jazz vs. #8 Warriors: Jazz in 7 This will be a close series IMO, but I predict the Jazz to take this in 7. They are just a better team.

#2 Suns vs. #3 Spurs: Suns in 7 This is kind of a homer pick, but I seriously think Phoenix can win this. If they can win Game 2, and split 3 & 4 in SA, they have a great chance. The Spurs are still great actors, but they aren't what they used to be. This is Nash's year.

#1 Pistons vs. #5 Bulls: Pistons in 7 A very close series;Detroit is the superior team, and I think the home team will win every game in the series.

#2 Cavaliers vs. #6 Nets: Cavs in 5 The Nets have been to the playoffs 6 straight times now, compared to Cleveland's two. However, the Cavaliers are a far superior team, and should dispose of this #6 team easily.

[hammertime23]

I don't think there will be 3 series' that last 7 games a piece. I think the Jazz will win in 6. The Spurs will win in 7. The Pistons in 5, and Finally the Nets in 7.

[---]

EAST:

(1) Detroit vs (5) Chicago
Detroit wins, 4-2

Chicago is still a year away from really competing for a championship. The evolution of the younger players like Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha and whoever they get from the Knicks pick should be a big help next year. These Pistons are just to steady and strong to fall to the Bulls.

(2) Cleveland vs (6) New Jersey
New Jersey wins, 4-3

New Jersey will need to play solid defence of Zydrunas and keep Gooden off the glass to win this series. Larry Hughes will be off and on throughout the series and LeBron will get his. Vince Carter has to score effectively, he can't be shooting in the low 40's and chucking up 3's all day if he wants to go to the conference finals. How the Nets defend the post I think decides this one.

WEST:

(8) Golden State vs (4) Utah
Golden State wins, 4-2

Golden State still has a wave of emotion to ride on and the best homecourt advantage in the league. Not many players can guard Baron Davis and I don't think Deron Williams is one of them. Look for a wing to explode in this series, wether it be Jackson or Richardson, maybe even Monta Ellis. Boozer shouldn't have a problem scoring on toothpick Andris Biedrins and not much bigger Al Harrington. As long as Golden State can through more offence at Utah they can win.

(2) Phoenix vs (3) San Antonio
Phoenix wins, 4-3

I got the Suns winning it all, so I have to go with Phoenix here. Boris Diaw needs to step up and help out down low. The Suns I believe will turn this series around very quick, but San Antonio is too strong a team to go down without a fight. Suns pull ut a win in game 7 in front of the home crowd.

[Indy]

Boozer shouldn't have a problem scoring on toothpick Andris Biedrins and not much bigger Al Harrington.

Considering the fact that Al is both smaller and weighs less, I'm a bit confused about that statement.

Biedrins is also a very good low post defender.