Neowin's Official NBA 2004 Playoffs Thread

[giga Veteran]

Lakers lead seris 3-1. Yes !!!

[kombolcha]

that was a good game^ kobe is just amazing

[mattmatik]

Some interesting observations so far:

The Eastern Conference is fun to watch in terms of fastbreaks and tough defense. Other than that...it hurts to watch them shoot or have to go through a half-court offense, which is why they will lose in the Finals to whomever they play. I hope Indiana gets to the Finals - we don't need to see New Jersey AGAIN - and I'd like to see an Indiana vs. San Antonio/Minnesota Finals.

In the West:

Sacramento continues to show why the Lakers don't give them any credit. Their defense has become worse than Dallas and they cannot win on the road. On the flipside, the Lakers are showing that they are on the edge of being down 3-1 to Houston with a 1 point win in Game 1 and today's Overtime win. San Antonio really has a great chance against the Lakers in Round 2.

Minnesota obviously needs some big time bench production if they are going to get passed the 2nd Round. I'm positive MVP-to-be Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell will come out in Game 4 and get this thing back on track. Denver won't go down without a fight, especially at home, but I think Minnesota has the mustard to get back home up 3-1. Of course, if Michael Olowakandi has another meltdown, and if the bench doesn't contribute SOMETHING, the T-Wolves will be in serious trouble.

San Antonio has shown once again that regardless of seeding, they are the team to beat and I'm looking forward to the Spurs-Lakers showdown. I think the Spurs are better than last year for the one simple reason: Tony Parker. When you have a PG who can drive to the bucket, step back and hit a three, penetrate and kick out, play respectable defense, and be a leader PLUS have probably the best post-up player in the game, that's a recipe for success.

I really love the T-Wolves and Garnett. There's not a harder working player on the floor in the league. But, the more I watch San Antonio play, the more I see them repeating. Should be an awesome 2nd Round and Conference Finals.

PS - when will teams take a page from the Spurs and realize that to play defense on Kobe you need to be physical? Bruce Bowen has the recipe for success against him, yet nobody pays attention :no: Teams should incorporate a little "Jordan Rules" with Kobe - I guarantee it will get him out of his game, he doesn't have the patience or the composure - he will just start jacking up crazy shots and take away from his teammates.

[kombolcha]

i def agree w/ you on the last par about kobe. even in todays game where he had 0 pts until which quarter? 3rd or 4th. he destroyed the rockets in OT.. they could have at least fouled him before he got to the basket instead of letting him take it in make the shot w/ a foul. i think the problem w/ whoever is guarding him is that they know who they are facing, they know how good he is and instead of putting their body on him, they give him space, hoping maybe they could block or steal the ball from him. they gotta show him no mercy. plant those two feet on the ground because once he starts moving he's not going to stop.

[kombolcha]

just before half-time the pistons lead the bucks and never looked back with a 109 - 92 victory. they lead the series 3 - 1

the dallas game was big upset :no: i really wanted dallas to win, it was close though 94 - 92 and the kings lead 3 - 1

[wicker_man]

i live in Minnesota, so GO WOLVES!!!! We beat lakers and others, KG is teh MVP, and wolves just deserve to win this year. They got everything for that. This is one of the teams that DESERVES the win. Why? 'Cuz wolves don't have that pathos or money like Lakers do. The guys just do their job. They are down-to-earth. I can go out in Minneapolis and see KG in the same regular bar with me. So yeah, GO WOLVES again!

[cmove]

Yeah for the kings :)

[kombolcha]

lakers won :sleep:

[kombolcha]

:woot: PISTONS WON OMG MICHAEL REDD SUCKS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.. IT'S NOT EVEN THE 4TH QUARTER AND THE BUCKS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN UP HAHAHAHAHA BUCKS DOWN BY 15

WOW, this is sad, i have never seen a team with so many loosers.. not even the start of the 4th and they're fouling like it is. sad.

[davemania]

Thank god the Kings won. Dallas will probably be doing some trading this offseason, wonder if Walker will be in Dallas uniform next year.

[kombolcha]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/bracket

the playoff bracket. ^

[DslLmi]

All I am going to say is that I want the lakers to win.

[giga Veteran]

they lost today. :(

[cmove]

Yeah cool.

[kombolcha]

they lost today. :(

come on, you think the lakers are going to win in spurs court?

and all i can say is, Karl MalOWNED!!1!!!111

[kombolcha]

pistons game was incredible today!!

they kept the nets under 70 points, won by 20+ points, kept the nets to 25points in first half, outnumbered them by 20 rebounds, outscored them by 10 in fastbreak points.

AMAZING!!!

it's time for payback bitches :devil:

[davemania]

Only one prediction wrong in first round. (No upsets after all). My conference final Matchup

King vs SA and Pacers over Detroit.

than Kings over Pacers

[cmove]

It would be great if the kings win the PO

[kombolcha]

my predictions were correct (Y)

here's my second round predictions.

EAST:

Indiana VS Miami - Indiana

New Jersey VS Detroit - Detroit

WEST:

Minnesota VS Sacramento - Sacramento

Los Angeles VS San Antonio - Los Angeles*

* that was a tough decision, but i picked them for two reasons, 1. they always make it through somewhow and 2. i really want to see them play against the pistons in the championship game.

[BOOGMaster]

pistons game was incredible today!!

they kept the nets under 70 points, won by 20+ points, kept the nets to 25points in first half, outnumbered them by 20 rebounds, outscored them by 10 in fastbreak points.

AMAZING!!!

it's time for payback bitches :devil:

how about not being so vulgar, smart one.

[Gunjack]

Why are my TWolves always doubted?

[kombolcha]

how about not being so vulgar, smart one.

**** the nets! sports talk is about bashing ;)

here are updates

EAST:

Indiana lead Miami 2 - 0 (currently playing 4th quarter)

Detroit leads New Jersey 2 - 1 (4th game tomorrow)

WEST:

Minnesota is tie with Sacramento 1 - 1 (game 3 tonight)

San Antonio lead Los Angeles 2 - 1

my 2 cents

it is amazing how the lakers came back, they usually don't make the same mistake twice of guarding the wrong man, they figured it out this time by guarding parker and horry, and worry about duncan.

as for the pistons game, i am very very disappointed, that is just a shameful game, not becuase of their loss,b ut the number of fouls (over 60) and the number of technical fouls. was too much, it was a bad game. but it's only 3 games. and pistons are ahead, they have to think about that and not let the homecourt advantage the nets have get to them. i know they will win tomorrow's game, i will be wearing my pistons shirt for support.

[JorgeIvan]

**** the ****ing bitchin LA Fakers from hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[giga Veteran]

Chill man. No need to get so mad that its tied 2-2 with Spurs.

heh(GO LAKERS (Y) )

[TrickFinlay2]

lakers all the way