Two of these guys aren't going to the second round . . .

[ShoogarBear]

http://mcoatney.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/duncan.jpghttp://alltalksports.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/kobe-bryant.jpghttp://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070112/070112_nowitzki_vmed_8p.widec.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/02/26/chris.paul.jpghttp://z.about.com/d/phoenix/1/0/V/n/1/suns2007nash2.jpghttp://fantasypi.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/deronwilliams.jpg


The West is just sick.

(I didn't even put T-Mac in there because it's illegal to mention him along with the second round.)

Meanwhile, Miami is 11-51 and still mathematically in the race for a playoff spot in the East.

[Xylus]

That's actually very depressing.

I'm going to stick with my gut. The four guys that make it to the 2nd round:

Nash
Duncan
Kobe
Dirk

Of course, that's assuming that they avoid playing each other in the 1st round, which is statistically unlikely.

[Findog]

When we lose in the first round again, this time there will be no shame.

[Findog]

If Utah has HCA, then they advance. If they don't, they go fishing.

[ShoogarBear]

When we lose in the first round again, this time there will be no shame.Unless you lose to T-Mac. :p:

[O-Factor]

Dirk's fist pump looks kinda gay in that pic.

[Xylus]

If Utah has HCA, then they advance. If they don't, they go fishing.
Check out Utah's final 6 games:

San Antonio
@ New Orleans
@ Dallas
Denver
Houston
@ San Antonio

All 5 of those opponents will be playing their asses off, jockeying for HCA. The Jazz better win most of their next 11 games, or they're in trouble.

[mob]

u put a picture of nash but not fatass?

[ShoogarBear]

u put a picture of nash but not fatass?He's been swept six times before. He's lost as badly in the playoffs as anyone in NBA history.

[Findog]

Check out Utah's final 6 games:

San Antonio
@ New Orleans
@ Dallas
Denver
Houston
@ San Antonio

All 5 of those opponents will be playing their asses off, jockeying for HCA. The Jazz better win most of their next 11 games, or they're in trouble.

Check their schedule: after their road trip, they have like 8 out of 9 at home where they're money, and the one road game is at Minny.

Right now I'm rooting against Denver (sorry Nuggets_Fan) because they are in ninth and it would be just easier for the rest of us if we could put this musical chairs shit to bed and solidify who the eight are going to be. But it's funny how the Nuggets could end up with the eighth-best record and get seeded fourth.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Incredible year in the West, just epic.

I want to see the final playoff bracket before even contemplating who might miss out.

[Xylus]

Utah's next 11 games:

@ Milwaukee
@ Boston
@ New Jersey
Toronto
LA Lakers
Seattle
Charlotte
LA Clippers
@ Minnesota
Washington
Minnesota

And then it's on to that final 6-game stretch I talked about. That is a very cake schedule. Boston and LA are the only two teams that are considered elite, Toronto can give anyone trouble, while Washington and Charlotte are fighting to make the EC playoffs. I don't see them going any less than 7-4 during that stretch.

[LakerMagic]

Im guessing Nash and Paul

[Kori Ellis]

It's just sad that a team in the East that's 10-15 games under .500 might make the playoffs, and a team that's over by that much won't make it in the West.

[Findog]

Utah's next 11 games:

@ Milwaukee
@ Boston
@ New Jersey
Toronto
LA Lakers
Seattle
Charlotte
LA Clippers
@ Minnesota
Washington
Minnesota

And then it's on to that final 6-game stretch I talked about. That is a very cake schedule. Boston and LA are the only two teams that are considered elite, Toronto can give anyone trouble, while Washington and Charlotte are fighting to make the EC playoffs. I don't see them going any less than 7-4 during that stretch.

I wouldn't be surprised if they lost their next three. They're not going to beat Boston, and they're playing Milwaukee on the 2nd night of a back to back and the Bucks are tough at home. Which muddies it up even more because I was hoping for there to be some separation between Utah and Denver and that might not happen because Utah is so shitty on the road.

[LakerMagic]

It's just sad that a team in the East that's 10-15 games under .500 might make the playoffs, and a team that's over by that much won't make it in the West.

16 team playoff is what we need. Screw the conferences when it comes to post season play.

[Findog]

It's just sad that a team in the East that's 10-15 games under .500 might make the playoffs, and a team that's over by that much won't make it in the West.

Atlanta has a worse record than Sacramento and if the playoffs started today, they'd be in, and they've played most of their games against the East.

[Xylus]

The Suns are a half-game ahead of the Jazz right now, and it needs to stay that way. Unfortunately, the Suns have a tougher schedule at the moment and they're still in the process of integrating the Big Saguaro.

I think the Suns will be better off playing the Jazz or the Rockets in the 1st round, as opposed to New Orleans, Denver, or Golden State.

[Xylus]

http://alltalksports.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/kobe-bryant.jpg

That's a badass photo of Kobe.

[Purple & Gold]

Utah can't win on the road

[Findog]

The Suns are a half-game ahead of the Jazz right now, and it needs to stay that way. Unfortunately, the Suns have a tougher schedule at the moment and they're still in the process of integrating the Big Saguaro.

I think the Suns will be better off playing the Jazz or the Rockets in the 1st round, as opposed to New Orleans, Denver, or Golden State.

You guys should hope to play us. Shaq or Marion, we can't guard the Nash and Amare pick and roll.

[Xylus]

You guys should hope to play us. Shaq or Marion, we can't guard the Nash and Amare pick and roll.
Yeah, Dallas would be a good matchup for the Suns. Aside from the pick-and-roll. Dampier would have his hands full with Shaq, and Dirk would have his hands full with Amare.

I'm not on the "Dallas sucks" train, though, and I think you guys would still give the Spurs a run for their money. Call me crazy, but I think Dallas could beat the Lakers in a 7-game series.

[Purple & Gold]

Yeah, Dallas would be a good matchup for the Suns. Aside from the pick-and-roll. Dampier would have his hands full with Shaq, and Dirk would have his hands full with Amare.

I'm not on the "Dallas sucks" train, though, and I think you guys would still give the Spurs a run for their money. Call me crazy, but I think Dallas could beat the Lakers in a 7-game series.

CRAZY

[Xylus]

CRAZY
:elephant

Without a healthy Bynum, I don't think the Lakers have what it takes to get past the 2nd round.

[Purple & Gold]

:elephant

Without a healthy Bynum, I don't think the Lakers have what it takes to get past the 2nd round.

That's something we can agree on.

[DazedAndConfused]

Yet we can still spank the Suns.

[Matchman]

im gonna bump this shit up once we stomp our first opponent in the first round!

[Xylus]

That's something we can agree on.
Take a photo, 'cause it ain't gonna happen often.

[Purple & Gold]

Take a photo, 'cause it ain't gonna happen often.

Yeah suns and sunsfans are still bitches. I'm sure we can agree on that. :oops :oops

[Xylus]

Yeah suns and sunsfans are still bitches. I'm sure we can agree on that. :oops :oops
Epic burn. :rolleyes

[Allanon]

Excellent post and great points so far...this sure beats KFC.

How bad is it in the West when the most badass 6 footer on a loaded team will start the Playoffs on his Couch? Sorry AI, Crymelo, K-Mart, JR and Camby.

I think the season will end like this:
1. Lakers
2. Houston
3. Mavericks
4. Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Hornets
8. Warriors

So good bye to: Baron Davis, Dirk, Deron Williams, T-Mac

2nd Round: Lakers vs Hornets, Spurs vs Suns

[1Parker1]

What's even sadder is when you think about the Finals. It's going to be so hard for whoever to just come out of the Western Conference, seeing as how there's literally a possibility of upset in the first round against anyone. Meanwhile, in the West Boston and Detroit really only have to worry about eachother in the finals and no other team.

I'm interested in seeing how much of a break the East will get, while the West still duke it out in 6-7 games per round!

[urunobili]

16 team playoff is what we need. Screw the conferences when it comes to post season play.
+1

[1Parker1]

Except it's hard to forget about conferences because:

A) I think it elminates a lot of the traditional "rivalries" or potential rivalries.
B) The traveling in the playoffs would make it virtually impossible. What if the First Round matchup ends up being the Lakers vs Raptors? How would you expect fans in those timezones to watch those games and how would u expect them to play 7 games in a week and half?

[gospursgojas]

16 team playoff is what we need. Screw the conferences when it comes to post season play.


I'm sure the NBA will just say this was a freak year that had so many good teams in the west. The sad thing is that since 4 teams in the east will make the playoff that surely don't belong they wont be included in the lottery. And 2 or 3 teams that don't make the playoffs in the west will be.

That only makes the west stronger and the east weeker which makes the problem worse.

:rolleyes

[Extra Stout]

The Nuggets are a lottery team in the West. They would have home court in the first round in the East.

Dallas is fourth in the Southwest. They would lead the Southeast.

This could go on and on.

[hater]

Two of these guys aren't going to the second round . . .
http://alltalksports.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/kobe-bryant.jpghttp://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070112/070112_nowitzki_vmed_8p.widec.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/02/26/chris.paul.jpghttp://z.about.com/d/phoenix/1/0/V/n/1/suns2007nash2.jpghttp://fantasypi.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/deronwilliams.jpg

fixed

[honestfool84]

at the end of this season, stern is gonna form this trade committee that pop was talking about, and force all the good teams to share their talent, so that the conferences are back even..

[smeagol]

16 team playoff is what we need. Screw the conferences when it comes to post season play.
Words of wisdom from a lakerFan

[MoSpur]

I am actually pulling for the Lakers to make it out of the West if S.A doesn't make it out of the West. I know S.A will spank teams come playoff time. The only obstacle that stands in the Spurs way are bogus non-calls.

[honestfool84]

I am actually pulling for the Lakers to make it out of the West if S.A doesn't make it out of the West. I know S.A will spank teams come playoff time. The only obstacle that stands in the Spurs way are bogus non-calls.


ewwwww. lakers?
haha.

[BonnerDynasty]

Im guessing Nash and Paul

[DazedAndConfused]

I am actually pulling for the Lakers to make it out of the West if S.A doesn't make it out of the West. I know S.A will spank teams come playoff time. The only obstacle that stands in the Spurs way are bogus non-calls.

???? What kind of Spork fan are you?

[ricketts]

Dirk's fist pump looks kinda gay in that pic.

looks like he's doing the sprinkler.

[Jimcs50]

Right now, SA and Dallas will meet in rd 1....how sick is that????


SA needs to get the #1 seed, as that matches them up with Golden State, which IMO is the only walk in the first round. The Lakers would sweep them and the rest of the series would be long grueling 7 gamers....so LA would have a decide advantage in rd 2 against the 4-5 winner, who would be bruised and battered after the first rd slugfest.

[robbie380]

Excellent post and great points so far...this sure beats KFC.

How bad is it in the West when the most badass 6 footer on a loaded team will start the Playoffs on his Couch? Sorry AI, Crymelo, K-Mart, JR and Camby.

I think the season will end like this:
1. Lakers
2. Houston
3. Mavericks
4. Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Hornets
8. Warriors

So good bye to: Baron Davis, Dirk, Deron Williams, T-Mac

2nd Round: Lakers vs Hornets, Spurs vs Suns


so you actually believe we will get the #2 seed and lose against a team we have beat down twice on our streak? :drunk

we match up very well with the hornets (no big post presence) and would probably beat them in 5. they would easily be the best matchup for the rockets in the first round. i think it would be a fun series as well because these teams are starting to develop a rivalry.

[phxspurfan]

this thread worries me :[

[m33p0]

I'm sure the NBA will just say this was a freak year that had so many good teams in the west. The sad thing is that since 4 teams in the east will make the playoff that surely don't belong they wont be included in the lottery. And 2 or 3 teams that don't make the playoffs in the west will be.

That only makes the west stronger and the east weeker which makes the problem worse.
:rolleyes
+1
if there's any argument to be made for reseeding or restructuring the league, this is it.

[ShoogarBear]

im gonna bump this shit up once we stomp our first opponent in the first round!If I just reverse-jinxed the Rockets into the WCF, I won't post for a whole year.




















http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/894/45122583.JPG

[ShoogarBear]

Except it's hard to forget about conferences because:

A) I think it elminates a lot of the traditional "rivalries" or potential rivalries.
B) The traveling in the playoffs would make it virtually impossible. What if the First Round matchup ends up being the Lakers vs Raptors? How would you expect fans in those timezones to watch those games and how would u expect them to play 7 games in a week and half?I agree with this and more. If you're just going to take the top 16 records, then you have to have the schedule balanced. Why should Boston and Detroit get the 1-2 seeds when they play most of their games against the East? And so if you then balance the schedules, why bother having conferences or divisions at all?

Divisions/conferences foster more local rivalry and competition. It's an accepted vagary in sports that you'll have weak divisions and strong divisions. Part of the reason the West is so crazy is because the top teams are all maneuvering against each other. It wouldn't be nearly as fun if they were just all in one big glob.

[tlongII]

Everything changes next year. The Blazers will be dominant.

[tlongII]

I agree with this and more. If you're just going to take the top 16 records, then you have to have the schedule balanced. Why should Boston and Detroit get the 1-2 seeds when they play most of their games against the East? And so if you then balance the schedules, why bother having conferences or divisions at all?

Divisions/conferences foster more local rivalry and competition. It's an accepted vagary in sports that you'll have weak divisions and strong divisions. Part of the reason the West is so crazy is because the top teams are all maneuvering against each other. It wouldn't be nearly as fun if they were just all in one big glob.

The West's superiority over the East is similar to the AL's superiority over the NL in MLB.

[1Parker1]

^That's true also, I forgot to account for the fact that the regular season schedules would still be unbalanced. And it's also very true that it wouldn't be as much fun if there weren't divisions.

I think the best bet is to hope that this season is just an anomaly. You have to think/hope with Lebron getting more experience, Wade getting healthy, Arenas staying with the Wizards and staying healthy, and up and coming young teams like the Sixers, Hawks, etc. getting more experience it will eventually balance out.

[1Parker1]

Everything changes next year. The Blazers will be dominant.


:rolleyes The Blazers are in the West genius. Keep up with the conversation.

:)

[tlongII]

:rolleyes The Blazers are in the West genius. Keep up with the conversation.

:)

Dammit I know that! The Blazers will win over 70 games and no other team will be near them in the standings!

[1Parker1]

^Or your boy Oden could require surgery on his other knee and be out another year.

:smokin

[cash459]

If Utah has HCA, then they advance. If they don't, they go fishing.

:toast

[ShoogarBear]

Everything changes next year. The Blazers will be dominant.Three of these guys aren't going to the first round . . .


http://fans.blazers.com/blogs/mike_barrett/uploaded_images/brandon-729600.jpghttp://images.usatoday.com/Wires2Web/20071103/4234868539_Trail_Blazers_Hornets_Basketballx.jpght tp://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2007/Jun/29/BR2007062910535715746.jpg

[Galileo]

Duncan is 9-0 in first round series.

So I predict the Spurs will make the 2nd round.

That's the worst round for Duncan, they are 5-4 in round 2.

4-1 in round three.

4-0 in round four.

[tlongII]

Dynasty? (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ssM2n83pTng)


I think so. :smokin

[FromWayDowntown]

Three of these guys aren't going to the first round . . .


http://fans.blazers.com/blogs/mike_barrett/uploaded_images/brandon-729600.jpghttp://images.usatoday.com/Wires2Web/20071103/4234868539_Trail_Blazers_Hornets_Basketballx.jpght tp://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2007/Jun/29/BR2007062910535715746.jpg

:lol

[jag]

Three of these guys aren't going to the first round . . .


http://fans.blazers.com/blogs/mike_barrett/uploaded_images/brandon-729600.jpghttp://images.usatoday.com/Wires2Web/20071103/4234868539_Trail_Blazers_Hornets_Basketballx.jpght tp://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2007/Jun/29/BR2007062910535715746.jpg

:lmao

[jag]

If you think about it, which ever team makes it out of the West will be so much more prepared than the team that makes it from the East. The level of competition in the West is gonna be outrageous. Or they could just be worn out...take your pick.

[41times]

Duncan is 9-0 in first round series.

So I predict the Spurs will make the 2nd round.

That's the worst round for Duncan, they are 5-4 in round 2.

4-1 in round three.

4-0 in round four.

I think this is a Very interesting Stat. Can you tell me the teams that Duncan lost to and what were the seedings?
Good stuff.

[1Parker1]

:lmao @ Shoogarbear.

[CarefreeAZ]

Yet we can still spank the Suns.

Kobe is 2 for 2 with first round exits. I see a third in his future

[tlongII]

Eff Shoog!

[FromWayDowntown]

I think this is a Very interesting Stat. Can you tell me the teams that Duncan lost to and what were the seedings?
Good stuff.

Duncan's playoff runs:

1998 -- Spurs #5; beat #4 PNX, lost to #1 UTH
1999 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 MIN, #4 LAL, #2 PRT, #8 NYK
2001 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 MIN, #5 DAL, lost to #2 LAL
2002 -- Spurs #2; beat #7 SEA, lost to #3 LAL
2003 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 PNX, #4 LAL, #3 DAL, #2 NJN
2004 -- Spurs #3; beat #6 MEM, lost to #2 LAL
2005 -- Spurs #2; beat #7 DEN, #3 SEA, #1 PNX, #1 DET
2006 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 SAC, lost to #4 DAL
2007 -- Spurs #3; beat #6 DEN, #2 PNX, #4 UTH, #2 CLE

vs. particular seeds:
#1: 2-1
#2: 4-2
#3: 1-1
#4: 4-1
#5: 1-0
#6: 2-0
#7: 2-0
#8: 5-0

[41times]

Duncan's playoff runs:

1998 -- Spurs #5; beat #4 PNX, lost to #1 UTH
1999 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 MIN, #4 LAL, #2 PRT, #8 NYK
2001 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 MIN, #5 DAL, lost to #2 LAL
2002 -- Spurs #2; beat #7 SEA, lost to #3 LAL
2003 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 PNX, #4 LAL, #3 DAL, #2 NJN
2004 -- Spurs #3; beat #6 MEM, lost to #2 LAL
2005 -- Spurs #2; beat #7 DEN, #3 SEA, #1 PNX, #1 DET
2006 -- Spurs #1; beat #8 SAC, lost to #4 DAL
2007 -- Spurs #3; beat #6 DEN, #2 PNX, #4 UTH, #2 CLE

vs. particular seeds:
#1: 2-1
#2: 4-2
#3: 1-1
#4: 4-1
#5: 1-0
#6: 2-0
#7: 2-0
#8: 5-0

That is excellent Stat work man. Thanks.

I can see why you guys hate the Lakers. It would be nice to eliminate PHx with Shaq on the team wouldn't it!