Pacers: That's the second best team in the East?

[thunderup]

I've been saying all year that the Heat have a free ride to the Finals. It's shameful to know nobody in their own pathetic conference will challenge them.

[ElNono]

but u can feel it.. its right there

we definitely clinched last night... how bout your team?

[crc21209]

Embarrasing is all I can say. Indiana should be embarrased...

[DMC]

we definitely clinched last night... how bout your team?

They clinched too, but in a different area.

[thunderup]

I also previously put Indiana on the same tier as Denver. That was a mistake. They belong on the same tier as the Lakers and Rockets.

[ElNono]

I also previously put Indiana on the same tier as Denver. That was a mistake. They belong on the same tier as the Lakers and Rockets.

Rockets are fluky as , but they can make shots... these guys look handicapped... how did Paul George make the All Star?

[midnightpulp]

I'm sure Lakers fans will themselves blind after this win, and the usual posters who overrate the Lakers will once again claim they've "figured it out" and are an emerging threat, but anyone who has been watching basketball for more than 5 years should know that teams often play way over their heads the next few games after losing a key player. The Spurs looked even better the next 3 games after Parker went down. Atlanta, after losing two of their best players, beat the Lakers with what was essentially a D-League team. Boston had the big streak after losing Rondo. Going back even further, Dallas gave the Spurs all they could handle in the '03 WCF after losing Dirk in game 3. Etc, etc.

I call it the "Step up phenomenon."

Also, the Lakers matchup pretty decently with the Pacers. Half court oriented, grit-and-grind teams don't give the Lakers the kind of trouble as slashing, fast breaking teams filled with athletes.

[Koolaid_Man]

I'm sure Lakers fans will themselves blind after this win, and the usual posters who overrate the Lakers will once again claim they've "figured it out" and are an emerging threat, but anyone who has been watching basketball for more than 5 years should know that teams often play way over their heads the next few games after losing a key player. The Spurs looked even better the next 3 games after Parker went down. Atlanta, after losing two of their best players, beat the Lakers with what was essentially a D-League team. Boston had the big streak after losing Rondo. Going back even further, Dallas gave the Spurs all they could handle in the '03 WCF after losing Dirk in game 3. Etc, etc.

I call it the "Step up phenomenon."

Also, the Lakers matchup pretty decently with the Pacers. Half court oriented, grit-and-grind teams don't give the Lakers the kind of trouble as slashing, fast breaking teams filled with athletes.

mid we won -- so looks like your ty diarrhea stay plugged in your rectum tonight....

[whitemamba]

we definitely clinched last night... how bout your team?

i just wonder if we are ever going to be healthy tbh, not sure if im optimistic about falling in love with the 3 so much

[midnightpulp]

mid we won -- so looks like your ty diarrhea stay plugged in your rectum tonight....

Without Kobe

[ElNono]

i just wonder if we are ever going to be healthy tbh, not sure if im optimistic about falling in love with the 3 so much

likewise

[Latarian Milton]

heat are outstanding in the east but it's really hard to figure out which is the next best. for the early half of the season i would've picked knicks w/o any hesitation but at this point of time, with knicks having already turned , it's difficult to name another team that's unarguably better than the other 13 teams in this conference tbh. bulls might be the #2 with rose back though

[KaiRMD1]

I must ask, saying a team is the second best in the east, is that really anything to write home about? It's the east

[whitemamba]

I'm sure Lakers fans will themselves blind after this win, and the usual posters who overrate the Lakers will once again claim they've "figured it out" and are an emerging threat, but anyone who has been watching basketball for more than 5 years should know that teams often play way over their heads the next few games after losing a key player. The Spurs looked even better the next 3 games after Parker went down. Atlanta, after losing two of their best players, beat the Lakers with what was essentially a D-League team. Boston had the big streak after losing Rondo. Going back even further, Dallas gave the Spurs all they could handle in the '03 WCF after losing Dirk in game 3. Etc, etc.

I call it the "Step up phenomenon."

Also, the Lakers matchup pretty decently with the Pacers. Half court oriented, grit-and-grind teams don't give the Lakers the kind of trouble as slashing, fast breaking teams filled with athletes.

figuring it out

arent the lakers one of the hottest teams since the all star break? since the all star break they have been playing better and the record shows

[HarlemHeat37]

As a Heat supporter, if I had to rank the teams in order of preferred playoff opponent, I'd go:

1. Atlanta
2. Brooklyn
3. Houston
4. Golden State
5. OKC
6. LA Lakers
7. LA Clippers
8. Milwaukee
9. Denver
10. Indiana with Granger
11. Boston
12. Chicago with Rose
13. New York
14. San Antonio
15. Memphis

[midnightpulp]

figuring it out

arent the lakers one of the hottest teams since the all star break? since the all star break they have been playing better and the record shows

Yeah, all those down-to-the-wire single digit wins against the likes of Detroit, Toronto, Phoenix, New Orleans are really impressive.

Then when they play the contenders, they get smoked by an average of about 15 points per game.

Figured it out, indeed.

[Koolaid_Man]

Yeah, all those down-to-the-wire single digit wins against the likes of Detroit, Toronto, Phoenix, New Orleans are really impressive.

Then when they play the contenders, they get smoked by an average of about 15 points per game.

Figured it out, indeed.

midget - this was our official blessing in disguise game...now we know we can win without Kobe....this is gonna go a long long way at establishing our iden y going forward...Now Dwight knows he can lead and our shooters know what they have to do....Artest is a love em hate em kind of guy but Dr. Bull rolled with him and I have a feeling Ron Ron is going to pay off for us one more time....

Blessing In Disguise.....now it's time to take it to that next level we did all this without Kobe or Gasol

[whitemamba]

Yeah, all those down-to-the-wire single digit wins against the likes of Detroit, Toronto, Phoenix, New Orleans are really impressive.

Then when they play the contenders, they get smoked by an average of about 15 points per game.

Figured it out, indeed.

ur what im saying. i said since the all star break, they have been playing better.. enlighten me who are the contenders they have faced up against...i beleive OKC was the only team, if u consider them contenders or not thats your opinion. a win is a win whether its be 1 or 50 the record doesnt show how many point you won by

[Venti Quattro]

a win is a win whether its be 1 or 50 the record doesnt show how many point you won by

Lol yup. Right now beggars can't be choosers. It's only one win whether the Lakers squeeze by or squeeze the opponents down. They've piled enough fluke or wins to make it back to the playoff race, so I'm not complaining! Keep those fluke and weak wins coming!

[midnightpulp]

midget - this was our official blessing in disguise game...now we know we can win without Kobe....this is gonna go a long long way at establishing our iden y going forward...Now Dwight knows he can lead and our shooters know what they have to do....Artest is a love em hate em kind of guy but Dr. Bull rolled with him and I have a feeling Ron Ron is going to pay off for us one more time....

Blessing In Disguise.....now it's time to take it to that next level we did all this without Kobe or Gasol

Did what?

You beat an offensively challenged overrated East team.

Spurs beat the Thunder without their best player, and you don't see me ing about it.

And at Gasol now being the savior when you couldn't wait for him to be traded. You guys are what you are: First round fodder.

[HI-FI]

Hopefully Kobe's ankle is alright so that he can make it back in time to shoot the lakers out of the playoffs. #warrior

[thunderup]

As a Heat supporter, if I had to rank the teams in order of preferred playoff opponent, I'd go:

1. Atlanta
2. Brooklyn
3. Houston
4. Golden State
5. OKC
6. LA Lakers
7. LA Clippers
8. Milwaukee
9. Denver
10. Indiana with Granger
11. Boston
12. Chicago with Rose
13. New York
14. San Antonio
15. Memphis

as a Heat "supporter"
bandwagoning got

[whitemamba]

Did what?

You beat an offensively challenged overrated East team.

Spurs beat the Thunder without their best player, and you don't see me ing about it.

And at Gasol now being the savior when you couldn't wait for him to be traded. You guys are what you are: First round fodder.

u confident in your opinion?

[whitemamba]

as a Heat "supporter"
bandwagoning got

sup CN

[whitemamba]

everyone talking about how ty the pacers are.. no one talks about their defense and how the lakers tore it apart. smh at the bias here