Thoughts on the first day of the playoffs

[jmanu20]

The 2009 NBA Playoffs got off to a fascinating start with the Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics. Derrick Rose put on a performance for the ages....man is this guy the real deal at the PG. He plays with a poise beyond his years. This was the kind of back-and-forth, intense playoff game I wish all of the playoff games could be like. The Bulls in general are extremely athletic and fearless....I have no doubt they have all the confidence in the world that they can win game 2. The Celtics are undoubtedly vulnerable without KG, but Rondo still had a great day.

The Cavaliers took it to the Pistons.....they looked like the real deal team that we all expect to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals. The Pistons look completely washed up and finished, and it is beyond sad that they have a perennial All-Star like Iverson who could certainly help this team but chooses not to because he's not out there with the opening tip.

The Spurs started off well against the Mavs, but then Pop's recent trend of questionable coaching decisions continued. Bonner just did NOT belong out there tonight....he only took one shot, got burned by Dirk on consecutive possessions, and immediately turned over the one steal he made. Bowen looked solid on D vs. Dirk and Terry, and Gooden was playing with confidence in his short stint tonight....and yet Pop doesn't even let them sniff the court much in the 2nd half. I give props to the Mavs.....the Spurs held Dirk and Terry in check and their reserves answered the call. Barea and Bass had huge games, and even Wright had a few timely baskets.

It was to be expected that the young Blazers would have some playoff jitters....but to lose by 27 in an arena where even the Lakers can't win? The Rockets looked damn solid tonight.....maybe they could be the dark horse of the playoffs. They have good size and playoff experience....you just never know.....

Looking forward to day 2!

[himat]

Here are my thoughts:

Bulls v. Celtics: I wish my Pistons didn't collapse at the end of the season and were facing the Celtics right now instead.
On the actual series...I knew D-Rose was good but this good? We'll see if he keeps it up.

Pistons v. Cavs: Where do I start? So many problems. I hope my team just gives us one more great fight this series and possibly beyond. This is the last year that any of us will see the remnants of the 2004 championship team. Sheed and Dice will be gone next year so will AI along with the losses of Chauncey and Ben. Game 2 upset. We need it.

Spurs v. Mavs: This isn't like other years where you guys shouldn't worry about losing the 1st game. This isn't a weak Denver team this is a weak Dallas team that got hot at the right time and now looks very strong. Big difference. The Spurs are vulnerable right now.

Rockets v. Blazers: Well I expected a Blazers sweep....There goes that prediction.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Thoughts on today's games:


Bulls - Celtics: lol @ Pierce

bye bye Boston


Cavs - Pistons: I actually thought the Pistons made it more compe ive than anticipated. They did decent until the fourth.

Spurs - Mavs: The Spurs shoot 80% from downtown and still drop the opening home game. Their entire season is on the line in Game 2.

Rockets - Blazers: Rockets still will not get past the first round.

[jmanu20]

Here are my thoughts:

Bulls v. Celtics: I wish my Pistons didn't collapse at the end of the season and were facing the Celtics right now instead.
On the actual series...I knew D-Rose was good but this good? We'll see if he keeps it up.

Pistons v. Cavs: Where do I start? So many problems. I hope my team just gives us one more great fight this series and possibly beyond. This is the last year that any of us will see the remnants of the 2004 championship team. Sheed and Dice will be gone next year so will AI along with the losses of Chauncey and Ben. Game 2 upset. We need it.

Spurs v. Mavs: This isn't like other years where you guys shouldn't worry about losing the 1st game. This isn't a weak Denver team this is a weak Dallas team that got hot at the right time and now looks very strong. Big difference. The Spurs are vulnerable right now.

Rockets v. Blazers: Well I expected a Blazers sweep....There goes that prediction.

I agree with all of this except the Blazers sweep....I predicted Blazers in 6. And this could also be the last hurrah for my Spurs....we're old as and our defense is FAR from what it used to be.

[Morg1411]

Bulls vs. Celtics: I predicted this would turn into a 7 Game series with the Celtics coming out on top in the end. Notwithstanding that pathetic game against Toronto on Wednesday, the Bulls have been playing great basketball ever since they acquired Salmons and Miller.

I didn't expect a Game 1 in Boston. Derrick Rose is a bad mother er.

I expect Boston to come back out fully locked and loaded, but already this series looks to be interesting.

Cavs vs. Pistons: Sadly, this turned out pretty much like I thought it would. I hope the Pistons can take at least one game in the Palace before the series is over.

Mavs @ Spurs: Very disappointing game. I'm confident the Spurs can bounce back, but I was hoping they wouldn't have to. After finishing the season so strong, TP looks friggin tired, and we can't afford that right now. I'll keep cheering them on, but this wasn't how I wanted my team to kick off the postseason.

Rockets @ Blazers: I predicted this one would be Blazers in 7 due to HCA. Looks like I may need to reconsider my postseason predictions. Way to lay the beat down, Houston. It will be interesting to see if Portland can bounce back from what I'm sure is a very devastating loss for them.

[Roxsfan]

It was a great day of basketball.

watched a ton of games.


will continue tomorrow.

[lefty]

My thoughts:

It sucked


Except for Celtics-Bulls

[himat]

My thoughts:

It sucked


Except for Celtics-Bulls

It did. It sucked watching the Pistons today. Thats not what we used to be or what we truly are. We used to have swagger and toughness. It sucks watching a good team when it begins to truly fall apart. Yeah we lost the last few years in the ECF but this season has been a whole different level of underachievement.

[Indazone]

Lets go Jazz...ack, choke did I really just say that?

[layupdrill]

The Cavs game was boring to me. Mavs/Spurs was entertaining, didnt expect Dallas to win that one. Portland never showed up in Game 1.

By far, the game of the day was in Boston. If Ray Allen doesn't get his act together fast, the Celtics will be in serious trouble.

[Chris]

I'm really looking forward to tonights game-Hornets vs. Nuggets, should be great. I also can't wait to hear Karl's reaction if they lose, he is such a baby.

[Texas_Ranger]

My Thought:
Matt Bonner sucks!

[DeadlyDynasty]

Bulls-Celtics: Incredible game and very fun to watch, however...Pierce and Allen were awful while Rose, Noah, and T-Thomas had the games of their lives...do you honestly see that happening again? I picked C's in 6 and I'm sticking with it.

Pistons-Cavaliers: Detroit is just going through the motions, waiting for their to season to mercifully come to an end. I picked Cavs in 6 but I'm thinking sweep now.

Mavericks-Spurs: Great road win for the Mavs, especially considering that San Antonio won the superstar matchup (TD and TP outplayed Dirk and Jet). I picked Spurs in 7 and I'll stick with that for now...such an unpredictable series.

Rockets-Trailblazers: That was one of the loudest and most "into it" crowds I've heard since the Mavs-Warriors series. The fans were revved up for their first playoff game in 6 years and Portland got obliterated. The fans were rowdy even when Portland cut it to 19 (most fanbases would be mute), but still the Blazers got dominated at every turn. Game 2 is an elimination game for them. I picked Rockets in 6, and that's what'll be if Portland can win game 2...otherwise break out the brooms

[JamStone]

It's cool that three of the four road teams won game 1. Will make all three of those playoff series exciting the rest of the way. Before the playoffs, most of the match-ups looked pretty compe ive except for the 1 v. 8 match-ups. Consequently, the 1 v. 8 match-up is the only one that followed expectations.

Boston v. Chicago The Bulls played a great game, but I'm not sold that the Bulls can win the series. Ray Allen looked like trash.

Cleveland v. Detroit Detroit kept it relatively close in the first half all things considered, but the drop-off defensively from previous years is glaringly obvious. I thought the Pistons did a decent job offensively for the most part, but they have to do a better job in transition defense and contesting shots near the basket to have a chance at all at winning a game or two. Cleveland's offense looked great. Cleveland's defense did not. If they face Orlando in the ECF, they should worry.

San Antonio v. Dallas Dallas was pretty impressive. I still think the series is a toss-up though. How often is Dallas going to get contributions from Barea, Bass, and Dampier like they did last night? If they continue to play like that, then Dallas should win the series rather handily. If they come back to earth, it's either team's series to win.

Portland v. Houston I didn't think Portland would be that much in awe. Aldridge needs to obviously play better. And, McMillan might need to ask more of his chinadoll rookie center because Przybilla got used and abused. It's obvious the Rockets have the edge now. It will be interesting to see how the young Blazers respond.

[JoeTait75]

Celtics-Bulls: I also had the C's in six, I'm also sticking with that pick, but damn, a defending World Champion has to pull out a game like that at home. Only Joe-Kim Noah's idiocy got Boston to OT to begin with. Even if they come back to win this series, they're like Tony Dogs from Casino, just begging to be made an example of.

Cavaliers-Pistons: Detroit simply has no answer for LeBron James. Rodney Stuckey had a lot of success bulling by Mo Williams to the basket early; I don't know why he went away from it and stayed on the perimeter in the second half. I said Cavaliers in five; I still think Detroit can get a game at the Palace.

Spurs-Mavericks: Can J.J. Barea keep this up? Can Josh Howard? Spurs looked old and slow, especially up front. I thought Dallas had the advantage going in; obviously, nothing happened Saturday to convince me otherwise.

Blazers-Rockets: After the '91 WCF, I said to myself, "Self, don't ever get on Portland's bandwagon again." But I didn't heed my advice. After the 2000 WCF, I said to myself, "Self, don't ever get on Portland's bandwagon again." But I didn't heed my advice. After last night's beatdown, I said to myself, "Self, don't ever..."

[Allanon]

Celtics-Bulls: Without KG, the C's are in for trouble. Just not from the Bulls. Even with all the heroics, if Paul Pierce makes that freethrow in regulation, they win the game. Celtics are still on track to win this one.

Cavaliers-Pistons: I knew there would be a blow out game in this series, just didn't think it would be in the first game Piston's have enough pride to not let this become a sweep and who knows, if they wake up, this could be a series.

Spurs-Mavericks: This is the one matchup that was a toss-up. Still, I didn't think the Spurs would lose the Playoff opener.

Blazers-Rockets: Picked the Rockets in 6 but never dreamed they would blow out the Blazers by 30. Special thanks from Laker fans all over too.

[JamStone]

Celtics-Bulls: Without KG, the C's are in for trouble. Just not from the Bulls. Even with all the heroics, if Paul Pierce makes that freethrow in regulation, they win the game. Celtics are still on track to win this one.

You can play "what-if" the other way as well. As Joe Tait mentioned, if Joakim wasn't stupid enough to foul Pierce on that jumper, it wouldn't have gotten down to the free throws. More importantly, if the officials didn't start jobbing the Bulls in the fourth quarter, the Bulls could have won comfortably by 8 points or so. The Bulls were in control of that game for almost the entire second half. Celtics had no business getting the game into OT.

[dirk4mvp]

Spurs-Mavericks: Can J.J. Barea keep this up? Can Josh Howard? Spurs looked old and slow, especially up front. I thought Dallas had the advantage going in; obviously, nothing happened Saturday to convince me otherwise.

Barea is about 50/50 on playing like that, but Howard can and he will. They don't have anyone to put on him.

[BUMP]

Bulls-Celtics: Incredible game and very fun to watch, however...Pierce and Allen were awful while Rose, Noah, and T-Thomas had the games of their lives...do you honestly see that happening again? I picked C's in 6 and I'm sticking with it.

Pistons-Cavaliers: Detroit is just going through the motions, waiting for their to season to mercifully come to an end. I picked Cavs in 6 but I'm thinking sweep now.

Mavericks-Spurs: Great road win for the Mavs, especially considering that San Antonio won the superstar matchup (TD and TP outplayed Dirk and Jet). I picked Spurs in 7 and I'll stick with that for now...such an unpredictable series.

Rockets-Trailblazers: That was one of the loudest and most "into it" crowds I've heard since the Mavs-Warriors series. The fans were revved up for their first playoff game in 6 years and Portland got obliterated. The fans were rowdy even when Portland cut it to 19 (most fanbases would be mute), but still the Blazers got dominated at every turn. Game 2 is an elimination game for them. I picked Rockets in 6, and that's what'll be if Portland can win game 2...otherwise break out the brooms

i think thats even better for us. Tim Duncan went off and Dirk got held in check and we still won

[JamStone]

Barea's capable of playing like that again. And, so is Brandon Bass. And, even Erick Dampier can play well sometimes. Can you count on all three of those guys to play that well again in the same game? Obviously, Jason Terry will have some better games, but it just seemed like all of Dallas' role players had above average to great games, even Antoine Wright had a couple big shots. I guess we'll see.

[BUMP]

Barea's capable of playing like that again. And, so is Brandon Bass. And, even Erick Dampier can play well sometimes. Can you count on all three of those guys to play that well again in the same game? Obviously, Jason Terry will have some better games, but it just seemed like all of Dallas' role players had above average to great games, even Antoine Wright had a couple big shots. I guess we'll see.

against the 30 other NBA teams? No

against San Antonio? Yes

doesnt matter if its Antoine Wright or Wilbur Wright, if your a random no name playing for the Mavs youre guaranteed to go off if you play San Antonio in the playoffs

[dirk4mvp]

I doubt if the Spurs will shoot 11-14 from 3 again either. Let's not act like the Mav's players were playing out of their norm.

[JoeTait75]

LaMarcus Aldridge: 30 minutes, 3-of-12, 7 points, 3 rebounds, and a game-low -24. Disgraceful.

[Amaso]

Bulls vs. Celtics - Best game of the day. Derick Rose is going to be a superstar in a couple of years; I expect Bulls to win this in 6, I can't see Boston winning on the road without KG even to a 7 seed.

Pistons vs. Cavaliers - Watching the Pistons play is disgraceful. They play with no passion whatsoever and Rasheed Wallace is no more than a 7' 3pt shooter these days. I'm expecting a sweep because Detroit hasn't played well on their home-court this year.

Mavericks vs. Spurs - Hopefully this is a long series so I can get some entertainment value cause on paper this looks pretty evenly matched and there is at least some sort of rivalry between these two teams. Dirk is putting up the same numbers as his mvp campaign but he doesn't seem to be the same player. The Spurs still have Duncan and Parker playing great, but they have no one else after that.

Rockets vs. Blazers - I predicted a pretty easy series for the Rockets, and I said they would win in 5. I can honestly say I did not expect a 27 point blowout from them, but Yao can basically do whatever he wants against the Blazers. Nate McMillan should not get consideration for coach of the year. He is pretty awful at making any sort of game adjustments, and relied on the depth of his team to win 50+ games in the regular season. It would not surprise me if this was a sweep either.

[JamStone]

Pistons vs. Cavaliers - Watching the Pistons play is disgraceful. They play with no passion whatsoever and Rasheed Wallace is no more than a 7' 3pt shooter these days. I'm expecting a sweep because Detroit hasn't played well on their home-court this year.

Don't disagree that the Pistons didn't play with enough energy and passion or that they've been bad at home, but disagree with your assessment of Rasheed Wallace specifically for yesterday's game. Yesterday Rasheed got in the post on offense and did mix it up inside.