Truly stunned to see the Suns beat down the Spurs, just unreal.

I thought the Spurs would take the series but it's all but over. Listening to Gottlieb today, he said the Vegas line for LBJ was over/under 30, I knew he's go over and he almost did by half.

Now that's the Cavs team I remember from this season. If LeBron's aggressive like he was tonight the Cavs have a shot against anyone. Everyone else goes as he goes.

The Magic are playing amazing right now. Good luck Lebron, I don't know if you can handle Orlando.

The Magic are playing amazing right now. Good luck Lebron, I don't know if you can handle Orlando.

 

I hear you but I still maintain......it's the Hawks. The 09' Lakers and 08' Celtics have already proven that the team that looks the best early in the playoffs doesn't mean anything when the Conference Finals start. The Magic played the Bobcats and the Hawks. I'll be ready to give them props if they make it back to the NBA Finals. Until then.......it's the Hawks.

Atlanta had 53 wins this year, I understand that you can rack up a bunch of victories against the "quality" the East has to offer, but I believe the Hawks were .500 or a little better against Western Conference playoffs teams this year.

 

They are a good team, but they are getting beat down like a narc at a biker rally :scared:

I hear you but I still maintain......it's the Hawks. The 09' Lakers and 08' Celtics have already proven that the team that looks the best early in the playoffs doesn't mean anything when the Conference Finals start. The Magic played the Bobcats and the Hawks. I'll be ready to give them props if they make it back to the NBA Finals. Until then.......it's the Hawks.

 

ESPN had a great article about NBA champions earlier this week. It may have been Stein, but they had a theory (and history suggest) that champions need to be tested early and often. It's been that way since the '01 Lakers according to the article.

 

I have to agree. I think they should be the favorite next round because they have played so well lately and beat Boston and Cleveland in last year's playoff, but I'm not ready to bow down to the indestructible force that is the Magic.

 

Atlanta had 53 wins this year, I understand that you can rack up a bunch of victories against the "quality" the East has to offer, but I believe the Hawks were .500 or a little better against Western Conference playoffs teams this year.

 

They are a good team, but they are getting beat down like a narc at a biker rally :scared:

 

This Atlanta team is not Elite, that's just all there is to it. They would not have beat Any of the Western Conference teams in a series (if they could have matched up) and wouldn't have beat the Cavs or Celtics either. My goodness, they almost got beat by the Bucks who were missing Bogut and haven't had Redd for most of the year.

 

Orlando has to get credit for what they've done, but let's face it the Bobcats and Hawks just can't keep up with them. Joe Johnson is probably the most overrated guy in the league IMO, he never does anything in the playoffs. Smith is the laziest player in the league. Bibby and Marvin Williams are jokes. Crawford showed his true stripes this year, he puts up good numbers but he's not a guy you can base a playoff run around as a 2nd or 3rd option. The Hawks can't score enough to play with the Magic, they have no one to guard Carter or Nelson, and only Horford can respectably guard Howard. JMO, but I think the last few years have proven that the 1st two rounds can't be taken that seriously.

Lakers are so tough at the end of games. I'll say this though, I'm not a fan of fouling when up by 3. I think it's weak. I don't care if it's smart basketball or not, I think its kind of disrespectful to the game. Just play it out and trust that you can stop the other team.

Lakers are so tough at the end of games. I'll say this though, I'm not a fan of fouling when up by 3. I think it's weak. I don't care if it's smart basketball or not, I think its kind of disrespectful to the game. Just play it out and trust that you can stop the other team.

 

I hear you and I understand completely and 2 years ago I completely agreed with you but the game has now gotten to the point to where it isn't smart anymore to play like that. If I was coaching, I would tell my team to foul also. I might feel a little dirty about it but the thrill of victory would cleanse me shortly afterwards.

Atlanta had 53 wins this year, I understand that you can rack up a bunch of victories against the "quality" the East has to offer, but I believe the Hawks were .500 or a little better against Western Conference playoffs teams this year.

 

They are a good team, but they are getting beat down like a narc at a biker rally :scared:

 

Until they beat a "quality" team in a 7 game playoff series......they are simply the Hawks.

 

Regular season means nothing. I think the Bobcats swept the Lakers this year and last year.

I don't like fouling up 3 with that much time left.

Until they beat a "quality" team in a 7 game playoff series......they are simply the Hawks.

 

Regular season means nothing. I think the Bobcats swept the Lakers this year and last year.

 

I know, it just seemed like Atlanta was taking some steps forward, then that ugly series against the Bucks and even uglier series now against the Magic.

Does Kobe look much healthier lately than he used to, or is it me?

I hear you and I understand completely and 2 years ago I completely agreed with you but the game has now gotten to the point to where it isn't smart anymore to play like that. If I was coaching, I would tell my team to foul also. I might feel a little dirty about it but the thrill of victory would cleanse me shortly afterwards.

 

I can see both sides of it. I just would personally prefer to play it out. I would rather go to overtime and lose, compared to winning like that (especially up 2-0 in the series). However, the game didn't come down to that because of the missed foul/turnover so I have no complaints. :thumb:

 

I know, it just seemed like Atlanta was taking some steps forward, then that ugly series against the Bucks and even uglier series now against the Magic.

 

The Hawk's game just isn't suited for the playoffs I don't think. They don't have a lot of shooters, they watch Johnson and Crawford too much, and athleticism can only get you so far in a series. They're relatively easy to prepare for and they play no defense. Smith and Horford can block shots, but their best perimeter defender is Evans. That's sad.

 

I think they're one of those teams like the Suns used to be that are just kind of tough to match up with in the regular season, because they play a different style (slow) and have a few different guys that can play every now and then.

 

Does Kobe look much healthier lately than he used to, or is it me?

 

I think this series is what he needed. He gets to rest defensively, Wes Matthews is not a challenge for him at either end of the floor. And he looks like the old Kobe to me right now.:thumb:

I know, it just seemed like Atlanta was taking some steps forward, then that ugly series against the Bucks and even uglier series now against the Magic.

 

True. I would like to believe in Atlanta but everytime I think it is time to believe in them....they let me down.