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 wouldn't cheat to win, but I would foul you in a second to prevent you from getting the 3. Losing is never acceptable for me and I would hate myself if I didn't foul and they hit a 3 and won. I really really hate losing and I would win like that in a second. It may be more exciting to play it out, but like boring when it comes to winning. I ain't mad at you though. I'd love to coach a game against you. You probably would ignore me for a day or two after the game, huh?

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Cats weren't you the one who was saying you'd rather play Boston in the 2nd round than the Hawks before the playoffs started? Why are you changing your tune now?

I would have been livid if the Lakers lost by the way. Someone literally pulled Fish down by the waste on that Lakers turnover that gave Utah a chance.

I wouldn't cheat to win, but I would foul you in a second to prevent you from getting the 3. Losing is never acceptable for me and I would hate myself if I didn't foul and they hit a 3 and won. I really really hate losing and I would win like that in a second. It may be more exciting to play it out, but like boring when it comes to winning. I ain't mad at you though. I'd love to coach a game against you. You probably would ignore me for a day or two after the game, huh?

 

Like I said I see both sides of it. I just don't like it, but I don't expect everyone or most people to agree with me.

 

Cats weren't you the one who was saying you'd rather play Boston in the 2nd round than the Hawks before the playoffs started? Why are you changing your tune now?

 

A few reasons, and I did say that.

 

A. I thought Boston was done.

B. I thought the Hawks had changed due to their success this season. Round 1 was enough to tell me they had not. You can't tell me that Atlanta is a team to be taken seriously.

I would have been livid if the Lakers lost by the way. Someone literally pulled Fish down by the waste on that Lakers turnover that gave Utah a chance.

 

Yeah, I didn't get to see the whole game but the parts I saw seem to favor Utah when it came to the whistle or lack thereof.

I remember last year when everyone doubted the Magic all postseason, there was no way they could play with the Cavs, and blah blah blah...Now this year, they're dominating and it's because they're playing the Bobcats and Hawks. What will all of your excuses be when the win the whole dange thing like they're going to?

I remember last year when everyone doubted the Magic all postseason, there was no way they could play with the Cavs, and blah blah blah...Now this year, they're dominating and it's because they're playing the Bobcats and Hawks. What will all of your excuses be when the win the whole dange thing like they're going to?

 

The Magic winning the Finals has nothing to do with them playing the garbage Bobcats and Hawks. They are one of the Elite teams in the league and are maybe the toughest matchup because of how they are built and play.

 

But you've crowned them simply on how they've played the first two rounds, when history tells us that rounds 1 and 2 mean nothing in the grand scheme of things in the NBA. They have a great chance to win it all, but excuse us if we're not impressed with lopsided wins over the Hawks. I don't care who was playing them it wouldn't be that impressive to me, they just are not very good.

Also UKMF, you have to remember that you are an admitted Magic fan. Bias is going to sink in. Be impressed with easy victories in early rounds if you want, but I think its way more impressive to have to play a competitive team earlier on. That's not taking anything away from the Magic, like I said they have a great shot to win it all, but to crown them as the undeniable best in the NBA when they haven't matched up with the Lakers yet is a reach.

The Magic were tested, LAST YEAR, I'm guessing a majority of the roster remembers that loss to the Lakers. I would normally agree a team needs to "pay its dues" before having success, but the Magic have now been there, done that.

 

They won't sweep the Eastern Conference finals, but they have so many weapons, you can't shut them all down. I want a Magic/Lakers rematch!

The Magic were tested LAST YEAR, I'm guessing a majority of the roster remembers that loss to the Lakers. I would normally agree a team needs to "pay its dues" before having success, but the Magic have now been there, done that.

 

They won't sweep the Eastern Conference finals, but they have so many weapons, you can't shut them all down. I want a Magic/Lakers rematch!

 

They had a different team last year.

They had a different team last year.

 

How many "contributing" players on this year's roster, were on last year's roster.

Celtics played about as good of a first half as could be expected, all things considered.

 

Now come out in the second half and finish them off to even this series up!

How many "contributing" players on this year's roster, were on last year's roster.

 

Not that many really. Nelson played but he was hampered by injury and played sparingly, Carter and Barnes are additions, as is white Chocolate. They lost two players that were huge for them last year in the playoffs in Turk and Alston. So Howard, Lewis, Pietrus, Gortat, and J.J. out of players that play alot.

3 of the 5 starters that got them to the Finals last year are no longer on the team.

3 of the 5 starters that got them to the Finals last year are no longer on the team.

 

And were replaced by much better players....