The best series of the playoffs was Cavs/Wizards by far.

that would've been a nice 3.

By far?

I think I prefer this Mavs/Spurs series.

Yeah, I definitely think the Mavs/Spurs series is better.

The mavs spurs series might be the best playoff series Ive ever seen. Every game is a nail biter from start to finish - no lead is safe.



I just wish this man would get his legs cut off before Game 7.

BY FAR.

The individual matchup of Lebron vs Arenas, goin to 7 games, Lebron talking shit to Arenas at the FT line, several games going to OT, virtually no defense played - so its all offense. For my money, it was the best series. To be fair, I haven't paid as much attention to the 2nd round.

I have this sick feeling that Detroit and Piston will win their games to take the series 4-3 and then breeze through their conference title series. Then all the Bill Walton's of the world can say they were challenged and responded like a champion or some bullshit like that.

I agree. I don't think their gonna breeze through the Heat, but if they do, Walton will run his mouth for sure.

That series only went 6 games, right?

Spurs-Mavs is incredible. This whole in-state rivalry thing with Cuban insulting SA, Finley being paid by the Mavs but playing for the Spurs, and Avery Johnson coaching the Mavs is just nuts. My head is about to explode after each game.

My guess: FT expects the Spurs to lose Game 7 @ home by 30 to 40 points.

After becoming interested in the NBA due to the outstanding playoffs i fear that my worst nightmare may indeed occur and force me to quit watching.

Det vs. Spurs final......again. We need anybody but those two in the finals.

If I was David Stern, I'd be rigging it so that the Clippers make the final. Nothing like a perennial loser from one of the largest tv markets as a cinderella.
If they get Detroit and San Antonio again, the ratings might be near an all-time low once the series wraps up.

Don't worry man. The Finals will be Dallas vs. Miami.

Interesting article about flopping.

http://hoopshype.com/columns/flop_hans.htm

As much as I hate flopping, its not up to the players to stop doing it, its up to the refs to start seeing it.

I agree amgl. The refs should start calling fouls on the floppers.

Miami coach Pat Riley, upset over the increasing number of offensive fouls called against his center, Shaquille O’Neal, lashed out at foreigners for bringing the flop to the NBA. “In this league,” he said, “it's become an art form, brought, by the way, by the Europeans.”

I remember when Riley made that comment a few weeks back. But I like how the writer used the words 'Lashed Out at Foreigners'. Hans didn't mention that right after he said that he also said with a laugh how he was sure the press in Paris wouldn't like his opinion on when the flopping trend began.

I don't know whether its dogma in the NBA or not yet, but over here, flopping is not only called as a foul, but it's a technical foul as well. It's not called as a tech that often, but still, the rule is there. Makes people think twice before they decide to take a dive and hit the floor.

That should be introduced in the NBA i think...

Yeah, but its bad enough to miss a legitimate call (i.e. an offensive foul) without then also calling a technical foul on the guy who got fouled.

I've never seen the rule abused, because they only ever call it when its obviously a flop.

It stops people getting away with half-assed flopping and whinging (a la Ginobili). You can still get away with flopping if you're really good at it.

If you see a dude coming towards you, you have to think, "If i take this charge i'm gonna have to get perfect perpendicular positioning in relation to the guy with the ball, get genuinely put on my ass and hurt a little, but ill get the call," as opposed to, "okay here he comes, he's about to hit me in half a second time. Get light on your feet boy, and TAKE A DIVE...NOW!"

If you flop, you at least have to be exaggerating genuine contact, as opposed to emulating contact.

Is it 7pm yet?

So far the Mavs are taking it to the Spurs and lead by 16 in the 2nd Quarter. If they choke this lead I will despise them forever, and if the Spurs make a remarkable comeback, I will loathe them like I did Bird and the Celtics in the late 80's.

San Antonio has trimmed the lead to ten a little more than half way through the 3rd quarter.

This is awful.

These refs have been awful.

one boring team down.

Truth and Justice has prevailed despite the best attempts of the refs (esp Bavetta).