2010 NBA Playoffs

[cosmo_kramer]

2010 NBA Playoffs: Danny Ainge of Boston Celtics seen tossing towel to distract Cleveland Cavaliers free throw shooters - ESPN Boston

Based on the Cavs poor FT shooting effort that night, Ainge must have had a seat under both baskets.

 

[salsadancer7]

Man, the Utah is really bad at rebounds, I really felt bad for them.
Without Andrei Kirilenko its going to be hard on them on D and on offense.
The amount of block shots was sad.
Utah needs to draft someone big and tall that can dominate on both sides of the court.

UTAH just cannot win in LA. They are awful in LA.

 

[SandraC]

UTAH just cannot win in LA. They are awful in LA.

Not sure Utah can win in Utah either...


Sandra

 

[SabresRule]

Suns beat the Spurs again and are down 2-0 in the series.

They came back from 0-2 against New Orleans a few years ago- can they do it again?

 

[HD MM]

Besides the Cavs/Celtics series, it's looking like the rest of the semi-finals are shaping up to be one-sided contests. I think the first round had more drama.

 

[The Insider]

I will be upset if the Magic do not get at least a little challenge from Atlanta. I want them well prepared to destroy the Boston Celtics.

 

[Skyhi]

I will be upset if the Magic do not get at least a little challenge from Atlanta. I want them well prepared to destroy the Boston Celtics.

C'mon. You can do better than that, can't you?

 

[HD MM]

Advantage: Cleveland

According to ESPN stat guru, John Hollinger, there is actually a huge historical advantage for teams in Cleveland’s situation. Hollinger wrote about this earlier in the week (ESPN Insider) but this is the gist: Just 12 of 42 road teams (28.6 percent) to win a game two after losing game one actually went on to win a second-round series.

If the Cavs can simply win either game three or game four in Boston, all the team will have to do from there is protest home court and win the series in seven games.

 

[SandraC]

According to ESPN stat guru, John Hollinger, there is actually a huge historical advantage for teams in Cleveland’s situation. Hollinger wrote about this earlier in the week (ESPN Insider) but this is the gist: Just 12 of 42 road teams (28.6 percent) to win a game two after losing game one actually went on to win a second-round series.

If the Cavs can simply win either game three or game four in Boston, all the team will have to do from there is protest home court and win the series in seven games.

The bottom line with any stat regarding NBA playoffs is the team with home court advantage has a huge advantage. Period. Win the first lose the second, or versa vice, or whatever, the home team has a bigger advantage in the NBA than it does in any other sport.

Also, there is no stat for when the best player in the world, the reason the team has home court advantage in the first place, is hobbled by a bad elbow. That's what will determine this series for the most part.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

The bottom line with any stat regarding NBA playoffs is the team with home court advantage has a huge advantage. Period. Win the first lose the second, or versa vice, or whatever, the home team has a bigger advantage in the NBA than it does in any other sport.

Also, there is no stat for when the best player in the world, the reason the team has home court advantage in the first place, is hobbled by a bad elbow. That's what will determine this series for the most part.


Sandra

The elbow is certainly a factor, but let's look at a few more stat's while we're at it:

From the first two games of this series between the Cavs/Celtics:

In the 22.7 minutes that LeBron has played in these two 4th quarters, he has totaled 22 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. In his other 64 minutes of playing time during this series, he has just 37 points, nine rebounds, one block and four steals.

What this tells me is that LeBron is playing tentative UNTIL he needs to be clutch, where then, all bets are off. The elbow is some strange factor during the first three quarters of games, but when it is absolutely needed, LeBron is still very capable of scoring and rebounding just like he used to when he was healthy.

With that said, we need another player to step up in the first 3 quarters. In Game 1, it was Mo Williams. In game 2, no one showed up.

Note to the role players: STEP UP YOUR GAME! LEBRON NEEDS YOUR HELP!

 

[SandraC]

The elbow is certainly a factor, but let's look at a few more stat's while we're at it:

From the first two games of this series between the Cavs/Celtics:

In the 22.7 minutes that LeBron has played in these two 4th quarters, he has totaled 22 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. In his other 64 minutes of playing time during this series, he has just 37 points, nine rebounds, one block and four steals.

What this tells me is that LeBron is playing tentative UNTIL he needs to be clutch, where then, all bets are off. The elbow is some strange factor during the first three quarters of games, but when it is absolutely needed, LeBron is still very capable of scoring and rebounding just like he used to when he was healthy.

With that said, we need another player to step up in the first 3 quarters. In Game 1, it was Mo Williams. In game 2, no one showed up.

Note to the role players: STEP UP YOUR GAME! LEBRON NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The best player on the court over the first two games has been Rajon Rondo. For Cleveland to win, the best player on the court has to be Lebron James.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

Celtics Injury News

In other injury news...

Kevin Garnett (mid-foot strain) and Kendrick Perkins (hyperextended knee) did not practice yesterday. Garnett questionable for Gm 3, Perk probable.

Doc Rivers said if Game 3 was Wednesday, KG probably wouldn't play. But assume he'll be ready by Friday.

 

[Skyhi]

The best player on the court over the first two games has been Rajon Rondo. For Cleveland to win, the best player on the court has to be Lebron James.


Sandra

Very true on both counts! :up

 

[The Insider]

Is anyone really still questioning the Magic getting rid of Hedo for Carter?

 

[HD MM]

Is anyone really still questioning the Magic getting rid of Hedo for Carter?

What happened last night skippy? The Hawks gave the Magic a bit of a scare last night, huh?

 

[The Insider]

What happened last night skippy? The Hawks gave the Magic a bit of a scare last night, huh?

Barely. Seemed like they took a break then turned it on to get as high as 24point lead in the 4th.

 

[The Insider]

I do hope the magic lose at least 2 games though. I mean id hate for them to have a huge layoff while waiting for the Cavs/Celtics to finish. Its likely that series goes to 6 or 7. Id like the magic to stay warmed up/

 

[HD MM]

I do hope the magic lose at least 2 games though. I mean id hate for them to have a huge layoff while waiting for the Cavs/Celtics to finish. Its likely that series goes to 6 or 7. Id like the magic to stay warmed up/

First Laker fan, now Orlando fan is hoping for their teams loss?! What is it about these sunshine states?

 

[HD MM]

Howard Mocks the King

Interesting pregame routine for Dwight Howard last night. Can’t tell me that there isn’t a little jealousy going on here between Howard and LeBron James…

[youtube]E0KsOJAhBq0[/youtube]

 

[HD MM]

The Law of 2nd Round Strife

John Hollinger is still a believer. Are you?

I mentioned this a year ago when the Lakers were getting embarrassed by the Rockets in Games 4 and 6 of their West semifinal series, and I’ll mention it again: For some reason, eventual champions seem to hit major adversity in the second round of the playoffs (aka the East and West semifinals).

I’ll call it the Law of Second-Round Strife. Each of the past eight champions has hit a major bump in Round 2. The last one to skip through this minefield cleanly was the Lakers’ juggernaut in 2001. Of course, that team hardly hit a bump in any road at any time that spring, rolling through the postseason with a 15-1 mark.

So if you were on the Cleveland bandwagon heading into the playoffs, I wouldn’t be looking for the exits just yet. No, this time it won’t be four straight double-digit wins, like they had in a Round 2 sweep of Atlanta last year. But ultimately, history says this test may do them some good.