The NBA Thread

[Maksutov]

The regular season ends Wednesday, April 19th. Then, as with hockey, begins the REAL competition.

Of the three teams I pull for, I'm left with the Nets. For the Knicks and Celtics, well, as Boston fans got used to saying, "Wait 'til next year!"

Meanwhile there will some sentimental activity re Chicago and Detroit, homes to former UConn greats Ben Gordon and Richard "Rip" Hamilton. Detroit is like a well-oiled machine. What execution, especially from outside by the pass to the baseline or the paint: DUNK!

So, go Nets!

http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/sportlich/h050.gif

[antoniseb]

as Boston fans got used to saying, "Wait 'til next year!"

The Celtics had some good years a few decades ago (as did the Bruins). I think Boston's sports karma has been mostly going the the Pats and Sox lately. It's OK for Detroit, Cleveland and a few Texas teams to have some good years on the hardwood.

[Swift]

I like basketball, but I'm not an avid fan. I think the NBA playoffs go on too long and there are too many teams. IIRC, half the teams get in and they won't be done till July.

But, GO CAVS!

[farmerjumperdon]

See rant in MLB thread. Or don't.

[AGN Fuel]

My Kings sneaked in - gotta be happy with the Artest trade, even if he did shoot 1-11 today. When the Lakers lose tomorrow and we get the seventh seed, I think you'll see Artest step his D up even further against Phoenix (might even keep 'em under 120 at 60%....)

OK - a man can dream, can't he???

[AGN Fuel]

I like basketball, but I'm not an avid fan. I think the NBA playoffs go on too long and there are too many teams. IIRC, half the teams get in and they won't be done till July.

But, GO CAVS!

I remember reading a MAD Magazine years ago when they pointed out the fact that the NBA plays an 82-game schedule to see which 4 teams weren't good enough to make the play-offs! :lol:

[Maksutov]

Meanwhile, following up on the activities of some other UConn greats, I see that Caron Butler scored 33 points and had 12 rebounds in the Washington Wizards victory over Detroit which earned them a date with Cleveland in the first round.

Wednesday the Charlotte Horne..er, Bobcats beat Philly to end their season with three straight wins, but no playoff spot. Next year when Emeka Okafor returns with a healed right ankle, things might be a bit different.

Finally, after last year, it will seem strange not watching Ray Allen and the Supersonics in the playoffs. But in their victory over the Nuggets, Ray showed he's still got it. Coming into the game five 3s short of tying the single season NBA record, Allen hit five out of seven 3s in the first 8 1/2 minutes of the first quarter. Then at 6:30 into the second quarter he broke the record and finished with 269 3s, a new mark for the NBA.

So, we'll see how much heart Washington has versus Cleveland, and whether Butler still needs more seasoning, something that early departures from college seem to take some time to obtain.