NBA Playoffs 2012/13

NufcNavan

Pissed off that neither sky or ESPN are showing anything tonight. Prime time TV for us yet we have to settle for crappy streams.

Nuri Sahin

C'mon Knicks!

Can't ****ing wait

padraig_f

Madison Square Garden, not a bad place to kick things off. Looking forward to this series, the Celtics won't give it up easily.

Billy Mays

Signed up for the weekend freebie. Been waiting for this game all week. Cold beer and giant Knicks foam finger ready to go!!!

DDC1990

Melo on fire!

Nuri Sahin

Haha, Melo wants 50

Paully D

padraig_f wrote: »

They never looked great to me when we played them in the regular season, but they finished with a better record than us, so I dunno, maybe we caught them on bad nights.

I think the matchup is good for the Bulls, Boozer does well against them, Lopez is a weak rebounder for his size, so we can beat them on the boards. And I don't think they're a great ball-movement team, which I think the Bulls defense punishes in particular.

They may have the best player on the court in Deron Williams, but I think Hinrich can guard him well enough, and you can also put Butler on him.

If Gibson and Noah stay healthy, I'd be very confident of the Bulls winning. I think Gibson will be ok, not so sure about Noah. That plantar fascitis has a tendency to recur. But I think even with Noah playing a bit-part, the Bulls should win.

What do you think, am I under-estimating them?

No, I agree with you.

Boozer has a huge advantage up against Reggie Evans and has averaged 23 and 10 in the regular season series against the Nets. Deron is playing very well but Hinrich is a good defender, as long as he stays out of foul trouble early on I'd be confident in his ability to guard him.

If Noah's fit I would be disappointed if we didn't beat them over a series to be honest, but it seems he is really struggling so it's very hard to call. If Noah's alright I go Bulls in 6, if not I think a coin toss, too close to call and it will take 7 games. Hopefully we'll come out on the right side of it!

stuba

You can tell this is a playoff game, such a massive difference from the regular season games!!

leggo

How long has it been since there was a playoff atmosphere like this in the Garden? Awesome stuff.

DDC1990

Celtics PG Bradley is a liability.

Rondo is a massive loss it seems.

Paully D

The Celtics are such a tough, tough team.

On another note, I swear I've seen Melo have this exact game against the Bulls a few weeks back!

F.J.

Green with 20 first half points.Has made two buzzer beating 3 pointers.
Melo started off hitting everything but the Celtics have frustrated him
in the last few minutes of the half. Hope the Celtics can keep it going.

Paully D

Refs are calling this one very strictly.

recyclebin

NBA have free league pass this weekend to watch all the games online.

You need to enter your credit card details and cancel before 12pm ET on the 22nd or they will charge the $70 for the rest of the playoffs.

Caiseoipe19

recyclebin wrote: »

NBA have free league pass this weekend to watch all the games online.

You need to enter your credit card details and cancel before 12pm ET on the 22nd or they will charge the $70 for the rest of the playoffs.

How are other finding the quality? I find it's gotten poor in the second half, but maybe it's just my coverage? :mad:

Nuri Sahin

Celtic's have been cold in the second half, ice cold from the field.

me89

6 points in 13 minutes is not going to win you any playoff games,
Disappointing 2nd half

stuba

Cygnus wrote: »

How are other finding the quality? I find it's gotten poor in the second half, but maybe it's just my coverage? :mad:

Mines been close to perfect. There was a small patch at the start of the third were it was a bit jumpy but been good all game other than that

leggo

NBA League Pass on the big screen by way of Apple TV (so no HDMIs or messing around) = heaven.

Felexicon

Am I the only one who thinks the second game tonight is going to be much better

Nuri Sahin

Entertaining start to the Playoffs. Knicks win Game 1!

Nuri Sahin

Felexicon wrote: »

Am I the only one who thinks the second game tonight is going to be much better

High pace, end to end. It's gonna be a cracker.

Felexicon

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

High pace, end to end. It's gonna be a cracker.

It might be the most entertaining series of the first round.

buyer95

Get in! Great d in the 2nd half, from kenyon in particular was the key. Job done, lets get the next one now. Looking forward to Denver v GSW now!

kmart6

These are just terrible numbers for the amount of time they spent on the floor!

Player Mins FGM-FGA FTM-FTA 3PM-3PA +/- OR Reb A Blk Stl TO PF Pts
C. Copeland 12:46 0-3 0-0 0-2 +11 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
T. Chandler 20:25 0-0 0-0 0-0 +8 1 5 0 0 1 0 3 0

padraig_f

Paully D wrote: »

If Noah's fit I would be disappointed if we didn't beat them over a series to be honest, but it seems he is really struggling so it's very hard to call. If Noah's alright I go Bulls in 6, if not I think a coin toss, too close to call and it will take 7 games. Hopefully we'll come out on the right side of it!

Yeah tough now with Noah missing game 1, I assumed he was gonna at least start the series. That makes it more 50-50, and maybe tips it in the Nets' favour. You can see them trying to exploit this by going to Lopez more on offense. Nazr will have to step up, and do it while staying out of foul trouble. Don't need a Noah-like performance from him, but something decent.

NufcNavan

I vehemently disagree with anyone who acts like benches aren't that big of a deal in the playoffs, and that the game is always won by whoever has the better starters. Boston's bench gave them absolutely nothing while New York had guys like Kidd and K-Mart making smart plays at the end of the game. Having a good bench can without question push you over the top in any given game.

padraig_f

Upset is possible in this Warriors-Nuggets series, watching the first half.

NufcNavan

Denver's going to need Faried to win this series. Koufos and McGee just aren't good enough for playoff basketball

leggo

padraig_f wrote: »

Upset is possible in this Warriors-Nuggets series, watching the first half.

I think it was on Bill Simmons' podcast, but I heard a very good argument for the Warriors beating the Nuggets: basically saying that the team with the best player generally wins a best-of-7-series...and the best player in this series is Steph Curry.

Now I think that's a bit simplistic, especially when you take into account how GSW can undo some of his most awe-inspiring one-man efforts and still lose, but it's food for thought nonetheless. Can he take them far enough to do something special? Nah, that's a massive reach. But one play-off upset against, oh I dunno, a team with one of their best players sidelined is definitely doable...

buyer95

NufcNavan wrote: »

Denver's going to need Faried to win this series. Koufos and McGee just aren't good enough for playoff basketball

I wouldn't agree that McGee isn't good enough, he's just not consistent enough, he makes some boneheaded plays, but can win you games with his pure atlethesism! I wouldn't have believed you before the game if you told me before the game that Curry would go 1 for 10 and that GSW would be leading. I still fancy the nuggets in this one though

Paully D

NufcNavan wrote: »

I vehemently disagree with anyone who acts like benches aren't that big of a deal in the playoffs, and that the game is always won by whoever has the better starters. Boston's bench gave them absolutely nothing while New York had guys like Kidd and K-Mart making smart plays at the end of the game. Having a good bench can without question push you over the top in any given game.

I'm with you on that. Knicks bench had 33 and Celtics had 4. Huge, huge difference and ultimately what decided the game as the Celtics only scored 8 points in the 4th.

NufcNavan

This is really sloppy basketball.

buyer95

Altitude looks like its taking its toll on Curry right now, he looks gassed. Lee breathing heavily too.

Soby

Gret finish to the 3rd by nuggets

NufcNavan

..And the Nuggets class beginning to show. No wonder they have won 23 straight at their gym.


Altitude surely a factor for their home record?

Paully D

Jesus, Corey Brewer!

walrusgumble

kmart6 wrote: »

These are just terrible numbers for the amount of time they spent on the floor!

To be fair with Chandler, he has being out injured for a good while

walrusgumble

Ah, so that is the difference between regular season and play offs. Denver really really really really have to improve on the free throws.Still they are going strong now. That is some bench! Even McGee is doing decent. But, if they get past the Warriors, they are in serious trouble

buyer95

Lee is fcuked. Miller big for Denver tonight.

kmart6

Noah plays tonight...not surprising really!

buyer95

kmart6 wrote: »

Noah plays tonight...not surprising really!

If a guy is suited up for the Bull, it doesn't matter to Thibs if their unjured, his mentality is if your wearing a jersey you can play 40 minutes. I can see him playing big minutes tonight.

Paully D

Noah starts for Chicago!

EDIT - Just seen your post kmart.

Paully D

buyer95 wrote: »

If a guy is suited up for the Bull, it doesn't matter to Thibs if their unjured, his mentality is if your wearing a jersey you can play 40 minutes. I can see him playing big minutes tonight.

Yep, Deng should be dead now in all honesty with the amount of minutes he's played injured! The big problem with Noah's injury is the pain he feels the day after a game. Thankfully in the playoffs he gets a night or two off inbetween games.

padraig_f

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmUbNtQfrAg

Go Bulls!

Nuri Sahin

BIG TIME 3 from Curry!

buyer95

BOOM!

padraig_f

Was just thinking 'what a terrible possession' and Curry nailed it.

F.J.

Curry with a corner 3 to tie it with 15 to go!

NufcNavan

Dr. Dre Miller!