I've actually enjoyed what I've seen of the playoffs so far. I hadn't seen NO play all season, and they're great and fun to watch. This is also the most I've enjoyed a Utah team in memory, and, of course, the first game of the Sixers/Pistons series was memorable given my preferences (the second game less so).

The real disappointment has been the Cavs/Wizards series, which hasn't had an enjoyable to watch game for neutrals.

Wanna finish that thought?

Last night (especially Houston's victory) restored some of the lustre to the playoffs, and the talent on display is, I think, unparalleled in NBA history. However, I expected some much closer games/series.

The first Washington-Cavs game may have been a little tough on the eyes, but the intensity was incredible.

QUOTE:
Wanna finish that thought?

I would, but have no idea what I was going to say. It's fixed, though.

This weekend will be interesting, as we'll get to see whether the changes in venue make some series closer. This happened with Hou/Utah (although, perversely, given that road teams have won all the games).

Jason Maxiell of the Pistons would not be out of place next to Laimbeer and Mahorn. He's now elbowed one guy in the head and gave someone else a bloody nose so far in this game.

And he just stuck his leg out to trip Dalembert. Finally, a new NBA hate figure. I've gotten bored with only having Kobe to despise.

Edited to add: Wow, I really didn't expect the Sixers to win another game v. the Pistons, let alone win by 20.

When you see the Mavs, it's hard to believe that New Orleans can win one game against them. NOLA always looks so small, like they can't get it in to any big man...but once the Hornets get running there's no way the Mavs can keep up.

So tonight they slowed it down, cranked up the D at home, and got hot down the stretch. Byron Scott has to figure out how to win a slowed-down game.

I only saw the Philly-Detroit game last night. Jon Barry kept going on about how listless and uninterested Detroit looked, and while I agree with that, Philly really deserves a lot of credit. It was their athleticism and quick hands that were creating all those turnovers and giving the Pistons so much trouble on the defensive end.

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the 76ers smash the Pistons in Detroit towards the end of the regular season? This series is far from over of course, but maybe this is just one of those nightmare matchups for Detroit, as the Warriors were for Dallas last year.

One of the reasons I said on the previous page that the playoffs has been a disappointment was because of the the Suns-Spurs series. It just got worse. Fucking Spurs.

The Sixers did smash the Pistons near the end of the regular season, but I think that's discounted b/c the Pistons mostly played their reserves as they rested their starters.

The Suns were always likeable, a team you wanted to win because they were so exciting, but even after last year when they got shafted, I think their pass as "everyone's second team" has expired. You've had this long to figure out the Spurs, and if you still can't beat them with Shaq, you know what? Too fucking bad. Stop wasting our time.

Ha ha. Damn, Inca!

4.26.08 - The Official Day That Inca Doth Becometh A Grouch

I'm just pissed that the fucking Spurs, the team I would hate more than any other if they weren't so boring, have become more fun to watch than the Suns. You can't beat Droopy Dog/Tim Duncan once, just once?

Inca,

Think of the bright side, you may have a chance to watch your Lakers take them out (though I'm not sure they'll get passed NO/Dal). There's nothing more satisfying than having your favorite team knock out your least favorite.

Although, I guess watching Bruce Bowen try and mangle Kobe may get on your nerves.

I really enjoyed the 2004 Lakers-Spurs series, with Fish's 0.4 shot, because I KNEW the Spurs were a much better team and we won anyway. I knew there was no way we would beat the Pistons, though.

I don't think the Spurs are going to win this year. The Lakers, Jazz, and the Hornets are better. So are the Celtics.

I think it was Matthew Yglesias who made the point that, in trying to get someone to match up with Duncan, the Suns traded away their best perimeter defender. In other words, the Suns didn't really solve their main problem (i.e., defense against the Spurs) they merely shifted the weakness from the inside to the outside. As a result, they've gotten killed in the last two games by Parker and Ginobili.

The aforementioned teams offer much better matchups. Indeed, if memory serves the Hornets owned the Spurs in the regular season. I seem to recall a 20+ point smackdown in SA.

Someone needs to check the basket. The Lakers are playing with one the size of a manhole cover. They may have to play the rest of the 3rd quarter blindfolded to bring their FG% down to .500.