2010 NBA Playoffs

[jackson_34]

Dwight just put up 18 in the first quater

Hehe as soon as they take him out, Hawks go on a spree!

[FatjohnReturns]

Its funnyc Orlando is the better team and we matchup better with Orlando. We cant beat Atlanta and they are getting destroyed.

[twinbree]

Ah well Hawks can say they tried. Only lost by 14 tonight. Hopefully they'll do better at home but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Even with Turk gone Orlando is still such a bad match-up for a lot of teams.

[Bahku]

I think Pop is a great coach, but having Parker come off the bench, especially against the Suns, makes very little sense, IMHO. 

[Who]

I think Pop is a great coach, but having Parker come off the bench, especially against the Suns, makes very little sense, IMHO. 

Agreed ... and ...

Manu Ginobili has to be more assertive when Parker is on the bench (whether Parker starts or not). Like he was back in March when Parker was out injured, when Ginobili was leading them to huge wins against the Celtics and Magic. He has to take over. Too passive so far ... he is asking too much of his teammates and not enough of himself.

[Who]

Very impressed with the Suns winning the first two games against the Spurs. They are in drivers seat now ... very difficult for the Spurs to come back from this deficit.

Two years ago, the Hornets series (down 0-2), the Spurs were able to make an adjustment that changed the course of the series -- switching Bowen off of Paul who he wasn't able to slow down and putting him on Peja instead and taking Peja out of the series. It changed the whole dynamic of the series and left the Hornets playing two on five with the Spurs staying at home with Chandler and the other shooters -- but I don't see any such adjustment for the Spurs this time around.

They simply don't have the right types of players (lack of athleticism up front with their bigs + only one SF on their roster) to match up with the Suns small ball options. The Spurs are pretty much stuck doing what they're doing ... only trying to execute it better over the next few games.

Hard to see Suns collapsing from such a strong position. They're looking good for Conference Finals (and hence, LA is looking good to make the Finals).

[Who]

Very impressed with Alvin Gentry in this series.

Instead of worrying about keeping a bigger body on the floor to defend Duncan in the post ... he has reduced Amundson's + Collins' minutes and given given more playing time to small ball options. Trying to force to the Spurs out of the game and it's worked brilliantly.

I was particularly impressed with the Frye + Hill + Dudley frontcourt against Duncan early in the fourth quarter the other night. Then forcing Duncan to cover Frye in the pick and pop or attacking Duncan with Grant Hill in isolations. Going right at Duncan with whoever he was guarding. Making him a liability in those matchups. Gutsy basketball!

Also thought that Frye did a very good job on Duncan defensively during that period. I am happy to see him doing more defensively since the All-Star break, he is a much more capable (albeit soft) defensive player than he was showing early in the season.

[LB3533]

Magic have a guy who can stop the Hawks young legs' fastbreak.

[LB3533]

All the Spurs have to do is start Tony Parker and they will win the series.

[housecall]

If it hasn't been posted today,the officials for tonite's game between Celtics and Cavs are:Bennett  Salvatore,Ken Mauer,and Zach Zarba...and for the poster wondering about Bill Kennedy showing up,he has been busy in the western conference playoffs so far,and is a part of tonite's game between the Spurs vs Suns.

[Who]

All the Spurs have to do is start Tony Parker and they will win the series.

Parker is already playing 36 minutes a game in the first two games. He is scoring 23ppg on 54% shooting from the field + 5apg.

The Spurs definitely get a bump from Parker joining the starting lineup ... but do they get that large of an improvement? Parker is already playing big minutes and major role offensively.

[fairweatherfan]

Very impressed with Alvin Gentry in this series.

Instead of worrying about keeping a bigger body on the floor to defend Duncan in the post ... he has reduced Amundson's + Collins' minutes and given given more playing time to small ball options. Trying to force to the Spurs out of the game and it's worked brilliantly.

I was particularly impressed with the Frye + Hill + Dudley frontcourt against Duncan early in the fourth quarter the other night. Then forcing Duncan to cover Frye in the pick and pop or attacking Duncan with Grant Hill in isolations. Going right at Duncan with whoever he was guarding. Making him a liability in those matchups. Gutsy basketball!

Also thought that Frye did a very good job on Duncan defensively during that period. I am happy to see him doing more defensively since the All-Star break, he is a much more capable (albeit soft) defensive player than he was showing early in the season.

Agreed on Gentry - he's been very impressive this year.  I'm really hoping the Suns can pull this out, they've had their hearts broken too many times, and Nash is one of my favorite players in the league.  It's great to see their resurgence this year.  Hope Lopez can make it back if they have to play the Lakers, though...

[PosImpos]

Its funnyc Orlando is the better team and we matchup better with Orlando. We cant beat Atlanta and they are getting destroyed.

The NBA playoffs are all about matchups.

The Lakers had a tough time with the Thunder, but they're owning the Jazz.  Next round, they might have some serious trouble with the Suns or maybe the Spurs.

The Cavs and Celtics match up well so it's a close series, yet the Cavs probably would be owning the Lakers.  The Hawks are getting clobbered by the Magic but they'd have a real good shot of beating us, and probably the Jazz, Suns, and Spurs.  

Dallas might still be in it if they had faced almost any team other than the Spurs.  Instead of getting owned, the Heat might have beaten the Hawks. 

I could go on.

Who gets to the Finals has as much to do with who faces who as anything else.

[Who]

San Antonio are looking very good tonight. Much better defensively.

[PosImpos]

San Antonio are looking very good tonight. Much better defensively.

It must be nice to have a team you can count on to play better at home.