These playoffs have stunk

[ibby]

I know for Celtics' fans and Lakers' fans the playoffs have seemed great, even predetermined as a rematch of '08.  However, even as a Celtics fan, I think that the other 28 teams must have been totally disinterested.

Just with the Cs, the only real interesting series was supposably vs the Cavs.  Still even in that series I feel like every game but game 1 was a blow out. As a Cs fan I don''t mind watching then blow a team out. I don't even mind watching them down 20 trying to make a come back --even if they do lose.

But I couldn't watch Lakers-Sums, or Hawks-Magic, or even Spurs-Suns (which didn't have any blowouts).  The only non Celtics series I enjoyed was Bucks-Hawks and let's face it neither of them were playoff teams.

I've been watching the NBA for over 20 years, and I can't remember a time where the good teams were this much better than the average teams.

Even the 72 win Bulls and the 4-5-4-5 Lakers had some close wins in the playoffs. Too many blowouts make the game, especially non Celtics games, boring.

[Roy Hobbs]

I haven't really been following the other series this year, either; the only one I've really found compelling was LA vs. OKC.

That said, the last thing I'd say as a Celtics fan was that these playoffs have stunk.  I think these playoffs, to date, have been fabulous!  I'll take 11-3 any day.

[ibby]

Don't  get me wrong I love seeing these celtics live up to their potential, but as a basketball fan first, the talent and/or effort from the other teams is disheartening. The lack of defense in the Suns is disgusting. And watching the Heat, Cavs and Magic (all with All-NBA First Teamers) just quit (less so with the Heat) is appalling.

And yes the LA-OKC series was compelling. It was a Future vs. Present matchup. It also made me realize that Durant is the next-Kobe (I've decided that Kobe is officially the current best so we should now refer to really good young players as "next Kobe" instead of "next Jordan".)

[Roy Hobbs]

Front get me wrong I love seeing these celtics live up to their potential, but as a basketball fan first, the talent and/or effort from the other teams is disheartening. The lack of defense in the Suns is disgusting. And watching the Heat, Cavs and Magic (all with All-NBA First Teamers) just quit (less so with the Heat) is appalling.

I hear you, definitely.  I think the difference is that I'm a Celtics fans first, and don't care about the rest of the NBA nearly as much.  A lot of fans see things differently, though.

It is really interesting - and discouraging - to see the quit in the Cavs and Magic.  Coming into the season, I thought there were four excellent teams, the Celts, Cavs, Lakers, and Magic.  The Cavs and Magic have shown that they didn't belong in that conversation, because they have no toughness.  I'm hoping we soon prove the same thing about the Lakers.

[moiso]

I'm thrilled with the Celtics but I agree the rest of the playoffs have stunk.  It seems like there have been no real battles.  I would have loved to see San Antonio bring the Lakers to a game 7, or something along those lines.
And as much as I like the Celtics to demolish the competition, it's going to be a little boring if no team gives us any resistance at all.
Celts/Cavs two years ago had me holding my breath, as did Celts/Magic last year.  So far for the Celtics, it's been like watching a boxing match with only one fighter.

[Bahku]

I think the OP is Joey Crawford ... that you, Joey?!?

[Fan from VT]

Front get me wrong I love seeing these celtics live up to their potential, but as a basketball fan first, the talent and/or effort from the other teams is disheartening. The lack of defense in the Suns is disgusting. And watching the Heat, Cavs and Magic (all with All-NBA First Teamers) just quit (less so with the Heat) is appalling.

I hear you, definitely.  I think the difference is that I'm a Celtics fans first, and don't care about the rest of the NBA nearly as much.  A lot of fans see things differently, though.

It is really interesting - and discouraging - to see the quit in the Cavs and Magic.  Coming into the season, I thought there were four excellent teams, the Celts, Cavs, Lakers, and Magic.  The Cavs and Magic have shown that they didn't belong in that conversation, because they have no toughness.  I'm hoping we soon prove the same thing about the Lakers.

1. As a boston fan, I'm am a-okay with a few Boston blowouts. Good for the blood pressure.

2. As a boston fan and NBA fan, I would prefer the OTHER series be nice and tight. Get the other teams worn down and dinged up for when we play them and also see some exciting playoff ball.

3. Let's see how the magic respond. They've really only quit in one game, that was a blowout. They fell way behind in game 1, but definitely didn't quit, and had a chance to win. Game 2 was close wire to wire. Cavs was similar; they made some comebacks but missed a couple very key shots (especially the Jamison three) that could have made the game (and series) very different. I'm not so sure the Cavs "quit" so much as just got beat, at least until the 2nd half of game 6, when they difinitely quit.

[ibby]

  So far for the Celtics, it's been like watching a boxing match with only one fighter.

You pretty much summed up my feelings.  As a random aside, I have never liked Vince Carter, but I kind of feel bad for him. I think a lot if people will start making mire Nick Anderson comparisons if the Cs do sweep. And Carter is 4x the player Anderson was.

[BballTim]

  So far for the Celtics, it's been like watching a boxing match with only one fighter.

You pretty much summed up my feelings.  As a random aside, I have never liked Vince Carter, but I kind of feel bad for him. I think a lot if people will start making mire Nick Anderson comparisons if the Cs do sweep. And Carter is 4x the player Anderson was.

  I agree. Everyone gets on him about those free throws but all of the big three have done the same thing in late game situations this year.

  I was thinking of checking sometime, but this has got to be close to the fewest total number of playoff games in a season since they made round 1 a 7 game series. The league and the networks must be crying in their beer.

[PosImpos]

It seems like there have just been a lot of series in these playoffs where the two teams are horribly mismatched.  The overall talent level might not be so disparate, but one team just doesn't match up well with the other.


Celts vs. Magic (clearly a mismatch, despite regular season)
Celts vs. Heat (Heat couldn't deal with the multiple weapons)
Lakers vs. Suns (Suns just can't match up with the front court)
Suns vs. Spurs (Spurs can't deal with the small ball)
Lakers vs. Jazz (Jazz too small, injured)
Hawks vs Magic (Hawks have no inside defender for Dwight)
Magic vs Bobcats (Bobcats have no inside presence at all)

All of those series on paper should've been more competitive but weren't because of the matchups.  

It's really too bad Denver was missing their coach and the Blazers had a lot of injury issues, both of those teams were built to play gritty playoff series, but neither of them could manage it.  The Rockets were missed in these playoffs, too.  They always seem to play with a lot of heart.  I'm looking forward to seeing the rejuvenated Rockets play next year.


But as Roy said, as long as the Celtics are playing like champions I don't care what the rest of the teams do.  I have a feeling the Finals are going to be pretty epic.  The Celtics look really good, but so do the Lakers.

[Drucci]

I'm not complaining because so far these playoffs have been awesome for Celtics fans, but it's true that overall the lack of competition is really boring. This could be the most boring playoffs ever for the general audience, i.e fans who are not rooting for the Lakers or the C's...

In my dream scenario we will crush the Lakers in the Finals but on paper it seems like this series will be competitive and probably close... right?

[cornbreadsmart]

I had portland knocking off phoenix in the first round. Even they would be a better matchup for the Lakers. I think the Western playoffs would have been competitive if Denver got to L.A. The Lakers lucked out avoiding both Denver AND Dallas. I can't believe the Thunder was the best challenge the Lakers got to get to the Finals.

[ibby]

I don't even mind the sweeps so much, and I know most of the sweeps were not like ATL-ORL, but a lot of the games just were not competitive.  Especially SA-PHO once the Suns got going, and BOS-CLE was only entertaining because it may have been the death of professional basketball in Cleveland (according to analysts).

[jdpapa3]

SA and Phx had some very entertaining games, despite the fact that it ended in a sweep. Come on? The Dragic Game?! The backup point dropped 20+ in a fourth quarter in spectacular fashion. That was fun. But I agree with you on the whole. Game 6's and 7's are fascinating and we have rarely gotten to that point in recent series.

The matchups didn't play out well after the first round. SAS or Dallas would've been tougher contests for LA than Utah or Phx.

At least in 2/3 of our games, top 3 players in the league took over in incredible fashion to beat us. I can almost live with that after the point that we have beat them. 

[ibby]

SA and Phx had some very entertaining games, despite the fact that it ended in a sweep. Come on? The Dragic Game?! The backup point dropped 20+ in a fourth quarter in spectacular fashion. That was fun. But I agree with you on the whole. Game 6's and 7's are fascinating and we have rarely gotten to that point in recent series.

The matchups didn't play out well after the first round. SAS or Dallas would've been tougher contests for LA than Utah or Phx.

At least in 2/3 of our games, top 3 players in the league took over in incredible fashion to beat us. I can almost live with that after the point that we have beat them. 

You're right the SA-PHO was not awful, I just don't like either one of those teams so I guess its my own personal dislike.  As far as sweeps go it was not terrible, just bad.