2010-11 NBA Playoffs / Finals

[Atzar]

Josh Smith IMO is not big or long enough for Boozer, though.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=boozeca01&p2=smithjo03

Josh Smith has done surprisingly well against Boozer in past matchups.

Maybe that isn't as much of an issue as I thought it would be (I thought Booz would have been too big for Josh too).

It's probably an uncomfortable matchup for both of them.  Boozer should be able to push Josh around, but Smith is too athletic for Boozer.

[GreenFaith1819]

Josh Smith IMO is not big or long enough for Boozer, though.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=boozeca01&p2=smithjo03

Josh Smith has done surprisingly well against Boozer in past matchups.

Maybe that isn't as much of an issue as I thought it would be (I thought Booz would have been too big for Josh too).

Thanks for that post, Who. At this point I suppose we will be playing either CHI or ATL if we can get by MIA.

I am just shocked that ORL is in a 3-1 hole. I've not visited any ORL blogs before but I wonder if they are attributing this situation to their trade?

[GreenEnvy]

Is it just me or have Orlando completely gone away from Gilbert Arenas since Jameer Nelson checked back in?

Too much Turkoglu down the stretch. Josh Smith is a very tough defender for Hedo.

Considering Arenas' last good game was in 2008, is that a bad thing for Orlando? Otis Smith should be fired for the awful trade x2.

This series is all but wrapped up. Rarely do all the higher seeds advance. Here is this season's upset.

Gilbert Arenas was very good to start the fourth quarter. Helped get Orlando back in the game. Scored 7 points in the first three minutes and was the driving force in the 9-2 run that tied the game.

He made another jump shot a minute later and was very quiet the rest of the way.

He got a brief rest for a 2-3 minutes and then it seemed like he was barely involved from that point on.

--- Although, looking back through the play by play, Arenas did get another 2 shots (+ a missed tap in on his faulty layup) which he missed ... so maybe it was just me not noticing him rather than him not being involved.

The guy can't carry a team anymore, plain and simple.

He can still hit a shot from anywhere on the court, but not consistently.

I didn't trust him when he was an All-Star in DC, and I certainly don't trust him now.

If Orlando needs to rely on him, I hope they have some good sunscreen packed for their fishing trip.

[Who]

Josh Smith IMO is not big or long enough for Boozer, though.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=boozeca01&p2=smithjo03

Josh Smith has done surprisingly well against Boozer in past matchups.

Maybe that isn't as much of an issue as I thought it would be (I thought Booz would have been too big for Josh too).

It's probably an uncomfortable matchup for both of them.  Boozer should be able to push Josh around, but Smith is too athletic for Boozer.

Yeah, I just figured Boozer would take better advantage of his strengths than Josh Smith would since Smith is so inconsistent at doing so.

By the looks of those head-to-head numbers ... that doesn't appear to be the case at all.

Well done Josh Smith. Hopefully he can keep that up against Boozer in the next round should Atlanta make it through. It would be great if they could give Chicago a series.

[PosImpos]

What do you think about the Hawks chances against the Bulls?

Not optimistic about the Hawks chances. I think the Bulls would make fairly short work of them.

Agreed.  The Hawks happened to match up very well with the Magic (this year).  They don't match up well with the Bulls.  They'll get torched by the Bulls.

[Who]

Is it just me or have Orlando completely gone away from Gilbert Arenas since Jameer Nelson checked back in?

Too much Turkoglu down the stretch. Josh Smith is a very tough defender for Hedo.

Considering Arenas' last good game was in 2008, is that a bad thing for Orlando? Otis Smith should be fired for the awful trade x2.

This series is all but wrapped up. Rarely do all the higher seeds advance. Here is this season's upset.

Gilbert Arenas was very good to start the fourth quarter. Helped get Orlando back in the game. Scored 7 points in the first three minutes and was the driving force in the 9-2 run that tied the game.

He made another jump shot a minute later and was very quiet the rest of the way.

He got a brief rest for a 2-3 minutes and then it seemed like he was barely involved from that point on.

--- Although, looking back through the play by play, Arenas did get another 2 shots (+ a missed tap in on his faulty layup) which he missed ... so maybe it was just me not noticing him rather than him not being involved.

The guy can't carry a team anymore, plain and simple.

He can still hit a shot from anywhere on the court, but not consistently.

I didn't trust him when he was an All-Star in DC, and I certainly don't trust him now.

If Orlando needs to rely on him, I hope they have some good sunscreen packed for their fishing trip.

Yeah, I agree, Arenas is a lousy player. I don't think Orlando should even play him (JJ Redick should take over his minutes with Hedo playing point forward in the second unit).

It was just that he made a couple of lovely jump shots and looked to have the hot hand. It looked like he was one of those (extremely rare) good days. 

Anyway, it seems he was more involved that I had thought so it's a probably a mute point anyway.

[hpantazo]

If someone takes out the team with the only center in the east that we need to worry about (Howard), then I'm happy. It makes Ainge's trade look brilliant.

[GreenEnvy]

If someone takes out the team with the only center in the east that we need to worry about (Howard), then I'm happy. It makes Ainge's trade look brilliant.

I'd hope other teams getting bounced before we have to play them isn't the barometer for our GM.

[Atzar]

If someone takes out the team with the only center in the east that we need to worry about (Howard), then I'm happy. It makes Ainge's trade look brilliant.

Eh, Orlando's kinda proven that they aren't a major threat anymore.  Atlanta has shown how to deal with them:  play Howard one-on-one and stop everybody else.  After the trades, that's not all that much to ask.

[barefacedmonk]

Didn't want to start a separate thread for this because I don't think its a serious injury. Anyway...

From nba.com

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose had a walking boot on his left foot Sunday and was scheduled for an MRI on his sprained ankle later in the day.

Coach Tom Thibodeau says trainer Fred Tedeschi told him the All-Star point guard is sore but the swelling is "not bad."

[barefacedmonk]

If someone takes out the team with the only center in the east that we need to worry about (Howard), then I'm happy. It makes Ainge's trade look brilliant.

Eh, Orlando's kinda proven that they aren't a major threat anymore.  Atlanta has shown how to deal with them:  play Howard one-on-one and stop everybody else.  After the trades, that's not all that much to ask.

Actually, we showed the rest of the league how to play Orlando (ECF last year) effectively...Atlanta is only following the blue print.

[RebusRankin]

Who thought Orlando would be down 3-0?

[GreenEnvy]

Who thought Orlando would be down 3-0?

Why would anyone admit to being wrong? Lol.

[barefacedmonk]

Who thought Orlando would be down 3-0?

They are down 3-1.

[mc34]

To be honest, I hope the Magic pull this one out. The way the Hawks play basketball sorta disgusts me. Their shot selection is absolutely atrocious. It would suck even more if Dwight somehow ends up with the Lakers because of this series