TA vs Perk in the semis... who will you be rooting for?

[Roy H.]

I think I'll be rooting for the physician on call that series.  Because God forbid TA or Perk coming down and rupturing another knee on a standard rebounding play.

You'll have to be the 'Larry Bird' of the physician team to reconstruct one of those bad boys.

Well, at least the Celtics are a bastion of health right now.

[PosImpos]

I think I'll be rooting for the physician on call that series.  Because God forbid TA or Perk coming down and rupturing another knee on a standard rebounding play.

You'll have to be the 'Larry Bird' of the physician team to reconstruct one of those bad boys.

Well, at least the Celtics are a bastion of health right now.

*knocks vigorously on wood*

[Fred Roberts]

It would be nice if LA had to play both teams! Both would be interesting match ups for LA. I think I'm leaning towards Memphis on this one, but the legit scoring of OKC might be more dangerous.

Let's not forget the stomping Powe put on LA in the 2008 Finals. He's laying in wait on the Memphis pine ready to pounce!

Darrell Arthur has been playing out of his mind. He'd be a good way to nullify Odom.

For now, let's go CP3!!

[LooseCannon]

On a related note, can anyone explain why the NBA uses a fixed bracket with their playoff matches, and not a flexible one?  In other words, why is the winner of the 4-5 matchup paired with the 1-8 winner, even if 8 beats 1, and the 2nd and 3rd seeds advance?  It seems Dallas gets hosed as the 3 seed, since they'll play on the road vs. the 2 seed, while the 4 seed, whom they had a better record than, gets to host the 8 seed.

Because reseeding playoff brackets is only done in sports that appeal to freaks.

[Neurotic Guy]

Not sure if others have said this, but I will eventually be rooting for the team I feel has the best chance to beat LA.   If I had to pick one at this moment, I'd say OKC --- but Memphis did impress me last night.

As for Tony v. Perk, I am indifferent.  Unless they play for the Celtics or Lakers it makes no difference to me whether they win or lose.

[Roy H.]

On a related note, can anyone explain why the NBA uses a fixed bracket with their playoff matches, and not a flexible one?  In other words, why is the winner of the 4-5 matchup paired with the 1-8 winner, even if 8 beats 1, and the 2nd and 3rd seeds advance?  It seems Dallas gets hosed as the 3 seed, since they'll play on the road vs. the 2 seed, while the 4 seed, whom they had a better record than, gets to host the 8 seed.

Because reseeding playoff brackets is only done in sports that appeal to freaks.

Like football and hockey?  Basketball is the only major sport that doesn't reseed, for whatever reason.  (Baseball has no need to.)

I sort of like the fixed bracket, but I also see the appeal of awarding better regular season teams with an easier playoff run like the NFL and NHL do.

[Donoghus]

On a related note, can anyone explain why the NBA uses a fixed bracket with their playoff matches, and not a flexible one?  In other words, why is the winner of the 4-5 matchup paired with the 1-8 winner, even if 8 beats 1, and the 2nd and 3rd seeds advance?  It seems Dallas gets hosed as the 3 seed, since they'll play on the road vs. the 2 seed, while the 4 seed, whom they had a better record than, gets to host the 8 seed.

Because reseeding playoff brackets is only done in sports that appeal to freaks.

Freaks, huh?  Nice blanket statement.   

[P2]

The team that has the better chance to win against LA, and I don't know why, but I have a feeling it's Memphis.

[KCattheStripe]

Grizzlies!

[Change]

Do I have to?  ok i will go with the Grizzlies. The city, The Fan-base, and the Franchise are most in need of success.

[kn 99]

I would like to see Memphis pull this one out.  Their D has been lock down, and they are playing a gritty, physical game.  I actually think they have a better shot at taking down the Lakers.  They have the size up front to not only defend, but also SCORE on the Lakers in the paint, and they have three or four guys that they can rotate covering Kobe throughout the series.  They also have most of their scoring coming from the 1/2 spot, which means it will be up against Fisher and Bryant, two of the Lakers' weaker defensive spots.

you are right, the grizz can match the lakers hight with randolph and gasol. I want to see the gasol brothers play against each other. And they do have shut down defenders in Tony Allen and Battier

[jdz101]

Tony Allen because I've actually seen him contribute something to his team in the past six months.

[Celtics18]

I'm still rooting for the Nuggets to come back against the Thunder.

I really like what this Grizzlies team is doing right now. 

Also, as much as I love Perk, I still think that not resigning TA in the off-season was a bigger mistake than the Perk trade.

I'll be rooting for the Grizzlies.