Nba

[mbkudu]

Are there any NBA fans out there? If so, what are your predictions for the finals?

I am a die hard Sacramento Kings fan and they just whipped the Lakers' <deleted>, which is a good thing because anything associated with LA needs an arse whipping.

I love the Kings, but I think the Minnesota Tiberwolves look pretty unstoppable this year. Kevin Garnett is an unbelievable ball player.

[TRIPxCORE]

I could see Minnesota doing it very easily.

[traveldog]

well thats real nice you're a Kings fan.....and good luck....sorry but that club will need more than a bit. I'm a Laker fan(and I hear your cow bells clanging)...since Jerry West and Elgin Baylor days not real happy with the current team but what can ya do??? If I was betting serious money, I would have to go with San Antonio, Minnesota has a great club, but needs more time/experience, but we'll see. The East looks like a lock for Indiana but as usual, playoff injuries could change things quickly. LA has a slim outside chance but lots of doo doo to overcome....should be fun though....

[bkkharry]

Spurs, once again. But still would like to see someone new win it. Anyone but the Lakers.

[mbkudu]

Spurs, once again. But still would like to see someone new win it. Anyone but the Lakers.

I don't think the Lakers can do it. Too much mental sh*t for them to overcome.

Kobe with his lawsuit and Karl Malone has just too many demons in his head (no

ring complex is eating him up inside). I think Gary Payton is the only one really playing well. Fox, Fisher, has beens. If Oneil could make a basket anywhere outside the paint and his freethrows, maybe thet could pull it off. I think he is the most over rated player of all time. He has nowhere near the all around skill of a player like Garnett.

Seeing the Spurs win last year was terrific. If they can pull it off again, that would be masterful.

[bonsaimax]

The Lakers are doomed to self-destruct soon---to many egos to deal with. The T Wolves and the Kings look pretty strong to make it to the Finals. The Spurs need to be consistent if they want to be champs again. But there seems to be no real threat from the East. So, a western team will be the next champs.

[Dradam]

Minnesota hasn't made it far enough into the playoffs yet. Talented? Yes. Experienced? No. I predict that the Sacramento will beat Minnesota. I also bet that San Antonio can finish off the Lakers. San Antonio vs Sacramento will be a battle. I predict San Antonio. History loves the past champion. They ended the season with an 11 game winning streak and have stretched it to 15 games now. Chris Webber seems to lose his edge under pressure.

Who knows though. If Indiana can stroll through the Eastern conference untouched they might give the Western Conference Champion a couple good games.

Lakers

Lakers

Pistons

Pistons

Bulls

Bulls

Bulls

Houston

Houston

Bulls

Bulls

Bulls

San Antonio

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

San Antonio

? (I am guessing San Antonio)

My 2nd guess is LA (not the Clippers).

My third guess is that Kerr, Jordan, and Cartwright together make a surprise announcement that they are returning to the Chicago Bulls who are declared by David Stern to be eligible for the playoffs and pull off another amazing 3-peat.

[mbkudu]

I think in the East it's going to be Indiana. They're pretty rock solid at the moment. They aren't really an injury prone team either. this is the time of year when most injuries occur. I still think Minisota has what it takes to do it. They now have the experience of Sam Cassel and Latrell Sprewell. Cassel is a pumped madman; so much energy. Hard to believe he's an old guy. Wally Sz. is out but he hasn't really been part of the picture anyway this year.

I say Minisota and Indiana in the final.

[mbkudu]

Just watched the Spurs completely dismantle the Lakers. What a joy that is to watch! They were running circles around the flat foots.

[TRIPxCORE]

Ughhhhhh....I am so sick of the Lakers. I hope they dont get past the Spurs. Lakers are a bunch of cry-baby primma-donnas. I just moved out of LA and I am so glad I dont have to listen to all the fair-weather Laker fans anymore. Phil Jackson is a great coach and Kobe is one of the elite players in the league if he would just stop complaining and play a TEAM game. Also, stay out of jail.

[Dradam]

Another victory for San Antonio. Up 2-0 vs LA Slakers. San Antonio made nice use of the Hack-A-Shaq strategy in the 4th quarter. Foul the big man. He can't make free throws. Looks like Bryant will have plenty of time to prepare for his court appearance when the Lakers get swept. Just kidding. Lakers will take at least one in LA.

Kevin Garnett deserves the MVP but Sacramento is tougher.

I keep my predictions.

San Antonio beats Sacramento in the West

Indiana wins the East

San Antonio beats Indiana for the title.

[mbkudu]

Dradam, I think you may be right. The Spurs are looking really hot. I hope Sac takes the T-wolves, but they always seem to be the red headed step child at this stage. I agree on Kevin Garnett; he is the most versatile player since Jordan.

I wish I could hav seen the Spurs/Lakers game. Game one was fantastic. Tony

Parker made statues of them.

I'm sticking with the Pacers but I might be a bandwagon jumper and go with the

Spurs in the west.

[dclaryjr]

Dradam, I think you may be right. The Spurs are looking really hot.

I'll say! Last year I was wondering if Parker was going to be around with all the noise about trying to sign Kidd. So far he's the Spur's playoff MVP. That one move he made on the baseline with the shot over Shaq was amazing!

[mbkudu]

Just saw game 2, Wolves/Kings what a nailbiter that was. ######, Kings almost had it! I think this one is going to game 7.

Have a question for any of you guys; I think it might be a dumb one but here goes. The three stats for a double double or a triple double are: points, rebounds and assists. If a player had for example, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but no points,

would it still be considered a double double?

[Dradam]

A double double is usually points and rebounds or points and assists. Generally a triple double is points, rebounds, assists. Quadruple doubles have always been points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots. A double double could be rebounds and assists but not enough points but I am not sure if this ever happens. Rebounds often lead to points and players with enough assists are generally involved enough to score points as well. It is much easier to put the ball in the basket 3 or 4 times and make some free throws than it is to make 10 assists.

Looks like we have some good series going.

[Bad News]

4-0 or

4-1 or

4-2 or

4-3

........and I am willing to put money on it!

Men! Don't they just over complicate everything?

[Dradam]

Oh no!!!!!

Lakers won. And I was getting so smug when there was only 0.4 seconds left and Duncan had apparently won the game. I have faith though.

Exciting series though. Sacramento-Minnesota is looking to be a good series as well.

4 excellent teams in the west. Whoever emerges certainly will have to earn that title.

[mbkudu]

When Duncan made that shot I was literally jumping out of my chair! It was beautiful but not beautiful enough unfortunately to win. Oh well. I have faith too.

You have to hand it to Derek Fisher, he delivered.

The Spurs, in my opinion are a smarter team, and I think they will take this

series. I'm gonna say that Sacremento is a cursed team. I am saying this to give them a little reverse mojo psycology because I want them to win so much.

[traveldog]

wow, what a game! I thought Duncan's shot was so incredible, and how many lead changes in the last 20 seconds???? Fisher's shot, a prayer answered.....and like so many playoffs this may determine the outcome. I think it will be nearly impossible for the Spurs to come back after that heartbreaker at home. On the other hand the Lakers are known for the letdown....looking forward to a great game 6. Go Lakers!

[mbkudu]

The Spurs will tak'em out, burn Hollywood, burn!

[mbkudu]

I guess that's it for the Spurs; what a sad ending for their season. Oh well, there's

always next year.

[Dradam]

I am beginning to doubt that the Lakers will lose. I figured the Spurs would beat them. Not sure if either Minnesota or Sacramento can beat them now.

I was a Lakers fan when I lived in LA county in the 80's but had alot more respect for that team.

I guess Malone and Payton deserve a championship though.

[mbkudu]

I am with you Dradam, the Lakers of the eighties, Kareem, Magic, were far superior to these clowns. Shaq is far too much a one dimensional player and Kobe far too selfish. I'm with you on Malone and Payton as well. They are far from my favorite players but they've been through a lot and deserve rings. Those two winning rings would be the only reason I won't feel too bad if they win. I hope Sacramento has the strength to take them. Now that Sam Cassel is in injury trouble, the T-Wolves might not get past the Kings in game 7.

[mbkudu]

Well, my team just went down for the season. That last 3 point attempt by Webber was one of the most heartbreaking shots I've seen in a long time. G*d,

maybe they are a cursed team. At least my original prediction, the Timberwolves

are still in there. BEAT LA!

[JJDinsay]

I don't know guys - I hate the Lakers - I'm a Celtic fan myself. But it seems that the Lakers r probably the only team that can play crappy, just make it to the last seed and still win it. I don't think the T Wolves can do it nor any of the East teams. Shaq, what can U do against Shaq down low - Yao couldn't do it, Duncan couldn't do it - what big guy is left. And Kobe - seems like everytime he has court hearing he just blows everybody out of the water.

[traveldog]

well, as the only laker fan here....let me just say, I wish too that the kings had won. There is just such a better rivalry going between them and LA....Webber played very well, considering how hurt he was, but Peja?????MIA...and Bibby wasn't exactly stellar. Christie played his usual heart out but not much support. and ultimately KG was awesome, a true MVP performance.

Now, can Minny stay with the Lakers. I don't think so, not with a gimpy Sam Cassel and no Troy Hudson....but which Laker team shows up will decide it. If the Lakers that throttled the defending champs 4 games in a row...well, good nite T-wolves...but if the Lakers get all comfy, and stop playing defense, Minnesota, with home field turf could surprise me. but more than likely Shaq will have a field day against Ervin (no magic) Johnson and that old retread Candyland, Kobe will be Kobe and Karl will keep KG to merely mortal numbers...

What about the East....Detroit or Indiana???? snooooze....I wish somehow Miami was still in it....

[Dradam]

As my predictions for the last round all collapsed miserably, I think I am going to have to agree to Traveldog's assessment. I think the Glove and the Mailman will finally be rewarded with a much deserved championship. My only hope is that Kobe has no more court appearances. He must build up alot of steam at those conferences because he lets loose on the court. Michael Jordan had his best games when he was sick with the flu. Kobe plays his best games when he is in court that day on charges of rape. I think this is a dangerous precedence. Every NBA player might try to find similar motivation.

[mbkudu]

I still think K.G. and company have what it takes to get the Western Conference

done. They just won tonight (by 2 though). The Hollywood sideline freaks will be

hanging their heads just like last year.

[mbkudu]

Well I guess that's it for the T-Wolves. I don't think either Indiana or Detroit have a chance in #### of beating them. There's always next year. The Lakers proved all the naysayers, including myself, wrong. I hate it when LA wins.

[Dradam]

Orlando has the first round choice again. Let's see if they can screw it up again like when the picked Shaq and then lost him and picked Webber and then traded him for A. Hardaway who eventually left as well. Orlando is great at receiving good picks but can't seem to keep them for very long.