2011-2012 NBA Season

[thelakelander]

Yeah, last night's game was crazy.  I missed it, even though I had it on in the background.  The Clippers were down by something like 11 with a couple of minutes left and I assumed it was over.  I didn't realize they actually came back and won until I saw them jumping up and down.

As for Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.....expect another beat down.  It won't be +30 but it will end up +10.  There's a reason the Knicks are now 0-4 against Miami this season.  They simply don't match up well.  They have some big names but Miami plays defense on another level.  Bringing turnover prone Lin back will be like feeding chum to a shark.

Lin failed to reach double figures for the first time since he entered the starting lineup, hitting just 1 of 11 shots from the field. He committed six of his eight turnovers in the first half and managed just three assists after leading New York to a 9-2 record and averaging 23.9 points during that stretch.

In the nationally televised contest that brought the Heat as many media requests as for last year’s NBA Finals, Lin struggled from the start. He didn’t have a single superb moment all night, ending more than two weeks of steady play and late-game brilliance.

“They did a great job of making me uncomfortable,” Lin said. “I can’t remember another game where it was just hard to take dribbles.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/jeremy-lin-fails-to-lift-knicks-over-lebrons-miami-heat/2012/02/23/gIQA0W6uXR_story.html

[KenFSU]

Yeah, I remember that nationally televised Sunday afternoon Knicks/Heat game when Linsanity was at its peak. Miami just manhandled the guy. Throw in the fact that New York has pretty much abandoned the high screen/pick and roll since Lin went down, and also throw in the fact that those Lin turnovers are going to be a hell of a lot more costly in the slowed-down, half court playoff grind, and I think he may actually be more a liability in this series than an assett.

And I believe the Clippers came back from a grand total of 24 points down in the last 8 minutes.

My predictions from here on out:

East:
Miami over New York
Chicago over Philly
Boston over Atlanta
Indiana over Orlando (great win by the Magic though this weekend)

West:
Spurs over Utah
OKC over Dallas
Memphis over Clippers
Lakers over Nuggets

Semis:
Boston over Miami
Chicago over Indiana

Memphis over San Antonio
OKC over Lakers

Conference Finals:
Boston over Chicago
OKC over Memphis

Finals:
OKC over Boston

Despite last night's horrific loss for the Celtics, I still feel like they've got one more great run in them (wishful thinking, perhaps), plus -- for whatever reason -- Boston has had Miami's number this season.

[thelakelander]

Playoffs are a different animal.  NY is learning the hard way that they should have tanked.  Evan Turner wasn't as crazy as some made him to be last week when he said they tanked to avoid Miami in the first round.  Some of those guys like Wade have coasted the entire season, just waiting for the real season to begin.  Bosh will eat Garnett up just like he did last year.  If Boston makes it past Atlanta, they'll lose in 5 or 6, just like last year.

[thelakelander]

Can we stick a fork in NY now?  Another beat down, even with Melo going off for 30.



Now Amare loses a fist fight to a fire extinguisher. 

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7875526/2012-nba-playoffs-amare-stoudemire-new-york-knicks-injures-hand-loss

Where's my broom?  Bring on Atlanta.

[thelakelander]

[KenFSU]

^ That is freakin HILARIOUS.

The Knicks are done.

At this point, I'm not even sure if the MSG crowd can get them a win in this series.

Sadly, I smell as a sweep.

-----

A little added context for the Rondo ref bump.

Apparently they've had trouble with this ref (Marc Davis) dating back to a Hawks game earlier in the season where (the Celtics feel) he almost single-handedly gave the game to Atlanta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N806wOuatPY

----

I still think Dallas has a lot of life left in them.

They're done 0-2, but they held their own against OKC up until the very end in the first two games.

I think it's coming back to OKC tied 2-2.

[Keith-N-Jax]

lol that was funny, I still don't think the Heat will make it past the Celtics. I would like to see James win a ring though.

[thelakelander]

The Celtics aren't going to make it past Atlanta.

[stephenc]

I still think Dallas has a lot of life left in them.

They're done 0-2, but they held their own against OKC up until the very end in the first two games.

I think it's coming back to OKC tied 2-2.

Man sure hope they do. Like Dirk said, they're a couple bounces from being up 2-0. I hope my Mavs can pull out a couple wins but think OKC is gonna win it all this year.

[KenFSU]

The Celtics aren't going to make it past Atlanta.

I like what you're doing with the reverse jinx there!

But yeah, this game has me sweating at Sneakers :/

[Keith-N-Jax]

Hawks certainly not running away with this, imagine the game back in Boston. Next season I'm gonna try to go to some Magic and Heat games.

[KenFSU]

Really disappointing, bordering on spineless, to see Stan Van Gundy fired by Orlando.

If I'm the Magic, I'm trading Dwight Howard yesterday (Carmelo Anthony and a few scraps for Dwight Howard should be a no brainer for both teams).

A few other things:

1) Will be kind of sad to see the Kobe-era Lakers come to an end tonight.
2) I can't see anybody in the league beating San Antonio in a game, much less a series, with how well they are playing right now.
3) Hell of a game from Lebron yesterday, but I still can't figure this Heat team out.
4) Must-win game tonight for Boston. If they lose Game 5 in Boston, we might be seeing the end of the Big 3 era Celtics as well.
5) Will be really interesting to see what happens with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul next year, and if both guys end up staying with the Clippers.

[Keith-N-Jax]

The West is going to win no matter who comes out of the east. The Heat great win, but I think they are finished.

[thelakelander]

Nothing to figure out about the Heat.  With Bosh out, they are screwed.  Mike Miller should be arrested for stealing money from the Heat.  I cringe everytime Battier launches a three point attempt.  They might as well hire me to replace him.  I'll promise I can at least hit the side of the backboard for 1/2 the salary.  Perhaps they can two man ball themselves to the Eastern Conference Finals but healthy Bosh is needed give them a chance at winning it all.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Looks like that's exactly what they might do. That was a great game the other night. Hopefully they can seal the deal to night. The Heat need some players that can score other than Wade and James on a consistent basis. Look at the Thunder, just about everyone is a threat to score. OKC over San Antonio I think.