The 2005-2006 NBA Season Discussion Thread

I can't take Webber and Salmons anymore. I just can't.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I took the Wizards in the series, so I hope they win just so I can be right.

How ya doing, buddy?

I don't think Cleveland has a chance. Very overrated IMO. Detroit has not been playing their best this whole postseason pretty much. I don't know what's up with them, but they are playing down to Cleveland's level.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Clippers blow it big-time. One hell of a game.

I think it'll go 7. Suns probably take it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Exactly what Detroit needed. Pistons in 7.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Both teams that I thought would win tonight won. The Pistons still aren't playing their best, but played better at the end. I think the Pistons could blow out the Cavs in game 7, if they play like they should play and get behind the crowd. If not, nothing is a given, because the Pistons are playing like garbage.

I think the Mavs/Spurs game 7 will be down to the wire again. Either team could walk out of there, but I always take home teams in game 7's unless I think the home team is a total fraud.

Clippers/Suns game 7 should be fun as well. Again, either team could win this game. Again, I like the Suns for the same reason as above.

The way I see it is(and please share your's as well):

Most likely winner of all the game 7's: Pistons
Most likely road team to win: Mavs

Predictions: Pistons, Spurs, Suns.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

TNT crew is great. Charles is one of my favorite all-time people in sports. Kenny Smith is great and Ernie Johnson isn't bad either.

Plus the announcers and analysts are top notch as well.

FELIPE NO

Bill Walton is the king of exaggerations. Everything to him is the worst _____ in the history of the NBA.

Tim Thomas took a shot against the Lakers that Bill Walton said something like "That was the worst shot in the history of the playoffs." Yea, ok Bill, lol.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

So far everything is pretty much going like I thought. I took the Spurs to win but I said the Mavs had the best chance to win on the road and pull the upset.

The Mavs are just an overall better team. I don't want the Mavs to win it all though, something about that team just seems so undeserving of a championship. Maybe it's because their fans didn't know what the Mavs were until Dirk came to the team. I don't know.

Great game though.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I agree with that. The Mavs will probably find a way to choke. They usually do.

How ya doing, buddy?

I can't see how the Mavs lose this series, but I just can't see the Mavs winning a title.

I think if the Mavs play Detroit in the Finals, then Detroit wins, and if the Mavs play the Heat it could really go either way with a slight edge to the Mavs.

I don't see any way the Suns can take it all.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'll say Pistons in 6 and Mavs in 6.

Then Pistons in 7.

How ya doing, buddy?

I keep picking the Pistons and they keep playing like crap. I'm not picking them ever again.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I know I've said it before, but something about that Mavs team just seems so undeserving of a title. I'm not a Mavs hater by any means, but it just seems they don't play with that passion or energy. I really can't put my finger on it, I just don't want them to win a title.

I'm rooting for the Suns because I love Tim Thomas in a sarcastic kind of way. If not them I'm pulling for the Heat because I like Wade, and Shaq.

Miami better win tonight or else it's over for them IMO.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I think the Heat take the series. They seem like a much more deserving team, and Dwyane Wade and Shaq are hungry players. I can't see anyone stopping them. Diop did a good job against 2 teams with centers he's stronger than, but Shaq will dominate the Mavs inside. Also they have no one to guard Wade.

Heat in 6 or 7.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Frylock

Mavs in 6.

The Heat have had trouble with perimeter-oriented teams. Especially long, athletic teams with perimeter speed. That's Dallas to a T. They're an absolute matchup nightmare for the Heat.

They're quick, versatile, get up and down quickly, and play some of the most underrated defense. They rotate quickly, have good post defenders and shot-blockers, good guard play, and are just an overall matchup nightmare in the playoffs.

The Pistons are the epitome of a perimeter oriented team, and the Heat beat them. All they do is shoot. Billups can drive here and there, and Sheed can post up, but for the most part they shoot jump shots.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I'm sticking with Miami to win this series. I can't pick against them just because they went down 2-0. 3 straight home games is exactly what they need.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Dwyane Wade man... now there's a guy that wants that title. I don't get that from any of those Mavs players. They just don't play with that fire or passion like Wade. They are so emotionless.

This should spark the Heat a bit.

How ya doing, buddy?

The Mavs may still win this series, but tonight is the reason why I say something about them is undeserving about a championship. They just don't have that player with killer instinct like Miami has with Wade. They all seem so emotionless and dumbfounded in the clutch. This is the 2nd game in the series they choked away.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by bishop743

I don't think anyone was debating there being a foul. I think the main criticism was that the refs let that decide the game. It was a ticky-tack foul, they should have swallowed their whistles on that play. But of course, star players get certain calls, and that's the nature of the game. Dallas doesn't have anything to whine about though, they had their opportunities.

I think you only swallow your whistles in that situation if there was a chance Wade could make the shot, but IMO there was absolutely no shot at him hitting that shot.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Sonne

I like how everyone down here is all of a sudden a Heat fan.

Just like they were suddenly Marlins ('97 & '03) or Panthers ('96) fans.

Everyone down here is going flaming batshit, I wish I could be more excited (I was more excited for Tampa when they won the cup, as you may know I'm into hockey.) but I really can't.

But Miami needed something like this, fake as the happiness may be.

Hey, it's the same in Dallas. Miami and Dallas just aren't basketball towns like Philly, Boston, LA and other big NBA towns are.

But I'm happy the Heat won. I predicted them to win in 6 or 7 and I'm a fan of Wade. You all know I've said plenty of times on here that the Mavericks are just undeserving of a title. You saw why this series. They came up small when it counted in big moments. Blew big leads at the end of games and then choked away a big lead with the momentum on their own home court in game 6. Bishop is absolutely right. They did not deserve it period, and I've said it since before the series even started. Something about that team just to me wasn't deserving.

Wade, however is very deserving. He's one of the best players in the game and plays with fire, energy, and determination. He willed that team to victory. On paper they have a lot of big names, but almost all of them are a shell of themselves. They won because of Wade and Wade alone.

How ya doing, buddy?

It's called coming up small, that's what this is.

The Heat's best player Wade wanted this title more than anything in the world. He did everything he could to get it. What did Dirk do? Came up small in the biggest game of his life. Did he even score in the 4th quarter? He also passed up a shot to pass the ball to Dam-frickin-pier who lost the ball and the Heat got it right back. He was scared to shoot. The Mavs made critical mistakes at the end of games. In a way they choked. I don't know how else to put it. They blew a total of 3 games they could've easily won this series with key mistakes. You can't do that once in an NBA Finals let alone 3 frickin times.

Most amazing jew boots

I hope AI doesn't get traded, but it looks like he's going to. Man, he's my favorite player ever. It would be so sad to see him go.

I hope somehow the Sixers can get Roy or Gay in the draft. Billy King said they are trying to move up.

FELIPE NO

I wanted Carney going in, and was so mad when we drafted Sefolosha. Then we ended up with him anyway. So I'm happy.

What I'm not happy about is that AI is going to be traded soon. His days here are ticking down. While I don't want him to be dealt, it's necessary. It's time for the Sixers to rebuild. Damn, I'm gonna miss the guy.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?