** NBA Conference Finals **
 

EAST: (1) Detroit Pistons* vs. (2) Miami Heat
Winner: Miami Heat (4-2)

Detroit went 3-1 against the Heat in the regular season. In those games, Miami made 66% of their free throws and 12 of 52 three attempts. Detroit shot 78% from the foul line and averaged 95.3 PPG.

WEST: (2) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks*
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)

These teams split their four regular season games. This looks to be a high scoring series, as both teams averaged over 100 PPG in the season series. The Suns averaged 10+ more assists than Dallas in those games.

I like Dallas in five and the Pistons in seven.

[i]* = home court advantage[i]

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Pistons and Mavericks in 6.

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Heat in 7. Mavs in 5.

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I like the Heat in 7 and Dallas in 6.

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Heat in 7. Mavs in 5.

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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I don't like their roster as much this year but both Shaq and Wade are healthy. Last year Shaq was playing on 1 leg and Wade got hurt in game 5 and Miami still almost won the series.

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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I don't like their roster as much this year but both Shaq and Wade are healthy. Last year Shaq was playing on 1 leg and Wade got hurt in game 5 and Miami still almost won the series.

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Last year the Heat were also a better team IMO. They lost a lot when Eddie and Damon Jones left the team.

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There is no way Detroit wins a Game Six in Miami. No matter what else you believe, you can't really believe that. I'd buy Detroit in five over Detroit in six, and I think Miami is going to win it.

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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The Heat are healthy and finally playing well. The Pistons peaked too early. I wouldn't put money on this either way.

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There is no way Detroit wins a Game Six in Miami. No matter what else you believe, you can't really believe that. I'd buy Detroit in five over Detroit in six, and I think Miami is going to win it.

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Game 7 last year was in Miami. What say you now?

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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I don't like their roster as much this year but both Shaq and Wade are healthy. Last year Shaq was playing on 1 leg and Wade got hurt in game 5 and Miami still almost won the series.

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Last year the Heat were also a better team IMO. They lost a lot when Eddie and Damon Jones left the team.

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And the Pistons have been sucking it up as of late. It may have just been a fluke against the Caveliers, but the Pistons are going to have to get back to their regular season game if they want to make the Finals.

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There is no way Detroit wins a Game Six in Miami. No matter what else you believe, you can't really believe that. I'd buy Detroit in five over Detroit in six, and I think Miami is going to win it.

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Game 7 last year was in Miami. What say you now?

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This year's Miami team is significantly different than last year's Miami team.

Also, Wade was not 100%. If you can foresee a Wade or Shaq injury, than go ahead, pick Detroit in six.

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Pistons did play poorly in the second round, I'll give you that. It'll be a good ECF anyways; my blinders hope for a Pistons win (obv)

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Pistons and Mavericks in 6.

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This were my choices as well. I think the responses thus far are way overvaluing the Heat (agreed with whoever said they were better last year) and I do think the Suns can take more than one game in the other series.

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There is no way Detroit wins a Game Six in Miami. No matter what else you believe, you can't really believe that. I'd buy Detroit in five over Detroit in six, and I think Miami is going to win it.

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Game 7 last year was in Miami. What say you now?

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Also, I say you aren't very good at predicting the NBA!

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Pistons and Mavericks in 6.

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This were my choices as well. I think the responses thus far are way overvaluing the Heat (agreed with whoever said they were better last year) and I do think the Suns can take more than one game in the other series.

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Tuq - AHHHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH F YOU!!!

Sigh, well done.

Having watched this team and dissecting their game for a 7-game series, I think the Suns can steal a game or 2. I would prefer they give them a real series, as it's preferable to be taken out by the eventual conference champion... but the Mavs are kind of a super-charged version of the Clippers. More athletic, and I don't see them having similar defensive breakdowns we did against the Suns.

Too bad.

Mavs in 5

Pistons in 7.

-Al

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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I would've thought the same thing a couple of weeks ago, but as of today based on recent games I think there are some legitimate reasons to like the Heat.

IMO there is more to it than "Detroit played a better team last round". Prior to the last round what evidence was there to indicate that New Jersey wasn't a better team than Cleveland? I mean, the Cavs were pretty lucky to beat the Wizards from what I saw.

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Anybody know what's up with Carlos Delfino? (Hornacek?) I remember he played excellent defense on Dwyane Wade during the regular season, but he seems to have dropped out of the rotation lately.

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Mavs 5, Pistons 7

Edited to add:
Predictions for the lottery tonight.
1. Chicago (for the upset, Chicagoians worship Isiah)
2. Portland
3. Atlanta (0.1% upset over Bobcats)

Darkhorse dramatic upset: Houston - superstars are injured & they get high pick becoming a force next year a la Spurs in '98.

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Anybody know what's up with Carlos Delfino? (Hornacek?) I remember he played excellent defense on Dwyane Wade during the regular season, but he seems to have dropped out of the rotation lately.

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Delfino gets no run in the playoffs. He wasn't even on the playoff roster last year. Expect a tight seven-man rotation with Dice and Hunter. DDavis will come in for Shaq duty, but that's prob as deep as it comes. Delk and Evans will only do mop up duty.

I'm kind of curious as to why Delk stopped playing though. I haven't completely figured out Flip's playoff rotation yet.

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Mavs in 5, Pistons in 7

Kenny Smith nailed the West - Mavs can out-Suns the Suns if they want to, but they don't need to. Dirk is going to toy with them. Spurs-Suns might have been a series. Mavs-Clippers might have been a series. This one is already over.

Pistons still have a psychological edge on Miami but after the Cavs series they really need to take Game 1 to maintain it. I think they do, in particular I think Rasheed has a big game now that the guarantee pressure is off his shoulders (you could practially see the wheels turning through the sunspot when he bricked the free throws at the end of Game 6 and then bricked the whole game in Game 7). If it's 3-1 after 4, Pistons in 5, if it's 2-2 after 4, Pistons in 7. I don't see them getting game 6 in Miami.

I kind of hope it goes 7. I went to Game 7 on Sunday and it was awesome. Not a great game, but a great atmosphere and a really fun second half. Game 7 is the only game I might be able to get to in the Miami series.

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Delfino gets no run in the playoffs. He wasn't even on the playoff roster last year. Expect a tight seven-man rotation with Dice and Hunter. DDavis will come in for Shaq duty, but that's prob as deep as it comes. Delk and Evans will only do mop up duty.

I'm kind of curious as to why Delk stopped playing though. I haven't completely figured out Flip's playoff rotation yet.

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Playoff rotations are always shorter than regular season. The Piston starters don't need much rest, especially at guard. Plus you're always downgrading, for any situation, when you sit Rip or Chauncey. That isn't the case with the forwards, where McDyess and one Wallace often is the best look for the situation.

It's obvious that other than the starters he only trusts Lindsey to run the offense. Still, I bet there's a foul trouble situation or two in this series where Delk gets a few minutes to put up a scoring burst.

Don't forget the Shaq insurance. I'm looking forward to seeing Dale Davis get dusted off for a few minutes here and there.

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Detroit in 5, Mavs in 6.

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The Heat have very little besides Shaq and D-Wade. If Detroit doesn't completely suck offensively, they should win fairly easily. That said, if the Pistons don't play well on at least one end of the court, Shaq and Wade could pull it out.

And the Suns barely survived 7 games against the Lakers and Clippers. The Mavs are much better than both. Mavs win, but if Phoenix gets bounces, they can make it close.

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There is no way Detroit wins a Game Six in Miami. No matter what else you believe, you can't really believe that. I'd buy Detroit in five over Detroit in six, and I think Miami is going to win it.[ QUOTE ]




Game 7 last year was in Miami. What say you now?



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Also, I say you aren't very good at predicting the NBA!


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This coming from a guy who made a Lebron beat the Pistons and Hallways Series threads, good job!

It was actually proven last year that the Mavs can not run at a chaotic pace with the suns, they need to keep it in the low 110s and lower. They can do it with controlling the boards and getting to the line, but picking this series to go less then 6 games is nuts. Also its dumb to compare it to the old series' cause the Mavs dont have a dominant inside presence like the Clippers did and the Lakers made.

Mavs in 7

Pistons in 7- when this started I thought the Pistons were a lock to go to the finals but now im not so sure cause i think Flip Saunders isnt all that great a playoff coach. Even with that the Pistons are still equiped to take care of Miami's biggest weakness which is perimeter defense. I think Sheed's injury had its toll in the last series, but now they look healthy. Given all this Id be surprised if it wasnt a long drawn out series.

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something I forgot to mention, if Nash isnt healthy then it could end in 5, otherwise its going at least 6

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I love how people are like well the Suns barely survived the Lakers and Clippers so they will get destroyed.

Well the Pistons and Mavs barely got by the Cavs and Spurs...and one break here or there and neither team advances...so they are obviously now going to destroy both teams their playing...lol

Heat are playing better than anyone expected and have finally gelled with Walker becoming a solid #3 scorer. The Heat Pistons series will go 6 or 7 for sure.

Pistons are overrated.

Suns will have a tougher time against the Mavs but they would be better off facing the Mavs then the Spurs. Against the Mavs they have a real shot to beat them. The Spurs they would have no chance.

If you look at all of this seasons games the Suns didn't get demolished in any game against the Mavs...they lost by only 5-7 points...when they won it was by 5+ points.

The Mavs are obviously the better team but they are by no means a dominant team. Hence nearly blowing a Game 7 when you have a 20 point lead.

Mavs probably take it in 6 games. But if the Suns shoot hot in the 4th and get some bounces...they could win it in 7.

Either way. Whatever team wins the West will lose in 6 to the East.

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The Suns averaged 10+ more assists than Dallas in those games.


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This doesn't mean a whole lot since Dallas was second to last in the NBA in assists and second to last in the playoffs as well, this is b/c they run so many isolation plays b/c of their skill guys that they just don't tally the assists that a run and gun team (headed by a guy like Nash) like PHO will. It is kind of a trivial stat b/c those isolation plays are Dallas' bread and butter. This stat is meaningless.

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This stat is meaningless.

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That team stat was the only one that stood out besides the PPG. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] I never implied that it means anything.

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Well the Pistons and Mavs barely got by the Cavs and Spurs...and one break here or there and neither team advances...so they are obviously now going to destroy both teams their playing...lol


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Mavs barely got by a DYNASTY/#1 seed that set a franchise record in wins this season.

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Suns will have a tougher time against the Mavs but they would be better off facing the Mavs then the Spurs. Against the Mavs they have a real shot to beat them. The Spurs they would have no chance.


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And you know this how?

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If you look at all of this seasons games the Suns didn't get demolished in any game against the Mavs...they lost by only 5-7 points...when they won it was by 5+ points.


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This is such a weird comment. What is the difference? PHO also haven't won a game that was decided by less than 3 points all year long, this is just the way the game flows with their pace, they win big and they can come back quick, no lead is insurmountable. But a win is a win and a loss is a loss. They are a very vulnerable team, a team that can be beaten by just about anyone...they are also dangerous and can beat ANYONE too. The scores of the games of regular season games mean absolutely dick.

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The Mavs are obviously the better team but they are by no means a dominant team. Hence nearly blowing a Game 7 when you have a 20 point lead.


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This is misleading. Firstly, the Mavericks were unconscious out of the gates and no team and nobody can sustain the level of shooting that they had going in the first half...obviously that lead was going to at least cut in half just by cooling off a little. Secondly, when every bump of Tim Duncan is called and your team is in the penalty a few minutes into the third period and he gets two free throws every possession, it makes it easier to cut into a lead as well. I haven't bitched about last night at all but the way the game was called was retarded. And you can go back and look at the stat sheets in the third period when it got out of hand and see. The only reason the final stats look remotely close is b/c of Dirk and is aggressiveness. We were in foul trouble, big big foul trouble the ENTIRE second half, and then beat their ass with three guys fouled out in OT! We are the deepest team in the league. That 20 point lead was evaporated b/c of many circumstances and they held ship b/c they aren't the team of old but a different team, like I have been telling everyone all along yet everyone hates and says, "ahhh they will win 60 games and choke to the Spurs in the second round." BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

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Mavs probably take it in 6 games. But if the Suns shoot hot in the 4th and get some bounces...they could win it in 7.


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Of course anyone can win, this is why you play the game. You are right, when that team is on a roll they are scary.

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Suns will have a tougher time against the Mavs but they would be better off facing the Mavs then the Spurs. Against the Mavs they have a real shot to beat them. The Spurs they would have no chance.



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And you know this how?

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wasnt my quote but I can answer it. Its mainly cause of Duncan cause they usually give up 25+ to him AND double him and let him kick out to tons of open 3's. Also its cause of their defensive maturity in the 4th quarter (Spurs), as the suns went into the 4th with the lead most of the games but the Spurs were so smart defensively and so flawless offensively in the half court in those 4th quarters.

The mavs dont have a dominant inside presence, and arent quite to that point defensively, thus the Suns have a much better chance against the Mavs. Like I said though Mavs in 7 is my prediction, but could be less as Im not sure Nash will be healthy enough to be the best player in the series like he was last year.

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wasnt my quote but I can answer it. Its mainly cause of Duncan cause they usually give up 25+ to him AND double him and let him kick out to tons of open 3's. Also its cause of their defensive maturity in the 4th quarter (Spurs), as the suns went into the 4th with the lead most of the games but the Spurs were so smart defensively and so flawless offensively in the half court in those 4th quarters.

The mavs dont have a dominant inside presence, and arent quite to that point defensively, thus the Suns have a much better chance against the Mavs. Like I said though Mavs in 7 is my prediction, but could be less as Im not sure Nash will be healthy enough to be the best player in the series like he was last year.

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I obviously think the Suns can't beat the Spurs too, but the Spurs are only slightly better defensively than Dallas and in their series Dallas was better defensively. I see Dallas and SA as basically the same mold except for for this difference, Dallas doesn't have the premiere big guy (they have some role players in the interior that do a good job) but what they lacked there they had the advantage in team speed, quickness, and depth/bench to SA's. That is the trade off.

And I don't think that Nash will be the best player in the series even if he is 100% healthy, this isn't last year. This team isn't the 05' team, they have been facelifted and Dirk is thriving. Nash will be the X-factor on the Suns and one of the best players in the series, I just don't see him having more of an impact than Dirk. Dallas has 10X the team speed as last year, as well as the last few times they played in the regular season minus Devon Harris.

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Even a healthy Nash isn't better than Dirk right now. He's nigh unguardable, great outside shot, decent post presence, good at driving.

Phoenix is a very good team with a great offense, but they're not going to be able to guard Dirk, Terry, Howard, or Harris. They haven't been able to get rebounds or stops against either of the LA teams, how are they going to get stops against Dallas?

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Devin Harris will outplay Steve Nash. You heard it hear first. Mavs in 6. Detroit in 7. Book it.

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Tuq - AHHHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH F YOU!!!
Sigh, well done.

Having watched this team and dissecting their game for a 7-game series, I think the Suns can steal a game or 2. I would prefer they give them a real series, as it's preferable to be taken out by the eventual conference champion... but the Mavs are kind of a super-charged version of the Clippers. More athletic, and I don't see them having similar defensive breakdowns we did against the Suns.

Too bad.

Mavs in 5

Pistons in 7.

-Al

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Al,

You're seriously the only Clippers fan I know and you seem like a nice guy, so when the Suns were SIICP last night I was like aw, poor Al!

In addition to the Mavs being at least as worn out as the Suns after their series, there is legitimate letdown potential. After all, they just beat the defending champs, their cross-state rivals, and conquered years worth of demons in the process. I will never be as emotionally invested in any team after the Suns stunned the Lakers (best record in the league) in 1990, and then went on to choke to an inferior Blazers team.

So I see a letdown happening...for a game or two, thus Mavs in six.

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Does Phoenix have an edge at any position? Seriously. Point guard, I guess. But it's not like Nash can stop Harris or Terry.

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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it's no secret, they've been playing badly. if they keep playing badly they're gonna lose. even if they don't, they might lose. This isn't the same Heat team as last year? It isn't the same Pistons team either.

Pistons in 7, Mavs in 6

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Frankly I'm surprised by the Heat love. Is this a sexy underdog pick, or are people jumping onto the bandwagon that quickly? The Heat just don't match up well with the Pistons, period. They (and Shaq) have a pretty poor record the last few years vs the 'Stones.

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it's no secret, they've been playing badly. if they keep playing badly they're gonna lose. even if they don't, they might lose. This isn't the same Heat team as last year? It isn't the same Pistons team either.

Pistons in 7, Mavs in 6

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the pistons would need to play worse then they did against the cavs to lose this.