2009 NBA Playoffs

[Dark Flame]

I think I made this topic last year, and we've got other sports going too, so what the hell.

This year's first round goes like this:
East:
1 Cleveland vs 8 Detroit
2 Boston vs 7 Chicago
3 Orlando vs 6 Philadelphia
4 Atlanta vs 5 Miami

West
1 Lakers vs 8 Utah
2 Denver vs 7 New Orleans
3 San Antonio vs 6 Dallas
4 Portland vs 5 Houston

Smart money seems to be Lakers-Cavs in the Finals, especially now that Garnett is out. Any thoughts?

[Argosh]

I'm sure there will be surprises, but Lakers-Cavs in the Finals sounds reasonable.

[Argosh]

Mavericks beat Spurs 105-97 in Game 1 and Bulls beat Celtics 105-103 in OT in Game 1.
Also, Cavaliers roll over Pistons & Rockets steamroll Blazers.

[Dark Flame]

I actually got to go to the Cavs game! With VIP seats too. By all reports it wasn't even the best crowd we've had recently but it sure was fun!

Also, Houston destroyed Portland and today the Lakers won their first game.

[Argosh]

Cool, did you see the half-court shot?

Billups leads Nuggets past Hornets in Game 1.
Lakers beat Jazz 113-100 to win playoff opener.
Iguodala's jumper helps Sixers stun Magic.
High-flying Smith leads Hawks to 90-64 Game 1 win.

[Dark Flame]

Yes I did!! It's probably pretty obvious, but the place went nuts when it went in. It was so much fun, I've never been in a louder crowd.

Also, Boston just avoids going down 0-2 by a last-second Ray Allen triple. Series tied 1-1 going to Chicago. Damn.

[Argosh]

Allen helps Boston even series against Bulls.
Parker's 38 helps Spurs even series.

[Argosh]

Cavaliers hold off Pistons 94-82 (2:0).
Roy has 42 to even Rockets and Blazers series (1:1).
Lakers defeat Jazz 119-109 to take 2-0 series lead.
Also, other series so far ...
San Antonio vs Dallas, 1:1.
Denver vs New Orleans, 1:0.
Orlando vs Philadelphia, 0:1.
Atlanta vs Miami, 1:0.
Boston vs Chicago, 1:1.

[Dark Flame]

Just wondering, Argosh, but what team(s) are you rooting for?

[Steve]

Looks like Denver's about to go up 2-0 while Orlando and Miami have evened their respective series out 1-1.

So only three possible sweeps left in the first round.

[Argosh]

Just wondering, Argosh, but what team(s) are you rooting for?

Of those who made it into the playoffs, Lakers and Mavericks.

Denver vs New Orleans 108:93, 2:0.
Atlanta vs Miami 93:108, 1:1.
Orlando vs Philadelphia 96:87, 1:1.

[Dark Flame]

Chicago lost, now they're down 2-1.
Mavs won, up 2-1.

I was really rooting for the Bulls. I like the upset factor and the young team beating the old veterans. Oh well, hopefully the lack of Boston big men will translate into more Chicago wins further down the road.

[Argosh]

Dallas vs San Antonio 88:67, 2:1.
Chicago vs Boston 86:107, 1:2.
Utah vs Los Angeles 88:86, 1:2.

[Dark Flame]

Cavs survive an ugly game and go up 3-0.
Sixers squeak out a tight win to go up 2-1.
Houston leads by 11 at the half looking to go up 2-1.

[Argosh]

Cavs survive an ugly game and go up 3-0.
Sixers squeak out a tight win to go up 2-1.
Houston leads by 11 at the half looking to go up 2-1.

Links to the boxscores etc.
Philadelphia vs Orlando 96:94, 2:1.
Detroit vs Cleveland 68:79, 0:3.
Houston vs Portland 86:83, 2:1.

[Argosh]

New Orleans vs Denver 95:93, 1:2.
Dallas vs San Antonio 99:90, 3:1.
Utah vs Los Angeles 94:108, 1:3.
Next game in LA, looks like Utah's done.

Miami vs Atlanta 107-78, 2:1.
When teams split the first two games of an NBA series, the Game 3 winner advances 76 percent of the time. That's a bad sign for the Hawks.

[Argosh]

First sweep of the playoffs by Cleveland.
Detroit vs Cleveland 78:99, 0:4.
Chicago vs Boston 121:118, 2:2.
Philadelphia vs Orlando 81:84, 2:2.
Houston vs Portland 89:88, 3:1.

[Argosh]

Lakers advances to the second round.
New Orleans vs Denver 63:121, 1:3.
Miami vs Atlanta 71:81, 2:2.
Los Angeles vs Utah 107:96, 4:1.

[Dark Flame]

So did anyone see the Spurs being done so soon? Wow.

Also, the Bulls got fucked by several non-calls late in the game. Damn, that was ugly to watch. They collapsed down the stretch, but they still would've had a chance to win if some calls had been a little more fair.

[Argosh]

Finally some revenge for Dallas, last couple of series against San Antonio ended differently.
Boston vs Chicago 106:104, 3:2.
Orlando vs Philadelphia 91:78, 3:2.
San Antonio vs Dallas 93:106, 1:4.
Portland vs Houston 88:77, 2:3.

[Argosh]

Denver advances to the next round.
Denver vs New Orleans 107:86, 4:1.
Atlanta vs Miami 106:91, 3:2.

[Steve]

And we're back in the Second Round despite the double-whammy of Superman's errant elbows Tuesday night....

Last year I gave the Raptors kudos for a hard-fought series. This year I want to give the same to the Sixers. But only part of me, given some of the whining coming from that direction and Dalembert being an asshole, especially with that cheap shot on Turkoglu in the final quarter. They'd better damn well suspend him at the start of next season given his elbowing of Hedo was quite a bit nastier than Dwight's to him on Tuesday.

[Steve]

Damn this Bulls-Celtics series is fucking brutal.

[Argosh]

Another OT game, this one triple overtime. Its like they're milking it for all of it's worth.
Chicago vs Boston 128:127, 3:3.

Meanwhile, Houston and Orlando advance to the next round.
Portland vs Houston 76:92, 2:4.
Philadelphia vs Orlando 89:114, 2:4.

[Dark Flame]

That game was fantastic!! All I can hope for now is that Game 7 lives up to the rest of the series. Wow. The highs and lows, big plays.. It was mind boggling. Three of us were here watching it, and we're jumping up and down with glee one minute, saying "We're fucked" the next, then going "Did you see that!!!!" later on.. I've never had this much interest in a non-Cavs series, but this one is worth it. Wow.