Lots of entertainment on the first day of the playoffs with the Suns/Spurs 2OT thriller topping the list. That might have been of the best playoff games I've seen.

Also, if you don't think the playoffs are fun try watching the Hornets and Mavs. The crowd was going absolutely bonkers in that game and that's the reason why the NBA playoffs are worth watching.

That being said, there's probably some interest in Deron Williams and Chris Paul over Andrew Bogut discussion based on how those two guys have literally carried their respective teams, although hopefully Bogut gets to prove himself in the playoffs at some point.

I think a large part of this is the tendency to under-emphasize the importance of the PG position. It is very hard to overlook a legitimate center. Hard to blame the Bucks.

But, the Hawks? Passing over Paul and Williams for a small forward?

In retrospect, that is insanity.

I am glad I don't live in DET. Jeez... what a colossal stinker THAT was.

It depends on the type of PG you select.

Chris Paul and Deron Williams are major difference makers for their teams but if you look it at there are far fewer Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett or even Andrew Bogut type big men in the league than good guards.

It's far easier IMO to find good backcourt players than good big men.

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Chris Paul and Deron Williams are major difference makers for their teams but if you look it at there are far fewer Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett or even Andrew Bogut type big men in the league than good guards.

It's interesting- your point is accurate, but yopu can make a faster turnaround with the myriad of good Gs than rolling the dics on big men that are far riskier.

Look at the Bulls- they had the Gs, but the interior wasn't there, so they became jump shooters. The Hawks are loaded with Fs.... no G to make it mesh. Maybe Bibby, but not too sure.

You need it all to win, I guess. But a true superstar makes role players good players. I love Bogut's game- but he'll never be a superstar. Him and Redd are a lot alike- you put a superstar between them, and then you have a contender. We'll see if Hammond lands them a player like that.

You know who is impressing me? And you won't believe it if you have been reqading this forum for a while- Shaquille O'Neal. That guy is playing with leadership and is really doing a great job defending Duncan. Now I know that TD had 40 last game, but Shaq was in foul trouble, too. Tonight, he's really playing TD well.

Al Horford seems to be a pretty decent player for a team like Atlanta.

As expected those blockbuster trades by Phoenix and Dallas sure didn't pay off. In Phoenix's defense, I'm not quite sure it would have mattered. But their franchise certainly appears to be on the downswing now. They've lost their identity, will soon lose their coach, and will have to recreate themselves. With Shaq on their payroll next year and Nash a year older, it would be shocking to see them contending again.

Dallas is an even bigger mess. Jason Kidd was totally outplayed by Chris Paul...he couldn't even keep up with him. Devin Harris certainly would have been a better short-term and of course long-term solution. They already fired their coach, have no identity, and have a bloated salary with no marketable parts. The only tradeable guy is Josh Howard who had an awful series on and off the court. It's hard to imagine his trade value any lower, so he may be a smart acquisition for another team out there.

The team that intrigues me is Utah. They just play so well together -- that Jerry sloan is a heck of a coach. Assuming they get past Houston, they could give the Lakers some trouble. Williams is a handful and they crash the boards. The question is, who will guard Kobe. Kirelinko can certainly try some. Brewer will get a chance. But Kobe will just abuse a guy like Kyle Korver.

Mitch Kupchak worked some magic this year. Not only did he steal Gasol from Memphis, he caused the Suns and Mavs to panic and make bad trades. Lakers sweep. Suns/Mavs out in round one. Well done.

Just like always, the NBA once again proves how rigged it is. KG is my all time favorite player but he probably should have been suspended for the elbow he chucked the other night. Marvin Williams and Kendrick Perkins DEFINITELY should have been suspended, they were clearly on the court. Heck, even Williams admitted he should have been suspended.

Now, yes the rule is very stupid. However, the exact same situation happened last year and Phoenix got screwed royally. Had they changed the rule in the offseason, fine. But, they did not. Last year Stern was mouthing off to everyone who questioned the decision about "accountability" and the "letter of the law". Blah blah blah.

I could somewhat understand if Stern had come out this week and said "You know what, we made a mistake last year with the Suns suspensions. We can't go back and fix it but we weren't about the repeat the mistake again".

That would have made some sense. Instead he says nothing.

Do you think the NBA wants the Celtics in the finals just a little bit? Against the Lakers?

What's suprising is that the NBA should've had a bigger investigation when one of their officials was caught gambling. You want to tell me that the league isn't in on a whole fix? Last year ball whacker, Bruce Bowen should've been suspended indefinitely but we have to have Tim Boy's bitch playing.

More proof, Songaila getting suspended for his elbow to LeBron James.

Watching the Hawks/Celtics - couple of observations. Who was he absolute moron who chose to keep Gadz instead of Pachulia? Not even close in terms of skill and coordination - Gadz must of had compromising photos of the GM. Marvin Williams stinks

When Screamin' A. comes on at halftime, mute him and enjoy just watching him go through all of his girations.

Hilarious!!

The Hornets against the Lakers is going to be one helluva WC Finals. I really hope that one comes to pass. That will be one of the more exciting series' in a long time, IMO. That's the kind of series that is what makes the NBA playoffs worth watching. But the Lakers are going to have a helluva time getting past the Jazz. I am sure a Deron Williams/Chris Paul matchup would be interesting, but the Lakers/Hornets matchup would be more intriguing IMO because Kobe's the best player in the game and has the supporting cast to stay with the Hornets. The Jazz are tough, but I would prefer the Lakers.

The interesting thing about the Hornets/Spurs game last night was that the Hornets really made the Spurs looks old. CP and Parker is fun to watch, and West against Duncan has surprisingly favored West so far. Should be a good series to watch.

It's amazing how fast the Mavs have fallen. They won 60-some games a year ago, and now for the second straight season, they bow out in the first round. If I am Cuban, I look at the trade for Kidd as the true turning point when things went south. He never brought what he was supposed to bring- and without Devin Harris (who is more equipped todefend Paul than Kidd is), they became a slow team very quickly. They would never have traded Harris if he wouldn't have gotten hurt. If Devin was playing the whole season, they would have won their division and been a likely top seed in the playoffs, which might have told a totally different story. The Kidd trade turned out to be a panic move, and the results were obvious. Just a bad deal any way you look at it, IMO.

I am glad the Suns are out of it. They traded for Shaq, and it blew up in their face. Serves them right. They should have just paid the Matrix, went out and got a decent C this summer, and they would have been better off. Now they don't have Marion, and they have to pay Shaq money he isn't close to being worth. if they fire D'Antoni, they are toast. Nash only has a couple years left, and all they'll have left is Stoudamire and a bunch of scrubs who can't defend. The Suns will be right back in the dark ages.

Just give me a bunch of games seven

outstanding officiating in the detoilet game tonight. what a joke that they counted that shot at the end of the 3rd quarter and then the foul at the end of the game was terrible.

I think New Orleans has a real shot to beat San Antonio which would be interesting.

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I think New Orleans has a real shot to beat San Antonio which would be interesting.

What is fascinating about that is what paul said after game 1- that they were using a page out of the Spurs' book in just "staying the course." Not getting into panic mode when things start to go bad a little. What's also interesting is that they also have learned from watching the Mavs and Suns get beat by the Spurs- the Spurs do thing to piss you off nad take you out of your game. Ginobli is one of those guys that just pisses you off. They do their flopping and they have their hard fouls, and that rattles a lot of teams, including the Mavs and Suns who have been victimized when they were the better team.

But the Hornets aren't getting rattled when the Spurs up the ante, and it's really interesting to watch. There were a couple chippy fouls by Oberto and Ginobli in that last game, and in both cases, the Hornet player kept his cool. West started getting a little lippy, but I saw Paul say straight to him "I know, I know... now the the f*** up." That was classic stuff, there, and really shows that Scott has educated them about how the Spurs get under your skin. The Suns should have beaten the Spurs last year, and then the big foul by Horry on Nash totally changed the series. The Suns were so busy complaining about the way they were getting treated, they forgot they were the better team, and gave the series away. You could just see the Spurs wringing their hands as soon as Nash hit that scorers' table. They completely took them mentally out of the series with that one play.

The Hornets aren't taking the bait. Pretty neat little drama...

I also think if they advance New Orleans has a real shot of beating the Lakers as well

They match up well against those guys and nobody has had any answer for Paul- not even a great defensive team like San Antonio. What is ever more shocking is how they are shutting down Tim Duncan and I haven't seen that from any opponent since the Lakers beat SA years back with Shaq.

Did anyone else see the defensive foul called on Kirilenko? Now, I am not crying conspiracy, but I am crying that there has to be something in place to reduce the number of these kind of calls.

The game is in Utah. It is a playoff game. I believe it was already in OT. If Utah loses this game, the series is pretty much over.

Kobe Bryant is dribbling down the right baseline. Kirilenko's positioning is immaculate. All of a sudden, Bryant pushes off with his left arm to an intensity that would have made Muhammed Ali proud. I mean...his left arm just went POW! I think Kirilenko was sent sprawling. I am sure if it was me, I would have been projected on my butt, a few feet backward.

Kirilenko initiated ZERO CONTACT.

I just do NOT get it.

I think coaches ought to have the same liberty as in the NFL. Maybe have some upper limit opportunities to request teleplay.

It was a frigging, absolute disgrace.

There's no such thing as too many 7 games series.

What I can't understand is how Boston can be 0-5 on the road in the playoffs so far. For a team that has been touted as the favorite in the East I wouldn't bet on them advancing to the Finals.

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Originally posted by phaedrus:
Did anyone else see the defensive foul called on Kirilenko?

What's surprising to me is that there's been very little chatter about this in the paper or on the radio. It's like Jazz fans expect to get screwed by the refs, especially when they play the Lakers.