Real Deal

Well, nevermind. THANKS LEBRON.

Glad Orlando is losing, but I have no idea HOW they are losing. Cleveland is scary good.

Blah, this slipped my mind. I'll take a look TODAY.

I don't see why the Magic wouldn't play their starters. All they have to do to win home court over the Lakers is win their last three games, and it's locked up (they have the better conference record). So, tonight, I'm rooting for the Cavaliers. LeBron needs to play.

Whoa, that's a huge, huge chunk of their government leaders. That has to be pretty devastating to not only the families, but the entire country as well.

If any team picked anyone else in the draft over Wall, or even Turner, they should just sell their franchise. Word is that there are a couple of teams that would select Cousins at #1. Something makes me think the Raptors is one of them, and it may be their way of replacing Bosh if they learn that he's leaving.

Paul Millsap - 15 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST, 5 STL, 2 BLK Pretty impressive, aside from Deron's 27/16.

Aren't the Phillies and Flyers (and maybe even the Eagles) more watched than the Sixers nowadays?

Happens to most centers at some point in their careers, and even non-centers (Ron Artest comes to mind, this season, with his plantar fasciitis, and Kobe also lost weight a couple of years ago).

Yao has actually improved over the last 2-3 years, defensively. I'd be worried about his help defense, though, and maybe even his one-on-one post defense, because while he may be healthy enough to play, that doesn't mean that foot will support his weight AND the weight of another player. If centers didn't use their legs and feet so much, it would be different...but having guys posting up on them every single possession, it's a big deal. Shaq would have to drain his hamstrings every few days when he was playing after "healing" from an injury, and that went on for a while. Bynum has to wear braces on his knees. Ilgauskas was lucky to continue his career after he got pins in his ankle. Yao may need to lose a little weight. He's put on more muscle, but some of that weight might need to come off for about a year.

Yeah, that was pretty bad of everyone to just keep playing. Smith should've called the timeout.

Couldn't tell it was a Friday night.

Boston is lucky they are playing a depleted Bucks team in the first round. While Milwaukee can win a game or two, it's going to be tough without Bogut. However, the worst part of it is that the Celtics will be going to Cleveland for the second round, and that's where they are going to get destroyed. Better change their ways. Sheed hasn't done jack for this team, more of a burden than anything else, and the squad relies on Rondo more than ever now, instead of stretching the floor and getting guys open looks.

Ariza did well, but his defense has dropped off from where it was in November and December, both by the numbers and visibly. Defensive spurts are expected, especially against Wallace, who he really shouldn't have a problem defending. If Houston had made the playoffs, and you stuck Ariza on Melo, I think Anthony would light him up for 30+ every game. He had his way with him last post-season, even with Ariza having the limited role. Back in December, Ariza and Battier did a good job defending Melo, but just last month, it was Anthony who just killed Trevor. November to March is a tough stretch to play second option basketball. Ariza isn't an all-star caliber player on offense, so it'll tear into his overall game eventually. Kevin Martin will help a bit, but getting Yao back will give Ariza tons of open shots.

LOL. Don't really care if Portland is 8th or not. I would rather Dallas be the second or third seed, though. I don't want to see them in the second round. Let them battle San Antonio for that WCF spot.

Didn't see this part of the game, I guess... http://www.dailycamera.com/sports/ci_14842282#axzz0kbFqMjzw http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100408/daily-dime

Where do you think the Blazers would be in regards to Western Conference playoff standings? Right now, they are 7th. Any reason not to believe they'd be fighting for a 2-4 spot?

You remember.

Come on Charlotte, get that seventh and take out Orlando!

Looks like Atlanta fell out of that slump and started playing basketball in the second half. Any word on Wright?

Ariza was an amazing defensive player in the first half of the season, but he sure slowed down in the second half. I think Yao will help with that, though, taking the load off offensively...but that remains to be seen. I think Houston should look into Ariza becoming that spot-up shooter again, and nothing more. Put the ball in Brooks' hands, use Martin slashing to the rim, Yao in the post, Ariza at the three, Scola in the post, and you'll have a pretty dangerous team that can score inside and out. Defensively, it's too bad you don't have a younger Battier. I think Houston will see how important he really was, even with Ariza sort of taking his place and defending the best on the floor.

Well, he's shooting 44% FG when he plays 30 or more minutes, 38% FG for anything under 30. I think what he did in Chicago was enough to say he needs to be a second option on a good team, or coming off the bench for a contender...but bringing him off the bench for a pathetic team is ridiculous.

The Jordan Rules were not based solely on double and triple teams. The Pistons developed them as a way of throwing 4-5 different defensive players at Jordan at different points of the game, and playing extra physical with him without considering foul trouble. Those "rules" would also include doubling Michael if less shooters were on the floor, because back in the 80's and 90's, you had to fully commit to the double team. There was no zone. Cleveland has Mo, Delonte, Gibson, Jawad, Big Z, Parker, Moon, and even Jamison who can knock down long-range shots. It would be a bad idea.

I don't get Chicago, at all. They don't even run plays half the time.

I don't see how the Bulls did that. They looked so confused out there on defense. But, this stuff sort of proves to me that the Nets have been tanking all season long.