Tag Archive: 2011 nba playoffs

Spiraling Down the Halls of Boredom

May 17, 2011 Randy Neil

It’s just another bland Tuesday. The OKC are taking on the Dallas Mavericks tonight and from what it sounds like, everyone has their money on the Mavs. I don’t know what to think of this series. Oklahoma had some trouble getting past the Grizzlies, but I credit that more to Memphis than anything else. They were a young team with very little to lose playing their hearts out. Oklahoma had a lot to deal with. Dallas is just a team that I can never believe in. I can’t bring myself to say “Dallas is going all the way this year.”

I also didn’t think the Bulls were going to destroy the Heat in the fashion they did. I really thought Miami was red hot right now, so it came as a pleasant surprise. Charles Barkley’s post-game commentary was pretty priceless as well. He sounds like my old grandfather, constantly repeating himself with belligerent, yet somehow poignant, remarks that help pass the time during holidays as you scarf down your turkey. TNT might have the best commentary of any sport in the past 20 years.

I’m not sure that the rest of the series is going to end up this way, but it’s nice to see the Heat struggle after demolishing the Sixers. Fuck I miss them already. This can act as condolence:

Another thing, I don’t know much about hockey, but I’m calling it out right now. Stanley Cup Finals, Lightning v. Canucks. I announced this to a few friends before the series started, so I’m sure this isn’t very fair to announce it now that it’s underway, but I’m saying it. Chara might be the meanest hockey player in the past 5 years, but I just think the Lightning have what it takes to make it past the Brew-crew.

That’s another thing I never mentioned but wanted to. Chara fucking destroyed Hartnell in game 4 of the playoff series with the Flyers. Jesus that shit was demoralizing. I can’t find just a simple highlight of it, so skip ahead to 5:52 and see what I mean….

Sweet merciful Jesus. I didn’t want to bring that up Flyers fans, but damn that was embarrassing.

Roy Oswalt is set to pitch tonight after taking that 2 week long break to visit his family. He’s on my fantasy lineup, so I have multiple interests in this.

Go forth and enjoy your day!

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The NBA Playoffs are Nuts

May 9, 2011 Adam Thomas

The Atlanta Hawks could play the Memphis Grizzlies for the NBA Championship.  Wow.

So what happened?  Why did everyone seem to age 40 years in 20 days?  Kobe looked terrible and his team is now gone but they’ll be back next year when they get Dwight Howard so never fear Lakers fans!  Up until Game 3, the Celtics looked old until Wade tackled Rondo and it seemed to wake them all up at least momentarily.

Lebron is sporting the hairline of a 50 year old man.  But that isn’t even the scariest thing about these playoffs.

You know who looks really scary right now?  The Memphis Grizzlies.  They just look better than the Thunder.  I know that’s gonna upset some Headrush writers who saw the Thunder in person and were smitten by Durant and fell in love with Westbrook, but those two and their teammates are being worked over right now by the likes of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, O.J. Mayo and Shane Battier.

As for the perennial villains of the east, the Heat, they did nothing to quell their dastardly ways during Game 3, with Wade throwing Rondo to the floor and Lebron using liberal use of the word “retarded” in the post game press conference.  James is such an arrogant POS, only he would use a word like that in that context and think there is nothing wrong with it.  He is a six year old in a grown man’s body and is just such a joke on so many levels.  Expect a half-hearted apology and a photo op soon.  F that guy.

How the Bulls are tied with the Hawks is beyond me.  But hey, that’s how these playoffs are going.  Expect the unexpected.

 

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76ers Toughest Test of the Year

April 27, 2011 Randy Neil

Well the Flyers won yesterday, advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs. The Sixers… well… they have a lot more work cut out for them if they hope to reach the same accomplishment.

Last Sunday, the Sixers were able to something they haven’t done all year… beat the Miami Heat. Tonight, Philly fans are hoping they accomplish another goal not yet achieved… win in Miami.

If they do win tonight, the flood gates will open up. The lashing the Heat received from the media after their Game 4 loss probably irritated them, so if Philadelphia actually does manage to win, look for it to get even worse. On the flip side of that, Miami has had 72 hours to basically stir their emotions into something productive. They are probably going to come out very aggressive tonight and keep the 76ers on their toes the entire game.

The 76ers need nothing short of a miracle again. The younger players that received praise for Philly’s victory last Sunday are going to have to produce better stats. Not to say they weren’t deserving of said praise; I’m saying they need to play even better to handle a team that’s going to play with much more determination.

I’m hoping Turner and Iguodala get almost identical minutes. Evan Turner was the breakout star in Game 4, and in contrast, Iguodala became the villain (more-so than ever.) You’re looking at a veteran with 7 years experience who has never won a playoff series attempting to lead a team without averaging more than 10 points a game. People just aren’t buying it. His defense is great, his assists are amazing, but people are fed up with the somewhat lethargic offense he produces. He’s a vital factor to this team’s chances of staying afloat, but he shouldn’t be the main factor. It’s hard to believe that Iggy is only 27 years old.

I’m looking forward to Spencer Hawes, Elton Brand, and Tony Battie establishing some presence in the paint. In order for the Sixers to have any chance, they need to equal or out-rebound the Heat throughout the game. We need the big boys to step up, and maybe while they’re at it, start some shit talking as well.

Tip-off starts at 7pm ET at American Airlines Arena. This can be our greatest accomplishment of the season or a humbling experience for our youthful team to grow on. It’s going to be a tough game for sure. Here’s hoping the best 76ers show up. Bring the king…. mother fucker.

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The Saddest Sixers Post of the Year

April 13, 2011 Randy Neil

Man, things are looking ugly. Lou Williams is still uncertain about his playoff chances. The Sixers clinched the 7th seed spot. The Heat clinched the 2nd seed. We are doomed.

If the Celtics ended up holding the 2nd seed, or New York didn’t climb back into the 6th seed, I would have said we had a chance at a playoff series victory, but now, we don’t have a chance in hell.

Let’s take a look at the regular season games between the Sixers/Heat shall we?

October 27th, 2010 – The Heat visit Philadelphia for the 2nd game of the year, and end up cruising over the Sixers, 97-87. Wade grabs 30 pts, and the top scorer on our team for that game… Evan Turner. That’s right. He went 7-10 in that game, grabbing 16 points.

November 16th, 2010 – The Sixers now visit Miami for the first time, and meet almost the exact same fate. Miami takes the game 99-90. Wade, Bosh, and James combine for 61 points.

March 25th, 2011 – This was the most recent loss, and probably the most heartbreaking. The Sixers led this game with about 8 minutes to go by 10 points, and they gave that all away, eventually losing 99-111. Certainly, many could speculate that this was the game that started the Sixers slump.

The Sixers have their last game of the season tonight, facing the Detroit Pistons. Andre Iguodala will be sitting out to rest his tendinitis and Andres Nocioni will be starting in his place to help Evan Turner ‘adjust to coming off the bench for the playoffs.’ No matter what, the 76ers will end the season with a .500 record or better.

Looking back on last year, I’ll take it.

I still see this year as a huge improvement, and listening to Doug Collins always seems to help comfort my soul a little bit in dire times.

Mmmm… I’m still frightened. Thanks anyway coach.

Most are predicting this series to be an easy sweep for the Heat. I’m hoping otherwise.

The games begin on Saturday at 3:30 ET on ABC. At least our boys will have huge national coverage! So with one last battle cry, I will exclaim (in a very cowardly voice) :

BRING THE KING.

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