Does the NBA playoffs seem boring to you?

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:17 pm

I have been watching some games,and they have been good. But I just can´t seem to get excited about the Playoffs this year. I want to see the Kings win it,but then again I really don´t care. Anybody else feel this way?
 
 Maybe its because the season is so long,I went to war and came back and we are still almost a month away from the Finals. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_mad.gif">

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:25 pm

Jack,
 
 Pro hoops has never ever grabbed my attention. Maybe it´s because I grew up watching the Dallas Mavericks, who were basically horrible until Mark Cuban came around. But then again, I am a big Texas Rangers fan and their picture is next to "horrible" in the dictionary.
 
 I´d much rather watch the hockey playoffs than the NBA Playoffs, but our tv in the sports department always seems to find its way to the hoop games. I´ve been underwelmed by the playoffs though and it´s only the first round thanks to the all series are Best of 7 rule.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:37 pm

Arni,I just read your E-mail. Thanks brother <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">
 
 I wish I was going with you guys to Indy..next year, I keep saying next year it´s my chant <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_mad.gif"> I sound like a Cubs fan <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

stattosoftware · Post by **stattosoftware** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:51 pm

Well the NBA was fun, but now that Barkley and Jordan are gone who cares?
 
 Go watch arena football for all I care.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri May 02, 2003 5:20 pm

It´s funny you mention that Jackdog.
 
 I stopped being excited about the NBA after the championship Bulls dibanded. Just lost interest. I think even if the Bulls were great again, I would not be too interested.
 
 I keep wondering if it is just me, or is the NBA losing its appeal all around.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri May 02, 2003 5:59 pm

Spooky, I used to love the Playoffs. Now it just something to watch other than reruns of " The Heat of the Night" <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri May 02, 2003 6:52 pm

Jack-diggity:
 
 The what? NBA Playoffs? What are they?
 
 I think that´s my answer to your question, brother. Basketball season ends for me every year with the Final Four, and what an orange blaze of glory basketball season ended with this year. I´m going to live off that joy for a long, long time. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 I could give a rat´s ass about the NBA Playoffs. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the only playoffs that matter in the spring.
 
 Talk with you soon.
 
 Take care,
 PK

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri May 02, 2003 7:21 pm

PK,I feel ya brother. But with my Redwings home playin golf now. I thought I would check in on Webber and the Kings. I fell asleep!
 
 Maybe if the play againt the Lakers I will get pumped up about the NBA again. I hope SF_z is right. Only time will tell.
 
 Damon says hi by the way. I still will not let him post here,he´s got to grow up a bit to move to this forum. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

ChasingStanley · Post by **ChasingStanley** » Fri May 02, 2003 7:41 pm

Was just browsing through this forum (first time here), but damn, Jackdog, you had to bring up the Wings and compel me to post.
 
 How depressing is May and June for a Detroit hockey fan with no Wings hockey to watch? Suddenly I´ve got a ton of free time not being taken up that usually goes to watching hockey games.
 
 ...it´s unnatural. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 ---Todd
 [ This message was edited by: ChasingStanley on 02-05-2003 16:41 ]

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Fri May 02, 2003 8:12 pm

Yes it is. It sucks! Wing fans are spoiled. I miss Scotty.
 
 As soon as I can walk with my cane,I am going to tape it and go check the squid (Navy man) in the next room into the wall. He´s from Denver and a big Roy fan. I will make him pay during P/T next week. He´s going down <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

ChasingStanley · Post by **ChasingStanley** » Sat May 03, 2003 10:31 am

That´s my only consolation... the Avs are out too. Now if the Ducks can finish off the Stars and someone (I don´t care who, just somebody) knocks off the Devils, then I can at least be content in none of the principles (the Devils in particular) winning a cup this year.
 
 Go Pistons! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 ---Todd

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat May 03, 2003 11:04 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-05-02 16:09, sf_z wrote:
 But I still love hoops and the NBA playoffs are still the best basketball on earth. Magic and Bird are gone but there are great active players who do amazing things every time they get on court.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 I agree with sf_z. NBA playoff basketball is the best basketball on earth. If you don´t like it then you truly don´t love the sport. Game 6 of the Philly/NO series was absolutely fantastic. These teams are the 4 and 5 seeds in the "Leastern" conference and the talent level on the court is still pretty amazing...Iverson, Baron Davis, Mashburn, Coleman, Van Horn, Wesley. If you can´t appreciate the moves and heart of Iverson, the penetration and jump shooting of Davis, the pick and rolls, fastbreaks, etc., etc. then you aren´t a fan of the game. I love college basketball as well, but it is fun to watch the increased skill levels and athleticism of the NBA players. Plus, the crowds really get into the playoff games. Go to a playoff game with 20,000 plus in Philly and tell me its boring.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat May 03, 2003 11:12 am

I must say that with John Stockton´s impending retirement, one of the last links to the NBA that I used to enjoy is going, going, gone.
 
 I watch the ESPN Classic NBA Playoff games from the 80s and can´t believe I´m watching the same game that´s on the floor today. That´s because I´m not.
 
 In the 80s, you actually saw centers with skills. Most teams had them. You saw centers who could do more than dunk and bang. You saw point guards who had more assists per game than points. You saw fast breaks by the Lakers in which four or five guys on the team touched the ball, but the ball never hit the floor. You saw many players on the court with a mid-range jumper in their repertoire. You saw offenses that consisted more of banging the ball inside or kicking it out for the three. You didn´t see "clear-outs" for one player to have one side of the floor to go one-on-one to up the ante for the new shoe contract.
 
 But you see all of that in today´s NBA, and that´s why I have no interest. I could care less about the athleticism. I want to see fundamental basketball, not an athletic show.
 
 That´s the beauty of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The same qualities required to win the Cup in 1970 exist today. Grit, great goaltending, a willingness to surrender your body for hitting and blocking shots, good special teams, four solid lines. Yes, the game is faster today than 30 years ago, but the same principles will win you a Cup. Not counting the Broad Street Bullies of 1974-75, of course. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat May 03, 2003 1:41 pm

"I watch the ESPN Classic NBA Playoff games from the 80s and can´t believe I´m watching the same game that´s on the floor today. That´s because I´m not."
 
 That´s true. In the 1980s there were only 23 teams and the teams you are watching on classic were stacked. It can´t happen in today´s NBA with the salary cap. Most teams are lucky to get 2 all-stars let alone 3 Hall of Famers.
 
 "You saw point guards who had more assists per game than points. You saw fast breaks by the Lakers in which four or five guys on the team touched the ball, but the ball never hit the floor."
 
 Again, you are talking about one of the greatest teams in NBA history. I´m sure you didn´t see too many of those types of fast breaks from the run of the mill teams.
 
 You also better check the stats on point guards having more assists than points. In the 1980s it was very rare. In fact, after a quick browse of the stats, I only saw 7 times in the whole decade it happened and 4 of those were done by Nate McMillan. Who´s to say it won´t happen as much in the 2000s? A couple players have been close already. Who´s to say that makes for entertaining basketball anyway. A lot of the best point guards ever had quite a few more pts. than assists.
 
 "You saw offenses that consisted more of banging the ball inside or kicking it out for the three. You didn´t see "clear-outs" for one player to have one side of the floor to go one-on-one to up the ante for the new shoe contract."
 
 Here´s where I can tell you don´t watch much NBA basketball anymore because this is an untrue stereotype. I watch almost every game of a team with one of the best one-on-one players in the league and there are very few actual "clear-outs" anymore (especially with the zone defenses and rules changes). The Sixers run a ton of plays. In fact, they HAVE to run plays to free up Iverson because he is constantly double and triple teamed. I´d be willing to send you a tape of the games if you would like and point out all of the set plays being run.
 
 "I could care less about the athleticism. I want to see fundamental basketball, not an athletic show."
 
 Wow. I guess it is different strokes for different folks. I loved watching the athleticism of Michael Jordan and I love watching Kobe and AI now. You talk about the 1980s Lakers with reverence. Wasn´t much of their success predicated on athleticism? Magic´s hand/eye coordination and skill running the break. Kareem´s physical execution of the sky-hook? It was "Showtime" not "X and O" time.
 
 "That´s the beauty of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The same qualities required to win the Cup in 1970 exist today. Grit, great goaltending, a willingness to surrender your body for hitting and blocking shots, good special teams, four solid lines. Yes, the game is faster today than 30 years ago, but the same principles will win you a Cup."
 
 Actually, I´d argue that today´s NHL takes a lot less offensive skill than in prior era´s like the 1980s. In 1985, team´s averaged 3.97 goals a game. In 1990/91 team´s averaged 3.45 goals a game. This year team´s averaged a pultry 2.65 goals a game!!!! That´s pitiful. You want to talk about something that makes me want to fire up ESPN classic. The 1990/91 Penguins had more talent on their 2nd line than the majority of teams today have in their first line. That team had Lemieux, Recchi, Coffey, Francis, Jagr, Kevin Stephens, Larry Murphy, Trottier, Mullen, Cullen. Would it be fair for me to look at tapes of those games and the incredible skill level and compare it to today´s NHL? Probably not. Sad none-the-less. [ This message was edited by: Leebo33 on 03-05-2003 10:44 ]

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sat May 03, 2003 2:51 pm

Leebo,I am glad you feel the way I used to about the NBA. But at this point in my life I´ll take the NHL playoffs over the NBA .
 
 The NHL is more exciting for me. I have grown bored of watching players stand around on offense and looking to the superstar to make the big shot. I am bored with watching one player put up 30 to 40 shots per game (AI,Kobe,ect) while his teammates are watching like me.
 
 I won´t argue that some NBA playoff games are exciting,but I really cant watch them from tip-off to buzzer. I watch the last 5 to 10 mins of most games.
 
 The NHL playoffs have my full attention,because a game could be won or loss anytime during those 3 intense periodsTo me its exciting. IMO the NHL playoffs this year are off the hook with excitment. A 5 OT game big upsets,freaking awsome. I am not getting that with the NBA.
 
 To each their own.
 Good luck with your Sixers,since the Doc left the house they are dead to me <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif"> [ This message was edited by: JackDog on 03-05-2003 11:56 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat May 03, 2003 3:51 pm

Leeb:
 
 The reason NHL scoring has dropped is three-fold:
 
 1. Inconsistent officiating on obstruction
 
 2. The obscene size of goalies and their padding now, even with the new rules. Ken Dryden was considered huge in 1970. Now he would be an average-sized goalie.
 
 3. Players are much bigger. The average size of an NHL player in 1985 was 6-1, 194, according to a Hockey News study. I´m sure it´s much, much bigger now, yet the rinks remain the same size.
 
 I´m 6-1, 220, and I would have been a huge player in 1985. Now I would be considered a bigger-than-average player, especially with hulks like Brashear, Bertuzzi and Lindros on the ice. I remember Dave Brown of the Flyers being considered a monster 15 years ago at 6-3, 225 or something like that. Now every team has a player of that size or bigger, it seems. Yet the rinks are the same size.
 
 Yes, I enjoyed watching the Lakers in the 80s. But I also enjoyed watching the Sixers, Celts and other great teams. The NBA has become a "me" league whereas 20 years ago it was a "team" league. The athleticism may be greater these days, but the sheer hoop fundamentals are not.
 
 I´m glad you enjoy the NBA. I think it sucks a large one.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 03-05-2003 12:54 ]

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat May 03, 2003 6:35 pm

"I have grown bored of watching players stand around on offense and looking to the superstar to make the big shot. I am bored with watching one player put up 30 to 40 shots per game (AI,Kobe,ect) while his teammates are watching like me."
 
 Well, for the record Iverson attempted 30 or more shots in only 4 games in the regular season (one was in OT).
 
 I don´t buy that the game isn´t a team game anymore and I especially don´t buy it from you guys who admit you don´t even watch it much. I could care less if you guys like it or not, but basketball has always been about getting your best players the shots. For example, here are players from different eras that I recall taking a lot of shots and their career highs in field goals attempted in a season:
 
 Chamberlain 3,159
 Jordan 2,279
 Berry 2,240
 Kareem 2,019
 Gervin 1,987
 English 1,920
 Iverson 1,813
 
 I´m not going to argue whether or not the fundamentals are as good as in the past. That is just too subjective. Plus, as I mentioned before there are many more teams now in the NBA. If you would have had 6 more teams in the league back in the 1980s the level of play would have dropped too. Imagine taking a star and a good bench player or two off those LA, Boston, Philly teams of the 1980s. The 1983 Sixers had 3 All-Stars and the 6th man. The Lakers and Celtics had 3 Hall of Famers. When do you think the next time an NBA team will have 3 Hall of Famers on the court at once for a decade?
 
 I don´t think the league has changed that much. I just think most people fondly remember the Celtics, Sixers, and Lakers in the golden era, but forget about the Cavaliers and Mavericks.
 
 And speaking of shots (or lack thereof). Today Anaheim had 15 and Philly 19...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
 And talk about long seasons. Didn´t the NHL (clearly a Winter sport) start about 3 weeks before the NBA? [ This message was edited by: Leebo33 on 03-05-2003 16:13 ]

bdt92 · Post by **bdt92** » Sat May 03, 2003 10:05 pm

The NBA playoffs bore me as well. Like someone else mentioned I lost a lot of interest when the Bulls dynasty was dismantled. I still watch the Bulls and actually got into the Kings because of White Chocolate. After last years atrocious robbing of an NBA Finals appearance for the Kings I just can´t take the NBA playoffs seriously anymore. And with the NHL playoffs in full swing I can´t tear myself away from all the great games.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat May 03, 2003 11:31 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 After last years atrocious robbing of an NBA Finals appearance for the Kings I just can´t take the NBA playoffs seriously anymore.
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 That´s nothing. Think of how the 1999 Buffalo Sabres must have felt.

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Sun May 04, 2003 12:56 am

Gretzky said it was a goal... and Dallas isn´t giving the Cup back <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun May 04, 2003 10:03 am

I just think it is funny when people point out Game 6 of the Sac/LA series but yet selectively forget the incidents in their own favorite sports. Just the other day I saw an intermission special that consisted of the Flyers´ announcers bitching about all of the dives. Baseball has different strike zones for different pitchers and batters. I don´t follow NASCAR, but it seems like they just make up the rules as they go along. I´m not going to stop watching college football because I think Miami got hosed or because Penn State got totally screwed out of at least half of a national title in 1994.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2003 11:14 am

Yeah, Neck, Cowtown better cling to that Cup because it´s the last one that sh*thole will win for a while ... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

CrazyStanley · Post by **CrazyStanley** » Sun May 04, 2003 12:19 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>Does the NBA playoffs seem boring to you?</BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 The NBA in general seems boring to me

FloridaGators · Post by **FloridaGators** » Sun May 04, 2003 2:24 pm

Right now the playoffs are sort of boring but I can see the Western Conference Finals becoming really exciting. A Lakers-Kings matchup again could really spark the NBA Playoffs again. I am really enjoying watching the 76ers play, Allen Iverson´s passion is unmatched. Living outside Philly, the city is pumped for another Finals push.