The 2007 NBA Playoffs

[whodini]

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

I just got off the couch to post the same thing. Kobe's playing fantastic ball right now.
Wish the TNT down here was the same over there. Was Kobe's reverse dunk after stealing the ball from AI as ridiculous as it looked written out on GameTracker?

 

[Brian278]

Originally Posted by whodini

Why do you have to *********** on anything I say that doesn't include CP? Dopey's answer was so much more concise and conclusive.
That's not fair. I *********** on the stuff you say about Chris Paul too.

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

I just got off the couch to post the same thing. Kobe's playing fantastic ball right now.
That is why I bring my laptop to the couch.

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by Brian278

That's not fair. I *********** on the stuff you say about Chris Paul too.

Fair enough.

When the Lakers win tonight, when would be the earliest game they play next?

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by Brian278

Kobe is in full-on "we're closing this series right now" mode. This going to be good.

Originally Posted by Saucemaster

I just got off the couch to post the same thing. Kobe's playing fantastic ball right now.

Originally Posted by whodini

When the Lakers win tonight, when would be the earliest game they play next?

 

[whodini]

Originally Posted by whacked

Sorry, whacked. I meant to say the Los Angeles Lakers, not the Boston Celtics. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Saltwater Wrangler]

Kobe is the deserving MVP. He is just a winner at heart. For those watching the game, he just made a great defensive deflection and steal that won the game for them. Try getting some of the other all-stars to play with that passion and desire. I'm officially on the Lakers bandwagon...

 

[landho]

Thank God the Lakers finally closed it out. They played really sloppily tonight, but it's the W that counts....

 

[chronoaug]

Josh Smith is making himself a TON of money this 1st round.

 

[Saucemaster]

Originally Posted by landho

Thank God the Lakers finally closed it out. They played really sloppily tonight, but it's the W that counts....

Until Kobe decided to take over then game at the 6-minute mark, that second half was horrible. But oh, once he did....

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by chronoaug

Josh Smith is making himself a TON of money this 1st round.

Didn't work for Bonzi Wells (after a montrous 05-06 playoff performance).

 

[chronoaug]

Josh is also really young, and has improved on an already great 06-07 season. He's starting to peak. I think some people will be really interested in him this off season. He's the best shot blocker in the league! I think the hawks are going to hold onto him and let childress go unless he wants to sacrifice some money.

 

[landho]

Some people think that Josh Smith will never get it--that he's a dumb player that too often relies on talent and athleticism to bail himself out of bad decisions (much like J. R. Smith). I'm not sure I agree with this assessment; I think he's young and foolhardy, but those tendencies can be reined in. Kobe tossed up four airballs in the playoff series against the Jazz so many years ago, after all. Josh Smith is an excellent shot blocker but he's not a very good man defender; he's similar to Kirilenko but without the ball skills. That said, he's probably the most athletic player in the league. He's probably due a pretty large contract, but Josh Childress is also a restricted free agent, and he's arguably just as good as Josh Smith (less athletic [but still very athletic] with a better skill set and a higher basketball IQ--also has a wingspan greater than 7 feet!). I hope the Hawks re-sign both of them; it'd be a shame to break up this young nucleus just as they're starting to mature together. I imagine that Josh Smith will get offered somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million and Josh Childress a little less than that. (Childress is actually a more desired commodity around the league.) P.S. Josh Smith is not close to peaking--he's 22. The question is whether he'll tap into that near-bottomless reservoir of talent and ability.

 

[chronoaug]

I think josh is better than just an athletic monster. He has gotten better at spacing, passing and shooting a lot this season. Now that he is a competent (not great but still) 3 point shooter, you can't just leave him out there making it tough to play the hawks. He's a great rebounder and getting smarter with each season. I think childress is a good shooter, a smart defender and player, but i just don't think he has much upside. I really don't see him becoming that much better than he is now, which is why he's not going to get a josh smith like contract. If marvin williams can evolve some and give them something/anything, the hawks can be a pretty scary team to play next year.

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by landho

I imagine that Josh Smith will get offered somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million a year and Josh Childress a little less than that. (Childress is actually a more desired commodity around the league.)

 

[landho]

Originally Posted by whacked

OK, maybe Josh Smith won't be making David Beckham-style money....