What an exciting deadline. I love the deals that the Cavs made. The Clippers pick and the young big guy from Boston were great pickups. The price was paying Baron Davis not to play. Not too sure what the Celtics were thinking as they made several strange deals. It seemed like what they had was working. They actually drafted Green, but ended up trading him for Ray Allen.

The Thunder may have lost some team chemistry, but they sent a message to their fans that they are committed to winning a title now, not the future. A Bulls/Thunder finals would be epic.

Loved what the Cavs did? What? Getting Baron Davis? HAHAHAHAHA

One theory that I hadn't heard until today is that they're clearing up some money to go after Dwight Howard in a year and a half, while hoping that Shaq will get healthy for the playoffs and someone like Troy Miller or Jermaine O'Neal can step in for a year.

One thing everyone forgets though is that the Celtics haven't had Perkins at all this year. That and there was a very high chance that Perkins wasn't going to resign with the Celtics because they wouldn't have been likely to give him the money he wants. So from those angles it isn't as large a risk as some people might think it is. However, if two years from now the Celtics don't have a high profile free agent, there will be a lot of people questioning Danny Ainge.

Getting a top ten pick from LA and a young big from Boston were what I liked. Nobody in Cleveland expects Baron Davis to play a single game.

Playoffs are shaping up to be exciting. The top 6 teams all have an equal chance of winning the title, depending on how the matchups shape up.

And I can actually watch them in peace this year. Early exits from the Cavs usually ruined the rest of the playoffs for me.

Wade needs the final shot in those games. And no, his "final" shot in the Bulls game does not count.

It'd be nice if the Celtics could win a game from start to finish and not come from 15 down to do so.

think maybe Shaq should just shut it down and rest to the playoffs.......

I'm looking forward to the NBA playoffs.

I think multiple teams could win the title this year. The Lakers are vulnerable especially with the Bynum injury. Even though Chicago and San Antonio both won 60 games they aren't that dominant imo. There's alot of parity at the top with multiple teams in the west winning 55+ games. It should be really competitive.

I'm gonna go with the Heat out of the East and a homer pick of the Thunder from the West. Probably not this year for the Thunder but next, but what the hay.

Yeah me too that Celtic/Knicks matchup is going to be gooooood!
Hopefully the Knicks win so the Heats or Bulls don't have to face the Celts in the 2nd round.

The Eastern conference has the teams to watch (other than my Mavs ) this year.
Heats, Bulls, Celts, Knicks & Magics

Predicts

Round 1

1 Chicago in 4
2 Miami in 4
3 Boston in 4
4 Orlando in 6

1 San Antonio in 5
2 Lakers in 5
3 Dallas in 6
5 Denver in 7

Semi-Finals

4 Orlando in 7
2 Miami in 6

5 Denver in 7
2 Lakers in 7

Conf Finals

2 Miami in 6
2 Lakers in 5

Finals
2 Miami in 6

ROUND 1......FIGHT
Bulls in 5
Heats in 5
Celtics in 6
Magics in 7

Spurs in 4
Lakers in 4
Mavs in 6
OKC in 6

ROUND 2......FIGHT
Bulls in 6 over Magics
Heats in 6 over Celtics

Spurs in 6 over OKC
Lakers in 6 over Mavs

Conference Finals
Heats in 6 over Bulls
Lakers in 6 over Spurs

DA FINALS
Heats in 7 over Lakers YOU WIN!

Bulls in 4
Miami in 6
Orlando in 5
Boston in 6

Spurs in 6
Lakers in 5
Dallas in 6
OKC in 5

Bulls over Orlando in 7
Miami over Celtics in 7

OKC over Spurs in 6
Lakers over Dallas in 5

Bulls over Miami in 6
OKC over Lakers in 6

OKC over Bulls in 7 (Greatest Finals, ever?)

If only Rose wasn't the reason they were behind to begin with...

But yes, he played awesome in the 4th. A lot of great games so far!

Rose was 0-9 from 3. Only ONE of those was in the 4th. During their final run he had:

2 Rebounds
2 Assists
2 "Layups"
3 Free Throws

No 3's. Responsible for 12 pts when they were down 10. The only reason he scored 39 was because of his FT's. Once he missed his first 3-4 3's, he should have stopped. The box score doesn't count a missed shot as a turnover, but it's just as costly.

He's still the MVP, calm down.

hahaha the Spurs suck ass

hahaha the Lakers suck ass

On paper, this had looked to me to be a boring first round with only Boston-NY and OKC-Denver the only compelling matchups. However, there have been some surprisingly close games include the two shocking Memphis and NO wins today.

All this excitement... and I don't think Denver can even compete with OKC.

Hornets & Grizz did it, why couldn't sorry ass Knicks!?!

You're not allowed to push off on a player when you have the ball. It wasn't a bad call. He should've either have tried to get Pierce in an upfake or not be a hero and pass the ball. The Celtics had a foul to give. Anthony had no reason to put himself in that spot.

Why? What did he do that wasn't illegal? Instead of laughing, try to prove me wrong.

Contact which he initiated by hitting his arm on Pierce. I think we can both agree that it was a stupid play on Anthony's part. There was no need for him to make a move. He had the lead and the clock on his side (21 seconds left when the foul was called, I think). There's no need for him to play hero there.

But what he did was going to get called on either himself or Pierce. There was enough contact between the two for a foul to be called. You're not allowed to plant your arm and make a move.