It was a fun game to watch, but as a Pistons fan I really had no idea who to root for. I was kind of leaning toward the Cavs a little, just for the home court advantage, but that didn't work out so well last year. And it might actually be good for the Pistons to start out on in Boston as they might be a little rusty. They can afford to lose game 1 at Boston while they're getting their rythym back.

It should be a good series, but I don't see the Celts winning it. They've struggled to beat a sub .500 team, and a team barely above .500. Now they're getting a much better team, who is playing really well. They definitely have to play better than in the first two rounds if they want to get through the Pistons.

They were down by four. If he makes the first they would've only have been down by two. They still would've lost the game it turns out, but when Lebron missed the first one, I think that's when the Cavs realized they weren't going to win, hence the "punch in the stomach".

Are you kidding ME?

You don't play a game like he did and then CHOKE in the end.

James did not choke in the end; the c's were too good for one man to handle. If LeBron had a guy like David West or Pau Gasol who could consistently make shots, the cavs would won. Their prob. is they miux and match guys like gibson, szczerviak, illgauskus, and west having a big game here and there combined with lebrons nightly games, and they win.

Lakers are going all the way. The East looks so pathetically easy compared to our division. Once the Lakers get past either the Spurs or Hornets, it's all over. Fisher, Kobe, Gasol, we just have too many weapons on offense and defense.

will the celts be tired at all after playing 2 7 game series - and games basically every other night.

wasn't a choke - anyway it was one guy againist 2/3.

true on James especially since it took a team to beat him - Paul P the whole game and then Garnett and a couple other celts made big plays in the last 5 minutes.

On the Lakers, won't a Celt/Laker match-up by fun - reliving the glory days of the 80's - even if it is only for 1 year.

Pierce scored 41, his team scored 56.

James scored 45, his team scored 47.

James had one other player score double figures: West with 15.

Pierce had two other players score double figures: Garnett with 13 and Brown with 10.

Lebron did not shoot 50%, Pierce shot over 50%.

Lebron missed 5 free throws, one EXTREMELY important one in the final minute.

Pierce missed 1 free throw, made two EXTREMELY important ones in the final minute.

Lebron = Choke artist.

Like I said before. Jordan won games. Lebron loses games.

Jordan had better supporting cast.

wow > James shot under 50 %. Big deal 14-29. Which is pretty good in the NBA.

James also played 46:48 minutes - which is 3 & 5 more than the 2 Boston stars.

Plus as he went to the line 19 times - maybe by the end of the game he was tired.

And unlike the Celts he was the whole team. The Celts had like 3/4 guys that needed to play great in those last 5 minutes to win the game.

Also, look at Jordan I think he once scored 63 points and his team still lost in the playoffs - and most people know that one person can't do it all.

ANYWAY, as Boston has that great record and they have been taken to 7 games twice by the #8 & # 3/4 ? team and haven't been able to win 1 road game.

Boston still has alot to prove in the next series againist Detriot where now they take on a tougher #2 seed.

Doesn't look too hot for the Hornets so far.

Interesting tidbit about the Spurs, they've never made it past the second round in defense of their title. So tonight would be new ground if they held on.

And apparantley Melo might get traded to the Nets. Rumor is Richard Jefferson, Marcus Williams, Keith Van Horn's "only signed to make the Kidd deal work" contract, and 1st round pick, a higher one tomorrow would help boost the deal. Denver is out of their minds, they have to at least get Harris back or dump KMart's contract if they do that, and even then it's still not good. And if Harris is included, it's dumb for the Nets too. Melo + soon to decline Carter and Camby + nothing else? LOL at that move. Maybe they just want a marketable star when they go to Brooklyn.

Wow, Hornets down 15 in 4th and cut it to 5... did I mention how pissed I am I'm on vacation and can only watch this on the boxscore? Very.

That's it...

Boston-Detroit, LA-San Antonio. A mostly expected final 4 if that's possible.

I'm leaning towards Detroit and LA, but I'm usually wrong, so Boston and SA it will be![googlevideo][/googlevideo]

The Hornets were the only team who could've given the Lakers a run for it because of how fast and talented they were/are. As much as I think the Spurs are a great team, I have a hard time seeing the Lakers struggle in this series. I still think it'll go six, but I don't think it's going to be as intense as the Celtics/Pistons series is shaping up to be.

I was 3-1 in the last round. I nailed Detroit and Boston's victories with the correct number of games. I picked SA correct, but was wrong on the number of games. I got the right number of games with Utah and LA, but was wrong on the small detail of which team would win.

For the next round:
Detroit over Boston in 6
SA over LA in 6

What I'm hoping for:
#1. Detroit vs. LA
#2. Detroit vs. SA
#3. Boston vs. LA
#3. Boston vs. SA

What I'm guessing the league is hoping for:
#1. Boston vs. LA
#2. Detroit vs. LA
#3. Boston vs. SA
#4. Detroit vs. SA

If San Antonio wins another series... I may have to murder someone.

How anyone can honestly cheer for a team that is do DIRTY is beyond me.

Here's what the game came down to... 83-80... NO shoots a THREE to try and tie. NOOOOOOOOO

That WAS the game.

I'm not sure anybody outside of Texas "roots" for SA, but dirty or not, they always sem to get the job done.

I don't hate SA, but they do bore me. They're just not an exciting team to watch on any level. On the other hand, LA isn't much easier to like... I have trouble rooting for a sex offender. In the end I'm rooting for LA, just because they make a better villain and I'd love to see the Pistons mop the floor with Kobe again, just like they did in 2004.

IF Lakers win this series it will be in 7 games, no less.

Lakers are filled with too many soft ass players, Spurs had problems with Hornets because of how aggressive they were. Really comes down to which teams role players show up.

Kobe will do to the Spurs what Lebron wanted to do to the Celtics.

I loooove the Spurs. They play smart basketball, not a single low bb-iq player on the team, and a great coaching to boot. Boring? Hell no. Especially after watching some Celtics vs Cavs games.

When they are beating the Knicks though, I wish they're all dead.

If the finals are the Spurs and Pistons again I know I won't be watching, heck it will have the lowest ratings ever. Nobody outside the fans of those teams want to see them play. I would rather watch 12 year old play then those two teams.

Spurs/Celtics would be even worse. First one to 65 points wins!