I'm feeling good about my "Pistons in 5" pick, but not so good about my "Spurs in 5" pick.

I picked against NO when they played Dallas too... I might be slightly underestimating them. I really thought their lack of playoff experience would do them in, but clearly that hasn't been the case yet.

As for the Pistons... that's 9 playoff wins in a row against Orlando, and Orlando has only outscored the Pistons in 1 of the 8 quarters they've played so far this series. I'm smelling a sweep.

While I agree, I wasn't so positive last night. If Orlando hadn't decided to let Chauncey get a bunch of free throws, and try for some actual baskets, Pistons would've lost.

At the same time, had Orlando not made 7 of 7 3 pointers in the 3rd quarter, it would have been a blow out win for the Pistons. I thought the Pistons played fairly lackluster last night, whereas Orlando played very well, and the Pistons still won.

The Pistons just match up very well against them, and they really get into Orlando's head. The only way Orlando wins 1 game is if their 3 point shooting is unnaturally good. They almost had that last night, which is the only thing that kept them in the game.

GRRRRRR! i should've went with the under bet on this game.

52-50 Cavs with a minute left in the 3rd period.

This game is literally dificult to watch, and not in the I'm a Celtics fan and don't want to see them lose way, but in I'm a basketball fan and I can't deal with neither team likely to score more than 60 points by the third quarter way.

another last second layup missed by Lebron James.

That was fantastic

Though I'm not sure if it's a great sign Boston needed a nailbiter to beat Cleveland with Lebron playing the worst game of his ENTIRE LIFE. I don't know how he missed that layup.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce also played two of the worst games in their careers. Allen did not score one point. Pierce played great defensively against James (Posey too), but he was godawful on offense. And, they still won.

That saying, Lebron should've made that finger roll.

It was ugly. Just all kinds of fucking ugly. But the Celtics pick up the win, they lead the series, and that's all that matters.

I love ugly basketball. Give me a hard fought defensive minded 76-72 score game over a no defense 150-140 score game any day! Plus, that's the way to win a championship, as Detroit showed a few years ago. You can always count on your defense every night, and if you got that it will keep you in every game.

Anyhow, I have no idea who to root for in this Cleveland/Boston series. I'm only hoping it goes 7 games, is terribly gritty, and that Lebron, Garnett, Pierce, and Allen all get season ending injuries on the last play.

Judging from this game alone, I'd say Boston is in trouble... barely winning at home after their current playoff road record can't be a great sign. Plus Cleveland typically plays better at home. Still a win is a win, but that couldn't have left them feeling overly confident.

Well, of course you have to have some offense! Detroit didn't get to the EC Finals 5 years in a row with no offense. I'm just saying with a strong defense you can survive games on those rare nights where your offense is non-existent, and it will keep you in virtually every game. Without a defense you are the Denver Nuggets, and we see how far it got them.

What was that you were saying? Fucking Billups' ankle.

Lakers just look way too damn good. At this point I'd be honestly pretty shocked if they didn't win it all, it seems like they have everything. I think the key is having both Odom (and the mismatches he makes with his size and speed) and Gasol, if it was one or the other teams could cover easier, but with both on at the same time and Kobe gathering so much attention on the perimeter, it's impossible to guard. I'm pretty scared of what'll happen if Bynum pans out in the next couple years...

Have the Lakers really been tested yet though? I mean they've played a team that was just flat out embarassing on defense and now they're facing a team who for some reason can't play for shit on the road but are fantastic at home. Don't get me wrong, I think the Lakers are a great team and they're still my pick to come out of the West, but the Hornets have just embarassed the defending champs two games in a row. We'll know more about these two teams as they both go out on the road now, but I think what the Hornets have done against the Mavs and Spurs is more impressive than what the Lakers have done.

What I said was nearly exactly what happened. Despite Billups's ankle, Detroit pulled to within 4 points in the last quarter... then the Magic - who were already decent from the 3 point line got insanely hot, and that was the ballgame.

At the same time, Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton pretty much get anything they want every time they play Orlando. And Stuckey did real well filling in for Billups, but hopefully he will be back next game! We definitely missed his 3 point shooting and ability to score at will against Nelson.

Oh, and Orlando fans = worst... playoff fans... ever! I was pretty sure they were going to have to wake the crowd up at the end of the game and tell them it was over.

Better than having empty seats.

Not by much though.

Finals all over again.

yeah it looks like the Celtics will take the series in 5 or at the most 6.

Now to win a game on the road.

they'll steal game 4.
i'm sure in game 3 James will go off.

It depends. If the Celtics can keep him out of the paint like they have in these two games, than they should be in pretty good shape. However, I'd be shocked if Lebron doesn't take it inside more in Cleveland. He's going to get the benefit of the calls so he might get to the line a bunch. If the Celtics can just limit his chances inside, they should be okay. That and they need to limit the amount of open looks Ilgauskas has been getting. He's just been lighting it up in these two games.

Knicks look like they might sign D'Antoni... I would laugh my ass off it happened. Curry and Randolph trying to play Suns ball while D'Antoni yells like a cartoon character on the sidelines? Magnificent!

After that all they'd have to do trade for TJ Ford, which is not unplausible if D'Antoni wants an uptempo PG and considering we're looking to trade him for anything right now, and the Knicks masterpiece will be complete! It would be amazing!

It's odd how so far the home team has won every game in this round, and every series that has reached 3 games is 2-1. That makes the home team 11-0 this round.

Hopefully Detroit can buck this trend today, and on the reverse I'm hoping Cleveland can continue it by beating Boston today. I don't care who wins the Bos-Cle series as long as it goes 7 games and is a draining battle for both teams!

Hey Mikey! He's A Knick!

Now... what does this mean for Steve Nash?!?

Geez, Stan Van Gundy's voice is almost as irritating as Doris Burke's. Why is the announcing D-team for ESPN covering this game again?

He's a douche.

I can not stand him.