Since we don't have Garnett (for right now.......maybe if/when we advance?) I consider every win to be a bonus. If we had Garnett at the beginning of the series and we were still in a dogfight with the Bulls, then I would've been concerned. Right now this is pretty much what I expected. I picked the Celtics in 6 and that's looking good right now.

But as well as the Bulls have played in this series, if the Celtics had Garnett in, this series would've been over on Sunday at the latest. As it is the Celtics should've won games one and four. Can't take those games away from the Bulls of course because they did win those games after all, but those were two very winnable games for the Celtics.

Say Garnett doesn't come back for the next series if the Celtics advance (according to Danny Ainge before he had his heart attack, he said the Celtics believed he could've played, but Garnett didn't), I still would like our chances against either the Magic or the 76ers. We match up well against both of them. I'd like our chances better against the 76ers though.

The East is honestly pretty weak.

Even if the Cavs didn't have LeBron, they could prob. push a series with Orlando with their crazy three-point shooters and amazing defense.

So how many games do y'all think the league is going to suspend Dwight Howard for that elbow head shot he threw n connected today? Hopefully no more than 1 game.

They would get swept and blown out in all four games. LeBron makes his teammates better. If he were to ever get hurt in the playoffs their run would be over right then and there. I wouldn't be too worried about that happening though.

I would be worried though if Garnett plays in the second round.

The Cavs lost to Philly's Top 5 -- by one point -- with LeBron, Mo, Wallace, Smith, and Z. seated. With a lineup of Daniel "clueless" Gibson, Szczerbiak, Jackson, Pavlovic, and Wright...three of whom never even play more than fifteen minutes in a normal game.

So, I wouldn't be too sure about that. LeBron is undoubtedly the most valuable player...but up until this year, his defense was still sort-of rusty. They've got a very efficient defense in West, Wallace, Smith, Z., and Varejao. Williams and Szczerbiak are dangerous three-point shooters (and, of course, Williams -- without LeBron -- would be averaging 20 PPG anyway). Z, Smith, and Wallace don't really need LeBron to make good plays -- they're vets. Now, I wouldn't want to go to the finals without LeBron, but given what we've seen from Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta, it honestly feels like the Cavs were the only team in the East that played .500+ ball.

You're forgetting that without LeBron the opposing teams defense doesn't have to worry about covering (double teaming, triple teaming) LeBron. Their (whoever they are) defensive schemes would become much more vast. The Cavaliers would somehow have to figure out a way to score over 70 points every game. Their defense still might be good without him, but the opponent's d would only be that much better.

It's true that LeBron is the player that makes Cleveland a "team."

Nonetheless, should LeBron get injured, there's certainly enough skill to stand up to the Celtics -- at least the Celtics that are playing right now...

And we did hold you guys to 36% shooting...so...

You're a DALLAS fan?

WTF

Where in MD do you live again?

I don't think I've ever asked you that. Did we possibly go to the same middle school/high school? That'd be crazy -- but I'm learning the world is quite a small place.

(yes, I am fully aware that there are 2m+ ppl. in MD)

And, chyea, I don't follow any Dallas teams.

It'd be nice to be a Cowboys fan, but I'm still slightly attached to the Redskins.

Yeah, I went to B-CC (Bethesda-Chevy Chase).

HEY good to see xiayun posting

If Im Boston Im syaing "hmmm....the only reasons this series isnt over yet is because Paulie missed a ft that woulda given us game 1, and Ben Gordon made the luckiest 3 of his life to tie is in ot in game 4."

As long as Rondo keeos playing at MVP levels and Ray ray stays consistent, they have a good shot to get to, the very least, the conference finals IF IF IF IF IF Paul can play.

Should Rondo, Ray, and Baby keep playing well and Peirce turn it on ala last year the celtics will barely miss KG.

TBH, MoCo can be pretty ghetto. There's about six-or so good "postal" neighborhoods, but the rest could easily be mistaken for PG county (well, not quite, but...)

And I never call it MoCo, haha

I honestly spent my teenage years in D.C...so I've never thought of myself as a "suburban" kid. I'm really close to D.C., like a five minute walk from residential D.C. and a fifteen minute drive to Dupont. (I live almost directly in between Bethesda and Silver Spring station)

So spurs lost in 5 games. It looks like the end of an era for them. No way this team can win another title. They dont seem to remain healthy plus rest of the team sucks big time. Will they trade one of the big 3?

Spurs might get Carter and Sheed this summer, if they do that they have one more chance next year. They just didnt have enough weapons to keep up with Dallas as is.

I also think a big reason they were horrible this playoffs is that when everyone got injured early on, Duncan had to carry the team for a month, and while he was awesome then, by the playoffs he was tired and not really the same. Usually San Antonio coasts and doesnt really try until like February so they have a lot of energy left in the playoffs... didnt happen this year

Denver and Dallas should be really good

GO MAVS!

hopefully they can steal one of the first two games in Denver.
i haven't been this excited for the Mavs since the '06 playoffs.

Heck no!

GO NUGGETS!!!

Mavs had their chances already (Finals and #1 seed). It'd be so awesome to see Denver in the conference finals. Almost surreal even, especially after suffering through the 90s (except for Motumbo a few years) and early 2000-2002.

Nonetheless, I don't know about Dallas, but Denver matches up horribly against the Lakers. We'd have a much better chance against the Rockets out of LA, Houston or Portland.

Wade better get healthy by next game or Miami is DONE

FUCK da NUGGETS!

Melo!! Melo!! Man, wish I could be at tonight's game. What a great series. Bring on Dallas!

Did you hear something, or just guessing?

I'll be so conflicted if my favorite player (Sheed) goes to the crappy Spurs.

In a perfect world, Detroit would resign Sheed to a reasonable contract and he would accept a reduced role. In the right position, I think he still has a lot to offer.

rondo...please dont get thrown out...for real...dont.

if i was hinrich i would've punched rondo in the mouth. what a punk bitch

Rodno would beat Henrichs ass, and that was an accident anyway. Henrich shoudnt be going after rondos cock like that.

I really think you have a mental problem