Tag: 2010 NBA Playoffs (Page 30 of 32)

      Larry Brown on the move (again)?

      April 13, 2010 /

      The New York Post is reporting that Larry Brown has received permission from Bobcats owner Michael Jordan to take over the Philadelphia 76ers.

      Coincidentally squared, Next Town Brown, I’m informed, has received approval from Bobcats owner Michael Jordan to return home, home on the range — Philadelphia — where his wife, school-age children and the antelopes still play, to re-take control of the 76ers from top to bottom.

      Larry Brown in a dual coach/GM role? This ought to be good.

      I think it’s safe to say that the Sixers are a mess. They won’t have any significant cap room until the summer of 2011, and the Elton Brand signing hasn’t exactly worked out.

      Still, there is some talent here — Jrue Holiday, Marreese Speights and Thaddeus Young are nice prospects and Andre Iguodala is a good all-around player. Brown has a history of raising the level of bad franchises, but he doesn’t have a long-term outlook and typically burns out pretty quickly. How does that work when he’s the general manager?

      Like I said, this ought to be interesting.

      Update: Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Clippers are another possibility.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Blazers lose Roy, edge Thunder, avoid Lakers

      April 13, 2010 /

      It was a busy Monday for the Portland Trail Blazers. First, they learned that Brandon Roy has a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery. The doctors said it can’t get any worse, so he is going to try to play on it, but there’s no telling how effective he’ll be.

      The Blazers rallied to beat the Thunder on Monday night, effectively avoiding a first round matchup with the Lakers in the process. Marcus Camby posted 30-13, while Andre Miller added 22-4-7 and four steals in the win. The loss means that OKC will meet L.A. in the first round, which should be a fun matchup.

      If the Blazers win their final game (against Golden State), they’ll assure themselves of the #6 seed. It’s not clear how Portland will fare with a hobbled Roy. He has had a very good start to his career, but one of the concerns coming out of college was how his knees would hold up to the rigors of an NBA season. This is terrible timing for a Blazers team that was gelling at just the right time. Portland has won 18 of its last 23 games and seems/seemed poised to pull a first-round upset in the postseason.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NBA, News

      Bulls drub Raptors, 104-88, take sole possession of last playoff spot

      April 11, 2010 /

      Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 26-4-7, while Joakim Noah added 18-19-7 as the Bulls rolled past the Chris Bosh-less Raptors on Sunday.

      Down only 10 at halftime, I wasn’t very impressed at the lack of energy from a historically energetic Toronto crowd. By the time most fans made it back to their seats, the Raptors were down 19 with 8:00 remaining in the third quarter. This game was crucial to the Raptors’ playoff hopes and the crowd let them down. (In their defense, the team didn’t give them much to cheer for, either.)

      So the Bulls have the inside track for the eighth and final playoff spot, but they have a tougher schedule (BOS, CHA) than the Raptors do (DET, NYK). Toronto holds the tiebraker, but it may not matter.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      LeBron’s camp thinks he’s staying in Cleveland?

      April 11, 2010 /

      According to Brian Windhorst of The Plain Dealer, LeBron’s camp seems to think that he’s going to re-sign with the Cavs this summer.

      After being mostly neutral and downright noncommittal for some time, those closest to James have been altering their view recently. The vibe being sent out from James’ camp — whether it is private conversations or discussions about new business or plans for the near future — is that James currently is leaning strongly toward re-signing with the Cavs.

      That may sound vague and, as always, it continues to be fragile. Yet there is no denying the gradual shift within James’ circle and, it is assumed, by James himself.

      James has declined to talk publicly about free agency since November. But as one source said, “I have never been so sure that he’s going to stay in Cleveland than I am right now.”

      Windhorst is a good beat writer and I believe him when he says he’s getting a different vibe from LeBron’s camp.

      LeBron is supposedly a loyal guy, and is from nearby Akron, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he decided to re-sign with the Cavs even if the team flames out again in the postseason. He seems to genuinely enjoy the players on the team and the franchise has treated him well, and that goes a long way.

      But if the Cavs lose in the playoffs, would they bother to bring Shaq back for another season? If not, even with his salary off the books, the Cavs would be approximately $17 million over the salary cap. The only way to infuse the team with more (or different) talent would be to swing a trade or use the mid-level exception.

      In other words, if this Cavs team doesn’t break through and win a title, I’m not optimistic about the 2011 Cavs or the 2012 Cavs having more luck.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Maybe the Cavs should just get a bye

      April 10, 2010 /

      It’s a battle of attrition between the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors for the final playoff spot in the East. The Bulls had a chance to take sole possession last night against the Nets, but lost. Yes, they lost to the Nets. That, coupled with the Raptors’ loss to Atlanta, leaves the teams tied at 38-41 with three games to play.

      Do either of these teams deserve to play in the postseason?

      The two teams square off on Sunday (on NBATV) and the Raptors hold the tiebraker if they’re still tied at the end of the season. In addition to the Raptors, the Bulls face the Celtics and Bobcats next week while Toronto has the Pistons and the Knicks. While it appears that the Raptors have an easier schedule, Boston and Charlotte might be coasting into the playoffs while the Pistons and Knicks may relish an opportunity to play a meaningful game at the end of the season and spoil Toronto’s playoff hopes.

      The Bucks are also watching closely. Milwaukee gets to swap draft picks with Chicago as a part of the John Salmons trade, so the Bucks could move up to #12 if the Bulls miss the playoffs. If Chicago makes the postseason, Milwaukee will get the #15 pick instead.

      The Raptors hold the tiebraker, but the Bulls are playing better basketball of late. They’re relatively healthy while the Raptors will be without Chris Bosh for the remainder of the regular season. Even though Sunday’s game is in Toronto, my guess is that Chicago eventually gets the final playoff spot.

      That is, unless the Celtics decide to take last year’s spirited playoff series with the Bulls as motivation for next week’s game…hmm…

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

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