So here's a rhetorical question about the Mavs....would they have been better in this series with a Devin Harris at the point rather than Jason Kidd?

They couldn't be much worse. I don't think Kidd is the reason that the Mavs didn't get sweeped.

They certainly won't be better in the future with Kidd.

Either way they would have lost, but it was a win now move that resulted in no winning now.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I had this argument with a Bulls 'expert' yesterday. (He's got a pretty well known Bulls podcast so I use expert in quotes). His take (and I agreed with him) was that he didn't understand why the Mavs felt they needed Kidd since at this point in his career, Harris is a better defender and scorer. While Kidd can distribute, he's becoming a liability on D. He thought Cuban was basically the first to go all in and he expected the Mavs to break up the band this summer.

First to go will be Avery.

No they wouldnt be if they had a coach that knew how to use Kidd.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

It may just be Chris Paul doing it to him, but Jason Kidd looks old out there. I said in another thread that you could see the end of Jason Kidd as an elite point guard the moment he made the flagrant foul yesterday. That was frustration in knowing that Chris Paul at this point is at another level than Kidd.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Kidd is still an elite point guard in the East, but in the West, he's above average, but not that top tier.

Well yeah obviously Ive been saying since like December that Kidd and Nash can only be considered the best PG's in name only, because they clearly have lost a step. I still think Kidd is better than Harris right now. Nash is abysmal on defense and Kidd can play good help D in the post but he's awful also on the ball. Paul vs Parker will be interesting next round. Paul's clearly better but Parker is just as quick and can get to the paint as well as any PG in the league.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

They may be "trying hard" but I see a decrease in effort among many of the teams that fall behind. Saw it again last night with San Antonio. Next time there is a blowout, pay attention to the effort and intensity on defense of the team that is behind. When teams execute on offense and they get good shots, then sure, I'll chalk that up to offensive execution. But when teams that are behind suddenly have guys who are slow to the double team or when guys get wide open treys and nobody is running out to jump at them and throw a hand in the air, that shows me lack of intensity and effort. I'm seeing a lot of open shots with little effort to get out on them.

Or by an opposing coach (Nellie)

Well, I suppose Denver did so much as admit to quitting, but they're by far the most dysfunctional team in the playoffs (maybe the Mavs can give them a run)

Again, I'm not sure I really agree. Can you give me a specific game where this was occurring? I'm not totally dismissing you but I just haven't seen it myself, although in full disclosure I have not seen 100% of every game.

I can see your point, but hes far from the problem on this team this year. He's having a good series and is doing everything he can, just getting no help on the offensive end.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

i guess you've never watched T-Mac

Bagels, games I recall in which I thought the team didn't have nearly as much effort defensively when they fell behind were San Antonio yesterday, Denver on Saturday (Karl appeared to give up himself considering he had Iverson on the bench most of the 4th quarter), Washington in game 2 when Cleveland won by 30 and then Cleveland in the next game when Wash. waxed them by 30.

Nice to see someone let Chauncey Billups know the playoffs have started. A week late is better than never I suppose.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I they're only trailing by 9 going into halftime but Phoenix just looks...beaten. Obviously this isn't the same team that came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Lakers in '06 but damn, they just don't look right. Some of their body language indicates that of a beaten team.

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

i can't watch...it's hard watching steve nash in this series...

Happy Trails to Nash as an elite PG. I've been beating this drum for 6 months now, but when you cant stop ME from getting an easy layup, you arent an elite PG anymore, no matter what your offensive prowess or creditals say.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

And a PG who doesnt make every opposing PG look like a HOF'er.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Phoenix committed 7 turnovers in the fourth, including three BONEHEADED turnovers from Nash and one horrendous one from Diaw. That was a very Bulls-like 4th quarter from Phoenix. 17 missed free throws in the fourth? This is an elite NBA team? Whatever. They lost because they're bad, now they're gone. Good luck fixing this situation Mr. Kerr.

There goes two of my favorite teams (Phoenix & Dallas), sent packing in the first round on the same night.

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

like i said, let me fix you some beignets, and you'll be right with the world on the NO bandwagon...

unlike the saints bandwagon, this one seems pretty sturdy and i love the paint job.

Well, I've never had beignets but I guess any pastry is good pastry.

I might as well embrace Nawlins. At least they have Mardi Gras, where drunken women with low self-esteem openly and freely show their boobies to complete strangers.

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

SI.com is reporting Mike D'Antoni will not be back in Phoenix next year. If this is true, I know we would have to adjust the personell, well we do anyways, but I hope the Bulls give him a call. I think hes a very good coach and a much better option than anyone else out there right now. One of the Suns beat reporters said on ESPN this morning that he isnt out yet though, and its undecided, so who knows.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I dont know about that. He usually has done pretty well this year in late game situations, and has stepped up his defense this year to top tier level. I dont know if hes on Kobe's level in those areas yet, but Im more concerned with his poor FT shooting and his poor outside shooting. Im hoping he improves both significantly soon.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

there's a reason they call it the big easy.

there are some cajun places around that sell beignets. i suggest you try one. my pawpaw used to make a big greasy ass brown paper bag full of them every saturday morning when we visited...

i know you're happy for me, but he used to cook for saints players in the 70's. if he wasn't such an asshole, he could have been the chef of the saints.

Hes always been a bad FT shooter. I dont consider 75% acceptable for someone who wants to be the best of all time and is as talented as he is. I dont have any problem with him in crunch time situations anymore.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

orlando...good luck.

Philly got what we call in my country a good, old-fashioned, ass-whuppin.

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

you're from france?

What the fuck was Rondo doing the last 7 seconds? Stands there, and then shoots a air ball. The Celtics should be embarassed, a number 1 seed and you can't win 1 damn game on the road.

Great night of basketball tonight. Lebron and the Cavs closing out the Wizards. Boston losing to Atlanta to force a Game 7. T-Mac having an inredible 1st half performance to bring Houston back from down 18 to within 1 before half.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul