NBA would never approve the contracts.

Us as them would say sure but Bosh doesnt exactly have a whole bunch of endorsements lined up like James to be giving up 10 million a year during the end of his prime earning years and Wade is a big players union guy who wouldn't sell them out that badly I don't believe.

I agree on all points. The question would be how can you force guys to take more money if they agree to less? As you said, Wade is a union guy and James is too so they would not do it. Would be an interesting idea though. I wonder what's going to happen down there. If I were James and Wade and Bosh opt in like they are expected to, I would seriously consider leaving. But that would do serious damage to his reputation again.

The same way you can veto a trade that two teams agree to.

I think if they lose this year James leaving wouldnt be a big negative anymore. The tricky part is that this years FA class is really weak in terms of impact players that would actually leave their current teams. Obviously James is the biggest name if he opts out but if Carmelo resigns with the Knicks and they slog through 2014-15 they will have Hardaway, Shumpert, Anthony, a 1st round pick, a ton of cap space and a credible guy in charge even though he has no front office experience. What if Miami wins this year, Bosh and James stay in Miami one more year then relocate to NY? Bosh is a perfect triangle fit and James can play any role.

Maybe I'm delusional but try to imagine where else James would go? Where else makes sense?

I thought NY was not possible, it is. After this year, I think if they win this year they come back for next year. Maybe win again, then Lebron goes to NY.

They wildly exceeded expectations, have no contract albatrosses and three #1 picks between 14 and 27 in this years draft.

Watching teams like the Suns get left out makes me wonder if it would make sense to give the top pick to the best record among non playoff teams.

Then we would have potential playoff teams tanking. Would you rather have the #1 pick or play San Antonio? I'm taking the pick.

While making the playoffs for a team like the Suns is great, fact is it just extends their season a week as they have little chance to make it through 4 seven game series.

They had a great season.

Well that and ASU

Um, played for PAC 12 championship in football. Beat in-state rival 58-21

Um, overachieved in hoops, actually split with it's in-state rival.

Um, currently have a winning record in baseball, in-state rival doesn't.

Um, women's hoops made it to the 2nd round and lost to national runner-up, in state rival's women's hoops was 5-25

In state rival's softball is ranked 9th......ASU 10th....golly.

Rockhard FREE MONEY PICKS
 

The number of games literally means nothing. Im betting the series, I already have locked in at the prices I list.

San Antonio, but Dallas gets 2. No bet here as the Spurs are minus 900. Actually if I had to bet it I would take Dallas at plus 640. Again no bet here, Spurs in 6.

Memphis in 7. Clearly OKC can win, but I dont love the way they finished the season. Ill stab $100 on Memphis plus 330

Golden State in 7. Not as confident as I would be with Bogut being out. But I cant jump ship now. Golden St for $200 at plus 320.

Houston. I like them in 6. I was hoping this series would be close to even. But Houston is to much a chalk for me to wager.

Miami in 5.

Indiana in 5. No bets straight up on either

Toronto in 7. Value at plus 140. Toronto for $100 at plus 140

Wizards in 7. Value at plus 175 IMO. Washington for $100 at plus 175

My finals prediction is Miami vs either Houston, Golden St or LA. My only strong opinion in the West is that I dont think either of the top 2 seeds gets to the Finals.

As a life-long Raptor "fan" (since year one 1995) I can't tell you how much it means to be back in the playoffs........

Now that that is out of the way......

Raps cannot win this series..on paper

Nets are too big, too strong, too experienced

I think the telling advantage is the Bigs....here's a list of those players on the playoff roster 6 foot 10 and taller

Toronto--Jonas, Hansbrough, Patterson, Novak

Brooklyn--Blatche, Collins, Garnett, Plumlee, Lopez


It's asking Jonas, Tyler and PP a hell of a lot to battle equally for 48 minutes...let alone 7 games.....Blatche is the deal breaker here...Raps have no one to stop him


Lowry has had a season from the Gods......Nets will trap him and double him forcing him to give up the ball....if he does Raps are doomed.....if he doesn't he'll get hurt within the first two games and puffftttt

DeRozan will get exposed this series......Ross will try but he's a rookie(playoff-wise, about to be schooled)..If the media try to paint the story of Joe Johnson getting the AS appearance at the expense of Lowry they just might discover Joe lighting up the Raps one game for 40.....here's a guess...Johnson averages more points than DeRozan and Ross

My head says Nets in 5 or 6 I hope I'm wrong
My heart says GO Raptors

Got hammered in bowl game, in state rival won theirs

Went nowhere as usual in hoops, in state rival just missed final 4 and has top class coming again

In baseball not ranked in top 25 like in state rival who won nat'l championship 2 years ago.

Womens sports conversation reek of desperation

Cubs spring training in Phoenix area further depresses the scene

Did you just say Blatche cant be stopped?
Dont hear that very often.

Tough year as Memphis and Atlanta would have easily been over w/o long term injuries of Gasol and Horford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVYJULACcao#t=111

For PG

I actually prefer Houston to come out of the West. I guess we will see about Harden in a few weeks. I predict he averages 30ppg vs Portland.

East
Indiana over Atlanta in 5
Miami over Charlotte in 4
Toronto over Brooklyn in 7
Chicago over Washington in 6

Indiana over Chicago in 7
Miami over Toronto in 5

Miami over Indiana in 6

West
SA over Dallas in 5
Houston over Portland in 7
LA Clips over GS in 5
OKC over Memphis in 5

SA over Houston in 5
OKC over LA Clips in 7

SA over OKC in 7

Finals
SA over Miami in 7

very true!....:)

I couldn't find a Blatche prop for game 1 at any of my outs

One prop I did play is Joe Johnson +7.5 points vs DeRozan

"**** BROOKLYN" - Masai Ujiri, who would never step foot in the borough. Cute little team, Masai.

Indiana 4-2
Miami 4-0
Brooklyn 4-2
Chicago 4-2

Indiana 4-2
Miami 4-1

Indiana 4-3
________________

San Antonio 4-1
Oklahoma City 4-2
Los Angeles 4-2
Houston 4-3

San Antonio 4-3
Los Angeles 4-3

Los Angeles 4-3
________________

Los Angeles 4-2

People better jump on Golden St. Curry and Thompson combine 13 for 36 and Iggy barley plays because of foul trouble, they still win. INDIANA LOOKS LIKE ****. SILLY ME FOR THINKING THEY WOULD PULL TOGETHER.

LaMarcus Aldridge is a beast!!

8-28 for Harden game one. That aint going to get them very far especially with their swiss cheese d

Aldridge and Lillard were unbelievable last night. So glad guys like Lillard and Wall and Kemba are in the playoffs. It's just missing Kyrie.

It was a huge benefit to the NBA to have 5 of 8 road teams win. That makes most of these Game 2's worth watching.

He played like a total chump last night. Ill have to sit on this Rockets fitted and make sure they at least get out of the first round before I wear it in public. SMH

Kemba drained a big 3 right before half to get some momentum back, then they tied it in the 3rd. They are 2yrs and 2 players away still. Plus 2 more bad top 5 draft picks dont help. Do they get anything from white chocolate or Kidd Gilcrest?

Golden St is the play of the century tonight. Plus 8? Who makes these lines?
I feel bad for my bookie and 5dimes. I guess I dont have to feel bad though because they clean up on a GS win......... This is JoeyS 5STAR lock of forever type stuff.
Golden St plus 8, for amounts that I wont bother posting........
Good Luck boys.

Close lol

Nice! That was a serious super duper mojo voodoo mush. Your greatest work ever by far.

http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/g...state-warriors

And what a body of work it is!

Are you a Rothschild with a trust fund?

Attachment 2337

:zz:

It's the Andrew Bynum effect.

These NBA playoffs have been incredible so far. It's unfortunate that Al Jefferson got hurt during the first game against Miami, he's still tough for the Heat to defend even on one leg.

It's unreal how ****ed up the Pacers are.

As far as the West goes...it still looks like it's wide open and anyones for the taking.

West is crazy. Top 2 seeds can legit lose. OKC blew a 20 point lead in game 1, they could be down 3-0. Dallas blew a big late lead in game 1, they could be up 2-0.
GS got screwed, definite foul on Paul, horrible no call.

The officiating throughout the playoffs so far has been let's just say...pretty bad.

A look at different NBA referees trends and tendencies:

http://www.oddsshark.com/nba/referee...ing-statistics

Interesting stats, good link. How about Dallas? They have a legit shot at winning that series, same with Memphis. OKC better win tonight, Im not sure they will.

Dallas was the one team out West who I thought had no real shot at winning their first round series. It's just been an unreal week of basketball.

Playoff refereeing has been pretty awful.

I have to admit I was dead wrong about Curry coing out of college. Didnt think he could play point or defend good enough to be a star player, just a guy. He still isnt much of a defender but he tries and has some quick hands.